NiPO N2 Review by armstrj2 | Head-Fi.org

NiPO N2 Review

NiPO are a new Chinese brand who have come out of the blocks with the N2 music player which they are firmly aiming at the top tiers of the market. To help achieve this, they have packed the N2 with high-grade components, impressive power output figures and bundled it all into a small and easy-to-carry package.

When an opportunity arose to try out the N2, I was interested to find out what a debutant could deliver at this end of the market. I have been using it daily for several weeks and given it more than 100 hours of use at their suggestion before beginning this review.

Like everything in this hobby, what you are going to read are just my opinions based on my hearing, tastes, and previous experience. You may disagree with them, and that’s fine, but just treat them as one data point, as there are no guarantees you will hear things the same.

What’s in the Box​

As you would expect with a device that is aimed at the higher end of the market, the N2 comes in some premium packaging, which reminded me very much of the Hiby RS8’s when I was unboxing.

The DAP is presented in a nice leather case, which is stored in a cloth dust bag. It is a similar type of experience to how many luxury items are presented, and all of the materials are nice to touch and high quality.

The DAP comes with screen protectors, a charging cable and a green leather case. The case is nice and thin, so it doesn’t add much bulk to the DAP, but it is also nice to use the DAP without it to appreciate the design.

Overall, it is in line with what you would expect at this price point and is nicely done.

Design, Specs and UI​

The N2 size-wise is closer to mid-range DAPs than the top-of-the-line devices it is aiming to compete with. It is smaller and significantly lighter than my RS8 but somehow manages to have an output power over three times higher!

The device measures 139mm x 74mm x 19.7mm and weighs in at 348g. Before I saw the weight, I would have guessed it was even lighter than that, as it doesn’t feel a whole lot heavier than my Cayin N3 Ultra in hand. It is very easy to pocket the device and take it on the go with you.

Taking a look around the device, the steel chassis is sandwiched between glass on the front and back. The back of the device has a piano black finish, which you often see on Cayin DAPs. The 5” touchscreen takes up most of the front device, except for two small bars, top and bottom. The screen has a decent resolution and a good viewing angle and is perfectly adequate for a DAP.

The NiPO branding, buttons, ports and volume wheel all have a nice copper colour, which contrasts well against the black. The buttons are nice to touch and feel, but when you use the included case, they become very easy to press by accident, and you nearly always end up pressing one when you pick up the device. It is something that could be solved by including an option to disable the buttons when the screen is off, so hopefully, this will be included in a future update.

The volume wheel, while also very nice to look at, is a little loose for my liking, and I would prefer if it had a more solid feel to it. These are my only qualms with the design of the device, though, and in general, it is very well-finished and has a premium feel.

There is a microSD card slot on the bottom of the device along with a USB-C port for charging. I have used high-power chargers with the device and it charges very quickly. On the top surface are 4.4mm and 3.5mm ports, and that is pretty much everything.

The N2 has 128GB of onboard storage, comes with 6GB of RAM and runs a fairly stock version of Android 10. The UI is pretty snappy to use and comes with the Google Play Store installed, so you can easily add the apps you require. And that is a good thing, as the device doesn’t ship with a whole load of stock apps. I have been using UAPP as my main music player for local files and Tidal, but I have also tested out other apps such as Hiby Music and Neutron Player.

In general, NiPO has added very few customisations to Android, and it’s up to the user to decide how they want to listen to music or adjust the sound by using apps. From the swipe-down menu at the top of the screen, there are some icons for switching on/off line-out mode, USB In mode, adjusting the gain or selecting between 7 different sound filters. As with most sound filters, the changes they make are subtle.

The rest of the settings and menus are what you would expect to find on any Android-based device.

The N2 uses an ESS ES9039 Pro DAC, a fully discrete amp and I/V conversion along with a host of other high-grade components to improve sound quality. It is capable of producing 2520mW @ 32 ohms, which is one of the highest I have seen in any DAP. Battery life is rated for 9 hours when using the balanced port. When streaming, I have been getting less than that, but as I have mentioned, the device charges very quickly and overall, I found it fine, considering the power it can output and its small size.

Sound​

The sound of the N2 has developed nicely with more and more use. Out of the box, it was quite V-shaped, with a big bass emphasis and slightly pushed-back mids as a result. With use, this has become more balanced and cohesive, and while there is still tons of bass when called for, everything is more in line, and I have really enjoyed listening to it mature.

Starting with that bass, the power that the DAP provides is very evident in the lower registers. It is amp-like in its delivery and very well controlled for a DAP. I have really enjoyed the fact that when I am listening to N2 with the L&P EA4 and I then leave my desk with just the N2 with me, while it doesn’t achieve the same levels of control as the EA4 it definitely doesn’t feel like as much of a step down in quality as it does with some of my other sources.

