iFi Audio Pro iDSD discussion thread

[Esprit]

External word clock?

 

[tunes]

Has anyone found a light weight rechargeable battery option for the IFi micro iCan SE TO MAKE IT TRANSPORTABLE? I travel and really think this amp has amazing synergy wth my QP1R DAP when paired with the HIFIMAN HE1000. In fact, it sounds as good as my home system using much more expensive DAC and amps. Has anyone else discovered this synergy??

 

[iFi audio]

  External word clock?

 
We are trying to have one input that covers Atomic/GPS/10MHz clock, as well as DARS (the AES standard), Wordclock (not really a standard) and Superclock (Avid / Pro-Tools), with both in & out. This is a long-term project so future-proofing for the Pro iDSD.

 

[Fastnbulbous]

Does this mean the Pro iDSD is still in development and no release date?

 

[Vartan]

Maybe in March

 

[bluesaint]

I just hope it won't have the QA/reliability issues some folks are seeing with the iCAN PRO

 

[Esprit]

  Does this mean the Pro iDSD is still in development and no release date?

Good question...

 

[iFi audio]

 
Good question...

 
And to provide you with the most suitable and accurate answer, for now we can only say that we'll release our Pro iDSD when the time is right, not even one day earlier or later. 

 
Several additional thoughts, though. This product is very complex, therefore to just release it is not that simple as it has to be extensively checked before in every way possible. Of course we aren't too far off, we've showed the fully operational device on several occasions. Yet testing of a product of this sort is crucial, we don't want to rush it. And that's why for now we simply can't give any details whether it'll be February, March or any other month.
 
We're getting there, please trust us. If only we could spill 'em beans, we would, honestly. This community is very important for us, hence as soon as there's something we can share, Head-fi.org is our place number one to do so! 

 

[bjas406]

And to provide you with the most suitable and accurate answer, for now we can only say that we'll release our Pro iDSD when the time is right, not even one day earlier or later. :wink_face:

Several additional thoughts, though. This product is very complex, therefore to just release it is not that simple as it has to be extensively checked before in every way possible. Of course we aren't too far off, we've showed the fully operational device on several occasions. Yet testing of a product of this sort is crucial, we don't want to rush it. And that's why for now we simply can't give any details whether it'll be February, March or any other month.

We're getting there, please trust us. If only we could spill 'em beans, we would, honestly. This community is very important for us, hence as soon as there's something we can share, Head-fi.org is our place number one to do so! 

Sounds as though it'll probably be end of year, which is fine with me given there's so much thought being put into the product. I appreciate the artisanship.

 

[Fastnbulbous]

Cool, I'm not complaining, just figuring out logistics on when I want to sell a couple older DACs. So I'm getting a Grace m9xx to upgrade my work rig, but will use it at home with the iCAN until the DSD is out and I decide whether or not to go with that.

 

[sdolezalek]

I can't help but wonder whether the care you are putting into an otherwise "hardware complete" product argues strongly for more separation of DAC hardware from user-customizable D-to-A software.  Ultimately the rest of the signal chain and our choice of speakers will interact with whatever happens in the DAC.  For example, The degree to which our pre-amp, amp and speakers can accomodate content significantly above 20kHz may influence which filters and filter slopes work best in our equipment.  
 
It is for this reason that I have always appreciated the effort iFi have made to accomodate the highest PCM and DSD rates, allowing us, as users, to work with software products like HQ Player to choose the conversion rates and filters that sound best in our own systems.  
 
Of course, that makes me curious about what systems and how broad a range of systems you test the iPro products with and how you choose which of those systems to optimize the sound of your product for.  
 
As a counter example, in the digital photography world, as both cameras and processing software have continued to improve, it is great to see how much more the latest version of Photoshop can pull out of 10 year old files.  At the same time, what it can do with files from the latest in digital hardware is stunning.  I expect we see the same happen in digital audio. 

 

[loplop]

Ifi isn't running FPGA or custom upsampling, that I'm aware of, @sdolezalek. They have custom code for the XMOS usb input, and of course controller logic. But nothing working on the depth/rate of the bits. That would not be ifi's way* . What are you referring to, then?

*TrueNative, and all that.

Personally, I hope they are delaying (again) to get their QC/Build Quality right. I'd wait for that.

 

[Franatic]

I've been following this thread and idsd pro development since 1/2015........over 2 years. We had hoped to see a release in mid-2015 at that time. 2 years later and no release in sight.
 
I love ifi products but my patience is up with the pro. I am upgrading my W4S DAC2 DSDse with the new ESS Sabre 9038 chip and will be out of the DAC market for a few years. Maybe down the line the pro will be an option but I am out for now. Don't know what really is going on behind the curtain, but feel there have been at least a couple major redesigns since the project started. New DACs are surely raising the target for ifi. The new generation DACs with the 9038 chips will definitely raise the bar further.
 
Good luck ifi. I am sure the pro will be worth waiting for.............................for those that can wait.

 

[EVOLVIST]

I've been following this thread and idsd pro development since 1/2015........over 2 years. We had hoped to see a release in mid-2015 at that time. 2 years later and no release in sight.

I love ifi products but my patience is up with the pro. I am upgrading my W4S DAC2 DSDse with the new ESS Sabre 9038 chip and will be out of the DAC market for a few years. Maybe down the line the pro will be an option but I am out for now. Don't know what really is going on behind the curtain, but feel there have been at least a couple major redesigns since the project started. New DACs are surely raising the target for ifi. The new generation DACs with the 9038 chips will definitely raise the bar further.

Good luck ifi. I am sure the pro will be worth waiting for.............................for those that can wait.

I ended up buying a Chord DAVE.

I'm still a big fan of iFi, though. That will never end. I recommend their products in that bracket all of the time on various forums and to friends. That will never end.

As far as the iDSD Pro, though, I think the Mytek Brooklyn and the Schitt Yggy have taken a big chunk in that market, which sucks, really, because I fear that no matter how good the iDSD Pro is, the other options on the market are already out there... Unless, of course, iFi is merely spacing their release from the competition with some announcements that's going to blow everyone away.

 

[iFi audio]

I ended up buying a Chord DAVE.

I'm still a big fan of iFi, though. That will never end. I recommend their products in that bracket all of the time on various forums and to friends. That will never end.

As far as the iDSD Pro, though, I think the Mytek Brooklyn and the Schitt Yggy have taken a big chunk in that market, which sucks, really, because I fear that no matter how good the iDSD Pro is, the other options on the market are already out there... Unless, of course, iFi is merely spacing their release from the competition with some announcements that's going to blow everyone away.

 
We have our ways of doing things and at the same time we think that there's enough room on the market for every manufacturer with great products available. And yes, we sincerely believe that every individual able to wait for our Pro iDSD will be blown away...