iFi Audio Appreciation Thread

[TeamStereo]

Michael Lavorgna’s Favorite DACs: iDSD Nano makes the list!

Michael Lavorgna’s Favorite DACs: iDSD Nano makes the list!​

“The iFi nano iDSD DAC supports up to 32/384, DXD, as well as single, double, and quad rate DSD. While that’s all well and good on paper, I’d rather have a 24/96 DAC that sounds good and avoid the numbers race. The thing is the iDSD DAC sounds good. Really good, exhibiting a natural smoothness and a lovely dimensional quality that belies its price.”

Thanks Michael! We’re honored to be among-st your favorite DAC’s!
Favorite Bits Digital to Analog Converters | AudioStream

Full review here
iFi nano iDSD DAC/Headphone Amp | AudioStream

 

[TeamStereo]

HiFi Choice says micro iCAN gets perfect 5 stars​

HiFi Choice (Poland) gives the diminutive micro iCAN a perfect 5 stars and lavishes praise on it, “has a big heart and lots of class”

Thank you iFi Poland (Moje Audio) and of course Mr Dyba of HiFi Choice!
http://ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/HiFiChoicePolish_micro_ican.pdf

 

[TeamStereo]

Micro iDSD impresses Stereosound!​

"I’d love to introduce products that impressed me while overwhelmed by the atmosphere of such a venue (Pota Institute 2014 summer). Micro iDSD of iFI-Audio is unrivalled in the specification and state-of-the-art specs. I have fallen in love with a robust casing and overwhelming sound quality…It is surprising to spec that corresponds to the PCM768 and DSD512, but advanced specifications which can also DSD playback and high resolution using HF Player + HD Player Pack by Lightning-only adapter is also great”

Thanks Stereosound!
StereoStereo online

 

[TeamStereo]

Nano series & iRack at CanMania (Capital Audiofest 2014)!

Nano series & iRack at CanMania (Capital Audiofest 2014, Washington, DC)​

“The iFi iRack was so cute and beautifully manufactured. It housed the iDSD Nano and the iCAN Nano. The iDSD ‘is the world’s smallest, portable (only 163g), battery-powered, serious DAC that plays all high-resolution formats: PCM/DSD/DXD natively’. The The iFi iCAN Nano is the battery-powered headphone amplifier. The sound through Sennheiser headphones was lively and dynamic. Not as refined as some of the multi thousand dollar headphone amplifiers you will read about later in the report, but damn fine for the low price. Add the iRack and you have a really good personal home system.”

Thanks Audiophilia Staff!
Capital Audiofest 2014 — Washington, DC

 

[t258jgn]

The iFi iRack got Promo Price?

 

[TeamStereo]

The iFi iRack got Promo Price?

We've PMed you.

 

[TeamStereo]

iTube works its magic on Paul of Dagogo!

iTube works its magic on Paul of Dagogo!​

“So, how did iFi get all those parts in such a minuscule box?…Vocals have slightly more “presence” with a smoother presentation, and instruments have better “sparkle” with improved harmonics making them sound more like real instruments….I heard an expanded soundstage with the narrow 3D setting engaged on all recordings….With the narrow 3D setting engaged, each instrument sounded fuller and richer….What the iTube provides is a tantalizingly large amount of superior sound of which the best preamplifiers offer in spades, yet only costing a fraction in order to achieve it.”

Thanks Paul Mah of Dagogo!
iFi-audio Micro Series - iTube Pre-amplifier Review | A Unique Audiophile Experience

 

[TeamStereo]

Micro iDSD is highly recommended by MLGrado of Head-fi!​

“The sound! Crisp detailed highs, smooth upper mids, slightly warm lower mids and upper bass. Clean extension into the lows….In comparison to the iDSD nano, the sound is the same tonally, but there is a notable increase in detail and dimensionality….I enjoy the 3D and XBass ‘Analog Signal Processing’. The effect of both is subtle but notable. They never get in the way, and depending on soundtrack can really enhance the experience….This is a special product, both in feature set and sound quality….Highly recommended”

iDSD nano and iDSD micro side by side​

Thanks MLGrado and Head-fi for the review and supporting the Micro iDSD!
iFi iDSD Micro DSD512 / PCM768 DAC and Headphone Amp. Impressions, Reviews and Comments.

 

[quantumhz]

So what's the price of the micro idsd promotion?

 

[TeamStereo]

So what's the price of the micro idsd promotion?

It is retailing for $649 plus this free item promotion.

 

[TeamStereo]

iFi Audio Micro iDSD pre-order is now officially closed. New shipment for Micro iDSD OCTA and standard Micro iDSD just reached our stores together with Nano iCAN and Nano iDSD. For those who have made pre-orders, kindly wait for our call soon for collection.

Pay us a visit at @StereoPlazaSingapura or @StereoIONOrchard and be one of the firsts to audition the demo set.

 

[TeamStereo]

Windwolf447 reviews the micro iDSD and howls about how good it is!

Windwolf447 reviews the micro iDSD and howls about how good it is!​

Using Sennheiser HD650 > IE800 (the MOST sensitive IEMs on the market), Windwolf447 summarised the sonics very succinctly, “Currently on the market with similar functions is only the CHORD HUGO, compared to the IDSD MICRO certain sound quality aspects such as detail and the size of the sound field it is behind the HUGO (nearly six times the price difference yeah ~ _ ~), but the to my surprise, the IDSD MICRO has more musicality than the HUGO - when listening to pop music when tunes are more pleasing. ”

A very big thank you to Windwolf447!
Windwolf447 reviews iFi Audio Micro iDSD

 

[TeamStereo]

Excellent iPhone DSD Tutorial by Art’s Excellence​

Art’s Audio Excellence (one of the major iFi dealers in the Netherlands) made this step-by-step guide to play DSD back through the iPhone using the micro iDSD for playback. It really makes life very easy and how you can enjoy DSD on the go.

