AudioCircle
Industry Circles => NuPrime Audio => Topic started by: John Casler on 15 Nov 2021, 06:55 pm
-
The New DAC-9x is now shipping
(https://nuprimeaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/DAC-9X_9.jpg)
https://nuprimeaudio.com/product/dac-9x/?v=7516fd43adaa
-
Does it have a similar amount of tube-like warmth as dac-9 and dac-9se?
-
It is not as warmth as DAC-9 or 9SE, but overall it is better sounding.
-
I have questions about DAC-9x.
1. Does DAC-9x support MQA over coaxial?
2. I'm using alita currently. How does DAC-9x sound compared to alita? Is it more clear, sharper side?
-
Hi I want to make a choice between DAC-9X or Alita. My interest is to replace an old Pre Parasound and an old DAC Cambridge Audio (851D, it was a $1500 Cambridge top of line). I have a very good headphone amp, so this would be a secondary feature for me.
I like detailed sounds, with good definition, I like soundstage, image is important, I like not fatiguing and natural or real sound. My music preferences are jazz (60%), progressive rock (20%) and classical music (10%). I prefer lossless files, 16 and 24 bit.
I appreciate an advice! Thanx!
-
1. Does DAC-9x support MQA over coaxial?
2. I'm using alita currently. How does DAC-9x sound compared to alita? Is it more clear, sharper side?
MQA is only available from computer or streaming, so answer to 1 is No.
DAC-9X uses ESS chip which is clear and neutral. Alita uses AKM chip which sounded warmer.
-
Hi I want to make a choice between DAC-9X or Alita. My interest is to replace an old Pre Parasound and an old DAC Cambridge Audio (851D, it was a $1500 Cambridge top of line). I have a very good headphone amp, so this would be a secondary feature for me.
I like detailed sounds, with good definition, I like soundstage, image is important, I like not fatiguing and natural or real sound. My music preferences are jazz (60%), progressive rock (20%) and classical music (10%). I prefer lossless files, 16 and 24 bit.
I appreciate an advice! Thanx!
Since you already have a good headphone amp, based on your music and sound preference, you should go for DAC-9X.
-
MQA is only available from computer or streaming, so answer to 1 is No.
DAC-9X uses ESS chip which is clear and neutral. Alita uses AKM chip which sounded warmer.
rusty - would you please clarify/confirm -- a streamer such as the popular bluesound node (among others) will deliver a digital bitstream over its coax spdif output into a downstream dac streamed from tidal -- will this new nuprime dac not properly and fully decode/unfold such a stream bearing mqa content if fed into its rca digital input? thanks in advance for your reply
-
I can't say if all the commercial DAC, but a majority of them uses the USB communication chip (XMOS) to do the MQA unfolding.
The DAC chips themself (AKM, ESS) don't decode MQA. Therefore only the USB input supports MQA.
-
Regarding the front panel mounted variable/fixed switch on the Dac-9x, could this be clarified in terms of function and use? If the Dac-9x is utilized to directly drive amps as NP intended, such as driving 2xAMG STA (bridged), the variable setting will obviously prevail. However, would the fixed setting be preferred for the Dac-9x driving an AMG PRA? Does the fixed setting effectively bypass the DAC-9x pre-amp stage, or does it just run it at 100% volume, with volume control then provided by separate analog PRA? Lastly, how would you assess the overall sonic performance of the Dac-9x, both with or without the AMG PRA, again driving 2xAMG STA (bridged)? Thanks.
-
Very simply, the "fixed" selection removes the Volume Control and the DAC-9x acts as a stand alone DAC. The "variable" selection runs the signal through the Volume Control and the DAC-9x acts as a DAC/Preamp.
I have users with that very combination (DAC-9x > AMG PRA > Dual STA-9x) and unless they are using the headphone section of the DAC-9x, use the "FIXED" selection.
-
Thank you for your informative response. To clarify, in "fixed" setting, the volume control is bypassed and the DAC-9x operates as a standalone DAC. Does this action then effectively bypass the DAC-9x's pre-amp section? Also, could you provide comment on the sonic comparison between using DAC-9x (fixed) + AMG PRA + 2x AMG STA versus the DAC-9x (variable) + 2x AMG STA. Thank you.
-
Regarding the volume control being "bypass", this is a concept that does not apply to modern DAC design.
Here's why: https://nuprimeaudio.com/ufaqs/what-kind-of-volume-control-and-preamp-do-you-use-for-your-dac/
Mainly, volume control is a digital function (no point using analog volume control if your input is digital, for a state of the art DAC, the digital volume control does a better job). The analog volume control is only needed when the input is analog (if using A2D, then analog volume control is absolutely not required).
So the main issue regarding the fixed volume versus variable volume is implementation, which I have to find out from the engineer.
I think you want to use the fixed volume control only
1) if you have a very good preamp that you must use. For example, you have a high end turntable system and preamp so digital music is only secondary to you
2) You need to have AMG PRA to fine tune your bookshelf speaker.
So if your primary music source is digital and your speaker is quite neutral and easy to drive, then go with DAC-9X + 2 x AMG STA
-
I thought we were referring to the variable/fixed switch on the DAC-9X? The DAC-9X has an analog resistor ladder volume control, not digital. JamesVN's question asks if the fixed position bypasses the preamp circuit and the analog volume control?
-
I thought we were referring to the variable/fixed switch on the DAC-9X? The DAC-9X has an analog resistor ladder volume control, not digital. JamesVN's question asks if the fixed position bypasses the preamp circuit and the analog volume control?
Analog or digital is depending on the inputs. Digital volume control output ended up not getting adjusted. Analog input goes through adjustment, but last stage is nearly identical. Don't get too hung up on the design, the FAQ explained how volume control is designed.
