| | |  | Amplifier | Home » » NuForce Icon uDAC-2 (Red) Special Edition (with Asynchronous USB) | | | | | | | Description: | | The Icon uDAC-2SE is a high-performance 24bit/96kHz Async USB Digital Audio Converter (DAC) that connects your personal computer's audio to your home stereo, desktop sound system, or headphones. With Stainless steel front and back panels. The quality and versatility of the uDAC-2's performance belie its diminutive size. | | | Features: | |
• Cryogenic treated circuit board with discrete USB audio receiver and D/A converter
• Coaxial S/PDIF output (appears as a separate USB audio device from USB DAC)
• Double jitter-reduction mechanism at data level and at oversampling filter stage
• High-quality analog volume control, High voltage 2V analog output
• No capacitors in any of the audio signal paths, Low power consumption; USB self-powered
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 2.6 inches | | Product Width:
| 0.83 inches | | Product Height:
| 1.5 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.5 pounds | | Package Length:
| 6.06 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.98 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.42 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.57 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 1 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Beautiful, portable sound for your laptopFeb 09, 2012
By Kenneth F. Krutsch
I previously purchased the NuForce uDAC-2 from Amazon and recently ordered the uDAC-2SE upgrade kit from NuForce. The upgrade kit consists of new face/back plates and interior circuit board. It also includes gold-plated screws and a new volume knob. I wished I'd known about the screws, because I also ordered an extra set of replacement screws. Oh well, it was 9.95.
Anyway, I have spent a lot of time listening to the original uDAC-2 at work, using Bose QC-15 headphones (I need the noise canceling to block out the guy down the hall that jabbers on all day about who knows what).
For the upgrade, which results in this product (NuForce uDAC-2SE w/ Async USB), I tested the results w/ both the Bose QC-15s and my 'good' headphones, a set of Grado RS-2. For the source, it's a MacBook Pro 17" (late 2010 model) running iTunes, with the Pure Music audio engine playing Apple Lossless tracks at 44.1/16, 88.2/24 and 96/24 tracks. My home system is the same source, but with an ICON HDP w/ the LPS-1 (linear, regulated power supply), which I think sounds incredible. No, I don't work for NuForce or anyone else in the audio industry.
First off, you really need to compare the uDAC-2SE with the stock DAC output from the MacBook Pro.
The track I used for my A-B comparisons was Agnes Obel's 'Close Watch'. The song has a metronome like melody that plays though out the track (it sounds like a piano key and a string being plucked on another instrument in time with the piano - who knows). With the 'native' MacBook Pro output, the sound of the metronome is slurred and almost muddied - another words, a very soft 'attack' if you will on the pluck of the string.
Switching the uDAC-2SE, the transparency and detail was really noticeable; but the speed of the 'attack' was dramatic. Really, night and day difference that you will notice w/o needing an A-B comparison.
Then, I switched to the ICON HDP, using the same Pure Music settings (up sampling to 96kHz) - the ICON HDP w/ LPS-1 has a noticeably lower noise floor (surprisingly quiet ) and, of course, can drive the Grados to a much higher volume without breaking a sweat. The music just feels heavier in a good way and Agnes' vocals are really powerful.
Of course, the uDAC-2 is a lot easier to fit into my laptop bag, which is the point: compared to the 'native' MacBook Pro output, the uDAC-2SE is a really sweet upgrade. Compared to a desk-bound rig (like my ICON HDP w/ LPS-1), it shows its price tag.
I really don't know what to make of the jitter-mitigating Async USB on the uDAC-2SE, since I can't A-B compare with the original uDAC-2, but the ICON HDP doesn't support Async USB and I think the HDP sounds better, but that may be a matter of cleaner power and higher volume levels, et al.
If you listen to a lot music on your laptop, with decent headphones, using high quality source material, you won't be sorry you bought one of these. When I let co-workers demo my work setup, the response is always a jaw-drop and then the question: "...please tell me I can get all of this for $100...", to which I laugh out loud.
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