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Neutron HiFi DAC V1 Review

Rate this portable DAC & HP Amp:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 10 5.6%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 67 37.6%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 101 56.7%

  • Total voters
    178
Firmware 48 was just released for DAC V1 (Release Notes).

It now allows to use [FRC + Crossfeed] and [PEQ 10-band + Crossfeed] at 176.4 kHz and 192 kHz frequencies. CPU load analysis showed that DSP processing leaves enough time for other tasks. Earlier frequency was limited up to 96 kHz. Probably DAC V1 is the only USB DAC of all others currently available (in the same category) supporting such combination of DSP up to 192 kHz :)
 
Firmware 48 was just released for DAC V1 (Release Notes).

It now allows to use [FRC + Crossfeed] and [PEQ 10-band + Crossfeed] at 176.4 kHz and 192 kHz frequencies. CPU load analysis showed that DSP processing leaves enough time for other tasks. Earlier frequency was limited up to 96 kHz. Probably DAC V1 is the only USB DAC of all others currently available (in the same category) supporting such combination of DSP up to 192 kHz :)

Regular improvements you are bringing to your product are amazing. Not forgetting the microphone part is also something I would like to applaude :)

I read most of your posts and, since you have mentionned Crossfeed is quite light in term of processing power, do you think a PEQ 20-band + Crossfeed (or PEQ 10-band + FRC + Crossfeed) would be possible (even at lower frequencies).

Maybe I am in the minority camp but I love crossfeed and usually use more than 10 bands PEQ.

Whatever is possible, I think I will support this V1 version, waiting for a V2... which I hope will have volume controls and possibility to select several profiles directly on the device. That is nice to see things moving on the dongle dac market.
 
do you think a PEQ 20-band + Crossfeed (or PEQ 10-band + FRC + Crossfeed) would be possible (even at lower frequencies).

Thank you for this question! Tests showed positive result and these additional combinations are possible up to 96 kHz:
  • PEQ 20-band + Crossfeed
  • PEQ 10-band + FRC + Crossfeed
Both DSP combinations are useful for listening with headset.

Will address this advancement in the next firmware update of DAC V1.

I think I will support this V1 version, waiting for a V2

DAC V1 is planned to be long living model - 3.5mm single-ended, high precision, smart, power efficient. There are no plans to get into a race with frequently appearing new models (can I name it a sustainable development practice?). DAC V1, as you have noticed, is a complex device in terms of hardware and what is the most important - software/firmware. It does take time to develop software and this process is ongoing. New more powerful model means more power drain from the mobile device, therefore DAC V1 has its niche. More powerful model may come (as additional model of course, not replacing DAC V1) after software functionality is settled and DAC V1's potential is fully realized.
 
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PEQ 20-band + Crossfeed (or PEQ 10-band + FRC + Crossfeed) would be possible (even at lower frequencies)

NConfigurator 1.6.6 is released and now supports discussed DSP combinations:
  • PEQ 20-band + Crossfeed
  • PEQ 10-band + FRC + Crossfeed
Max PCM frequency is 96 kHz for above listed combinations.

See Release Notes for more details.
 
Thank you for this question! Tests showed positive result and these additional combinations are possible up to 96 kHz:
  • PEQ 20-band + Crossfeed
  • PEQ 10-band + FRC + Crossfeed
Both DSP combinations are useful for listening with headset.

Will address this advancement in the next firmware update of DAC V1.



DAC V1 is planned to be long living model - 3.5mm single-ended, high precision, smart, power efficient. There are no plans to get into a race with frequently appearing new models (can I name it a sustainable development practice?). DAC V1, as you have noticed, is a complex device in terms of hardware and what is the most important - software/firmware. It does take time to develop software and this process is ongoing. New more powerful model means more power drain from the mobile device, therefore DAC V1 has its niche. More powerful model may come (as additional model of course, not replacing DAC V1) after software functionality is settled and DAC V1's potential is fully realized.

Thank you for the topnotch support. I have ordered the V1. Once I will have received it and played with it, I will be happy to give a more mature feedback. Have a great day :)
 
Support for Configuration Profiles has finally arrived with NConfigurator 1.7.0!

Even if you do not change device settings often profile is still very useful (as it appeared during the development process...). Profile functionality will save DAC V1 from loosing its configuration after a firmware update if that update contained a change (sometimes happens) which re-initializes device's settings.

New feature is explained on a screenshot and NConfigurator's Release Notes contain more screenshots:

DeviceTab-ConfigurationProfile.png

With addition of mobile version of NConfigurator (work in progress) it will be easy to swap profiles on the go too. It is also possible to import/export profiles, therefore you can spread it to multiple devices or even share with others.
 
Eight dollars is "expensive"?

Or did it cost more back then?
I don't remember exactly, but compared to other music applications like Poweramp, HF Player. Neutron and UAPP are much more expensive. Moreover, in my country, $8 converted to our currency for an mobile application that is not cheap and not everyone dares to buy it. The worse thing is that you buy it and don't use it.
 
