Disclaimer
This sample was sent to me for the purpose of an honest review. All opinions and observations here are my own based on my experience with the product. I have no affiliation with the company and do not benefit financially from this review. More of my reviews can be seen from the link in my Head-Fi profile or on my blog.
The Veedix NC50 has a MSRP of $56 and is available for purchase from the Veedix audio Taobao store and AliExpress.
About Veedix: Veedix is a recently formed company hailing from Shenzhen, China. The NC50 is their first product release.
Like most people on this type of site I'm a lover of music. In my younger days I spent several years as a hip-hop DJ (using real vinyl and turntables) as well as producing a variety of music on computer using a combination of MIDI and live instruments. I did a Home Studio Sound Certificate at the Milton School of Audio Engineering in Brisbane, Queensland which covered the setup of audio for playback and recording in a studio environment along with other basic engineering principles. Nowadays I prefer to simply listen to and enjoy music.
My taste in music has changed a great deal over the years. For a long time my only interest was in rap and hip-hop music. Now though I listen to all kinds of music including jazz, classical, rock, psytrance, folk and ambient. I listen to music everyday using portable gear consisting of a DAP and mostly IEMs or simple desktop setup consisting of a laptop and DAC at work and my desktop setup at home which is based around my PC or Shinrico D3S with a DAC, often but not always including a tube amp and full-sized headphones or speakers.
My preferred sound signature is fairly balanced with slightly elevated mid-bass and deep well-extended sub-bass, clear and resolving midrange with a touch of warmth and clean, airy treble. I'm not offended by brighter sounding gear but dislike any sibilance. The majority of my music is 16/44.1 flac files as I stopped using physical media (CD/vinyl) many years ago and prefer the convenience of digital formats.
I often list a number of tracks or albums that I have used for testing a specific product in my reviews and they usually relate to things I've been listening to at the time of the review but note that during all my testing there are a number of ADDITIONAL standard tracks that I use for testing various aspects but do not list these in my reviews.
My taste in music has changed a great deal over the years. For a long time my only interest was in rap and hip-hop music. Now though I listen to all kinds of music including jazz, classical, rock, psytrance, folk and ambient. I listen to music everyday using portable gear consisting of a DAP and mostly IEMs or simple desktop setup consisting of a laptop and DAC at work and my desktop setup at home which is based around my PC or Shinrico D3S with a DAC, often but not always including a tube amp and full-sized headphones or speakers.
My preferred sound signature is fairly balanced with slightly elevated mid-bass and deep well-extended sub-bass, clear and resolving midrange with a touch of warmth and clean, airy treble. I'm not offended by brighter sounding gear but dislike any sibilance. The majority of my music is 16/44.1 flac files as I stopped using physical media (CD/vinyl) many years ago and prefer the convenience of digital formats.
I often list a number of tracks or albums that I have used for testing a specific product in my reviews and they usually relate to things I've been listening to at the time of the review but note that during all my testing there are a number of ADDITIONAL standard tracks that I use for testing various aspects but do not list these in my reviews.
Specifications
- impedance 16 ohms
- sensitivity 120dB
- 6Hz-25000Hz
- cable 1.25 m
- driver 9.3 mm dynamic
On the outside of the box is a cardboard sleeve in dark gray with an image of the IEM on the front side. On the back side is another image but this one is aligned horizontally. I'm guessing that this is so the box can be positioned upright or on its side on a shelf. Not really relevant to an audio review perhaps but it does suggest that the developer is paying attention to detail in the design which hopefully will carry over to the product itself. On the sides of the box are specifications and inline control functions. Underneath the sleeve is a quality black box with the brand name on the top in silver print.
Once you open the box you're presented with a single side of the IEM secured in a sheet of black foam. Next to that is the circular carry case with a metal Veedix badge attached to the top. It's an unusual yet interesting presentation and by this stage my expectations were ramping up because it was obvious that so far each element of the packaging had been carefully thought out and the early impressions are premium.
Inside the carry case is where you'll find the cable, secured in a wonderful real leather cable tie and the other ear-piece along with extra ear-tips and shirt clip. The case is a semi-hard zippered type with a mesh pocket on the inside, handy for storing your accessories.
What's in the box:
- NC50 IEM
- detachable MMCX cable
- 3 pairs silicone ear-tips (S, M, L)
- 1 pair foam ear-tips
- shirt clip
- user booklet (1x Chinese, 1x English)
- carrycase
- genuine leather cable tie
The cable is a coppery brown color which has a good thickness to it and feels pretty robust. Its fairly resistant to tangling and doesn't have any kinks. There's a metal inline control with microphone above the Y-split. The Y-split and cable cinch are also metal, as is the straight, gold-plated 3.5 mm plug. On the Y-split and plug are Veedix branding that can only be seen up close. There are excellent strain reliefs from top to bottom so the cable should be pretty durable.
