Review of TEAC NT-505

Will there be any sound quality distinction between using the bluesound as the streamer and using the TEAC as the streamer? I've read that the Bluesound doesn't sound great, relative to higher end streamers.

The Bluesound sounds very good at its price point.  The TEAC just sounds a lot better.  The main difference is an increased level of detail, a "warmer", less "digital" sound with no glare, and the most surprising thing to me most was a much bigger soundstage and better imaging. 

The TEAC gets you much closer to the sound of a good vinyl rig and sounds a lot better than a mid-fi vinyl setup. 

The Bluesound isn't going to take you there.  It sounds good if that's your only point of reference but if you listen to it versus a good vinyl setup or high quality CD player the glare and graininess and lack of detail in the Bluesound will leave you wanting for more.  I made the mistake of doing that comparison.  I say mistake, because it highlighted what I was missing. I'm glad I did.  The TEAC plays more in the league of the rest of my sources and I get a lot more enjoyment from it.

Hi all.

For nt-505, a new update has been released with a bug fix for "standby", dated 05/26/2023.

https://teac.jp/int/product/nt-505/download

SYSTEM Firmware V1.53

External clock synchronization is now possible for COAXIAL/OPTICAL digital audio input.

Now you can sync with the same external clock as the PD-505T for playback.

Fixed an issue where the STANDBY/ON button on the remote control could not turn on the power.

On the last point with "standby", I (not only) had problems. What and how this time, it will be necessary to see. While I think, to update or not. In the past reincarnation, I did not reveal any advantages.

In this one, plus for working with the "clock", but I do not use the clock. )

Have anyone compared the NT-505 to a newer low price DAC like the Topping E30ii?

They are in two different DAC price and build quality levels. Apples and oranges. While I haven’t compared my NT-505 with the E30ii I can say that the NT-505 punches way above its weight class. I think I paid about $1,500 for mine new and I see they are selling used above $1,000 and the E30ii is selling below $200 used, if that means anything.

The NT-505 with the dual AK4497 chips was discontinued and replaced by the NT-505-X with dual ESS Technology ES9038 Q2M chips.

 

 

Yes, different levels, I know. The Eversolo dmp-a6 is more comparable to nt-505. A Norwegian audio forum has a detailed report on the Eversolo compared to the Topping e30ii. He found that the Eversolo sounded noticeably better, with a larger musical three dimensional space, less flat than the Topping.