NiceHCK Rockies

Prior to this, the only other set around this price range I tried was the Xenns Mangird Top Pros, which I loved, but had this hard edge to the treble that could cause treble elements to stand out. It was fun in most of the music I listened to, but could be unpleasant while gaming.

The Rockies, for me, basically took the treble magic of the Top Pros and smoothed things off to make for a noticeably more comfortable listening experience, while still being extremely detailed. Also, this is the first set I've tried with ESTs, and I'm super impressed at what they've been able to do here in the Rockies.

Second IEM after using the Hype 4 for a couple of years. At first I didn't like the Rockies, since I was used to the U-ish tuning of the Hype 4s. But after a few days of using the Rockies, after returning to the Hype 4 I found them too condensed and actually much preferred the Rockies. Guess my ears detoxed from the tuning of the 4s.

So just a note to those moving from a V/U tuning and wanting to give something more neutral like the Rockies a go: give them some time. I didn't really like the Mega5est when I first heard them because I found them quite bland. Would like to give them another go now, but since the Rockies are a brighter version, maybe I don't need to!

A remarkable IEM. It reminds me much of the HiSenior Mega5-EST, albeit with just a touch less bass and a tilt towards treble forwardness. It is, without a doubt, the clearest and most natural sound I've heard <$500

My take? For mobile users, pair this with a $109 Qudelix 5K and enjoy. For desktop users, a Topping DX5 II provides 10-band PEQ, LDAC, 6.35/4.4/XLR jacks, and faultlessly low distortion for $299. I happen to own both for their respective use cases, but ultimately, you can pair any basically competent hardware with the NiceHCK Rockies and enjoy a truly remarkable audio experience. Very highly recommended!

Neutral-bright tuning. Bass and mids are exceptional. The upper mids are not as forward as something like the Top Pro but it is well-balanced with the bass. Everything sounds very natural and clear with an emphasis in the air frequencies (10kHz and above). It is quite smooth, no peaks to my ears. All the subjective stuff like 'imaging' and 'soundstage' is quite great too. It's definitely like the Mega5-EST, but with less bass and more treble; though I'd argue the bass being slightly less does help in the Rockies sound more balanced and natural... except for the 'airiness' in the treble which gives the IEM it's bright tilt.

If you are sensitive to upper treble frequencies, you might need to use a high shelf filter to cut them down a bit. Some may argue it detracts from the 'character' of the Rockies. I will re-iterate, the upper treble is not sibilant or overly-sharp and peaky, but smooth and well-executed, and absolutely something people who liked the Mega5-EST but found it lacking a bit in that area, will appreciate.

Be mindful of the hollow resin shell though; that may be a dealbreaker. But if you don't mind that, it's $50 US cheaper than the Mega5-EST, comes with fantastic, high quality accessories and a slightly more 'exciting' sound than the Mega5-EST.

First time blind buying an iem and I don’t regret it one bit. This set deserves more praise. Love the natural stone faceplate and the natural addictive sound.