I’ve never heard or seen earbuds like the NICEHCK EBX21.
The EBX21 are NICEHCK’s flagship earbuds. The single 14.2mm dynamic driver diaphragm is composed of a liquid crystal polymer (LCP). According to NICEHCK, this type of diaphragm gives texture to the bass, smoothness of the mids, and enriches the details of the treble, along with providing excellent resolution.
- Excellent tonality and detail retrieval
- Wide soundstage
- Smooth and neutral sound
- Easy to drive
- Top-notch build quality
- Well made removable cable
- A solid amount of accessories
- Great with bass light music
- Excels at treble frequency response
- Overall portrayal of bass is rather light
- The heavy cables make the fit of the EBX21 a bit tricky
- Not suitable for all genres
- Comfort is slightly worse after the first hour or so
Technical Specifications
- Price: USD $219
- Form: Earbuds
- Drivers: 1 x 14.2mm Dynamic Driver Unit
- Japan’s LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) Diaphragm
- Impedance (Ohm): 32 Ohms
- Sensitivity (dB): 121dB/mW
- Frequency Response (Hz): 20Hz – 32KHz
- Removable Cable: Y
- Source Plug: 3.5mm TRS (2.5mm TRRS and 4.4mm TRRS are optional)
- Cup/Shell Jack: MMCX
Packaging
In the box
- NICEHCK EBX21 x1
- Silver-plated copper tinsel removable cable x1
- User manual x1
- QC Certificate x1
- NICEHCK brand card x1
- Donut earbud tips x4
- Earbud tips x4
- Rubber earbud tips x2
- Magnetic leather cable wrap x1
- NICEHCK branded jean carrying case x1
Cable
The cable of the EBX21 contains a cable splitter, 3.5mm plug, chin slider, and MMCX connectors. The plug is inscribed with the brand’s name. The plug, chin slider, and cable splitter are made of silver metal and gleam faintly in ambient lighting.
The cable itself is quite weighty and is tightly woven, which inspires confidence in long-term durability and should ensure longevity.
Oh. One more thing. I should mention that the MMCX connectors have a partially translucent black smoke color and have color-coded indicators for left and right.
Design
Elegance. Style. Grace. These are the three words that best describe the design of the EBX21 earbuds. But, what element is the most captivating?
Everything. From the red and blue connectors to the chin slider, cable splitter, and plug, everything about the EBX21 screams premium quality. The shells of the EBX21 are cut by a five-axis machine tool, which explains the very sharp and precise shape of the earbuds themselves.
Comfort
The EBX21 are initially comfortable to wear. However, after a few hours, comfort issues make themselves known, regardless of earbud tip choice. Comfort is further worsened by the heavyweight cables.
It hurts to look good, doesn’t it?
Internals
The EBX21 houses a 14.2mm dynamic driver made of Japanese LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer). LCP is a fairly unusual diaphragm material, but can be found in other recent releases such as the Moondrop Aria IEMs. NICEHCK claims that this driver material improves texture, smoothness, detail, and resolution.
EBX21 Sound
I’m very impressed with how the EBX21 portrays music. Despite the light bass, the sound quality is remarkable for a set of earbuds.
Equipment used
- HiBy R6 Pro DAP
- 30 Hours of burn-in
- Tidal with HIFI quality soundtracks
- “Mist” by Ennja (EDM) for Bass
- “That is Impossible” by Brian Tyler (Epic Scores) for Mids
- “Earthbound – Album Version” by The Rippingtons, Russ Freeman (Modern Jazz) for Mids and Treble
Bass
Rather light.
If I were to guess why, I’d say it’s due to the EBX21 vented design. The EBX21 are not IEMs, so the bass can’t channel inside a tube. Regardless, the EBX21 bass is great for light bass music like Jazz, Orchestral, and Epic Score soundtracks. The bass complements the mids and treble quite well.
The smooth texture and gentle impact make the bass seem polite in nature and very quick upon impact and decay. There’s very obvious evidence of these traits heard throughout “Mist” by Ennja (EDM). The bass line isn’t as heavy as usual, making me feel that the organic bass isn’t fully captured by the EBX21.
Midrange
Just lovely.
The mids are crisp like autumn leaves, neither too bright nor too dark. Not too thin or not too thick. Like Goldilocks would say, “this one is just right!” Male and female vocals are not recessed and sound crystal clear. When I listen to “That is Impossible” by Brian Tyler (Epic Score), I can immediately, and distinctly, hear the individual instruments in the upper mids.
It is easy to discern the various instruments throughout the track. The brass section is clear and alive, with just enough energy and clarity to be clear and distinct.
What I like most is the blend of the mids and bass, which complements each other and enriches the sound. This is very evident while listening to “Earthbound – Album Version” by The Rippingtons, Russ Freeman (Modern Jazz).
Treble
Crystal clear and well extended.
Much like the mids of the EBX21, the treble is clear with an added bonus of a shimmer evident within the lower treble. When I listen to “Earthbound – Album Version” by The Rippingtons, Russ Freeman (Modern Jazz), the EBX21 demonstrate what they can do. Wow!
The EBX21 just crushes it on the upper frequencies with crystal clear clarity and air that’s reminiscent of being on a field of grass during a mild and sunny day. You can feel the wind in your hair and enjoy the detailed sound in front of you. Overall, the EBX21 excels greatly with treble.
Where to Buy
- Official Store: HiFiGo
Conclusion
The NICEHCK EBX21 are well-designed gems with few shortcomings. I would award them at least a 4.5 out of 5 if it weren’t for the fit and comfort issues that make long listening sessions difficult. Regardless, the NICEHCK EBX21 prove their worth through incredible design and sound.
The top-tier sound quality from the EBX21 is something I haven’t heard from any IEM between USD $200 and USD $300. I highly recommend the EBX21 if you are looking for earbuds that fit your taste in Jazz, Orchestral, or other typically bass light genres. Due to their bass-shy nature, those who are seeking to use the EBX21 for an all-rounder may want to look elsewhere.
