NICEHCK NK1 Ultra: Trying 122mW from a $20 Dongle DAC
For less than $30, the NICEHCK NK1 Ultra promises a quiet background and useful amplification by separating the power supply from the amplifier chip. Where many dongles squeeze everything into a single chipset, this design splits the jobs to improve crosstalk and output over a direct phone connection. I wanted to see how that approach worked in an inexpensive adapter.
Packaging Dedicated to Practicality
The box presents the cable and main unit neatly in fitted cushioning, with a single adapter alongside. There are no elaborate extras. It’s a familiar budget-audio approach: put the money into hardware and keep setup simple. Plugging into the phone’s Type-C port is all that’s needed to start listening.
Rugged Yet Durable Design
The main electronics sit in a solid metal housing intended to stand up to rubbing and scratches. There are no physical volume controls or status lights to complicate the exterior. Instead, the visible investment is the cable: an 8-core silver-plated monocrystalline copper braid runs between the input connector and the housing with its 3.5mm socket. The finish feels sturdy enough for a device intended to travel in a bag or pocket. It is a plain-looking adapter, but the rugged construction suits the practical role better than decorative extras would.
122mW of Power Created by Three Independent Chipsets
It is equipped with the Conexant CX31993 DAC chip. Admittedly, it feels somewhat lacking compared to the precise resolution characteristic of AK, CS, and ES chips mainly used in high-end devices. However, the SGM8262 dedicated amplifier chip—which boosts the sound—and the LM27762 chip—which supplies power—are completely separated. As a result, it secured a large output for its class: 122mW at 32Ω. It naturally supports up to PCM 32bit / 384kHz as a baseline, boasting decent specs with a 115dB DNR and a -98dB THD distortion rate.
📖 Related: Understanding DAC Specs in 1 Minute
Refer to the article above if reading specifications feels difficult.
First Impressions Heard with Softears Studio4
I directly connected and auditioned my go-to earphones, the Softears Studio4, which I frequently use when I need a reference point. The first thing that catches your ear is the background where the smartphone’s subtle white noise has completely vanished. When the precise and flat sound signature of the Studio4 is paired with a generous driving force of 122mW, the soundstage noticeably expands from left to right, and instrument layers are separated three-dimensionally. It gently smooths out piercing peaks in the high frequencies without ruining the analytical tone, making it very comfortable on the ears.
Performance Difference from the NK1 Max Lower-Tier Model
Comparing it with the lower-end NK1 Max ($19.99), which has a $10 price difference, the upgrade is quite palpable. While the NK1 Max uses the MAX97220 amplifier to output 63mW, the Ultra nearly doubles the physical driving power. It’s not just that the volume got louder; with the addition of the power chip, the DNR figure also improved from 111dB to 115dB. When you plug in gear with higher resistance, you can genuinely tell the difference in pushing power between the two devices.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Generous output pushing 122mW at 32Ω despite a single 3.5mm unbalanced connection
- Achieved at this price point = The cheapest DAC made by a professional audio brand
Cons
- No 4.4mm balanced terminal support
- Not equipped with CS, AK, or ES chipsets
Conclusion…
A 4.4mm output would have been welcome, and the finest detail still falls short of higher-end DAC chips. The $29.99 price makes those limits easier to accept. What I am buying into is a basic set of priorities: sufficient drive, a quiet background, and straightforward operation without additional controls to learn. NICEHCK is already a familiar name in portable audio, which gives this inexpensive entry another kind of reassurance. For someone who wants those fundamentals rather than an elaborate feature set, the compromises are understandable. The appeal is getting the core job done at a modest cost.
