NiceHCK - F1 Pro

NiceHCK F1 Pro. Criminally underrated.

Nice collection. Out of all of yours iI only have the F1 Pros. I do enjoy that planar brightness. Though my rotation is a bit out of whack since my Hexa arrived yesterday😅 May I recommend the DUNU Lyre Mini cable? They are modular comes with both 3.5mm and 4.4mm terminations. The cables are wrapped...and very well behaved. It is slightly microphonic...but not enough to be a nuisance. Am still hard leaning on analog connections...and much rather deal with a good dac/amp between the source and my iems 😅

I looked at the Artti T10 and the T10 Pro. I decided on the NiceHCK F1 Pro (it was on sale😂😂) Not disappointed at all. I have a set of planar cans...and I was curious about planars in an IEM. Am pleasantly surprised. Hope you get a good set of Castor Pro...I really like mine. The set comes with a tool and diagram for you to tinker with the tuning. Did some time rolling...and settled on DUNU SS tips. Lovely set indeed.

I WHOLE HEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOUR POINTS: https://preview.redd.it/vwxf7i53neye1.jpeg?width=2377&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9aafdf70e38f01e9e6e88692e4c7f79caca103d8 This is MY collection...and I'm very early in the journey. I don't have the budget, knowledge or experience to blind buy a 500USD+ set of in ears that may or may not fit my ears or my preferences. While my journey doesn't completely fit OP's blueprint...I have/had the same thought process regarding purchasing IEMs. Not pictured are the Moondrop Chu 2 and 7Hz Sonus. I started with the Chu 2, 7Hz Zero 2 and Kiwi Ears Cadenza. From listening, watching and reading reviews...I was able to learn about all the terms, labels, and vocabulary to describe what I like or don't like. I threw money at the Wyvern Abyss...I mean...LOOK AT THEM😂. The Kz Castor Bass was a curiosity buy...want to hear if a set touting bass response was really that bassy. My next steps were the NiceHCK F1 Pros, Kiwi Ears Canta and the 7Hz Sonus. The F1 Pros and the Sonu were on sale at the time of purchase...good value and able to narrow things down more for myself. I knew I liked the planar sound...I have a set of open ear planar cans. The F1s felt disappointing (until I tip rolled) The Sonus was about much for my taste (in the mids) The Cantas were quite nice for me. By this point...I had a good grasp of what I was looking for and the direction (s) I want to go in. AFUL Performer 5+2 is currently my go-to...for all around listening. Sourced from R2R DAC lined out into a desktop tube amp. It's like a warm blanket on crisp bright and snowy winter day. I picked up the Hexa because I wanted to hear the hype...and yes...they definitely fulfill the hype and then some. I've EQed my IEMs... especially the planar. They can mimic the sound...but it's only a part of the equation. I now rotate through 3-4 sets at my desktop listening station. The cheapo ones all have 3.5mm out for around the house or for bed. If they break...ill decide if I want to replace. Tip rolling is a journey of itself. Some tips can dramatically change an IEM and rescue it from the bottom of the pile. My Planars now sport foam tips...easing off the treble was huge. Anyway...long post...if you got this far thanks for sticking with my diarrhea of words. TLDR: I agree with the OP

I like BOTH the Divine and Diablo tuning. They are DIFFERENT. Those cables are certainly not my cup of tea. They were immediately replaced as soon as I unboxed the sets. I also have the ET142...the versatility (nozzle tuning) of that set puts it in a different spot compared to ALL the others. I have others "older" planar and planar hybrids. The only one that doesn't hold up (to me) is the F1Pro.... especially when compared to the Divine. The issues (for me) of the F1 Pro can be managed with EQ and tip rolling.

I think some folks (me included) get surprised with the quality and amount of bass a planar IEM can bring. Typically people hear planar and they associate the shimmery almost metallic treble. Add-in the fact that most planars are often associated with open back cans...which steers people toward open and bright (thank you HiFiMAN) Truth is planar drivers are EXTREMELY versatile. They take EQ like a champ! I have one planar only set and several planar hybrids. The F1 Pro (NiceNCK) can give me the rumble if I put on a nice bass shelf. The ET142 (Simgot) is a hybrid planar that can get plenty warm with a nozzle change AND a attenuation foam insert. Not quite Explorer level warmth...but warm nonetheless. Am excited to get my hands on the pair of 7Hz x Crinacle collabs that just came out. They both seem right in my sweet spot for the music I listen to

The F1 Pro has that classic bright shimmery planar sound. It's a set that's slips under the radar (IMO) Think as planar (in IEM) matures...the tuning gets smoother

Shozy P20 is on 50% off at linsoul at the moment and would be my planar pick. It's excellent, my favourite planar I have tried (I had the KZ PR2 (poor tonality/timbre) and nicehck F1 pro (better than KZ but way too much treble, really zizzy)).

Interested to hear your take. I also have the shozy P20 and rate it highly (much better than kz PR2 and nicehck F1 pro)

I use the zero 2 since they give me a very good seal but if I feel like listening a little more critically then I use my f1 pro’s. Regardless they both kick ass!

I just purchased the F1 pros - absolutely love them - along with an Nk1 Max. Would love to own the NX8s and a dedicated dac 

The NX8 are the most beautiful looking, but the F1 Pro definitely appeal to minimalist looks. In my case I prefer detailed IEMs like the NX8.

