Wow so many people got it already , and many more are waiting ..
Placed my order on Sunday ,
Seems a long wait till early March ,
but based on the reviews so far , it seems very positive !  (( 
Gotta stick around with uDAC2 for some time !

I also just got mine in the mail today. I was so anxious when I followed the tracking number, I'm glad the waiting's finally over.
 
Quote:

kassem said:

Thanks for writing that up after only having it for a little bit.  
 
Cmon people, follow suit.  Tell me what you hear.

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I've only been running the NFB-12 for maybe an hour, and for the most part should probably keep my mouth shut since this is my first DAC/amp. But I'm excited, and want to share my excitement, so a couple comments couldn't hurt too much, right?
 
Like Slaughter had mentioned in his initial impressions, the bass is pretty boomy with my M50's. This really caught me off guard, as I've always liked an extra helping of bass in some of my songs, but in my dubstep playlist (a genre that practically doesn't exist outside of bass), it was almost too much to listen to. I wanted so badly to bring out the mids, which I've never found myself needing (despite the endless "recessed mids" being preached about the M50's), but I'll trust that the bass will tame up a bit with time.
 
I also have a collection of songs I can only describe as psy-dub, which I enjoy for drawing and/or meditation. I thought I had exhausted these songs to death, but with the new DAC I feel like they have a new energy, like I'm a little more immersed into the music, and definitely have a better sense of spatial recognition. It's not a jaw-dropping difference, but the soundstage is definitely larger (especially on high gain), which I'm really starting to appreciate with some of my more mellow songs.
 
Another thing I wanted to mention was the hiss: I've gotten use to a constant low hiss from my laptop when nothing's playing, and even though I've read how much that bugs some people, I told myself it wasn't enough to distract me from my music, so why should I care? Well I'm happy to report that with no music playing, the NFB-12 is dead silent. Even on some FLAC files that I could've sworn had a hiss in the file themselves are crystal clear, with no hiss in the quiet moments. Sure, there's a hiss if I turn the volume past 1 or 2 (with nothing playing), but it's so quiet and laid back compared to what I'm use to, that I hardly feel it's worth mentioning.
 
I feel the need to put a disclaimer on my post, cause I don't have any other DAC or amp to compare the NFB-12's performance to. So some of my enthusiasm may be exaggerated, I don't know. But in any case, even without burn-in, I'm a very happy customer.
 

Thanks for the impressions, Jupe.  Nothing wrong with being excited from a new purchase!   Make sure you let all Audio-gd gear warm up for a good 2 hours to get the best sound quality from it; even better if you have music playing through it during that time.

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boynamedsue said:

Got mine today as well, and I cannot stop listening to it! It is giving new life to songs I've listened to so many times before. I totally agree with Elanzer take that everything sounds "fuller." I have it hooked up USB to my PC with foobar, and have no problems. I think the HD650s sound amazing with it - I'm getting no veil whatsoever and actually think it has made the HD650s much more fun to listen to.
 
I'm a bit confused with the whole variable versus fixed mode. I want to use my amplified speakers (m-audio bx5a) with the DAC out - what would be the recommended setting if I want to use the NFB-12 to control volume? Do I need to change any jumpers??

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I'm glad it sounds good paired with the HD650. Whoever says the HD650 does not benefit from added warmth is wrong imo. All a matter of preference of course, but to me the HD650 is more engaging when I have the warmer and tube like Moon hdam installed in my Audio-GD Fun. With the Earth hdam there is amazing resolution but can be a bit too analytical at times and poor recordings are rendered without flattery. I wonder what the dual WM8741 sounds like without an opamp in it's output stage.
 
I find it astounding people are considering other combos in this tier when the NFB12 is available at this price.

Quote:

olor1n said:

Whoever says the HD650 does not benefit from added warmth is wrong imo. All a matter of preference of course, but to me the HD650 is more engaging when I have the warmer and tube like Moon hdam installed in my Audio-GD Fun.

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What do you mean "is wrong" ?  Like you then said, it's a matter of preference so no one is wrong.  For the record, most people disagree with your sentiments -- the HD650 is plenty warm and needs to be brought closer to the neutral side, like the HD600, which is a far better headphone imo.

