Audio-GD NFB-11.32 & NFB-11 (2014) (Delivery & Impression Thread)!!!

[jordannn15]

Looking for some help, I got this amp (NFB-11) yesterday and I plugged it in installed the driver and started listening. Then I left and came back hours later and when I went to listen again no sound was coming out (yes the amp was on and volume was turned up). I have tried installing and reinstalling the driver about a million times, trying each with a different usb port, but no luck. I install the driver restart my computer, turn the amp on, and open the VIA ASIO program that it installs with the driver but when I open it all I get are two errors. One pops up first and says: "Device not found!" and then another pops up after I click ok on that one that says: "Enumerate filter failed!"
 
Can someone help me fix this problem? I have no idea what is wrong.

 

[cel4145]

Can someone help me fix this problem? I have no idea what is wrong.

I just tried the NFB-11 on my laptop running Windows 7, 64 bit. I had never installed it to that laptop before. My NFB-11 is from last summer, so the drivers are a different version.

I connected the NFB-11, it attempted to install something, but got a message that it could not recognize/install drivers for the device.

I downloaded the appropriate drivers from Audio-GD (2014v3 for me). I extracted the files using 7zip. I then clicked on the "SETUP" file, and the main VIA drivers were installed. I do not use ASIO. Don't even see that as option for software configuration for me. Works fine.

Perhaps you might want to say what OS you are running, what driver version you downloaded, and describe your process for installation.

 

[jordannn15]

I just tried the NFB-11 on my laptop running Windows 7, 64 bit. I had never installed it to that laptop before. My NFB-11 is from last summer, so the drivers are a different version.

I connected the NFB-11, it attempted to install something, but got a message that it could not recognize/install drivers for the device.

I downloaded the appropriate drivers from Audio-GD (2014v3 for me). I extracted the files using 7zip. I then clicked on the "SETUP" file, and the main VIA drivers were installed. I do not use ASIO. Don't even see that as option for software configuration for me. Works fine.

Perhaps you might want to say what OS you are running, what driver version you downloaded, and describe your process for installation.

 
I am also running windows 7 64 bit, this driver: http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/dac/USB32/USB32EN.htm 
 
The driver that says: For the products shipping since 14th.Aug. 2014 is the one I downloaded
 
Process for installation:
1. Plug in power cord to nfb-11 and wall
2. Plug in usb cord to nfb-11 and usb port(s)
3. Switch to Headphone output, low gain, usb connection at the front of the nfb-11
4. Turn computer on
5. Turn nfb-11 on
6. Download driver and unpack it using winrar or 7zip
7. Click on "SETUP" file
8. Installs fine and I restart the computer
9. Computer restarts and there is no playback device that is the nfb-11 in the control panel for sound
 
 
I have tried two usb cords, three usb ports, reinstalling, updating, but nothing is working.

 

[cel4145]

Maybe someone with the newer driver can help since mine is different.

 

[jordannn15]

Lol Kingwa himself couldn't even fix the problem. We did a remote desktop access program, which he suggested, but he couldn't even get the nfb-11 to work. Sending mine back for a refund unfortunately, I will stick to amps/dacs that are sold within the US from now on I guess.

 

[willowbrook]

  Lol Kingwa himself couldn't even fix the problem. We did a remote desktop access program, which he suggested, but he couldn't even get the nfb-11 to work. Sending mine back for a refund unfortunately, I will stick to amps/dacs that are sold within the US from now on I guess.

 
Wow. That is a weird problem. The new v2 driver fixed all the problems for me and works flawlessly on 64bit W8.1. 

 

[cel4145]

That is weird. That's too bad.

 

[Doku]

  Just got my NFB-11 with TCXO upgrade and I'm having some strange behavior. 
 
I use Windows 10 and Mac OS X with optical via my onboard sound and USB via a USB 2.0 port. 
 
In both OSes, when I use the device over USB it seems to shut off or go to sleep every time there is no sound. This causes a half second delay in hearing new sound, which basically means I can't use it as my external sound card because no notification sounds will ever be heard. Is there some way to get it not to go to sleep? 
 
Also, I had significant popping when I tried to play a 16-bit / 44.1 file while in DAD 32-bit / 384 mode. Also YouTube videos basically had no sound when the OS was set in this mode in Windows 10. In Mac OS X it seems to work sometimes. I set the bit rate in the Audio MIDI Setup utility to the 32-bit 384 and it either works, or I get significant popping. I'm guessing the USB can't timing sync with the computer? 
 
Anyway, I mostly use Mac OS X (Hackintosh setup) but on both OSes I'd love to be able to shut off the onboard audio completely and just use the NFB-11 as my USB sound device in both OSes for all system sound.
 
On the plus side, I don't mind the 24-bit/96khz optical, which works flawlessly and the sound is incredible to be sure. 
 
Here's my part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/JcQkP6
 
Motherboard is an Asus Z97 Sabertooth Mark 1 with the latest BIOS. 

 
 
All of my sleep issues were caused by the "Active Mute" switch on the back. This seems to be designed to prevent popping between tracks, but when used as a regular sound card it causes the effect I described. I turned this feature off with the switch on the back and now it works perfectly as a sound card and I no longer need the onboard sound at all.
 
