NiceHCK Rockies English Review

 

The Mountains Bring NiceHCK Closer to Heaven

 

Ratings

 

Construction and Design
88
Adjustment/Ergonomics
93
Accessories
94
Bass
95
Mids
93
Treble
92
Separation
92
Soundstage
88
Quality/Price
88

 

Pros

 

  • Great performance and execution in the low range.
  • Very good adjustment to the META curve with EST treble.
  • Excellent accessories: three sets of tips and round leather case.
  • Original cable made from a blend of silver-plated Furukawa copper and ultra-high purity 7N OCC.
  • Tri-hybrid model with 10mm beryllium-plated 1DD + 2BA Knowles + 2 Sonion EST.
  • Outer shell made from natural Pietersite stone.
  • Simple design, effective ergonomics.

 

Cons

 

  • The adjustment to the META curve can result in somewhat bland mids, a step further away that detracts from the excitement of the sound.
  • The cable is a little stiff and does not have an adjustment pin for the chin.

 

Purchase Link

 

https://nicehck.com/products/nicehck-rockies-flagship-hybrid-iems
https://hangout.audio/products/nicehck-rockies

 

Link to the WEB

 

https://nicehck.com

 

Introduction

 

The well-known AliExpress audio store NiceHCK, famous for its cables, earbuds, and IEMS, has just launched its most ambitious project to date. If the NiceHCK EBX25Ti earbuds were some of the best earbuds I’ve reviewed, now it’s the turn of some IEMS that have already been endorsed by the most famous headphone reviewer on the planet, Crinacle. These are the flagship NiceHCK Rockies tri-hybrid IEMS, which feature a 10mm beryllium-coated dynamic driver, two Knowles balanced armatures, and two Sonion hybrid electrostatic drivers. The sound profile is tuned to the new META reference standard, which has led Crinacle himself to be the first to sell these IEMS from his store.
The outer panel is made of natural Pietersite stone. Due to the unique characteristics of natural minerals, each panel has different and varied patterns.
The capsules are made of 3D-printed resin and are ergonomically designed with curved surfaces.
The original cable is made from a blend of silver-plated Furukawa copper and ultra-high purity 7N OCC. It benefits from the ultra-low resistance afforded by the large 19 AWG cable diameter. It features a removable screw-on plug mechanism with 4.4mm BAL and 3.5mm SE gold-plated connectors. The connection interface is the classic and successful 2-pin 0.78mm.
To round off the accessories, the Rockies come with original blue-core silicone tips specially designed for this model, the classic NiceHCK 07 tips, and the new NiceHCK C04 liquid silicone tips. As you would expect, the Rockies come with a beautiful and spacious round case with a gold zipper made of genuine leather, as well as other small accessories that add to the premium value that the packaging itself highlights from a great unboxing experience.
Let’s take a look at everything NiceHCK’s latest flagship model has to offer, part of the mountain collection that began with the previous Himalaya model.

 

 

Specifications

 

  • Driver Type: 1DD 10mm beryllium-plated + 2BA Knowles + 2 Sonion EST.
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz.
  • Sensitivity: 121dB/Vrms (1kHz).
  • Impedance: 9.8Ω (1kHz).
  • Outer Shell Material: Natural Pietersite Stone.
  • Capsule Material: Resin.
  • Cable Material: Silver-plated Furukawa Copper + 7N OCC Blend.
  • Plug type: Interchangeable with 4.4mm BAL and 3.5mm SE gold-plated screw mechanism.
  • Capsule connection type: 2Pin 0.78mm.
  • Starting price: $499.

 

 

Packaging

 

It’s clear that NiceHCK knows how to create a quality presentation that elevates the unboxing experience of its premium products. Although, at first glance, the Rockies box may seem rather bland and simple, blue with white lettering and the Rocky Mountains in the center of the front. In the upper left corner is the brand’s new logo. A little further down, centered, is the model name and, below that, the driver configuration. At the bottom of the box is the brand name and slogan. The dimensions of the moderately large box are 228x139x92mm. The back of the box shows the model specifications and brand information. When the outer cardboard is removed, a box is revealed with the model name in the center that opens lengthwise. Inside, a sheet of tissue paper with multiple white brand logos protects the contents. Below, you can see the capsules embedded in a thick black foam panel. They have the cable connected, and underneath there is a cardboard cover that protects the coiled cable. The cable is held in place by a purple leather sheet with magnets and a white plastic-coated metal wire. It is connected to the 4.4 mm balanced gold-plated plug, which is protected by a translucent plastic cover. At the top of the foam layer, there is a black fabric tape to remove this first part. Underneath is the beautiful round brown leather case with a gold zipper that works very smoothly and a small carabiner of the same color. Underneath are two small boxes with the rest of the accessories, one on top of the other. The complete contents are as follows:

