Custom IEM Review: Hidition NT-6 Pro – Clear & Precise Fun

[AmberOzL]

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Tupac paid taxes, he told me, about 200 dollars if my memory is reliable.
I just let them fill out the price at 29 USD. So there is no tax at all. BTW, i stay in China right now. If stay in U.S, no need to worry.
Another problem is the build of NT6PRO. It's good but not perfect. Some defects still exist.  

Alias, would you explain the build quality problems you see? Defects and all? Photos would be also awesome.

 

[DigitalFreak]

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I listen to a very wide range of music from EDM to classic rock to 80's pop to metal to industrial to acoustic to classical to metal etc...essentially a very wide range of genres.  I can handle some poorly mastered tracks because I like the songs, but some are just too poor.  One of my favorites that I can't really listen to is Queensryche Empire for example, while others that were never on my A list grown on me because of the mastering such as Asia Aria.  Also, as mentioned in the review, the tone of the NT-6 pro isn't quite as natural to my ears as something like the SE5 or even the NT-6, which does affect acoustic music to an extent, for example.
 
I was thinking of putting together a list, but realized that as long as the mastering is average or better, the songs are enjoyable.  Of course, there are some tracks/albums that just don't match with the NT-6 pro's boosted treble, but I also find it is very amp dependent.  For example, I am testing the UHA 6S MKII, JDS ODAC + O2, and Ortofon Q7 amps and the UHA doesn't play well with the NT-6 pro, but the others do, and the UHA can make many tracks sound less desirable than say the ODAC -> Q7 combo.  Sources and cable can and do change the PRaT as well as presentation style to some degree, that is most noticeable after you use the combo and then go back to the original sound.  

Thanks joe, sounds like you're a music lover first and a gear lover second.

 

[ardgedee]

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For example, I am testing the UHA 6S MKII, JDS ODAC + O2, and Ortofon Q7 amps and the UHA doesn't play well with the NT-6 pro, but the others do, and the UHA can make many tracks sound less desirable than say the ODAC -> Q7 combo.

 
I have the first-gen UHA-6... with the stock 8610 op-amp, the sound through the NT 6 Pro is not great. With the OPA 627 op-amp, though, the combination is magical. (Some caveats, though: The 627 burns battery faster, and it's more vulnerable to interference. Neither of these are problems for me, but could be for others.)

 

[AmberOzL]

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I have the first-gen UHA-6... with the stock 8610 op-amp, the sound through the NT 6 Pro is not great. With the OPA 627 op-amp, though, the combination is magical. (Some caveats, though: The 627 burns battery faster, and it's more vulnerable to interference. Neither of these are problems for me, but could be for others.)

OPA 627 combo is magical? Wow, I am about to get HDP R10, which is Japanese DX100 and it has OPA624 in its amp section. Well I am also interested in NT6 pro too, it is indeed good news for me.
 
I am however still waiting Alias Gu's post about what was the problem of his ciems since he stated build quality is not perfect.

 

[zachchen1996]

average_joe, would you say that the nt6 pro might be better for trance and electronic in general than the se5 due to it being quicker?

 

[Mimouille]

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average_joe, would you say that the nt6 pro might be better for trance and electronic in general than the se5 due to it being quicker?

I do not know the NT6 Pro, but I have the SE5. They are absolutely marvelous, but sounding very natural / organic, electronic music is not the style where they shine most. I would use the 1Plus2 more for such music.

 

[zachchen1996]

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I do not know the NT6 Pro, but I have the SE5. They are absolutely marvelous, but sounding very natural / organic, electronic music is not the style where they shine most. I would use the 1Plus2 more for such music.

Hmmm, would be cool if average_joe started reviewing all the new totl universal iems (tg334, ie800, 1+2, se846, etc.) to see if they can stand up to the ciems that are considered best. Would you say that your 1plus2's are your best iems for electronic?

 

[average_joe]

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I have the first-gen UHA-6... with the stock 8610 op-amp, the sound through the NT 6 Pro is not great. With the OPA 627 op-amp, though, the combination is magical. (Some caveats, though: The 627 burns battery faster, and it's more vulnerable to interference. Neither of these are problems for me, but could be for others.)

