[Kingwa]

I try to explain some points but base my poor English I think maybe not as I wish.
The headphone recommend drive with a large output amp, it's not ask users feed to the headphone this power, that will burn user's ears .
I think they just recommend the amp have this output ability then can drive the headphone well.
 
Like a notebook, if turn the volume to maximum, it can make most headphone very loud but most headphone not sound good, I think this is cause the notebook not have enough power output ability.
 
The more obvious is the speakers. Some speakers must drive by an enough output ability amp otherwise the sound quite mess. The ability mean can output high linear voltage and high current. Most time a speakers only want input less than 1W average power, but need the amp have more than 100W ablity .
 
The NFB10SE single end output specs is same with the FUN or NFB-5.
We made the balanced specs base on we wouldn't declare the NFB-10SE have more than 10W output, even its ability can, so we declare 9950MW on paper.
 

 

[DarknightDK]

Thanks for your explanation Kingwa.
 
I see that the NFB-10SE now comes with the option for a remote control. Does the remote control only control the volume or can it also select the various options like Filter, Gain, etc?
 
Also do you think that with the volume control module, will it affect the overall sound quality in any way - now that there is an additional path in the circuit.
 
 

 

[olor1n]

Quote:

[...]
 
The NFB10SE single end output specs is same with the FUN or NFB-5.
We made the balanced specs base on we wouldn't declare the NFB-10SE have more than 10W output, even its ability can, so we declare 9950MW on paper.
 

 
Thank you for the clarification Kingwa. If the 10SE single ended has the same output as the FUN, would it be safe to assume that its output in LOW gain balanced mode is greater than Stereodude's figures below? Can you, or anyone else specify what the 10SE's (max) output would be for the 60ohm/91dB LCD-2 in LOW gain (balanced)?


Quote:

[...]
 
Whereas the difference from +12dB to 0dB (12dB) is reducing the output power to 1/15.8th (assuming you didn't change the input signal).  So, relatively speaking the output at the equivalent volume setting (max?) would now be:
 
Balanced:
628MW / 25 ohms
375MW / 50 ohms
208MW / 100 ohms
72.6MW / 300 ohms
37.2MW / 600 ohms
 
Single Ended:
157MW / 25 ohms
93.9MW / 50 ohms
52.1MW / 100 ohms
18.1MW / 300 ohms
9.31MW / 600 ohms

 

 

[customNuts]

Quote:

 


Same here for USB/Coax/Optical , for filters 2x/4x/8x i can't hear , but beetween Minimum phase 'soft-knee' filter. and Linear phase 'brickwall' filter i can .  


 

I found some very mild but noticable changes throughout the filters, mostly in the upper frequencies. These are simply imo.
I don't like (what sounds like to me) the treble roll off on filters 1-3.
4 is not much better imo but 5 has a distinct 'sizzle' to my ears which I like.
6 sounds like a touch more neutral version of 5.
7-9 I find are the best by far with a slight boost to the sound, namely in dynamics and treble clarity.
 
I also found that using Foobar 2000 Wasapi, if I out put normal redbook at 24/96khz, the resampling made a small increase in SQ imho. I don't normally like to resample but the SQ simply improved. Can't use filters 7-9 of course, so I sit on 5 or 6.
 
Usb was a little dry and lifeless compared to optical but still very good. Coax was through the Zodiac+ so doesn't count.(but wasn't far off the optical at all)

 

[OPrwtos]

Quote:

I found some very mild but noticable changes throughout the filters, mostly in the upper frequencies. These are simply imo.
I don't like (what sounds like to me) the treble roll off on filters 1-3.
4 is not much better imo but 5 has a distinct 'sizzle' to my ears which I like.
6 sounds like a touch more neutral version of 5.
7-9 I find are the best by far with a slight boost to the sound, namely in dynamics and treble clarity.
 
I also found that using Foobar 2000 Wasapi, if I out put normal redbook at 24/96khz, the resampling made a small increase in SQ imho. I don't normally like to resample but the SQ simply improved. Can't use filters 7-9 of course, so I sit on 5 or 6.
 
Usb was a little dry and lifeless compared to optical but still very good. Coax was through the Zodiac+ so doesn't count.(but wasn't far off the optical at all)

similar to me, i use optical and filter 9, i dont know why but i feel it sounds better to me. Maybe just placebo but dono
 
 

 

[FauDrei]

7-9 I find are the best by far with a slight boost to the sound, namely in dynamics and treble clarity.

 

similar to me, i use optical and filter 9, i dont know why but i feel it sounds better to me. Maybe just placebo but dono

 
Could be just that you two, like me, prefer good 8x oversampling over lover oversampling rates or NOS.

 

[M-13]

Thinking about getting the 10SE. I'm wondering has anyone compared the DAC section to the Bifrost? or against the complete system of Lyr/Bifrost vs. 10SE?

 

[olor1n]

Quote:

[...]

I found some very mild but noticable changes throughout the filters, mostly in the upper frequencies. These are simply imo.
I don't like (what sounds like to me) the treble roll off on filters 1-3.
4 is not much better imo but 5 has a distinct 'sizzle' to my ears which I like.
6 sounds like a touch more neutral version of 5.
7-9 I find are the best by far with a slight boost to the sound, namely in dynamics and treble clarity.
 