 

  • The two Rockies capsules.
  • The modular cable with two interchangeable ends: 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm BAL.
  • A round case with a zipper made of genuine leather.
  • A cleaning brush.
  • Two white plastic boxes for storing the silicone tips.
  • Three pairs of gray silicone tips with blue cores specially designed for this model, sizes SxMxL.
  • A set of four pairs of NiceHCK 07 tips, sizes SxMxLxXL.
  • A set of four pairs of NiceHCK C04 liquid silicone tips, sizes SxMxLxXL.
  • Metal skin tape for winding the cable.
  • A user manual.
  • A warranty certificate card.

 

The case is high quality, smells like genuine leather, and is brown in color. The zipper works smoothly, and the size of the case is ideal for storing the set. The cable lives up to what you would expect from NiceHCK, a brand that has very good cables to its credit. It is thick, four-stranded, and has interchangeable screw-on connectors. The only downside is that it does not have a chin strap adjustment clip. There are 12 silicone tips in total, divided into three sets of four sizes; the new blue core tips and the transparent, adhesive liquid silicone tips stand out.
The packaging is clearly in line with the price, without being pretentious. On this occasion, NiceHCK has achieved a balance between very suitable packaging, high-quality accessories, and an effective, simple, and attractive format overall. A very good combination.

 

 

Construction and Design

 

The capsules of the NiceHCK Rockies are made of 3D-printed resin. The outer face panel is made of natural pietersite stone. Due to the unique characteristics of natural minerals, each panel has different and varied patterns.
The outer face is almost triangular in shape with rounded corners, one of which is more rounded than the other two. The model name is written in silver letters on the right side, and the brand name is written on the left side.
The capsule has a slightly semi-custom shape, very rounded on the inner face, but without a protrusion on the edge. The interior is black. The connection interface is fully integrated into the capsule, but it is not superficial; rather, it is slightly recessed. Near this interface there are two holes on the edge, one on each side of the vertex.
On the inner side there are two inscriptions in white: the right capsule says “R 0262” and the left one “0262 L.”
The nozzles are metallic and gray, with three diameters: a very small base, a central area of 5.6mm, and a crown of 6.4mm. The total length is 5.1mm. The nozzles are protected by a wide, separate metal mesh that is not dense.
The cable is composed of four strands of silver-plated Furukawa copper and ultra-high purity OCC 7N mixed together. It has a thick and heavy appearance. It has a two-pin interchangeable mechanism (4.4mm BAL and 3.5mm SE). The black cylindrical metal sleeve unscrews to reveal the connection mechanism with four gold-plated pins. There is one pin in the center and three others around it, forming a triangle. There is a stopper on the fixed part and an inscribed triangle on the plug to align the connectors and maintain the correct polarity. The plug sleeve features the brand logo and name. Its surface is matte. The splitter piece is of the same type, approximately half the size, and bears the model name in white letters. In the center of this piece is a gold Allen screw. It has no adjustment pin, something I cannot understand in a brand as expert in cables as NiceHCK.
The 0.78 mm 2-pin connector housings are black metal cylinders that match the rest of the cable. There is a red and white circular groove (why not blue?) that indicates the channel. The two gold-plated pins are mounted on whitish rectangular bases that do not insert completely into the body of the capsules. On one of the long sides of the base, there is a groove that indicates the polarity. The cable has ear guides.
The highlight of the capsule is the outer panel made of natural Pietersite stone, which forms a unique pattern on each capsule. Each capsule is handmade. The construction is 3D-printed resin. The weight is not very high and the internal design is nothing special. The surface is very smooth and, due to its shiny black color, attracts fingerprints.
I find the cable to be excellent and very suitable for the price. The only drawbacks are that it is a bit stiff and does not have a chin strap adjustment pin—an oversight?

