NICEHCK PUREAURAL REVIEW

>>I am brazilian and I speak portuguese, so forgive my english, I’ll use translation tools to help<<

INTRO:

NICEHCK is a company that has clearly improved the quality of its products. They have also given their product designs a significant refresh—for the better, in my opinion. Proof of this is the excellent NX8Ti, one of the best earphones I’ve reviewed this year. Now, the brand is launching a DAC/AMP dongle that promises to be one of the best—if not the best—in its category: the NICEHCK PureAural.

Price: $59.99 USD
Color: Silver

NICEHCK REVIEWS: NX8, NK1 MAX, NX8Ti, NK1 ULTRA.

NICEHCK LINKS:

https://link.amazon/B04MXMTjA (US)

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3nIrEbX (PC)

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mNL8IRD (APP)

SPECIFICATIONS:

– Product model: NICEHCK PureAural
– Power chip: LM27762+ 2 LDOs
– DAC chip: CS43198
– Op-amp chip: SGM8262
– System support: Android/Windows/iOS/MacOS/HarmonyOS
– Decoding support: Up to PCM384kHz/32bit; DSD256
– Input: Type-C
– Output: 3.5mm single-ended
– Output power: 210mW @ 32Ω, 235mW @ 16Ω
– SNR: 125dB
– THD+N: -110dB
– DNR: 125dB
– USB-C to USB-A adapter
– Dongle dimension: 12.2cm (edge to edge)
– Cable material: Paracord
– Dongle weight: 12.1g
– Total weight (packaging, dongle, etc): 127.5g
– Packaging size: 14cm [L] x 10.7cm [W] x 2.6cm [D]

UNBOXING:

PHYSICAL ASPECTS:

Construction:

Sources: Samsung S22 Ultra, Samsung A36, Dell i14 (W10).
Headphones/IEMs: Kiwi Ears Quintet, GK Kunten, SIVGA Robin SV021 Pro.
Excellent build quality.
Made of aluminum alloy.
Aesthetically very attractive (subjective).
Design inspired by piano keys.
Very compact, lightweight, and portable dongle.
1 physical button and 1 LED on the side.
The button has no loose-fitting rattle.
Lacks physical volume controls (it could have).
Paracord cable (non-detachable).
Comes with a USB-A to USB-C adapter.

App:

Web App:

Features:

Volume control: Up or down the volume.
Gain control: High, medium, or low gain.
Scene mode: Switches from music presets to game presets.
Music presets: Default, Rock, Vocal, Instrumental.
Game presets: Immersion, Voice Enhancement, FPS Gunshots, FPS Footsteps.
Mic Gain: Increases microphone signal strength.
Channel balance: Corrects imbalances between the left (L) and right (R) channels.
DAC filter switching: Filters provided by the DAC chip.
Work mode: Class H/Class AB – Switches the amplifier’s power efficiency mode.
Equalizer: 10-band parametric equalizer.
EQ mute settings: Reduces noise and power consumption.
Web App: https://app.nicehck.cn/
The Web App also offers EQ presets and a 10-band equalizer.
Other dongle functions can also be controlled via the Web App.

Characteristics:

It didn’t overheat, it only got slightly warm (which is normal).
Plug & Play: automatically recognizes the device.
Supports calls (microphone and controls).
Since there is no physical volume button, the volume is controlled via the smartphone.
Independent volume control: 15 levels on the smartphone and 100 levels within the app.
Button functions: play/pause (press and release), mode switching (press for 2 seconds).
It remembers the last volume setting used.
The dongle only powers on when you insert the earphone plug.
I only use 16-bit/44.1–48kHz FLAC files, Spotify, or YT Music.
I use VLC Player (on all devices).
I haven’t tested the PureAural with iOS devices.
The physical button worked with the A36 but didn’t work with the S22U.
The paracord can get dirty over time (based on my experience with the KA11).

Content:

PureAural Dongle.
USB-A-USB-C adapter.
User guide & QC pass.

SOUND ASPECTS:

Superior DAC chip compared to its predecessors (NK1 Max and NK1 Ultra).
SGM8262 op-amp, the same one found in the FiiO KA11 and NK1 Ultra.
The PureAural’s audio quality is clean, defined, and transparent.
I experienced no distortion, background noise, or abnormal sounds.
It drove all the earphones I tested with ease.
The sound was already good enough at 25% volume (on a computer).
At max volume (100%), the dongle show some clipping.
On a smartphone, 8 out of 15 Android volume levels (High Gain and 100-step in the app).
The PureAural can drive 99% of the IEMs on the market.
It will also perform well with simple headphones.
However, if you have more demanding earphones, a more powerful option would be better.
For instance, the PureAural wouldn’t be ideal for the Nightingale Pro or HE400se.
As for the DAC filters, I personally have never heard a difference between them.
I believe the PureAural’s main competitor is the FiiO KA11.
The thing is, the KA11 costs $30 USD, while the PureAural costs $50–$60 USD.
Based on my tests, the PureAural is slightly better in terms of sound and App.
I felt the PureAural offered greater transparency and detail.
That said, the PureAural costs twice as much as the KA11.
The KA11 is cheaper and slimmer than the PureAural, but it runs hotter and has a slightly inferior App. The PureAural offers better transparency and a superior App, plus a Web App.
In terms of power, they are very similar, I couldn’t justify saying one is “better” than the other.
PureAural is a benchmark product today, but the company needs to get the right price.
If the company lowers the price, then it would truly become the best dongle of its kind.

PROS AND CONS:

– Excellent construction
– Very beautiful design (subjective)
– Power for IEMs and simple headphones
– Great transparency and definition
– No audible distortions
– App with preset and EQ
– Web App Support
– Doesn’t overheat
– Support for Mic and in-line controls.
– Good quality cable
– Very light and portable product
– USB-A adapter included

– Physical volume button missing
– Paracord can become grimy (over time)
– Strong competitor in the price range
– Incompatibility with some OS

Thank you so much for being here!

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