At this time, Kurt opinions the Hidizs ST2 Professional Nebula, a brand new Kickstarter-funded dynamic driver IEM with an built-in DAC and headphone amplifier cable. Its MSRP is $89 with early fowl pricing beginning as little as $39.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in alternate for our trustworthy opinion. Headfonics is an impartial web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or standing. I thank Hidizs for his or her help.
To learn extra about Hidizs products we’ve got beforehand reviewed on Headfonics click on right here. The Kickstarter marketing campaign will begin on Dec nineteenth, 2024.
Please word that this text follows our present scoring guidelines which you’ll be able to learn in additional element right here.
Hidizs has carved a reputation for itself with its modern and accessible audio gear at inexpensive costs such because the MP145. Now they’re again with a recent entry-level providing through Kickstarter on Dec nineteenth known as the ST2 Professional Nebula.
The $89 ST2 Professional Nebula is a dynamic driver IEM that mixes a putting design with built-in DSP and amplification geared toward entry-level or price range transportable audio fans.
Does the built-in USB DAC and amplification give the Nebula a definite benefit over stalwarts at this value level such because the MOONDROP May? I learn how it performs and compares in my full evaluate beneath.
Options
The Hidizs ST2 Professional Nebula includes a 10mm twin magnetic circuit dynamic driver designed to ship exact and pure sound. Its PU+PEEK composite diaphragm is each light-weight and sturdy, making certain constant and detailed audio copy.
The twin magnetic circuit design improves the motive force’s effectivity and management, leading to tighter bass, clearer mids, and improved treble management. This construction additionally helps scale back distortion and improve the general sound high quality.
Hidizs has tuned the ST2 Professional Nebula with the Harman 2019 curve, making certain a musical and fulfilling listening expertise. The tuning highlights the motive force’s capabilities, bringing out a bassier presentation.
Design
The Hidizs ST2 Professional Nebula includes a resin physique with no tough edges or sharp corners. Its faceplate showcases a reflective aluminum alloy etching of the Hidizs emblem, giving it a premium and crowd pleasing end.
Obtainable in white clear and black clear choices, the ST2 Professional Nebula lets customers admire its inner drivers and wiring by means of its clear shell. The cohesive silver coloring of the faceplate accents and nozzle provides a refined and fashionable aesthetic.
Weighing solely 7g per earpiece with out the cable, the ST2 Professional Nebula is light-weight and comfy for extended use. Left and proper markers, engraved as “Hidizs Nebula L” or “Hidizs Nebula R,” make figuring out the proper earpiece a breeze.
One notable omission is the dearth of vents for ear strain discount, which might trigger minor discomfort for some customers. Nonetheless, its light-weight construct, intricate particulars, and clear show make the ST2 Professional Nebula a putting and thoughtfully designed IEM.
Consolation & Isolation
The Hidizs ST2 Professional Nebula excels in consolation, because of its light-weight design that by no means feels intrusive throughout use. Even with the cable connected, the entire weight is simply 25 grams, making certain an virtually unnoticeable presence throughout prolonged listening periods.
Its clean and rounded physique, paired with a flat faceplate, provides to its consolation, making it appropriate for sleeping or commuting. The absence of sharp edges additional enhances its wearability, permitting for extended use with out irritation or discomfort.
Isolation is strong, aided by the dearth of vents, which prevents exterior noise from interfering an excessive amount of along with your music. Whereas it might not block out all sounds, it offers a good stage of noise isolation appropriate for on a regular basis use.
Ideas
The Hidizs ST2 Professional Nebula comes with translucent white ear ideas which can be a step above your normal black silicone ideas in each texture and match.
The following tips really feel clean to the contact, providing a grip that holds firmly in place with out changing into sticky or inflicting itchiness throughout prolonged use.
Apart from consolation, the information contribute to the general sound high quality by enhancing the treble. Their wide-bore design ensures optimum element retrieval, balancing the ST2 Professional Nebula’s tuning for a bassier listening expertise.
Inventory Cable
The Hidizs ST2 Professional Nebula’s inventory cable options an ESS ES9281AC PRO DAC chip constructed immediately into the USB-C connector, delivering high-quality audio decoding. Its clear housing showcases the circuit topology and provides it a premium contact to the design.
The cable helps PCM, DSD, and MQA decoding, with a strong output of 70mW + 70mW at 32Ω. This ensures it may possibly drive the ST2 Professional and different IEMs fairly effectively, matching the efficiency of some dongle DACs.