 

 

Adjustment and Ergonomics

 

The capsules are medium-sized, with a slightly semi-custom rounded design, without many complications or protrusions on the edge. The fit is quite loose and the capsules can be rotated until they sit comfortably in the ear. They are lightweight and do not exert too much pressure on the ear. The nozzles are somewhat thick and not too long, but they allow for the use of many types of silicone tips. I chose the large C04 tips that come with the accessories and filled them with homemade foam. With these, I get a perfect seal thanks to the adhesive effect of the liquid silicone, as they increase the contact surface by exerting pressure on the walls of my ear canal with the foam inside. The level of isolation is very high, as is the comfort of the combination.
The insertion is shallow, although it can be medium in certain cases if you have a wide ear canal. However, the nozzles are not very long.
Thanks to their rounded shape and lack of protrusions, they fit very comfortably, with no pressure on the inner ear, only on the tips, and no friction. The cable is well secured with its guides and does not add extra weight, even though it is heavy. The set is comfortable for long sessions and for everyday use, for example, for commuting to work on public transport. However, I do not recommend it for sports due to the thickness and stiffness of the cable.

 

 

Sound

 

Profile

 

The NiceHCK Rockies headphones, sponsored and available for purchase at the Crinacle store, have a profile that mostly matches the famous Meta curve, but are slightly brighter in their extension. When compared to any profile measured with the classic IEC60318-4 (711) Occluded-ear Simulator microphone, it can be seen that their curve is based on a fairly balanced profile across their entire frequency response, with peaks and valleys moving within a difference of less than 10 dB. It starts with an excited sub-bass that slopes gently down to the midrange in a linear fashion. The central range is fairly flat, full, and without pronounced valleys, rising slightly towards a gentle boost in the pavilion gain zone (upper midrange) before dropping quickly towards low-to-medium energy highs that are well extended. Many think that this type of profile, so fashionable although with slight variations, is boring because it has no surprises, peaks, or valleys. For me, the most important thing is that it has no pronounced valleys and that the midrange is much fuller, more physical, and more corporeal than other V or W profiles, not to mention a good low end well grounded from the sub-bass.

 

 

Bass

 

The Rockies’ dedicated dynamic bass driver has a 10 mm beryllium-coated diaphragm. This combination produces physical, deep, fast, precise, full-bodied, technical, and energetic bass. This is noticeable from the outset and becomes evident in the very low frequency pure tone test. The first audible tone is perceived as very deep, with great sensory and physical impact, and with little audible ripple or power. This creates a sense of realism, physicality, strength, depth, and punch, combined with a high physical component. The first tone is real and natural, a real pleasure for my ears. As the frequencies rise, it becomes more audible, but also more physical, without the appearance of the undulating/vibrating component, and a great sensory component is maintained without a trace of coloration. The last note of the sub-bass test is canonical, like the rest: clean, real, natural, powerful, physical, and forceful. There is no trace of coloration or vibration to alter the result of the bass performance.
In the real world, this behavior results in powerful, well-defined, dry bass with a good dose of low roughness texture, punch, forcefulness, and physical and sensory components. The bass is limited in its midrange, so it is not very elastic or rubbery, but just enough to remain in the environment and generate volume. It is characterized more by a deep base, not too dark, but generous in energy and in the sensory base that floods the ears. Although this physical component is accentuated, these are not predominant bass tones, of the Bass-Heads type, but rather they meet and satisfy the needs of Bass-Lovers: they are forceful, energetic, punchy, lively, full-bodied, physical, deep, and just the right amount of dark. On the other hand, it is very effective, precise, concise, fast, with low decay and quick in its impact.
Their performance in the dirty, complex, unfiltered bass test is impressive. The quality of execution is very high. The Rockies are capable of recreating the complex situations in this bass test without showing the slightest hint of uncontrolled behavior. Everything sounds tremendously natural and is very well balanced, with a realism that makes the test as simple and harmless as child’s play. The Rockies can follow any bass line, no matter how complex, and reproduce it very accurately and without artifice. Respect for other frequencies is excellent, with no mixing whatsoever, a feeling of ultra-low distortion, and a great ability to follow complex and dirty bass lines. The bass is represented with outstanding resolution, is very well layered, and is very adept at delivering naturalness and precision in complex or murky situations. It’s exemplary.

