iFi Audio Appreciation Thread

[crazypaladin]

What is the recommended way to connect up the following iFi devices?

iPurifier -> iUSB -> Gemini Cable -> iDSD -> iTube -> iCan?

 

[rickysio]

when will the Stereo 50 be released in SG? any promo?

SO people can buy with SG50 bonus from Stereo hor.

 

[exclusiv3]

What is the recommended way to connect up the following iFi devices?

iPurifier -> iUSB -> Gemini Cable -> iDSD -> iTube -> iCan?

The iPurifier does one job and one job only; it cleans and filters audio + power at the end of the digital chain; just prior to the digital signal entering the DAC.

 

[exclusiv3]

pop sound when turning ON n OFF

i discovered a way to remove the pop sound when turning ON n OFF, it may be in my situation only, i do not know about others, u guys can try it out and feedback?

my set up is : PC -> Iusbpower -> Idsd micro -> integrated amp -> speakers

i set the idsd micro as direct, i.e pure DAC mode, letting my integrated amp do the volume control, and the magic happens, no more pop sound when turning ON n OFF the idsd micro. tried running at different DSD format and PCM format, no pop sound too.

The downside of using direct mode for the micro as it bypasses the tone control, i.e Xbass and 3D cannot be activated. im fine with this, i believe that the music should sound as what it's being recorded.

i find that when the song is in PCM, playing through jriver with NO encoding, sounds louder when compare to encode at different native DSD mode. why is it so???

 

[Gaghiel]

i discovered a way to remove the pop sound when turning ON n OFF, it may be in my situation only, i do not know about others, u guys can try it out and feedback?

my set up is : PC -> Iusbpower -> Idsd micro -> integrated amp -> speakers

i set the idsd micro as direct, i.e pure DAC mode, letting my integrated amp do the volume control, and the magic happens, no more pop sound when turning ON n OFF the idsd micro. tried running at different DSD format and PCM format, no pop sound too.

The downside of using direct mode for the micro as it bypasses the tone control, i.e Xbass and 3D cannot be activated. im fine with this, i believe that the music should sound as what it's being recorded.

i find that when the song is in PCM, playing through jriver with NO encoding, sounds louder when compare to encode at different native DSD mode. why is it so???

I no own idsd but based the three to four stereo amp/avr I owned, the pop sound is due to the amp engaging. Since u set as direct n hence the amp is in 'sleep' mode so no sound I guess

 

[StereoLoft]

What is the recommended way to connect up the following iFi devices?

iPurifier -> iUSB -> Gemini Cable -> iDSD -> iTube -> iCan?

Hi Crazypaladin

If you are using iDSD micro instead of the iDSD nano you do not need to buy the iPurifier as iDSD micro already has one built in! so the Mercury USB will be a better buy in this case



The connection

PC > Mercury USB > iUSB power > Gemini USB > iDSD micro > iTube > iCan.

 

[atlarge]

How much does the ifi stack usually cost with the stand?

 

[exclusiv3]

is it possible to just purchase the black pouch alone???

 

[TeamStereo]

How much does the ifi stack usually cost with the stand?

May we know the models that you are keen in getting? We'll help you check for stocks availability as well. iRack is going for $129.

 

[TeamStereo]

is it possible to just purchase the black pouch alone???

Sorry but we are not selling the pouch alone. Cheers!

 

[atlarge]

May we know the models that you are keen in getting? We'll help you check for stocks availability as well. iRack is going for $129.

this is the typical ifi stack right?
Mercury USB > iUSB power > Gemini USB > iDSD micro > iTube > iCan

Can i know how much will this cost if purchase as a whole?

Thanks

 

[StereoLoft]

i discovered a way to remove the pop sound when turning ON n OFF, it may be in my situation only, i do not know about others, u guys can try it out and feedback?

my set up is : PC -> Iusbpower -> Idsd micro -> integrated amp -> speakers

i set the idsd micro as direct, i.e pure DAC mode, letting my integrated amp do the volume control, and the magic happens, no more pop sound when turning ON n OFF the idsd micro. tried running at different DSD format and PCM format, no pop sound too.

The downside of using direct mode for the micro as it bypasses the tone control, i.e Xbass and 3D cannot be activated. im fine with this, i believe that the music should sound as what it's being recorded.

i find that when the song is in PCM, playing through jriver with NO encoding, sounds louder when compare to encode at different native DSD mode. why is it so???

