NuForce Icon uDAC (USB DAC and headphone amp)
by Nuforce, Inc
(Click here)
Digital product summary information
Manufacturer: Nuforce, IncProduct features:
- Discrete USB audio receiver and D/A converter
- Coaxial S/PDIF output (turn off volume control to activate)
- Double jitter-reduction mechanism at data level and at oversampling filter stage
- High voltage 2V analog output
Digital camera reviews of NuForce Icon uDAC (USB DAC and headphone amp)
Digital camera Review: A defininte Mid-Fi Bargain
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been very pleased with my uDac. I have a fairly high-end portable audio setup, 80GB iMod feeding an ALO Rx amp into Westone 3 iems (soon to be JH16's). I bought the Rx hoping to simply increase the SQ of my laptop speaker system, where I had Logitech Z2300 speakers hooked directly into my laptop's sound card. The combination was fine for very casual listening, but the bump in SQ from the uDac was really surprising. I had never paid attention to the static from my laptop's sound card until the uDac completely eliminated it.
In fact, the uDac is VERY quiet. I don't have any truly high-end dedicated components since I focus on my portable headphone rig, but based on everything I read on [...], the uDac is one of the best dac's you can find for under $300-400. The fact that it costs a fraction of that makes it a real steal.
I also find the build quality to be superb. The unit feels incredibly sturdy, yet it's small enough to fit almost anywhere. The volume knob is completely silent as you use it, and it has a nice feel to it when twisted.
The RCA connectors on the back of the uDac are robustly mounted, and output a slightly quieter signal than the headphone out. I suspect this is because the impedance of the RCA out (or my RCA to mini connector) is higher than the headphone out.
Speaking of which, the headphone out is incredibly good for IEM's. It's got a noticably lower noise floor than the Rx, which is known to hiss with sensitive IEM's. The uDac is virtually hiss-free to my ears (I couch my statement only because I have read too many reviews of products saying they're "silent" only to be able to hear the hiss when I listen to them.)
Overall, the uDac was a fantastic investment relative to the cost and the unexpectedly awesome performance with IEM's. I bought it to enhance my decidedly mediocre speakers, which it does beautifully, but it provides even more benefit when paired with better components.
Summary of NuForce Icon uDAC (USB DAC and headphone amp)
NuForce uDAC is a high-performance USB Digital Audio Converter (DAC) that connects your personal computer's audio with your home stereo, desktop sound system, or headphones. The quality and versatility of the uDAC's performance belies its diminutive size. With its extensive power supply, filtering capabilities and charge-pump circuit as a foundation, the uDAC processes incoming data via a USB audio receiver.Accessories & Supplies
Cameras and Photo
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