 

 

Mids

 

The transition to the midrange from the deep, physical bass is very clean. And, without a doubt, this transition represents the most pronounced dip in the Rockies’ frequency response. This is noticeable, as it dissipates a certain sense of warmth and limits the foundation and physicality of the early midrange. There is no sense of muddiness, but the physicality of male voices is perceived as slightly reduced, although a good level of neutrality and a very appropriate and natural timbre are achieved. On the other hand, what for me could be a slight negative, due to the lack of strength in this initial stage, is actually a considerable advantage, as the sense of realism in the tone is much more accurate and closer to reality.
The male voices play a prominent role, sounding full and complete, but not in the foreground, rather in a present background that moves closer and further away with great realism, creating an almost three-dimensional, tangible, and present image and positioning. As I said, they could use a little more body to take on a complete form, but they are very rich, exuberant, and even have a very attractive passionate spark.
The instrumentation in this first half is forceful but not oppressive. As with the male voices, there is a lot of air and clarity in the performance, thanks to a warmth that generates a degree of natural musicality. The presentation is not dense or perceived as a wall of sound, but rather softer and more delicate, something that is noticeable in its origin from balanced armature drivers in transition with a very well-trimmed dynamic driver. In this way, the instruments never become opaque and the denser passages enjoy a sense of space, expansion, transparency, and freedom that improves the relationship with the vocals.
The vast majority of the midrange is very balanced and based on a subtly rising plateau. There is only a small peak around 3 kHz to enhance the sparkle in a measured way. The Meta curve has just the right amount of treble. Thus, the upper mids are perceived as almost warmer than the lower mids, something that many people may consider boring, but which, in reality, is much more organic and natural, nothing artificial or forced. Adjusting to this curve means forgetting any sense of sparkle, any sprinkled, bright, and elevated elements. However, the Rockies do not sound muted, clipped, or overly soft. That is their great advantage: the possibility of enjoying a Meta curve that does not sound completely boring, that does not generate overwhelming mids, and that remains delicate, fine, and very precise, as well as natural and realistic. This is achieved with two good BAs, which are very fast, effective, decisive, complete, complex, and well mixed. The feeling of transparency and cleanliness is very high, as I said, without resorting to tricks or artifices. Sibilance tends toward zero, transients are very fast, and the attack of the notes is almost immediate, but without sounding metallic or synthetic. In this sense, there is a clear analytical touch in the presentation of the mids, but without any coldness. The more I observe the midrange, the more I realize the excellent informative capacity of the Rockies and their high level of resolution at the service of very natural mids.

 

 

Treble

 

Although I have reviewed many IEMS, the Rockies are the first ones I have analyzed with EST drivers for treble. Just by looking at the frequency response, it is clear that the overall energy of the treble is limited. However, there are no pronounced valleys or peaks, which results in a much more measured, extended, and realistic high-frequency presence, as there are no muted or boosted frequencies. With many other drivers, this representation of the high frequencies would be insufficient or too shaded. But with BA drivers and, in this case, good ESTs, everything is different, and the treble takes on much more life and prominence than the frequency response would suggest. This is a great advantage: the quality of the treble drivers allows the high end to be adjusted, giving it a more balanced energy level without resorting to tricks to tame it. In this sense, the Rockies are not brilliant IEMs, but their high end is more present than I expected. Without a doubt, the Rockies’ treble has a very good presence: it has sparkle, brightness, a lot of delicacy and finesse, all with a limited but balanced and well-extended energy level.
As I said, the EST’s high frequencies give it that extra sparkle, crispness, sharpness, elevation, finesse, and incisiveness, but without sounding shrill or overly piercing. There is a refined and crisp clarity in the high frequencies, handled with great rigor, naturalness, and realism. Some may find it insufficient and that the Rockies’ treble is not good enough to rescue them from boredom. But, in my opinion, the Rockies’ treble is in an excellent position, very much in line with the natural balance of the rest of the ranges. In addition, their excellent extension gives the sound an extra dose of air and a full harmonic register to all notes, without any lack of extension in this regard. Do not attempt this with other lower quality drivers.

 

 

Soundstage, Separation

 

The Rockies scene is more realistic and natural than impressive. It does not particularly stand out for its size or three-dimensionality. It is certainly perceived as a large, wide, high, and deep space, but more contained than other more volatile and gaseous ensembles. However, this further enhances its attachment to a realistic, unpretentious, but very well-executed sound. I don’t miss anything in the size of the scene, it is very well distributed across all axes, the laterality is more than noticeable and there is a certain surrounding component, but the sound does not come out of the head. Nevertheless, there is a three-dimensional impression of the voices and instruments, which are able to gain body and volume, and move around the stage, creating a very realistic recreation. This is a rare sensation that I have not achieved with almost any other set, which implies an excellent image impression.
The stratification is remarkable, as is the separation and generation of layers. At the bottom is the limit, and despite the great analytical and informative capacity, the micro-detail is not perceived as well separated, and the EST highs are somewhat more brilliant and are located closer, which subtly prevents a clearer, cleaner, and more discernible visibility of those subtle nuances. But, as I say, very much in the background.
On the other hand, the sound is very clean, transparent, airy, precise, and defined, with great resolution. It is not a technical beast, it is not analytical in the clinical sense of the word, but rather more decisive and defined. All this implies a good level of separation of fine, delicate, and fast notes, and a fairly clean background, only altered by that subtle sparkle in the treble that shines in the environment on certain occasions.

