Is that the same NC500 you bypassed the buffer clearly violating the recommendations of the app note that the amplifier stage be driven by a low impedance source to maintain performance?You buy them without buffers get a life!!
Just yet another furphy of yours, that you can’t remember to see the forest for the trees??
Yes as I told you once before (is your memory shot) because my MSB dac has twice the output voltage needed from it’s very low output 10ohm impedance balance direct coupled outputs to drive the NC500 balanced input direct, so NO!! buffer board is needed!!