For sheer slam that remains nicely controlled for a DAP, the N2 is very impressive with bass-heavy IEMs and music. Both sub and mid-bass are elevated with N2, but it is tastefully done and has remained in control without bloat or bleed through all of my testing.

The mid-range is natural and nicely detailed, with enough of a hint of warmth to keep it from being analytical. Vocals and instruments are engaging, and how much detail or resolution you receive really depends on what your IEM is capable of. As an R2R advocate, I will always prefer how natural vocals sound with something like the Hiby RS8, but N2 does a good job, and I have had no real issues with it through all of the different tracks I have tried.

I have had issues with ESS glare in the past but I had heard this latest generation of DAC was less prone to it, and that has been the case with N2. Upper mids into lower treble doesn’t have that excessive energy or sharpness I have experienced with some implementations of ESS DACs in the past.

The N2 has quite detailed treble, which I do find more intense than something like my RS8, but it is in line with many delta-sigma based DAPs I listen to. If you listen to a lot of high-energy music with IEMs that are considered bright leaning, it may not be the best choice of source, but overall, I think the way it is tuned brings out the details in the higher frequencies.

Age, hearing, and preferences play a big part in deciding how treble sounds to you but the N2 is definitely on the more lively side of the spectrum, and it can push the line to eke out those details.

The soundstage N2 helps produce is quite impressive for a DAP. If your IEM is capable, you will hear a nice 3D stage that stretches out far in every direction. It also has that amp-like quality of painting a very effective image of where instruments and performers are situated and the distance between them. What NiPO has achieved here competes with any of the top DAPs and deserves a lot of credit, seeing this is their first attempt.

Comparisons​

To see how N2 performed, I compared it against my Hiby RS8 with a selection of my IEMs. I used local files and UAPP on both devices as the music player.

Campfire Audio Astrolith​

This pairing of IEM and DAP has been one of my favourites so far with N2. The extra power on tap and the more neutral, detail-focused tuning of the DAP allow Astrolith to shine.



Fada - Andre Soueid

Listening first with N2, the opening of the track has a quite ominous feel to it with its sub-bass reverberations that remind you of a tension-building score in a movie. There are drums spread out around what feels like a vast stage, and the track builds until around the 02:14 mark, where you are met with a heavy and intense bass line. The track progresses with a range of different instruments and sounds, all detailed, engaging and impactful. It’s an immersive listen with N2 and Astrolith and one you can’t help but be impressed with.

Listening to the track again with RS8, it isn’t a case of one source being better than the other, more a case of appreciating two different presentations. There is the same sense of a grand stage and those sub-bass undertones, but it is not as intense as with N2. When the track breaks, the heavy bass line doesn’t impact in the same way; instead, it adds another layer to the track, which continues to build and engage you in a more melodic fashion than with N2.

There is undoubtedly more tension and impact in the track with N2, and there is the perception of more detail as each sound is a little more aggressively presented than with the smoother RS8.



Vapour (Original Mix) - Mulya

A straightforward track, but one that is very impressive with Astrolith and N2. The main beat and rhythmic bed of the track remain the same throughout, with drums and other sounds coming and going to draw your attention and engage. The bass drum hits hard with this combo, and the core rhythm draws you in. The ability of N2 to cast a wide stage means as the different sounds and drums are introduced across the track, they surround you and occupy their own space while remaining highly detailed.

With RS8, the kick drum is less visceral, and I find that my attention is more on the sounds that come and go throughout the track. I think RS8 does a better job of portraying the sense that sounds are travelling across the soundstage, and it seems like you can track the sounds way off into the distance.

When going back and forth, there is more resolution in the track with RS8, but individual notes seem to have more detail when listening with N2, which I think is mainly down to the different presentations. RS8 is silky and easy to listen to, whereas N2 aims to be more precise. Depending on what you are listening to, one will suit more than the other, but it is certainly nice to have both available to experience the track differently.

Aroma Audio Fei Wan​

Want You (Need You) (Adam Port Remix) - Bell Towers

There is quite a contrast in how Fei Wan can sound swapping between both sources, and it is a reminder of why people can have such different experiences with the same set.

Listening with RS8, the track is very rhythmic and smooth. There is a nice 3D soundstage with sounds appearing all around you. The vocals are detailed and clear, but the bassline is softer than it is with N2. There is almost an ethereal feel to the track with RS8.

Swapping to N2, there is slightly more of a sense of rumble at the start of the track. The bassline is a little more impactful and there is more attack to notes in general. Vocals are equally detailed, but there isn’t that ethereal sense there is with RS8, and there is more apparent space between each sound in the track.