 

 

Comparisons

 

Yanyin Canon Pro 11

 

My benchmark for many hybrid multi-driver IEMs has been the Yanyin Canon Pro. These are IEMs with a 10 mm dynamic driver with LCP diaphragm and six BAs, four electronic crossovers, and four physical ducts. They are made of resin using 3D printing. Their starting price was $399.99, but now they can be purchased for $319.99, which is a great discount.
In terms of design, both models are very similar in size and shape. The Canon Pro has a slightly more streamlined, almost custom design. The Rockies are a little thicker and subtly larger. This affects comfort, as the inner side is almost the same and the ergonomics are almost identical, although I would say that the Canon Pro is a little more comfortable because it is slightly smaller and more streamlined.
In terms of design, the Pietersite natural stone outer plate makes the Rockies very special, but I might like the Canon Pros a little more because of their outer pattern and sharper shape.
As for accessories, the leather case is the same size and shape, but the leather is genuine, and the zipper and extra key ring are also better. It includes an extra set of silicone tips, and both come with a set of crystal liquid silicone tips. The Canon Pro cable deserves a special mention for its four thick strands of shiny copper in such a striking and unique color. The Rockies cable is slightly thinner and stiffer. It does not include a pin for adjustment under the chin, but it is modular with a screw thread. Even so, the fact that it is modular is a great option, but I prefer the Canon Pro cable.
The Canon Pro has an additional feature: two switches that allow for four different tunings with slight differences. There is a tuning whose bass is almost identical to that of the Rockies. However, I wanted to use the setting I like best, with the switches in the On-On position, which provides more bass and a slightly higher lift from the sub-bass, with a very similar shape. The shape of the midrange curve is very similar, and the difference lies in the upper mids. The mids on the Canon Pros rise more from 1 kHz, but are cut more in the horn gain. Then, the highs are very comparable, with slightly more overall energy on the Rockies.
The Rockies are harder to drive; they clearly need more power to deliver the same sound pressure.
Starting with the bass, both models are excellent, but let’s see which one is best. In reality, there are differences in timbre and presentation. The bass on the Canon Pro seems wider, darker, and rougher. The Rockies have a more concise punch, a slightly more colored tone, but they are more precise, dry, and defined. In the very low frequency pure tone test, the first tone of both IEMS is very similar in terms of sensory capacity, low vibratory character, and power level. From the second tone onwards, the differences can be seen in the amount of power and physicality, which is greater in the Canon Pro, but not in the presentation, behavior, loudness, and timbre. It is surprising that the very low frequency pure tone test yields such a similar result, when in reality there are more differences in music. But this gives an idea that both IEMS have excellent bass performance.
In the dirty, complex, unfiltered bass test, the result is also very even. The Canon Pro sounds darker, while the Rockies are somewhat cleaner and drier, but with a little more color. The test is inconclusive, but after listening to many bass-heavy playlists, I lean toward the darker, more powerful thickness of the Canon Pro. Those looking for more technical skill and precision, as well as greater neutrality at the expense of some darkness, should choose the Rockies. It’s very difficult.
There are more differences in the midrange: the Rockies are slightly more neutral, while the Canon Pros are denser. This is noticeable in the male vocals, which are slightly more physical and darker on the Canon Pros. The bass is slightly wider and more full-bodied on the Canon Pros, while on the Rockies it sounds a little more distant and bright. I like that more physical aspect of the Canon Pros, as I’ve always said.
The mids are heavier, warmer, and denser on the Canon Pro; in contrast, the Rockies sound more vivid, but a little more distant, as they have a little more lightness. The Canon Pro is more overwhelming in the first half of the midrange spectrum, as it sounds more present and conveys a sense of physicality, fullness, and closeness. The Rockies are more neutral and less overwhelming.
Something similar happens in the second half. Female voices sound more sparkling in the Rockies, while in the Canon Pro they are clearly wider, with a broader base, more present and closer, as well as warmer. The Rockies have a clearer, cleaner, and more transparent second half of the midrange; the notes are finer and have more advantageous definition.
The sound of the Canon Pro is drier and more muted, giving it a flat feel, despite having a prominent midrange. The Rockies are more fluid, refined, defined, and sparkling; there is more brightness and sparkle in their sound. Now I understand that brilliance everyone talks about coming from EST drivers. This gives them greater balance across all ranges, more light, a sense of transparency, resolution, and distance between elements. The Rockies are more technical, refined, delicate, and precise, as well as subtly more analytical. They have more eye-catching macro detail and micro detail that is easier to distinguish. But the Canon Pros don’t fall short in terms of detail, even if their presentation is not as polished.
In the upper treble range, the NiceHCK compensates for what the Canon Pro lacks. The Canon Pro has more nuanced, flattened, and analog treble. The brightness, sparkle, finesse, and timbre of the Rockies are clearly superior. Although there are not many differences in frequency response, the reality is a different story.
The three-dimensional impression of the elements in the Rockies is something that has really caught my attention; the image recreation is excellent. The Canon Pros are darker and deeper, with an oval soundstage that exceeds 180°, more panoramic and surrounding, but also more volatile and gaseous. It has elements in more planes. The scene in the Rockies is more focused, but not as wide or expansive. It feels more realistic and less spectacular, with a sense of a mid-distance scene. Although the distance between the elements and their separation seem more evident in the NiceHCK.

