The Watercooler -- Impressions, philosophical discussion and general banter. Index on first page. All welcome.

[Natesdailies]

N7 doesn’t incorporate an R2R DAC, it’s a 1bit DAC. But I agree with everything you’ve said, loving mine, such an organic, immersive and engaging presentation.

It does. I was describing the tonality being R2R-like with its longer decay, thicker note weight and softer transients.

 

[Tristy]

It does. I was describing the tonality being R2R-like with its longer decay, thicker note weight and softer transients.

I seeee. I must have misread. Apologies.

 

[Auricon]

It does. I was describing the tonality being R2R-like with its longer decay, thicker note weight and softer transients.

Ja, there's something about N7's R2R-like tonality – especially when I'm in the mood for more details than RS8.

 

[Adogsbestfriend32]

Here's a good start to Monday, arriving before noon, my new shiny, Nightjar Singularity!

As others have reported, this one seems magical, even right out of the box! Destroys my Tremolo, can't believe it's a single DD, what insane coherence. This will be a fun burn-in! This set is going to fast become a hit at this price point with this TOTL performance!

I ordered the bifrost upgrade cable, but it's delayed, so using the excellent stock cable for now...which seems to be an amazing pairing! Thanks to @Chang and his team for their assistance, great communication and help! They made me feel in very good hands!

Bravo, Nightjar, you have, indeed, created a Singularity, and maybe a Uniqity!

Any impressions? They look outstanding

 

[wazzupi]

Ja, there's something about N7's R2R-like tonality – especially when I'm in the mood for more details than RS8.

Sounds like blasphemy.

 

[Auricon]

Sounds like blasphemy.

Small clarification, when I'm in the mood for *treble detail* – some tracks RS8 is slightly too smooth but enjoy both DAPs equally.

 

[Xinlisupreme]

Small clarification, when I'm in the mood for *treble detail* – some tracks RS8 is slightly too smooth but enjoy both DAPs equally.

I was asking exactly what you wrote now
So if I’d upgrade my beloved DX320X I’d think to 320MAX only?

 

[gLer]

Small clarification, when I'm in the mood for *treble detail* – some tracks RS8 is slightly too smooth but enjoy both DAPs equally.

@Auricon did you update to Darwin V2? Because some folks reckon RS8 treble wasn't smooth before V2.

 

[Alexzander]

I was asking exactly what you wrote now
So if I’d upgrade my beloved DX320X I’d think to 320MAX only?

How about M9+?

 

[Auricon]

@Auricon did you update to Darwin V2? Because some folks reckon RS8 treble wasn't smooth before V2.

Will have the first opportunity this weekend

 

[Ryokan]

Yes, and... I am a "believer" (in so far as I believe my ears) but if you found me a $50 copper cable that sounded like OTL I would snatch it up and never look back. (I happen to think my Liquid Links Martini is one of the best cables I have heard on pretty much whatever I have put it on, for example.)

I notice the Martini cable has no pliable stress relief at the jack, could that be an issue?

 

[fejnomit]

I notice the Martini cable has no pliable stress relief at the jack, could that be an issue?

+1 for the Martini. Highly underrated. Great quality with a dynamic, extended and well-balanced sound.

 

[phiemon]

I havent heard Se300 yet so I'll answer N7 vs SP3K. This is based on memory.

What both of these have in common is the more spherical staging, with N7 having slightly more depth while SP3K is wider.

Tuning: N7 is distinctly a warmer more musical profile with a lift in the sub / mid bass & lower mids. Upper mids and highs are polite in comparison to SP3K. I wouldn't call an overly warm dap, it's detailed when it needs to be.

SP3K leans more neutral. It has a slight mid bass lift. Theres more energy in the treble but less so than RS8 (pre update), N8ii.

Other differences are how it shapes the sound. N7 has longer decays with more harmonics, more dynamics but softer edges to notes. SP3K is cleaner with a blacker background, sounds more resolving, separates better. SP3K by comparison has a harder edge to it's treble but I still find it to sound refined.

Based to what you write about the N7, now a comparison between the N7 and the Sony M2 would be really interesting. Maybe someone can say something about that?

 

[emdeevee]

Any impressions? They look outstanding

It seems early to give real impressions, we're still getting used to each other, and I do think burn in will be a factor here. The fact that they've got 10 hours on them (Nightjar QC) before they reach you is a comfort.

I set aside my new (to me) Xe6 to dig in with Singularity, and so far, I can't stop listening, and probably have another 10 hours on them since receipt yesterday! So, these sounded great to me out of the box and continue to. It's very hard to believe it's a single DD driver, that's for sure (but I imagine that's usually the feeling when these things are done right, I've never heard Turii, but assume a similar fascination).

Some more practical observations after a few hours are that the cable doesn't have earhooks (like most Penon/ISN cables), which isn't a problem for me except I fumble in the dark, very comfortable shell size and shape allowed me to fall asleep in it, great isolation, so far sub bass and high trebles are wonderful, mids a little recessed but this is less noticeable (with burn/brain) as listening continues.

Nightjar have told me that Singularity needs 50 hours to settle in and another 50 to really reach full potential. YMMV, etc, but I'll take their word for it and give it the time necessary.

But early impression is definitely among the very best and would have made my #1 spot in last week's poll.

 

[gLer]

It seems early to give real impressions, we're still getting used to each other, and I do think burn in will be a factor here. The fact that they've got 10 hours on them (Nightjar QC) before they reach you is a comfort.

I set aside my new (to me) Xe6 to dig in with Singularity, and so far, I can't stop listening, and probably have another 10 hours on them since receipt yesterday! So, these sounded great to me out of the box and continue to. It's very hard to believe it's a single DD driver, that's for sure (but I imagine that's usually the feeling when these things are done right, I've never heard Turii, but assume a similar fascination).

Some more practical observations after a few hours are that the cable doesn't have earhooks (like most Penon/ISN cables), which isn't a problem for me except I fumble in the dark, very comfortable shell size and shape allowed me to fall asleep in it, great isolation, so far sub bass and high trebles are wonderful, mids a little recessed but this is less noticeable (with burn/brain) as listening continues.

Nightjar have told me that Singularity needs 50 hours to settle in and another 50 to really reach full potential. YMMV, etc, but I'll take their word for it and give it the time necessary.

But early impression is definitely among the very best and would have made my #1 spot in last week's poll.

Will be interesting how you rate their technical performance compared to Xe6 once they settle. I would imagine the tuning profile will make them easier to listen to with more genres than Xe6 though.