Looking for Comparisons Between the Audio GD NFB-12, Audinst's HUD MX-1, Streamer II and the Fiio E7/E9 Combo

[Bop]

Originally I was planning on picking up the HUD MX-1 on my trip to Korea this summer, but after reading about so many interesting bang-for-the-buck prospects, I'd like to pause a moment and hear people's impressions.  If anybody has some feedback between any of the DAC/AMPS mentioned above, please leave a post here.  Thanks 

 

[Bop]

A hopeful bump

 

[treal512]

I'd like to hear experience with these as well.

 

[olekrst]

I'm at home listening to my nfb-12 with my HD650 now. It's a little more detailed than the audinst, especially in the low and high end. Soundstage is better. Bass is a bit punchier, you can feel that there is a more capable amp under the hood. Overall though, i'll say the Aduinst measures up, and would have bought it again. It's sound signature is pretty neutral, it's small enough to be easily transportable and you can power it via USB if you're using <300Ω phones. 
 
I use my Audinst at work together with my DT770 Pro 250Ω and i think they have excellent synergy. The DT770s can be pretty bassy, so i think the neutral sound of the Audinst suits them well. I've also got a m-stage that i'm planning to drop of at my main office, but quite frankly i think the audinst > dt770 combo is pretty good even without the m-stage in the chain.
 
Remember that the audinst is usb only (with optical passthrough) while the nfb-12 has both optical and coax spdif in.
 
so bottom line is: if you need your rig to be easily transportable and USB only is ok: go for the Audinst, if it's going to be stationary and you want some more options for input and a really good built-in amp, go for the nfb-12.

 

[Bop]

Huzzah.  
 
In my particular case, I was considering pairing the Audinst with another amplifier (most likely a valve), so my greatest concern would be whether or not the NFB-12 surpasses the Audinst as a DAC.  Do you find that using  the NFB-12 DAC through USB is similar in quality to the Audinst, and is there a change in sound if you use optical in?  Thanks for your previous reply btw. 

 

[Type35]

I'd like to know the answer to that as well.
The NFB-12 uses the Wolfson 8741 which on paper is superior to the 8740 that the Audinst uses but that's not saying much in practice.

 

[juman231]

Quote:

Huzzah.  
 
In my particular case, I was considering pairing the Audinst with another amplifier (most likely a valve), so my greatest concern would be whether or not the NFB-12 surpasses the Audinst as a DAC.  Do you find that using  the NFB-12 DAC through USB is similar in quality to the Audinst, and is there a change in sound if you use optical in?  Thanks for your previous reply btw. 

 
If (i'm only guessing from your post above,) your intention is to use the dac/amp is just as a dac, I think you should also consider the Music Streamer II. Specifically comparing with the Audinst's DAC, if you're going to have another amp anyway(MS II is a DAC only), MS II is not only cheaper than the Audinst, but also does a better job at it.
 
Here's a comparison done by Mike of Headphonia:  http://www.headfonia.com/the-hrt-music-streamer-ii-asynchronous-2496-for-149-95/
 

 

[Bop]

Thanks.  I'm more-or-less sold on the Streamer II, though the mentioning of warmth in the Audinst from the link above seemed contradictory to most of the reviews here.  The HRT Streamer II slipped underneath my radar somehow.  Thanks a lot for the recommendation!
 
edit: Sometimes Head-fi is so full of controversy.  

 

[juman231]

Haha yeah, with listening to music being very subjective, we can't avoid it xP If I had the money, I'd buy all of them and compare them, but since I don't -_- the best I can do is to search for what seems to be the best. Also looking very forward to hearing what everyone thinks about since I'm also trying to buy a DAC.

 

[juman231]

anyone with some comparisons?

 

[juman231]

Bop, did you already make your decision? If yes, what did you choose?

 

[Bop]

As of right now I think I'm set on the Audinst.  There's more "documentation" on the various modifications (swapping opamps, new power supply, and some larger tweaks) than the HRT Streamer II.  Also, since my DIY Project of choice the CTH Hybrid ran out of PCBs I think I'll need a all-in-one solution in the meantime.  I think that if I feel the need to upgrade, I could try finding a HRT Streamer after I have a dedicated amp, compare, and then sell one later.  
 
On the portability factor (important for an inbound college student), the E7/E9 might win and the E7 could even double as an amp for my portable setup. I think I'll need to compare the two a bit further...

 

[timjh]

olekrst, thank you for your post -- it's quite helpful to hear your impressions of the Audinst and the NFB-12. I'd be curious to hear your opinion of the Dr. DAC2 DX.

 

[AlexRoma]

I could add my impressions here too.. I have never had the pleasure to listen NFB12, but :
 
Based on all that glorious Sabre32 chip reviews, I had ordered an NFB11 (Non-USB, TCXO) unit to upgrade my Audinst HUD MX-1 dac/amp.
 
In orded to make this comparison as objective as posible, I compared these two units connected in a single chain (USB->Audinst->Toslink->NFB11)
 
The results were quite shocking for me.. Believe me or not, using HD600 headphones, the SQ difference was so small and subtle, that I had spent more than an hour finding at list one strong distinction !  
 
Soundstage = same !
Instrument placing and separation = same !
Bass extension = same !
Bass quantity -> Audinst slightly bassyer, but not much, max 3db difference in the 70 hrz region! 
Mids = same !
Highs -> NFB11 was slightly better detailed and less sibilant 
 
Don't forget, it was a direct A to B comparison between both device, no extra AMPing or Filtering added...
 
At the moment I have no HQ coax cable to compare these two units separately, but I'll get in in the nearer future, as for Toslink, Audinst and NFB11 had shockingly close performance... What I am trying to say, I was always underestimating my Audinst, but after this experience, I can see why is Audinst that popular .. I think there are very few options under 300$ range worth upgrading Audinst HUD-MX1. You'll have to spend at least twice the price of Audinst HUD_MX1 , to be able hearing a clear SQ jump. May be there is actually a big winner DAC-AMP under 300$, I don't know, I thought NFB11 was the one.. May be my NFB11 has some hidden issue somewhere, but I don't think so. At least one more thing comes to my mind, there is steal not enough burn in made on my NFB11, but on Audio GD sait there is a note, that says - every single Audio GD unit is been tested for at least 100 hours (burn in) before sending.