North star Intenso, should I be surprised?

This thing just kind of blew away my ifi Micro BL, well not kindda it did. Things really opened up with this DAC Improved imaging and a comparatively huge soundstage. I really can't hear anything that this DAC is not doing right, vocals are more realistic and the bass leads me to withdraw the question of adding a sub. To be fair the Micro is hooked up with the supplied USB cable and BJC LC-1's IC's and the Inteso is running on and ifi Mercury USB cable and Wireworld Oasis IC's. This was my first opportunity to A/B them at all and I am curious to do a more apples to apples comparison but I am gonna listen to this Inteso for a while. I do think this Inteso would sound better if it was black, shiny slivery things give me seizures

1
Comments
That why I keeping the Mini
HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
If it's relatively new (not fully run-in) well, expect a different and much better sounding DAC in a hundred plus hours.
Vocals are especially enjoyable.
Very realistic SQ. Very life-like (live performance) with a wide sound stage . . .
Liked it so much, I went up the food chain. Deep rabbit hole, man. No regrets!!
PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Rears Salk SuperCharged Surrounds
DAC North Star Design Supremo
Source PSA PWT & Oppo 205
Pre/Pro Integra DHC 40.1
LCD Samsung LN46B750
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Pre Cary SLP-98 F1
Center Salk HT2C
Wires MIT S3.3
PSA PC AC-12
It has been playing for a spell now. I didn't really listen to it till it had some time on it. What did you move up to?
NSD is no slouch my friend, as I’m sure you’re finding out, day after day
The Intenso (and Supremo) are very fine instruments !
Happy listening!
PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Rears Salk SuperCharged Surrounds
DAC North Star Design Supremo
Source PSA PWT & Oppo 205
Pre/Pro Integra DHC 40.1
LCD Samsung LN46B750
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Pre Cary SLP-98 F1
Center Salk HT2C
Wires MIT S3.3
PSA PC AC-12
So you have the Supremo now?
The main thing NSD has going against them is that there are so many 'sexy' DAC's in the market and NSD doesn't focus on that - they focus on the sound. Their DAC's are pieces you need to hear in order to fall in love with.
Speakers: Harbeth: 30.2, SHL5+; Usher: Be-10, T-515; Rosso Fiorentino: Elba, Pienza, Certaldo, Fiesole, Volterra; Polk: T50, Signature S15, RTA 15tl, RTi12; Sonner Audio Allegro Unum, Legato Unum, Legato Semis, Legato Duo; Emerald Physics CS-2.8; Klipsch KLF-20
Preamps: Shuguang S200MK, Dayens Ampino, Parasound P5
Amps: Shuguang S845MK, Dayens Ampino Monoblocks, Parasound A23
Integrateds: Triode Corporation TRV-88SER, MastersounD: BoX, Dueventi, Compact 845, Evolution 845; North Star Design Blue Diamond
Sources: AURALiC Aries, Denon HEOS Link, North Star Design: Magnifico, Supremo, Incanto, Intenso, Venti
Cabling: Wireworld
TV: Sony XBR-75X940C
Speakers: Harbeth: 30.2, SHL5+; Usher: Be-10, T-515; Rosso Fiorentino: Elba, Pienza, Certaldo, Fiesole, Volterra; Polk: T50, Signature S15, RTA 15tl, RTi12; Sonner Audio Allegro Unum, Legato Unum, Legato Semis, Legato Duo; Emerald Physics CS-2.8; Klipsch KLF-20
Preamps: Shuguang S200MK, Dayens Ampino, Parasound P5
Amps: Shuguang S845MK, Dayens Ampino Monoblocks, Parasound A23
Integrateds: Triode Corporation TRV-88SER, MastersounD: BoX, Dueventi, Compact 845, Evolution 845; North Star Design Blue Diamond
Sources: AURALiC Aries, Denon HEOS Link, North Star Design: Magnifico, Supremo, Incanto, Intenso, Venti
Cabling: Wireworld
TV: Sony XBR-75X940C
Nice looking rack with Wireworld cabling, I wonder who's setup this is?
