NuForce Icon Mobile headphone amplifier and USB DAC
Dave | Mar 03, 2010 | Comments 5
- Two headphone/line outputs: a 3.5mm 4-pin mini stereo (with mic) jack and a 3.5mm 3-pin mini stereo jack.
- A 3.5mm mini stereo external input.
- A Gain Select switch provides compatibility for a wide range of headphones and earphones.
- A high-quality rotary volume pot for maximizing USB and iPod signal-to-noise ratios.
- A built-in, rechargeable Lithium Ion battery with USB featuring a 2.5 hour charge-time for 13 hours of continuous playback at maximum power.
Product Description
The Nuforce Icon Mobile, along with its accessories, allows the user to obtain better sound quality from mobile music players, smart phones and personal computers. The Icon Mobile also serves as a rechargeable, high-performance headphone amplifier with adjustable gain or stand-alone USB DAC with support for Skype, Messenger or similar microphones.
Desktop Applications:
1. Connected to a computer via USB, the Icon Mobile can drive a pair of active, i.e., powered, … More >>
NuForce Icon Mobile headphone amplifier and USB DAC
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Filed Under: Mini & Headphone Amps • NuForce
I have not stopped smiling since I received my NuForce Icon USB DAC. I listen to my downloaded computer music for at least 6 hours every day; 5 days a week. I have been trying to upgrade my music files to higher bit rates. I purchased high quality ear buds to get better sound. Each has made small improvements to my listening experience, but nothing compares to the HUGE improvement in sound quality that I got when I purchased the NuForce Icon USB DAC.
2 words immediately come to mind. Clarity and impact. I noticed both on the first song I played. It is unbelievable what this little DAC did to the music. I was hearing instruments and sounds that I had never heard before in some of the songs that I have listened to hundreds of times before. Truly amazing product and it’s only $99.
It will not perform miracles, however. Garbage in/garbage out. If you have really poor quality music files; it can only do so much.
If, like me, you listen to a lot of music on a computer, you have got to try this little Mighty Mite.
I am truly blown away.
Rating: 5 / 5
What an awesome lil product for $100! Dual purpose of DAC and Headphone amp, couldnt ask for more.
I primarily use it as a DAC to my Audioengine A2 speaker. But the real deal is when you use it as a headphone amp. It just sounded brilliant with the Grado SR60′s. The mid’s are well balanced and the peaks as well.
Also, great customer service – if you have questions, email them and very quick response.
Rating: 5 / 5
I bought this little amp a week ago and since then have been running in for around 100 hours now. Overall sound quality with my UE Triple.fi is very very detailed and a little sharp, and the soundstage is surprisingly wide. Its DAC is great, clean & very resolving. When used with analog input, the SQ is just a little inferior to the DAC sound. Soundstage gets somewhat narrower and less detailed. And I found mini-to-mini connection with my iPod Touch 2G seem to sound tad bit better than when I use an LOD connector, contrary to the general belief that an LOD connection should sound better. But when I check output sound at different frequency levels using Sound Check app. on my iPod Touch 2G, LOD connection produce more pronounced sound at all frequency range. So I am still not quite sure.
Highs are extremely detailed and sharp, lowest lows sound bassy, but mids and mid-lows are a little weak, so the vocals may not sound very charming.
USB connection is susceptible to electric noise, depending on the USB cable used and at the same time on the USB port used. So you need to check it first.
I think it may not be recommended for headphones like my AKG K701 as the sound is not delicate enough on them.
P.S.: The cello on the Icon Mobile sounds just amazing. I can hear all the textures of the strings and the vibrations. Some of the higher quality stereo cables don’t fit as they have wide diameter and the input port is a little recessed.
Rating: 4 / 5
the performance of this product is dependent on how loud the input is to it. This will not be a problem with most commercial pop that is designed to sound good on car radios and computer speakers, but it will be a problem with softer recordings that the volume on the iPod cannot make loud enough to drive the little amp. It does have something to contribute if its input level is high enough.
Rating: 4 / 5
I Bought this amp to be used with my Ipod. I was very shocked at how flimsy it was. There is no way this would survive being accidentally dropped while attached to an Ipod. Also..be aware that there is no on and off button. The icon mobile turns on/off whenever your earphones are plugged in! That means if you don’t unplug your earphones each and every time you pause your player..the icon mobile will continue to run! How many times have you paused your Ipod for what you thought was a minute but became hrs? Boom..amp depleted. I returned it on that alone. Way better options at the $100 mark.
Rating: 2 / 5