ddHiFi BC130 Nyx PRO Cable for IEMS – Shielded Upgrade Music Bliss
ddHiFi BC130 Nyx Pro is a $499 USD upgrade cable for IEMs, designed with modular connectors at the earphone side, modular connectors at the jack side, coming with multiple transport cases to give you the best music experience possible, and developed in collaboration with Eletech, another lead designer of IEMs cables. Today we will review the BC130 Nyx PRO and compare it with other cables for IEMs, including Astral Acoustics Eclipse (950 USD), Oriveti Affinity II (299 USD), and STE AG W16 (580 USD).
Introduction
While ddHiFi is well-known for their affordable set of accessories and cables, today we take a look at their high-end shielded upgrade cable for IEMs, the BC130 Nyx PRO cable, with a thicker, more reliable design than most affordable alternatives, and we will also explore how it sounds like, as we are enthusiastic about the first high-end product from ddHiFi. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases, and using the purchase links in my reviews helps me maintain this website and Youtube Channel. Huge thanks to ddHifi for providing the sample for this review, in exchange for my honest opinion.
PROs – Comfortable and ergonomic design that emphasizes resolution, soundstage width, instrument separation and clarity of voices. Nyx Pro creates a deep and powerful bass, but also adds contrast by employing a bright and sharp treble with excellent resolution and a more intimate, more romantic and smoother, more colorful voicing, much better for J-Rock, J-Pop and female led songs. Bass has a considerably higher control and less distortion.
Cons – Slight memory effect, the L-Shaped and I-Shaped plugs are supposed to have a slightly different sound.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3UE2Ixa
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oDop07z
Build Quality / Aesthetics
Following a slightly different approach than most high-end upgrade cables for IEMs, Nyx PRO uses an innovative silver-coated conductive fiber material placed between the inner and outer insulation layers, made possible through a precise weaving process. The central core of the wire is wrapped in this soft conductive fiber, depicting how darkness always comes to light.
The silver to copper ratio is 1:3, and Nyx Pro has a circular array of 7 enlarged diameter pure silver conductors with monocrystalline copper conductors evenly distributed around the circumference. This combination can improve the high-frequency resolution while offering a solid and impactful mid and bass. Also a nice upgrade from most cables, Nyx Pro uses a replaceable plug connector that relies on a standard mini-XLR 4-Pin connector instead of the traditional 4-Pin connector we’ve seen used on most high-end cables out there. The internal connection of the plug sports a customized conductor to balance the sonic deviation caused by solder materials. Nyx Pro comes with both a 4.4mm balanced plug and single ended 3.5mm plug.
For the plugs to be truly lossless, there are adjustments made to the conductors, for them to match the tone and sonic quality of the Nyx Pro. The package of the Nyx Pro includes the cable, the two jack adapters, 2-Pin and MMCX IEM adapters, and also three transport cases.
Subjective Usage / Comfort
I try to keep the subjective part of the review separate from the technical and build quality one to explore just purely how using a product feels like, so this part is usually written first. BC130 Nyx PRO is a high-end cable that’s on the thicker side, but it is not extremely stiff. I also came to the conclusion that although this hobby kept naming the handling noise of cables microphonic noise, this is not correct, microphonic is something else entirely, but the handling noise of BC130 Pro is very low, and thanks to the elastic coating, even if it brushes harshly against my face, clothes, only a deep rumble reaches the ear, all other noise being effectively canceled down the line. This noise level is far lower than what I get with any default cables for IEMS, except for certain select flagship IEMs that come with high-end grade cables.
ddHiFi BC130 Nyx Pro is plenty flexible, thanks to the slightly loose braiding in the main cable body, but it has a slight memory effect as a result of its high elasticity. It generally feels nice to the touch and looks beautiful in person. The connectors at the IEM side are user replaceable and easily replaceable with the MMCX connectors being the same as the ones by Eletech, so compatible with the infamous Sennheiser Ie900 and other unique IEMs.
The 2-Pin connectors are standard too and will work with all the IEMS in my collection. The coiling around the ear is a flexible and elastic soft coil which provides good support for IEMs like Campfire Moon Rover, Campfire Bonneville and Sennheiser Ie900, much better than the default cables of all those IEMs.
