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You need to help the fence sitters and those waiting in agony by posting impressions.
Sure, I'll play. Please bear in mind the following:
• I bought it for its power, its balanced operation, and digital input. Oh and its price. I wasn't and still am not picky. Maybe that comes later in one's audio journey.
• I haven't had much headtime on it.
• I'm not even close to the purported 200-hr burn-in these things are said to require after delivery.
• This is my first serious piece of equipment for my particular headphones. I thought my Firebox was pretty special until I found myself with a Q701 and two Fostexes. I ordered this to "catch the fly," to use an expression. Still trying to find some time to reterminate my leads. I've been saying this in my posts for a bit longer than I'd like.
• I haven't put my 701s on it. I wanted to complete burn-in (just took it off its burn station this afternoon) and spend a few hours on the Firebox to gain some sort of reference point before entering the next level. Just wanted to simplify my variable factors so I know exactly which improvements are due to amp burn-in, balanced versus single-end connection, recable, etc.
• I think I burned in my T50RP on the NFB-10SE. Frequency bleeds across the spectrum seemed to clean themselves up after a couple of hours. The headphones, brand new, must have been the source of this.
For the fence sitters, there is no reason not to get this product if you're in the market for a DAC or a balanced amp, in this tier anyway. If this thing is truly as neutral as it's described, and if you think like I do that "bit perfect" is the last word (or two) in digital transport, there is no reason to choose another device in the same tier over this one, given its price point. I want a Lyr, for example, but in tandem with, not in exchange for, the NFB-10SE. The grain of salt is that I have no immediate plans for any piece of kit over $1000. Not worth it to me at this point in my life. (Ask me again after the meet in February haha.) Remember, it is my only audiophile-grade DAC and amp, so I'm gonna have impressions that are far less developed/nuanced than someone who's had, say, other Audio-gd devices, or other DACs, more critical listening experience, stuff like that.
I've had fewer than 10 hours of headphone listening since receiving my NFB-10SE. And that was what, just over a week ago? I haven't heard the relays yet. I do think the volume buttons themselves are louder than I'd like, but that's kind of silly of me. I do think that even in the low gain setting I have to keep the volume no higher than I think 11 or 12 on my T50RP. I was hoping for more fine control; would that mean less headroom?
Sounds nice. I'm still getting a feel for my stock T50RP, and the last time I drove it with my Firebox it was fresh out of the box, but I do hear differences that may be either the amp's sound, or headphone burn-in. More resolving in the upper mids and lower highs, maybe a bit less brash in the highs by comparison, better (but not more) bass. Soundstage has been decently wide and nicely imaged, though I've heard better with my 701 out of the Firebox.
I used a quickly assembled burn-in playlist that included some earlier Katie Melua, selections from The Roots' "Do You Want More," a song or two from "Watch The Throne," a little bit of Massive Attack, James Blake's "Limit To Your Love," Chrono Cross OST, "In a Silent Way," and Brubeck's uncommon time-sig stuff.
I'm connected via cheap mini optical out of my MacBook Pro. I set its output to 24/96, though I think all the FLAC I put through it has been 16/44. Resolution so far seems to be what I expect (i.e. flawless), and no better or worse than my pro audio I/O box. I got this thing for its amplification and its DAC/amp one-box combo, and have yet to really put it through its paces.
I went through the digital filters like one would hunt for a radio station. I heard differences, settled on one, thought about it no more.
Also, I'm missing having a volume knob. A knob is far easier to operate without thinking. Maybe I'll get used to the volume buttons, but so far it is not the unconscious process that turning a knob has been.
This impression is not impressing me so far. Sorry guys. I'll know more about this thing in the coming weeks. But for some early perspective, there it is.
