homeros8000

Nuforce HDP Is Not A Giant Killer!

Pros: Versatile, Small Size, Acceptable Performance
Cons: Amplifier is not powerful enough, Poor design, DAC sound is treble accentuated
Review on:

NuForce Icon HDP (High-end Headphone Amp, USB DAC, Preamp)

Audio Quality
Design
Quality
Value
homeros8000’s Rating

Purchase Date: March 2011

Purchase Price: $450.00

Community Rating:
(14 reviews)

I owned the Nuforce HDP for two months, I tried it with several headphones ranging from the 600 Ohms DT880 to the 300 Ohms Senn HD600 and HD650 and 62 Ohms AKG K702. Actually I wasn't impressed that much. I didn't feel that the amp had enough juice to drive any of the headphones mentioned above, and the DAC had too much emphasis on treble which seemed too exaggerated and unnatural to my ears. When listening to several audio tracks and in comparison to Headroom's Ultra Micro DAC I heard distortions in the upper highs that never showed in the Ultra Micro. The imaging and accuracy of the UM DAC was far beyond the reach of the HDP, but on the other side, the HDP performed better than my Marantz CD5004 regarding clarity and detail. The best sound I got from the HDP was from the Marantz CD player connected by coaxial/ optical connection. But USB connection sound quality was thin, harsh and lean. 

The volume knob is made of cheap plastic and sometimes I heard static when moving the knob between 1 o'clock and 3 o'clock. On the other side, the HDP is very small size, very portable and it has many connections on the back which makes a great versatile unit for many purposes.

So all in all it is not a giant killer. It doesn't function as good as DACs or Amps double or triple the price, but you get what you pay for. A $200 DAC and a $200 Amp no more, no less.

1 person found this review useful
Comment 1 

Comments (3)

jasonl 8/16/11 at 2:25am
Are you sure you are reviewing the Icon HDP? The volume knob is made of aluminum, not cheap plastic as you mentioned in the review. Perhaps there is a setup problem with your computer or source? Your review is quite different with majority of the users, and many of them use Sennheiser headphones. Anyway, I suggest using the 96kHz/24bit Audio Concept Demo tracks available on the Support section of our website for evaluation.
davoroups 12/22/11 at 5:16pm
I quite agree jason, that homeros review was extremely unhelpful and somewhat confusing considering I have heard so many reports about how great the Icon is with HD650 and Denon 7000 phones. Also this must be the only page on the web where someone is making the absurd claim that the accuracy of the UM DAC was far beyond the reach of the HDP.
Perhaps homeros should 'review' the Icon again after using it for more than half an hour.
homeros8000 12/22/11 at 5:48pm
I used the HDP for 2 months as I stated in my review and not half an hour. I used it with HD600, HD650, K702, Denon D2000, K340 and ER4S in addition to the DT880 600 ohm. The amplifier didn't have the power to drive the HD600, K702, and HD650 to full potential as my Ultra Micro Amplifier does. I compared the UM DAC and HDP DAC on several tracks and the UM DAC was much much better. Smoother sounding, more tonally accurate and less fatiguing.
I'm sorry Jason, but yes it was the HDP. And I repeat there was static moving the Knob between 1 to 3 o'clock. To be honest my UM amplifier also has noise between 11 to 1 o'clock.
davoroups.. My advice is to compare the amp/DAC I reviewed yourself instead of making comments based on other reviewers.
Thanks!