iFi Audio Appreciation Thread

[TeamStereo]

Livestrong of Audiokarma.org posts images of the iDSD Micro!​

“This arrived today and let’s just say I’ve been thoroughly enjoying it ”

Thanks Livestrong!
Going Digital! - Page 5 - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums

 

[dqwong]

iFi iDSD Micro – Review | HeadMania

 

[aftercrasher]

After owning my iDSD micro for 6 months I attempted to toggle the XBass switch yesterday.

Upon toggling it.. I hear.... no change in the sound.. shouldn't it be a noticeable change? or the change is so subtle that I cant hear it?

 

[Gaminator]

After owning my iDSD micro for 6 months I attempted to toggle the XBass switch yesterday.

Upon toggling it.. I hear.... no change in the sound.. shouldn't it be a noticeable change? or the change is so subtle that I cant hear it?

I believe it's different from the original X-Bass on the iCAN. The X-Bass on the Micro iDSD boost sub bass rather than mid bass (so it's subtler), so only when the songs you're listening to has deep extended bass, it's unlikely you'd hear a difference with X-Bass enabled, that's what I'd gathered gleaning info from the net after I had enabled X-Bass and went, 'Eh? How come no difference leh?".

 

[TeamStereo]

After owning my iDSD micro for 6 months I attempted to toggle the XBass switch yesterday.

Upon toggling it.. I hear.... no change in the sound.. shouldn't it be a noticeable change? or the change is so subtle that I cant hear it?

From our experience, the Micro iDSD Xbass setting sounds closer to Micro iCAN level 1 Xbass and definitely not as pronounced as the level 2 Xbass on Micro iCAN.

To hear the difference of the Micro iDSD Xbass depends largely on the songs. As bass increases more on the lower bass regions so the song played must have some information there in order for the difference to be heard.

On certain orchestra track that we test, we did hear a slightly fuller low end while not being overly emphasized. Instruments like bass drums can be heard with more weight. While on some Electronics tracks, the changes is really subtle. On some Pop music, it's really hard to pick up the difference as there is probably not much low frequency information. Just like level 1 Xbass on Micro iCAN.

Hope this helps.

 

[cowdragon]

I saw on thepcenthusiast.com that we could set the default format of the nano iDSD to 32bit 192kHz. But on my pc, the selection is up to only 24bit 192kHz only. Why is this so and how do I get the 32bit? How much difference in sound quality between these 2 settings. Help is appreciated.

 

[TeamStereo]

I saw on thepcenthusiast.com that we could set the default format of the nano iDSD to 32bit 192kHz. But on my pc, the selection is up to only 24bit 192kHz only. Why is this so and how do I get the 32bit? How much difference in sound quality between these 2 settings. Help is appreciated.

We have read the iDSD nano review on thepcenthusiast.com, it’s true that iDSD nano is able to natively support PCM formats up to 32bit/ 384Khz and DSD256 (Quad DSD), however there is some confusion on the part where the reviewer states using the highest sample rates setting on the control panel will give the best possible sound.

Generally in order to get the best sound from your music files the playback should be native, this means not altering the music file’s original format and sample rate during playback throughout the software to the hardware (your DAC), sample rate conversion is often describe to alter the file’s original data and might have adverse effect on the sound quality in most cases.

By using the control panel setting to up sample will not give you better sound, ideally you play a 32bit file as 32bit, not playing 32bit and down sampling to 16bit. Similarly, you will not get 32bit quality by up sampling from a 16bit file.

May we know what software do you use so we can assist you further?

 

[cowdragon]

Don't quite understand which software you're refering to.
Anyway, my PC is on windows 7 home premium and I installed the HD USB Audio Driver 2.23.exe
If you're refering to the music software. At the moment, just playing off YouTube and I have Spotify premium account. In fact, was trying to find out where to get good quality source music. Would appreciate some recommendations too.
Thank you

 

[exclusiv3]

how do i playback youtube after playing through jriver?

why is there pop sound whenever i tried to turn ON and OFF the micro????

using idsd micro latest firmware.

 

[w3ird0lol]

am i the only one or what, but i noticed my IUSB recently took a very long time to recognise in my computer after i had booted up my system. Any similar experience?

 

[alamakazim]

am i the only one or what, but i noticed my IUSB recently took a very long time to recognise in my computer after i had booted up my system. Any similar experience?

