Topic: NuForce Icon owners / discussion thread

[Darthfunk]

Just an idea. Why not terminate a custom short cable with rj45 on 1 end & speaker binding post on the other end.

In this way, U can freely change your speaker cables. 

But of course the bottle-neck will still be the rj45 cable. If using 8 strands of AWG24 as in a standard Cat5 or 6 cable, 4 strands as + & 4 strands as -, the largest guage size possible is 4 x AWG24 which is about AWG18.

So it might not be worthwhile to buy speaker cables that r much larger than AWG18.

Bro spot on!

[raindog]

Just wondering why the USB is still only version 1.1 when most other (PC) appliances are ver 2 already? Do I need to be concerned about this?

[mHiFi]

Just wondering why the USB is still only version 1.1 when most other (PC) appliances are ver 2 already? Do I need to be concerned about this?

You don't need usb2.x speed, it is only for music like CD player, 2x will do.

[titamini]

If i use as DAC, where should i connect output for my RCA I/C? Cos i read the description shows its RCA only for input.

[Quest]

If i use as DAC, where should i connect output for my RCA I/C? Cos i read the description shows its RCA only for input.

use headphone out? haha
not sure if the line out (for subwoofer) is able to be used for that either.

[Darthfunk]

If i use as DAC, where should i connect output for my RCA I/C? Cos i read the description shows its RCA only for input.

The line out is a 3.5mm stereo jack so you will need a y splitter 3.5mm jack to RCA. Actually where do you want to output to?
The Icon can also function as a pre-amp which outputs to a poweramp or monoblocks.

[Darthfunk]

From NuForce Casey

Larger diameter is not necessary better sounding.   I would suggest you can make a Cat3 cable and compare to Cat5 sound.....I am sure this will become interesting.....

The best high-end cable I used are extremely thin gauge.  Our internal speaker lead in Nuforce amps are 100 x 32ga Litz wire.  As you can see, I am sort of leaning towards small gauge.

BTW, there are 3x 24ga in each leg of the Icon speaker cable.  3 twisted pairs were dedicated for speaker signal, 1 pairs were used for ID'ing S1.   If I am not wrong, 3 x 24 ga = 19ga, which is very decent for a 12W output.

[SiriuslyCold]

Casey should know better than to try and reason with cable fanatics

[titamini]

The line out is a 3.5mm stereo jack so you will need a y splitter 3.5mm jack to RCA. Actually where do you want to output to?
The Icon can also function as a pre-amp which outputs to a poweramp or monoblocks.

out to onkyo a9555 int amp. am using onkyo se200 soundcard. looking for a usb dac so dont know if this is better as a dac than my onkyo soundcard.

[Quest]

out to onkyo a9555 int amp. am using onkyo se200 soundcard. looking for a usb dac so dont know if this is better as a dac than my onkyo soundcard.

Why not borrow something like a Trends UD10 to test?
From my experience usually not much difference.

[Knight_Rider]

out to onkyo a9555 int amp. am using onkyo se200 soundcard. looking for a usb dac so dont know if this is better as a dac than my onkyo soundcard.

This is more of a desktop amp than a DAC otherwise it will have gold-plated RCA out instead of just input. Hopefully newer revision will have proper speaker binding post as well. Chamoxa is bringing in the Styleaudio USB DAC and I thnk that suits your needs better.

http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=252770
http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=252970&page=2

[Darthfunk]

This is more of a desktop amp than a DAC otherwise it will have gold-plated RCA out instead of just input. Hopefully newer revision will have proper speaker binding post as well. Chamoxa is bringing in the Styleaudio USB DAC and I thnk that suits your needs better.

http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=252770
http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=252970&page=2

This is a USB DAC. You dont need GOLD plated RCA out for it to sound good.

Which similiar price range amp gives you a function of:
1) Integrated Amp
2) Pre-Amp
3) USB + DAC
4) Headphone Amp
5) Poweramp

[SiriuslyCold]

I think what people are thinking when you say "USB DAC" is an output to an amplifier

[Quest]

It's not about the features. It's about fitting the user's requirements.

I agree with Knight_Rider that if you are looking to use this purely as a DAC, the connectors aren't exactly suitable. Would the Icon's stereo minijack output beat a lower or similarly priced USB-DAC with proper RCA outputs? Nobody knows, but it means an investment in ICs and a higher cost for all the features you're not using - even if we admit that the Icon is good value.

I'll probably give it a test against my external/internal soundcards and SB3 when I get the Icon.

[Knight_Rider]

This IS a USB DAC! You dont need GOLD plated RCA out for it to sound good.

Which similiar price range amp gives you a function of:
1) Integrated Amp
2) Pre-Amp
3) USB + DAC
4) Headphone Amp
5) Poweramp

I dun foresee him using the rest of the function or to switch between functions. (esp 1 and 2) I did not said it sound bad or can't be use but I would still prefer proper output for the job IMO. Like I said I would like to see better implementation in the next revision. I am just giving him another option no need to be so agitated. Peace.