Alexxus
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2007
- Posts
- 11
- Likes
- 12
I bought the DAC 10H a couple weeks ago, based only on the reviews I read, since it is not available in my country, so I had to buy it online. To be honest, I was a bit nervous, I've never spent so much on a DAC before. I was considering two options, the Mytek Brooklin and the NuPrime 10H. After reading the whole huge thread about the Mytek Brooklin on another forum, I decided to go for the 10H, it seemed to me like the more mature product.
As any self-respecting dude, I never read the manual before firing up the 10H. I even ignored the sticker prominently displayed on the plastic wrapping inside the box, which insisted you should install the latest driver from the website, before operating it. Obviously, next thing I know, the DAC is not working. I mean Win 7 sees it, but it says the device won't work. Took a few deep breaths, ignored the manual still, but tried the manufacturer's website. Couple clicks later, driver is installed. What do you know, the DAC works flawlessly.
After all that, I took a minute to look at it properly. I must say, it looks a lot better in flesh than in photos. The design is a bit funky, it won't be to everybody's liking, but very good build quality indeed. The display is quite interesting and clearly legible, but preferably head-on. Go something like 40 degrees to one side and you struggle to read it. However, the build is tank-like, and the connections on the back look like good quality.
The remote is a bit quirky too. I don't mind the buttons rattling, but the overall feel is the manufacturer was aiming for a higher quality item than they managed to produce. It's not shabby, by any means, but it's not exactly hi-fi jewelry. However, it works great, you only have to point it in the general direction of the DAC, even if the angle is very wide.
The software is brilliant, everything works like it should. I had to struggle a bit to get Foobar to play DSD ISO files, but once I got that sorted, I can jump through various formats, bit depths and sampling rates without giving them any thought. Click on it and off you go.
Now, to the sound quality. I'm not really familiar with expensive DACs and HPs, if I'm honest. However, this one sounds very clean. Good separation, pitch black background, very detailed. Sharp, but not clinical. Actually, I even enjoyed damn youtube through it, strange as I found that to be. Bags of power, I played a bit with the gain settings (see above chart). With Sennheiser 580HD 250 Ohm I'm using HL around 50-60, plenty enough. The volume control is fantastic. Surgical precision and no noises whatsoever, while sound quality remains consistent regardless of the level.
Unfortunately, I can only use it as a DAC/headphone amp for the time being, since I moved to a different town so my main system is still packed and will be so until next summer, at the earliest. I plan to acquire a pair of active speakers, I sure hope the preamp part will rise to my expectations.
Bottom line: I'm very happy with my purchase, it works like a well oiled machine, sound quality is great and the overall performance is very musical. Everything I hoped for
As any self-respecting dude, I never read the manual before firing up the 10H. I even ignored the sticker prominently displayed on the plastic wrapping inside the box, which insisted you should install the latest driver from the website, before operating it. Obviously, next thing I know, the DAC is not working. I mean Win 7 sees it, but it says the device won't work. Took a few deep breaths, ignored the manual still, but tried the manufacturer's website. Couple clicks later, driver is installed. What do you know, the DAC works flawlessly.
After all that, I took a minute to look at it properly. I must say, it looks a lot better in flesh than in photos. The design is a bit funky, it won't be to everybody's liking, but very good build quality indeed. The display is quite interesting and clearly legible, but preferably head-on. Go something like 40 degrees to one side and you struggle to read it. However, the build is tank-like, and the connections on the back look like good quality.
The remote is a bit quirky too. I don't mind the buttons rattling, but the overall feel is the manufacturer was aiming for a higher quality item than they managed to produce. It's not shabby, by any means, but it's not exactly hi-fi jewelry. However, it works great, you only have to point it in the general direction of the DAC, even if the angle is very wide.
The software is brilliant, everything works like it should. I had to struggle a bit to get Foobar to play DSD ISO files, but once I got that sorted, I can jump through various formats, bit depths and sampling rates without giving them any thought. Click on it and off you go.
Now, to the sound quality. I'm not really familiar with expensive DACs and HPs, if I'm honest. However, this one sounds very clean. Good separation, pitch black background, very detailed. Sharp, but not clinical. Actually, I even enjoyed damn youtube through it, strange as I found that to be. Bags of power, I played a bit with the gain settings (see above chart). With Sennheiser 580HD 250 Ohm I'm using HL around 50-60, plenty enough. The volume control is fantastic. Surgical precision and no noises whatsoever, while sound quality remains consistent regardless of the level.
Unfortunately, I can only use it as a DAC/headphone amp for the time being, since I moved to a different town so my main system is still packed and will be so until next summer, at the earliest. I plan to acquire a pair of active speakers, I sure hope the preamp part will rise to my expectations.
Bottom line: I'm very happy with my purchase, it works like a well oiled machine, sound quality is great and the overall performance is very musical. Everything I hoped for
But this time with nice guest in review
