NuForce DDA-100 ‘Power DAC’

It looks like this Power DAC concept could become The Next Big Thing™: not simply DAC and amplifier in one box, but a unit where the incoming digital signal from a computer or streaming device is amplified entirely in the digital domain. The digital-to-analogue conversion takes place just prior to the speaker outputs.

NuForce have long been proponents of Class D amplification and their newly announced DDA-100 looks like it could be spankingly good. Using a similar amplification methodology to that of NAD’s C 390DD and M2, it converts a PCM input to PWM, and then uses that PWM signal to drive the output stage.

“In effect, the PWM power amplifier stage operates as a power DAC.”, reads the marketing copy.

“This effectively eliminates the DAC-related problems that have plagued serious listeners in the past. Fewer parts result in a more direct signal path, resulting in benefits passed along to you: exquisite sound at an affordable price.”

The S/PDIF input can handle up to 24/192 whereas the USB is capped at 24/96. Here’s what the remote control looks like:

At US$549, Jason Lim could be onto a winner. It’s not quite as powerful as NAD’s C 390DD but 50 wpc into 8 Ohms will be more than enough for many listeners. The NuForce DDA-100 has the potential to be utterly golden on the desktop AND in the lounge room.