SilverLitz

I will be using the NFB-28's volume control, and probably the Low Gain setting (balanced: 2.5V fixed, or 0 to 5V in 80-steps). It has an 80-step analog volume control, and 2 gain settings, and therefore NO truncating of bits. The volume control uses relays to switch Dale resistors (which I used building my DIY preamp and power amps) in the I/V stage, which should not even be adding another part (other than the relay) versus a fixed output DAC. Though, this volume control is not a pure logarithmic, constant dB taper, it is a piecewise linear taper, with steeper slopes at higher volumes to somewhat approximate the log taper. My calculations, based on the output voltage vs. volume setting graph from the Audio-gd website, estimate that the dB change per volume step as between 0.3 and 0.6dB for about 80% of the volume control range. The Audio-gd volume control should be superior SQ wise than me adding analog volume control with precision resistors and 4-deck rotary switch. The NFB-28's very high quality volume control, and the LACK of volume controls on the Gungnir and Teac UD-501, was the main reason for me deciding on the Audio-gd DAC.

Thanks everyone for your input! I just placed an order for an Audio-gd NFB-28 with TCXO upgrades, with a total cost of $803 (including shipping and Paypal fees). These seem to be popular items as my lead time is October 6, so I should have it in my hands ~mid October.

A few DACs from Audio-GD has gotten my attention: NFB-28 ($680), NFB-10ES2 ($580) and NFB-10.33 ($549). The NFB-28 and NFB-10ES2 use the ESS 9018 Sabre DAC, with the NFB-28 adding a larger transformer, analog inputs (RCA, XLR), and volume control knob instead of buttons. The NFB-10.33 is similar to the NFB-10ES2, but it uses Wolfson WM8741 DACs. All of these Audio-GD DACs are fully differentially balanced, with 80-step relay switched analog volume controls using Dale resistors, significant power supplies with R-Core tranformers, headphone amplifier (S/E and Balanced), can handle USB up to 32bit-384KHz, and seem to be massively built with high quality components. Audio-GD seems to have a very good reputation, especially at Head-Fi site. The downside is you buy directly from the manufacturer in China. Another interesting choice could be the Audiolab M-DAC ($900), with ESS 9018 DAC, balanced outs, volume control (digital??), and headphone out. Anyone have any experience with Audio-GD or M-DAC compared to Teac UD-501 or Schiit Gungni?

Yes, my current focus is on a DAC. I am currently using my Marantz NA7004, which has only a fixed unbalanced output of 2.35V which is too hot for a lot of my albums, though classical is not too loud. I am noticing a low level electrical hum/buzz, which is leading to think I will want a balanced DAC. Ideally the DAC will have a volume control, or I will have to build an analog volume control using stepped switches and precision resistors (as well as do some Excel programming to calculate my resistor values, as my spreadsheet that I used to create my volume controls in the preamp I built 15 years ago was in a hard drive that died many years ago). Focal Professional folks have recommended the Cambridge Dac Magic +. Would the Dac Magic be a weak link with the Focal CMS50's? Is a Schiit Gungnir or TEAC UD-501 overkill (though both would probably need the attenuator)? Benchmark and Mytek have good DACs, balanced with volume, but at significantly higher cost.

My strange results with volume with JRiver seem to be user error, as I was only trimming the left channel. It was not a master volume change.

I am also a JRiver newbie, after my month free trial, I purchased the s/w today. You have to be careful with JRiver settings. My original settings had JRiver outputting low-res MP3 eventhough my files were uncompressed WAV. I then made a change to have JRiver output 24 bit.

It looks like I can trim the volume in JRiver using JRiver's DSP Studio. Is there any SQ problems with this? I have JRiver output 24 bits. So I assume with 18dB of attenuation, my effective resolution will be 21 bits, which should be OK since 99% of my files are ripped CD's with 16 bits of native resolution. Though when I try this in JRiver the SPL does not seem to drop by 18dB; I notice a slight drop in SPL but it does not seem drop as much as I would expect, and it seems to drop the left channel much more than the right.

I am still considering the fixed output DAC's, though I may have to add a volume control between the DAC and Focal CMS50's (already have a single end volume control that I built 15 years ago). If the DAC output is low enough, the volume control will not be necessary. The Schiit's 2.0V output would result in SPL's 1.4dB lower than my Marantz NA7004's 2.35V. The 2.0V output should be the approximately of my lowest attenuation step on my DIY volume control (if the paper in my files have the resistor values that are actually soldered to the stepped switches). At this setting, the jazz album I am currently listening to is OK using the 2nd volume notch on the CMS50 (notch 0 being off, notch 1 being much too quiet, and the volume changes between notch 2+ being much more reasonable changes). My concern would be hotter recorded albums, may still require an inline volume control. Change in dB = 20 Log (V2 / V1) I would be more inclined to get the Bifrost on Gungnir and use a DIY volume control before the more expensive Wadia. (The recent Stereophile review is more favorable to the Bifrost Uber compared to the Wadia.) NuForce has a few DAC's with volume: DAC-80 ($800) and UDH100 ($650). Other fixed output DAC that look interesting are Teac UD-501 ($850, w/ DSD) and UDH01 ($550, $250 refurb).

How does your Gungnir sound compared to the Benchmark? What is the Gungnir output voltage, balanced & SE? My Marantz NA7004 output is 2.35V, which is too hot for my Focal CMS50.

