PRICE: $22

PROS:

• Unique W-Shape tuning
• Great presentation
• Good accessory inclusion
• Aesthetically pleasing design
• Well-built stock cable
• Great for waifu lovers
• Rich and smooth bass presentation
• Unique upper mid focused emphasis
• Relaxed treble

CONS:

• Not the most natural tonality
• Bass lacks tactility
• Odd midrange timbre
• Treble can be a little uneven and dull at times
• Not the most technically capable set for the price

WHO THIS SET IS FOR:

• People collecting waifu’s in IEM packaging
• People looking for an upper midrange focused set
• People who want a nostalgic, W-Shape tuned set in 2024
• People who are looking for a aesthetically pleasing and well-fitting IEM
• People looking for a warm and smooth low end

WHO THIS SET ISN’T FOR:

• People who want the a natural sounding set
• People who want a tactile low end
• People who want a balanced midrange timbre
• People who want a well-extended and detailed treble
• People who want the most technically capable hybrid for the price

RECOMMENDED GENRES:

• EDM
• HipHop
• Dubstep
• Specific vocal-centric tracks (not a genre but some vocals sound interesting on these)

SHORT REVIEW: 

In the world of Harman, it’s nice to come back to a time where people weren’t afraid to do odd tuning styles which the DB2 brings to the table. A W-Shape tuning with big bass, forward upper mids and a little peak in the treble for some sparkle is a sound that many sets nowadays just aren’t willing to try. Unfortunately, this also makes the DB2 a very niche set due to the said quirk. But waifu lovers are for sure gonna love this! RECOMMENDED WITH CAVEATS

FULL REVIEW

In the large scheme of things, sound isn’t always the top priority of people buying audio products. Some people buy stuff for how they look, how they feel, how they wear and many other factors.

One particular demographic are those who buy IEMs with the goal to collect anime girls in the cover. Even the most popular audio YouTuber, Crinacle, made a video ranking all the “waifu’s” (as they are known colloquially). That concludes that there indeed is a market for these kinds of products.

But at the end of the day, it’s the sound that most people will base their opinions about a product on. And if something doesn’t sound good, then people won’t rave about it. So how can you balance good sound and effective marketing? Well, by being consistent of course! Let’s talk about a set that meets a very specific criteria for those who enjoy a sound signature like this, the $20 NiceHCK DB2!

DISCLAIMER: The DB2 was sent in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not compensated in any way to say anything about the product and all my thoughts and opinions are my own. 

THE WAIFU WAR WAGES!

Amongst the many companies that has been releasing IEMs with waifu’s, you’ll be surprised to know that NiceHCK has been releasing products with them for quite a while. They’ve taken it a step further recently with almost all of their products like the NiceHCK EB2s, YDX, DB1 and the topic for today’s video, the DB2 including such. 

But outside of that, NiceHCK is a brand many of you should be familiar with for releasing some of the nicest looking cables and popularizing the NX7 connector used in many beloved sets like the BLON IEMs, TFZ IEMs and, obviously, NiceHCK’s own IEMs. It’s not entirely clear if they developed it themselves, but they certainly popularized it to the point where their very own IEM is the name for the connector itself. 

The DB2 is an IEM that follows a very familiar set-up with a single DD complemented by a single BA on the nozzle. It’s a comfortable and well-known set-up that many sets in the budget segment do to stand out from the competition. So how does the DB2 stand out? Let’s start with the unboxing experience. 

UNBOXING

As you might expect, the DB2’s unboxing experience is the highlight of the package. Featuring their waifu named “Tian Hui”, the packaging is sure to lure in those seeking to collect all the IEM waifu’s for their collection. 

But that’s not the end of the DB2’s solid first impression. Opening the box and laying out the accessories, you realize that NiceHCK didn’t skimp out on offering a solid unboxing experience. 

Here is a full list of the accessories: 

• DB2 IEMs
• Cable
• 7 pair of eartips
• Photocard
• Pleather case
• Paperwork

I’m seriously impressed with NiceHCK’s effort of including a solid set of accessories with the DB2. The eartips are a mix of the basic silicone eartips and the 07 style of eartips that I personally swear by as the most reliable eartips in the market. 

It also comes with a nice leather magnet pouch that, despite not really being a pouch to protect the IEMs from pressure, is more than enough to protect it from scratches and makes it very pocketable. 

But the highlight is definitely that photocard. Even I, who isn’t really fond of these illustrations as the other people might, thought that the card was really high quality and well-made. The printing had different finishes and textures to it to really sell the idea that they have the best waifu in the market.