 

[TeamStereo]

iFi breaks into the major league – Nano iDSD scoops EISA award!

iFi breaks into the major league – Nano iDSD scoops EISA award!​

Nano iDSD scoops EISA award
Best Product 2014-2015: HiFi Accessory

iFi shatters the mould with EISA award
iFi is very pleased to announce that the nano iDSD has won the EISA 2014-2015 Best Product in the Hi-Fi Accessory category.

EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association) is the most prestigious consumer electronics association in Europe and spans the globe. Perennially, the electronics giants are always there - iFi being only a two years “young” company(okay, parent AMR has been going for much longer), is pleasantly surprised by this award.

It seems iFi is gaining bigger and bigger accolades and they do not come much bigger than the EISA award. In everyday terms, this is like a non-Hollywood movie winning an Oscar for the best movie! So as you can see, this is pretty major news for any audio company let alone iFi.

The EISA citation reads:
“Beautiful sounds can certainly come from very small packages, as iFi’s nano iDSD serves to demonstrate. This USB DAC is powered via an internal Lithium battery that’s charged via the connected USB hub on a PC or Mac, offering up to 10 hours of playing time with most headphones or via the RCA line outputs. The single USB input confers compatibility with the highest resolution music files including 32-bit/384kHz DXD and quad-speed DSD256 and will even play DSD files directly from a mobile phone (iOS/Android) or iPad using a third-party App. The specification includes precision, temperature-compensated clocks and a bespoke headphone amp rated at 80mW but it’s the impressively sweet and insightful sound that is the nano iDSD’s most memorable feature. This has to be the hi-fi bargain of the year!”

EUROPEAN HI-FI ACCESSORY 2014-2015 - iFi nano iDSD | EISA - The European Imaging and Sound Association

iFi breaks into the major league – Nano iDSD scoops EISA award

 

[TeamStereo]

Art’s excellence Micro iDSD Review – Part 1​

“Now that I have listened intensively to the iFi Micro iDSD for almost a week, I can see my piggy-bank getting nervous…The iFi Micro IDSD is actually five appliances in one. In no particular order: it is a very comprehensive (portable) headphone amplifier, a USB to S/PDIF converter (coaxial and optical), a preamplifier, a USB da-converter that can handle a staggeringly high resolution for both PCM and DSD and last but not least a portable charger for your smartphone or tablet. All combined in a compact, perfectly finished aluminum housing.”

Thanks Max Delissen! (iFi:Holland)

More information at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.667820423303484.1073741847.133644143387784&type=3

 

[manualvin]

Question on SPDIF out

Hi,

Anybody have used the digital out of SPDIF and optical. How can that be used with a iphone with lightning to USB A cable connected?

I was trying to connect the optical connector provided to optical cables connected to my Onkyo LS3100 system which has an optical input but didn't hear any sound. From the sound source of iDSD micro it worked using the analog connector but if i can use the optical that would be great.

Basically was trying to hook the iDSD micro to my speakers which i only have the Onkyo speakers connected to the head unit of LS3100.

 

[TeamStereo]

Hi,

Anybody have used the digital out of SPDIF and optical. How can that be used with a iphone with lightning to USB A cable connected?

I was trying to connect the optical connector provided to optical cables connected to my Onkyo LS3100 system which has an optical input but didn't hear any sound. From the sound source of iDSD micro it worked using the analog connector but if i can use the optical that would be great.

Basically was trying to hook the iDSD micro to my speakers which i only have the Onkyo speakers connected to the head unit of LS3100.

Hi!

If i got you correctly you were trying to connect iPhone > Apple CCK > iDSD micro > spdif optical > sound system?

Unfortunately if that is the case, the iDSD micro doesn't output spdif optical, it only outputs spdif coaxial, the iDSD micro however supports both spdif optical and coaxial inputs.

 

[manualvin]

Hi!

If i got you correctly you were trying to connect iPhone > Apple CCK > iDSD micro > spdif optical > sound system?

Unfortunately if that is the case, the iDSD micro doesn't output spdif optical, it only outputs spdif coaxial, the iDSD micro however supports both spdif optical and coaxial inputs.

Yes, correct that's what i was trying to do.

I also connected just the spdif coaxial to the sound system, but there was no sound, that's why i was wondering if any other people here have tested their spdif coaxial to another system if it works.

Any one tested with spdif optical input via a Playstation 4?

 

[TeamStereo]

Yes, correct that's what i was trying to do.

I also connected just the spdif coaxial to the sound system, but there was no sound, that's why i was wondering if any other people here have tested their spdif coaxial to another system if it works.

Any one tested with spdif optical input via a Playstation 4?

Can we check with you:

- what file formats were you playing through the iPhone?

- which iPhone model are you using?

- what is the cable you used to connect the iPhone to the iDSD micro? are you using an original Apple CCK (Camera Connection Kit)?

- what cable were you using to connect iDSD micro to the sound system?

 

[manualvin]

Can we check with you:

- what file formats were you playing through the iPhone?

- which iPhone model are you using?

- what is the cable you used to connect the iPhone to the iDSD micro? are you using an original Apple CCK (Camera Connection Kit)?

- what cable were you using to connect iDSD micro to the sound system?

- Spotify premium
- Iphone 5s
- Original Iphone lightning to Camera connection cable
- SPDIF optical connector from the iDSD cables, my own optical cable that i use to connect to Playstation 4 and my other headset (working cable) for 7.1 sound