Audiophonics DA-S250NC and DAW-S250NC : new integrated amps with DAC (streamer) and Ncore !

[Jungstar]

By the way, it doesn't seem to have a tone control (Bass/ Trebble).
A (defeatable) tone control would make this a killer, for me.

there is tone control in the wiim app

 

[delfuego]

I ordered a Audiophonics DAW-S250NC (edited) and it showed up today. Still trying to get it all figured out. Connected it brand new to Revel M16. Haven't been able to get the wifi connected and WiiM home app requires wifi. I emailed Audiophonics and waiting to hear back. I really wanted am all-in-one for streaming digital music, all my records, cd's and tapes are long gone. Jury is still out for me. I've only been able to stream via tablet Bluetooth so far and it's not great. Could be the speakers, could be the stream quality, could be a lot of things. I'll try to keep you posted.

For what it's worth, I'm a hi-fi beginner. But this is targeted for beginners. Last brand new speakers I bought were out of the back of a van, gotta good deal on them . I am however very knowledgeable with computers, servers, networks, etc, etc.

 

[JSmith]

Last brand new speakers I bought were out of the back of a van, gotta good deal on them

Welcome to ASR... but you did what now? Usually white van speakers are very dodgy...


JSmith

 

[delfuego]

How did you know the van was white!

 

[JSmith]

How did you know the van was white!

Oh I was the driver mate...

White van speaker scam - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

JSmith

 

[Sangro]

I ordered a Audiophonics DA-S250NC and it showed up today. Still trying to get it all figured out. Connected it brand new to Revel M16. Haven't been able to get the wifi connected and WiiM home app requires wifi. I emailed Audiophonics and waiting to hear back. I really wanted am all-in-one for streaming digital music, all my records, cd's and tapes are long gone. Jury is still out for me. I've only been able to stream via tablet Bluetooth so far and it's not great. Could be the speakers, could be the stream quality, could be a lot of things. I'll try to keep you posted.

For what it's worth, I'm a hi-fi beginner. But this is targeted for beginners. Last brand new speakers I bought were out of the back of a van, gotta good deal on them . I am however very knowledgeable with computers, servers, networks, etc, etc.

Hope you get everything working, i am eager to hear about your experience with this amp! It seems to be a great all-in one package.. on paper at least.

 

[Overseas]

Always happy to see an European manufacturer, but... but... why this and not Yamaha RN803D?!

 

[VintageFlanker]

I ordered a Audiophonics DA-S250NC and it showed up today

Haven't been able to get the wifi connected and WiiM home app requires wifi.

If you effectively ordered DA-S250C and not DAW-S250C, you would have to wait for the WiiM app to connect... forever. This is a DAC/Amp, not a Streamer/DAC/Amp as is the latter.

why this and not Yamaha RN803D?!

More compact, cleaner, more powerful, less power consumption...

 

[Overseas]

More compact, cleaner, more powerful, less power consumption...

What I see is more power plus USB input. Sincerely congrats to them from Yamaha fan here.

 

[delfuego]

Sorry, mine is the DAW-S250NC. I will edit my post.

 

[Jungstar]

Always happy to see an European manufacturer, but... but... why this and not Yamaha RN803D?!

NCORE Hypex amp inside. Audiophonics last Hypex amp measured amazingly.

 

[Paszek]

Hello, my first post here So, first of all thank you all for contributions in this forum, which I read for some time now. It changed my persepctive, when I was trying to figure out how to improve my music listening experience.

Long story short, I decided to buy Wharfedale Lintons and Audiophonics DA-S250NC. I have no competence to say anything analitycal about sound, other that that, now I hear details in known songs I did not notice with my previous gear (inherited Sony SS-F6000P + Sony STR-DG510). I use external Wiim Mini with it (mainly AirPlay connection with Deezer app on iPhone) and I'm happy with sound quality.

