New ESS Sabre32 (ES9018) based DAC from Audio-gd....the NFB-1 - Page 5

Could you just get any blueray player (with digital outs) and use a digital out to the audio-gd dac?

Quote:

Originally Posted by muad 

Could you just get any blueray player (with digital outs) and use a digital out to the audio-gd dac?

simple answer is yes.......

Oh and skolov91, I'd just get the dac you want in end. It'll  be cheaper in the long run! The dac will work as balanced or single ended out. One thing though, if you're gonna use it with a b22 you're not gonna be able to use the acss connection. Until someone reviews this dac you're not really gonna be able to make any kind of informed decision...

I reckon, since it's unlikely to be different from the Audio-gd "house sound" that any key differences will be primarily in the digital input and its influence, as it makes the DSP redundant (DI for USB input excepted) along with all the attached circuitry for it.

Ok this is a bit odd... apparently they are taking preorders up to september 5th for the REGULAR NFB-1 (new motherboard, 5 group psu, BUT USING REF 5 CHASSIS), and will ship it september 15th. I was mistaken that they would be the test nfb-1's, but apparently they already have the pcb and circuitry. It will be technically identical to future nfb-1 if they decide to give it its own chassis and fix the usb input printing mistake. And the 10% off applies to this regular version. Btw if you read the product page you'll see it's what this post is saying, it's because we edited it a bit but if you think there's a mistake let me know.

Here's what Kingwa said

Another thing- I asked Kingwa about why he is using this chip. He stated that the 1704 chip is slowing in production with long lead times and the price went up significantly. That and many have suggested he try the Sabre32 chip as it does 192kHz. He says they are very close in sound but that female vocals sound "younger" with the Sabre32 chip- interpret that how you want.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim3320070 

Another thing- I asked Kingwa about why he is using this chip. He stated that the 1704 chip is slowing in production with long lead times and the price went up significantly. That and many have suggested he try the Sabre32 chip as it does 192kHz. He says they are very close in sound but that female vocals sound "younger" with the Sabre32 chip- interpret that how you want.

hehe, wth younger?  hmmm.....I really don't get that at all.  

 someone writes him an email in Chinese and things will be clearer ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TigzStudio 

hehe, wth younger?  hmmm.....I really don't get that at all.  

In another post he made the comment the sound was [More Lively] add that to [Younger] and I interpret it to mean something akin to being more Higher pitched or more energy in the higher octaves.  Not sure this is a good thing, as the current Ref5 DSP is very well balanced tonally.  I would hope that this Liveliness would present itself throughout the spectrum, ie go deeper, more texture, clarity due to better separation, etc.

If you take your time and really READ reviews for Dacs with Saber chips I get the feeling that they are not particularly musical, but more detailed, extended and have a good sound stage.  IMO, musicality is one of the things that sets NOS apart from other Dac's though they might not measure as good.  Probably the same thing that makes people like tubes vs. ss...although measurement wise tubes will not stack up either.

I might end up changing my order to just another Ref5 or hold off for a bit.  Although I DO want to see what all they hype is about the Sabre chips.  I'm really going back and forth between IT and the W4S Dac1.  But if I could hold out I'd also like to get the Antelope Dac.  Too many choices.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranhieu 

 someone writes him an email in Chinese and things will be clearer ;)

Be our guest- I only know English and a handful of German.

This to me would be the best way to understand what the differences would be as I don't feel there are going to be more than a couple of people that will have both versions on hand to do side-by-side comparisons so the developer/designer would be the most knowledgeable.

Dynobot, I personally would look at getting gear other than dac's if you don't feel certain about a new dac, but the 10% off is kind of nice. For example new headphones or random DIY cables if you are just looking for different sounds. If you are looking for improvements in fidelity, I'd look into things like power filter, digital reclocker, or new amp if you don't have a balanced one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by haloxt 

Dynobot, I personally would look at getting gear other than dac's if you don't feel certain about a new dac, but the 10% off is kind of nice. For example new headphones or random DIY cables if you are just looking for different sounds. If you are looking for improvements in fidelity, I'd look into things like power filter, digital reclocker, or new amp if you don't have a balanced one.

Thanks for the .02

I am looking to replace the weak link in this chain which I perceive to be the Dac.

Dynaudio 82's

Xindak 400w class A mono-blocks

TC Konnekt 8 Dac

Linux Mini-ITX Computer.

I have swapped out:

Computers [PC, Mac, Linux],

Amps [Hafler, Aragon 8008BB, Xindak],

Cables [Mogami, Audioquest, Homegrown audio, Kimber, Acoustic Zen, DIY, others],

Dacs [Lavry, Mdht Havana, RME Fireface, Apogee, Matrix Mini, others]

And have slowly whittled it down to the last link.....the DAC.  I could happily live with another Ref5, but curiosity and just wanting something different makes me want to try the Saber Dac.  I put the Ref5 in that system and it sounds just as fantastic there as it does in my other system. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by haloxt 

Ok this is a bit odd... apparently they are taking preorders up to september 5th for the REGULAR NFB-1 (new motherboard, 5 group psu, BUT USING REF 5 CHASSIS), and will ship it september 15th. I was mistaken that they would be the test nfb-1's, but apparently they already have the pcb and circuitry. It will be technically identical to future nfb-1 if they decide to give it its own chassis and fix the usb input printing mistake. And the 10% off applies to this regular version. Btw if you read the product page you'll see it's what this post is saying, it's because we edited it a bit but if you think there's a mistake let me know.

 

Here's what Kingwa said

 

A total of 6 PSU groups are used to purify the power supply. To achieve Silent operation, the control circuit is powered with separate regulator.

Close to biting the bullet on this.

I emailed Kingwa and he said that he can't a USB input to the NFB-1 and I would have to get the Digital Interface.

I would recommend waiting for some test users before purtchasing it,I read some posts that Kingwa mentioned

Originally Posted by tim3320070 

 

Another thing- I asked Kingwa about why he is using this chip. He stated that the 1704 chip is slowing in production with long lead times and the price went up significantly. That and many have suggested he try the Sabre32 chip as it does 192kHz. He says they are very close in sound but that female vocals sound "younger" with the Sabre32 chip- interpret that how you want.