An LED indicator offers real-time suggestions on the audio format, glowing pink for 4PCM 4.1-48kHz and blue for 88.2-384kHz alerts. This easy but sensible function enhances usability, making it straightforward for customers to watch the playback decision.
The outside is wrapped in sturdy textile yarn, out there in black-blue or silver-gray colours. This design not solely enhances the cable’s aesthetics but in addition improves its flexibility and sturdiness for day by day use.
Though the USB-C connector can get heat throughout prolonged listening periods, it stays dependable and protected and never one thing that worries me a lot when utilizing it linked to my smartphone.
For versatility, Hidizs affords 2-pin 0.78mm and MMCX connector choices of which I’ve the 2-pin model right here for evaluate. The MMCX model, offered individually, consists of the identical ESS DAC chip, extending its capabilities to MMCX-compatible IEMs.
Packaging & Equipment
The Hidizs ST2 Professional Nebula affords an easy and satisfying unboxing expertise. Opening the field, you’re greeted with the IEMs proudly displayed, showcasing their reflective faceplates.
A pull tab reveals an equipment pouch neatly tucked beneath the IEMs. Contained in the pouch lies the cable, whereas beneath the pouch you’ll discover the ear ideas, a USB-A to USB-C adapter, and the guarantee card.
Hidizs retains the group clear and practical, making certain every thing has its place. This considerate association provides to the clear and tidy impression the ST2 Professional delivers proper from the beginning.
Sound Impressions
The DSP of the Hidizs ST2 Professional Nebula introduces a fade-in at the beginning of each monitor, inflicting the primary few seconds of the music to be missed. A handbook restart of the monitor is required to forestall this.
Bass
The Hidizs ST2 Professional Nebula’s bass efficiency is clearly geared towards bassheads, providing an abundance of sub-bass and mid-bass. Its punchy and highly effective response makes for an enticing and energetic listening expertise.
The rumble and slam are notably satisfying, including liveliness to its sound. Regardless of its give attention to amount, the bass retains sufficient element to stay fulfilling with out feeling overly exaggerated.
Whereas impactful, the bass leans extra towards energy than refinement, which can go away texture, definition, and element missing for extra discerning listeners. It doesn’t absolutely attain the deepest sub-bass areas, leading to some lack of nuance and intricacy.
The ST2 Professional Nebula’s bass ensures a dominant low-end presence that drives its general sound signature. Nevertheless, its emphasis on bass prominence can generally overshadow different frequencies, making it much less balanced.
Mids
The Hidizs ST2 Professional Nebula midrange offers a clear presentation, however the vocals are recessed. This permits the bass to dominate, pushing vocals to the background somewhat than making them the focus.
Timbre is suitable however might really feel extra pure, as vocals generally lack weight and sound barely skinny. A scratchy high quality is sometimes current, which detracts from the smoothness of the midrange efficiency.
The mids keep away from muddiness and preserve a transparent sound, however they don’t stand out by way of heat or richness. The presentation feels impartial and simple, providing readability with out including a lot character.
Particulars and vocal nuances will not be absolutely captured, leaving the mids sounding much less expressive than they might be. Whereas practical, they’d profit from extra physique and presence to steadiness higher with the bass.
Treble
The Hidizs ST2 Professional Nebula’s treble affords above-average element retrieval, making certain superb parts in tracks are noticeable. Its energetic nature provides the highs a energetic presence that provides brightness to the general sound.
Sibilance management is suitable, preserving harshness generally in verify. Nevertheless, the treble lacks the air that might add a way of openness and extension to the higher frequencies.
Resolving skill is first rate, permitting the treble to deal with most tracks with a very good quantity of sparkle and brilliance. Total, the general tone leans vivid, which could really feel barely aggressive for treble-sensitive listeners.
Whereas the treble offers good element and vitality, it may gain advantage from extra refinement and smoothness. Its brightness leaves room for enchancment in making a extra pure and prolonged presentation.
Staging & Dynamics
The soundstage of the Hidizs ST2 Professional Nebula affords a median width, preserving the presentation confined. Depth is restricted, leading to extra of an in-head listening expertise with out a lot layering or spatial dimension.
Imaging can also be common, with instrument placement being clear sufficient however missing precision. Whereas it doesn’t excel in making a holographic soundstage, it maintains a way of order and avoids sounding chaotic.
Separation stands out as a optimistic, dealing with cluttered and busy tracks with ease. Devices and vocals stay distinguishable, making certain that the combination doesn’t collapse even in complicated passages.
However, dynamics really feel uneven, because the bass overpowers the mids and treble. This imbalance makes the general presentation really feel much less cohesive, with the highs struggling to maintain up with the extra dominant low finish.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
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