 

 

Conclusion

 

The NiceHCK Rockies are very balanced IEMs. The famous AliExpress store, specializing in cables, flat headphones, and IEMs, has unveiled its most expensive and ambitious product to date. Crinacle was the first to sell them on its own website and attracted a lot of attention. It also reviewed them under the headline “The best-tuned new IEM for under $1,000?” This is because they fit their META curve very well, but with a little more spark.
With a configuration of 10mm beryllium-plated 1DD + 2 Knowles BA + 2 Sonion EST, the Rockies have an outer shell made of natural Pietersite stone, a lightweight semi-custom shape, a good set of accessories with quality silicone tips, an excellent leather case, and a remarkable, albeit somewhat stiff, modular cable. The design falls short of excellence, despite the use of natural stone. I think NiceHCK makes great cables, but they forgot to include a chin strap adjustment pin on this model and more flexible strands. It falls just short of excellence, although the presentation is up to par.
The sound is META, which some may find boring, but with EST treble. The low end is a benchmark in all my tests due to its performance, which is highly skilled, precise, and concise. It may lack some darkness, punch, and impact, but the execution is on par with the best I’ve tested.
The midrange stays in the middle ground; perhaps boredom lies in this area. There are other presentations that are a little warmer, but more lively, dense, full, and striking. The Rockies do nothing wrong and demonstrate their proficiency, but in their restraint and expert level, one also misses magic, excitement, and that more striking point that hooks you. The upper mids are somewhat more flashy, just as precise, but with a little more sparkle thanks to the brilliance that comes from the EST highs. I think the highs are the big difference compared to the other great IEMS I have, with similar tuning but with BA drivers. This is the first time I’ve tried EST highs, and that brilliant sparkle really caught my attention. Furthermore, at low energy levels, the sense of brightness is high without the treble becoming nuanced or soft. The EST treble is bright, delicate, fine, decisive, elevated, and sparkling, even though the tuning is careful. Perhaps the high end is the most vibrant, but it may also be the most controversial.
The level of separation, definition, and resolution is very good; however, the soundstage is more normal. What struck me most was not its analytical ability without sounding cold, but its ability to recreate three-dimensional elements and shape voices and instruments, and see them move around the soundstage, something I hadn’t clearly noticed until I tried the Rockies with a good source.
NiceHCK lives up to its price tag, and its performance proves it. But perhaps the best tuning does not imply the sound that fans may like or find most exciting. Nevertheless, I think the Rockies improve with each listen and that, if their price drops a little, they may occupy a more important place in the future.

 

 

Sources Used During the Analysis

 

  • NiceHCK Octave.
  • iFi GO bar Kensei.
  • EPZ TP50.
  • Burson Audio Playmate 2.
  • Aune X8 XVIII Magic DAC + OpAmp Sparkos Labs SS3602 + ifi ZEN CAN 3.
  • Aune ND7.
  • Hidizs AP80 PRO MAX.