NEW Audio-gd NFB-16 class A ACSS portable DAC/Amp - Page 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim3320070 

Yes but not dramatic is my guess- if you can afford it, I feel the NFB10SE is very good if going balanced

Not going balanced.  Ended up going for the NFB-5.  I am pumped to get this hi-fi playback computer built, just doing a bit more research on which motherboard to get and I will be GOLDEN.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Currawong 

Non-negative feedback circuits have a reputation for sounding "dark", but then, arguably, large amounts of negative feedback in a circuit can give it a reputation for sounding "bright". The latter, to me, sound glare-y and irritating, but some people seem to like it. 

 

Basically with Audio-gd gear, the more you pay, the better the power supply and better the amp's performance gets. The NFB-16 I have here (non-battery-powered) doesn't have a strong amp when using it with USB power only, as the soundstage seems to fall apart with complex music, but given I listen to a lot of jazz and often use it with a pair of active speakers and the power supply from the Digital Interface, it sounds lovely to me and that issue doesn't come up.

 

For HD650s you need a C2 amp or NFB-10 or better or get one or another unit to use as a DAC and an OTL tube amp and a bunch of tubes to play with to tune the sound to your liking.

So it's not dark?  I'm not too familiar with the technical stuff but I will take your word for it since you know more than me, so does the Audio-gd house-sound sound neutral to you?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grev 

So it's not dark?  I'm not too familiar with the technical stuff but I will take your word for it since you know more than me, so does the Audio-gd house-sound sound neutral to you?

As a general rule, Kingwa prefers a "neutral" sound. If you see a description on his site mentioning "musical" it refers to the subtle differences between the effect of conventional circuits on the music compared to the ACSS ones. There is a funny story about this actually. A number of people suggested to Kingwa that he make a tube amp, as they are popular with some people. He replied that he can easily make a solid-state amp that sounds like a tube amp if people want.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Currawong 

 

As a general rule, Kingwa prefers a "neutral" sound. If you see a description on his site mentioning "musical" it refers to the subtle differences between the effect of conventional circuits on the music compared to the ACSS ones. There is a funny story about this actually. A number of people suggested to Kingwa that he make a tube amp, as they are popular with some people. He replied that he can easily make a solid-state amp that sounds like a tube amp if people want.

Speaking of people suggesting things, he should probably get on making a Stat amp too...

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoupRKnowva 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Currawong 

 

As a general rule, Kingwa prefers a "neutral" sound. If you see a description on his site mentioning "musical" it refers to the subtle differences between the effect of conventional circuits on the music compared to the ACSS ones. There is a funny story about this actually. A number of people suggested to Kingwa that he make a tube amp, as they are popular with some people. He replied that he can easily make a solid-state amp that sounds like a tube amp if people want.

 

Speaking of people suggesting things, he should probably get on making a Stat amp too...

Asked that already. Can't get a good supply of the components required.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Currawong 

 

Asked that already. Can't get a good supply of the components required.

that makes sense though, since the DIY community has so much trouble doing the same. Unless you want to go the tube route which makes it alot easier, hence why i think im gonna be choosing the Megatron over the KGSSHV...anywho, back to NFB-16 talk 

More impressions. I'm awaiting the battery-powered version, but the USB-powered version I find sounds sweet with the Fit Ear TO GO! 334 IEMs, which have the unfortunately typical strong treble peak that seems to be popular nowadays. The downside is that they are incredibly sensitive and even if I use the NFB-16 from the Vaunix hub, I can hear a steady tone, if not computer noises which I get when it is connected directly to my MacBook Pro. 

I've emailed Kingwa some suggestions including about IEMs. If he can get the NFB-16 into a box about half the size, including the battery without compromising anything it'd be great. Parts such as the volume control can be replaced with smaller parts and the RCA inputs are redundant if it is designed as a portable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Currawong 

 

As a general rule, Kingwa prefers a "neutral" sound. If you see a description on his site mentioning "musical" it refers to the subtle differences between the effect of conventional circuits on the music compared to the ACSS ones. There is a funny story about this actually. A number of people suggested to Kingwa that he make a tube amp, as they are popular with some people. He replied that he can easily make a solid-state amp that sounds like a tube amp if people want.

So comparing these to the Audinsts that I have, this sounds darker, so the Audinsts are suffering from negative feedback?  I also really like the Reference 7.1 and the one with the amp, the 10.1, they would have the same house-sound too?