 
The stock op amp in the MK II I have isn't the smoothest, and the NT-6 pro does do well with 627 based amps such as the Portaphile.
 
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average_joe, would you say that the nt6 pro might be better for trance and electronic in general than the se5 due to it being quicker?

 
It depends on how you define better!  The SE5 isn't slow, but is more organic with longer note decay, so the NT-6 pro does sound a bit faster.  But there are also differences in presentation, with the SE5 having a more mid-forward presentation.  The SE5 is excellent with electronic IMO, and the NT-6 pro is no slouch for acoustic.  
 
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Hmmm, would be cool if average_joe started reviewing all the new totl universal iems (tg334, ie800, 1+2, se846, etc.) to see if they can stand up to the ciems that are considered best. Would you say that your 1plus2's are your best iems for electronic?

 
I wish I had the time.

 

[AmberOzL]

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I wish I had the time.

I think you will somehow do a review of 1+2 but the others I don't know. I am interested in this one more than the others so it could be good to read your thoughts.

 

[AmberOzL]

Joe also I had a question in my mind for a while. I remember you wrote that Hidition hired a new tech or something like that. Do you think or do you feel like it will bring the silicone canal option back or I should contact them and ask?
 
I still can't choose about my first high end ciem, should it be SE5 way or NT6 pro.. Finally after all these times my saving money period finished, now I can't choose 

 
I know I read a lot about them, esp. your reviews and comparisons several times. Eventually I will get both but second will come quite late since I will have to put money aside again. So the first one is quite important it will be my main tool listen to music for a long time.
 
PS: As a source I am gonna get HDP R10, Japanese DX100 which uses OPA627. I think it will suit best to NT6 pro as well as SE5 way.

 

[zachchen1996]

Joe also I had a question in my mind for a while. I remember you wrote that Hidition hired a new tech or something like that. Do you think or do you feel like it will bring the silicone canal option back or I should contact them and ask?

I still can't choose about my first high end ciem, should it be SE5 way or NT6 pro.. Finally after all these times my saving money period finished, now I can't choose 

I know I read a lot about them, esp. your reviews and comparisons several times. Eventually I will get both but second will come quite late since I will have to put money aside again. So the first one is quite important it will be my main tool listen to music for a long time.

PS: As a source I am gonna get HDP R10, Japanese DX100 which uses OPA627. I think it will suit best to NT6 pro as well as SE5 way.

Same here, can't decide between the se5 and nt6 pro :/ Is the only diff between the jap and reg dx100 that the jap one is warmer?

 

[zachchen1996]

The stock op amp in the MK II I have isn't the smoothest, and the NT-6 pro does do well with 627 based amps such as the Portaphile.


It depends on how you define better!  The SE5 isn't slow, but is more organic with longer note decay, so the NT-6 pro does sound a bit faster.  But there are also differences in presentation, with the SE5 having a more mid-forward presentation.  The SE5 is excellent with electronic IMO, and the NT-6 pro is no slouch for acoustic.  


I wish I had the time.

Hmm, is it that the nt-6 pro is "unnaturally fast"? When you say that the se5 is more organic, does that also apply to instrument timbre? Because if the nt-6 pro is indeed inaccurate in the way it reproduces instruments (piano being a very important one) compared to the se5, then I might have to get the se5 instead. In the end, would you say that the se5 is extremely accurate and faithful to how instruments and voices sound in real life and the nt-6, though very very detailed, to sound a bit "off"?

 

[AmberOzL]

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Same here, can't decide between the se5 and nt6 pro :/ Is the only diff between the jap and reg dx100 that the jap one is warmer?

I would suggest you to check the HDP R10 thread, there are many persons saying as a standalone DAP R10 is slightly better. Both are divine devices listen to music for portable life but my main reason is R10 provides 10 12 hours of battery. DX100 max 7 hours which is bummer for me. I am not sure if it is really warmer but I don't think so, they use the same DAC chip. Warmer sound is coming from AK120, if you want warmer take a look at that. I think HM901 is slightly warmer too but it might depends on which card you are putting in it.