BUILD & FIT

Another aspect of the IEM where NiceHCK did not compromise in is the build and fit department. First, let’s talk internals. 

The DB2 follows from the DB3’s hybrid set-up with a single 10mm titanium-plated graphene diaphragm and a single balanced armature inside the sound tube or nozzle. This is all housed in a PC cavity with a 0.78 2-pin NX7 connector. This is a very familiar set-up that many IEMs in the budget realm have used in the past. 

Where the DB2 really stands out is with its aesthetics and form. Most in-ears in this price range has a rather predictable form, shape and aesthetic that usually try to balance cost with quality. The DB2 on the other hand looks and feels like a much more expensive IEM. 

The faceplate is the first thing that stands out as it’s very reminiscent of their more expensive NX7 MK4 that also stood out for being a gorgeous IEM. The difference? DB2 costs $20 and NX7 MK4 costs over $100. Granted, I have not yet seen or tried the NX7 to say that they’re the same. But aesthetically, both sets are absolutely gorgeous.

Another aspect that stands out is the rather petite inner shell design. Most hybrid IEMs often have to sacrifice size to fit the internal components with enough breathing space. This is especially true in multi driver hybrids. The DB2 only has 2 drivers and doesn’t have to be oversized to accommodate for the drivercount, and NiceHCK knew this and made a respectably thin but aptly sized shell.

It’s very comfy and stable, despite not having any wings to dig into your ear. I found long listening sessions to be perfectly solemn on my ears and I am able to move around without the fear of the IEMs popping out of my ear. 

And if you thought NiceHCK was done, then you haven’t seen the cable that the DB2 comes in. As you know, NiceHCK is known for their superb cable quality both stock and aftermarket. The DB2 is no exception and it perfectly complements the DB2’s aesthetics. Granted, I do not like budget braided cables from experience, but the DB2 is aesthetically pleasing and is pliable enough that I don’t have any major complaints about its construction. 

SOUND

Sound Signature

The DB2 features a rather odd W shape sound signature with boosted bass, boosted upper mids and boosted mid treble. Now, W-Shape is a sound signature that was very popular back in the day but started to fall out of love when the Harman-style tuning became the norm. This makes the DB2 a rather nostalgic set in some regards, but with certain refinements for it to be more than just a relic piece. However, the timbre might be a little questionable due to this along with the metallic upper frequencies seeping into the overall sound on certain mixes. 

Drivability

With an impedance of 16ohms and sensitivity of 107dB, the DB2 is a relatively easy to drive IEM that sounds great on both lower powered, more inexpensive sources and more powerful and higher quality sources. I didn’t really find much issues when it comes to volume and the DB2 got plenty loud and sounded alright on all sources I plugged it in. This makes it great for those who are looking for an easy to drive set. 

Volume

With its peculiar W shape tuning, the DB2’s volume level will depend completely on your tolerance to each of the peaks of the DB2. The DB2 has a 10db+ bass, upper mids and mid treble that is emphasized due to the resonance peak which will mean it’s less emphasized. If you can handle 10db+ ear gain at 1.75khz, then you can crank the volume of the DB2 pretty high. Otherwise, you’ll be forced to listen to a lower volume. On higher volumes, the bass depth is emphasized and the vocals are pushed forward with a lot of energy while keeping the treble surprisingly clean. Lower listening volumes keep the upper midrange energy and the subbass, but cleans up the midrange a little bit more at the cost of sounding a little recessed. 

Bass

A surprisingly competent bass presentation that extends really well into the subbass with a lot of midbass energy. This kind of bass presentation reminds me of the older, thicker and more midbass centric kind of tuning that was all the rage a few years ago. The DB2 cleans up the bass and extends the bass to go deeper which makes it a considerably more mature sounding bass presentation. However, there is a very clear lack of midbass tactility, nuance and tightness that makes the overall presentation sound a little slow. 

Mids

W-Shaped enthusiasts will have a field day with the DB2s midrange as the energy in the upper midrange is unlike anything I’ve heard before. It somewhat reminds me of flathead earbuds with how engaging and in your face the vocals on the DB2. However, due to the bass energy paired with the elevated upper midrange, the lower mids tend to get drowned in the mix and pushed back in more complex tracks. The upper midrange being boosted with a peak at 1.8khz will also affect the overall timbre and make certain mixes sound shouty and odd. This kind of tuning is for those who want a very focused upper midrange but don’t really care about it sounding natural. 

