I am actually in the process of reviewing the NuForce Reference 8 amps for the Stereo Times. I cannot offer a full report here as I've only had the NuForce amps a couple of weeks but I can offer some initial impressions.
I will also say that a friend of mine put me on to these amps and what got my attention was that he was so impressed that he is selling all his other amps to buy the NuForce. One of the amps he is replacing is a highly-regarded model that was well-received and reviewed here on Audiogon (no, I don't want to name it). He bought it recently and absolutely loved it... until the NuForce amps arrived.
In my own system, upon replacing my Aragon 8002 on my Newform Research Module 30 speakers, the Nuforce amps sounded clean and extended at first listen. The midrange was natural and musical, and the highs were very detailed, extended, and clear. Vocals seemed exceedingly natural and unstrained. Also, it seemed that the little NuForce amps actually had better bass articulation and control than the Aragon.
All of these realizations didn't hit me instantly, they took a while to soak in. What drove the point home was when I put the Aragon 8002 back in the system and felt like it was a step down. That's when it hit me in the face.
Previously, in that room, I used the Audio Physic Virgo II speakers with the Monarchy SE-160 monoblock amps and the Aragon 8002. A friend of mine who had heard the Virgo II system was recently invited to hear the NuForce amps with the Newform speakers in this same room. His opinion after hearing the NuForce/Newform combo was that he felt it outperformed the previous AP Virgo setup. I know that some of the difference can be directly attributed to the excellent musicality and articulation of the NuForce amps.
I have NEVER used the word "breakthrough" in describing any product I have reviewed in the last 8 years, and I cannot do it at this point in my evaluation. But next week, when I intend to put the NuForce on my VMPS RM30s, if they outperform my current reference amp then I may have to consider using the "B-word". I can say that this is the first digital amplifier I have heard that appears to sound more analog than analog itself!
As it is, I am completely certain of one thing. The diminutive NuForce amps offer extremely high bang-for-the-buck. They are bound to cause a fuss when they start competing with and outperforming some of the current crop of highly-rated audiophile amplifiers. My friend who visited last weekend is already thinking of what he has to sell so he can buy these amps (I know he owns a Spectral, but not sure which model)...
BTW, Pardales, NuForce is a subsidiary of NPhysics and they are using digital technology in a unique way that no other audio company has tried. The technology is patented and some is patent pending. The company does have plans to license it out to other manufacturers in the future.
I will also say that a friend of mine put me on to these amps and what got my attention was that he was so impressed that he is selling all his other amps to buy the NuForce. One of the amps he is replacing is a highly-regarded model that was well-received and reviewed here on Audiogon (no, I don't want to name it). He bought it recently and absolutely loved it... until the NuForce amps arrived.
In my own system, upon replacing my Aragon 8002 on my Newform Research Module 30 speakers, the Nuforce amps sounded clean and extended at first listen. The midrange was natural and musical, and the highs were very detailed, extended, and clear. Vocals seemed exceedingly natural and unstrained. Also, it seemed that the little NuForce amps actually had better bass articulation and control than the Aragon.
All of these realizations didn't hit me instantly, they took a while to soak in. What drove the point home was when I put the Aragon 8002 back in the system and felt like it was a step down. That's when it hit me in the face.
Previously, in that room, I used the Audio Physic Virgo II speakers with the Monarchy SE-160 monoblock amps and the Aragon 8002. A friend of mine who had heard the Virgo II system was recently invited to hear the NuForce amps with the Newform speakers in this same room. His opinion after hearing the NuForce/Newform combo was that he felt it outperformed the previous AP Virgo setup. I know that some of the difference can be directly attributed to the excellent musicality and articulation of the NuForce amps.
I have NEVER used the word "breakthrough" in describing any product I have reviewed in the last 8 years, and I cannot do it at this point in my evaluation. But next week, when I intend to put the NuForce on my VMPS RM30s, if they outperform my current reference amp then I may have to consider using the "B-word". I can say that this is the first digital amplifier I have heard that appears to sound more analog than analog itself!
As it is, I am completely certain of one thing. The diminutive NuForce amps offer extremely high bang-for-the-buck. They are bound to cause a fuss when they start competing with and outperforming some of the current crop of highly-rated audiophile amplifiers. My friend who visited last weekend is already thinking of what he has to sell so he can buy these amps (I know he owns a Spectral, but not sure which model)...
BTW, Pardales, NuForce is a subsidiary of NPhysics and they are using digital technology in a unique way that no other audio company has tried. The technology is patented and some is patent pending. The company does have plans to license it out to other manufacturers in the future.