NICEHCK was founded in 2015 by a group of HiFi enthusiasts and engineers who wanted to make affordable audio more accessible to a wider audience.
Initially the brand gained recognition within the audiophile community through its upgrade cables and earbuds. Products that quickly became popular for offering a solid build quality and good performance at accessible prices. Over the years, they gradually expanded its lineup with IEMs, portable DAC/amps and other audio accessories.
In this review, we take wil explore the Octave DAC and Tears IEM, which NICEHCK kindly asked us to review.
Packaging
The NICEHCK Octave arrives in a compact box. Inside we find the DAC in foam protection. The accessories are stored underneath, a USB-C to USB-C cable in a matching color scheme, a USB-A adapter for desktop use and the usual manuals and warranty information. All the basics are there.
Technical specs
The NICEHCK Octave is built around the latest ESS ES9039Q2M, combined with dual SGM8262 op-amps. It supports PCM up to 768kHz/32-bit and DSD256 playback.
It features both a 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced output. The single-ended connection delivers up to 150mW, while the balanced output is considerably more powerful at 550mW, both rated at 32 ohms. This gives the Octave enough power for a lot of full-size headphones.
The Octave features physical volume controls with 100 precise volume steps, a dedicated gain switch and onboard playback controls. NICEHCK chose not to include a display to keep the design clean and straightforward. Instead a small LED indicator provides playback status information.
The analog DAC and amplification stages are powered separately to reduce interference and background noise. Combined with multiple low-noise power regulators, the result is an impressively quiet background even with more sensitive IEMs.
Octave App
The Octave uses a companion app which includes a 10-band EQ system and selectable digital filters. Sadly the app seems to be unavailable in some countries App Link: https://nicehck.cn/app/download
Since the Octave itself does not feature a display, the NICEHCK companion app becomes an important part of the overall experience. One area that could be more intuitive is the parametric EQ. Accessing the full adjustment menu is not immediately obvious because certain settings need to be activated manually before additional controls appear.
The app lets you choose five selectable filters. There is little explanation of how each one changes the sound signature. Users will mostly need to experiment for themselves to find the presentation they prefer. In practice the differences are subtle, but noticeable nonetheless.
NICEHCK Octave specs
- DAC Chip: ESS ES9039Q2M
- Op-Amps: Dual SGM8262
- Outputs: 3.5mm Single-Ended 150mW@32Ω / 4.4mm Balanced 550mW @ 32Ω
- PCM Support: Up to 768kHz / 32-bit
- DSD Support: DSD256
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 130dB
- THD+N: 0.0001%
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 40kHz
- Gain Modes: Low / High Gain
- Volume Control: 100-Step Hardware Volume
- EQ Support: 10-Band EQ via NICEHCK App
- Digital Filters: 5 Selectable Filters
- Input Connection: USB Type-C
- Supported Systems: Android, Windows, iOS, macOS, HarmonyOS
- Housing Material: CNC Aluminum Alloy
- Weight: Approx. 25g
- Dimensions: Approx. 57 x 23 x 13 mm
- Included Accessories: USB-C to USB-C cable, USB-A adapter, manuals
Test Equipment
TEARS NiceHCK IEM
The NiceHCK Tears which was included for this review delivers a smooth and musical sound signature that feels surprisingly refined. Instead of focusing on an overly analytical presentation, they aimed for a more natural sound signature The bass has good enough depth and enough punch to give music energy, while staying controlled.
Vocals are presented with a warm and natural tone, giving singers and acoustic instruments a realistic character without sounding too forward. The midrange flows nicely into the treble, adding clarity and detail without becoming too sharp. Instruments are more than well enough separated and give music room to breathe. This works especially well with jazz, acoustic recordings, pop and relaxed electronic tracks.
They are lightweight, comfortable and easy to wear. Overall the NICEHCK Tears offer a balanced and enjoyable tuning that focuses more on musicality than pure technical performance.
Of course, you can’t expect flagship-level performance at this price. Still, the Tears punch well above their weight and deliver an enjoyable listen.