Sound Quality
Overall Signature – To describe the Nyx Pro, one of the main pairings I have employed it in is with Campfire Bonneville, but also with Campfire Moon Rover. Other IEMs I have used extensively with the Bc130 Nyx Pro are Soundz Flame, Sennheiser IE900, Soundz Avant, Simgot EM10, Rose technics QTX, Spirit Torino Twin Pulse Beryllium, Swear He-Live5, Jomo x Pantheon P3 Percussion, Tin HiFi P1 Max II, and Hiby x F Audio Project Ace. With all of those IEMs, I have noticed the same improvements, a tighter, more controlled bass being able to produce a more forward voicing with a sweeter, far more defined female voicing, and with a brighter, more crisp and more expressive treble. BC130 Nyx Pro has a vivid and dynamic, engaging sound, which is audibly better than most sources.
I have started testing those differences by employing sources with two outputs, and having one IEM connected with its original cable, and one IUEM with BC130 Nyx Pro in the other ear, in a secondary output. Basically, I can hear just the difference the cable makes in each ear, which makes those differences immediately audible. One thing I keep noticing with upgrade cables is that they are a couple of dB louder than the default cables of most IEMS, which I find interesting and also good to keep in mind. While I cannot draw a straight conclusion of why, I see it as it is with high-end camera equipment, where high-grade lenses can sometimes have a higher light transmittance. This being said, in the camera world, higher price does not equate to a higher transmittance and both the lenses I am using on a daily basis, Canon RF100 2.8L Macro and Canon RF 50 mm F1.2 L have a really low light transmittance for their aperture level.
Bass – Nyx Pro delivers a cleaner, deeper and tighter bass than the default cable of most IEMs, creating a more rounded impact with a lower THD, and a deeper presentation, reaching a lower frequency with more energy and much lower spread and distortion. This is immediately audible when switching back and forth with bass-heavy EDM and Dubstep tracks, where the default cable will easily have a bit of distortion, or lose control, and Nyx Pro will stay well-defined, clear and crisp. There is no particular coloration in the upper bass and lower midrange, so you can expect a strong sub-bass but a controlled and even at times neutral upper bass and lower midrange.
Midrange – It feels like voices are pushed a bit more forward, especially female voices which sound sweeter and more holographic, more musical and more fluid, but also more passionate and more colorful. Male voices also sound a bit more musical, inheriting a slightly increased presence in the upper midrange, with a neutral lower midrange. This leads to most music sounding a bit happier, the soundstage has better instrument separation and definition, despite the soundstage being wider, it is not deeper. Rather, the sub bass layer is more audible and cleaner, while the upper midrange and treble is more forward and more sparkly, with more energy.
Treble – And here I think Nyx Pro makes the highest difference, as it adds a sharp and brillant top-end sparkle that’s sometimes missing in music, but keeps the texture smooth and clean, with zero THD, and instead seemingly lowering the distortion and having a cleaner, more controller sound than the default cable of most IEMs. This presentation is endlessly bountiful and enjoyable, having a bit of sharpness and air, which is much needed and makes IEMs like Bonneville and Moon rover more enjoyable. Even with brightly tuned IEMs like Sweear He-Live5, the sound is improved in a desirable direction, as it is smoother in the treble, where He Live 5 already has a lot of energy, BC130 Nyx Pro just makes that top-end even sweeter, cleaner, and filters the THD a bit, creating a more enjoyable presentation in general.
Dynamics / PRaT / Textures – While most cables play a bit with the dynamics, Nyx Pro has a mild effect, at most it smooths out the textures, creating a fuller, more audibly clean and clear presentation, but improving the perceived dynamics of the sound, as it extends the extension and energy of the extremes a bit. Usually, an U-Shaped signature can sound more dramatic and hence more dynamic and punchy, the same effect happening with BC130 Nyx PRO.
Soundstage – The stage of the BC130 Pro is wide, holographic and it improves, refines the instrument separation, but also has the same depth as most default cables of IEMs, allowing music to expand more in the lateral plane, but not necessarily in the depth plane. Music can also somehow sound taller, like it has more vertical volume.