BUILD, COMFORT AND ISOLATION
The IEM housings are quite small, constructed from plastic and are very lightweight but feel well built and have no visible flaws. They have a rubberized coating that's really smooth and feels great. On the outer side is a recessed metal grill with a honeycomb pattern and Veedix branding. On the inner side is a L or R denotation which I always appreciate and is something a lot of manufacturers neglect to add. Although there is no visible vent or bass port these IEMs don't cause pressure buildup like some fully closed housings and there has not been any sign of driver flex whatsoever.
The nozzles have a good length with a nice bump on the end to keep the ear-tips secure. Standard nozzle size makes tip rolling easy which is fortunate for me because I found all the supplied tips too small for my ears.
When it comes to comfort these are superb. The rubberized coating makes them feel very natural in your ears and along with their light weight and all smooth edges it's easy to forget they're there at all. There's also no memory wire in the cable so it just rolls over your ears and doesn't cause any discomfort. The profile of the shells is also very low profile making them perfect for lying on your side. These are easily one of the most comfortable IEMs in my collection and there have been times when I realized I'd been wearing them long after the music had stopped playing.
Noise isolation is average to slightly above average for a UIEM depending of course on the seal you get with your selected tips. These are ideal for noisy environments or use in transit.
SOUND
Sources used
- IQQ C18
- Benjie X1
- Acoustic Research M20
- Samsung Galaxy Note 5
General: The NC50 is is nicely balanced and musical. It leans a little toward the bright side but the treble is not abrasive or uneven. Bass has just the right amount of thump to drive beat heavy music without intruding into the overall presentation. The midrange is beautifully clear and natural. Instruments and vocals alike sound vibrant and lovely. Wonderful, subtle details.
Bass is north of neutral but not enough to be problematic.. It's not at all bloated but is quite fast, has a nice texture and is not trying to be the star of the show. There's no noticeable bleed, keeping the midrange clean an unaffected. Sub-bass extends well with an ability to rumble and should be enough to satisfy you unless you're a certified basshead.
The midrange is really well executed and rich yet maintains great clarity throughout. Guitars, vocals and strings are all presented naturally without becoming congested. There's no muddiness or over-saturation in the lower mids and this allows the details to stand out but there's still enough warmth for full-bodied male vocals. Female vocals also shine and aren't drowned out by the lower range notes.
Treble is nicely extended but is still smooth enough for me to listen to Utada Hikaru's "Traveling" with it's inherent sibilance and Dr Dre's "It's All On Me" at moderate volume without piercing my brain with shards of ice. It doesn't have a great deal of sparkle but there's certainly enough to keep balance with the mids and treble, giving the overall sound signature a nimbleness. Timbre of cymbals and high hats is on point and sound true to life.
Soundstage is actually pretty good and there is plenty of depth but the stereo imaging is very precise, providing a good representation of positioning of elements. With certain tracks these IEMs can project sounds well, giving a sense of the recording space.
Comparisons
vs Whizzer A15 ($69 USD):
The A15 has a slightly darker sound than the NC50, with more bass and a thicker midrange. Both have good, airy treble and surprisingly good detail. When doing A/B comparison there's a noticeable difference but after a short brain adjustment period there's a lot of similarity between these two. When it comes to build quality I can't find a fault with either, although I prefer the Veedix's cable as it doesn't have memory wire. I'd easily recommend either of these IEMs and I think most people would be happy regardless of which one they chose. Having said that the Whizzer is a little heavy on the bass for my personal preference. The other consideration would be the metal construction of the A15 vs the plastic of the NC50. These both have a nice accessory set witht eh A15 coming out slightly ahead due to a larger range of spare ear-tips.
vs Thinksound ms02 ($99 USD):
The ms02 is a traditional barrel shaped IEM compared to the NC50 being an over ear style. Mids are a little drier on the ms02 making the NC50 sound smoother and less aggressive. Both of these have similar levels of treble but the Thinksound has a cleaner, punchier mid-bass. I'd happily listen to either of these all day and find each one has its own merits depending on preference and music genre. The prize for accessories goes tot he Veedix for adding a carrying case as opposed to the Thinksound's canvas pouch. They each come with the same number of ear-tips. Both are really comfortable and lightweight and it would be a tough decision choosing between them. Bottom line the Thinksound is more reference and the Veedix is more musical.
CONCLUSION
The Veedix NC50 has become one of my favorite sub $100 IEMs. They're super comfortable and well built. They have a lively yet smooth sound with good detail and a solid but not overdone low end. Packaging is fantastic and the accessories are well rounded too. At the moment the NC50 retails for between $40-$55 on Aliexpress and for what it offers I think that's a darn good deal. Being the company's first ever IEM this is a solid entry into the crowded earphone market and I personally can't wait to see what Veedix does next.
4.5/5 stars.
