I'm late to the party with the KB Ear F1, so I'm just gonna go ahead and dive right in. Info about other stuff like specs and package inclusions should be available on other reviews posted by other members of Head-Fi.



The Good:
- Lightweight driver housing. Very unique design, too, and comes in a variety of colorways to choose from.

- Detachable/replaceable cables. This is always a plus for easy maintenance once the cables need replacement due to breakage or if it becomes too oxidized (which I'm guessing is most likely to happen with this type of cable).

The Bad:
- No "lip" on the nozzles, so the eartips can easily slip out. High chance of loosing eartips when using these as an everyday carry or for listening to music while sleeping. I recommend using eartips with narrow bores for better grip to compensate.

- The y-split on the included cable is located too far down, and there are no chin-sliders/keepers, which makes the cable prone to tangling.

- No way to repair anything on the housing. If a wire inside the housing becomes loosely connected for example (which is probably less likely to happen), or if either the nozzle or he female MMCX end gets broken, it will be really hard to do some first aid repairs for them.

- While I give my props to KB Ear for deciding to launch their line with an IEM with an original design, they need to work in the quality control of the construction of the housings. The female MMCX connector that is held by the resin mold on one of the IEMs is slightly skewed at an angle. Not exactly much of a big deal, but I just have to mention this and I hope KB Ear takes this as a constructive feedback.



The Ugly:
- Metallic treble, which also has sibilant tendencies. Cymbal tail-ends seem to be cut-off early, and can sound too congested at times. There's an obvious spike in the lower treble region, which can probably be fixed with a bit of manual equalization.

The Great:
- Plus points again for the original design of the housing.

- The versatile form factor of the housing makes it easily worn either on "cable-down" or "over-ear". I personally like wearing them with the cables over my ears as it makes for a good comfort and fit.

- A very "clean" overall sound signature. While the 1BA configuration shows it's weakness on the bass frequencies, it makes up with a clear presentation in the mid-range and lower-treble region. The F1 is definitely not an "all-rounder". While it is borderline bass-light, the bass-drops never clip nor distort when it tries to push it's limits to the single BA driver. The mid-bass is fast and punchy, never bleeding into the mids. I never sensed a "veil" in the sound presentation while using the F1. Bringing up the treble region again, I feel kinda conflicted. The spike in the lower treble region makes the overall sound as if it is an "analytical" IEM but the sibilant tendencies and metallic rendering can sometimes be bothersome. The perceived soundstage is actually pretty ok. I'll say this, soundstage and imaging greatly depends on how the song was recorded in the first place. I think the F1 is able to convey the illusion of a decent breadth of soundstage in it's presentation. Not bad for a single BA configuration. Not bad at all.

Some suggestions to improve your experience with the F1:
- The included set of eartips are not the best kind there is, but they're decent enough. However, I still suggest buying and using other eartips that are more comfortable for your ears.

- The stock cables are decent, too, for the price, but KB Ear also sells their own version of a 16-core configuration copper cable, which I highly recommend getting. It is less prone to tangling and seems to be more durable overall in comparison to the stock cables. Do note that the cables have ear-guides, but as you can see in the pic below, I have removed them because I like it that way. The cables also help in determining which side is which (Left or right side channels).



In conclusion, I can say that the F1 is a commendable and valiant attempt by KB Ear to put their name out there in the plethora of emerging Chinese brands in this scene and age of modern portable hi-fi. They haven't blown everyone else out of the water yet with the release of the F1, but they have the potential to get there, if they do well with their future releases.

The KB Ear KB06 is on it's way to me, too. Stay tuned.

KB Ear on Aliexpress:
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/5017064?spm=a2g0s.9042647.0.0.78114c4dmh62vH

KB Ear Official Group on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1839109692856710/




*The fine print:
A representative from KB Ear reached out to me a few months ago and offered to send to me a review unit of the KB Ear F1. I happily obliged. I did not received any monetary compensations, but I also did not have to return the review unit. Please take the opinions above as my own. Thanks for reading.

