lreinstein

Is this the correct forum to ask this question?

Hi all. This may seem like a silly and perhaps naive question but please stay with me: My son just bought me an Amazon Echo Dot as a gift. It is the same as the Amazon Echo but without the speakers. Instead it has an output cable to a minijack for connecting to a powered speaker. It would be ideal if I could connect this to my "always on" 2 channel HiFi system in my living room. Is it possible to connect it to the same input on my Marantz Integrated Amplifier (PM7001) as my music source (which currently is the output of a decent DAC). I do not want to connect it to a different input (such as AUX or CD) since it would require switching everytime I wanted to use the Echo...that defeats the idea of the Amazon Echo. (if you are not familiar with it, it is a smart device ... similar to Siri. You say "Alexa, what is todays weather". Or Alexa, please play some baroque music"). Thus it only makes sense if it is always on, always listening, and always hooked up to my speakers. Anyway, my question is: can this safely be done without degradation of my music input from the DAC, and without damage to either source? (i am guessing a simple Y connector to the inputs is not the way to go... but is there an electronic interface that would mix these without degradation or damage? THanks Larry

I just installed my new Audio-GD NFB-2 DAC to feed my Marantz Integrated for my HiFi system. For several years I have always kept the power "on" to my Integrated so that it was always available for streaming ... and some of my music via Squeezebox is set to go on every evening using the Alarm feature. I never really thought about it but is it at all damaging to the Amp or the DAC to keep them powered on when not in use? thanks Larry

Thank you so much. The Audio-GF NFB-2 DAC arrived today and I hooked it to my Squeezebox3 with a piece of digitalcoax to my Marantz Integrated. When I turned it on it began playing a classical music FM station i had been streaming this morning at 128KBPS. And holy cow ... it sounded so much clearer and in focus. So I then put on a lossless file of Beethoven Triple Concerto and YOWZA!. I am sitting in my living room and it is like a whole new HiFi system! I hear the instruments in specific places and even the bass sounds more like real notes on key. I had no idea that a DAC could make this kind of a difference. Thanks for your help. Larry One question: Does it matter which of the integrated amp inputs i use for the DAC. I have it going into the AUX/DVD input. Would it make a difference if I used the CD input?

I will be getting the Audio-GD NFB-2 to connect to my Squeezebox 3. What kind of cable should I use. COAX or ? And can you recommend a good brand and/or place to purchase? Thanks Larry

Thanks Bill, I will give him a shout. Larry

There are many posts on the forums about the need to upgrade the power supply for these. Does this make a difference?

Perhaps a dumb question: What happens if I have something like VDAC with both optical and coax input, and I connect squeezebox to one and airport express to the other? Is this workable if I only stream one source at a time? Does it degrade or damage anything? Thanks Larry.

I really am a newbie in the DAC and audiophiles world. I did have the opportunity to try the VDAC original with my system and it made a big improvement. So now I am trying to find my biggest bang for the modest bucks I am proposing. Some folks rave about the musicality of the nfb-2 and so I was all set to pull the trigger and order the nfb-3.1. Then someone suggested the peachtree DacIT and I see it is easily available, has jitter reduction, looks good, and allows the remote switching. But will it sound as good (will I be able to tell) as the nfb? And yes, I did note that there is now a V-DAC II, but do not know if it has better specs than the original or how it compares to the other 2. I do NOT use the USB input. And so the agony continues. I wish I could try all 3. Larry

The audio gd nfb-3.1 uses a WM 8741 chip and has a built in linear power supply. From what I read it is supposed to have a very good SQ. I have not heard anything about the DacIT and so am looking for someone who can report on it.

I am agonizing over the decision between Audio GD NFB-3.1. Vs something like PeachTree DacIT I listen to classical, vocal and jazz through squeezebox3, a Marantz PM7001 Integrated, and a pair of KEF XQ40 speakers. My hesitation on the NFB is only that it is not commonly available or easily returnable, and that I will need an additional unit for the jitter reduction. The DacIT is readily available (CRUTCHFIELD) with easy exchange if I do not like it, claims jitter reduction, and also has a remote which is a nice feature if I want to switch from my Squeezebox to airport express. But then it looks like it has an inferior PS and only 120db s/n (vs 128db claimed by the NFB.... ). Does this matter? But ultimately I want the best sound so I wish there were reviews and direct comparisons between these 2 units. I have not been able to find any. Perhaps I shoul re-post as a separate thread to find out if anyone has made the comparison? and how does the WM 8741 chip compare to the ESS Sabre 9022? Which is more advanced and which better specs? See what I mean about agonizing:-)? Larry Also I do not know how the 2 DAC

Again thank you. I had not realized that these were 2 separate functions. I guess I am now sitting on the fence between a couple of solutions (am I the only one who agonizes over these seemingly trivial decisions?) Audio GD NFB-3.1. Vs something like PeachTree DacIT My hesitation on the NFB is only that it is not commonly available and that I will need an additional unit for the jitter reduction. The DacIT is readily available (CRUTCHFIELD) with easy exchange if I do not like it, claims jitter reduction, and also has a remote which is a nice feature if I want to switch from my Squeezebox to airport express. But then it looks like it has an inferior PS and only 120db s/n (vs 128db claimed by the NFB.... ). Does this matter? But ultimately I want the best sound so I wish there were reviews and direct comparisons between these 2 units. I have not been able to find any. Perhaps I shoul re-post as a separate thread to find out if anyone has made the comparison? and how does the WM 8741 chip compare to the ESS Sabre 9022? Which is more advanced and which better specs? See what I mean about agonizing:-)? Larry Also I do not know how the 2 DAC

My confusion is that I thought the DAC would reduce jitter. I guess I got this impression from the DacMagic video. Some other DACs claim to reduce jitter as well So does the NFB not reduce jitter?

Can you tell me what a digital interface does? How would it improve things if I got the NFB?

Hi Bill, What still mystifies me is the idea of "burn-in". Some of the reviews talk about the NFB-2 as "opening up" etc. after 200 hours. Do you know what actually causes this to happen? Is it real? I am stuck on the NFB-3.1 vs NFB-2. I do not want to be "penny wise". Do you think with my other components I would notice the difference? Another question: what are all of the different user configurable filter options about? What setting is the best (I do not use USB)? Larry