NiceHCK Tears - Musical Budget Pick
Recently, budget IEMs are getting launched one after another from different brands with different tuning and presentation approach. Following this, NiceHCK has introduced the new budget IEM - NiceHCK Tears, priced around 30$, claiming to have some interesting features like DSP and openback design at this price point. I recently had the chance to try them out and let's see how it performs and whether if it is worth the price.
UNBOXING, BUILD & ACCESSORIES
Unboxing is pretty simple and straight forward with things kept inside a compact square box with magnetic top. For the accessories they provide a set of normal silicone eartips (5 pairs), a soft leather pouch, 2pin Type C cable along with a cable tie.
The build is fully plastic and the shells are so lightweight that I didn't feel them when they're on my ears. Comfort wise, they really fit me well and I didn't have any pressure issues either. The cable quality is good considering the price, and this Type C variant has inline mic support along with playback control button.
SOUND
The overall sound is slightly V-shaped and somewhat warm. The sound is smooth and easy to listen to, with enough energy to avoid being dull. The Tears is a more musical than analytical performance, making it suitable for long sessions and mixed playlists.
Bass
Bass is decently controlled and clean and provide decent rumble on tracks when needed. Mid-bass has decent punch and stays disciplined without bleeding, keeping the sound clean without bloat.
For the price, the bass quality is better than you would expect in terms of control and natural decay. The texture and dynamics do feel good enough for the price.
Mids
The mids are smooth, natural and easy to enjoy. Vocals sit in a good position, neither too forward nor too distant. Male voices have reasonable body while female voices sound clear and lively without being harsh.
There is a slight warmth in the lower mids that helps many instruments sound more full-bodied and rounded. The upper mids are clearer and more open. While certain recordings may sound slightly thin and coloured in the upper midrange, the overall mids are pleasant and well-balanced.
Treble
Treble is tuned on the safer side, with enough crispness to keep details present without becoming sharp. Higher notes sound clean, and the overall top end stays smooth even during longer sessions.
Detail retrieval is decent and doesn't have the most extended or airy treble presentation, and very busy tracks can expose slight grain or reduced refinement. Still, for everyday listening, the tuning is forgiving and easy to enjoy.
TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Technical performance is quite acceptable considering the price. Imaging is fairly accurate, instrument separation is clean enough, and the soundstage has a decent sense of width but lacks depth. Resolution is good for the price, though not standout against stronger competitors.
I'm not fully sure that this IEM gains from the advertised open-back design, but I personally felt that sonically it works like any other normal IEM.
APP SUPPORT & DSP
The best part about this IEM is their "NiceHCK App" support as the Type C version has inbuilt DSP. The app feels clean, straight forward and easy to use. Unlike some other apps, such as Roseselsa’s RoseLink, this app does not require creating an account to access its features.
Coming to the DSP features, there are three official EQ presets available to choose from - Pop, Balanced & Rock. There is also a 8-band PEQ with adjustable gain to play with and these can be saved and applied under the 'Custom' section. I personally liked the Balanced EQ and carried out my testing with that preset.
One unusual thing I noticed was that whenever I tried changing the EQ value, I heard a popping sound at the moment when the EQ is applied. Sometimes it felt concerning, so I have reported it to the NiceHCK team.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The NiceHCK Tears feels like a product that was tuned with everyday listening in mind. While it may not be the most technical or exciting option in its range, it delivers a solid overall experience with very few obvious weaknesses. Additionally the Type C DSP features gives more room to play with the EQ, so I would suggest choosing the Type C variant rather than 3.5mm termination as it adds up more value to the purchase.
As mentioned earlier, this price bracket also includes IEMs like the Tanchjim Bunny DSP and GK Kunten, which add tough competition in the segment. In the end, it comes down to the listener choosing the right IEM based on their personal sound preference. It is great to see budget IEMs improving so much with new launches, making this category more interesting day by day.
Disclaimer: This unit was provided by NiceHCK for review. Neither the brand nor any individual person has influence over my review and this isn't a paid review. These opinions are completely subjective.
Thank you for your time and let me know if I can improve any further in my upcoming reviews with your suggestions and feedback.