The Windows 10 issues? Eh. I'm not sure I care so much since I'm mostly in Mac OS X. I will try again later with Windows 10 once they release. 

 

[Jokanok]

  Looking for some help, I got this amp (NFB-11) yesterday and I plugged it in installed the driver and started listening. Then I left and came back hours later and when I went to listen again no sound was coming out (yes the amp was on and volume was turned up). I have tried installing and reinstalling the driver about a million times, trying each with a different usb port, but no luck. I install the driver restart my computer, turn the amp on, and open the VIA ASIO program that it installs with the driver but when I open it all I get are two errors. One pops up first and says: "Device not found!" and then another pops up after I click ok on that one that says: "Enumerate filter failed!"
 
Can someone help me fix this problem? I have no idea what is wrong.

Hi everyone
 
I had the same issue with my Lenovo Thinkpad T410 running Windows 7 64 bit. None of my USB ports on the laptop could recognize the Audio-gd. After a lot of try and error (updating software, deleting and installing the USB drivers, switching cables (powered and non-powered), changing BIOS settings, etc.), I tried a powered USB-hub. And bang!!! My laptop recognized the the Audio-gd. I think the problem was caused by an internal hardware configuration of the USB-hub (internal USB sharing of devices). Anyway the external powered USB-hub did the trick for me.
Hope this will help out some other users of the Audio-gd.

 

[Doku]

 
Hi everyone
 
I had the same issue with my Lenovo Thinkpad T410 running Windows 7 64 bit. None of my USB ports on the laptop could recognize the Audio-gd. After a lot of try and error (updating software, deleting and installing the USB drivers, switching cables (powered and non-powered), changing BIOS settings, etc.), I tried a powered USB-hub. And bang!!! My laptop recognized the the Audio-gd. I think the problem was caused by an internal hardware configuration of the USB-hub (internal USB sharing of devices). Anyway the external powered USB-hub did the trick for me.
Hope this will help out some other users of the Audio-gd.

 
+1. I think an old USB 2.0 hub is best too. Powered or not powered probably won't matter, so I would go with not powered if given a choice for less electrical noise (I hope). I have the same problem with my AudioEngine D1 and it states on their page to use a USB 2.0 hub when all else fails. Apparently these USB controllers don't like USB 3.0. 

 

[Doku]

Update on Windows 10:
 
I installed the latest pre-release fresh and downloaded the Audio GD drivers. The trick was to install them "as administrator" by right clicking the installer, which I didn't have to do in Windows 7. Now, the NFB-11 works better on Windows 10 than it did on Windows 7 or Mac OS X. Like, literally flawless as an external sound device.
 
When I use JRiver to listen to music, I take exclusive access of the sound device and crank it up to DSD quality bitrate. But Chrome gets crazy if I set the frequencies high in windows sound, so I leave that at 16/44.1. 
 
Very happy with the purchase now. 

 

[398698]

Question- I have an audeze lcd 2.2 paired with a violectric v200. I originally bought the NFB 11.32 to use the device as my amp and dac then bought the violectric to use the NFB 11.32 as the dac connected to the violectric. Is this a dumb idea, anyone use their NFB 11.32 purely as a dac? Thanks in advance.

 

[Sam21]

why would you think it is a dumb idea ? the pre-amp outs on DAC/AMPs are for such setups...violectric amps are amazing, I own a G109-S and like it alot...

 

[cel4145]

why would you think it is a dumb idea ? the pre-amp outs on DAC/AMPs are for such setups...violectric amps are amazing, I own a G109-S and like it alot...

+1

And not just the pre-outs. That's why it has the line out option. So you can hook the NFB-11 to a speaker or headphone amp that has it's own volume control.

 

[Jokanok]

  My NFB-11 setup for speakers: PC -> USB -> NFB-11 -> RCA preouts -> XLR inputs on a stereo Hypex amp. With this setup, I get a slight PC interference noise from the speakers that changes with varying loads on the computer - typical crappy PC sound. The moment I disconnect the USB cable the background gets dead quiet, so it's not a problem with the pre-amp or the amplifier itself. Also no noise over the headphones. Anyways, has anyone tried any USB isolators or perhaps disconnecting the ground or power leads on the USB cable? I thought that the USB implementation in the NFB-11 would ignore or isolate the power noise, but it doesn't seem so.
 
I can easily switch to using optical instead of USB, but just asking...

Hi
My NFB-11 arrived last week. I mostly use it in the following setup: PC->USB->NFB-11->RCA->AMP (SMSL SA-50 set at max volume, so being used as sort of a power amp).
When I connect my amp to another source (also via RCA) and puts its analogue volume pot to max, the speakers remain dead silent.
However, with my amp connected to the NFB-11 and my amp also set at max volume, while I increase the volume knob of the NFB-11 (being used as a pre-amp), a  proportional increasing noise comes out of the speakers.
Do you have the same experience? Is there something wrong with my DAC’s pre-amp feature.
I have not yet tested the headphone output. I have ordered online an headphone adapter plug. When this arrives, I will be able to compare the RCA with the headphone output.
Looking forward to know other owners’ experience with the RCA output (pre-amp function) of their NFB-11.