| | |  | Source (CD, DVD, Digita... | Home » » NuForce Icon HDP (High-end Headphone Amp, USB DAC, Preamp), Black | | | | | | | Description: | | The Nuforce Icon HDP incorporates a full-speed USB DAC and full-function S/PDIF D/A converter, plus a headphone-amplifier circuit and preamp output. Supporting digital USB, S/PDIF in coaxial and 3.5mm optical (3.5mm) modes, along with an analog line input, the HDP's flexibility has been designed to accommodate all manner of audio devices. Icon HDP is expected to compete with other DAC and preamp costing up to several times its price and serve as the heart of a high performance audio system. | | | Features: | |
• USB 2.0 Full Speed compliant and 1.1 supported, 8-96kHz/16-24-bit
• S/PDIF input: Coaxial up to 192kHz/24-bit or Optical up to 192kHz/24-bit
• Analog input: 3.5mm or RCA input
• Audiophile-grade DA converter
• Low-distortion, high-current headphone amplifier
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 4.02 inches | | Product Width:
| 3.54 inches | | Product Height:
| 5.91 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.99 pounds | | Package Length:
| 13.3 inches | | Package Width:
| 11.3 inches | | Package Height:
| 2.1 inches | | Package Weight:
| 3.15 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 17 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 17 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
63 of 66 found the following review helpful:
Nuforce HDP is a solid DAC and amp that keeps up with the big guys!Mar 06, 2010
By L. Ganz
I am impressed with this little Nuforce HDP both as a DAC and as a headphone amplifier; which is high praise from someone who owns a $15,000 headphone rig with Stax SR-007, Sennheiser HE60 and HD800 headphones, a Woo WES amp, Eddie Current ZDT amp, and PS Audio Perfectwave DAC.
The HDP seems to offer a lot of performance in a small package, and easily outperforms my original Nuforce Icon amp that I bought May 2008 for my computer desktop. And the beauty is that it is small enough that I can use the HDP's superior DAC to feed the original Icon when I want to listen to speakers (both amps are the same size). The feature list is quite full, including 24/96 bit rate USB and 3.5 mm 24/96 optical inputs, 24/192 coax input, RCA or 3.5 mm analog input, 1/4" headphone output, and variable output level RCA preamp out. Not many DACs in this price range offer 24 bit/96 Khz sampling rates, and even my 2x more costly Apogee mini-DAC only does 24/48 via USB.
The HDP using 24/96 USB input from my Macbook beats all my other $100 - $500 USB DAC/amps in the house, and even beats the headphone output of my Apogee mini-DAC with USB. The HDP's RCA line-out seems almost equivalent to the Apogee's 1/8" line-out as well, where the Apogee seems to be a little more refined sounding at times (if using my upgraded Sigma 11 power supply). The HDP is very detailed and transparent, with good sense of air and space, and offers a deeper soundstage than the Apogee headphone out. The HDP bass has great extension and impact, with rich mids and sparkly crisp treble. And it's just a little to the warm side of neutral, so I can still enjoy it with brighter headphones like my HD800 or Head-direct HE-5. Likewise it is also a good match for my HD600 headphones and my re-cabled Denon D7000 which can sound darker on the wrong amps.
Some amplifiers that are good with full-size headphones may not be a good match with very sensitive in ear monitors (aka earphones or IEM), and they might have noise, or hiss that is not otherwise detectable with full-size phones. Well, that is not a problem here. I find the HDP to be an excellent match with all my very sensitive universal and custom molded in ear monitors, including Monster Turbine Pro Gold, Westone 2, Westone 3, Westone ES3X, Ultimate Ears 11Pro and JH Audio 13Pro. It does a very good job with all of them, despite their widely varying sound signatures. The UE11Pro can sometimes be bass heavy or have some recessed midrange with the wrong amp; but neither of these are a problem with the HDP, even though it is not a bass-lite or forward sounding amplifier.
How they managed to squeeze such good sound into a price this low is unclear to me, because you basically have to spend $700-$900 for a better DAC (Apogee or Stello) and $700-$1,000 for a better amp (upgraded Woo WA6 or ALO Amphora), and you'd have to buy both a DAC and Amp to get most of the features of the HDP. (Except for analog inputs for iPod or other players, where many DAC's don't include those).
I will conclude by mentioning a couple of issues that I have. The HDP sounds very good with a wide variety of headphones, but it might not be optimal with all of them. With my Head-direct HiFiMan HE-5 and Grado HF-2, if I try to play those headphones at very high volume levels (closer to max) then the sound can get a little strident and fatiguing in the highs. I've heard this same thing with the HE-5 and a $700 Grahm Slee Solo SRG II, and that's probably because the HE-5 are very difficult to drive low impedance headphone and require a lot of current. With the HE-5 headphones this happens at volume levels that are much higher than my Woo WA6 tube amp can hope to achieve, so if I never tried to play the HDP louder than my WA6 I would not have heard this. The Grado HF-2 can be a little boosted in the upper mids and lower treble, and they just seem to respond better to my tube amps to tone them down a notch when trying to play them at very loud levels (levels that would be damaging or harmful for more than a few minutes). At normal to moderately loud levels this is never an issue.
