Skip to content
HearWiki

FiiO EH3 NC vs Nectar Hive: which should you buy?

Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the FiiO EH3 NC vs Nectar Hive, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

FiiO EH3 NC

No sub-scores yet - not enough rated reviews.

Nectar Hive
Sound9.0
Value7.0

Specifications

Specification comparison of FiiO EH3 NC vs Nectar Hive
SpecFiiO EH3 NCNectar Hive
TypeOver-EarOver-Ear
Price (USD)$200$197
HearWiki scoreNot scored85 / 100 · Outstanding
Released20192022
Audio
Driver45mm double-sided titanium-plated diaphragmElectrostatic
Driver size45 mm-
Drivers per side1-
Frequency response20Hz-20kHz20Hz-7kHz
Sound signature-Bright neutral
Impedance32 Ω-
Sensitivity98 dB/mW-
Wireless
Bluetooth5.0-
CodecsSBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Low Latency, aptX HD, LDAC-
Multipoint pairingNo-
Wireless range10 m-
Battery
Battery life50 h-
Battery life (ANC on)30 h-
Full charge time180 min-
Quick chargefast charging-
Features
ANC typehybrid-
Transparency modeNo-
Companion appYes-
Custom EQNo-
Wear detectionNo-
Controlsbuttons-
Design
Weight293 g370 g
USB-CYes-
Calls
Call noise reductionmulti-microphone active noise reduction-

What reviewers said

FiiO EH3 NC

The FiiO EH3 NC is a budget-friendly over-ear wireless headphone that combines hybrid active noise cancellation with high-resolution Bluetooth audio support, including LDAC and aptX HD. It features large 45mm titanium-coated drivers for detailed sound and offers an impressive battery life of up to 50 hours without ANC, or 30 hours with it enabled. While it lacks advanced extras like transparency mode or multipoint connectivity, its solid build, fast charging, and app support make it a strong value option.

  • Pro:Excellent battery life, especially with ANC off
  • Pro:Supports high-quality Bluetooth codecs like LDAC and aptX HD
  • Pro:Hybrid ANC effectively reduces ambient noise
  • Con:No transparency mode for hearing surroundings
  • Con:No multipoint Bluetooth for connecting to two devices at once
  • Con:Lacks custom EQ and wear detection features

Nectar Hive

The Nectar Hive is a wired electrostatic over-ear headphone priced around $600, weighing just 370 grams. It delivers a bright neutral sound signature with a frequency response spanning 20Hz to 7kHz, offering a detailed and airy presentation that leans toward analytical clarity. This model earns high marks for its tonal balance and technical performance, making it a strong contender in its price bracket for listeners who prefer a crisp, revealing sound.

  • Pro:Excellent tonal accuracy and neutrality
  • Pro:Impressive technical detail retrieval
  • Pro:Featherweight design for comfort
  • Con:Bright tilt may be fatiguing for some
  • Con:Limited bass impact due to electrostatic nature
  • Con:Requires dedicated amplifier for proper use

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

Compare something else

Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.