Earsonics ES2 VS Nice HCK Himalaya
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Earsonics ES2 and Nice HCK Himalaya use 2BA and 1DD driver setups respectively. Earsonics ES2 costs $300 while Nice HCK Himalaya costs $329. Nice HCK Himalaya is $29 more expensive. Nice HCK Himalaya holds a decisive 4.1-point edge in reviewer scores (3.5 vs 7.6).
Insights
| Metric | Earsonics ES2 | Nice HCK Himalaya |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 3.5 | 7.9 |
| Mids | 3.5 | 7.2 |
| Treble | 3.5 | 7.1 |
| Details | 3.5 | 7.5 |
| Soundstage | 3.5 | 7.8 |
| Imaging | 3.5 | 7.7 |
| Dynamics | 3.5 | 7.7 |
| Tonality | 3.5 | 7.2 |
| Technicalities | 4.5 | 7.3 |
Earsonics ES2 Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
3.5Poor
Nice HCK Himalaya Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
7.6Strongly Favorable
Reviews Comparison
Earsonics ES2 (more reviews)
Earsonics ES2 reviewed by Crin
3.5
Reviewer Score
Nice HCK Himalaya (more reviews)
Nice HCK Himalaya reviewed by Z-Reviews
8.5
* score rescaled + normalized
Youtube Video Summary
The NiceHCK Himalaya is a spectacular flagship IEM featuring a titanium alloy cavity that feels premium and has a beautiful sheen. It comes loaded with extras: a gorgeous purple and grey-blue braided cable (with interchangeable 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm terminations), a sturdy soft-hard case, various tips, and crucially, three interchangeable nozzle filters – gold, black, and blue. Remarkably, all three nozzles sound excellent, a rare feat where subtle tuning changes cater to different preferences without any duds; the blue nozzles deliver a particularly intense, club-like bass that feels physical.
Sonically, these are everything great about a dynamic driver: clean, open, wide, and smooth. They offer impressive bass weight and rumble, especially with the blue nozzles or Render tips, creating a sound reminiscent of a dark German dance club. The tuning flexibility is fantastic, allowing a shift from a cleaner presentation to a more intense, bass-forward signature. The ergonomic fit is comfortable, and the soundstage is expansive, drawing comparisons to the soundstage of the iKKO OH5 combined with the bass of the OH10, but with a superior stock cable. They handle different amps and tips well, proving to be happy go-lucky workhorses.
While minor quibbles exist – like the fiddly nozzle storage (they come in a bag, not a secure plate) and the potential to misalign the MMCX connectors – these are overshadowed by the overall excellence. The Himalaya delivers a powerful, immersive listening experience perfect for closing your eyes and getting lost in the music. For $300, they represent outstanding value, earning high praise as a goddamn yes and a strong contender, leaving little to disappoint.
Z-Reviews Youtube Channel
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Nice HCK Himalaya reviewed by ATechReviews
7.9
* Score computed by IEMRanking.com
Youtube Video Summary
The NiceHCK Himalaya is presented as a single dynamic flagship with premium accessories, including a soft, tangle free modular cable and both 2.5 and 3.5 millimeter terminations. The titanium alloy shell has a matte finish that resists fingerprints, feels compact in the ear despite its measured weight, and offers above average isolation when paired with suitable ear tips. Ergonomic shaping distributes the mass inside the ear so the shells sit flush and comfortable even during long sessions.
With the gold stock nozzle the bass performance is a highlight, delivering a slightly Harman like tuning with very clean, fast and textured impact that hits with satisfying rumble yet avoids bloat or roll off. Lower mids inherit warmth and weight from the bass, giving male vocals and instruments a rich and dense character, while the overall midrange is pushed forward and very clear. Upper mids are extremely detailed and intimate, bringing female vocals and guitars right next to the listener, but this emphasis can make some tracks sound a bit bright or edgy and can introduce slight sibilance on certain recordings, especially with bright cymbals or aggressive vocals.
The treble is highly resolving with a sparkly, airy upper range that, together with the forward midrange, creates a hyper detailed presentation, wide soundstage and very precise imaging that outperforms many peers in the same price bracket. Timbre is generally natural and realistic, although the strong upper midrange means the tonality sits close to the limit of brightness for some listeners. Alternative blue and gray nozzles reduce clarity, staging and imaging and remove much of the magic that makes the Himalaya special, so the default gold nozzle remains the best choice for enjoying its combination of impactful bass, lush vocals and high level technical performance.