Another issue is that the volume pot can have some channel imbalance at the very low end of the volume control when using very sensitive in ear monitors which don't require turning up the volume knob very much. This is common with most lower price gear when using IEM, but can be alleviated by turning down the computer system volume if you are using the USB input. However, none of these issues would prevent me from highly recommending this product. It makes me eager to think about trying their high-end products at some point.
31 of 31 found the following review helpful:
Nuforce HDP is Shockingly Good DAC/AmpMar 10, 2010
By J. Spalding
I bought one of the original 12 HDPs as soon as they became available. Since I got it I've been running it 24/7 & it keeps getting better. For 6 months I've been looking for a dac or dac/amp combo that sounded good enough to allow me to move my $1895 Benchmark DAC1 HDR (which was further modded with $995 worth of upgrades) off my PC back to my stereo system (for which it was purchased). ll dacs later I've finally got the unit I was looking for. In fact, I can already say that when using full-size headphones to listen to music off my computer, I actually prefer listening to the HDP over the Benchmark. I can also say that using the HDP as a dac only feeding my Doge headphone amp, that the HDP is ALMOST as good as my highly modded DAC1 HDR. Now that is comparing this $449 device with what is essentially a $2900 device (one that probably has received more positive professional reviews over the years than any other dac.
I've got a good collection of headphones including the AKG K702, Senn. HD650, Grado SR325is, Shure SHR840, & Ultrasone HFI700 & the HDP drives them all easily, even the K702s which are notoriously hard for amps to drive well enough to get the best sound out of them. Many of the 11 dacs & dac/amp combos I've tried in the last 6 months of searching cost 2-4 times what the HDP costs & IMHO, none of them sounded as as good to me as this little Nuforce DAC. That makes this dac an unbelievable value for the dollar.
19 of 19 found the following review helpful:
Almost perfect, 1/2 star deduction for one small criticismAug 04, 2010
By J. Kohn
(Reposting my review from the silver version of this product, which I purchased).
I purchased this for use at my computer because I could connect powered speakers to it as well as my headphones. The headphones are Sennheiser HD650's, and the speakers are Audioengine A5's (chosen to be bit more forgiving of rock and pop recordings which can sometimes sound too harsh on more revealing equipment). My music library is in FLAC format, a combination of CD rips, high-res releases from audiophile labels, and DVD-A rips. I'm using the USB DAC of the HDP.
The DAC is quite good. I don't claim to be a golden-ear who can hear minute differences between mega-priced audio components and cables, but I do care about sound quality. I'm of the belief a DAC should be transparent, not adding its own colorations to the sound (you choose your amp and speakers/headphones for that if desired). The HDP delivers in this regard, with excellent dynamics, deep clean bass, and revealing highs.
The headphone amp is sufficient to drive my 650's louder than I would want to. I usually have volume between 1/2 to 3/4 (depending on source material) when using headphones. That's a bit higher than I would have expected, but means I still have some headroom so I think it's sufficient. The sound is never fatiguing with this combo, even at high volume levels.
In addition to its reputed audio quality, I chose the HDP because of several key features:
- Both headphone and pre-amp outs, with auto switching (speakers disabled when headphones are plugged in).
- High quality analog volume control for both headphone- and preamp-outs. This gives me easy access to a volume control on my desktop (leaving the computer's software volume at 100% where it should be for maximum audio quality), and allows me to leave the volume control on my powered speakers at a high enough level to avoid channel imbalance issues at lower listening levels.
- USB DAC that can handle 24-bit/96khz sound. All the other devices I researched only support up to 24-bit/48khz over USB.
- The USB DAC can auto-switch between output formats when using WASAPI exclusive mode, without the need to go into the Windows Sound settings to change the default output format. So I can seamlessly switch between a CD rip and an high-res FLAC with no extra configuration steps.
My one minor complaint, and the reason I give 4.5 stars instead of 5, is that the USB DAC does not support 24-bit, 88.2khz sampling level. For the few recordings I have in this format, I have to use a re-sampling plugin. I don't see any reason for this format not to be directly supported except simple oversight, given that 24/48, 24/96, and 16/88.2 are all supported.
If all you need is a DAC, the Musical Fidelity V-DAC is probably a better value. But if you also need a headphone amp, multiple outputs, or 24/96 over USB the Icon HDP is worth the price premium IMHO.
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
Needs patienceNov 19, 2010
By asbjoern
Guess i have only one thing to add to the other reviewers. - Be patient with this amplifier. Personally i wasnt impressed with it at all when i first recieved it. The sound was cold, closed and hard - the treble was hysteric. It was even hurting my ears. So i left it on for 24 hours as many reviewers advices. Still i wasnt really impressed - so if you get this amp and get the same experience as me - try to burn it in for a few hundred hours before you decide. I think mine has been running for at least 300 hours now. And only the last couple of days i really started to enjoy this amp. The sound has become just excellent. It has changed completely. I cant understand that many people apparantly are impressed with amp right out of the box.
