iFi Audio Appreciation Thread

[TeamStereo]

So, what's in an iDAC? some have asked.

Well, on the left-hand side, it is AMR's Asynchronous/Jitterless Lite USB module. One the right-hand side, the dac and headphone amplifier...

The DAC directly drives the RCA Sockets without any additional electronics, plus it drives the analogue volume control and headphone Amplifier. Quite a purist approach for this type of product, where others often pass the line out also through the headphone amp and volume control without bypass.

The headphone Amp can output > 3.3V and has less than 1 Ohm output impedance and 110dB signal to noise ratio at 2V RMS. Therefore, the DAC's dynamic range is fully-utilised, so the Headphone out can be used as Line out with volume control while retaining the overall superlative sound quality.
This is the iUSB Power Circuit board...

As it was so well liked, let's show another bit "under yeah olde bonnet".

Note how in the iUSB the plug-top ultra low-noise SMPS powers a lot of internal circuitry.

The already quite clean DC from the SMPS then goes through a LC noise filter which starts filtering at 150Hz and filters around 90dB at the common SMPS switching frequencies around 50KHz.

The filter is effective well past 100MHz. This eliminates any switching noise and RFI dropping it well below -150dBV with our low-noise SMPS.

After that filter we have a so-called "super-regulator" with a lot of trickery for very low-noise. Key is the Precision Voltage reference that is driven by a Constant Current Generator for maximum isolation from any supply noise.


Often we get asked: "What exactly is inside those iFi Units?".

It's not like we are shy or want to hide things. But taking really good looking Photos is not so easy and we have other work to do.

But we can "lift the skirt" a little and "show some leg". Here is one of our test shots of the PCB for the iCan Headphone Amplifier...

The iUSB with some quality brands:
Bel Canto uLink USB-S/PDIF Converter | AudioStream
Schiit Audio Modi USB DAC | AudioStream
NEWS: Meridian Releases The Explorer Pocket-Sized USB DAC

iFi Audio multiple product reviews:
Trio of Goodness
Sound and Vision magazine reviews iFi
Enjoy The Music on the iFi Trio
Review by monostereo
Review y tuishao.net [Chinese]
iFi Audio a new Hi-Fi statement | True Fidelity Performances
First Look: iFi iDSD nano DAC/headphone amp & iCAN nano headphone amp | The Absolute Sound
Dagens Test : iFi-Audio | Sir_Pierre's Godispåse
The iFi Schiit experience
AMR/iFi heritage from Poland’s HiFi Fidelity
Review by Faber65 of Head-fi
http://headphone.guru/ifi-iusb-conditioner/
Proof is in the pudding say’s Solarrdadd of Blu-ray.com about the iDSD nano & iUSBPower!
Richardo of Flickr says “Once you’ve tried iFi, there’s no going back”
iFi Audio: ‘Compact and high-end sound’ says Asada Yosuke of Phileweb!Japanese

Mirco iCAN reviews
iCAN Amp Review: A New Amp that Gives You More: More Bass, More Soundstage and More Detail
Positive Feedback: Issue 66 review of iFi
MikeShouts reviews the iFi Audio iCAN
Musical Musings reviews the iCAN
Review: iFi iCAN Micro Headphone Amp - YouTube
http://ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/HiFiChoicePolish_micro_ican.pdf

iUSB Power reviews
iFi Audio iUSB : Clean Power Clean Sound | Earmass
iUSB review in Head-Fi
Positive Feedback Online - iUSB Power a Writers' Choice 2013
Marvelous new upgrade for those using USB-powered DACs such as the DragonFly!

iDAC reviews
Confessions of a part-time Audiophile: Review of the iDAC
Positive Feedback Issue #66
Mono and Stereo High-End Audio Magazine: i-Fi iDac test review
hdphonic.com review on iDAC

Mirco iDSD review
iFi iDSD Micro DSD512 / PCM768 DAC and Headphone Amp. Impressions, Reviews and Comments.
Windwolf447 reviews iFi Audio Micro iDSD
Art’s excellence Micro iDSD Review – Part 1
Art’s excellence Micro iDSD Review – Part 2 – As a DA-Converter
Art’s excellence Micro iDSD Review – Part 3 – Final
iFi audio Micro iDSD Battery Powered DAC / Headphone Amplifier Holy &%$&! the Micro iDSD DAC with headphone amp rocks! Review By Steven R. Rochlin
iFi Micro iDSD Review: The Meaty Monster
http://www.hificlube.net/pt/artigos/reviews-testes/ifi-micro-idsd-dac.aspx - Portuguese
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/90012793-post490
Another “Greatest Bits” for iFi with the micro iDSD!
http://headphone.guru/ifi-idsd-micro/
http://www.monoandstereo.com/2014/12/ifi-audio-micro-idsd.html
AudioBlast waxes over the Turbo-charged micro iDSD!
HeadMania impressed by the iDSD Micro!

