Decide between NuPrime IDA-8 and Hegel H80

@returntomusic,

Thanks for much for the input.  I couldn't agree more with your assessment of pros and cons.

I actually felt just like you about the inputs, the versatility, the worry about having "so much packed into such a confined space".  The future growth and versatility issues actually weighted much more than I initially gave them credit for.

So, in the end, I ended up splitting the DAC and AMP and purchasing the NuPrime ST-10 and the NuPrime DAC-10.  Both should be a step up in terms of future versatility and, hopefully, quality as well!

The final combined price was, locally, the same as I would have paid for the H-80.  So, while costing the same locally, I am hopping that the combined value of the ST-10 and DAC-10 are at least on-par (if not a little better?) than the H-80.

Also, if at some point I want to change to a newer DAC, I don't need to let go of a perfectly good AMP (or the other way around).

Thanks again! Best regards,
Rafa.

Hi - This response may be too late for you, please let me know if you've made a choice.
About a year ago, I was in a similar position and actually had both units in my system for comparison.
The speakers were Paradigm Prestige 95fs- large, very efficient, and detailed speakers.
My source was an inexpensive Marantz CD player feeding digital signals to both the coax and optical inputs of each amp for comparison.
The best price I found here in the US was $1760 (H-80) and $899 (IDA-8). So roughly twice as much for the Hegel. Both of these units were exceptional sounding, with plenty of power and dynamics. Both amps are strikingly detailed and open sounding. In fact in this regard, the Nuprime was slightly more detailed and open. The Hegel, though, seemed to have more body in the mids and was just a shade smoother, (in someways reminding me of my PrimaLuna tube amp).
Sonically, I doubt you would go wrong with either, the amps were more alike than different. Ultimately, Even with the price differential, I bought the Hegel.
I believe the Hegel sound was a little more forgiving with these particular speakers, ancillaries, and room.
The greater number of inputs/ connectedness was also a consideration
Digital
H-80 has 5 total; 2 coax, 2 toslink, 1 USB
IDA-8 has 3 total; 1 coax, 1 toslink, 1 USB
Analogue
H-80 has 3 total; 2 sets of single ended RCA, 1 set of balanced XLR, (I think this opens things up in particular)
IDA-8 has 1 set of single ended RCAs.
A scenario of connecting a turntable, (& phono preamp), to one set of RCAs, and a better DAC (as they continue to evolve) to the other set of RCAs, or the balanced XLR inputs, seems likely at some point.
Besides more flexible connectivity, for both digital and analogue, I am a little skittish about having so much packed into such a confined space in the Nuprime. The Hegel is, of course, larger, with a more open architecture for ventilation. Neither amp got very warm in my listening- it's just more reassuring to me to have air flow around internal components. This may be a speculative non-issue. The Nuprime is a digital amp, requiring less space & ventilation vs Hegel's unique approach to the AB amp. Undeniably,  the IDA-8 is a more compact less expensive amp, from an innovative, well regarded company.