Audio-GD NFB-12 - Page 130

Audio-GD is starting to ship products with the new Tenor USB chip.  The 8802 really steps up the game with support for 88.2 and all the way to 192K (apparently with drivers) via USB...  Wonder when it will show up in the 12?

Hopefully the have an add on or a kit that we can buy to upgrade the nfb12. I see that something is available for DACs in May but it doesn't say which ones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrspeakers 

Audio-GD is starting to ship products with the new Tenor USB chip.  The 8802 really steps up the game with support for 88.2 and all the way to 192K (apparently with drivers) via USB...  Wonder when it will show up in the 12?

I checked the inside of my NFB-12, nothing obviously wrong in there. Also tested USB input and RCA output, that takes care of all the combinations I think. The left channel seems to have started distorting as well. Looks like there is a 1-year warranty from Audio-GD, anyone know if that also applies to units not directly purchased from them, or should I contact the reseller?

Quote:

Originally Posted by neddamttocs 

Hopefully the have an add on or a kit that we can buy to upgrade the nfb12. I see that something is available for DACs in May but it doesn't say which ones.

Considering how the present USB driver is surface mount and soldered directly on the main board, I'd be quite impressed if they managed that...

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrspeakers 

Audio-GD is starting to ship products with the new Tenor USB chip.  The 8802 really steps up the game with support for 88.2 and all the way to 192K (apparently with drivers) via USB...  Wonder when it will show up in the 12?

In Audio-gd's website the NFB-12 is not in the list of the DACs that can have that upgrade.

And looking at the pictures the upgrade needs some DiY skills.

But there are several Asynchronous USB external transports already available (e.g. WaveIo, Aqua, Hiface...) and more and more coming.

Quote:

Originally Posted by genclaymore 


In fact I emailed Kingwa about, He told me as long you had the original user info. That you would still have warranty. But he said it was one year warranty. You can try to send it back to the reseller, then if the reseller doesn't help you. Kingwa should.

Sorry but what do you mean by "original user info"? Obviously I don't have any info with Audio-GD because I didn't deal with them. Anyway, I sent email to the reseller, let's see what they say. Also took a look at the options of sending it back to China, looks kind of intimidating with all the required customs forms etc, and it ain't exactly cheap either, especially if you want to have any kind of insurance on the parcel. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by AF115 

In Audio-gd's website the NFB-12 is not in the list of the DACs that can have that upgrade.

And looking at the pictures the upgrade needs some DiY skills.

But there are several Asynchronous USB external transports already available (e.g. WaveIo, Aqua, Hiface...) and more and more coming.

 

 

Yes, but external SPDIF interfaces with good clocks cost 50-300% of the NFB 12.  I use the HiFace and the V-Link, which both perform very well.  

Alas, as someone else noted, it will be a product update that isn't retrofittable, as the Tenor chip is on the main PCB.  

Their website seems to suggest that the new chip needs proprietary drivers. Which means it's not class compliant. Which means it probably doesn't work under Linux and OSX.

Which just made their old products, the ones like the NFB-12 that will stay class compliant, their only options for users that don't use Window$ or Mac. I can't see how any self-respecting company would trade some of it's user base to add bigger numbers on the spec sheets of it's products.

...a quote from here:

The TE8802 is a USB audio class 2 chip than can handle up to 24/192 without the need for drivers on Linux and OS X.  (Third party drivers are required for Windows).

Now, who is right here?

Hmm, I seem to have been wrong. It turns out it's the other way around. Microsoft dumped support of the USB audio classes, that's why it needs drivers under Windows. It's actually supposed to work without drivers under Mac and Windows.

My bad. 

Anyone has datasheets of the Tenor chips? I can't find them anywhere.

You can download the datasheets of the Tenor chips from the manufature's website, Galaxy Far East Corporation:  http://www.gfec.com.tw/tenor;jsessionid=3716E1269CF40555F14E29D41DDD341F

Can anyone say how this (Audio-GD NFB-12.1) stacks up against the 2012 Matrix M-Stage USB? They are both similar prices and recommended for what seem the same headphones. Trying to decide what to purchase here to pair with my Q701's...