? iUSB is not a device... that will be detected ....

is just a power supply

 

[exclusiv3]

what's the dsd analog filter they r talking about?

how to do the setting? im using jriver as my media player

 

[TeamStereo]

Don't quite understand which software you're refering to.
Anyway, my PC is on windows 7 home premium and I installed the HD USB Audio Driver 2.23.exe
If you're refering to the music software. At the moment, just playing off YouTube and I have Spotify premium account. In fact, was trying to find out where to get good quality source music. Would appreciate some recommendations too.
Thank you

You don’t have to worry too much about the control panel sample rate setting if you are using Spotify and YouTube, using the 16bit/ 44KHz setting will be just fine as those 2 programs deliver audio at those sample rates.

If you are looking for software for playback of your own music you could try Foobar 2000 (free) or Jriver (free temporary trial, full version must be paid), with the correct setting those 2 softwares sound quality are more superior than those like Windows media player etc.

 

[TeamStereo]

how do i playback youtube after playing through jriver?

why is there pop sound whenever i tried to turn ON and OFF the micro????

using idsd micro latest firmware.

If you meant that YouTube sound doesn't come through after playing a song in Jriver, you might have used audio output mode that supports exclusive access like WASAPI, those output mode allow Jriver to automatically detect and natively playback different sample rates and also exclusive access to the designated audio hardware (in this case your ifi iDSD Micro), so other audio program output to the audio hardware will be negated.

Solutions:

On Jriver try pressing the stop button instead of pause button and see if the exclusive access is deactivated and allowing YouTube sound to come through.

More solutions via this link:

As for the popping sound when iDSD Micro is switched on/ off is due to the amplifier circuit being engaged/ disengaged and if there is a connected headphone the popping sound can be heard, this is not a defect, however if the popping sound is unusually loud you can bring it down for us to take a look.

 

[TeamStereo]

what's the dsd analog filter they r talking about?

how to do the setting? im using jriver as my media player

If you are using the iDSD Micro, the analog filter for DSD can be selected via the 3 position filter switches at the side of Micro iDSD, each filters will give a slightly different sound, ifi did also point out that there is no “best” setting for DSD and recommends users to try the different settings and determine for themselves which sound they prefer.

More information on the filters can be found in these links:

Link 1

Link 2

 

[exclusiv3]

If you are using the iDSD Micro, the analog filter for DSD can be selected via the 3 position filter switches at the side of Micro iDSD, each filters will give a slightly different sound, ifi did also point out that there is no “best” setting for DSD and recommends users to try the different settings and determine for themselves which sound they prefer.

More information on the filters can be found in these links:

Link 1

Link 2

From I read, the switch on the micro is " digital filter" for pcm; bit perfect, min phase and standard. I'm asking about the dsd analog filter; wide, ultra wide, etc.How to do the setting for ultra wide? Or the digital filter works the same for dsd analog filter?

 

[exclusiv3]

I am thinking of adding the iusb into my system and wondering how much more benefits will I get since the micro alr have ipurifier built-in. Is it too over kill?

 

[dqwong]

I am thinking of adding the iusb into my system and wondering how much more benefits will I get since the micro alr have ipurifier built-in. Is it too over kill?

USB is extremely(electrically)noisy, especially if your usb dac is drawing power off the PC's usb port. It won't change the sound signature of your dac but it will help to reduce noise thus improving the background sound stage(more quieter, darker) and allow you to hear more of the micro details that you don't notice before. It all depends on how resolving your headphones is in order to hear the difference.

Speaking of which... any offers for Ifi Itube? thinking of hooting one to try.

 

[StereoLoft]

From I read, the switch on the micro is " digital filter" for pcm; bit perfect, min phase and standard. I'm asking about the dsd analog filter; wide, ultra wide, etc.How to do the setting for ultra wide? Or the digital filter works the same for dsd analog filter?

Hi Exclusiv3

The Extreme filter for DSD share the same position as Bit perfect filter for PCM

The Extended filter for DSD share the same position as minimum phase filter for PCM

The Standard filter for both DSD and PCM is the same position

 

[exclusiv3]

Hi Exclusiv3

The Extreme filter for DSD share the same position as Bit perfect filter for PCM

The Extended filter for DSD share the same position as minimum phase filter for PCM

The Standard filter for both DSD and PCM is the same position

thanks for the clarification. anyways, i connected it to my amplifier and its does produce loud pop and result in clip signal, i can see in im my amplifier showing red led indicating that there is clipped signal. guess need to bring it down to u all and have a look at it.