NiceHCK Octave
Sound quality
The NiceHCK Octave delivers a clean, detailed and transparent sound signature with a strong focus on clarity. Presentation feels open and spacious, with excellent separation between instruments. Bass sounds controlled rather than overly boosted and the midrange sounds clear and natural with a strong vocal presence. Treble extension is airy and refined, adding a good sense of space and resolution without becoming harsh. Overall, the Octave leans towards a more neutral and resolving presentation.
Treble
Treble performance is one of the stronger aspects of the Octave. There is plenty of extension and air, giving instruments a crisp and energetic presentation. The background remains impressively clean, helping smaller details stand out. The Octave does not soften recordings, but the treble remains free from harshness. IEMs with an already energetic top end can become a touch sharp in the treble, while more relaxed tunings benefit from the added openness and sparkle.
Midrange
The midrange is detailed and very open sounding. Vocals have a strong presence and instruments are presented with excellent separation. Rather than adding extra smoothness or thickness, the Octave keeps the focus on clarity and transparency. This results in a presentation that feels lively and revealing.
Bass
The low end sounds tight, fast and well controlled. Bass notes are delivered with convincing impact and strong definition while staying composed and articulate throughout the presentation. The Octave maintains excellent control over the lower frequencies.
Soundstage
The presentation feels open and spacious, with excellent instrument placement and a very clean background. Even complex tracks remain well organized and imaging is precise. This strong separation can make the sound feel ‘just’ slightly more analytical than cohesive.
Listening impressions
Please allow me to walk you through a few tracks to highlight the Conductor Stellar’s strenghts and capabilities.
On “Deep Within the Corners of My Mind“ from the live Europe recordings by Melody Gardot, the Octave delivered a very open and intimate presentation. Her voice came through with excellent clarity and a natural sense of space, while the background instruments remained cleanly separated without sounding congested.
The Octave’s neutral and resolving character worked well with this recording. It brought out subtle room ambience, small vocal textures and the positioning of instruments on stage. The overall presentation felt spacious, refined and highly detailed, giving the track a very realistic live atmosphere without sounding artificial or exaggerated.
The piano version of “One Day” by Heavn sounded very clean and emotionally engaging. The piano came across airy and well defined. Notes faded naturally into the background. Vocals were placed slightly forward with excellent clarity and separation. The Octave’s transparency revealed small details in the recording, such as the subtle breathiness in the vocals and the soft resonance of the piano strings.
Peter Gabriel’s cover of “Here It Is” sounded spacious and highly atmospheric through the Octave. Peter’s deep vocal tones came through with impressive texture and clarity, while the dark background helped smaller details emerge effortlessly. The bass remained controlled. The emotional weight of the recording was presented in a very direct and transparent way without adding unnecessary warmth or coloration.
Conclusion
The NICEHCK Octave is a highly capable portable DAC with a clean, detailed and highly resolving sound signature. Rather than adding extra warmth or coloration, the Octave aims for transparency, control and resolution. Its low noise floor, spacious staging and impressive instrument separation makes it a particularly strong match for high quality IEMs and resolving headphones.
Build quality is solid, the physical controls are practical and the Octave offers more than enough power for a wide range of IEM’s and headphones. The companion app still has room for improvement in terms of usability and firmware management, but it does provide useful customization features once you become familiar with the interface. A build-in display would have been a welcome addition though.
One of the Octave’s biggest strengths is the level of performance it delivers at this price point. While flagship portable DACs and DAPs may still offer an extra layer of refinement and layering, the Octave performs at an impressively high level for its class.
For listeners looking for a transparent, spacious and highly resolving portable source without breaking the bank. the Octave is an easy recommendation.
Pros
- Neutral and transparent sound signature
- Great detail retrieval
- Controlled bass without unwanted bloom
- Low noise floor, even with sensitive IEMs
- Physical volume controls
- Dedicated gain switch
- Premium build quality
- Companion app with parametric EQ support
- Strong price-to-performance ratio
Cons
- Slightly analytical or clinical with certain pairings
- Treble can become unforgiving with bright IEMs
- Companion app not available in every country
- No build in display
Octave Aliexpress
Octave Amazon