There is just one thing that bugs me and to be honest it's reason I write here. I'm not sure if it's standard in integrated amps but every time I change or pause song there is this click sound. As far as I understand amp has to switch to dummy load in between tracks to protect speakers (?). Maybe it's just me and my sensitivity but I think it is quite loud and frequent (pause/unpause/end of song/start of song). It occurs with optical (Wiim Mini) and bluetooth input (I did not try USB yet) with iPhone and Mac as a source. I contacted with Audiophonics and they say it is switching relay and it is inherent to the functioning of the product.

And when I was just thinking "Wow, it sounds like I'm there" there is this *click* *click*... "No, I'm not there".

Only solution I came up with is compiling whole albums to one continuous track.

 

[AdamG]

Hello, my first post here So, first of all thank you all for contributions in this forum, which I read for some time now. It changed my persepctive, when I was trying to figure out how to improve my music listening experience.

Long story short, I decided to buy Wharfedale Lintons and Audiophonics DA-S250NC. I have no competence to say anything analitycal about sound, other that that, now I hear details in known songs I did not notice with my previous gear (inherited Sony SS-F6000P + Sony STR-DG510). I use external Wiim Mini with it (mainly AirPlay connection with Deezer app on iPhone) and I'm happy with sound quality.

There is just one thing that bugs me and to be honest it's reason I write here. I'm not sure if it's standard in integrated amps but every time I change or pause song there is this click sound. As far as I understand amp has to switch to dummy load in between tracks to protect speakers (?). Maybe it's just me and my sensitivity but I think it is quite loud and frequent (pause/unpause/end of song/start of song). It occurs with optical (Wiim Mini) and bluetooth input (I did not try USB yet) with iPhone and Mac as a source. I contacted with Audiophonics and they say it is switching relay and it is inherent to the functioning of the product.

And when I was just thinking "Wow, it sounds like I'm there" there is this *click* *click*... "No, I'm not there".

Only solution I came up with is compiling whole albums to one continuous track.

Welcome Aboard @Paszek. Changing perspectives is the outcome. Giving you the data and scientific facts is the objective goal. The making up the mind is your own.

 

[trifon3fon]

I contacted with Audiophonics and they say it is switching relay and it is inherent to the functioning of the product.

And when I was just thinking "Wow, it sounds like I'm there" there is this *click* *click*... "No, I'm not there".

I understand if we talk about a defective unit, but for a company that aspires for high fidelity to convince a customer that relay clicking between songs is a feature is beyond me. Inaudible measurements doesn’t matter when we experience audible clicks…

 

[Raxumit]

I just received my DA-S205NC this evening. I can reproduce at least one aspect of the clicking issue when using Qobuz over Bluetooth, where if I pause the bitstream ceases, which I believe causes the relay to toggle. I don't think I'm noticing any clicks between tracks though.

I haven't decided if this is a deal breaker for me, since 99% of the time I use a Squeezebox 3 which has a bitstream output whenever it is on. I'm confident this issue could be fixed in firmware, but is there a simple path to do an upgrade? Do other DACs support update over USB? The timeout could be configurable, with an "always on" option.

I'd also love to control the timeout for the display, which goes dark pretty quickly. Yes, I realize I might shorten the lifetime of the display, but I should be given the option (Timeout 5s, 10s, 30s, 60s, 2m, 5m, always on, always off).

 

[regan]

Only solution I came up with is compiling whole albums to one continuous track.

you should send it back and ask for a refund

 

[Bleib]

you should send it back and ask for a refund

I'd rather say to try to contact Audiophonics to see if they can do something about it. Since most of the time it's the same format that is playing for a long time a firmware could potentially at least make sure that it stays in certain settings. No click.

 

[JSmith]

I don't think I'm noticing any clicks between tracks though.

every time I change or pause song there is this click sound

It appears we have some conflicting information here... can any other users chime in or @Audiophonics to clarify for members? Maybe @Paszek has a fault with their unit?


JSmith

 

[regan]

I'd rather say to try to contact Audiophonics to see if they can do something about it. Since most of the time it's the same format that is playing for a long time a firmware could potentially at least make sure that it stays in certain settings. No click.

Well he said he contacted them and they said it's a feature not a bug so...

 

[Bleib]

Well he said he contacted them and they said it's a feature not a bug so...

Sure, but if enough people make a bit noise..