After having used the NFB-12 for a week, I'm finding that the bass/sound isn't tight at all and the sound is extremely warm. This is severely disappointing as the HDP completes destroys the NFB-12 in this aspect, and I feel my HD600 sounds more like a HD650. Aside from that side, the NFB-12 seems like it has a more front-row seat sound while the HDP has a back-row seat sound. What that means is that the sound surrounds you in the NFB-12 while the sound is more in front of you with the HDP. As of right now, I'm still burning in the NFB-12 in hope of the bass/sound tightening up. If it does not tighten up, I do not know what to do. Im running it with a HD600 w/ Nucleotide cable, optical cable, and Audio-GD power cable, and the bass on this thing right now is FLABBY!!! (Using different power cord doesnt help, my headphones are fine, etc.) Listening to Yolanda Be Cool & Drop - We No Speak Americano, the bass exists but it is running all over the place Listening to Michael Buble - Spiderman Theme, the bass around 0:35 is not precise at all. Again the bass is there but it sounds like the string is loose and constantly vibrating, making me feel like i cannot locate the instrument. Sadly, I feel the cheap $100 VivdAudioTech AMP & DAC and HDP produce a more comfortable and tighter musical sound, but my hopes for the NFB-12 are not yet over. I will continue using it for a couple weeks in hope of a tighter sound (I do believe in burn-in as well as power cord changing sound ) and report back if the bass does tighten up. Sorry if this post ruins some peoples' expectations of the NFB-12. I am merely stating my observations, so please dont flame me just because the truth hurts about this amp/dac. I had good expectations out of NFB-12 as well as it seems incredible for the price on paper, but as of now, time will tell (as in more burn-in time ).

 
Quote:

ipodpj said:

What do you mean "is wrong" ?  Like you then said, it's a matter of preference so no one is wrong.  For the record, most people disagree with your sentiments -- the HD650 is plenty warm and needs to be brought closer to the neutral side, like the HD600, which is a far better headphone imo.

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Sigh. My intention was to present a contrary view. I used to assume no benefit in adding more warmth to the HD650, until I experienced it myself first hand with the colouration introduced by the Moon hdam. I did not state my belief as an absolute, hence the" imo" followed by the preference disclaimer. No need to get your panties in a twist princess.
 
And thanks for putting it on official record how many people disagree with me. Out of curiosity do you have a number so I can get a sense of how "wrong" my opinion is?

Quote:

tlniec said:

Sure enough.  That is strange - unconventional.  Someone in a later post suggested the intent might be to prevent someone from removing the screw from this side.  That makes sense, I suppose.
 

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Confirm I could remove the screw from the underside, The soldering does ads the removal of the screw from the bottom 

I would recommend that you try another mix or song then "Yolanda Be Cool & Drop - We No Speak Americano" as the Orginal and "Dutch Radio Version" should have a muddy bass in then.
I just listen to all the mixes on the maxi singel i have and only tese two has muddy bas sin them. especiallyif you list to the "Vhyce Remix". o also switch to Edward Maya feat. Vika Jigulina - Stereo Love (Michael Mind Project Remix Edit) and my favorit bass song Studio B - I See Girls and didn´t hear the sam muddy bass. 
 
I used my Ultrasone that are quit bass heavy on low gain. Will try to confirm this with my speaker at home. I think the NFB-12 brings out more low frequency sounds in te song and so the bass sound muddy. but this is just my opinion.
 
 
 

j2kei said:

After having used the NFB-12 for a week, I'm finding that the bass/sound isn't tight at all and the sound is extremely warm. This is severely disappointing as the HDP completes destroys the NFB-12 in this aspect, and I feel my HD600 sounds more like a HD650. Aside from that side, the NFB-12 seems like it has a more front-row seat sound while the HDP has a back-row seat sound. What that means is that the sound surrounds you in the NFB-12 while the sound is more in front of you with the HDP. As of right now, I'm still burning in the NFB-12 in hope of the bass/sound tightening up. If it does not tighten up, I do not know what to do. Im running it with a HD600 w/ Nucleotide cable, optical cable, and Audio-GD power cable, and the bass on this thing right now is FLABBY!!! (Using different power cord doesnt help, my headphones are fine, etc.) Listening to Yolanda Be Cool & Drop - We No Speak Americano, the bass exists but it is running all over the place Listening to Michael Buble - Spiderman Theme, the bass around 0:35 is not precise at all. Again the bass is there but it sounds like the string is loose and constantly vibrating, making me feel like i cannot locate the instrument. Sadly, I feel the cheap $100 VivdAudioTech AMP & DAC and HDP produce a more comfortable and tighter musical sound, but my hopes for the NFB-12 are not yet over. I will continue using it for a couple weeks in hope of a tighter sound (I do believe in burn-in as well as power cord changing sound ) and report back if the bass does tighten up. Sorry if this post ruins some peoples' expectations of the NFB-12. I am merely stating my observations, so please dont flame me just because the truth hurts about this amp/dac. I had good expectations out of NFB-12 as well as it seems incredible for the price on paper, but as of now, time will tell (as in more burn-in time ).

