[elementze]

Anything new expected for the Nimbus line?

 

[Fegefeuer]

Nothing to show this year as you can see on Instagram.

 

[passballtotucker]

I'm curious how the US5 PRO will compare to the upcoming HeadAMP CFA3.

 

[DMITRIY R]

I'm curious how the US5 PRO will compare to the upcoming HeadAMP CFA3.

I'm sure they have completely different sounds.
Niimbus is the standard for crystal clear sound and the widest dynamic range, phenomenal speed of transient processes (with the correct gain settings).
СFA3, due to the higher preset gain, will have a warmer signature, greater sound density and lower dynamic range, less spatial effects.

At what gain do you listen to 1266 on Niimbus? What voltage is supplied to the Niimbus from the DAC?

 

[passballtotucker]

I'm sure they have completely different sounds.
Niimbus is the standard for crystal clear sound and the widest dynamic range, phenomenal speed of transient processes (with the correct gain settings).
СFA3, due to the higher preset gain, will have a warmer signature, greater sound density and lower dynamic range, less spatial effects.

At what gain do you listen to 1266 on Niimbus? What voltage is supplied to the Niimbus from the DAC?

+12 gain and 4.3 volts from the DAC.

 

[DMITRIY R]

+12 gain and 4.3 volts from the DAC.

What position is the volume control at which a comfortable volume level is achieved?

 

[passballtotucker]

What position is the volume control at which a comfortable volume level is achieved?

Usually around 12.

 

[passballtotucker]

Also, I compared the Niimbus to the Cayin HA300b and liked the nimmbus more.

 

[DMITRIY R]

Usually around 12.

Niimbus produces the best sound when a comfortable volume level is achieved with the volume control position close to the maximum. Try setting the gain to +6 instead of +12. This should leave you with enough room to adjust the volume.
I see your DAC has separate outputs when running in preamp mode. Have you tried connecting the amplifier to these outputs and supplying the amplifier with more voltage from the DAC?

 

[passballtotucker]

Niimbus produces the best sound when a comfortable volume level is achieved with the volume control position close to the maximum. Try setting the gain to +6 instead of +12. This should leave you with enough room to adjust the volume.
I see your DAC has separate outputs when running in preamp mode. Have you tried connecting the amplifier to these outputs and supplying the amplifier with more voltage from the DAC?

I have not. You think that would make it sound better?

 

[DMITRIY R]

Also, I compared the Niimbus to the Cayin HA300b and liked the nimmbus more.

Cayin HA300b allows 1266 to better sound sub-bass and additionally gives emphasis to mid-frequencies and reduces the brightness of high frequencies. At the same time, Niimbus makes 1266 sound with amazing accuracy and speed, that's a fact.
I listen to 1266 with Niimbus more often.

 

[DMITRIY R]

I have not.

I'm sorry. It seemed to me that you have a Cayin CS-100DAC. I made a mistake.

My experience says that the greater the voltage supplied to the amplifier allows you to set less gain on it.
Ideally, you need to apply such a voltage to the amplifier that the gain is set to “0” and the volume control is set to maximum values. It is important to remember that no more than 8.5 volts can be supplied to the amplifier from the DAC.

 

[passballtotucker]

How's the Holo May with Niimbus? That seems to be the DAC to get from what I've seen.

 

[Qna89]

I have not. You think that would make it sound better?

Niimbus manual says it works best when the volume knob for normal listening levels are at 12 o'clock with the setted pregain. So you are good

 

[Melting735]

Niimbus manual says it works best when the volume knob for normal listening levels are at 12 o'clock with the setted pregain. So you are good

This makes more sense to me, but ppl can have different preferences at some points