NuForce HEM8

Love'em

Got these for my husband and he says he loves them. I was looking at some Shure headphones when I saw these. Glad I decided to get these.

By Sophia on May 23, 2016 Verified purchase

Satisfied

Love the headphones!! A little pricey but they're worth it.

HEM8 & UDAC5

Nuforce HEM8

Look: Very aesthetic. Straight from the box you can tell Nuforce took its time in designing and ensuring 1st customer experience is a positive one. Can't go wrong with black, as it goes with everything. In regards to the cables, I can see an average listener preferring the smooth one, but both braided and smooth cables are nice to use. Just wish the braided one had sound control capabilities (e.g. Play/Pause, Answer/Disconnect calls, etc.) but something really minor there. Don't know if they have these headphones in different colors, but I think that would definitely give the consumer an appealing option of customizing on an investment (you have to remember these go at about $500 retail). Other musicians have complemented me on the look of these


Fit: fit is awesome, definitely like the assorted choice of different bud material and sizes, after altering with a few combos, definitely found the right one for me. Cable hangs well both from the back and the front, depending on user preference, only thing with my experience is that the left ear cable, the part that goes around your ear, has a hard time staying in place. Right side is no problem. Only way I've gotten around this is by adjusting the clear plastic thing holds both sides of the cable when it splits for each ear, all the way up. Maybe it's my ears? Just something minor as well.


Sound: Considering they are balanced driver in-ears, they are not as "bassy" as dynamic driver in-ears. Don't get me wrong, the bass sounds beautiful. But it is not empowering, as perhaps some users may like. I am one of those that likes the bass empowering, but I admit that a balanced sound sounds so crisp and beautiful with these. After a few months with these, I can tell the difference in quality compared to your average headphones. You can clearly hear all the small details artists intentionally record that sometimes get lost with less-quality sounding headphones. I’ve even heard when artists inadvertently take a deep breathe or lick their lips (Yes, that clear lol). Fellow musicians have stated they can instantly perceive the difference in quality compared to their in-ears. I’ve enjoyed using these in-ears for both leisure and when performing, and you really can’t complain. If you’re in the market for balanced driver in-ears, these are definitely worth considering.

Nuforce uDAC5

Look: Slick, also aesthetic and not as bulky as other DACs. Also, it’s not that heavy, convenient for when you carry your laptop around and need to carry this as well.

Sound: The amplifier really does make a difference. I had gotten so used to the computer sound which is not bad, but clearly lacks on the lows and some mids. The bass is clearly brought forward, as w/o a DAC, sound tends to get muddy or lost in the background. My only complaint, and not directly against the amplifier, is that computers are not built with exceptional sound and having to resort to an external DAC to help you out. Sometimes it does get annoying having the DAC connected as it may get in the way when connecting flash drives, which I use often. And although small, it does take up some space on my table, which is critical, considering my table has a small area for the computer. I guess I like my sound so much I’m willing to deal with these inconveniences.

I used this setup with Hip-Hop, Pop Rock, Dubstep, Bossa Nova, Classical, Flamenco, Merengue, and Jazz. I like how different and clear the bass sounds with Bossa Nova; before the bass was perceived but the notes were not really distinct.The lows are super clear, whereas with no amplifier and cheaper headphones, they sometimes get lost. I like how the sound is kept in sync when e.g. an artist does a falsetto or a guitar does a riff on the high end of the neck. The sound is not flimsy or too high-pitched unlike when other headphones are being used. Don’t get me started when the bass plays a solo. Notes played on the low end of the neck don’t get lost; they sound explicitly clear

Conclusion
After using these for some time now, it would be hard to go back to cheaper setup. I would hate not to have these headphones and amplifier in my life anymore, that’s how important they’ve become in my daily usage, whether commuting, at work, or when performing.

I won these in a contest. I wrote this review without being asked or enticed to do so.

Great Sound

These headphones have great accuracy around vocals and instruments. It is a little weak on the bass but I can see how for some it would not matter.

They fit comfortably within my ear and did not have any irritation after wearing them for long periods of time.

They come with two cords which gives you an option based on which one you like. I like the more abrasive one that seems less likely to tangle.

I used the headphones with and wihtout an amp. I would suggest an amp for these as it I could adjust the different levels to my liking.

These also sounded great when used with my phone. The voices were real clear and they could hear me perfectly.

Incredible build with sound to match

To me the comfort and fit of the HEM8 is stellar. They are not cumbersome or clunky as some of the more well known iems discussed in the audiophile world. I can wear these for hours with no discomfort. I think the quality is top notch and as the manufacturer recently and so excellently stated "For us our products are always a sort of a marriage between minimalistic industrial design and advanced engineering", it really shows on the HEM8.

Originally I thought they were dark and unclear. The one thing I have to say is the more time they spend in my ears with the more I can enjoy the clarity and precision. They seem to really open up over time and the darker/unclear aspect is no longer noticed. To me they are refined and on the exquisite side. Paired with my QP1R they are astonishing. With my AR-M2 they are bright yet strong and warm.

As with many things, usage over time really is the true measuring stick of how well performance can be proven and the amount of time I've spent with the HEM8s they have opened my ears and eyes to how wonderful they are!

By RebelRanger on May 12, 2016 Verified purchase

Surprisingly fun

I am no headphone expert but I have heard a few other really nice in-ear headphones that my audiophile buddies have. I listen to decent range of music but mostly electronic music like house/trap and I listen to a lot of heavy metal. The HEM8 have great non boomy bass and the treble is not harsh on my ears. I can listen to these for hours without ear fatigue from the sound and they are comfortable too. They are definitley more durable than some other earbuds i've tried and I like the flat back look. The case they come with is nice too. Never thought I would spend this much on headphones but it was a worthwhile investment.