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Quote:

j2kei said:

After having used the NFB-12 for a week, I'm finding that the bass/sound isn't tight at all and the sound is extremely warm. This is severely disappointing as the HDP completes destroys the NFB-12 in this aspect, and I feel my HD600 sounds more like a HD650. Aside from that side, the NFB-12 seems like it has a more front-row seat sound while the HDP has a back-row seat sound. What that means is that the sound surrounds you in the NFB-12 while the sound is more in front of you with the HDP. As of right now, I'm still burning in the NFB-12 in hope of the bass/sound tightening up. If it does not tighten up, I do not know what to do. Im running it with a HD600 w/ Nucleotide cable, optical cable, and Audio-GD power cable, and the bass on this thing right now is FLABBY!!! (Using different power cord doesnt help, my headphones are fine, etc.) Listening to Yolanda Be Cool & Drop - We No Speak Americano, the bass exists but it is running all over the place Listening to Michael Buble - Spiderman Theme, the bass around 0:35 is not precise at all. Again the bass is there but it sounds like the string is loose and constantly vibrating, making me feel like i cannot locate the instrument. Sadly, I feel the cheap $100 VivdAudioTech AMP & DAC and HDP produce a more comfortable and tighter musical sound, but my hopes for the NFB-12 are not yet over. I will continue using it for a couple weeks in hope of a tighter sound (I do believe in burn-in as well as power cord changing sound ) and report back if the bass does tighten up. Sorry if this post ruins some peoples' expectations of the NFB-12. I am merely stating my observations, so please dont flame me just because the truth hurts about this amp/dac. I had good expectations out of NFB-12 as well as it seems incredible for the price on paper, but as of now, time will tell (as in more burn-in time ).

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Very interesting and with that said, maybe I should've gone for the nfb-11? Hmm..

Regarding the bass, it is definitely loose when new. Mine did tighten up, but the general signature is still there. Now I went back and forth between my tube hybrid amp and this one for several hours. The bass doesn't sound that different than my tube amp in signature, but it has more quantity of the same sound. It's almost like a bass boost is on. Just when I think it's boomy, I hear some songs with real tight low bass. I think this amp might be revealing the good or bad bass on a track and then boosting it a bit. This is the same from the DAC out.
 
I feel that it would probably be a better match for cans with weaker bass, especially those with no mid-bass hump. This is definitely not the amp/DAC for the HD580/600 IMO. I really think the Beyer 880 or Grados would benefit from this amp, maybe the 701 as well. The M50 is a good match IMO, mostly because it brings out the mids and smooths the highs a bit. The NFB-12 soundstage is pretty impressive. As J2kei said, it surrounds you.

n00b here.   When is High Gain and Low gain used? is related to ohms of the Headphone ?
 
 
 
 
 

Quote:

vinay said:

n00b here.   When is High Gain and Low gain used? is related to ohms of the Headphone ?

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Pretty much, yeah. High impedance phones require more power to be driven properly (not sure if it's the voltage or the current specifically), so using High gain will usually sound louder. There might be a few other audible differences between the two settings (I'm not sure why), but its purpose is to accommodate both high- and low-impedance phones.
 

 
Quote:

slaughter said:

 I really think the Beyer 880 or Grados would benefit from this amp, maybe the 701 as well. The M50 is a good match IMO, mostly because it brings out the mids and smooths the highs a bit. The NFB-12 soundstage is pretty impressive. As J2kei said, it surrounds you.

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Do you think the 990's be a good match as well? I've listened to the 880's and loved the sound signature, but I never got to audition the 990's and don't know how big the difference between them really is. Since everyone keeps calling them bright, though, I have to wonder if the NFB-12 would do them a good justice.

I believe the only refrence to what kind of music anybody listens too while giving their impressions of this dac/amp was buffy , I just wonder like buffy what the heck are you listening too that has brought you to such a lowley / excitable state of mind.

Not sure. I haven't owned the 990 in a long time, but the increased bass of the NFB-12 might be too much for the 990. Might depend on the impedance version you get though. Hard telling what has synergy with the NFB-12. I just found that the KSC-75 sounds amazing with the NFB-12. I can't stop listening to this combo with folk, blues and acoustic music. It really makes me question the diminishing returns of this hobby....
 
Quote:

jupe said:

slaughter said:

 I really think the Beyer 880 or Grados would benefit from this amp, maybe the 701 as well. The M50 is a good match IMO, mostly because it brings out the mids and smooths the highs a bit. The NFB-12 soundstage is pretty impressive. As J2kei said, it surrounds you.

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Do you think the 990's be a good match as well? I've listened to the 880's and loved the sound signature, but I never got to audition the 990's and don't know how big the difference between them really is. Since everyone keeps calling them bright, though, I have to wonder if the NFB-12 would do them a good justice.

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