dfkt
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2005
- Posts
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- 115
Quote:
one has to wonder where those other numbers came from?
Maybe the specs of the 'naked' D/A chip under ideal conditions?
one has to wonder where those other numbers came from?
Maybe the specs of the 'naked' D/A chip under ideal conditions?
This is an interesting offer, but if I understand correctly, NuForce is asking people to buy two DAC's, when you may not be able to return the other one or have a shorter time to do so. If you have only 30 days (or no chance at all) to return the other DAC you must purchase to qualify for this offer, wouldn't most people return the one they can still get a refund on--the uDAC-2?
So if you really only have 30 days to return the other DAC you must buy, what good is 6 months if you have to make a choice in 30 days? I'm sorry, but like several other things NuForce has said, and done, this doesn't make any sense to me.
You are too arrogant to be able to accept other people's point of view that's why you can't see this simple logic. It is still our opinion that uDAC-2 is the best sounding headphone amp and DAC on the market at this price range.
Perhaps it is time for you to disclose who you work for in your day job as an audio engineer. You seems to have an agenda specifically targeting us, from your very first email to us that you seem rather hostile. We have always be truthful and polite. We even told you that we have to go borrow an AP from another company to do the testing on a Friday evening and that our test lab is in Taiwan. But instead you started to present a different picture that we have no proper test equipment. Perhaps we are not as resourceful as many big companies with multiple $20,000 AP lying around, at least we never give you the bs.
I take offense to being called "too arrogant" when I've been trying to stick to the facts--i.e. the measurements, what NuForce has said about the measurements, etc. My issues are with how the product performs, and trying to make sense as an engineer, of NuForce's response. I have, in fact, complimented both you and Casey for being helpful and prompt. I've also said multiple times NuForce has an excellent reputation for customer service. And I believe that.
I don't have any agenda specifically targeting NuForce in some malicious way. If I did, I would not have complimented the uDAC-2 in several areas and said good things about NuForce's reputation and customer service. I've also tried to be clear that some of the flaws I've found may or may not be audible. I have complimented the uDAC-2 for having impressively low noise, flat frequency response and good square wave performance. I also said it seems very well made and is nicely packaged.
I also would not have put aside my usual objective measurements in favor of listening tests so anyone can judge the sound of the uDAC-2 for themselves against two other DACs--without having to buy, or return, anything. You say above:
"It is still our opinion that uDAC-2 is the best sounding headphone amp and DAC on the market at this price range"
If the above is true, perhaps those listening to the accurately recorded output of each DAC will come to a similar conclusion? I even went so far as letting people compare the DAC's to each other rather than the original music so they were free to pick the DAC that sounded most pleasing.
If I were biased against NuForce, I would have set up the listening tests to compare each DAC against the original music not each other. That way the most accurate (and likely best measuring) DAC would have the best chance. But the way I set up the test (especially the second one), even a DAC with "euphonic" distortion could end up being preferred over a more accurate DAC. And I have done the tests in such a way they can be reproduced and verified by others if anyone doubts their validity.
I'm curious myself what the listening tests may reveal. I honestly don't know what the final outcome will be. So far the results have been rather mixed and I don't think there's any strong preference for or against the NuForce uDAC-2.
I have also said, that if NuForce comes out with a uDAC-3 (or whatever) and it measures great, I'll be happy to post a great review on my blog and recommend the product. I would like nothing more than to see the problems with the uDAC-2 get fixed as I think that would be better for everyone--including NuForce. I like the idea of an audiophile-grade DAC for $129 and the uDAC-2 could be such a product with four relatively easy, minor, inexpensive fixes.
I have said this before, but I do not currently work for, or even have a connection to, any DAC manufacture or competitor of NuForce in any way. If I did, I wouldn't be suggesting people check out FiiO, Firestone, Leckerton, HRT, Behringer, etc. And I certainly don't work for Behringer in Germany. So if I work for some other DAC or audiophile manufacture, why would I give a $29 Behringer product such a good review? I really don't care what company makes the products I evaluate. I just favor the best products for the price.
I just bought a uDAC-2 to use with my new HP PC, measured it, found some rather surprising problems, and was even more surprised when you explained it was intentionally designed that way. Many others here have shared my view it's hard to understand how NuForce considers the flaws justified when they're so easily preventable.
I am all about the facts. Like the fact NuForce had misleading specifications for the uDAC-2 on their website, and after my review, has since downgraded those specifications by a large amount. If pointing out such things to those shopping for a DAC makes me seem "arrogant" I'm sorry. But facts are facts.