USB-C DONGLE · ES9039Q2M
NiceHCK Octave
A USB-C dongle with an ES9039Q2M DAC chip, a 3.5 mm and a 4.4 mm balanced output and a built-in mic. About 25 g.
Numbers are the manufacturer's stated figures unless marked as measured; sources linked below.
Outputs and power
Not stated: supply voltage, crosstalk.
The Specifications row 'Distortion' reads '120 dB(4.4 mm)120 dB(3.5 mm) 0.0001%(600Ω)': a dB figure per socket with no sign or measurement condition, and a percentage at 600Ω without a socket. Description image 03 says 'a distortion rate as low as 0.0001%' in the DAC chip panel. The catalog leaves THD+N per socket empty.
Only the Q&A ties 550mW@32Ω to high gain ('the high-gain mode outputs up to 550mW@32Ω on balanced output'); the Specifications image, image 09 and the box do not name a gain mode, and no gain mode is given for 150mW@32Ω on 3.5 mm. The page subtitle '550mW@32Ω Power' names no socket; the socket comes from the images and the Q&A.
Specifications and the box give SNR 130 dB (per socket on the box); description image 03 says 'exceeding 130 dB'. The catalog uses 130 dB.
Is it enough for your headphones?
NiceHCK rates the Octave at 550 mW into 32 Ω from the 4.4 mm balanced output. Below is how much of that is left to spare for each kind of headphones when you listen loud, with peaks at 110 dB. A figure marked est. is worked out from that rating.
Where to buy
Some shop links are affiliate links: if you buy through one, I may earn a commission. Your price and the order stay the same.
The device
From NiceHCK's spec images unless markedA Contour user reported the Octave working on a Contour test build (advBeta 1.3.1, 4 October 2026). The released Contour does not include it.
How it stacks up against the competition
Power at 32 Ω · price in US dollars- Nearby
- Same DAC chip
- Most IEMs, 3.2 mW
Devices with the same DAC chip
ES9039Q2M · 2 devices use itCompared with
Manufacturers' stated figures; the price is today's lowestNiceHCK Octave vs TANCHJIM SPACE
TANCHJIM SPACE is among the dongles in the catalog closest to NiceHCK Octave in price: the lowest prices are $89 and $80.99, $8.01 apart.
| NiceHCK Octave | TANCHJIM SPACE | |
|---|---|---|
| Power at 32 Ω | 550 mW4.4 mm balanced, high gain, Q&A, Q2: high-gain mode, balanced output | Not stated |
| Price today | $89NiceHCK store, 9 Nov | $80.99The HiFi Cat, 10 Nov |
| DAC chip | ES9039Q2M | CS43131 × 2 |
| Inputs | USB-C | USB-C |
| Outputs | 3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced | 3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced |
| Size | Not stated | 41 × 21 × 12 mm |
| Weight | About 25 g | 14.8 g |
NiceHCK Octave vs Shanling UA2
Shanling UA2 is among the dongles in the catalog closest to NiceHCK Octave in price: at 32 Ω NiceHCK Octave is listed at 550 mW and Shanling UA2 at 195 mW; the lowest prices are $89 and $85, $4 apart.
| NiceHCK Octave | Shanling UA2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power at 32 Ω | 550 mW4.4 mm balanced, high gain, Q&A, Q2: high-gain mode, balanced output | 195 mW2.5 mm balanced, THD+N 0.0008%@32Ω, A-weighting @0.5V |
| Price today | $89NiceHCK store, 9 Nov | $85Shanling store, 16 Oct |
| DAC chip | ES9039Q2M | ESS ES9038Q2M |
| Inputs | USB-C | USB-C |
| Outputs | 3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced | 3.5 mm · 2.5 mm balanced |
| Size | Not stated | 54 × 18 × 9 mm |
| Weight | About 25 g | 12.6 g |
NiceHCK Octave vs JCALLY AP10
JCALLY AP10 is among the dongles in the catalog closest to NiceHCK Octave in price: the lowest prices are $89 and ~$82.61.
| NiceHCK Octave | JCALLY AP10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power at 32 Ω | 550 mW4.4 mm balanced, high gain, Q&A, Q2: high-gain mode, balanced output | Not stated |
| Price today | $89NiceHCK store, 9 Nov | ~$82.61AliExpress, 7 Nov |
| DAC chip | ES9039Q2M | Cirrus Logic CS43131 × 2 |
| Inputs | USB-C | USB-C |
| Outputs | 3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced | 3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced |
| Size | Not stated | 56.7 × 24.4 × 11.7 mm |
| Weight | About 25 g | About 26.5 g |