Lots of people have asked me about this earbud and have been on the lookout for this review. I sincerely apologize for the very long overdue. Let's get into it.

>>PERSONAL DISCLAIMER:
*Please see bottom of the page.*

>>INTRODUCTION:
Ucotech is a company from South Korea, founded in 2007 by J. G. Shin, who has been making earphones for 30 years. One of the notable models they released was the Ubiquo ES903 (2012 flagship). I can't speak for myself here since I haven't tried them personally, but a few of the long-time "old school" earbud enthusiasts have regarded them as having one of the best mids in the game. Another notable model was the Ucotech ES1103 Grandiose Sonner, which was featured in a Korean TV drama called "Still 17", as used and worn by the lead actor of the same show.

Around late 2018, they finally released their new premium top-of-the-line model, the Ucotech ES-P1, which is the model in focus for this review.



>>DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION:
Tech Specs:


Driver/Housing/Shells:
- 14.8mm Double Dome Diaphragm driver (patented by Ucotech) with 160Ω impedance rating.


- CNC-cut brass housing with PVD coating (original designed shell by Ucotech) with MMCX connectors.


Cables:
- Two MMCX detachable cables, one with 3.5mm single-ended plug and one with a 2.5mm balanced plug.
The cable itself is made up of OFC 99.999% + Ag Coating, braided 8-Core.

Definitely one of the very few earbuds in this price range that not only looks great but is also built well. I've seen a lot of earbuds in the course of this hobby and I am willing to bet that no other earbud ever made so far can compete with the ES-P1 in terms of being originally designed (housing and driver) with a premium aesthetic while maintaining a tank-like build. I hope no one takes offense in what I said, especially DIY earbud-smiths, but I have to give the ES-P1 the recognition it deserves.

Other inclusions:



>>SOUND:
Sound signature is warm, smooth, and dark.
- The presence of the sub-bass region is definitely felt. The mid-bass hits hard when it needs to. Bass-heads will be happy with the ES-P1.
- Vocal region favors male more than female vocals, as it makes for a smooth rendering of the mid section. There is 3D-like presentation of the instruments that are being output in this sector.
- Treble is noticeably darker than normal, which makes for a smooth non-fatiguing listen. For those who like their treble slightly elevated, I recommend using the thin porous-type foams or thin doughnut foams instead.
- One word I can say about the overall presentation of the stage and imaging is "big". The ES-P1 sounds more like a headphone than an earbud. There is a sense of a wide dimension from the sounds panned on the left and right side channels, although the improvement in rendering the height is not that apparent.



One important thing to note is that the Ucotech ES-P1 is a "hard to drive" earbud, meaning a amplifier is most of the time necessary to bring out the full potential of the ES-P1. Some DAPs that have a powerful built-in amplifier might do the job. I mainly use my Radsone EarStudio ES100 these days and it can make the ES-P1 sound great. However, when using a dedicated source and amplifier combo, like even say, a Zishan Z1 connected to a VE RunAbout 2 BL, the ES-P1 sings very well.

To clarify, having high impedance is not necessarily an advantage nor a disadvantage of an earbud. There will always be trade-offs. But this is a topic for another post altogether. The key point here is that the ES-P1 will be a great choice for those who love to use their different amplifiers to find the best synergy for their sound preference. So for those who use their mobile phones as their main audio source, one might have to look for other options.


>>RELATIVE COMPARISONS TO OTHER EARBUDS:

Ucotech ES-P1 vs Rose Mojito:
Relative to each other, the ES-P1 sounds smooth and laid-back while the Mojito sounds engaging and fun. Bass boom and punch are similar. Mids are more forward on the ES-P1, while treble is more elevated on the Mojito. The ES-P1 sounds more intimate while the Mojito sounds wider in soundstage.

(This section is a work-in-progress, as I currently have limited time to check my other earbuds to compare with the ES-P1 as I am on travel at the moment. Watch this space for updates.)


