Information regarding digital amplifier

[Colin2040]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of this product. The reason being* that I am considering replacing my system with a simpler didigtal solution. In simple terms, retain my Apple airport, add this amplifier and possibly a music server whatever that may be. Although I may retain the CD player and use coax connection leaving RCA’s for Apple.

The reality being* that I don’t really have the time anymore for Lp listening and the system is just not getting* used so a few hundred lps possibly 500 may be getting sold with Tt etc. And an amplifier.

The nuforce seemed to fit the bill in usability and available at respasonable cost. I may rip all my cds again to flac ,currently Apple lossless so CD player may be redundant as well.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Colin

[Sherwood]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of this product. The reason being* that I am considering replacing my system with a simpler didigtal solution. In simple terms, retain my Apple airport, add this amplifier and possibly a music server whatever that may be. Although I may retain the CD player and use coax connection leaving RCA’s for Apple.

The reality being* that I don’t really have the time anymore for Lp listening and the system is just not getting* used so a few hundred lps possibly 500 may be getting sold with Tt etc. And an amplifier.

The nuforce seemed to fit the bill in usability and available at respasonable cost. I may rip all my cds again to flac ,currently Apple lossless so CD player may be redundant as well.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Colin

.... and the amp is ?

[walpurgis]

I'm not aware of any digital Hi-Fi amps.

Unless you mean an amp with built in DAC. Not an idea I particularly like, as the DAC part will be 'old hat' long before the amplifier section ceases to be useful.

Class D amplifiers like the Nuforce are analogue devices.

[Colin2040]

Good point the amp is a Nuforce dda120. Doh!

[Sherwood]

Good point the amp is a Nuforce dda120. Doh!

Pm sent

[Colin2040]

Well amp purchased as it was a good deal and less money than I have spent on a cable in the past.
So partly reference I think guy Hayton thread re JRiver. What is in non techie terms the most straight forward way of ripping cds to flac. Predominantly JRiver and dBpower amp are there in the conversation but from a practical point is there a faster way of actually ripping cds or is the simple solution a pc with a large amount of RAM?
I have a Samsung laptop which has windows pro and little 3lse on it as I use it primarily for work emails that’s about it.
Colin

[Markiii]

if you already have apple lossless just convert to flac, no point ripping again

[Liffy99]

I'm not aware of any digital Hi-Fi amps.

Unless you mean an amp with built in DAC. Not an idea I particularly like, as the DAC part will be 'old hat' long before the amplifier section ceases to be useful.

Class D amplifiers like the Nuforce are analogue devices.

Lyngdorf ?

[Colin2040]

Red marks comment so I can convert Apple lossless to flac. That would be a sim0ler solution.

[struth]

yup, just use jriver or another.. db is quicker i think.... will do bulk conversions.. remember to keep a copy of the current rips first so if anything goes wrong you still have them.

[Colin2040]

Excellent thanks.

[walpurgis]

Lyngdorf ?

Yes. I took a look. It seems they do use a digital method. They are not very specific about the workings.

Are they the only Hi-Fi company to amplify digitally?

[Colin2040]

In regard to software there are two which seem to be highly regarded,talked about but what’s the thoughts on EAC is it a viable alternative?

[Sherwood]

In regard to software there are two which seem to be highly regarded,talked about but what’s the thoughts on EAC is it a viable alternative?

EAC is worthwhile as an occasional tool to try and rip and dodgy cd. Itkeeps scanning and scanning again to try and determine the correct "bits". If EAC cannot produce a faultless rip nothing will. Downside: very slow!

I strongly recommend DbPoweramp and have bought a lifetime license. It compares rips against previous rips and confirms an accurate rip. It also has a neat batch convertor that will save you having to re-rip your other losless files. The add in also helps find the best album art for a particular disc.

Geoff

[Liffy99]

Im no expert but essentially the Lyngdorfs are PWM amplifiers - a ‘power DAC’ if you will. As i understand it the digital waveform is amplified, with no feedback required, by increasing the power rail voltage. At the final step before the loudspeaker outputs a low pass filter is applied to remove the 384khz carrier.

They have incredible s/n ratios, are reasonably powerful and seem to drive most things (my 2200 replaced a pair of Parasound JC1 monoblocks driving ML Prodigies). Background noise is completely absent, totally, enabling fine detail to come through.

