FIRST IMPRESSIONS: NEW Nuforce uDAC-2 with 24/96 - USB DAC AMP with line out and S/PDIF out - Page 9

Thank you!

Edit: You should put that in your first post! :)
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict 

Most of my impressions of the DBA-02 written in LFF's DBA review thread were done with me using the uDAC-2 as source and amp.  It was a very nice pairing of gear with good synergy.  http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/484569/review-fischer-audio-s-dba-02/1155#post_6813070.  

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by kboe 

I love my uDAC, and couldn't imagine it getting better for only 30$ more.  Has anyone compared it to HRT products?

I will be getting a HRT Streamer II in my hands soon, will be comparing it against my Nuforce HDP's DAC. Unfortunately , I sold my uDAC right after Nuforce had replaced my defective HDP so no direct comparison between the uDAC and the HRT.

I will copy something I wrote in another thread as I think it better belongs here, and also coz I'm that psyched about it  :

An amazing product!

Received it 2 days ago, and after those days of burn-in I have to say I'm completely amazed at what this little thing can do to my sound.

I have a very low quality interconnect cable so the sound is pretty bad when I hook it up to my X-Can, but I'm really flabbergasted at how well it can drive my GS1000 right through its headphone out. MUCH better than the X-CAN's USB input.

Can't wait to find out what it can do through its line-out and my X-CAN with a proper cable.

Worth every penny!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chikolad 

MUCH better than the X-CAN's USB input.

Can't wait to find out what it can do through its line-out and my X-CAN with a proper cable.

Quite a compliment!

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict 

The uDAC-1 RCA out had superior detail and soundstage to the DAC built into the Icon-1, but the headphone amp of the Icon-1 was slightly better with full size phones like HD600 or D2000.  So the best sound was from feeding the uDAC-1 into the Icon-1 analog input and listening through the Icon-1 headphone amp.  For my custom IEM like UE11Pro, JH13Pro or ES3X the uDAC-1  headphone amp sounded a little better than the Icon.  So far the uDAC-2 sounds better with all of these.

That's good to hear. So let me get this straight. In your experience Icon1's headphone amp is better than udac1's, and Jason states Icon2 and udac2 have the same usb dac and hp amp. Does that mean udac2 has the same amp as Icon1's? If not do you still have the units to compare?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TobaccoRoad 

 

That's good to hear. So let me get this straight. In your experience Icon1's headphone amp is better than udac1's, and Jason states Icon2 and udac2 have the same usb dac and hp amp. Does that mean udac2 has the same amp as Icon1's? If not do you still have the units to compare?

 

 

No, uDAC2 headphone amp is better than Icon1 headphone amp.
 

Is it a big difference between uDAC and uDAC-2 if I'm going to use it as a DAC? I got DT990 600 ohm.

  Great review!  I appreciate that you update the first post.  I've been using one of these for my desktop PC system with A/T ATH-M50 'phones and Fostex PM0.4 active monitors and just loving it. The bass, punch, and detail from the ATH-M50 is really fantastic and quite a step up from plugging right into the PC for sure. As good as the CMOY amp I had (crapped out). Very quiet and clean and built like a little tank.

Given there's no upsampling involved I'm assuming that the S/PDIF output just sends out as LPCM whatever the incoming signal is in its native form (16/44, 24/96, etc.)?
 

I've had the uDAC-2 for a couple of weeks now and have been using this (as a dac/amp combo) on my desktop setup with my iMac (driving my D2000s and k271s). I've also been grabbing it and using it as a semi-portable dac/amp in the backyard with my Macbook. I absolutely love it - it's versatile and really quite capable from an amp standpoint. I have not used it as a dac feeding another amp - but am now looking at doing that. It's caused me to try and sell a piece of gear to fund another M-Stage purchase. I'll add my 2nd M-Stage to my desktop and use the uDac-2 as a dac-only - then enjoy the amp when I want to have something for on the go. It's a great value and an excellent performer. I've owned and sold both a Total Bithead as well as a D10 in the past - and to my memory - the amp on the uDAC-2 performs to a much higher level than both of those. I wish it had an optical input - but for this price you can't have it all. 

I wish that this unit came in a more "flat" version. I see myself purchasing a tablet and this would be an awesome unit for a semi-portable approach. 

Posted this in the wrong thread earlier by accident...

Anyway:

Just got my NuForce uDAC-2. In comparison to my uDAC-1: Does the 2 not override my computer's (I have a Mac) sound controls anymore? I can adjust the volume on my computer while the uDAC-2 is connected, but I cannot do it with the uDAC-1.

Thanks in advance.

Anyone know how the udac-2 stacks up against creative's x-fi products?  Not sure which has the better SQ for music.

uDAC-1 is easily better than a opamp LM4562 modded X-Fi Xtrememusic, I'm fairly sure uDAC-2 only widens the differences