NUBWO HD01 Review: 7506 Clone Done Better?
Greetings mate and Welcome aboard!
Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, so…
Today’s NUBWO HD01 review will cover build quality, comfort, sound, amplification needs, genre pairing, a comparison to a familiar favorite, and more.
By the time you’re finished reading this column, you’ll know if it’s worth a purchase. If it isn’t, I’ll point you in the direction of something that is.
What Is It?/Company History
Nubwo, otherwise known as Nubwotech, started in 2010 as “a full-spectrum audio innovator” (per their website).
Advancing gaming immersion, they purportedly fuse cutting-edge acoustic R&D with player feedback, having evolved from precision headsets to seamless ecosystems where light, sound, and control synchronize.
Believing that true immersion dies when gear works against you, their ultimate goal is to engineer headsets that capture every nuance in the environment: enemy whispers, explosions, etc., while completely immersing you in the action.
Does the HD01 fit that criteria? Interestingly enough, it sits in a separate demographic and, as of this writing, is the only headphone on their website meant for studio work.
A closed-back headphone that closely resembles Sony’s MDR-7506, the HD01 contains 45mm angled drivers, 90-degree swivel ear cups (removeable) for single-ear monitoring, audio sharing, and 3.5mm/6.35mm support for studio, DJ, guitar, and PC use.
Build Quality
The HD01, while a blatant knock-off of the 7506, is built well and remains just as functional, if not more.
One big difference is that the HD01’s cups can rotate 90 degrees inward (as mentioned above), while the 7506’s cannot.
However, the 7506 can fold up for easy on-the-go transport, while the HD01 cannot. So it’s a bit of a wash. Both, however, come with a nice carry bag.
Click below to see the differences:
Both also have metal adjustments and are made mostly of plastic otherwise, but the HD01’s have larger, deeper, albeit similarly shaped ear cups.
And while both have protein leather padding, the HD01’s seems to be built better for long-term use. I will update this article as I get more mileage with them.
Sony’s cups have been known to break down, flake, and peel over time, and I have personally experienced this firsthand.
Another thing I wish Sony would modify for current times is the non-detachable cable. It’s coiled, can’t come out, and proves fairly irritating over extended studio sessions.
Fortunately, the HD01 comes with 2 detachable cables, removeable ear cups, and is much more convenient to use.
Design-wise, it mimics the 7506 in almost every way, from the bale structure, folding mechanism (down), to the overall shape of the cups, to the red R and blue L indicators, right down to the word “Professional” on the cup itself.
The HD01 has more headband padding, and while we’re dancing around the subject, let’s dive into comfort.
Comfort
In short, it’s phenomenal, and much better than a 7506. This is due to a couple of things:
- The headband. There’s more padding, and it doesn’t dig into the top of your skull.
- The earpads. They’re softer, larger, and deeper, giving you more room inside for your precious auricles.
But if you have ears the size of Dumbo, you’re SOL, buddy!
The HD01 also feels a bit lighter overall, but the main draw for me is the spaciousness of the cups.
I’ve always considered the 7506 to be a sort of On-Ear/Around-Ear hybrid, as it isn’t quite one or the other. This can make it awkward to wear over longer periods because the pads heat up fairly quickly and tend to dig, so you’ll be making minor to major adjustments over the duration of your session.
Overall, the HD01’s comfort factor is excellent, and I have no complaints.
Sound/Tuning
- Playlist(s): Here, Here, Here, & Here
- My Music: Here
- Source(s): FLAC, Lossless
- Headphones compared: Sony MDR-7506
- DAC/Amps Used: FiiO K7
To be perfectly honest, the sound of the HD01, to my ears, is pretty similar to that of the 7506.
Both opt for some bass emphasis in the all-important 60-90Hz region, both opt for a mud cut around 200-300Hz, and both are incredibly resolving, with forward, clear mids and a present, brighter treble.
One thing that stands out about the HD01 is that it feels more immediate, present, and forward overall.
The sound of the 7506 seems distant by contrast, as if everything is pushed back a bit, even down some, which is a bit strange.
Don’t get me wrong, vocals and instruments still sound clear, but it’s as if you’re sitting a few rows back, whereas the HD01 is more of a front and center affair.
Both have splendid resolution, but I think the HD01 wins out here.
Ahwlee’s “I_Knw,” a beat I’ve heard probably hundreds of times, sounds incredibly revealing, to the point where 100% of what went into the beat is audible.
What I mean by this is that the decay and release of the instruments is completely exposed, in addition to the vocal samples coming through with ultra-clear articulation and separation. Every transient feels intact. The tails don’t blur together. Nothing is masked.
