DAC NuForce DAC9
Californian company NuForce, despite the relatively modest experience on audio market, quickly gained recognition among audiophiles. Its engineers think progressively, prone to non-standard approaches in the design, use the most advanced electronic components.
Looking at DAC9, and do not say that in this device with a stylish and slim design focuses almost exhaustive functionality for home digital converter. The device is designed to work with six sources of bit depth to 24 bit and sampling rates up to 192 kHz (except for the USB input is limited to 96 kHz). In addition to optics, coaxial and USB-port on the rear panel has input AES/EBU and SPDIF connector on the type BNC. As are all linear and analog outputs, including and balanced. The front panel has a volume attenuator with a switch built-in telephone amplifier. Two connectors - 3.5 and 6.3 mm. Upper sloped face touch - used for input selection (unfortunately, have to be guided by the input number, and not on its type), and adjust the linear output. These manipulations are displayed on the digital display, which also displays the sampling frequency of the input signal.
In the path DAC9 used two independent DAC Burr-Brown PCM1798. Signal processing algorithm is constructed in such a way as to simplify the task of output analog filters. Accordingly, the recent extremely laconic and therefore do not contribute distortion and phase shifts do not limit the dynamic range. All units converter prepared separate meals from multi-loop stabilization system and a toroidal transformer, which seems even excessively massive. There is an explanation: NuForce engineers prefer parallel regulators - the least efficient in terms of efficiency, but provide better isolation from noise penetrating the network.
DAC9 very sensitive to the change of the coaxial cable, and it's always worth taking into account. If the bass seems to be loose, and the scene - a swollen, then the cause is most likely the cable. It is not for the sake of beauty to the converter is installed on the backup coaxial BNC, and an assortment NuForce has under him a special connector. With such a cable company guarantees the best results. However, we also were able to coordinate transportation with excellent converter and get a really amazing sound effect in materializing. Even compared with the signal removed from the output of a professional CD-player in DAC9 microdynamic resolution better than an order of magnitude. Separation and localization of images in the space closer to the ideal. Harmonic nuances are revealed in all its fullness and beauty and whimsicality. In the dynamics of the shock, and it does not matter - low or high, you can feel maximum realism. But most admire is that the above-mentioned advantages do not become, as often happens, the continuation of any deficiencies. The other parameters converter NuForce also demonstrates a high level and produces a product without compromise. This and much more powerful sense of presence, which is experiencing a listener, and ease of perception of any material being played, and a desire to listen to music for a long time.
The difference in the transition to optics was less significant than we expected. NuForce DAC9 issued the same accurate, researched and tonally balanced sound as coax.
Activation of the source of interference is also almost no impact on the sound quality. Timbre picture remains clear and rich. It seems a little bit on the RF field has increased, but the lightness and delicate detailed drawings survived.
Finally, USB. Results listening and pleased and disappointed. DAC9 deprived lack of the above converters - penetrating level of PC noise appeared markedly lower, that is almost imperceptible. But if the sound of a few constricted, the feeling that converter is connected to the markable most primitive transport. Usually manifests itself as jitter. More or less decent machine line up only the space and the overall tonal balance. Perhaps marked defects be linked to the quality of USB-cable in our review or computer class "iron", but then DAC9 was under the same conditions as the other converters.