I do like the NFB-16's sound, just that it didn't drive the planar dynamics nearly as well as the Triad Audio L3.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grev 

So comparing these to the Audinsts that I have, this sounds darker, so the Audinsts are suffering from negative feedback?  I also really like the Reference 7.1 and the one with the amp, the 10.1, they would have the same house-sound too?

 

I do like the NFB-16's sound, just that it didn't drive the planar dynamics nearly as well as the Triad Audio L3.

Well, that is a little different price tag...

Quote:

Originally Posted by nigeljames 

 

No its the HD650 that are slow and dark. All the Audio-gd gear I have have been pretty neutral.

 

However maybe the NFB-16 is not good at driving high impedance phones.

haha no, no they arent …

the 650 driven properly (not actually that hard, but there is a basic level of voltage swing needed) is neither dark, nor as different to 600 as people tend to repeat around here

I have tried the NFB-16 with my LCD-2 and the HE-400, it can go to loud levels without being distorted on the HE-400 but it doesn't have the power for the LCD-2.

So is it voltage that matters or the wattage?

Quote:

Originally Posted by qusp 

haha no, no they arent …

 

the 650 driven properly (not actually that hard, but there is a basic level of voltage swing needed) is neither dark, nor as different to 600 as people tend to repeat around here

Sorry disagree. The inherent character of the HD650's is dark and slow. That's a fact.

Of course you can change the basic character depending on source/amp quality and character.

Would you say the HD650's are faster and less dark than the HD800's:  NO

Would you say the HD650's are faster and less dark than the Beyer T1's: NO

Would you say the HD650's are faster and less dark than the HE6's: NO

Would you say the HD650's are faster and less dark than the LCD-2's: NO

Would you say the HD650's are faster and less dark than any Ultrasone,grado,AKG etc etc: NO

I rest my case. Oh and yes I have owned the HD650 and most of the phones/makes listed

Quote:

Originally Posted by nigeljames 

 

Sorry disagree. The inherent character of the HD650's is dark and slow. That's a fact.

 

Of course you can change the basic character depending on source/amp quality and character.

 

Would you say the HD650's are faster and less dark than the HD800's:  NO

Would you say the HD650's are faster and less dark than the Beyer T1's: NO

Would you say the HD650's are faster and less dark than the HE6's: NO

Would you say the HD650's are faster and less dark than the LCD-2's: NO

Would you say the HD650's are faster and less dark than any Ultrasone,grado,AKG etc etc: NO

 

I rest my case. Oh and yes I have owned the HD650 and most of the phones/makes listed

x2

Going off topic but still with the HD650 here, with the RX3, they're not dark nor slow.  So he does have a point there, but yes, still darker than the headphones you've mentioned above.

way to completely miss the point of a pretty simple short, clearly worded post.. congrats thats quite an achievement

actually no, i'm guessing you havent actually spent much time with any of the cans you mention, perhaps just read some reviews, or at a meet and you definitely havent spent much time with both HD600 and HD650 at the same time

did I compare to any of these? NO

Would you say the HD650's are faster and less dark than the HD800's:  NO

no I wouldnt, thank god, the hd800 are bright and with some rigs/source material harsh and unlistenable with a completely unnatural soundstage

Would you say the HD650's are faster and less dark than the Beyer T1's: NO

yes, I would, I didnt like the t1 at all, very pretty but thats about all

Would you say the HD650's are faster and less dark than the HE6's: NO

and the point is?

Would you say the HD650's are faster and less dark than the LCD-2's: NO

faster no, but I would call hd600 pretty darn similar as far as tonality and the major difference between 600 and 650 is in text on these forums

Would you say the HD650's are faster and less dark than any Ultrasone,grado,AKG etc etc: NO

yes yes yes, faster, more natural and less dark than every single ultrasone ive ever heard including ed9, ed8, ed10, which are all tuned pretty bloody dark (with a bit of added tizz), completely meh and despite the exterior, 100% plastic. less bright than every bright AKG i've ever heard? absolutely most AKG are pretty clinical and lacking proper bass presence. the only AKG i've heard that didnt are the 240 with a proper amp

do the hd6XX have slightly more bass than completely neutral? yes they do, but so do more than half of the headphones you mention above, however driven properly extension is not bad at all and mids are all there in proper measure not recessed in the slightest, so to call them dark is false, slightly rolled off in the very upper registers? yes, but its pretty minor