Nicehck DB1 VS Kinera Celest Rue

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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Nicehck DB1 and Kinera Celest Rue are in-ear monitors. Nicehck DB1 costs $14 while Kinera Celest Rue costs $13. Nicehck DB1 is $1 more expensive. Nicehck DB1 holds a decisive 1.3-point edge in reviewer scores (5.2 vs 3.9). Kinera Celest Rue has significantly better bass with a 2.6-point edge, Kinera Celest Rue has significantly better mids with a 2-point edge and Kinera Celest Rue has significantly better treble with a 1.9-point edge.

Insights

Metric Nicehck DB1 Kinera Celest Rue
Bass 4 6.6
Mids 4 6
Treble 4 5.9
Details 5 3.9
Soundstage 4 3.9
Imaging 4 3.9
Dynamics 5.2 5.8
Tonality 4 6
Technicalities 4.3 5.8
Take these comparisons with a grain of salt—we don't have enough Nicehck DB1 and Kinera Celest Rue reviews saved yet to provide an unbiased result.

Nicehck DB1 Aggregated Review Score

IEMR Normalized Score

Shuwa-T
Head-Fi.org

IEMR Normalized Score

5.2

Mixed to Negative

Reviewer Average Score

5.6

Mixed

Kinera Celest Rue Aggregated Review Score

IEMR Normalized Score

Audio Amigo
Paul Wasabii

IEMR Normalized Score

3.9

Poor

Reviewer Average Score

4.2

Unfavorable

Reviews Comparison

Nicehck DB1 (more reviews)

Nicehck DB1 reviewed by Shuwa-T

Shuwa-T 4.2 Reviewer Score
C- Tuning
C- Tech
Wonky midrange, sounds much better on warm sources

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

Bass: C- Mids: C- Treble: C- Soundstage: C- Details: C+ Imaging: C-

Nicehck DB1 reviewed by Head-Fi.org

Head-Fi.org 7 * score rescaled + normalized
5 community members have rated the NiceHCK DB1 at an average of 4.4/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Excellent.

URL to full Review

Head-Fi.org original ranking

Kinera Celest Rue (more reviews)

Kinera Celest Rue reviewed by Paul Wasabii

Paul Wasabii 6.3 * Score computed by IEMRanking.com
B Tuning
B- Tech
YouTube video thumbnail
Tiny shell, ultra-budget price and a big bass shelf make it a fun entry-level pick. Vocals stay acceptable but bass dominates when present. Very small and comfortable shell with fun, bassy tuning at around $13, easy to drive. Bass frequently overwhelms mids and treble; limited technicalities and dynamics with basic accessories.
Youtube Video Summary

Celest Rue targets the tiny-shell, tiny-budget crowd: a 3D-printed resin shell that disappears in the ear, a basic SPC cable and white silicone tips, and a claimed 6 mm micro dynamic driver. Tuning is unapologetically bass-forward with a big shelf; when a track carries kick or sub, that becomes the focus. Vocals remain intact but thicker, and because the small driver is relatively quick in attack and decay, the presentation is less muddy than the graph implies.

This is a fun, bassy $13 set for newcomers who value comfort and low cost over technical fireworks. It does not move as much air as a 10 mm driver, so slam and stage scale are modest, and the right side of the curve (upper mids/treble) trails the left in energy. For bass-lean tracks it reads as a relaxed V, but whenever drums or sub-bass appear, Rue shifts the spotlight decisively to the low end.

Bass: B+ Mids: B Treble: B- Dynamics: B-

Paul Wasabii original ranking

Paul Wasabii Youtube Channel

Kinera Celest Rue reviewed by Audio Amigo

Audio Amigo 2 * score rescaled + normalized
Extremely comfortable, small, well built IEM. Small Driver leads to a sort of veiled sound. I had 2 units, 1 of which arrived broken.

Audio Amigo original ranking

Audio Amigo Youtube Channel
YouTube video thumbnail

Nicehck DB1 User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Kinera Celest Rue User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

Nicehck DB1 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

4.2

Gaming Grade

C-

Kinera Celest Rue Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

5.9

Gaming Grade

B-

Nicehck DB1 Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

C-
  • The tuning lacks refinement, jumping between dull and shouty without settling. Vocals frequently sound off-kilter.

Average Technical Grade

C-
  • The tuning renders a cramped window into the music, with nuance fading fast. Expect grainy textures to creep in.
Bass C-
Low-end presence is gentle and restrained, favoring balance over slam. There's enough presence for casual listening.
Mids C-
Expect adequate midrange presence with a touch of grit and unevenness. Textures smear when the mix gets busy.
Treble C-
The top end sounds acceptable but lacks the smoothness of higher tiers. Air is hinted at more than delivered.
Soundstage C-
It creates a serviceable arc that keeps instruments apart but rarely draws you into the space. It sounds more intimate than expansive.
Details C+
Decent detail retrieval that handles most textures while leaving some micro-information understated. Most textures come through cleanly.
Imaging C-
Center information lands in the right area but not with laser focus. Separation is adequate for casual listening.
Gaming C-
Minimal environmental definition provides only general audio cues. Suitable for games where positioning isn't critical.

Kinera Celest Rue Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B
  • The tuning leans easygoing, yet occasional unevenness nudges it away from greatness. A bit of EQ polish can smooth things nicely.

Average Technical Grade

B-
  • It offers a competent showing, maintaining cohesion on straightforward arrangements. Complex passages start to challenge it, but never derail the show.
Bass B+
The bass brings healthy impact, complementing mixes without overpowering them. It keeps up with faster passages cleanly.
Mids B
Midrange presence is good, delivering clear vocals and solid texture. Voices come through with pleasing clarity.
Treble B-
The top end is tidy and serviceable, adding air without overdoing it. Extension is decent for casual listening.
Dynamics B-
Dynamic performance is decent, delivering respectable macro swings with limited nuance. There's a fair amount of macrodynamic swing.
Gaming B-
Moderate spatial presentation conveys general directionality. Suitable for casual play where precision isn't critical.

Nicehck DB1 User Reviews

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Kinera Celest Rue User Reviews

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