RS8 presents the track in a way that makes it easy to sit back and get lost in the music, whereas N2 presents the track more aggressively and is more about appreciating all the details and sounds with the track.



The Rhythm of Dancing - &lez

I love this track, and it is a treat with Fei Wan using either DAP. RS8 sounds much fuller and more forward, and there is a great sense of how far the soundstage stretches in each direction.

It is smoother again, but it is the fuller sound that really separates the two sources. N2 sounds very clean and detailed. It is easier to focus on individual parts, and this is particularly noticeable when the piano comes in later in the track. The soundstage appears larger with RS8, but with N2, it seems like there is clearer space between everything and the sounds are pushed further out in the soundstage.

The more flowing nature of the track with RS8 means you are never really focussing on one part but rather the track as a whole. With N2, when each instrument, sound or vocals comes into the track, your attention is immediately drawn to it, with everything being detailed and easy to hear.

Fir Audio XE6​

Pulse VI - Kerala Dust

Before listening, I had some concerns that there would just be too much bass quantity when pairing XE6 with N2. XE6 often doesn’t pair well with amps for this reason, but while there is certainly more slam with N2, it is perfectly listenable.

The opening of the track is dominated by the bass guitar and drums, and there is a tactile sensation from both the string vibrations and drum hits. When I swap to RS8, that tactility drops off comparatively.

With N2, the female vocals in the track are clearer and more to the fore. Conversely, though, the male vocals sound less natural than they do with RS8 and are thinner. It is a common theme among all of my impressions, but RS8 has fewer peaks and foregoes absolute details for a natural and easy listen. N2 doesn’t forego anything on the detail front so the IEM you are listening with needs to be able to handle that if the track is complex.



Midnight (The Hanging Tree) - Hosh

There are lots of similarities between the two sources for this track. The female vocals at the start are clear, full and detailed with both, but there are some sharp “s” sounds initially with N2.

As the track progresses, it is only a matter of taste that would separate either. RS8 is slightly fuller and warmer sounding, whereas N2 is faster and has more attack. Both do a good job with the song, but the differences between the sources are fairly minor and reflective of the type of DAC each uses.

Custom Art Fibae 5​

Harvester of Sorrow - Metallica

Fibae 5 and N2 are a superb pairing. Fibae 5 really performs better with this type of power and is transformed over how it can sound with weaker DAPs. It is definitely the budget set amongst the other IEMs I have used here, but it punches way above its weight when it’s adequately driven.

What is particularly good about this track with this combo is the gritty guitar riffs and Hetfield’s vocals. The guitars sound life-like, and you can imagine being blasted by large speaker stacks while listening to it live. The vocals are brought forward with this pairing, too, and are not lost behind the collective intensity of all the instruments. It is involving, gets the toes tapping and is a great example of how N2 can elevate an IEM, which would normally be considered mid-tier.

Swapping over to RS8 to compare, the electric guitars have a softer edge, as do the drum strikes. Vocals sit slightly further back and while they are still easy to hear, it is a less preferable pairing than with N2. It is nice to listen to with RS8, but it is exciting with N2, which is a clear winner for me in this comparison.



Killing in the Name - Rage Against the Machine

What a track! As with Harvester of Sorrow, the N2 & Fibae 5 combo is excellent, and I loved listening to this track with them. The combination of the full and in-your-face electric and bass guitars, along with the slamming drums and intense vocals, really makes for a fantastic listen. It is a case of sitting back and enjoying the track with this pairing. Nothing feels lacking or out of place, and that has been consistent when listening to many other tracks from similar genres.

Again, when listening with RS8, the major difference is the softer note edges and more relaxed presentation overall, which suits certain genres, but for tracks like Killing in the Name and Harvester of Sorrow, the more aggressive results with N2 are more preferable.

Line Out​

The N2 has a clean and quiet-sounding line out. It is fixed to 2V, which works well with most amps and allows you enough headroom for volume control.

I recently used the N2 as a source to compare the L&P EA4 and the Mass Kobo 475 as part of a review, which you can read here if you wish to find out more about this function.

I was quite impressed with it during my testing, and it provided a clear and detailed base to assess the amps from.

Conclusion​

There is a lot to like about the NiPO N2 and I have enjoyed getting to know it over the last few weeks.

The device is well made, is nice in hand and is easy to take with you on the go. It is very powerful and has some amp-like characteristics to its sound, which are not often found in DAP.

Personally, it is the best implementation of an ESS DAC I have come across so far and I think the combination of detailed sound and powerful bass will appeal to many.

It has been a nice alternative to my normal DAPs, has worked well with my amps, and I have found some really nice pairings with some of my IEMs, so I am glad to have gotten the opportunity to experience it.

The NiPO N2 is currently available on this side of the world via Musicteck, and I believe there will be more dealers added in the near future.