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
Very good unit with a few caveatsAug 12, 2010
By K. Hou
This review is copied over from my review of the silver case version of this found here: NuForce Icon HDP (High-end Headphone Amp, USB DAC, Preamp), Silver
I've had the unit for about 3 months now. Overall, I would give it 4.5/5 stars.
---------------------------------------------------
Here were my initial impressions on the first day:
The unit was packaged very nicely when it arrived. What I didn't like was the packaging within the box. The HDP and its accessories were stuffed onto a thin plastic with a velvet texture on one side. It definitely feels cheap, so if I wanted to transport the HDP, I'll probably need to buy a separate case.
The silicon stand that the HDP comes with feels solid and securely holds the HDP in place. What I didn't like is how it smelled like feet (chemical smell) when I got it. I tried washing it with soap, which helped the problem slightly.
With the unit standing upright on the stand with the volume knob at the top, the off position is at 7 o'clock, and the max position is at 5 o'clock. There is no sound that comes from the unit until the knob is turned to 8:45-9 o'clock. The volume will suddenly come up at that point. I can only hear channel imbalance between 8:45-9 o'clock, where you can actually hear the slightest bit of sound from your headphones. Past this, it sounds very even. I use the HDP with my HD650 almost exclusively. There's no turn-on popping sound, and it's completely silent with no music playing until I turn the volume knob to 3 o'clock, where hissing begins. I can't imagine anyone needing to turn it past 12 o'clock, so the hissing isn't an issue.
There is a little bit of play in the USB (type B) plug when it goes into the HDP. It's not a tight fit, and the cord wiggles a little bit.
I wish they designed the power plug that goes into the HDP a little better. The L-shaped male plug fits semi-loosely into the female port on the HDP, so it rotates very freely. Additionally, the plug must be staggered (rotated) with the RCA inputs in order to insert the power plug all the way into the unit.
With my HD650, a normal listening volume for me is at 10 o'clock with my Windows 7 computer sound set at 100% and my Winamp set at 80% sound. If the album is fairly soft like the Head-Fi "Open Your Ears" album, I need to turn it up a little to 11 o'clock.
I plugged in my HiFiMan RE0 IEMs into the unit only to discover that there is hissing -- a very low level amount of hissing. When I unplug it, there's silence, but when I plug in my RE0 1/8"-->the 1/4" provided adapter-->HDP, I can hear a low level amount of background hiss. It's not so much as a hissing sound as it is a low level humming sound. It's definitely there and audible to my ears. When there's music playing, I don't notice it at all because the hum disappears into the background with the music. I guess this is due to the fact that Nuforce designed the HDP to be used with circumaural/high impendance headphones and not IEMs. Apparently the problem can be fixed by buying a 75 ohm high impedence 1/8"-->1/4" adapter.
Occasionally I'll hear the "badada, badada, badada" buzzing sound. I've also heard it with my previous Meier Move. I'm thinking that it's noise generated by my computer associated associated with anything plugged into a computer. It's very intermittent and occurs maybe once an hour for 2 seconds.
In contrast with my HD650 directly plugged into my Sansa Clip+, with my HD650 plugged in using the HDP as a DAC/amp combo, there's definitely a noticeable improvement in the lower frequency response. The sound is cleaner and more crisp, with noticeably more "oomph" in the bass. The midrange and higher frequencies sound noticeably more realistic. I can hear micro-details in the background like the musician counting softly to the band "1, 2, 3, 4" to synchronize before the start of a section or the instant when a violinist stops his vibrato on the ending note to a piece.
---------------------------------------------------
Here are my impressions now:
Letting the silicon stand air out has definitely gotten rid of the smell almost entirely.
The unit will continue drawing power even if the unit is turned off using the knob on the front. I noticed this because the unit stays warm even if it's turned off. In order to cut off power entirely, you must remove the power plug from the back.
I haven't used the RCA input or RCA outputs yet, so I can't really comment on it.
I think I have over 500 hours of time on the unit already. Violin sounds silky smooth, and I can really hear the reverberation when something has been recorded on a stage. I can really hear the biting of the bow into the strings during spicatto.
Listening to Diana Krall - "Live in Paris" album is amazing to listen to. I can hear everything as though I'm there, from the very soft scatting in the background to the last bit of decay in cymbals. Songs like "Take it easy" by "The Eagles" make it hard to resist tapping your feet to the music. Guitar and the human voice in "Simple Man" by Shinedown sound so natural that they send shivers down my spine. Classical music like Itzhak Perlman's 24 Caprices by Paganini sound as though you're getting a private performance.
I was looking for a DAC/Amp all in one solution that is small enough to be transportable while powerful enough to drive full-sized headphones so they sound good, and in my opinion, Nuforce really delivered with their HDP. It should be noted that the unit should really be used with higher-impedance full-sized headphones that require an amplifier to sound their best. With my IEMs, RE0, I can hear a low level hiss, but I haven't used a 75 ohm adapter to fix the issue since I use the unit exclusively with the HD650. I can't really find any fault with the unit performance-wise.
See all 17 customer reviews on Amazon.com
| | |
|