I don't remember exactly, but compared to other music applications like Poweramp, HF Player. Neutron and UAPP are much more expensive. Moreover, in my country, $8 converted to our currency for an mobile application that is not cheap and not everyone dares to buy it. The worse thing is that you buy it and don't use it.

Neutron Player has a free Eval version which you can always try before buying for 5 days and check if it fits your usage scenario and liking, not saying that packages available from Neutron's web site are free to install and use for 5 days too on Android and Windows (they work similar to Eval). Do not buy if you do not like it or it does not suit you. Other mentioned players do not offer similar functionality and features. And, Powearmp, for example, does not support direct communication to USB DACs, therefore no >192 kHz PCM rates (unless Android OS adds support for it), no native DSD, and etc ...
 
Neutron Player has a free Eval version which you can always try before buying for 5 days and check if it fits your usage scenario and liking, not saying that packages available from Neutron's web site are free to install and use for 5 days too on Android and Windows (they work similar to Eval). Do not buy if you do not like it or it does not suit you. Other mentioned players do not offer similar functionality and features. And, Powearmp, for example, does not support direct communication to USB DACs, therefore no >192 kHz PCM rates (unless Android OS adds support for it), no native DSD, and etc ...
I also did not understand why I decided to buy it at that time (lol). Perhaps I think the paid version will have some special hidden features that the free version does not have. Anyway, if you are a developer of Neutron. I want to give my personal suggestions to Neutron that you can make the interface more comfortable? And can you add bit perfect?
 
I also did not understand why I decided to buy it at that time (lol). Perhaps I think the paid version will have some special hidden features that the free version does not have. Anyway, if you are a developer of Neutron. I want to give my personal suggestions to Neutron that you can make the interface more comfortable? And can you add bit perfect?

This thread is related to Neutron HiFi DAC V1, therefore in relation to Neutron Player you could post your proposals on Neutron Forum or write e-mail via Contact Us. Suggestions are always welcome but GUI is by design.

And can you add bit perfect?

Neutron Player is bit-perfect since its inception. You can achieve it by using Bit-perfect profile in settings -> Profile. This profile switches off all DSP, including Dithering. You can achieve the same by switching off DSP manually too.
 
This thread is related to Neutron HiFi DAC V1, therefore in relation to Neutron Player you could post your proposals on Neutron Forum or write e-mail via Contact Us. Suggestions are always welcome but GUI is by design.



Neutron Player is bit-perfect since its inception. You can achieve it by using Bit-perfect profile in settings -> Profile. This profile switches off all DSP, including Dithering. You can achieve the same by switching off DSP manually too.
Thank you.
 
DAC V1 got up to 40-band PEQ with Firmware 51 and NConfigurator 1.7.1.

40 bands limit PCM frequency to max 48 kHz but that is still sufficient for a standard music collection sampled at 44100 Hz.

There are new DSP combinations:
  • 20-band EQ + FRC + Crossfeed
  • 30-band EQ + FRC
  • 30-band EQ + FRC + Crossfeed
  • 40-band EQ
  • 40-band EQ + Crossfeed
DSP PCM frequency table was also updated.

NConfigurator now shows EQ and FRC frequency response, including cumulative of both (green) making EQ tuning a much easier task:

DSPTab-Plot.png Plot.png
 
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Some issues I’ve found using it so far are:
- Apple sound option in nconfigurator does not get saved in the profile. - fw 51
- IPhone 14, sometimes get lots of pause/play in subsequent and very fast order… used 2 diff cables but disabling touch on the dac seems to have stopped it - fw 51
- Android 14 sometimes when I conn the dac cortana or whatever google’s voice recog robot is pops up and keeps saying something like it does not understand the command.. I unplug it and reconnect and sometimes it stops doing it, other times I gave up… - fw 50 and several before it, have not tried on fw 51 yet
 
- Apple sound option in nconfigurator does not get saved in the profile. - fw 51

Probably skipped this option by accident, will be fixed in the subsequent fw update, thank you for noticing it!

- IPhone 14, sometimes get lots of pause/play in subsequent and very fast order… used 2 diff cables but disabling touch on the dac seems to have stopped it - fw 51

You could try setting Sensitivity to a more coarse value (higher positive). It is not touch by the way but tap control. Internal accelerometer is detecting double taps and issues the command bound in NConfigurator. Maybe it was reading shakes as double-taps though. Please check if making it more coarse stops misreading.

- Android 14 sometimes when I conn the dac cortana or whatever google’s voice recog robot is pops up and keeps saying something like it does not understand the command

Could be some Android OS issue maybe? Most probably, if you are using headset with built-in mic, OS sees that you connected audio input device and tries to listen for a voice command. Input feature did not have changes in latest fw releases, so if you started seeing it recently, then maybe Android OS or voice command component got updated on your Android device and have some issues.
 
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