NuForce introduces $199 amp w/ headphone jack - Page 2

I just ordered one, can't wait to try it out.

This looks very interesting indeed. Very keen to see impressions on headphones performance.

A lot depends on the listener, speakers, average listening levels, source material, amplifier to speaker impedance compatibility, distance from speaker, etc. As long as the speakers' impedance are compatible with the amplifier though, any amp will be able to run them, the only question is how loud and if you like the sound. As for sound signature preference, can't help you there, but may be able to shed some light on loudness.

A general rule of thumb I use is to keep 18 dB of headroom over my average listening level. Why 18 dB? The vast majority of material keeps spikes below 12 dB, but an extra bit of headroom just in case something does and to giving the amp a little buffer isn't a bad idea. This can be adjusted as you see fit, though if you're want a system capable of reproducing to certain 1812 Overture recordings correctly, 40 dB or so of headroom is needed.

In a nearfield situation (~1 m from the speaker), maximum average listening volume is 82 dB. IMHO, this is enough for the usually less rigorous applications that call for nearfield speaker usage. (Computer, desktop, etc. usage)

In a listening room situation (~2-4 m from the speaker), maximum average listening volume is 76-79 dB. IMHO, this is questionable. I like to listen around the 85 dB range when listening for enjoyment. This setup wouldn't work for me as at 85 dB as I'd be chopping my headroom in half and risk amplifier clipping. But if you like listening at low levels, this may work.

Assumptions and math for calculations above: Speaker sensitivity is 86 dB/Wm per speaker. Double that for pair, so assume 89 dB/Wm. Amplifier power is 12 WPC. Converted into dBW, is ~ 11 dBW. From that, full scale output is is ~ 100 dB at 1 meter. Also assuming that we want to keep 18 dB of headroom and assuming SPL drop of 3dB for every doubling of distance, referenced to 1 m.

I wonder how hard it would be to cram a DAC in one of these??

When is the silver one being released? I'd like to try one of these.

Link has 3 or 4 reviews:
Nuforce Icon feedback

The 6moons was pretty detailed; those speaker cables bundled don't look half bad, either.

I'm really wanting for a good review on its headphone amp, though

In the comments section at the end of the 6moons Icon review:
"We will be introducing an earphone (MSRP $79) that will sound better than anything on the market, even those headphones costing 2 to 3 x the price. The earphone is in production now :-)"

Huh? So how good will they be?

From the 6moons review:
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/n.../open2_big.jpg

Would I be mistaken to say that those are 5532 op-amps?

Keep us updated

Are they going to ship yours soon or are they shipping it with everyone else (Apr 25 or something)?

Did they just sell out of the red ones? I'd like to get my hands on one to try out....

Same time as everyone else I think which is end april.

Those are Texas Instrument N5532s, yes. I see that it has a Burr-Brown PCM2706 DAC chip; I don't recall anyone here mentioning its functionality as a USB DAC, though it is listed in the 6moons review.

The preorder for the Silver Icon is open now on Amazon. Go get them!

Sent an e-mail to the local Nuforce dealer - Marigo Audio- asking if he had one in stock. No response. Been over a month now. Kind a killed my interest in the product. Anyone listened to one yet?

that is what you get from a "real IEEE engineer"..... "good enough, per my calculation you will never be able to hear the difference anyway"