Hi Exclusiv3

The iDSD micro Xbass and 3D out from RCA works both in Direct and pre-amplifier mode, the Direct mode bypasses the volume control of iDSD micro


Regarding the difference in volume level of DSD and PCM there is a number of possibility, are both the DSD and PCM file the same song? did they come from the same source of purchase? if you are using some sort of file format converter to convert PCM to DSD or vice versa you might want to check if there is any setting that adds for example 6db gain to the converted file.

also since you are using MC20, there is a few setting that might have caused the difference in volume between PCM and DSD

Are you using Windows PC? if yes follow the steps in this link first, These instructions are for MC19 but can be used with MC20

http://ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/data/DoPInstructions_JRMC18+19.pdf

Inform us about the results so we can assist you further

 

[exclusiv3]

well, it is not as obvious as using preamp mode, cant really hear any difference when toggling the 3D switch during direct mode.

i used Jriver to do the conversion from PCM to DSD, and played the songs using window PC. no additional setting was done during conversion.

another problem is that while converting to DSD "on the fly" using Jriver i.e playing songs using 8xDSD native format encoding, sometimes there is distortion while i was surfing the web, switching between different taps, loading web pages. i know that converting "on the fly" requires power, im alr running at 4.6ghz with 16gb ram. the cpu is running at about 30% usage while converting "on the fly". i also set 500ms and using extra safe mode with 8192 samples under ifi control panel.


is there any way to overcome this problem?

 

[TeamStereo]

this is the typical ifi stack right?
Mercury USB > iUSB power > Gemini USB > iDSD micro > iTube > iCan

Can i know how much will this cost if purchase as a whole?

Thanks

Kindly check your PM.

 

[exclusiv3]

i have tested on many different songs different format and conclude that xbass and 3D DOES NOT work while in direct mode when connected to a integrated amp. did not try using a headphone or earpiece.

if it should be working while in direct mode, den mine should be a faulty set????

please clarify this issue. thanks!

 

[StereoLoft]

well, it is not as obvious as using preamp mode, cant really hear any difference when toggling the 3D switch during direct mode.

i used Jriver to do the conversion from PCM to DSD, and played the songs using window PC. no additional setting was done during conversion.

another problem is that while converting to DSD "on the fly" using Jriver i.e playing songs using 8xDSD native format encoding, sometimes there is distortion while i was surfing the web, switching between different taps, loading web pages. i know that converting "on the fly" requires power, im alr running at 4.6ghz with 16gb ram. the cpu is running at about 30% usage while converting "on the fly". i also set 500ms and using extra safe mode with 8192 samples under ifi control panel.


is there any way to overcome this problem?

Hi Exclusiv3

Do take note that converting PCM to DSD or DSD to PCM is a lossy process itself, this has been explained by a number of professionals and enthusiast in the audio industry, however the perceived sound quality of these conversion could be bad or good as sound preference is subjective

Q&A with Thorsten Loesch of AMR/iFi | AudioStream

Archimago's Musings: MEASUREMENTS: PCM to DSD Upsampling Effects (JRiver MC19 Beta).


As for the reason why the DSD files converted from PCM by Jriver MC20 is lower in volume might be due to MC20 adding a -6dB gain (6dB lower than PCM) to the DSD file by default to conform to the SACD Audio Signal Property Specification ANNEX D.3 (DSD is the underlying format in SACD)

http://www.sonicstudio.com/pdf/dsd/SACD_FormatOverview.pdf


Does the distortion heard when switching between tab sounds like a buzz? Did you try the instructions in the below link? By using WASAPI output might solve the issue

http://ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/data/DoPInstructions_JRMC18+19.pdf

If the issue still persists try another PC to see if you hear the same issue, update us so we can further investigate.

 

[StereoLoft]

i have tested on many different songs different format and conclude that xbass and 3D DOES NOT work while in direct mode when connected to a integrated amp. did not try using a headphone or earpiece.

if it should be working while in direct mode, den mine should be a faulty set????

please clarify this issue. thanks!

Hi Exclusiv3

You are right on that! and your set of iDSD is not faulty , we have clarified and double check to verify that XBass and 3D is bypassed in Direct mode, our bad !

 

[exclusiv3]

Hi Exclusiv3

You are right on that! and your set of iDSD is not faulty , we have clarified and double check to verify that XBass and 3D is bypassed in Direct mode, our bad !

Thanks for the clarification. Had me worried for a while. Lol
I guess we can't have the best of both world, no pop sound no special effect. Wan special effect comes with the pop sound.

Anyway, how about the pcm and dsd issue? Alr tried configure accordingly.

 

[crazypaladin]

Hi Stereo, can the tube in iTube be replaced easily?

 

[StereoLoft]

Thanks for the clarification. Had me worried for a while. Lol
I guess we can't have the best of both world, no pop sound no special effect. Wan special effect comes with the pop sound.

Anyway, how about the pcm and dsd issue? Alr tried configure accordingly.

Hi exclusiv3

Have you tried on other PC and still able to duplicate the distortion you described?