The 2200 replacement, the 3400 I think is purported to be better still but seems to have the same specs albeit with increased input flexibility. Pricy mind at pushing £5k. They are a Swiss Army penknife of amps - my 2200 for example handles digital and analogue inputs (inc Record deck), enables tailorable, active crossover design with a second slave amp, has advanced room correction software. 200w / 8ohms, 375 into 4 ohms. Never felt the need to change it but have just tweaked the rest of the system.

If you are near Glastonbury you would be welcome to have a listen.

[walpurgis]

Im no expert but essentially the Lyngdorfs are PWM amplifiers - a ‘power DAC’ if you will. As i understand it the digital waveform is amplified, with no feedback required, by increasing the power rail voltage. At the final step before the loudspeaker outputs a low pass filter is applied to remove the 384khz carrier.

That makes sense. Enlarging the described waveform envelope would amplify.

[Sherwood]

That makes sense. Enlarging the described waveform envelope would amplify.

so too is the Nuforce DDA-120

[Colin2040]

I have been reading up on the pi and not sure if it’s helped as there is so much stuff out there. Anyway keeping it simple to use the pi as a server hooked up to a hard drive do I need to download noobs onto the sd card first. I have followed Volumio instructions but no reading raspberry instructions I think I have missed a step. But now able to connect to router and will have another attempt tonight.
Any guidance appreciated.

Colin

[aBe]

When it comes to digital amps, two things pop up into my mind :

1. Class D amps
PWM chip-based amplifiers with analog inputs, that still allow us to use them with our own standalone DAcs.
Examples - Tripath, Hypex, Icepower, Abletec etc

2. Power DAC amps
Digital only PWM amps, usually with no provision for analog inputs.
Examples - ST Electronics's chip-based amps, NAD D series, Wadia 151, Nuforce DDA etc

[Colin2040]

just thought I would say. Received Nuforce dda120. Was bought at a knock down price ,new and boxed. With all bits including wireless bluetooth. Its in my system now and its pretty amazing for the price. Not even run in which is supposedly 75 hours and it does sound very good indeed. It cost me less than I have spent on cables in the past. Very impressed.

[Sherwood]

just thought I would say. Received Nuforce dda120. Was bought at a knock down price ,new and boxed. With all bits including wireless bluetooth. Its in my system now and its pretty amazing for the price. Not even run in which is supposedly 75 hours and it does sound very good indeed. It cost me less than I have spent on cables in the past. Very impressed.

I have a DDA-100 which is a DDA-120 minus the analogue input. It must be one of the best bargains in hifi, especially if used in a mainly digital system. Think of it as a power DAC: digital signals are amplified and sent straight to the speakers.

It has ultra low noise levels, very good dynamics and transient attack and a very extended smooth treble. The only downside is the analogue input which falls far short of the digital inputs. I guess the analogue is useful though for those who want to plug in an mp3 player or similar.

Geoff

[Colin2040]

It is very good for the money. I have an Apple airport conn3cted to analogue with cd on coax. Just got the airport but not sure if I can conn3ct it any other way. Don’t know what use the wan and lan ports would be. But on initial listening it’s very good

[Sherwood]

It is very good for the money. I have an Apple airport conn3cted to analogue with cd on coax. Just got the airport but not sure if I can conn3ct it any other way. Don’t know what use the wan and lan ports would be. But on initial listening it’s very good

You can connect the Airport with an optical cable The analogue input is not very good. Alternatively, a Chromecast Audio is a very cost effective streaming solution using an optical connection.

Geoff

[Colin2040]

Not sure how I connect Airport with optical unless there is some form of add on. No optical connection on express which would be good, and don’t see an6 on Extreme either but would be interested if possible
Colin

[Sherwood]

Not sure how I connect Airport with optical unless there is some form of add on. No optical connection on express which would be good, and don’t see an6 on Extreme either but would be interested if possible
Colin

The 3.5mm socket doubles as optical out, but you will need a Toslink cable or Toslink adaptor to use. Neither should cost you more than a few quid.

Geoff

[Colin2040]

That’s great thanks Geoff

[Sherwood]

That’s great thanks Geoff

If you alreaady have a spare optical cable, all you need is one of these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TosLink-Optical-Adapter-to-3-5mm-Mini-Jack-Plug-Adaptor-/190484871648

[Colin2040]

Like most of us I have spare everything . I have an optical cable to hand so will get an adaptor tonight