NiceHCK EB2 (sub-flagship earbuds!)
Pros:
Very wide / deep / involving sound-stage.
Excellent resolution & micro detail retrieval (with no sibilance!)
Accurate imaging and layering of instruments.
Analogue/warm/bright tuning - retaining a refined midrange.
Cons:
The shells are very small – so donut foam/rubber is required in order to achieve a good seal.
The cable could be produced with a longer length > 1.5m.
Sub-bass presentation could be a tad more forward.
Build, comfort & fit:
Build quality of the metal shells is excellent & the silver cable helps to retrieve micro detail, whilst being non-microphonic, tangle free and pliable. (Unlike EBX shell adjustments are not needed.) In-ear the comfort level is awesome - they’re incredibly light – making the burn-in process an absolute breeze! Once a good seal is achieved, bass quantity & resolution increases. A better fit also adds weight to instrumentation…helping to convey a “live” performance feeling to high-resolution recordings. The impending release of a (2.5mm plug) balanced version, should help to further micro detailing, extend 3D holophonics & add more “air” to the sound-stage.
Sound signature:
EB2’s sound signature is addictive & tuned to be bright without ever being sharp or brash. They manage to present plenty of micro detail retrieval, alongside a warm and analogue tonality, to convey levels of intimacy only seemingly achieved with more expensive TOtL buds!
Composing and mixing tracks with EB2 buds is a real joy – A wide and deep soundstage is experienced, generating holophonic imagery, which is coupled with accurate layering of instruments - consequently, they completely avoid any feeling of congestion.
Response to EQ:
EB2 sound fantastic out of the box with any quality sources, driven by phones or high-res DAP's. They also respond well to being EQ’d across the entire frequency spectrum range: 20 – 23kHz.
– boosting the lower frequency range certainly helps to increase presence of bass & sub-bass.
– boosting midrange / high treble frequencies adds sparkle without succumbing to sibilance!
Genre/listening preferences:
These buds especially excel with: electronica, soundscapes and binaural recordings.
Additionally, they seem to handle all genres effortlessly from pop > rock > classical > jazz & especially suit female vocals - hence they are a great all-rounder!
Comparisons:
Moondrop VX-Pro vs EB2
Having similar sized metal housings to EB2 - the VX-Pro are considerably heavier - the extra weight makes them prone to fatigue & falling out. Like the EB2 they have a wide sound-stage -once a good seal is obtained. However they do lack the same level of SQ, clarity and resolving power of the EB2. Because of the weight issue and being prone to sibilance as a consequence of slightly brash forward mids - I stopped using these buds & they're currently being re-cabled for balanced output.
Campfred 1 vs EB2
The CampFreds ooze quality from the jack plug / cable / Y-splitter to the shells. They convey a more intimate experience, coupled with more weight of instrumentation and vocals. The sound-stage is definitely more 3D, airy and holophonic – whilst retaining overall warmth & intimacy. CampFreds are slightly more refined, the EB2 however have more raw energy. Both buds complement each other perfectly for a wide range of genres imo.
Conclusions & Verdict:
It’s testament to the EB2’s sound quality (& flagship brother EBX) - that they can compete with more expensive TOtL buds. They have a very moreish and addictive sound signature that is involving and pulls you in - maximising the listening experience, whilst unveiling previously hidden details.
Bass resolution is accurate and fast, alongside mids that are not extended too far forward into the mix – in order to maintain the refined tonality. Their presentation remains refreshing during continual listening sessions - with no hint of fatigue. In my opinion, JIm at NiceHCK has set a new standard for budget value earbuds…and thus EB2 will always remain a TOtL keeper!!!
· Sound signature:
4.5/5
· Soundstage:
5/5
· Micro-details:
5/5
· Bass:
4.5/5
· Mids:
4.5/5
· Treble:
4,5/5
· Value:
5/5
Now I'm really curious about Moonbuds.
I suspect it is the coating on the cable - if I rub my finger along it, it sounds like someone is rubbing on my ear. I guess the White and the Black will both be "sitting on the couch while reading" buds.
