NICE HCK NX8 IEM Review

[Hayabusa]

wow! you need a new scale for this one: 0 to 1%

 

[Subob]

Guess my question is what precisely do all those drivers do that a single driver can not? Moreover what does using all these different types of drivers add to the overall effect? Maybe there is someone with more experience than me in the IEM niche of this hobby who can supply the received wisdom on that?

As always, nice review Amir.

Personally these look nice as well. going as they do for that "cuff link in the ear" look, but they're a little too "Harmany" for my personal taste. Would be interesting to see this one with a Meta tuning.

Subjectivity alert.

In a nutshell, the number and type of drivers is largely irrelevant. It's all about the 'implementation'.

Take piezoelectric drivers as an example, since I think we'll be seeing more and more of those. Done well, they can give wonderful smooth treble extension and detail retrieval. Done poorly they can sound 'harsh', 'mettalic' and 'unnatural'.

All BA iems tend to lack 'bass punch', and I avoid them, whilst single DD iems done well really can deliver on all fronts.

My guess for the hybrid configuration in this set is the 1 DD is doing all the heavy lifting in the bass department, whilst the 1 piezoelectric is taking care of any niceness in the treble. The 6 BAs are dealing with the mids whilst helping out a bit either end as well, lol.

More drivers does not necessarily mean 'better' sound. In my experience in fact, it can often be a negative, but I think it's become a gimmick now to include as many drivers, and driver types, as possible. As always, ignore the gimmicks and only let your own ears decide what floats your boat.

 

[pangcukaipang]

This version have been sold out in local store here. Only the newly stocked Special Edition available.

Company provided alternative "tubes" (filters) but I didn't see a need to swap them out to test. Since it is impossible to seat an IEM the same twice, it would have been futile to do so anyway unless differences are large and in lower frequencies.

They're identical.

 

[welwynnick]

Thanks Amir, seems great to me.

Nerdy joke: "Here's another IEM with impedance so low that I don't know whether I should drive them with a Topping A900 or B100!"

 

[F1308]

@amirm or others, do we know much about the fit and comfort? My Salnotes Zero Reds are great but head movements cause them to need pushing back in with any of the tips I use. Looking for a replacement and this might be it.

I add a 4 mm O‑ring to each earphone. It builds a little barrier that helps the seal and stops them from falling out with head movement.

https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-Rings-Nitrile-Rubber-Diameter/dp/B07GJRFVLJ/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=1PXAQZJC14HJM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.CUnmF3N1ueKfH2Kjb8HxIBcZ_YCGDnP5TdaIsnMTM_0RwCxcbV979Xc5ZQlqH8-ZTJv4RzGrv-D3mpZL-APRUCOYfFzteo8FBNrdIpIpMuw0c4AHJnAkyXI9GDa5avValZ5tSbv2r22f1Y0NnEtex6PT3EpolpeVCEDjnsawNl1kNR67ThhgRzTyWLJqVHNRYiRuqBlL9Y5DxxGIO7QF3Q.DcwRAtRBJjLIHTfFeKkNaR4urfu8ijCUOTgakCTl8g0&dib_tag=se&keywords=4mm+o-ring&qid=1772531677&sprefix=4mm+o-ri%2Caps%2C232&sr=8-4

 

[F1308]

Thanks so much for the review — I really appreciate the time and dedication you put into these measurements. Your analyses actually convinced me to buy the Topping Hane, and I couldn’t be happier with them. With the unit set to 0100, a 4 mm O‑ring to improve the seal, and their measured ~61‑ohm impedance, they’re just perfect for my Fantom 8. I’m so pleased with this setup that I honestly don’t feel the need to keep searching for anything else… although I’m sure you’ll eventually convince me again with something that truly improves the sound — probably before 2040!

 

[delta76]

Am I correct that this only has a minimal better distortion than Truthear x Crinacle Zero:RED but almost 4 times more expensive? Am I missing something

 

[capslock]

Compared to the Zero 2 review. The Zero 2 is still lower distortion. Not much of a difference except that the NX8 have their highest (still just below the bar) distortion at 1 kHz out of all places. Just based on objective measurements, I still think the Zero 2 are better. The only objective thing in favor of the NX8 I see is that they need even less (or even no) EQ.