 

[Barra]

Hey Zachchen1996,  I was just faced with the same choice and determined that I needed both. However, I only can buy one now so I decided to go with the Hidition NT6 Pro for several reasons:

• Shipping Issues: Spiral Ear will not ship to the US so you have to pay extra to use a postage forwarding service. This way, you get stuck with any customs issues - especially if you have to ship back for refits or repairs. Hidition is easy EMS shipping with a free trade agreement between US and Korea.
• Customs: Not everyone gets tagged for customs, but ordering from the US, they are expensive if you get nailed and can delay your shipment for no good reason. Customs seems to be a crap shoot. Hidition, benefiting from the US/Korea free trade agreement, this again is not an issue.
• Inconsistencies: At the time that I was ready to order, I was reading a lot in the forums as well as talking directly to SE 5-Way owners that were having issues with their SE5. It sounds as if several went out with issues. For Hidition, I did not hear about any issues from owners but it is not a fair comparison as there is much less conversation than with the SE5.
• Source: The SE5 sounds as if it requires or screams for a better source which can get very expensive. My NT6pro sounds incredible even with a $16 clip+ and nothing else - it gets better with source as well, but sounds great with everything. My Colorfly C3 plus C&C BH2 $200 combo make me very happy with my NT6pro.

 
In the end, I hope to eventually get the SE5 as well, but I am extraordinarily happy with the NT6pro and would have no regrets if it was my last earphone/headphone. By the way, Electronic/Trance music is awesome with my NT6pro setup. The resolution, layering, and resonance that the NT6pro reveals takes electronic music to another level. The sub bass and extended treble make me feel like I am in a club with waves of sound hitting me from all sides.

 

[zachchen1996]

Hey Zachchen1996,  I was just faced with the same choice and determined that I needed both. However, I only can buy one now so I decided to go with the Hidition NT6 Pro for several reasons:

1. Shipping Issues: Spiral Ear will not ship to the US so you have to pay extra to use a postage forwarding service. This way, you get stuck with any customs issues - especially if you have to ship back for refits or repairs. Hidition is easy EMS shipping with a free trade agreement between US and Korea.
2. Customs: Not everyone gets tagged for customs, but ordering from the US, they are expensive if you get nailed and can delay your shipment for no good reason. Customs seems to be a crap shoot. Hidition, benefiting from the US/Korea free trade agreement, this again is not an issue.
3. Inconsistencies: At the time that I was ready to order, I was reading a lot in the forums as well as talking directly to SE 5-Way owners that were having issues with their SE5. It sounds as if several went out with issues. For Hidition, I did not hear about any issues from owners but it is not a fair comparison as there is much less conversation than with the SE5.
4. Source: The SE5 sounds as if it requires or screams for a better source which can get very expensive. My NT6pro sounds incredible even with a $16 clip+ and nothing else - it gets better with source as well, but sounds great with everything. My Colorfly C3 plus C&C BH2 $200 combo make me very happy with my NT6pro.

In the end, I hope to eventually get the SE5 as well, but I am extraordinarily happy with the NT6pro and would have no regrets if it was my last earphone/headphone. By the way, Electronic/Trance music is awesome with my NT6pro setup. The resolution, layering, and resonance that the NT6pro reveals takes electronic music to another level. The sub bass and extended treble make me feel like I am in a club with waves of sound hitting me from all sides.

Thanks, this definitely helps with the decision. That description of the nt6pros with electronic sounds delicious It appears that upon further reading in forums that there might be inconsistencies with the se5s Quote

"Big gossip-y news about the SE5! It's apparently been revamped for whatever reason (cost to manufacture, etc.) and the sound quality has decreased! A number of people bought it on or after April 2012 and were like What this isn't how it's been described?!? Somebody who had an older set bought a new set around this time and found the new set to be much inferior to the old pair. He ended up selling the new set to some poor sap."