I've been using the NFB-1 for a month or so. It's hooked up via USB to a Windows 7 machine as defined as my default audio device in Control Panel.
My research indicates the problems I was having with my NFB-1 getting dropped by Windows is part of a widespread series of issues Windows has with asynchronous USB audio. It is buggy and Windows doesn't seem to like to let it happen. It's not just an ASIO thing, either. (We all know ASIO can be a little funky in Windows sometimes.) I came across all kinds of other people having problems with other async USB audio devices in Windows 7 and 8.
What I have found to be the best way to prevent the DAC from getting dropped by Windows is to switch it on before Windows begins to load. That way there's no chance of it being "missed" at boot. If I turn the DAC off when in Windows, it might not come back. Keeping it switched on when my computer is on is the only sure way to keep it from being dropped. If it does get dropped, a reinstall of the drivers is needed to get it to show up again.
So, it's a little less plug-and-play than I was hoping for, but it looks like it's a Windows rather than Audio-GD issue. (Read about async USB audio on Mac and Linux. It seems much less problematic. You don't even need to install drivers!)
With that said, the DAC does sound really good. Great detail top to bottom and a sense of space that I hadn't heard through my previous (lower class) gear.
My research indicates the problems I was having with my NFB-1 getting dropped by Windows is part of a widespread series of issues Windows has with asynchronous USB audio. It is buggy and Windows doesn't seem to like to let it happen. It's not just an ASIO thing, either. (We all know ASIO can be a little funky in Windows sometimes.) I came across all kinds of other people having problems with other async USB audio devices in Windows 7 and 8.
What I have found to be the best way to prevent the DAC from getting dropped by Windows is to switch it on before Windows begins to load. That way there's no chance of it being "missed" at boot. If I turn the DAC off when in Windows, it might not come back. Keeping it switched on when my computer is on is the only sure way to keep it from being dropped. If it does get dropped, a reinstall of the drivers is needed to get it to show up again.
So, it's a little less plug-and-play than I was hoping for, but it looks like it's a Windows rather than Audio-GD issue. (Read about async USB audio on Mac and Linux. It seems much less problematic. You don't even need to install drivers!)
With that said, the DAC does sound really good. Great detail top to bottom and a sense of space that I hadn't heard through my previous (lower class) gear.