-
Noise problem with BlueSound streamer when switching music format from 44.1 to 48kHz – DAC-9X did not anticipate that Bluesound’s clock changed in the middle of the switch and therefore produced noise during the switch. User can update DAC-9X firmware to resolve this problem.
The instruction is on https://nuprimeaudio.com/product/dac-9x/ (https://nuprimeaudio.com/product/dac-9x/) "Manual & Firmware Update" tab.
-
Regarding the volume control being "bypass", this is a concept that does not apply to modern DAC design.
Here's why: Mainly, volume control is a digital function (no point using analog volume control if your input is digital, for a state of the art DAC, the digital volume control does a better job). The analog volume control is only needed when the input is analog (if using A2D, then analog volume control is absolutely not required).
So the main issue regarding the fixed volume versus variable volume is implementation, which I have to find out from the engineer.
I think you want to use the fixed volume control only
1) if you have a very good preamp that you must use. For example, you have a high end turntable system and preamp so digital music is only secondary to you
2) You need to have AMG PRA to fine tune your bookshelf speaker.
So if your primary music source is digital and your speaker is quite neutral and easy to drive, then go with DAC-9X + 2 x AMG STA
Hi,
what happens if somebody (like a child) accidentally switches from 'variable' to 'fixed' when the DAC is connected directly to a power amp? Should not the switch be located in the back? That is not something one changes frequently enough to have it so easily accessible.
-
On hindsight the switch should be at the back. But then audiophiles would most likely hide their high-end components away from a child. A child can also pull the cables, poke at speaker's tweeters, do any number of unpredictable things :scratch:
By the way, production speakers can handle max volume, however loud it might be.
-
I've spoken with my dealer who is quite amazed by the DAC-9X. I've personally heard the DAC-9 and the DAC-10 - how would DAC-9X compare to those two, mainly to the DAC-10 (as there is already a brief comparison to DAC-9/9SE above in this thread)?
Thanks
-
I placed an order for the DAC-9X last night, and hope to receive it next week. [A big high five :thumb: to John Casler for handling my Nuprime orders over the years!] I’ll pair it with my Evolution STA. I may eventually purchase a separate preamp for this system, but plan to <for now> use the DAC-9X as DAC and preamp.
While I have heard both the DAC-9 and DAC-10, it’s been a few years since I heard either (so take any comparison I offer with a grain of salt).
Michael
-
I may eventually purchase a separate preamp for this system, but plan to <for now> use the DAC-9X as DAC and preamp.
Do you have any preamps in mind? As I contemplate the next moves I really struggle with pre amps. My biggest hang up is wanting to separate DAC and preamp functions.
-
Good morning, Allan.
Thanks for asking. Well, I've spent the better part of a year reading people's recommendations, watching untold numbers of YT videos, and asking people their opinions, and I've decided I spend too much time worrying about making a poor decision. :lol: This system is not my main system, but I still want great music (and audio for TV). This DAC and an eventual preamp will be solid state; won't generate much heat, and will be easy to operate. My wife is a technophobe, so this system will remain 'always on' and must be easy to operate.
I'll very likely choose a Nuprime preamp. My audiophile addiction imp tells me I ought to buy the AMG PRA, but my common sense imp tells me the PRA-9X will more than suffice. Additionally, in all the years I've owned Nuprime gear, I have not experienced a single failure. However, if (or when?) I do someday experience a failure, I know how to generate a repair ticket on Nuprime's website. Over the years, I've developed a lot of respect for Jason's engineers/mad scientists. They have made some excellent products over the years.
Thoughts or comments?
Michael
-
I've decided I spend too much time worrying about making a poor decision. :lol:
Hi Michael,
Thanks much. I don’t have much for thought or comments but very much appreciate yours. I got a real laugh out of that one - only because it is too close to the truth!
For reasons I can’t exactly put my finger on, I find the NuPrime amplifiers particularly compelling. Maybe it’s because they approach Class D in their own way. Whatever, your experience gives me reason look more closely at the rest of the line up.
Thanks again,
Allan
-
I'll very likely choose a Nuprime preamp. My audiophile addiction imp tells me I ought to buy the AMG PRA, but my common sense imp tells me the PRA-9X will more than suffice.
Even though PRA-9X is in the 9 series, performance-wise, it is in the same league as AMG PRA. These two preamps serve different purposes.
AMG PRA allows you to do some matching with amps and speakers, and if you don't need that, go with PRA-9X.
Since this thread is about DAC-9X, the perfect matching component would be the new IA-9X, which is an effective combination of STA-9X and PRA-9X.
-
I've spoken with my dealer who is quite amazed by the DAC-9X. I've personally heard the DAC-9 and the DAC-10 - how would DAC-9X compare to those two, mainly to the DAC-10 (as there is already a brief comparison to DAC-9/9SE above in this thread)?
Thanks
People have “stolen” the topic a bit, so I’ll repeat my question on DACs comparison: 9 vs 9x vs 10 (mainly 9x vs 10)
Thanks
-
DAC-9 has been discontinued because, at that time, it used AKM chip and the factory burned down. After that we decided to switch to ESS chip and came out with DAC-9X.
Since DAC-9X is a new design, it has more features and better performance than DAC-9.
DAC-10, even though it was a very "old" design, the goal was to design a DAC with exceptional power (2 levels of gains). It is very detailed and neutral, suitable for classical music.
-
Hello,
5 stars for DAC 9-X by the famous What Hi-FI ? magazine !
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/nuprime-dac-9x
-
My favorite (german) nerd audio podcast posted a brilliant review of ia-9x (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpIljo4Ebm8) & dac-9x (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk6cHydQt-U) these days. This YT channel is usually focused on analog audio & audio principles, so its warm recommendations of both devices is noteworthy.