Treble

The DB2 flexes the single balanced armature on the nozzle by putting it front and center in the treble region. This means that there’s a very distinct sound that you just know is coming from a balanced armature with the mixture of decent detail retrieval and a rather choked upper treble. The metallic timbre is very prominent in this region and causes a little bit of incoherency in the slower low end and brings out a good bit of airiness. It’s not very well-extended and the details are admittedly a little bit surface level, but it does its job to give the single DD much needed upper frequency energy without taking over the entire frequency. 

Technicalities

The technical ability of the DB2 is average overall. Separation is great in the upper frequencies but hindered in the lower frequencies due to the slower overall speed of the driver making it struggle in more complex tracks. Imaging is surprisingly good on the other hand and I am able to pinpoint instruments in a semi-holographic way that is somewhat immersive on some tracks. Dynamics and resolution is quite lacking, unfortunately. 

COMPARISONS

vs KBEar Flash

These two sets have a lot more in common than meets the eye. Besides both sets featuring a single DD + single BA set-up, both sets also feature a similar W-Shaped tuning that, on first listen, will sound eerily close to each other. However, the differences start to show the more you listen to it as the flash is the warmer, more relaxed but somehow more tonally accurate set between the two. The DB2 is the more technically capable and better extended set, but the upper midrange being pushed sooner on the DB2 causes the DB2 to sound more forward and in your face compared to the Flash’s more relaxed and more lush overall sound. The DB2 captures a more unique but potentially weirder sound while the Flash follows a more relaxed version of the tried and tested W-Shape tuning from yesteryears. 

vs KZ ZSN Pro 2

This is where KZ’s evolution over the years proves them to know just how to make a sequel to a beloved set. The ZSN Pro 2 takes the single DD + single BA formula into 2024 with a more refined tuning compared to its competition. This is the same case against the DB2 as the tuning of the ZSN Pro 2 is generally more natural and tamer compared to the DB2 while also being more technically capable. The DB2 does feature a more upper midrange forward and punchier bass presentation but lacks the refinement and technical ability of the ZSN Pro 2. 

vs ND Nice

The ND Nice is another single DD + single BA with a more traditional v-shaped tuning, but instead features the warmer and “newer” tuning style that preceded the current Harman-esque tuning trends. While both sets are the more aggressive style of v-shaped tuning, the DB2 has a more relaxed but more midcentric sound that makes it better for those who enjoy their vocals being in their face. The Nice prioritizes both the bass and the treble more with a more “fun” sound compared to the DB2. Both sets have a similar level of technicalities, but the DB2 has a more precise imaging compared to the Nice while the Nice has better details and cleaner separation. 

vs EPZ K1

Telling a similar story to the Nice, the K1 has a rather aggressive v-shaped tuning but refines every aspect to a level that justifies it’s almost 3 times asking price. My thoughts are essentially the same for the K1 as I did with the Nice, but the K1 improves upon the technicalities and smoothness of the sound for a hybrid IEM. If it’s any consolation, however, the DB2 has a truly unique sound that not even the K1 can replicate, so the DB2 still has a valid use case

CONCLUSION

The DB2 presents itself a nostalgic, unique and well-presented IEM that caters to specific demographics both sonically and aesthetically. I initially found the DB2 to be quite odd until I started to explore the unique presentation that it provided. This W-shaped tuning is something that I know some people really enjoy as there’s a very clear separation between bass, upper mids and treble. 

Is this an IEM I can comfortably recommend to everyone? Probably not. The oddity in its tuning is something that many would call “outdated” in today’s standards and despite being presented really well, the DB2 caters to a very specific demographic that more people would find a little immature or tasteless if you’re harsh. 

Nonetheless, the DB2 is a uniquely presented budget hybrid set with good presentation that’s perfect for enthusiasts in this kind of sound and aesthetic. 

Thank you for reading my full review on the NiceHCK DB2. If you would like to order one, consider using the non-affiliated link below: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806270803774.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.1ca31fb0kghf6y&algo_pvid=6da7ace8-ac03-4e6d-baeb-9ce2a932ded0&aem_p4p_detail=202407300808307167752777711120000760629&algo_exp_id=6da7ace8-ac03-4e6d-baeb-9ce2a932ded0-0&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%2141.80%2122.99%21%21%2141.80%2122.99%21%40213be1e417223521103834200e3b20%2112000037268698326%21sea%21US%210%21ABX&curPageLogUid=Fcj3NXQQa1Od&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A&search_p4p_id=202407300808307167752777711120000760629_1