In this video I review the NiceHCK Octave dongle DAC (around $98) and break down what you actually get: the dongle itself (I have the titanium color), a Type-A adapter, a C-to-C cable, manual, and the usual cards. Build-wise it’s solid and the buttons feel really good—nice tactile clicks on the volume, play/pause, and the gain switch. I initially thought there’d be a display, but it’s just a small LED, and the overall shape weirdly reminds me of something like an L&P W2-style design. For specs, it’s running an ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M with dual SGM262 amps, rated up to 550mW @ 32 ohms on 4.4mm balanced. Real-world, I tested it with my HD650 and it drove it without issues, so power is more than “just okay” for the price. Sound-wise, the big takeaway is that it doesn’t come off like a typical surgical Sabre dongle. I get full-bodied, slightly thick bass, a weighty and musical midrange, and clean detail with a bit of sparkle up top—my Kiwi Ears Bell sounded more alive. Technically, it’s strong for sub-$100: medium stage, clean black background, good imaging, and precise positioning (especially with my QWS Astral). My main nitpick is it can get quite hot to the touch, but if you want Sabre technicalities with a more musical tuning, I recommend it.