It’s the kind of mix where the micro-details are laid bare; the faint texture in the sample, the subtle swing in the drums, the way the delay throws on the vocals are panned and tucked just wide enough to create space without clutter. You can hear the air around each element. The reverb tails breathe. The stereo image feels deliberate and sculpted rather than accidental.
The beat feels transparent, almost forensic in how it presents information; nuanced, dimensional, and precise, where even the smallest movements in the sample design and spatial placement are fully perceptible.
I wasn’t expecting this out of the HD01, but here we are.
In Monma’s – “Snaps”, you clearly hear some sort of breathing/pulsating sound in the beginning that stands out a lot more than I previously remembered.
In Odie’s – “Noise” the decay/release of his voice is incredibly noteworthy and also
On “Surrender” from Navy Blue & Chuck Strangers, vocals from both are clearer and much easier to distinguish. This adds a level of immersion I simply wasn’t expecting out of a brand I’ve literally never heard before.
Is this due to the angled drivers? Yes, I’m fairly certain it has a lot to do with the overall fidelity of the sound.
HIFIMAN also utilizes angled drivers in many of their offerings, and the sound absolutely benefits from it.
In my experience, it helps to create space, improves resolution, and generally provides a more immersive, realistic sounding profile. These are all things that the HD01 does very well.
- Professional Audio Monitoring: This studio headphones feature Hi-Res certification and 45mm Bio-diaphragm drivers, with 20Hz-20KHz frequency response and 50ohms impedance. Deliver precise, high-fidelity sound–Designed specifically for professional monitoring environments
- Dual Audio Sharing & Seamless Connection: Support instant audio sharing and dual device pairing, switching between audio equipment effortlessly for studio mixing and recording tasks
- Lightweight & Comfortable for All-Day Wear: These wired over-ear headphones weigh only 241g, with memory foam earpads and a reinforced headband. The earcups rotate 90 and flip 180 for easy single-ear monitoring. They remain fatigue-free even during extended wear for studio monitoring, guitar amp practice, and podcast recording
- Tilted Driver Design: Angled drivers direct sound to eardrums for balanced soundstage and precise imaging. Ergonomic fit reduces pressure, enhances passive isolation, and minimizes sound leakage, elevating your studio monitoring experience
- Wide Compatibility with All Devices: The studio headphones come with 1.5m 3.5mm to 3.5mm and 2.5m 3.5mm to 3.5mm/6.35mm detachable audio cables. They meet connection needs for both professional audio equipment and daily consumer devices, including mixers, guitar amplifiers, pianos, game consoles, and audio interfaces. No adapter is required for studio and DJ work
Studio Use & Genre Pairing
For that reason, plus everything else discussed, the HD01 becomes a clear favorite and a headphone more than worthy of the “studio monitor” moniker.
Its exemplary resolution and superb comfort levels make it an easy choice for extended sessions, and a non-fatiguing sound means your ears won’t get tired easily, musically speaking. Just make sure to mix at lower levels to save your auricles.
Because of its fairly neutral, clear, predictable sound, it also happens to work very well for a variety of genres, including hip-hop, rap, ambient, rock, pop, indie, EDM, and pretty much whatever you listen to.
Caveats/Amplification
One minor nitpick I have is that there’s a papery, thin quality to the sound, lacking the lushness found in more expensive models.
To be clear, for its measly asking price of around $60, this is to be expected on some level, and it’s not noticeable enough to cancel the recommendation.
But, to a trained ear, it’s there, and it should be noted regardless. This somewhat inconsequential flaw reminds me of the same one present in Status Audio’s CB1; a headphone that suffers from a similar sonic blemish.
Still, at 50 Ohms Impedance and 92dB Sensitivity, it’s fairly inefficient but still not very hard to drive. Right now I’m using a FiiO K7 with the volume below halfway on high gain.
In short, you’ll be fine with a vast array of different setups, and I wouldn’t spend much more than $100 if you decide on separate amplification.
Since you’ll be mixing with them, any good quality audio interface (like the Volt 2 for instance) will be completely fine.
Final Verdict
Nubwo’s HD01 is a well-crafted, comfortable headphone with exemplary resolution and excellent overall tuning.
And for $60? Easy purchase. In my opinion, it runs circles around the 7506 and happens to be $40 cheaper.
YEAH, I aced math class. WHAT OF IT.
NUBWO HD01: Pricing/Specs
In The Box
Specifications
- Model: HD01
- Drive Unit: 45mm
- Impedance: 50Ω±15%
- Sensitivity: 92±3dB
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this NUBWO HD01Review and came away with some valuable insight.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please leave them down below or Contact me!!
If you love what I do here and want to support the blog and channel in a more personal way, check me out on Patreon and discover all the value I have to offer you.
Which of these sounds the best for studio use? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ] > Now AudioFiles Anonymous
