NuForce Icon HDP -- Am I using its DCA? Which is the best way to use it?

Nov 18, 2014 at 10:17 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 9
HiAudio

HiAudio

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This is a dumb question because I believe I am using its DCA function. But after I read its overview at crutchfield I became a little confused.
 
on crutchfield it says:
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Cool features for a top-notch compact audio system
The HDP is more than just a great headphone amp. You're also getting a high-quality digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a stereo preamplifier, all in a single compact component you can use as the centerpiece of a killer desktop audio system.
The HDP's sophisticated DAC can accept digital music files from your PC via USB — bypassing your computer's built-in soundcard for a far more exciting listening experience. You'll hear layers of musical nuance previously obscured by the noisy environment inside your PC — reverberations echoing in a concert hall, or the natural decay of an acoustic guitar chord. On good recordings, every instrument and vocal will stand out clearly and distinctly in its own separate space, allowing you to follow each one note-for-note. It's audio detail at the molecular level.
Versatile connections for your music sources
You can connect multiple music sources to your Icon HDP:
  1. Input #1 gives you three different ways to hook up components. Its coaxial digital input is ideal for connecting a CD player and taking advantage of the HDP's high-performance DAC for better sound. Then there's a stereo minijack, which accepts the headphone output from your smartphone or MP3 player. This input also doubles as a 3.5mm optical digital input for connecting components with optical out, such as some computers. Nuforce even includes a Toslink optical to 3.5mm mini optical adapter for your components that use a full-size optical digital out.
  2. Input #2 is a pair of RCA jacks, ready to take on an iPod® dock or other audio components with line-level output.
  3. Input #3 is a type B USB jack, which feeds the output of your computer into the Icon HDP's onboard digital-to-analog converter. This lets you bypass your computer's soundcard to enjoy much higher resolution audio

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I currently use optical to connect from my computer to the NuForce. I play FLAC music files on computer using Foobar 2000. I believe I am using the NuForce DCA to output analogue signal to the headphone. Am I right? Is there any advantage to use the USB connection over the optical connection? Which is the best way to use NuForce Icon HDP? Thanks.
 
Nov 18, 2014 at 8:58 PM Post #2 of 9
Yes and no.  For optical (SPDIF) into your Icon, you are using your computer as a DD converter (file to optical signal), then do the DA conversion with the Icon.  So although you are indeed using your DAC as a DAC, you added an additional layer of DD conversion in your computer.  I suggest you just run a USB cable into the Icon and let it does the heavy lifting.
 
p.s. I just did a search and the USB only goes up to 24/96, so you may want to stick with optical for 192.
 
Nov 18, 2014 at 11:45 PM Post #3 of 9
Thank you DrSheep.
 
This is interesting. So only the USB connection can bypass the computer's built-in sound card but it only goes up to 24/96. The optical can go 192 but it added one more layer of DD conversion. I don't know if this added layer deteriorated the sound quality and I don't hear weird sound. 
 
Nov 19, 2014 at 6:38 AM Post #4 of 9
Yeah this is somewhat touchy, as how your computer affect the DD conversion is not exactly transparent.  If most of your files are under 24/96, then you can live with the limitations of your Icon.  However, most DAC now do support 24/192, so you should be looking for upgrade in the future if you want a true bypass.
 
Nov 19, 2014 at 11:24 PM Post #5 of 9
Hey guys sorry for an ignorant question but I have to ask.. I've had this HDP for a while now using the USB to connect to my PC and I know that it limits me to 24/96 files and I know too that all my flac with 24/192 has been down sampled this whole time sigh.. So I wanna give it a try and use the Line-In Optical or Coaxial feature to connect to my PC.
 
Now for the question, which of the two input (Line-In or Coaxial) is best to use for PC? I'll be hooking it up to an S/PDIF Out to a sound card on my PC if that is even possible and lastly what kind of cable do I need for any of the both inputs?
 
Nov 20, 2014 at 6:36 AM Post #6 of 9
Nov 20, 2014 at 9:26 AM Post #7 of 9
Nov 21, 2014 at 1:19 AM Post #8 of 9
I checked my PC MOBO manual PC and found out that the optical is from the SPDIF. On wiki it says the SPDIF cannot support lossless format. I am playing FLAC files. This is a bit confusing. It did not say if the lossless music cannot be played at all or it can be played at some loss.
 
Nov 21, 2014 at 6:29 AM Post #9 of 9
hiaudio said:
  I checked my PC MOBO manual PC and found out that the optical is from the SPDIF. On wiki it says the SPDIF cannot support lossless format. I am playing FLAC files. This is a bit confusing. It did not say if the lossless music cannot be played at all or it can be played at some loss.
Click to expand...

You read it wrong, as they were talking about multi-channel lossless format and not for two channel lossless for music.  That was a bandwidth issue and not a lossless format issue, so you can have your 24/196 FLAC for your SPDIF.  However, like I have said before, there is a layer of DD conversion with the SPDIF out, and this could still cause noise (read limitation section of the wiki) in your signal.
 
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