I also found that using Foobar 2000 Wasapi, if I out put normal redbook at 24/96khz, the resampling made a small increase in SQ imho. I don't normally like to resample but the SQ simply improved. Can't use filters 7-9 of course, so I sit on 5 or 6.
 
Usb was a little dry and lifeless compared to optical but still very good. Coax was through the Zodiac+ so doesn't count.(but wasn't far off the optical at all)

I agree with every one of these points. The improved sq upsampling to 24/96khz is something I noticed even when I had the Audio-GD FUN. I recall measurements of the NFB-12 performing better in 24/96khz as well. All these units employ the wm8741 so it may be an inherent quality of the dac chip.
 
My biggest gripe is the dryness in the upper mids heard through the HD650 with certain recordings (particularly apparent with bands like The Walkmen, White Stripes, New Pornographers). Optical and upsampling alleviates it somewhat, but I still experience some fatigue with the HD650

at my normal listening levels. These recordings are inherently abrasive or tinny and hollow in parts, but this fatigue is something I never experienced with the FUN.
 
I probably need to look at a Digital Interface to test hardware upsampling and the 10SE's coax input.
 
 
 

 

[OPrwtos]

Guys something i don't understand, im using filter 9, but i thought it only works with 48khz? im using sox resampler on  88.2khz, is the filter still working?

 

[martook]

I'm in need of a new DAC since I just sold my old one, but I haven't decided on what to get yet, and the ones I'm considering right now haven't been released or there is a long wait for one.
 
So, I'm considering getting either a NFB-5 or NFB-10SE and use it as a DAC at home for now, and when I finally decide on what DAC I should get, I'll use the 5/10SE to replace my aging Compass at work. I have no use for balanced mode as all my headphones and my amp (Leben) is single ended, but the remote for the 10SE is a nice touch. Not sure that's worth $200 though...
Anyone has any idea how these two compare as DAC? I'm guessing the difference isn't that big when the 10SE is used single ended...?
 
Or is the whole idea silly, I should go for a NFB-3.1 or NFB-2 and just sell them when I get something better?

 

[Soundinista]

Quote:

Since the NFB10SE have released some days.
I need some feedbacks about when the gear power on, hold on "volume -" key to setting the volume down to 0 step or hold on the " volume + " keep the memory ? Should we keep this function or give up it?
 
I am appreciate the every one's feedbacks, thanks and sorry for my poor English.

Kingwa,
 
I think you should keep that feature exactly as it is. I also think you should add balance control to either your DAC's or your amps -- whichever is less damaging to sound quality. Many people will develop imbalance in their hearing. I regard balance control as being of critical importance to a headphone system. (This is one of the major reasons why I bought Rudistor's RPX-300, an amp that offered -- while it was available -- independent volume controls for right and left channels.) I find it incredible that manufacturers and most customers seem to ignore the need for this.
 
Otherwise, keep up the good work! The NFB-10SE is excellent.
 

 
 

 

[tim3320070]

Quote:

I'm in need of a new DAC since I just sold my old one, but I haven't decided on what to get yet, and the ones I'm considering right now haven't been released or there is a long wait for one.
 
So, I'm considering getting either a NFB-5 or NFB-10SE and use it as a DAC at home for now, and when I finally decide on what DAC I should get, I'll use the 5/10SE to replace my aging Compass at work. I have no use for balanced mode as all my headphones and my amp (Leben) is single ended, but the remote for the 10SE is a nice touch. Not sure that's worth $200 though...
Anyone has any idea how these two compare as DAC? I'm guessing the difference isn't that big when the 10SE is used single ended...?
 
Or is the whole idea silly, I should go for a NFB-3.1 or NFB-2 and just sell them when I get something better?

Adding the remote is another $50 not $200- a little better than the $500 Bryston remote add-on.
 

 

[tme110]

Quote:

Adding the remote is another $50 not $200- a little better than the $500 Bryston remote add-on.
 

I think he meant over the price of the nfb-5.
 
 
but as far as not needing balanced - it wouldn't be that hard to convert your phones to balanced and take advantage of an incredibly inexpensive balanced amp.  I listed to almost all SE myself but I am converting all my hp's to 4-pin and I use an adapter for my other amps.
 

 

[priso]

I thought to buy matrix cube dac and m-stage amp for my hd600 until today. Nfb-10Se's price is lower than cube plus m-stage. Is there anybody to compare these devices for me? My hd600 with cardas cables(non-balanced) and I have alessandro ms1i. I will not buy any headphones with balanced option in the near future.

I read pages and pages, but I didnt sure. Cube's DAC section is so good and m-stage is very good amp in 500 bucks. But nfb-10se looks like perfect. Ok , it is your turn. My budget is $500-$600.

I wish these questions be helpful to people who look for $500-$600 dacs/amps.

 

[Omega17TheTrue]

Is it me or the display look very bright in pictures ? It seem chinese people love very bright blue light on hifi gear, I already have to hide the blue LED on my compass.