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NAD D1050 DAC and headphone amplifier
Feb 26, 2016 at 3:52 AM Post #76 of 123
I'm still loving my NAD d1050 > Elise by Feliks Audio > Beyer T1 / HE560 / HD650. This DAC has served me well. It's been more than 4 months now.
 
Feb 26, 2016 at 5:59 AM Post #77 of 123
I've been using this DAC for almost a year, I might consider an upgrade at the end of 2016 but this stands up quite well for something twice the price.
 
Feb 26, 2016 at 7:16 AM Post #78 of 123
Who can compare in sound: NAD 1050 and NAD 51 ?
 
Mar 3, 2016 at 10:12 PM Post #80 of 123
I have the O2 ODAC and am looking seriously at this as an upgrade. Can anyone tell me if it is significantly better? Similar? I'm running 600 ohm Beyer 880s, so need more power than the ODAC can produce.
 
Mar 3, 2016 at 10:41 PM Post #81 of 123
I went from JDS Lab O2+ODAC to NAD d1050 and it is significantly better for me. My headphones are DT880 250ohms, Beyer T1 600ohms, HE560 and Senn HD650 300ohms. Both amp/dac drives my headphones well. Power is not an issue but the O2+ODAC sounds clinical and lean after moving onto the NAD d1050. 
 
I like the NAD sound. It is lush and musical. I'm mainly using it as a DAC now to my tube amp but the amp from the NAD drives my T1 very well and I've been happy with it. It even drives my HiFiman HE560 well.
 
I've since sold off the O2+ODAC.
 
Mar 4, 2016 at 1:23 PM Post #82 of 123
shatrukov said:
  Who can compare in sound: NAD 1050 and NAD 51 ?
Click to expand...

I have both the D1050 and the M51. I love them both but only after I upgraded the power supply on the D1050. I have one at the office and one at home so it's difficult to compare side by side but I would say that the D1050 was slightly warmer and the M51 slightly more resolving but both make for a very enjoyable listening experience.
 
The power supply I upgraded to was an S-Booster BOTW which is quite expensive and big but made a huge difference. The way I looked at it was that as I already had the D1050 I got an upgraded DAC for £250, which isn't bad at all.
 
If it's a choice between the two and you have the money then I would go M51 every time.
 
Mar 4, 2016 at 3:12 PM Post #83 of 123
bruch said:
  I have both the D1050 and the M51. I love them both but only after I upgraded the power supply on the D1050. I have one at the office and one at home so it's difficult to compare side by side but I would say that the D1050 was slightly warmer and the M51 slightly more resolving but both make for a very enjoyable listening experience.
 
The power supply I upgraded to was an S-Booster BOTW which is quite expensive and big but made a huge difference. The way I looked at it was that as I already had the D1050 I got an upgraded DAC for £250, which isn't bad at all.
 
If it's a choice between the two and you have the money then I would go M51 every time.
Click to expand...


Bruch, thanks for the feedback. Is this what you bought for the NAD d1050? https://www.sbooster.com/botw-pp-eco-5v-6v/. 
 
Can you expand on what the 'huge difference' is?
 
Mar 4, 2016 at 6:11 PM Post #84 of 123
Very similar but you will see that that one says that it's not suitable for the D1050. You have to get this one: https://www.sbooster.com/botw-pp-eco-5v-6v/d1050-usb-dac
 
I listen mainly to classical music and when I say 'huge' difference of course what is huge to me may not be huge to everyone else! What I mean is that the difference is immediate and obvious. Going back to the OEM power supply is a distinctly disappointing and unpleasant experience.
 
I did some more A/B testing before replying to your post just to make sure. I haven't listened with the OEM power supply for over 6 months.
 
I hear the difference mainly in the high frequency harmonics - violins etc. What is smooth and life-like with the S-Booster grates with the OEM power supply. 5 minutes with the OEM power supply was enough for me - give me back the S-Booster!
 
And no I don't have any connection with the company. I think that there are other power supplies for the D1050 and they may be just as good, but my experience is limited to the S-Booster.
 
Mar 4, 2016 at 6:33 PM Post #85 of 123
Thanks for that feedback. I've only had the NAD d1050 for 4 months but loving it. You got me really interested in this after market power supply. The original seems very small :)
 
Mar 4, 2016 at 6:41 PM Post #86 of 123
I'm no expert and I may have this completely wrong but my guess is that the frequency of the OEM rectifier power supply is interfering with the taps of the DAC. Much like cart-wheels on films that look like they're going backwards when they get to a certain speed. The S-Booster and other transformer type power supplies operate in a completely different way without that high frequency interference.
 
Mar 4, 2016 at 6:54 PM Post #87 of 123
I think you're right. Earlier in this thread, someone talks about his custom power supply job and that there is a marked improvement.
 
Mar 8, 2016 at 9:57 PM Post #88 of 123
I ended up replacing the PSU with an iFi-Audio iPower 5v. Works great. Does it sound better...? I haven't done an ABX to be sure.
 
Mar 9, 2016 at 2:02 PM Post #89 of 123
Oh the iFi-Audio iPower 5V. I was at a meet recently and the iFi wholesaler was represented there. A very nice guy. If it's cheaper than the S-Booster, it might be a better alternative. 250 euro is a lot to pay for the S-Booster, considering my NAD d1050 was given to me as a gift. :)
 
Mar 10, 2016 at 6:27 AM Post #90 of 123
did this power supply. Changes in the sound did not see any!!
 
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