Retro System - Stereo 50 Amp + LS3.5 Speakers
High Fidelity delivers a stonking review about the iFi Retro!


Nano iDSD DAC/Amp
Yoroshiku Todo Sealion review
Rocket in your pocket
iDSD Nano : Most Affordable DSD Solution! | Earmass
Top-class says John Fernandes via wintech.pt!
iFi nano iDSD DAC/Headphone Amp | AudioStream
iFi-Audio Upgrades iDSD nano Portable DAC/Headphone Amp | The Absolute Sound
HIFISTATEMENT | netmagazine - AMR ifi iDSD nano
JBL LSR305/iFi iDSD Nano/BeagleBone Black computer audio system
iFi breaks into the major league – Nano iDSD scoops EISA award
Panagiotis Karavitis takes the smooth-sounding iDSD Nano on vacation!
http://www.sztereomagazin.hu/tesztek/audio/ifi+nano+idsd+kulonleges+highend+kiegeszito.html (in Hungarian)
http://www.macworld.co.uk/review/audio/ifi-nano-idsd-amp-review-3582635/
http://thepcenthusiast.com/ifi-nano-idsd-usb-dac-amp-review/
iDSD Nano: One of the best priced DAC’s says Fernando!(Spanish)
4 wheels moves your body…..iDSD Nano moves your soul!

Nano iCAN/Amp
Potatoe94 of Head-Fi review


iPurifier reviews
iFi audio iPurifier - HDPhonic


Gemini USB cable reviews
Adventures in HiFi Audio

iPhono reviews
The Gruvy Awards Phono Preamps
What's a $8500 Cartridge Doing In a Place Like This? The $399 ifi iPhono Phono Preamplifier

iTube reviews
David "Violator" Mushroom of blog.pclab.pl/
Inner Magazine - iFi iTube - buffer/preamp
iFi-audio Micro Series - iTube Pre-amplifier Review | A Unique Audiophile Experience


Pictures: Courtesy of iFi Audio Facebook page

iTube unboxing by Mono&Stereo:

IFI Audio 7 days Money Back Guarantee

• All items, package, accessories and manual must be as per new set
• Product must be in brand new condition with no physical damages, cosmetic damages or malfunctioning hardware
• Original receipt must be presented upon refund
• Please contact us beforehand and we’ll call back to inform if refund can proceed
• Not applicable for IFI Audio products purchased with bundled headphone/earphone. For bundle of IFI Audio product, only refund of full bundle is accepted.
• All terms and conditions must be fulfilled for any refund of items.

 

[kenz]

wow ... Attack of the i-devices

There's something old school, space-age like design to it.
Might even look "sexy" in a interesting kind of way.

 

[rickysio]

It is old school. AMR is the brand behind the chintzy, cheap looking exterior.

 

[darkarn]

But if the performance is good, why not?

*wonders if the USB power thingy can also power tube amps*

 

[racoiaw]

need someone to buy and compare

 

[schaffhauser]

It is old school. AMR is the brand behind the chintzy, cheap looking exterior.

Looks like this company AMR makes SUPER serious audio stuffs....

 

[darkarn]

Looks like this company AMR makes SUPER serious audio stuffs....

Moral of the story: Looks can be deceiving?

 

[Dreammusic]

Found a review of the iusb from earmass.

iFi Audio iUSB : Clean Power Clean Sound | Earmass

This could be useful to people whose DAC are powered by laptop like my iBasso D7.

Found another review on ican in head-fi from ifi fb.

iCAN Amp Review: A New Amp that Gives You More: More Bass, More Soundstage and More Detail

 

[Jason8811]

Great news that Stereo took over iFi in Singapore because Audio Note Singapore was pricing them a little too high, I would have reserve a set from Stereo but unfortunately a little late because I bought the trio in HK as I could get a better price there compared to what Audio Note was trying to charge.

