ND DD3 - New to the Party

It is the first that I've heard of this Chi-Fi company and this is definitely the first that I am going to review their products. Keephifi has sent me the ND DD3 to seek my opinion on this earphone.

DISCLAIMER:

• I have no affiliation with ND and have not received any monetary compensation during or after writing this review.  Keephifi provided this unit to me in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
• As a non-professional reviewer, I aim to use simple terms that can be understood by both beginners and experts in the hobby.
• Please keep in mind that the opinions expressed in this review are subjective and based on my personal experience with the unit. I encourage you to try the product yourself to form your own opinion.

PACKAGING 

The packaging is mostly basic with a pouch, set of eartips, the cables and the IEMs itself. I won't write too much on this one. What you see on the picture is what you get.

BUILD QUALITY

The construction of the ND DD3 mirrors the typical quality found in most budget Chi-Fi IEMs. It features a blend of materials: a metal faceplate with a matte finish, coupled with a resin build for the rest of the shell. The connectors employ a QDC type connection, which is unsurprising given its prevalence as a standard connection in the realm of budget Chi-Fi. Generally, I appreciate the color scheme, with the exception of the rather obnoxious guitar design that unfortunately detracts from the overall aesthetic appeal of the product.

SOUND

ND DD3 tuning switches

The ND DD3 features a tuning switch which doesn't feel that much of a difference in terms of sound. Out of the box, the ND DD3 presents a V-shaped sound signature as its default audio profile.

BASS 

The bass carries considerable weight, particularly in the sub-bass region, delivering deeply satisfying rumbles. However, it lacks a bit of mid-bass punch, which results in a less defined and resolving bass impact. In certain tuning configurations, it can become quite muddy. Turning the switch "down" on the "ON" label somewhat fixes the muddiness in the bass, although the improvements are hardly discernible.

MIDS

Straight out of the box, the midrange presents a recessed presentation. The timbre in this range may appear unnatural, with a distinct metallic tone in the upper midrange. While vocals are placed more prominently, they may not sound entirely natural and can occasionally overshadow the instruments.

HIGHS

Although the treble region occasionally exhibits a metallic and unnatural quality, it can be tolerable on certain occasions. When the "ON" switch is off, the treble offers sufficient energy to bring cymbal splashes, piano keys, and saxophone to life, infusing them with a sense of vibrancy. However, with the "ON" switch on treble extension may recede somewhat, trading off some treble quality to accommodate the lower frequencies.

TECHNICALITIES

The soundstage and imaging are rather unremarkable, lacking any standout qualities. The soundstage can occasionally feel somewhat constricted and lacks a sense of expansiveness. While imaging can be decent, it faces challenges with complex tracks, making it difficult to discern micro-details. However, it's important to keep in mind that these are budget earphones, and such limitations are to be expected.

Here are my observations regarding the switches, although it's possible that you may not discern any differences. Upon critical listening, here are the outcomes I've noticed.  Please keep in mind that these observations are based solely on my own perception. Ideally, there will be more comprehensive resources, like squigs, available in the future for a more technical and precise reference.

With the "ON" switch on/up:

• Low-res.
• More focused on the lows.
• Mids can sound boxy.
• Lacking treble presence.
• Compressed soundstage.

UUU 

• Dark sounding
• Elevated bass and forward mids with weak treble presence

UDU 

• Almost the same as UUU but the midrange is more recessed.

UDD

• Bass is lighter.
• Recessed mids with boxy vocals.
• Treble sounds muted.
• Probably the worst configuration in my opinion.

With the "ON" switch off/down:

• Has more balance.
• Treble has more presence.

DUD

• bass is more balanced.
• mids are much defined despite having a recessed quality compared to when the switch is on

DUU

• The most balanced configuration.

DDU

• higher frequencies are emphasized.
• a bit better soundstage.

CONCLUSION

Pros

• Fun and lively sound.
• Nice color scheme.
• Good package inclusions but the pouch can be less effective when protecting the IEM.
• Good bass weight.
• Treble is lively.
• Cheap.

Cons:

• Upper frequencies can sound unnatural.
• Switches are gimmicky.
• Vocals can sound unnatural and boxy at times.
• Average technicalities.

It may be premature for me to make a definitive judgment on ND's potential, but my initial impression of their DD3 model hasn't convinced me that this company is poised for significant growth. However, I'm open to the possibility that they could improve over time. At best, I foresee ND becoming a dark horse contender, akin to Lafitear and CVJ.

While the ND DD3 doesn't stand out as an exceptional earphone, it does provide an enjoyable and lively listening experience for casual users. Aesthetically, I appreciate the earphones' overall color scheme, certain design elements, like the random guitar in the middle, should be reconsidered for their upcoming product lines since I find it distasteful and random, I might even try to scratch out the guitar design once I'm done with this review. It somewhat reminds me of the TFZ S2 Pro with its random teddy bear design and the letter "T." As for the tuning switches, it is another gimmicky feature that bears no significant changes to the sound unless you critically perceive it. Overall, a budget earphone is a budget earphone, you basically get what you pay for with no exceptional experiences, the ND DD3 is one example.