NiceHCK F1 Pro and ARTTI T10. Have also tried KZ PRX, Letshuoer S08, and Kiwi Ears Aether.

NiceHCK F1 Pro, ARTTI T10, Aful Explorer, and at just above that range at $159, Meze Alba (I found an open box set for $99).

I think the NiceHCK F1 Pro is great planar IEM. I’ve never heard the S12/S12 Pro, but I believe reviewers have said that F1 Pro’s treble is smoother and less harsh that the treble on the S12 line. At any rate, I haven’t had any issues with the F1 Pro’s treble, and I love its bass presentation and just its overall sound.

I already have and love the F1 Pro, so it would be awesome to have a chance to try out the NX8.

Luckily, I figured that out at 1/10th the cost as I quickly realized that almost everything over $200 ranges from a little on the large side to outright boulder sized. I only have 2 IEMs over $200 (I didn’t pay anywhere near that much for either of them) and I’m not going any further until I can be sure that anything new I get both sounds good to me and is small and comfortable. My current favorite IEMs are the Meze Alba and the NiceHCK F1 Pro because they combine really good sound with great comfort.

I listen to a lot of post-rock and have the T10 and the F1P. I am in love with the T10. I’ll plug the F1P back in for a few days and let you know if anything has changed for me.

I would love to have my hands on the NX8! I have the F1Pro and I really loved it

My recommendations: NiceHCK F1 Pro. On sale, they're like $65.00. Bright V-shaped, they feel very balanced, and ARTTI T10. On sale, they're like $50.00. Mid-centric V-shaped. They feel very balanced. ARTTI T10 Pro. On sale, they're like $90.00. Warm, they feel darker but with details. KZ PRX. On sale, they're like $60.00 on Amazon US. On AliExpress, they're like $30.00, or even less. Classic V-shaped, but well done. Source: trust me, bro. https://preview.redd.it/dh3zmb1ot7jf1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=51578f4aaca377c78b896ed66b85e9656bfe750c

I've tried some planars in the sub $100.00 category (budget restrictions), and I really love the planar sound. So far, I've tried the ARTTI T10, KZ PRX, ARTTI T10 Pro (right on the pic), and NiceHCK F1 Pro (left on the pic). If you've tried planar magnetic IEMs (pure or hybrid), which ones have been your fav? Mine are the ARTTI T10 Pro, but not by far.

I'd love to try the Shozy P20, but I haven't found them at a good price yet (I got the ARTTI T10 for $30.00, the KZ PRX for $26.00, the ARTTI T10 Pro for free and the NiceHCK F1 Pro for $41.00). How are the Sgor Luna compared to the ARTTI T10?

\-KZ EDC Pro is THE bang for buck pair of IEMs. Period. I wouldn't say they're the best in the sub $20.00 category (not by a long shot), but you can get a sub $20.00 pair AND the KZ EDC Pro, usually for the same $20.00 if you use discounts. You can have them as a spare pair of IEMs for Every Day Carrying (EDC) and leave your better, more expensive IEMs at home. \-The best KZ planar by far are the PRX, and they're around $30.00 (or less) on AliExpress. They're harder to drive than the ARTTI T10 Pro or the Sgor Luna, and the included accessories suck (except for the ear tips, they're quite good for my ears), but they're easy to recommend if you can get them at a(n even better) discount and have a better spare KZ-QDC cable around. https://preview.redd.it/4z7dggtk58df1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=45eaf3a592ad7051b936bbe578e22cc9bffd5dae

ARTTI T10 are the best planar IEMs you can get at the sub $50.00 category, with discounts, of course (get the stock 4.4mm balanced cable version for extra juice and some adapters if you plan to use them with 3.5mm single-ended). I'm rocking the ARTTI T10 Pro and the NiceHCK F1 Pro right now, but I still keep my OG T10 🫶🏼 (that's a 2.5mm balanced cable to use with an old dongle DAC/Amp I have, but the stock cable is great 🫶🏼). https://preview.redd.it/c9vgrlum78df1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=bb448ecf435db6d01b0aae68766133b302e78fa5

I've got mine for $38 recently, they're very good and detailed. I can't believe I got such a good deal. But they're brighter leaning. https://preview.redd.it/450yyjod59df1.jpeg?width=3968&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=578dbb11109d5f53ee573dad5813c62f25e4afe6

The F1 Pro has less sub-bass but more mid-bass. The 1.5kHz to 3kHz bump of the T10 isn't present in the F1 Pro, but the 8kHz peak is boosted and with extra 6kHz frequencies, which can make the F1 Pro feel more "detailed" but also more sibilant in certain tracks (if you lower the volume, it isn't that bad to be honest). The F1 Pro are a nice build upgrade and with better stock tips (LZ Ear Tips and NiceHCK 07 sets). If you can get them on Amazon US for around $45.00 or less (check every day or so, deep discounts in the 4.4mm cable version), go for them. But the T10 are still great <3

You can find a special collab version with S-BROTHER-S (a Russian DJ duo, apparently), but they're more expensive, and I think I've found a better deal at this price point: NiceHCK F1 Pro at around $40.00. More V-Shaped but really nice and high resolution planars.