I would like to keep the DAC to no more than $1,000, but if a little more $ gets much better sound, I will consider it. I will prefer smaller, but want good power supply, and want volume control. My reading suggested that Schiit has some of the best bang/buck. It also seems that NuForce have several that might be good. If there is a great fixed output DAC, I could use my DIY volume control, or maybe build another one.

I just went through this decision process the past week. http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f8-general-forum/help-building-nearfield-desktop-system-17366/ I bought the Focal CMS50's, and they came in this afternoon. I am currently listening to them. They are no where near broken in, but sound good. I had a bias in favor of Focal, since I chose Focal drivers when I build my reference speakers 16 years ago, and I have loved them. I find Focal speakers are resolving but not hyped and sound like music. Now I have to decide on a DAC to feed the CMS50's. I am temporarily using my Marantz NA7004 network DAC, which will ultimately go elsewhere in my house and is physically too large for my desktop. I find that the Marantz NA7004 fixed output is too strong for the CMS50 even with the gain to its lowest setting, and requires an inline attenuator (which luckily I have one I made ~15 years ago when I testing a shunt volume control design of mine using discreet switches and precision resistors). So the CMS50 would be best with a DAC with a good volume control, or one with a lower output voltage.

Just place order for Focal CMS50 from Alto Music for $902 (after 5% coupon) for refurbs w/ full factory warranty. Thanks christopher3393 for the suggestion. The Focal CMS50 is a professional studio monitor that is internally bi-amped (80W + 50W, A/B, fully differential, e.g. balanced) with electronic crossover and a lot of EQ adjustments. It is optimized for nearfield listening and is stated to work good as close as 50cm, which should be great for my ~70cm distance. By comparison the Focal 705V and 706V are best for 2-3m (6-10 ft) per Focal. I did a lot of online research and the feedback on this speaker is nearly universally glowing. I am emotionally the most comfortable with Focal, having lived with Focal drivers in my "good" system for 16 years, as I find Focal speakers are resolving but not hyped and sound like music. The online reviews and customer feedback on various forums were overwhelming in preferrence for Focal vs. Dynaudio, Adam, and others. Many of these reviewers had actual experience working with all the monitors. Now I have to focus on the DAC to feed the Focal CMS50: Marantz NA7004 (already have; $400 closeout), Schiit Bifrost Uber USB ($520), Schiit Gungir USB ($850), other ???

The more I read about the Focal CMS50, the more I am starting to converge on them. I am emotionally the most comfortable with Focal, having lived with Focal drivers in my "good" system for 15 years. Focal says that CMS50 work good as close as 50cm (19") and the CMS65 at 60cm (24"). My current desktop has my ears ~29" from my small speakers, so both sizes should work well, but the CMS50 would probably work a little better. The CMS65 is also too pricey for me. Given that CMS50 and 705V, as well as the CMS65 and 706V have the same drivers and visually the distance between woofer and tweeter seem to be ~ the same, I assume that the 705V and 706V would also work fine in my nearfield situation as well. The outside dimensions of the CMS's are ~1" less in each dimension that the similar 700V speaker, a difference that I suspect is due to the CMS's aluminum cabinet (which would have thinner walls) vs. the 700V's MDF cabinet, yielding similar interior volumes. Right now my decision is between the CMS50 w/ DAC and the 706V with the NuForce DDA-100. I expect that the CMS50 would be somewhat better in the nearfield, since it is specifically designed that application, and I expect it to work at 10cm closer distance. CMS50 being bi-amped w/ 80W+50W with electronic crossovers and EQ adjustments would be a plus vs. the NuForce DDA-100's 50W/ch. Though I expect the NuForce DDA-100 may be quieter (plus at close distances) and SQ may be better than the CMS50's internal amps (based on reviews). Passive speakers plus amp has greater future flexibility than active speakers, and if the amp goes bad (CMS only 2Yr warranty), there would be only half of the equation to replace. CMS50 (refurb w/ coupon) and Schiit Bifrost Uber USB DAC will cost ~$1,420 significantly more than the $950 for the 706V (demo) and NuForce DDA-100. Excluding price, I expect the CMS50 would be the better choice.

My quick read on Focal CMS50 is that they are very good speakers, with SQ characteristics that I like. The downside is that they are much more expensive than Focal's passive HiFi line, $1600/pr vs. $500 for 705V. Factory repacks available for $950 vs. demo 705V at $325. It seems that the Focal CMS50 uses the same drivers as 705V, but has a significantly better cabinet (Aluminum vs. MDF, and visually the contouring probably has better diffusion characteristic), adds bi-amps (linear, A/B, 80W & 50W), has a slot port instead of round port, adds a phase plug on tweeter, and has some equalization adjustments. Focal CMS50 bass response goes down 10Hz lower than the 705V. It is good that Focal states that the Focal CMS50 works well as close as 50cm. Comparing the Focal CMS65 vs. 706V is a similar comparison, with higher cost $2,000 ($1,800 street) vs. $700 ($400 demo). It also seems that Focal CMS50 is better choice than Adam's, as the Focal's are more natural sounding and less fatiguing. It looks like I have scratched off my list: Adam's, Audioengine, and Focal XS Book.

It will be in a nearfield desktop situation, 2-3ft from speakers to ear, so I would not expect much room related complications (may be wrong). That said my computer is in a 10' by 8' alcove in a much larger basement. I am unfamiliar with Focal CMS50, but definitely would consider them, as I have good experience with Focal drivers (enjoyed them in my main system for 15yr; resolving but not hyped; sound like music). MusicDirect has very high regard for the Focal 706V compared with XS Book or AudioEngine. Thanks for adding a new speaker to the mix!