[rustydoglim]

I hope by now you are willing to take our word for it. This thing is going to be awesome!
The spec is out on http://www.nuforce.com/hp/products/iconhdp/index.php

For $399, you get:
1) The best headphone amp in the world.
2) The best 24bit/96Khz USB DAC
3) Very good S/PDIF DAC
4) Very good preamp

Icon HDP is high-end performance at mass market pricing.

[neutralos]

I can imagine that this must be a great product. The only reason to order blind an amp of your high end range was the sound comming out from your (production running out ?) Nuforce Icon through my headphones.

How to explain it ... ? A clean, dark matrix transporting the waves like tube sound into my ears
- although I was listening to mp3 files from my PC I got the impression to listen to vinyl records.

[srb]

2) The best 24bit/96Khz USB DAC

It sounds like you are saying that I can expect this to sound as good or better than the $3500 Wavelength Coescant USB DAC?  That would be incredible.
 
Steve

[neutralos]

Hi Steve, I am sure you have understood very well ...
The nuforce people are much more seriously convinced of their developements comparing to these small but extreme overpriced audio manufacturers which are more servicing the demands of some audiophile customers. That type of customers which are believing to listen to the best when paid the most amounts.

Nonetheless I agree full with your comment but understand that it must be depended on the enthusiasm to declare in the public that their products are the best.

Comparing to the price Jason might be right. But regarding the price 3500 $ for the competition product I am afraid he could be wrong ...

[srb]

I rarely come across such absolute statements, and I felt that it needed to be questioned.  I'm not doubting the possibility that the DAC in the HDP could be the "The best 24bit/96Khz USB DAC" for the money.
 
I also realize that the DAC I referenced may not the best, or that it's lofty price tag may or may not be justified or guarantee performance, but by all accounts they have done their homework in the USB DAC sector.
 
No disrespect meant to NuForce as their Icon product line seems to offer high value products.
 
Steve
 
 

[konut]

A very intriguing product. While I don't own, or indeed never have heard, a Nuforce product, I appreciate the presence of Nuforce at AC because they seem to be very responsive wrt customer issues and product development. The definitive statement of quality, however, begs credulity. I would propose a tour sample to let the unwashed masses compare it in real world conditions. Because, if you look up 'unwashed masses' in the dictionary, you will see a picture of me, I would apply to be the first on the tour. 

[rustydoglim]

Ok, best USB DAC at <fill-in-the-blank> price range 

I am not worrying about lack of real world feedback. Sorry, these are low margin product and we couldn't be bother with audition. Within a week or two of every new product release, you will find lots of feedback by real customers, whether it is on audiocircle or amazon.com

We are confident because of our internal process. I said it many times in the forum. Every product is carefully auditioned by ourselves and other golden ear audiophiles before it goes into production.
We did borrow a top of the line headphone amp (generally recognized by users on head-fi.org forum as the best) for internal comparison with HDP .  It is our philosophy that when we develop a product, we don't hold back, even if it means killing other products in the family. If we don't do it to ourselves, someone else will.   

As a side note, our CDP-8 chipset supplier said we are "crazy" to using clocking scheme that are used by other $3K to $6K CDP out there.  At this late in the game, if we don't come up with a CDP-8 that sound just as good as any world class CDP regardless of the price, what's the point.
BTW, I don't mind saying that Icon HDP uses portion of the circuit from our R&D of CDP-8 or high-end DAC (release in December).

I remember back in the early day of amplifier R&D and there were discussions about different amp boards for higher end models (like Ref 9SE) versus low end model (like IA-7) but I insisted that every amp board in the entire high-end product line, regardless of home theater or entry level models, all use the same amp board. We will only differentiate them by power, connectors, cap boards and chassis.  This standardization from day one allow us to offer upgrade to every amp products ever released, reduce production cost and keep upgrade price low.

Ok, I got a little side tracked

[pete338]

Hi Jason,
Would there be a significant improvement if I use this as a preamp to the icon?

[SGCSG1]

No pre-amp out?   How can I run my subwoofer?

And btw, you are really not doing yourself any favors with this 'best headphone amp in the world' hyperbole.  Seriously.   

If there was a way to run my sub with this new dac/pre/amp setup I'd probably buy a set. 

Is there? 

[pete338]

Hi Jason,
Would there be a significant improvement if I use this as a preamp to the icon?

No answers means invalid or stupid questions?
Sorry.....

[rustydoglim]

You will see how good the headphone amp is when HDP is out.
Anyway, we are way too busy here. These products are suppose to be pipeline but all ended up releasing end of October with V3 just a few weeks ahead.  We have never been so busy! No sleep!

I will get back to you about the line out on HDP. It should have one if I remember it correctly.

Using HDP with Icon will get better performance since it is a better DAC than Icon.

Jason

[nongnet]

Is there a line out on HDP ?

[rustydoglim]

No line out. Just fix the volume pot at whatever level that optimize your preamp.