HA INFO NG27, another DAC Headamp - Page 2

any issue with pairing this unit with a Beyer DT860 (32 ohm)??

Ok, I'll have the NG27 MK2 tomorrow

I'll try it with my USB Isolator, and a proper linear regulated PSU if compatible. I'll try LT1363, but I'll measure the DC offset before plugging a phone

Sounds great.

Well, as much as I like new toys....the ebay seller forgot to ship the wallwart, and I don't think I've got any 12V PSU around. I'll update when I get one, but it's prolly gonna take another 2 weeks or so.

Quote:

Originally Posted by darknessproz 

the HA INFO looks a lot like the Audinst HUD-mx1

Just to clear things up, the HUD-MX1 has nothing to do with the NG27! The HUD-MX1 is quite some leagues above the NG27. The HUD-MX1 utilizes...

• WM8740 as dedicated dac
• TE7022L as 24/96 USB receiver (with TCXO)
• LME49860 + AD8397 as headphone amp

The NG27 (even the new design) is just your generic PCM27xx/29xx + OpAmp + Buffer. It's totally sufficient and fine for the asked price, but you shouldn't compare it with the HUD-MX1 ...

regards.

bearmann

OK, I've received the wallwart! First, I shoud admit that their NG-COAX really didn't hit the spot for me...but I know two guys who loved the first NG27(except for the crappy pot), and my friend wanted a cheap USB device to feed a MDR-CD850 so he went ahead and ordered the NG27 MK2.

The enclosure is nice, and it's full of nice Nichicon Gold caps yada yada(if they're not fake like the Neutrik plug in the old NG27), anyway let's cut the bs: as soon as there's a USB incoming signal, there's a pretty loud whining sound in the background. It happens both w/ or w/o the USB Isolator and both on the line-out and the RCA out, and I've tried many headphones...so this is one more POS device from our friends at HA-Info

and the ebay seller has a 20% restocking fee, which is always nice...and even if you ignore the whine, the SQ is as lofi as can be. I didn't bother swapping the opamps, though.

many thanks for the review.  Sorry to hear that it's essentially a letdown and that you wasted your time, $$ and efforts. Well, at the very least, you saved me the expense.

Cheers!

Well, maybe it's faulty...that's the beauty of cheap gear, QA being so low. The ebay seller doesn't even seem surprised, my friend will decide whether he wants a refund or a replacement...but quite honestly, you do get what you pay for...I think I'll advise him to get a Fubar instead, possibly second hand. He wants a killer source for cheap, that simply does not exist.

Have you tried replacing the USB cable? I find that cheap USB cables will pick up a lot of noise.

the same cable works like a charm on the Firestone Bravo, and the whine doesn't change even if I install my ADUM4160 USB Isolator dongle before the NG27. I guess it's a DOA, my friend's just not sure he's interested anymore...because even if I ignore the whine, the SQ is horrid. I don't think rolling the opamps will do any good.

He'd need something in the <$150 area, between this POS and the Audinst basically...maybe a Fubar2/3, and later on he can get a better PSU and a USB Isolator.

I just got my NG27MKII from eBay (seller snow48_6), and Windows reports "USB Device Not Recognized". I see "Unknown Device" in Device Manager. Needless to say, no sound. Except for what sounds like 60Hz hum from the power supply, audible when volume is over 40%.

Any advice on the "Unknown Device" issue?

Thanks

Alex

not really...on what OS? mine was recognized on the spot on XPSP3 on an intel USB 1.1 port. tried other computers?

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeperry 

not really...on what OS? mine was recognized on the spot on XPSP3 on an intel USB 1.1 port. tried other computers?

Vista and XPSP3, 32 bit, USB2. Identical behavior.

you got yourself a DOA, well done! I sent back mine to the same seller for a refund a few days ago.

Crap.

Is the consensus that they are unusable? Has anyone gotten a NG27 MK2 they were at least 80% happy with?

I like the fact that it's really small and pretty, with a machined aluminum front plate, and has a 1/4" output jack (my SONY MDR-SA5000 have a 1/4" plug - not a 1/8" with a screw-on 1/4" adapter). I really want to like it, even if it takes replacing the OpAmps, the pot, and the power supply. It fits really neatly in the U-shaped aluminum headphone stand supplied with my headphones, by means of some black foam spacers and a double-sided scotch tape I had around.

On the other hand, the thing won't talk to a computer, and I hear some hiss from like 5% volume onwards (meaningfully worse than my Vaio Z's headphone jack, (not relative to music volume, just control range), and I hear loud 60Hz hum from the power supply.

Assuming the USB issue can be fixed by swapping for a good unit, and by good I mean non-DOA, my remaining questions are:

1. To what extent can the hiss be mitigated? Have folks swapped in better OpAmps and / or volume control pots gotten excellent results, or just "good result for the price"?

2. The supplied wallwart PSU is a POS. Any suggestions for acoustical grade 12V PSUs? I liked the difference when I connected a 12V battery pack in place of the PSU - the 60Hz hum was gone.

Lastly, this experience has taught me an important life lesson. The good things in life cost money. Typically in today's dollars they cost like $300 and up.

Cheers

Alex