| | |  | DAC & Headphone Amp | Home » » NuForce Icon-2 Integrated Desktop Amplifier with 24bit/96kHZ USB DAC and high performance headphone amplifier | | | | | | | Description: | | "The heart of your digital world". Operating from a technology platform that has won NuForce numerous awards and rave reviews, NuForce's Second-Generation Icon is an audiophile-quality integrated desktop audio amplifier featuring two 24-watt outputs, a 3.5mm stereo input for connecting to an iPod or similar portable device, a USB port for operation with a PC or Mac, and standard RCA inputs for employing the Icon as the heart of a conventional audio system. For the headphone enthusiast, the Icon also features a high-performance headphone output. Of particular interest to the computer user, the Icon's line-out functions as a PC or MAC USB-to-analog audio converter. This feature also operates as the connection to a subwoofer. | | | Features: | |
• 24bit/96kHz USB DAC
• Output Power: 24W x 2 (4 Ohm), 18W x 2 (8 Ohm)
• Peak Power: 30W x 2 (4 Ohm)
• Inputs: 1 RCA, 1 3.5mm Stereo, 1 USB
• Outputs: 1 Line out, 1 headphone output, speaker outputs
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 6.0 inches | | Product Width:
| 4.5 inches | | Product Height:
| 1.0 inches | | Product Weight:
| 1.0 pounds | | Package Length:
| 13.2 inches | | Package Width:
| 11.3 inches | | Package Height:
| 2.1 inches | | Package Weight:
| 3.7 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 2 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 2 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Amazing sound at your desktopApr 19, 2011
By A. Kumar
I am utterly happy with this product. Now, having that off my chest, I can proceed to the real review. :)
Equipment setup:
My NuForce Icon-2 amp drives a pair of Infinity Overture 1 speakers. Occasionally, I also plug in a pair of Sennheiser HD 650 headphones into it. The desktop computer is connected to the amp using a USB cable.
Sound quality with the speakers:
Astounding. It produces life-like clarity and vast sound stage. I have had this system for a few months now, and it still wows me every time. I can listen to music for hours on this system without any listening fatigue. This is among the best music systems I have ever listened to. It beats my $3k Onkyo+Aperion home-theater setup, when it comes to playing music.
Loudness (with the speakers):
It is certainly not the most powerful system out there for the price. But it is loud enough for me. Sitting at the desk, I never have to crank up the volume knob past 12 o'clock.
Sound quality with the headphones:
Great. Not as stunning as with the Infinity speakers, but it's hard to tell how much of it has to do with the differences between the speakers and the headphones themselves.
Build quality:
Excellent. It looks good, has great finish and feels sturdy. The knobs have no wobble and are a joy to operate. But the included audio cables are on shorter side. They constrained the placement of the speakers and the amp a bit, for me.
I would also like to share some suggestions if you are planning on using this amp. Pair it with speakers that have high sensitivity (at least 90 dB). For the best sound and critical listening, keep the speakers at least 4 ft apart, at ear level and pointing towards you.
In summary, I recommend this product wholeheartedly. It is definitely one of the best audio equipment purchases that I have made.
Impressive integrated ampDec 31, 2011
By Joey L
I was very impressed with this little unit.
Frankly I did not expect much given its size and parameters.
I specifically bought it for use as a computer speaker amp, paired
with a 24" iMac, driving a pair of NHT3 bookshelf speakers.
All my CDs have been burned into the Apple lossless format and contained in iTunes.
This is a great unit, greatly exceeding my expectations. It has low noise, flat response, good soundstaging and good detail.
I have learned over the years that I can analyze audio equipment to excess detail and try to be objective, but the ultimate test of whether it is good to me has been how much I look forward to listening to something and how much time I spend at it.
I listen to this set up more than my main system with much more expensive components.
To be fair I have to say the ease of use and accesibility of my entire music collection on iTunes is part of it, but the quality of this amp/DAC is remarkable.
My only criticism is that it does not sound so hot (distortion) when driven to high output levels. I know it is not the speakers because I have driven them more loudly with a Krell amp without distortion.
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