Hi all,
So, I did the NOS-upgrade on my Master-7 as a tester, based on Audio-gd's advertised offering. The process was/is rather easy. So if You have some skills of soldering and are used to work with electronics in general, I think You should go for this upgrade and perform it Yourself. If You don't feel safe doing it, You should consider getting the help either from Audio-gd or from a more local helper.
Well I ordered the needed high quality/high stability TCXO from Audio-gd aswell as the USB-blaster from ebay. The software used was the one Audio-gd has a link to on their site. I followed the instructions and after the cutting- and soldering work I reprogrammed the Alter-CycloneII DSP with the new NOS-software from Audio-gd/Kingwa.
Up to now when writing this the NOS-7 has about 200 hours of burn-in-time. So I am very aware of the "Not yet fully burned in process!". And Yes, in my calculations I have about 40 percent before I get the full perforamnce.
In this/my case I have to be patient and wait for the new 98MHzTCXO to stabilize. I have owned the Master-7 for a few years and it has provided with approx. 3.5-4000h of service so the electronics has matured for sure and it is only the new TCXO I have to wait to get full service from. After more than 30 years of inventing, constructing and manufacturing audio-gear of various grades the higher grade audio gears I have work with sounds best after about 500 hours of burn in. This subject of burn in time needed or not..reappears now and then.. For me with my experience the 500h-mark is valid. Enough about that.
Back to the NOS-mod.
I have a mix of audio-gd products to compare the NOS-7 to. The comparison stack contains Master-11 (4x PCM 1704uk), NFB-27H (ESS9018) and a NFB-28H(2016)(ESS 9018).
I use a pair of Master-2's poweramps and a couple of headphones, Hifiman HE-6 balanced, Sennheiser HD650 balanced, Fostex T50RP III modded and a few more.
Procedure: I use the M-11, NFB-27H and the NFB-28H2016 as preamps and as phoneamps. I have used the ACSS-cables between pre-poweramp. PiCorePlayers are used and are feeding the gear through USB (Amanero Combo384). Music material contains all kinds of qualities in Mp3, M4a, AAC, FLAC, WAV, AIFF and DSD-material in NFB-27,-28 (DSF, DIFF)
I also only use the NOS 2 setup during the complete burn in process. (When it has stabilized, I will do thorough compare between NOS 1 and 2)
So..
1. With the Master-11 I get a very good compare to the original characteristic of the DSP software. (I use 8 x oversampling). The NOS 2 is already clearer and has more details. The soundstage is more or less equal at this state. The laid back feeling or effortless performance are true for both.
2. The NFB-27H is a ESS SABRE ES9018-chip based dac that delivers a crisp, clear and a bit dry music-picture. Very high level of control. Distinct bass. This comparison is is hard. I refer to NOS 2 and I say death race at this state. The actual difference is the effortless feeling in the NOS-7. The ESS-dac has it all but in some way it cost You energy to concentrate and
listen... In the NOS-7, You don't have to "meet the sound".. It just flows beautifully through the air and You smile before You know it.
3. The NFB-28H (2016) is also based on the ESS ES9018 and it is a bit annoying to accept that the amplifying sounds better in the NFB-28H than in the bigger brothers M-11 and NFB-27H. Beside this fact, the result is identical to the ones for the NFB-27H.
This is not even "halfway" and the result so far is very promising.
A. The performace is improved big time compared to the original DSP-programming.
B. The NOS-7 performs very good up my highest tests with 24/32 and 384KHz
C. When playing DSD-material synchronised on all players the NOS-7 is auto-muted. (Very good feature, Thank You Kingwa)
The burn in continues and I am waiting for the soundscape to open up more with more ambience feeling, more precise placing of instruments and details and last but not least, more soul and presence. It will come, I know...
To be continued..
Jan