Comparisons
ddHiFi BC130 Nyx PRO vs STE AG W16 (499 USD vs 580 USD) – STE AG W16 has two different materials, and while the idea looks really cool, it both cancels the handling noise with both, but inherits a bit of the noise profile of both, which is not ideal in general. Because it changes the cable sheathing midway, the whole construct is more rubbery and springy, while Nyx PRO is thicker, heavier, has a looser braiding, a bit more handling noise, but in a lower pitch and a deeper rumble handling noise that you rarely really hear. You need to purchase the STE AG W16 in the connector configuration you need right away, while BC130 Nyx Pro can be purchased once and be used with most IEMs on the market. The sound of Nyx PRO exaggerates both ends, while AG W16 exaggerates just the table, sounds sharper and harsher, with a brighter treble and more top-end. AG W16 is a more mid forward cable with a more intimate soundstage, while Nyx PRO sounds wider and more holographic, with better instrument separation and a sweeter, but also more dramatic sound.
ddHiFi BC130 Nyx PRO vs Astral Acoustics Eclipse (499 USD vs 950 USD) – Eclipse is a fun and high-end cable, but you need to configure it with either 2-Pin or MMCX, as Eletech has only shared their secrets for the modular connector only with ddHiFi so far. Eclipse is a bit harder and less flexible / less elastic than Nyx PRO, but has a lower handling noise thanks to its thicker sheathing. The wearing comfort is mostly equal, slightly higher for Nyx PRO thanks to its more elastic and flexible design. The sound of the Eclipse is tight and well-defined, it refines the original tuning of most IEMs without changing the signature much, at most it seems to tone down the 8-10 kHz peaks for most IEMs, which can take the fatiguing elements and metallic tinge away from their sound, while Nyx PRO has a different approach, it defines the sub bass more, creates more treble sparkle and brilliance, gives sound more energy and impact, depth and makes things more dramatic, more alive and lively. Likely, if you spend around 1000 USD for a cable, you’d just want it to slightly refine the sound, so this comparison is not an indicator that Eclipse does not deliver what it is meant to, but instead that a cable like Nyx Pro can offer a fun and cool side tuning for most IEMs.
ddHiFi BC130 Nyx PRO vs Oriveti Affinity II (499 USD vs 299 USD) – Affinity II is more flexible and has no ear guides, which feel ergonomic at first impression, but the thicker, more elastic design of Nyx PRO eventually feels more natural in long-term usage. Having both MMCX and 2-Pin options in the same cable as Nyx PRO does is a huge bonus for usability. The sound of Oriveti enhances clarity and detail, but it is very transparent, doesn’t really change the tuning much, to the point where some people barely hear what it does to the sound of IEMs, but Nyx PRO has fairly definite tuning and sound, it exaggerates the extremes, enhances the soundstage and creates a better instrument separation, lower THD and it is generally a fairly big upgrade in resolution and clarity compared to the default cable of IEMs. The texture of Nyx PRO is only slightly smoother, while Affinity II has a much smoother texture, which was not as well received as it could hinder and hide some details, while Nyx PRO reveals details better than the default cables of most IEMs.
Value and Conclusion
We’ve seen a lot of action from ddHiFi in the entry-level range, where they always provided excellent price / performance ratio for their products, but even now that they made a high-end product, it still performs excellent for the price point, with BC130 Nyx Pro having an excellent ergonomic and a sound I can only consider desirable with every IEM I had the chance to pair it with. Although the price is not low, the performance is still very high, BC130 Nyx Pro is an enjoyable little upgrade I can recommend everyone to add to their current setup for an improved listening experience.
At the end of the day, I’ve been enjoying the BC130 Nyx Pro a lot over the past weeks, and I’ve used it as the default cable for my own enjoyment with most IEMs, so it is only fair I recommend it for you as well. I find it plenty enjoyable, and for a high-end IEM, a huge upgrade over the default cable most of the time.
Product Link
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3UE2Ixa
Aliexpress – https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oDop07z
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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