Auditioned the Nuforce ref 9 today

Midnite Mick
Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
edited February 2006 in Electronics
I auditioned a pair of Nuforce ref 9 (.02 version) on the lsi15's with just a mutichannel processor in 2 channel today (Sherwood Newcastle p965) and they sounded very good to me. The sound was very dynamic and full, with excellent transparency. The guy had a Sherwood Newcastle a965 that he uses for home theatre and there really was no comparison. It was enough to make me order a pair. I think that everybody, given the opportunity, even if you have a high end SS amplifier should give them a listen. I am not saying that they are necessarily going to be better, but they are definitely worth checking out. You will probably be pleasantly surprised. Don't dissmiss this because you heard another "digital" amplifier and thought that it was horrible. These don't sound digital at all.

I am totally ignorant of the internal workings of an amplifier, but how these things provide the energy to a speaker is beyond me. The freakin things are tiny. No huge transformer, less than 2 inches thick and can still sound so powerful and dynamic. I can't wait to get them home. Headroom not an issue for HT. No need for huge stands. Things barely get warm at all. Source volt fluctuations not an issue. Traditionalists are going to hate these!
Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
Consonance cd120T
Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
Usher CP 6311

Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
Post edited by Midnite Mick on
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited February 2006
    Hi Midnight,
    That is a nice purchase, I wonder how they compare to an equal prices SS amp. What are you using now for the Lsi's?
    Venom
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited February 2006
    Honestly, I have limited experiences with a wide array of equipment as I am very new to this. I just put it out there to let people know that this seems like a very solid option and should be considered as a candidate in their choices. The only gear that I have personally heard play on the lsi's is a hk receiver, Pioneer receiver (very breifly), Adcom 5503 amp (pioneer pre), and Sherwood Newcastle a965 (Sherwood Newcastle p965 pre) amp. All of these are by no means "high end". Having said that I was very impressed with the Nuforce ref 9 (Sherwood Newcastle P965 pre). And really didn't expect to be. They were no comparison at all. However, I have not auditioned any of the big name amps on these speakers (Krell, Mark Levinson, Classe, etc.). These aren't really in my price category when it comes to the necessary power for the lsi's anyway. I am hoping others that are more knowledgable than I and have these amps make some comparisons for us. The dealer that I purchased these from is more of a rep for an American distributor of several different products and doesn't work for Nuforce. He uses these in his home. The company that he works for is called Next Level audio and they have there own forum. The guy that I purchased them from is Andrew Pratt. If you check out the forum you will see his name a lot. I think that you may get a lot of these amp questions answered there. However, doubt many would be using the polk's.
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited February 2006
    http://www.nextlevelav.com/forum/
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,093
    edited February 2006
    Check out there web site nuforce.com. It explains in depth about the technology they use. It is a new patented technology that is not class D or ICEpower. They have gotten tremendous reviews from all over the world. Is this the new sheriff in town when it comes to powering our systems? Think about it for a minute. The power amps we know today use ancient technology. Over the course of decades no real breakthroughs were made. Some guys swear that 20 year old amps sound just as good if not better than what's out there today. Times are a changing, are we ready for it? It's all about the music!!!. Does it really matter how we get there? I for one am going to be open minded to this new breakthrough in technology.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited February 2006
    I have never heard the Nuforce but I can vouch for the Sherwood P965. It sounds excellent for two channel as well as HT.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited February 2006
    pearsall001 wrote:
    Check out there web site nuforce.com. It explains in depth about the technology they use. It is a new patented technology that is not class D or ICEpower. They have gotten tremendous reviews from all over the world. Is this the new sheriff in town when it comes to powering our systems? Think about it for a minute. The power amps we know today use ancient technology. Over the course of decades no real breakthroughs were made. Some guys swear that 20 year old amps sound just as good if not better than what's out there today. Times are a changing, are we ready for it? It's all about the music!!!. Does it really matter how we get there? I for one am going to be open minded to this new breakthrough in technology.

    Great attitude Pearsall001. I really didn't expect much going in but the guy said let your ears decide. Figured it couldn't hurt. and my ears decided What I heard was smooth but dynamic, and full. This coming from a multichannel processor as well. He is getting a P8 (nuforce preamp) for himself that he said I could borrow for a week. I believe that this type of 2 channel preamp is new in that it is run between the multichannel and the amps. This is because it has a bypass mode that you engage which shuts off the preamps controls and lets the multichannel processor control the amps for HT.
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited February 2006
    He did say that he had the Rotel 1098 processor and he felt that the Sherwood Newcastle p965 sounded better in 2 channel and thats why he switched. ( a lot cheaper too--we all like that here )

    He also said that SN are the ones that make the Outlaw.
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited February 2006
    this is from the owner of The Next Level Audio

    http://www.nextlevelav.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1344
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited February 2006
    I have been lurking around in that forum from time to time also. Nice bunch of guys over there.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited February 2006
    Hi Midnite,
    Andrew Pratt is a moderator at the htguide.com site. Nuforce has just become an authorized advertiser at that site. I think he is in Australia. I have heard some good things about the Nuforce. They can usually drive a speaker load that similar powered amps cannot. They are a bit on the expensive side imho. I would like to see how the new Rotel D amps are going to sound for the same $. I just trust Rotel more because they have been doing this for a lot longer. Not to dump on Nuforce at all. Time will tell how they fare. Good luck and let us know if you need help.
    Venom
    Midnite Mick wrote:
    Honestly, I have limited experiences with a wide array of equipment as I am very new to this. I just put it out there to let people know that this seems like a very solid option and should be considered as a candidate in their choices. The only gear that I have personally heard play on the lsi's is a hk receiver, Pioneer receiver (very breifly), Adcom 5503 amp (pioneer pre), and Sherwood Newcastle a965 (Sherwood Newcastle p965 pre) amp. All of these are by no means "high end". Having said that I was very impressed with the Nuforce ref 9 (Sherwood Newcastle P965 pre). And really didn't expect to be. They were no comparison at all. However, I have not auditioned any of the big name amps on these speakers (Krell, Mark Levinson, Classe, etc.). These aren't really in my price category when it comes to the necessary power for the lsi's anyway. I am hoping others that are more knowledgable than I and have these amps make some comparisons for us. The dealer that I purchased these from is more of a rep for an American distributor of several different products and doesn't work for Nuforce. He uses these in his home. The company that he works for is called Next Level audio and they have there own forum. The guy that I purchased them from is Andrew Pratt. If you check out the forum you will see his name a lot. I think that you may get a lot of these amp questions answered there. However, doubt many would be using the polk's.
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited February 2006
    Thank you Venom. When you say "he is Australia" who are you refering to?
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited February 2006
    Not Andrew, he is in Winnipeg. I purchased my Rotel amp from Andrew. Good guy.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited February 2006
    Must be a different Andrew Pratt. Still check out the htguide.com site for some reviews on the nuforce.
    Venom
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