iDSD micro Black Label. Tour details (page 147). Release info (page 153).

[tf1216]

I like this  
 
Thank you for the update!

 

[kugino]

@iFi audio so i'm interested to know what, if anything, changed as a result of the suggestions of the head-fi, facebook, etc. communities? you've had the micro iDSD in the planning stage for awhile, but i'm curious to know how the open call for suggestions led to any changes in the final product.
 
the things that were certain: form factor (micro line), DAC chip, RCA outs, battery...and probably some technical stuff that was being ported from the nano/iCan/iDAC
 
of course, if you'd rather not share any of these, i totally understand. but if you can, i think we'd all be interested.  thanks!

 

[BillsonChang007]

That's it! Goodbye my beloved FiiO E09K and E07K! You will be missed.... Not by a lot

 

[rptlead]

That's it! Goodbye my beloved FiiO E09K and E07K! You will be missed.... Not by a lot

My E09k + E17k has been gathering dust on my desk at home ever since i got the ifi stack.  I loved the 9+17 combo, but on the HD800 compared to the ifi stack-- it's night and day. So yeah, you wont miss the 09+07 combo im sure  But it's a perfect gift for an upcoming audiophile

 

[iFi audio]

  @iFi audio so i'm interested to know what, if anything, changed as a result of the suggestions of the head-fi, facebook, etc. communities? you've had the micro iDSD in the planning stage for awhile, but i'm curious to know how the open call for suggestions led to any changes in the final product.
 
the things that were certain: form factor (micro line), DAC chip, RCA outs, battery...and probably some technical stuff that was being ported from the nano/iCan/iDAC
 
of course, if you'd rather not share any of these, i totally understand. but if you can, i think we'd all be interested.  thanks!

Hi,
 
The nano, the micro and the mini have the pre-defined characteristics. Price point, size and target market.
 
The nano is <US$200 and is portable.
 
The micro is ~US$500 and is desktop/portable.
 
The mini is ~US$1,000 and is desktop.
 
This is something we should have pointed out at the outset as we assumed people knew. However, from the comments you see, a fair few highlighted the mini design as opposed to the micro design. The flip side is the mini is gonna have to be Crowd-Designed!
 
As for the features - what was planned, what was strongly requested and what makes it into the cut, we will provide a more detailed write-up later on.
 
Another good thing asked for by you all!

 

[ClieOS]

Really like what I have read so far on the spec, but the SPDIF input need to be activated by the USB connection seems like a big drawback to me.

 

[kugino]

Really like what I have read so far on the spec, but the SPDIF input need to be activated by the USB connection seems like a big drawback to me.

Yeah, I was confused about this, too. How will it choose which digital signal is used? Will SPDIF be default if both are connected?

 

[roamling]

Yeah, I was confused about this, too. How will it choose which digital signal is used? Will SPDIF be default if both are connected?

i was wondering about that myself. I assume the USB in is needed to provide power. I would probably  connect the SPDIF in to the SPDIF out of my Streamer to feed my headphones directly from the micro iDSD. My streamer has a USB port to connect an ipad which also provides a 5V 2.1 amp of power. So I guess that would work.

 

[ClieOS]

 
i was wondering about that myself. I assume the USB in is needed to provide power....

 
That would defeat the purpose of having an battery in the first place.

 

[BillsonChang007]

I almost freak out questioning why is there no 3.5mm jack LI and then I remember there is SPDIF in/out, supports CCK for iPad and USB OTG for Androids xD

Nothing else to ask for but maybe a gain switch at the bottom?

will there be black-finished version of iFi iDSD Micro? XD

 

[iFi audio]

  Really like what I have read so far on the spec, but the SPDIF input need to be activated by the USB connection seems like a big drawback to me.

 
Hi,
 
The SPDIF will be selected automatically if there is no active playback on USB. So USB can be connected, but not playing, then SPDIF is the input and will lock onto signal.
 
With an audio stream playing through USB, the USB will automatically take over from the SPDIF.

 

[iFi audio]

  Hi!!!
 
Thnx for your answer!!!
 

Hi,
 
Apologies but misunderstanding re: galvanic isolation as it wont happen in the micro line. Crossed wires between marketing and R&D. Sorry!

 

[iFi audio]

  @iFi audio so i'm interested to know what, if anything, changed as a result of the suggestions of the head-fi, facebook, etc. communities? you've had the micro iDSD in the planning stage for awhile, but i'm curious to know how the open call for suggestions led to any changes in the final product.
 
the things that were certain: form factor (micro line), DAC chip, RCA outs, battery...and probably some technical stuff that was being ported from the nano/iCan/iDAC
 
of course, if you'd rather not share any of these, i totally understand. but if you can, i think we'd all be interested.  thanks!