So it comes down to comfort and perceived sound quality.

Any place that ships to Europe to that sells them? Ebay and Amazon don't. Google finds two sellers on Aliexpress at ~ €250, but when I click on them, Ali does not find the page. Search within Ali just turns up original cables.

I found them on dhgate for $123 but then dhgate also offers Sony XM5 headphones for $60 and XM6 for $90 which are sure to be fakes.

 

[delta76]

Compared to the Zero 2 review. The Zero 2 is still lower distortion. Not much of a difference except that the NX8 have their highest (still just below the bar) distortion at 1 kHz out of all places. Just based on objective measurements, I still think the Zero 2 are better. The only objective thing in favor of the NX8 I see is that they need even less (or even no) EQ.

So it comes down to comfort and perceived sound quality.

Any place that ships to Europe to that sells them? Ebay and Amazon don't. Google finds two sellers on Aliexpress at ~ €250, but when I click on them, Ali does not find the page. Search within Ali just turns up original cables.

I found them on dhgate for $123 but then dhgate also offers Sony XM5 headphones for $60 and XM6 for $90 which are sure to be fakes.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008113784727.html

 

[tccalvin]

In the end really, why would you need them if you already have the Zero 2 or something like that? I would consider these only if they were more comfortable to wear.

Right... why would anyone get these instead of the Zero:2?

 

[Matias]

Am I correct that this only has a minimal better distortion than Truthear x Crinacle Zero:RED but almost 4 times more expensive? Am I missing something

Distortion by itself there are even lower ones like 7Hz Zero 2, but these are way low already, so IMO FR and comfort are more important factors to distinguish between them.

 

[delta76]

Distortion by itself there are even lower ones like 7Hz Zero 2, but these are way low already, so IMO FR and comfort are more important factors to distinguish between them.

FR are great for Zero:2 and Zero:RED too, so that's down to comfort. which is very much subjective

Right... why would anyone get these instead of the Zero:2?

preferences. and maybe FOMO.
- people might like the look of this
- this could be better built (I think most people with Zero:2 think it's cheap made)
- "it's more expensive so it must sound better"

 

[Matias]

A shame noone, including Truthear, sent a Hexa and Pure for Amir to review. Donors, anyone? I already sent the the $ for the Gate.

 

[capslock]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008113784727.html

 

[capslock]

Distortion by itself there are even lower ones like 7Hz Zero 2, but these are way low already, so IMO FR and comfort are more important factors to distinguish between them.

Not which one you meant to say has lower distortion. The Zero 2 is only "worse" below 40 Hz where sensitivity to distortion is low anyway, and it remains below the bar. It is lower everywhere else, whereas I would be a little concerned about the 1 kHz distortion of the NX8 which is about 12 db higher than the Zero 2.

 

[Matias]

Usually distortion is a lot more critical in the mid range like 1-2 kHz, where its harmonics fall in the lowest region / threshold level of the equal-loudness contour. So in that sense the 7Hz Zero 2 has lower perceived distortion.

 

[delta76]

View attachment 514951

poor you, the seller probably has a deal with a local retailer
same for me with 3e Audio, they only sell through audiophonics

 

[Tell]

Objectively great, but for the price these are just meh.

 

[AndreaT]

Excellent review. I am concerned about the super low impedance, and I already have a collection of IEMs, the easiest item to hide from wife…more IEMs than I can remember. So, I guess this will be a pass.

 

[phoenixsong]

My first experience with the company was a long time back when I was purchasing iem cables (yep you heard that right!) Got over that phase years ago and had renewed interest in them after their budget single DD iem, the Tears, made waves recently. It has a proclaimed "acoustic labyrinth chamber", and that, along with my past experience with them regarding cables, roused a bit of skepticism. Good to see that their iems have actual technical chops and are objectively performant