Today we review the Hidizs ST2 PRO Nebula, the latest IEM from the brand. A new single dynamic driver model priced at $59 USD.
Disclaimer: the Hidizs ST2 Pro Nebula was sent to us free of charge by the brand, in exchange for our honest opinion.
About Hidizs
Founded in 2009 by Tamson Tan, Hidizs has progressively built a solid reputation in the portable audio market, offering a wide range of DAPs, DAC/Amps, and IEMs that share the same core values: good sound, affordable price, and solid build quality. From their very first player, the quirky AP100, to their now iconic AP80 series – regularly updated and still beloved by audiophiles – the brand has always managed to stand out with clever products and sharp pricing.
But, what really put the brand on top of its competitors, was the good use of crowdfunding platforms, allowing them to successfully launch some of their best-sellers like the AP200 – a player that raised no less than $280,000 from 943 backers – or more recently the MP145, an IEM that reached even more people with a grand total of 1061 backers.
But, that was nothing compared to the their new IEM: the Hidizs ST2 PRO (Nebula). The earphone that we’ll be focusing on today, advertised as a « Next-Gen DSP Revolution in USB-C DAC Hi-Fi Earphones » – a bold sentence if you were to ask me – whose campaigned ended up with more that three time that what they got before (3183 backers).
A commercial success already, but will it be the same sonically? Time to find out!
Shell
Priced just below the $60 USD threshold, I didn’t expect the of the Hidizs ST2 Pro Nebula to make a strong impression but, as it turned out I was wrong, the R&D team at Hidizs achieving quite a good job, giving us an earphone that looks and feels fancier than its actual retail price.
Sure, out of the box the plastic shell doesn’t leave the best impression, especially compared to equally priced, aluminum CNC’ed models from FiiO or Shanling, but ST2 Pro still carries sturdy parts where it truly matters: the nozzle and the faceplate. The first is a classic for the brand, allowing a better fit and more durable approach, while the second being more of visual gimmick than a true technical feature – still nice though.
Talking about the faceplate, this one really makes a statement. A big round crest, made of aluminium with copper accent, proudly displaying Hidizs’ logo in subtle relief, so that you can feel it under your fingers, or watch it under the grazing light – a good mix and match of everything that the brand learned across the past years.
Looking closer, you’ll find that the ST2 Pro leans a lot more towards the MS1 and MS2, than to the MM2 or MP145, the latter enjoying a full-metallic body in contrast. Still, for $59, it’s hard to complain and overtime I even came to enjoy the semi-translucent body, being able to get a glimpse at all the machinery hidden at the heart of the IEM.
Build quality
As for the build quality itself, Hidizs also did a pretty good job int that regard.
Let’s begin by the drawbacks: unlike their recent models, the ST2 Pro Nebula displays a pretty big ridge between the faceplate and the main body, which isn’t a real issue in all fairness but compared to the rest of the catalog, it’s a bit too prominent. Same goes for the 2-pin socket that appeared to be a bit too loose on my review model, but chances are that I was just unlucky as none other models I have from the brand ever exhibited the same issue.
In addition to that, if I’m usually skeptical regarding the cable provided with entry-level IEM like the ST2 Pro, I have to say the one coming by default with the new Hidizs is… quite good. Braided and covered with a tangle-free sheath, the black and blue wires really added to the overall design, without getting too clunky as I suspected.
But what really caught my attention is the DAC integration at the end of the cable: neatly housed in a compact aluminium casing, the whole setup feels robust and cleverly executed.
Better still, the brand gave it a small aesthetic twist by including two glass windows on either side of the casing, allowing you to peek inside the circuitry. A subtle but satisfying detail that brings a bit of flair to what’s usually a throwaway component, even topping the Meze Alba in that aspect.
Daily use
With a rounded body, angled cable and a relatively small footprint, the Hidizs ST2 Pro Nebula remained easy to wear and hold, even during long listening sessions.
The nozzle size was just right, neither too long nor too large, and the provided silicone tips were the right match with my ears – even if some might still prefer memory foam, that mold to your earhole perfectly. If you’ve ever wore an IEM before, those should not give you any trouble and I never struggled to find the right fit for my ears, whether during casual listening or longer, more immersive sessions. Same goes for the cable, braided and covered from knees to toe with a smooth skin fabric alleviating the ears from any uncomfortable friction.
But, as expected, the main feature here appears to be the embedded DAC, directly blended with the default cable thus allowing a quick and easy plug to your source (phone or DAP). A feature that might appears like a basic one for EarPods users, but not for seasoned audiophile that usually rely to an external dongle usually – I still use my FiiO KA17 every time I need to plug some IEMs to my iPad.
More trivially, once paired with a source, the Hidizs ST2 Pro behaved like every other casual IEM, seamlessly.
Isolation
Obviously, with a close-back design, isolation on the ST2 Pro is quite good, damping most of the external disturbances quite evenly. I did find some discrepancies in the very highs at first, but with slightly bigger ear tips and a better seal, that issue simply disappeared.
Again, if you’re using transportation like train or planes, I do find active noise-cancelling IEM like the AirPods Pro 2 or the Devialet Gemini II a bit more potent. But, on a daily basis, those Hidizs IEM should worked perfectly.
Inside the box
The IEM comes with an unsurprisingly sparse bundle, in adequation to its price. In the box, you get:
- the Hidizs ST2 Pro Nebula
- a 4 strands, 260 core, high-purity copper wire cable with a USB-C termination
- some silicone ear tips
- an USB-C to USB-A adapter
- a travel pouch
- and… that’s it!
A scarce bundle, but considering the asking price, I didn’t expect more. Still, that default bundle should suit most users, especially considering the fact that the DAC is directly embedded into the cable!
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