The iDAC is actually quite good for the price, for $399 (Stereo's price) it house the ESS Sabra DAC chipset and an excellent headphone amp within. I have the iBasso DX100 and iRiver AK100 and I personally think the DX100 is better partly also because of the Sabra chip it has, only bought the AK100 because it looks cooler and wayyyy better navigation.

What got me interested in this brand was the iUSB which "cleans" the power supply and offer the iDAC constant 5V and that improves the overall sound signature. It's also good for those using a DAC that draws power from your computer.

Right now my fav combo with my iCan is the Audeze LCD3 and Beyerdynamic T1. I'm glad I didn't sell off my T1 as I didn't quite like it with my Headamp GSX.

 

[rickysio]

9023 isn't a terribly expensive chip, really... The Dragonfly, ODAC, UD100 etc use the same chip.

What you're thinking of is the 9018, which is part of Sabre's reference line, and a different beast...

 

[alamakazim]

uhmmm iusb ... get 2 for the raspberry pi and usb hub

sounds good...

 

[TeamStereo]

need someone to buy and compare

Should be available in stores to try soon

 

[weng]

9023 isn't a terribly expensive chip, really... The Dragonfly, ODAC, UD100 etc use the same chip.

What you're thinking of is the 9018, which is part of Sabre's reference line, and a different beast...

Which dacs use 9018?

 

[alamakazim]

Which dacs use 9018?

your level

calyx femto

oppo bdp-105

come usb dac too

 

[Guan22]

Which dacs use 9018?

Resonessence Invicta: $5500
Wyred 4 Sound Dac 2: $2150
Audio Lab M-DAC: $1300
Eastern Electric Minimax Plus: $1350
Matrix X-Sabre: USD 1100

Amongst others. Anedio, Yulong & Audio Gd also have Sabre 9018 DACs.
Bottom line is: they aren't cheap but sound fantastic.

Edit: Ah, yes, how could I have forgotten the Calyx twins.

 

[rickysio]

Quite interested by the Anedio D2/Benchmark DAC2 HGC myself but way out of budget.

 

[Jason8811]

9023 isn't a terribly expensive chip, really... The Dragonfly, ODAC, UD100 etc use the same chip.

What you're thinking of is the 9018, which is part of Sabre's reference line, and a different beast...

True to the fact that 9023 isn't an expensive chip but 9018 doesn't cost that much so manufacturer can charge over 1K if we have to look from that perspective. Same goes to the dynamic driver used in your futuresonic custom. For custom armatures combos and dynamic, many are paying for the tuning and DAC (although chip matters) the implementation.

I love to look at internals and what components are used when I choose my hifi gear but most would agree sometimes those "perfect" component gears can sound disappointing at times... (looking at some of mine right now.... )

Peace....

 

[weng]

How muchie?

 

[weng]

Resonessence Invicta: $5500
Wyred 4 Sound Dac 2: $2150
Audio Lab M-DAC: $1300
Eastern Electric Minimax Plus: $1350
Matrix X-Sabre: USD 1100

Amongst others. Anedio, Yulong & Audio Gd also have Sabre 9018 DACs.
Bottom line is: they aren't cheap but sound fantastic.

Edit: Ah, yes, how could I have forgotten the Calyx twins.

Interested to hear the audiolab as it's the brand i knew together with MF last time when playing abit of hifi but couldn't afford also read about it and impression is like those who wrote on it still prefered the m1dac. Still very isolated on impressions so would like to have a more proper listen to more dacs and also more pple's impressions on the MF. Seems like really nobody has it hahhaa

 

[rickysio]

True to the fact that 9023 isn't an expensive chip but 9018 doesn't cost that much so manufacturer can charge over 1K if we have to look from that perspective. Same goes to the dynamic driver used in your futuresonic custom. For custom armatures combos and dynamic, many are paying for the tuning and DAC (although chip matters) the implementation.

I love to look at internals and what components are used when I choose my hifi gear but most would agree sometimes those "perfect" component gears can sound disappointing at times... (looking at some of mine right now.... )

Peace....

9018 is significantly, if not magnitudes more expensive from ESS vs the 9023. The cost gap is huge.

Dynamic drivers might be cheap, but FS rolls their own custom drivers so due to smaller scale it's going to cost more, and there's RnD costs etc as well. Probably amounts to 2 digits unit cost per driver at most, but this has no relation to the topic at hand.

DX100 uses a 9018 chip, which is a different chip from the 9023 in question, which was what my remark was about. Same chips can sound different when implemented differently, and there is no guarantee the sound will be similar just purely thanks to the chip being from the same family.