NuPrime DAC-10H - Desktop DAC and Headphone Amp

[project86]

They are the Sonus Faber Venere 1.5 with matching stands. Not necessarily brand new, I think they came out a couple years ago, but still fairly exciting in my opinion. I've been enjoying my pair for about 6 months and they are really great for the money. 

 

[abvolt]

They look really good I'd love to have a pair of the 2.5's floor standing. Was wondering if anyone could tell me about the gain adjust on my dac, I use it on low most of the time is it ok if I use it on the high gain with my wa22 I know it's like double the voltage output, I just don't want to cause any damage to my amp thanks if anyone knows..

 

[project86]

I heard the Venere 2.5 and actually liked them better than the larger 3.0.... but then again I also liked the 1.5 better than the 2.0 which is why I bought the "cheap" model. Bigger/more expensive/more drivers is not always a guarantee of anything, especially depending on the room.
 
Anyway, the DAC-10 and DAC-10H use a lossless analog volume control scheme, so you can run it as high or as low as you need. I tend to use low gain mode and turn volume up, but sometimes I do the opposite (high gain mode, low volume number). Either way should be fine. 

 

[abvolt]

Thanks for that info much appreciated..

 

[project86]

Review is live:
 
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/nuprime-dac-10h-digital-analog-converter-headphone-amp#q2LDouZlbrtkbrBH.97
 
In case anyone was waiting for it. I still can't get over how good this thing does with the HE-1000 and LCD-3. Punches way above its price for an all-in-one. The Benchmark DAC-2, for example, while an excellent DAC, is nowhere near as good with headphones.
 
Oh, and the preamp side of things is excellent too. I'm still using it with the active JansZen hybrid electrostatic speakers.... whether I do low volume night time relaxation with Brahms, Dead Can Dance, Mahler, Enigma, etc, or loud daytime metal/blues/whatever, the preamp aspect is first rate. 

 

[abvolt]

That is a great review makes me even more pleased that I bought the dac10  now thanks..

 

[Daeder]

Awesome review. I like how you speak of the integrated headphone amp being of better value as you say they are serious about the headphone section. Again, great review.

 

[abvolt]

I'm surprised that more people aren't commenting  in this thread I really enjoy the dac-10, I recently upgraded to windows 10 and no issues with the nuprime drivers at all, sounds awesome..

 

[project86]

Agreed, this thing deserves more attention, it is very impressive. 

 

[abvolt]

Just thought I'd mention Nuprime has released a new driver set for the DAC-10, The sound I'm getting seems a lot more refined to my ears using windows 10 this dac is great..

 

[project86]

Nice, I'll have to give it a try. Been sticking with Linux devices recently which the DAC-10h supports quite well.

 

[czy6412]

Any comparison between the former flagship DAC-9 with DAC-10H?

 

[abvolt]

I've not heard the dac 9 but owned the dac 80 and this one is miles better in every respect, the sq of this dac is none like I've heard  before.Plus it's a balanced dac the main reason for pairing it with my WA22.. This dac is worth a listen it's far above others in sq.. 

 

[project86]

I didn't care for the DAC 9 all that much. It was just "ok" but priced as if it should have been really good. The nice appearance was about the only thing it had going for it - thankfully that carries over (more or less) to the NuPrime model. I thought the DAC100 and DAC80 were improvements over the DAC 9 in most every respect, despite being of a theoretically lower class.
 
And the DAC 10H is one more step higher, particularly when driving headphones directly or using as a preamp in a speaker setup. 

 

[abvolt]

+1
project86