>>MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS:
The ES-P1 is an expensive piece of audio gear. At the price point of ~$400, I would consider the ES-P1 as rightfully a premium, top-of-the-line earbud, at least relative to the scale of different earbuds' prices in the market.

Several people have asked me if the price is worth it, and my answer has always been a resounding "Yes".

How so? Read on.



First, let's take into account the construction of this piece. For the drivers, Ucotech didn't just use an earbud driver that you can buy in Chinese online shops like Taobao or Aliexpress and then "tuned" it for their liking. The drivers used are an all original in-house designed and patented double dome driver. You can't find this on any other earbud in the market. The same can not be said on other micro-brand earbuds out there.

There definitely was a lot of research and development involved over the course of the build and testing of this said driver hence the command for more costs. The metal housing used is also another original design which was most likely cut thru CNC plus a polish of PVD coating. The housing is also designed to be easily cable-interchangeable thru MMCX connectors.

As for the cables used, however, I've seen the very same ones also used by the brand BGVP for their DM6 in-ear monitors, so I'm guessing that Ucotech and BGVP share the same OEM supplier for the cables. Ucotech, however, includes two cables in the package (3.5mm Single-Ended and 2.5mm Balanced), so you're still getting your money's worth. I will award plus points to Ucotech though for making sure that the colorway of the cable matches seamlessly with the colors of the earbud housing, down to the splitter and plugs. It's as if the housings and cable components were made with the other in mind, rather than the pairing being an afterthought. No microphonics whatsoever. The cables also don't tangle easily. So while the cables were not designed and constructed by Ucotech themselves, I'l still give them a hand for their great choice of cables to be packaged with the ES-P1.

The ES-P1's housing has large vents that are placed opposite for each side, so one can easily tell which side is the Left or Right side channel of the pair. So another plus points for easy operability to Ucotech.



Normally, one would use relatively affordable audio gears as "daily beaters" for on-the-go use and reserve the more expensive ones to be used at home or the office or any setting where there's no intensive physical activities involved. The ES-P1, can be used on either cases, since the metal housing can withstand a beating and the cable replaceability gives way for different connectivity options like a Bluetooth-ready cable or one with microphones and volume controls. If and when the cables break, one can easily find aftermarket MMCX cables. This can definitely one of those pieces for the folks who want to have a one-earbud-to-rule-them-all mentality, or at least for those who wish to have a properly consolidated minimalist audio gear collection.


>>CONCLUSION:
The Ucotech ES-P1 has a strong claim of being the best in the earbud game of thrones. Not only is it beautifully designed and built to last, it is also tuned very well, and can very much compete with any of the other earbuds in the market above or below it's price range.



Buy the Ucotech ES-P1 on the following links..

Local Distributors:
Philippines: Soundwave Audio Visual Store
https://www.facebook.com/SoundwaveAudioVisualStore

Thailand: มั่นคง munkonggadget
https://www.facebook.com/munkonggadget1

International buyers:
https://ucotech1.wixsite.com/mysite/products


Ucotech Official Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/goUCT

Join our Facebook Group for earbud enthusiasts:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/EarbudsAnonymous







>>PERSONAL DISCLAIMER:
- The unit I have reviewed was sent to me free of charge for review purposes, courtesy of Ucotech, in cooperation with Soundwave Audio Visual Store. I received no monetary compensations for my review.
- For context, I have been an earbud enthusiast for the past few years and have been lucky enough to listen to over a hundred earbuds and counting, both via personal purchases and auditions (from borrowed/loaned gears and review units). At this point in my journey I'm contented enough to be honest about what I think about certain aspects of the earbuds I review even if the makers/sellers that send them to me may not like what I say about them. So this should go without saying that I'd like people to take my comments and reviews as my own personal opinion and nothing more. Thanks for the attention and see you on Earbuds Anonymous.

