I’m the owner of
modern sounds, a new on-line audio store dedicated to the computer audiophile and leading edge audio technologies. We recently launched our web store on December 12, 2014 and made our first sale the following day. It was for the NuPrime Audio IDA-16 digital integrated amplifier.
This integrated amplifier is an excellent example of what modern technology can bring to the world of audio. It has an integrated DAC that can decode anything I’m aware of, a built in preamp with a line input for another source, and a 200W class D amplifier that sounds far superior to separate components that far exceed it’s very reasonable price.
Our first customer replaced an Aesthetix preamplifier, a pair of Wyetech Labs mono block amplifiers and all associated cabling including interconnect and power products. In all, several thousand dollars worth of equipment. The NuPrime Audio IDA-16 simply sounds better and it does so at a fraction of the cost of traditional audiophile products.
Another customer replaced a Jolida tube amplifier and you can read his comments on our web site that can be found here -
http://www.modernsounds.com/blogs/reviews-testimonials If you scroll to the very bottom you will find his comments just after the SoundStage review of the IDA-16.
We have three other customers who have yet to add their comments but by all accounts, everyone is clearly impressed with the sound of this new audio company and their impressive digital integrated amplifier.
Another curious thing to note are the speakers some people are using with it. Brian, my associate in Quebec, is using his IDA-16 to drive a pair of Martin Logan, Summit X speakers. That’s an electrostatic speaker that lists for $14,995 USD. The sound of the IDA-16 driving that speaker is the best sound he has heard and by a wide margin. That speaker should be fairly revealing and if there were any issues at all they would likely show up clearly yet he reports that he can find no fault with the sound quality of that unit.
I even experimented hooking it up to my Sound Lab A-1PX electrostatic loudspeakers just to hear what such a combination might deliver. That’s an integrated amplifier at $2,350 USD list driving a pair of statement speakers that list for $31,100 a pair. Although I did not push the amplifier hard, as the Sound Labs can dip to around 1 ohm, it delivered very impressive sound. I later found out that the Martin Logan speaker Brian is using drops down to 0.8 ohms and he can drive it to any volume so likely I was being timid when clearly I didn’t have to be. This amplifier can deliver and it can do so on a very impressive scale!
This is a formula I have been working through with a number of local audiophiles. Although it sometimes involves other components and sometimes involves separates like the NuPrime Audio DAC-10 and the NuForce Reference 20 amplifiers, we are using statement speakers on a pure digital system with remarkable results. Far superior to any analog playback I have yet encountered and I was using Studer A820 Master Recorders with reel-to-reel tape just a few short years ago. The sound of a modern digital system is simply far superior to any analog system and it accomplishes this at a fraction of the cost.
We now have three large scale installations using NuForce products within the first few weeks of the new year. Two feature the new NuForce Reference 20 amplifiers and one features the older NuForce Reference 9V3SE mono blocks. All are pure digital high-resolution systems using statement speakers. The IDA-16 is capable of producing remarkably realistic music and it represents a new family of products I’m sure we are going to be hearing more about. They are simple, elegant solutions that perform better than anything in the price range. For anyone looking to enter the world of computer audio, the IDA-16 is a great entry point and for anyone who has the opportunity to own one, they will have an extremely enjoyable system for years to come.
