[kuben]

Hi which DAC should i choose?
NFB-1ES Sabre32 ES9018 is neutral
or
NFB-1WM Dual WM8741 is warm
 
HD800 are neutral
HPA V200 is warm
 
I dont have amp yet so i dont know how exactly it sounds but i want to get entertaining/musical sound in the end
I think that DAC should be clean, neutral and AMP need to do the whole coloration but maybe its diffrent.
So in simple what DAC should i choose to get musical sound.

 

[glitch39]

My rule of thumb is to keep the DAC as neutral as possible. then any coloration (if needed) is done on the downstream components. Just my $0.02

 

[borrego]

You can try sending a PM to vrln and ask for his opinion. He once had the Ref7, HD800 and Violectric HPA V200 setup. He later changed the amp to Phoenix, then sold the HD800.
 
I have the NFB-1 ES version. While it is a very revealing DAC and very good instrument seperation, its soundstage is "normal size" (unlike the slightly expanded sound stage of REF7/DSP5). While it is good enough for speaker setup, one may find it a little bit congested with headphones. I think you can also send Kingwa email asking for the soundstage difference between the ES and WM version of NFB-1
 
I do not find the NFB-1ES treble intruding with my SA3000 and A1 clone amp (RCA connection to the NFB-1). But then I do not have the HD800 so I can't speak for sure.

 

[mtntrance]

 
I have been trying to choose between the NFB-1 ES and WM. I emailed Kingwa and he said both are neutral and that the WM is closer to the Reference series DACs than the ES. I am going with the WM.

 

[tme110]

did any of you get the nfb-1? 
 
I just picked one up and its notibly better than my older DACs with some music but I'm still not sure it was worth it.  I haven't heard too many direct opinions about the nfb-1 anywhere.

 

[tme110]

I got the WM version.
 
I have several comments on it one big issue so far.  It will will 24/176 files off my laptop over optical but it wont play them from my OPPO over optical or coax.  Anyone else having issues with hi-res?

 

[SaiSai]

Hi! I just sold my DAC-19DF a few days ago.
I don't know which one is better for me, NFB-1 WM or NFB-1 ES
I will connect the DAC with my TASCAM CDP and Burson HA160. The headphone I have is Denon D7000.
I listen to Symphonies for most of the time.
 
Any suggestions or comments are welcome. Thanks alot!

 

[tim3320070]

I would think the WM would be better with the D7000 (I have the NFB-12 with D7000) as it warms the midrange a touch and mellows the very slight edge the D7000 has in the upper mids/highs. Then again, I think the 1704 in my Ref-8 makes the D7000 sing. I don't think either DAC will sound significantly different from your DAC19 IMO. If you want increased SQ, go for the NFB-8.

 

[SaiSai]

Thanks!

Now waiting for reply from Kingwa for pricing.
Quote:

I would think the WM would be better with the D7000 (I have the NFB-12 with D7000) as it warms the midrange a touch and mellows the very slight edge the D7000 has in the upper mids/highs. Then again, I think the 1704 in my Ref-8 makes the D7000 sing. I don't think either DAC will sound significantly different from your DAC19 IMO. If you want increased SQ, go for the NFB-8.