Von Soundcard
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Can anyone make a comparison between this and the NFB-17.2, 'soundwise' ?
Can anyone make a comparison between this and the NFB-17.2, 'soundwise' ?
Hi xtreme,
Looks promising..
Looking forward for more review.
Have you heard any audio-gd DAC with PCM1740UK chip? Such as Reference 5?
Some quick questions to everyone that already owns this DAC
1. What does the front panel display? (I know silly question but I couldn't find any info on that in audio-gd site)
2. In the specs, it is stated that the USB input supports up to 32/384 but the DAC supports 32/192. To my understanding, 9018 can accept up to 1.5Mhz. Thus, I would expect that it is possible to send over 32/384. Have you tried it?
3. Is anyone using Win7 64bit? If yes, did you experience any problem with the USB driver?
Thanks a bunch for the replies.
So after a few email exchanges with Kingwa, I have gone ahead and placed an order with him. I asked him a couple questions as well (responses paraphrased). For the record, Kingwa was superbly responsive to my emails, and a real help throughout this process. So far so good for the customer service.
Concerning the difference between the NFB-11.32 and the NFB-1.32, Kingwa said the 1.32 is a little more clear and detailed, and should sound better through the balanced outputs.
Additionally, the 1.32 is essentially an update of the ESS Sabre based NFB-1, which is now discontinued. From our emails, the 1.32 is an upgrade on the NFB-1 while being priced cheaper both as a way to get the Audio-GD name out there and because the casework is less expensive. The "upgrade" part is based on an improvement in the USB input as well as shortening of signal paths purportedly leading to a better sonic product.
Finally, in comparison to the other Audio-GD dedicated DACs in the $500-$1000 price range, the NFB 1.32 is described as the most neutral and accurate of the three, the SA-1 is the warmer, smoother single-ended DAC, and the Ref-5 is described as neutral with a little bit more weight (perhaps to the low end?).
With 2xTXCO clocks ($40), and shipping to the US ($65), the promo price came out to be just about $710. The unit should ship on the 10th of this month, and hopefully I will have a chance to listen to it alongside the Audiolab M-DAC, likely feeding a Yulong A18 via XLR out.
Hi, Any comparisons yet with Calyx or other DACs, i need help pleeeaase! i am between the Calyx, Audio-gd NFB 1.32 and Audio-gd NFB 7.32...
thank you!
Unfortunately most of us don't have more than a few sources on hand, and often certainly not more than 1 sabre based product, Im not sure if you saw my reply to you in my brief thoughts on the nfb 1.32 in the review section, but based on the design and parts choice id pick the nfb 1.32 or nfb 7.32 if your going with a sabredac, to get most bang for the buck, and considering how spendy the calyx is, id jump on the 3 r-core transformered usb 7.32, its cheaper still.
The only other dac i've heard with a sabre chip is the Weiss 202 but it isn't a fair comparison because I've don't readily have access to it, it's a $6500 dac, and i'd be going off auditory memory which is always pretty poor. The one thing i can say about the Weiss' sound that has been said elsewhere is that it is indeed very liquid, analog, and has a rich rounded sound while remaining detailed. I can probably attribute most of this to its robust and excellently designed powersupply regulation and perhaps other good design choices. The sabre 9018 is very sensitive to clean power, Id go with beefiest psu you can find, the 7.32 is a brute force solution, not many designers incorporate the excellent r-core transformers except maybe sony and a handful of other high end manufacturers.