ATechReviews Youtube Channel
Nice HCK Himalaya reviewed by Audio-In Reviews
6.4
Reviewer Score
Youtube Video Summary
NiceHCK Himalaya steps into a very crowded 300 dollar bracket as the brand flagship, pairing an all metal titanium alloy shell with a generous accessory pack that includes a modular cable, multiple terminations and three tuning nozzles. The shells feel solid and premium in the hand, and despite a little weight and a slightly short nozzle that keeps insertion on the shallower side, comfort remains good with the right tips. The styling is simple and minimal, letting the natural finish of the metal and the clean branding do the work, so the overall physical presentation feels very refined and well thought out for the price.
With the included nozzles the Himalaya aims for a mostly warm neutral signature, with the gray and gold nozzles pushing more energy through the upper mids and treble, while the blue nozzle shifts focus toward the low end and in practice gives the most balanced presentation. Bass quality is satisfying across all options, offering good dynamics, impact and sub bass extension so kick drums and low notes carry real weight and rumble, even if there is some extra mid bass that adds warmth and a touch of bleed into the lower mids. The midrange itself has solid energy and center focus yet there is a sense of unnaturalness in the upper mids across all nozzles, most noticeable on vocals where the 2 to 4 kHz region can make things sound a bit off compared to more natural sets like Falcon Ultra or Performer 8.
Treble with the blue nozzle hits a generally comfortable level, letting cymbals and hi hats cut through with a mostly natural tone and enough upper treble air, while the gray and gold options push the top end a little too far forward. Even so, the Himalaya does not deliver the level of detail and micro detail expected at this price, trailing more affordable options such as Performer 5, Origin and Bravery AE. Staging is decently wide with good forward depth, layering and imaging that makes it easy to place instruments and vocals, but overall technicalities sit in the good but not outstanding category. When set against the many strong competitors around 200 dollars, the tuning, detail and value of the Himalaya feel closer to well tuned mid tier models than to a clear price to performance benchmark, even though the bass quality, build and accessories remain genuine highlights.
Audio-In Reviews original ranking
Audio-In Reviews Youtube ChannelNice HCK Himalaya reviewed by Head-Fi.org
8
* score rescaled + normalized
Nice HCK Himalaya reviewed by Web Search
7
Reviewer Score
The NiceHCK Himalaya is a single 10 mm CNT dynamic driver (1DD) IEM housed in a titanium-alloy shell, paired with a modular cable offering 3.5/4.4/2.5 mm plugs and replaceable tuning nozzles (grey/gold/blue). Official listings show a current price of $269 with a regular price of $329, positioning it in the mid-range segment; core specs include 22 Ω impedance and 110 dB/mW sensitivity.
Sonically it leans neutral to mildly V-shaped depending on the nozzle: the blue filter reduces upper-mid energy for a smoother, warmer tilt, while gold sounds more W-shaped and grey adds upper energy and clarity. Reviewers note good staging and layering for a single DD, with clear separation and a generally controlled, non-fatiguing treble (though not for treble-seekers).
Trade-offs include a heavier shell and relatively short nozzles that may affect fit for some ears; treble can feel soft with certain filters. Still, the Himalaya provides coherent single-DD timbre, solid imaging, and practical accessories at its price, with easy drivability from portable sources.
Earsonics ES2 Details
Driver Configuration: 2BA
Tuning Type: Vocal-focused
Price (Msrp): $300
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Nice HCK Himalaya Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD
Tuning Type: Neutral, V-Shaped
Brand: NiceHCK Top NiceHCK IEMs
Price (Msrp): $329
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Earsonics ES2 User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
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Nice HCK Himalaya User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
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Earsonics ES2 Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
4.2Gaming Grade
C-Nice HCK Himalaya Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
7.5Gaming Grade
AEarsonics ES2 Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
D+- It struggles with balance, producing a lumpy response that rarely sounds coherent. Genre hopping highlights glaring inconsistencies.
Average Technical Grade
C- Resolution is limited, masking finer nuances and narrowing the soundstage. Busy mixes still overwhelm it with ease.
Nice HCK Himalaya Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A-- The tonal character feels settled and versatile, with just a few gentle bumps. You can listen for hours without fatigue.
Average Technical Grade
A-- The presentation feels orderly, balancing workable detail retrieval with acceptable imaging cues. It keeps momentum without smearing transients.
Earsonics ES2 User Reviews
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