I found some black paint but it did come out so good. I want to return this one for a real black one.
PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Rears Salk SuperCharged Surrounds
DAC North Star Design Supremo
Source PSA PWT & Oppo 205
Pre/Pro Integra DHC 40.1
LCD Samsung LN46B750
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Pre Cary SLP-98 F1
Center Salk HT2C
Wires MIT S3.3
PSA PC AC-12
afterburnert wrote
So you have the Supremo now?
Yes, for about 4 months now and she continues to surprise me every few days.
Long run-in time, but well worth it
If you take the plunge, I'm quite confident you'll be more than pleased
PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Rears Salk SuperCharged Surrounds
DAC North Star Design Supremo
Source PSA PWT & Oppo 205
Pre/Pro Integra DHC 40.1
LCD Samsung LN46B750
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Pre Cary SLP-98 F1
Center Salk HT2C
Wires MIT S3.3
PSA PC AC-12
My apartment is tiny and isn't conducive to burning things in with music. If music is on, it's gotta be listened to.
Speakers: Harbeth: 30.2, SHL5+; Usher: Be-10, T-515; Rosso Fiorentino: Elba, Pienza, Certaldo, Fiesole, Volterra; Polk: T50, Signature S15, RTA 15tl, RTi12; Sonner Audio Allegro Unum, Legato Unum, Legato Semis, Legato Duo; Emerald Physics CS-2.8; Klipsch KLF-20
Preamps: Shuguang S200MK, Dayens Ampino, Parasound P5
Amps: Shuguang S845MK, Dayens Ampino Monoblocks, Parasound A23
Integrateds: Triode Corporation TRV-88SER, MastersounD: BoX, Dueventi, Compact 845, Evolution 845; North Star Design Blue Diamond
Sources: AURALiC Aries, Denon HEOS Link, North Star Design: Magnifico, Supremo, Incanto, Intenso, Venti
Cabling: Wireworld
TV: Sony XBR-75X940C
order from dskip and i will burn it in for you.
Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
Transport/Dac: Cayin Venus cd-100i, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkI
Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra
Speaker Cables: Analysis Plus Black Mesh Oval 9, Cerious Technologies Graphene Extreme
Interconnects: Analysis Plus Copper Oval-In Micro, MG Audio Design Planus Cu2,
Cerious Technologies Graphene Extreme
Power Cables by: Cullen Cables, 6sons Audio, Swiss Cables
Dingus prints included
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
200 hours of "what's all the hubbub bub?"
I agree the black looks good, but up close the Classic finish is NICE!
HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
The Classic is, well .... Classic and looks dang fine. Mine got shipped with "standard" . . . Thinking of upgrading
PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Rears Salk SuperCharged Surrounds
DAC North Star Design Supremo
Source PSA PWT & Oppo 205
Pre/Pro Integra DHC 40.1
LCD Samsung LN46B750
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Pre Cary SLP-98 F1
Center Salk HT2C
Wires MIT S3.3
PSA PC AC-12
HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
Is that a "Magnifico" on the bottom? What's a "Magnifico"?
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
Is that a "Magnifico" on the bottom? What's a "Magnifico"?[/quote]
CLASSIC IS NICE! the Intenso I demoed had it . . .
What's Magnifico? . . . ANOTHER rabbit hole, my friend
PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Rears Salk SuperCharged Surrounds
DAC North Star Design Supremo
Source PSA PWT & Oppo 205
Pre/Pro Integra DHC 40.1
LCD Samsung LN46B750
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Pre Cary SLP-98 F1
Center Salk HT2C
Wires MIT S3.3
PSA PC AC-12
I think the Classic faceplate helps it blend-in with other "silver faced pieces" bc not all silver facades are the same hue
@skip ^thoughts?^
PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Rears Salk SuperCharged Surrounds
DAC North Star Design Supremo
Source PSA PWT & Oppo 205
Pre/Pro Integra DHC 40.1
LCD Samsung LN46B750
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Pre Cary SLP-98 F1
Center Salk HT2C
Wires MIT S3.3
PSA PC AC-12