NiceHCK EBX - "You Deserve To Have"

NiceHCK is a Chinese Hi-Fi Audio store operating via Aliexpress and Amazon, selling various audiophile-grade items, both branded and DIY products. The EBX is the latest flagship earbud they have released under their name.




Disclaimer: My EBX unit was provided for free by NiceHCK for review purposes. I am not directly affiliated with NiceHCK and I have cordial relationships with different stores and other brands, so this review will not have any favorable nor negative biases for NiceHCK in any way.

Now that the formalities are out of the way, let's get down to details.

*BUILD*
There are currently two colorway options for the EBX: Classic Black and Elegant Gold. I currently have the Classic Black, and as it's name suggest, the shells are colored black all over, except for the outer faceplate which has a brushed-metal finish.



The shape of the EBX's housing is very similar looking to the old models of Astrotec Lyra. The faceplate has a NiceHCK logo printed on it, and near the logo is a small vent. Covering the vents do affect the sound output, so they're definitely not just for aesthetic purposes.

The grills of the housing is very much the same as those from the DQSM Panda/PK2S, both shape and size, so they're very comfortable on the ears just like wearing earbuds with Yuin-style shells.



The housing and cable are connected/separated with MMCX connectors, which means it's easier for cable enthusiasts to interchange and replace the cables if they need or want to.



The cable is an 8-core copper/silver plated hybrid. This is probably one of the best-looking stock cables I've ever seen on an earbud. The cables look very similar to those from the Penon BS1 Official and the Astrotec Lyra Collection earbuds, except the cables of the EBX are wound tighter and the ones from BS1 and Lyra are wound looser. The EBX cables are, however, not at all stiff and produce no microphonics. No earguides near the male MMCX connectors, so the earbud can be worn with the cables hooking over the ears or straight downwards.



The splitter matches colors with the ones near the male MMCX connectors. The plugs have a silver and white carbon fiber design, with a small but ample strain relief.

*SOUND*
Gears used:
Fiio X5 3rd Gen
Zishan Z2 + Burson V5i opamp
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (PowerAmp Alpha, Viper4Android + Volume Mod)
Hiegi Donut Foams

I do listen to a wide range of music genres, but I'm a metalhead by heart, so most of the songs I used in this review are "loud and heavy", ranging from indie/alternative rock to technical/prog/death metal. Here's my LastFM profile for the curious: https://www.last.fm/user/xforsakenkidx

Bass amount is somewhere in between punchy and boomy. Definitely not basslight but doesn't rumble way down low either. Body has enough impact when it needs to. Quality is very controlled.

Clear vocals, neither far nor forward. A bit smooth and laid back, as they're not that aggressive or harsh. Electric guitars with distortion and overdrive effects have a good bite in them.

Hi-hats, cymbals, and crashes never sounded artificial or too piercing. Just the right amount of shimmer and sparkle. High notes from guitar solos are reproduced well. Overall treble presentation is on the brighter side with high energy.

For comparison purposes:
Bass Amount: EMX500 > EBX >> Monk+
Bass Quality: EBX > EMX500 > Monk+
Mids: EBX > Monk+ > EMX500
Highs Extension: EMX500 > EBX >= Monk+

Comparison with other MMCX earbuds:
EBX >> Ourart Ti7 = Escase

Note: The above comparison can be vague and relative. Your mileage may vary.

Overall, I wouldn't characterize the sound signature of the EBX as V-shaped, as it doesn't really have an over-exaggerated low end and top end, and the mids aren't recessed either. I'd say they're on the flatter U-shaped signature with very good clarity.

*FINAL THOUGHTS*
The NiceHCK is a jack-of-all-trades/all-rounder kind of earbud that can cater to most music genres. With an interchangeable-cable design, it is an earbud worthy of being in everyone's collection, as it has a potential of versatility. Additional points for the comfort and superb build quality. So far, it is the best MMCX earbud I have ever came across and would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for an earbud in the mid-fi range.



NiceHCK EBX on Aliexpress:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/201...rphone-14-8mm-Dynamic-Driver/32839701923.html