During the week end I had the opportunity to listen to my NFB 7.32 against two higher end sources (at least in terms of cost): the Linn Majik DS and the Linn Akurate DS. My setup:
CAPS --> USB --> NFB 7.32 --> STAX SRM 600ltd --> STAX SR 009
We've started with the Majik DS (RRP £1800), connected to the RCA input of my STAX amp. Immediately I've noticed a very different presentation, distant, but also very flat and timbrically poor. I've tried different music with almost the same result, lack of dynamics, very flat soundstage. Some instruments were OK because of added weight to the lower frequencies: cello for example wasn't bad, but still very unnatural, lacking harmonics.
We've switched then to the Akurate DS (RRP £4500). And here it was a complete different story. The Akurate still retains the distant perspective of the Majik, but it shows no defects. Stunning micro dynamics, fantastic timbre and huge sound stage. The piano was lovely, best piano ever heard. The NFB 7.32 sounds muffled in the lower octaves, compared to the Akurate, which goes lower (way lower) and has better punch.
Treble is also extended, and less aggressive. Not that the NFB sounds aggressive (it is smoother than most of my previous dacs), but the Akurate is cleaner with better instrument separation, and 'delicate' without sounding boring or lacking dynamics.
The Akurate has also a nice feature: it really doesn't kill bad recordings, or not so well recordings. I've noticed a small difference between recordings, almost as the NFB exagerates and magnifies the details in the recording, and so being more coloured. The Akurate on the other hand being more neutral doesn't highlight any specific frequency of the spectrum, doesn't dry the timbre out. It's the same fetaure I've noticed switching to the 009 from the 007 (or any other previous headphone): good recordings are good, bad recordings, even monos of the '30 sound reasonably well. They were un-listeneable with the Omegas.
All in all, it's a nice result from the NFB: it's clearly superior, to these ears, to the Majik which costs twice as much...probably more. The Akurate is better, but I'd expect so, given the price difference.
