NuForce DAC80 Discussions | Drop

Free Standard Shipping in the US on orders over $99

Showing 1 of 99 conversations about:

NuForce DAC80

Audiophile

FULL DISCUSSION

gkrr

Apr 16, 2017

I received the DAC-80 about 12 days after the last drop ended. I prefer the sound to the SMSL M8 or the Grace Design M920. It is warmer and more open sounding. The M8 sells for less than $200, the M920 for $1400, here on MassDrop. The M920 has a lot of Pro-Audio features you may not need; I need them. The DAC-80 is a DAC/Pre only, no headphone amp. I run the DAC-80 into a Bob Latino VTA-70 tube amplifier, as a DAC/Pre, in a home loudspeaker based audio system. The NuForce DAC-80 is exactly the same as the DAC-100, but with the headphone jack removed. The PCBs inside say DAC-100!! The casework is also the same; there is a hole where the headphone jack was, but it is covered by the front panel. The DAC-100 originally sold for $1095 USD!! The DAC-80 clicks internally when you change sampling rates; it is somewhat off-putting until you get used to it. The small remote control needs to be pointed directly at the front panel to work effectively. The 8-pin LM4562 op-amps are socketed, so you could swap them out. I ordered the silver finish to match my Burson headamp; if you want to better see the front-panel pin-hole LEDS, order the black version. You can download drivers and owners manual from the Optoma website: the volume control is a little funky working, until you figure it out. Scroll down to the review from Polycentric for more good info.

Apr 16, 2017