 
Hi,
 
What has changed due to input from the Head-Fi, Facebook and other "Crowd"?
 
The original pre-Crowd-Design campaign prototype spec is covered here:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/711217/idsd-micro-crowd-design-latest-specifications-just-added/30#post_10399550
 
It is easy to compare to the current specification:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/711217/idsd-micro-crowd-design-latest-specifications-just-added/345#post_10470227
There are quite a few differences.
 
The most significant ones are:
 

• The most substantial and immediately obvious one will be the mechanical design. This, originally, was based on the iDSD nano with a longer case, to accommodate a bigger battery and more electronics and is now a totally new design, with a distinct front/back arrangement, rather than the more logical, but less convenient "signal through flow" design (USB in on one end, audio outs on the other) of the iDAC micro and iDSD nano.
• This redesign also brings with it a change to a 6.3mm Headphone socket and an upgraded headphone amplifier not just with 3D Holographic and X-Bass but with the power raised to match the original iCAN micro. Instead, that is rated as 400mW/32Ohm continuous power and/or 5V/>100R - which is in effect 1.5W/16 Ohm for reference though this cannot be delivered as continuous power due to battery current limits and overheating. This of course raises demand for extra battery capacity and a much more complex power supply and management solution still being researched (but we are confident we can deliver it).
• Another key change is the inclusion of a SPDIF Input, not just an output and the inclusion of even optical SPDIF as part of a combo Socket that has optical and coaxial SPDIF together. We go even further by including a solid-state version of the Valve Digital input technology (VDi) developed for the DP-777 to optimise the SPDIF input quality, plus the iDSD micro will share the DP-777 GMT clock system to minimise jitter from SPDIF at least as efficiently as the USB connection.

 
On the other hand we have not changed much else in the design, for example our specified Op-Amp's, Resistors and capacitors will remain unchanged as they already represent an extremely high-level, as do many other parts. (more on these parts quality and selection later).
 
There are also other design features requested that we may yet be able to include, but we are not yet confident to deliver the results, so we have not yet mentioned them.

 

[roamling]

  Hi,
 
Apologies but misunderstanding re: galvanic isolation as it wont happen in the micro line. Crossed wires between marketing and R&D. Sorry!

Good to know, so another good reason to vote in the poll and win an iPurifier, or just buy one

. At the end of the day the marketing strategy in regards to that makes sense, it keeps the cost of item down and leaves the path open to upgrades which can be done step by step.

 

[kugino]

   
Hi,
 
What has changed due to input from the Head-Fi, Facebook and other "Crowd"?
 
The original pre-Crowd-Design campaign prototype spec is covered here:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/711217/idsd-micro-crowd-design-latest-specifications-just-added/30#post_10399550
 
It is easy to compare to the current specification:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/711217/idsd-micro-crowd-design-latest-specifications-just-added/345#post_10470227
There are quite a few differences.
 
The most significant ones are:
 

• The most substantial and immediately obvious one will be the mechanical design. This, originally, was based on the iDSD nano with a longer case, to accommodate a bigger battery and more electronics and is now a totally new design, with a distinct front/back arrangement, rather than the more logical, but less convenient "signal through flow" design (USB in on one end, audio outs on the other) of the iDAC micro and iDSD nano.
• This redesign also brings with it a change to a 6.3mm Headphone socket and an upgraded headphone amplifier not just with 3D Holographic and X-Bass but with the power raised to match the original iCAN micro. Instead, that is rated as 400mW/32Ohm continuous power and/or 5V/>100R - which is in effect 1.5W/16 Ohm for reference though this cannot be delivered as continuous power due to battery current limits and overheating. This of course raises demand for extra battery capacity and a much more complex power supply and management solution still being researched (but we are confident we can deliver it).
• Another key change is the inclusion of a SPDIF Input, not just an output and the inclusion of even optical SPDIF as part of a combo Socket that has optical and coaxial SPDIF together. We go even further by including a solid-state version of the Valve Digital input technology (VDi) developed for the DP-777 to optimise the SPDIF input quality, plus the iDSD micro will share the DP-777 GMT clock system to minimise jitter from SPDIF at least as efficiently as the USB connection.

 
On the other hand we have not changed much else in the design, for example our specified Op-Amp's, Resistors and capacitors will remain unchanged as they already represent an extremely high-level, as do many other parts. (more on these parts quality and selection later).
 
There are also other design features requested that we may yet be able to include, but we are not yet confident to deliver the results, so we have not yet mentioned them.

that is very interesting. thanks for the info...i think it pleases most people here that you actually took some of our suggestions and implemented it into the micro. in other words, you actually do listen - it's not just lip service. and thorsten and his crew are smart enough to make it all work...very cool indeed. very excited to see the release of this product (and to actually get one!)!