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Audio-gd's DAC/Amp survey: Sparrow or NFB-12?

post #1 of 5
2/9/11 at 10:04am
Thread Starter 

Hi!

This is my first post. I hope someone can help me...

I'm planning to buy a DAC/HA for my ATH-M50. It will be linked to my Media Tank via optical/coax cable. Although 90 percent of my audio files are standard res (44.1 / 48 khz), i have some HD audio tracks too, so a hi-res DAC is welcome.

After reading a lot of stuff about Zero DAC and its reliability issues, i've decided to spend an extra money and buy a DAC from Audio-gd due to its higher quality and good support.

Now i'm confused between Sparrow (Version A) and NFB-12. I've read all stuff at Audio-gd's website, as well as some posts here. Both units have the same chip (WM8741), same inputs and the same amp circuitry (ACSS - no OPA). NFB is a little cheaper than Sparrow, despite the fact that it has an additional DAC output.

There is some confusion, on the NFB-12 threads, about its performance at high frequencies when working with standard-res audio signal, but i have not read anything about this on Sparrow threads.

Does anybody have listened to these DAC's? What are the differences between its sound? Which one would sound better (neutral) on my ATH-M50?

 

Sorry for my English... I'm from Brazil and have learned english by myself.
Thank you for your attention!

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post #2 of 5
2/9/11 at 12:55pm

The is a key difference, the NFB-12 has dual WM8741 chips and the Sparrow only has one. There is also a gain switch on the NFB-12 so it can more easily be used with different headphones (but I have read the high gain sounds better). The NFB-12 can also do DAC-output to speakers. As the NFB-12 is still sold with a promo price (very little money made by Audio-gd) as an advertisement for the chip, I think it´s the better choice. But I don´t have experience of either product. I would send an email directly to Kingwa and ask if there are any differences in sound quality in the two products - he is very honest: audio-gd-kingwa@hotmail.com

 

The Wolfson chip should pair very well (it has a nice analog smoothness) with with your Audio-technica headphones that are considered to have a bright sound signature. 

 

Oh and your english is perfect, no need to be sorry about anything :) Welcome to Head-Fi!

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post #3 of 5
2/9/11 at 6:47pm
Thread Starter 

Hi, Vrln!

Thank you!

I am almost decided on buying a NFB-12, but i have to confess: regardless of its great performance with HD audio, all those comments about the way it handles standard signals (44,1 KHz) have made me a bit disappointed, since i have so little HD-audio stuff.

Some people say that there is a misconfiguration around D/A chip on the NFB, which attenuates high frequencies far below 20 khz (highly audible) when converting 44,1/48 khz audio. Kingwa says there is no problem, it's just the way it should sound (smooth). Some other people have commented about great improvement after some burn in, even on high freqs, but i can't understand how could burn in affect it, since it is a circuitry issue...

Anyway, i have e-mailed Kingwa and i'm waiting for an answer...

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post #4 of 5
2/9/11 at 7:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vall View Post

Hi, Vrln!

Thank you!

I am almost decided on buying a NFB-12, but i have to confess: regardless of its great performance with HD audio, all those comments about the way it handles standard signals (44,1 KHz) have made me a bit disappointed, since i have so little HD-audio stuff.

Some people say that there is a misconfiguration around D/A chip on the NFB, which attenuates high frequencies far below 20 khz (highly audible) when converting 44,1/48 khz audio. Kingwa says there is no problem, it's just the way it should sound (smooth). Some other people have commented about great improvement after some burn in, even on high freqs, but i can't understand how could burn in affect it, since it is a circuitry issue...

Anyway, i have e-mailed Kingwa and i'm waiting for an answer...


It is audible.  It is not *highly* audible.  It is subtle, but audible.  I do not have the NFB-12, but I do have a dual WM8741 DAC I built and can configure the way I want.  I have heard all the hardware filters on the WM8741.

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post #5 of 5
4/15/11 at 9:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vall View Post

Hi, Vrln!

Thank you!

I am almost decided on buying a NFB-12, but i have to confess: regardless of its great performance with HD audio, all those comments about the way it handles standard signals (44,1 KHz) have made me a bit disappointed, since i have so little HD-audio stuff.

Some people say that there is a misconfiguration around D/A chip on the NFB, which attenuates high frequencies far below 20 khz (highly audible) when converting 44,1/48 khz audio. Kingwa says there is no problem, it's just the way it should sound (smooth). Some other people have commented about great improvement after some burn in, even on high freqs, but i can't understand how could burn in affect it, since it is a circuitry issue...

Anyway, i have e-mailed Kingwa and i'm waiting for an answer...


Have you gotten an answer? Which unit have you decided on? I'm in the same boat but I'm leaning towards the NFB-12.
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