NiceHCK X39

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Disclaimer:
- I don’t read FR graphs. I only use my ears, as how earphones should be used.
- I bought this unit with my own money, without NiceHCK’s knowledge. Rest assured that this review will do its best to devoid from any bias/es as much as possible.
- The following remarks and observations shall be made and owned only by me.
- No monetary compensation is/was involved before, during, and after the period of creation of this review.
- Your mileage may (and always, will) vary.

Burn-in time: 4-8 hours per day, 5 days.

Source/s used:

• - Non-HiFi smartphone (Infinix Note 12 G96), PC.
• - Tanchjim Space
• - Aiwa XP-V710C CD Player (12 sec. EASS)
• - Fosi Audio DS1.
• - Sony Xperia X Compact
• - Local Files via Foobar, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Qobuz with UAPP.

IEM/Earbud/Setup configuration: Stock small eartips, stock dual-flange eartips, any form of EQ or MSEB off, 40-60% volume.

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Sound signature:

• - Just like the majority of the IEMs under 15 USD, this is a bassy, V-shaped sounding set, and can also sound L-shaped, depending on your setup and hearing perception. What makes this different from the IEMs within this price point is that this is a well-done, non-fatiguing IEM in a bullet-shaped driver enclosure at the expense of “okay” technical performance.

Lows:

• - This is without a doubt the highlight of this tiny bullet, owing to the fact that it is the most elevated of all the regions of the spectrum. It's elevated, thick, and will sound boomy in most genres. It is also midbass dominant and has a soft quality to it. Its bass is slow and may sound "sloppy" on certain tracks. Having said that, this can be a budget basshead's dream, but it will sound "dirty" to those who have previously used a bassy IEM with a textured, detailed bass response.

Mids:

• - In this region, the NiceHCK is warm, thick, and lush. This also means that this set will be lacking in texture, openness, and detail if we don't consider the fact that it is only 10-15 USD. Upper mids are slightly elevated, with good clarity. This never sounded harsh or peaky to my ears, and some people who prefer more presence over their preferred sound may find this lacking. Overall, I had no serious issues with the X39 in this region because it is fatigue-free and smooth, despite my lack of preferences in this set.

Highs:

• - Moving on to the treble, this region is not airy, does not extend much like the other sets in this price range, and will sound rolled off, particularly for those who prefer a brighter, airier response. Detail retrieval is average at best, rendering the majority of the track's details.

Soundstage, Imaging, and separation:

• - In a nutshell, the technical performance of the NiceHCK X39 is quite underwhelming to my preference. Its soundstage is small in width, with average height and depth. The separation and layering is average most of the time and suffers congestion on very busy tracks. Imaging is also average and can be used with competitive FPS games with sufficient accuracy.

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Other IEM Comparisons!

VS KZ Ling Long

• - The KZ Ling Long is also a v-shaped bassy set, but is lesser in bass quantity compared to the X39 and is subbass focused compared to the X39’s midbass-focused character. Mids are more or less the same, except for the fact that the Ling Long is prone to peaks. Treble is also identical. The soundstage is a bit wider on the Ling Long, while the rest are identical. The KZ Ling Long suffers some driver flex, while the NiceHCK X39 doesn’t.

VS Tanchjim Zero

• - The Tanchjim Zero is flatter, uncolored, a tad bit wider compared to the X39 in terms of overall sound. Its mids are miles better when compared, in exchange for a polite, tight bass. The Tanchjim Zero also needs a bit more power to sound good compared to the X39.

VS KBEAR KW1

• - The KBEAR KW1 also shares the same sound signature to the NiceHCK X39. When compared, the KW1 has an obvious veil to the sound, making things muffled compared to the X39 that only suffers muffled vocals. Soundstage is wider on the KW1, while the rest are more or less the same.

Pros:

• Portable, bassy bullet-shaped IEMs on a budget (around 10-15 USD)!
• Bassy, warm, V/L-shaped sound signature (subjective).
• Thick, elevated bass response.
• Thick, smooth mids.
• Non-fatiguing upper frequencies.
• Average technical performance for its price.
• Excellent build, comfort, and isolation!
• Very good quality of accessories.
• Minimal, low profile design! (subjective)
• Easy to drive.

Cons:

• Midbass bleed is definitely present on most genres and my test tracks.
• Bass leans to the boomy side of the spectrum.
• Vocals will sound muffled at times (to my liking, at least).
• Treble is borderline dark.
• Treble lacks air.
• Not the most resolving IEM within this price point.
• Separation and layering suffers mild congestion from busy/heavy passages.
• The included eartips (aside from the included dual flange) cripples the overall sound.
• Non-removable cable.
• Mild cable microphonics.
• They could’ve chosen to include a pouch or a case for practical reasons, but they chose to include a keychain, because why not?

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- Despite all of my nitpicks and criticisms of the NiceHCK X39, I genuinely enjoy this set because of its "easy-going", blunt, fatigue-free sound, which I usually require when I need to focus on something. Not to mention that this is a minimalist, low-profile, portable set, which is very useful for my purposes because it allows me to focus more on what is going on around me when I walk through malls or ride in vehicles during commutes. The NiceHCK X39 will never be a part of the hype train or the Chi-Fi hall of fame, which is fine because it performs slightly better than the common, unbranded earphones found in dollar stores, which is already a good job, at least for me.

Pairing recommendation/s:

• - Source: This IEM is fairly easy to drive, but will benefit greatly from a neutral sounding source, to trim down some of its warmth.

• - Eartips: Aside from the dual flanges included, the stock eartips included on this IEM cripples the sound. I suggest changing eartips such as the KBEAR 07 or spinfit CP100 eartips. As usual, you may also use your preferred eartips.

Thank you for reading!

Additional Photos Here!