roamling said:

but not something like 53db extremes....

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zzzmonster said:

I am now having 25db difference now just by changing sources.

Gain matching is very important for heavy rock music and metal music - if you attuenate with a pot too much, you get a jumbled bunch of sound.

I already have an iDSD Nano and use it for both headphones and speaker (it is already very awesome )
The iDSD Micro is not exactly portable - how many will use it on mass transport?

- IEM select and turbo for rca will probably nudge me to purchase it for the desktop.

Edit: This qn is posted just for clarification - if rca don't have iem select - can use a stereo mini to rca cable

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ifi audio said:

   
Hi,
 
1. Technobear has eloquently outlined as in few words as possible "Bit-Perfect." 
 
AMR/iFi chooses not to manipulate the signal so we avoid Up/Oversampling. This is our choice but another manufacturer may choose to do as much Up/OverSampling as possible. This is the crux of "Bit-Perfect" and why we refer to it.
 
If you do a google search, you can read up about DSP and what this means for the music signal. Suffice to say, it is no longer the original file. It would be rather pointless if we stated this and then in the next breath, said that our 3D and XBass used DSP - hope you see our logic here.
 
This is WHY we have STRESSED 3D Holographic and XBass do analogue signal processing. In particular, for 3D, there are now other versions by other manufacturers that are to the best of our knowledge DSP.
 
Hopefully now you understand why we do what we do. And empathise with why we are at pains to clarify that we use ASP, not DSP.
 
Without starting a huge discussion (not really for here) into why we prefer to not mess with the signal, this is our choice and we hang our hat on that. If a customer prefers the sound of uber Up/Oversampling, then sadly, iFi is not for them.
 
2. Linux?
 
You mean your question is: "Is the micro iDSD USB Audio Class 2.0 compliant?"
 
Yes, all iFi products are USB Audio Class 2.0 compliant including the micro iDSD.
 
We would like to refer you to the source. This answers your Linux question in great detail which we believe is what you may be looking for. 
 
http://www.usb.org/developers/devclass_docs
 
 
Thanks.

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zzzmonster said:

 

roamling said:

but not something like 53db extremes....

Click to expand...

 
Edit: This qn is posted just for clarification - if rca don't have iem select - can use a stereo mini to rca cable

Click to expand...

gkat said:

  DSP in generall, is a "forbidden" word?
 
I mean, if we use our dacs mainly to drive speakers and not headphones, what we usually "hear" is not the dac, not the speaker, but the "room" in which they play...
If we dont fix our room first, what is the meaning to have a super preamp/dac/speaker combo?
 
I will purchase soon an eq/measurement programm from Dirac (Live suite), and try to measure/fix my room anomalies, applying eq in certain frequencies that needs to be fixed...of course only to a certain degree and with precaution...if we overdo it we will certainly create more problems than those we try to fix...
 
so, in order for me to listen "bit-perfect", means that I must forget about any "sollution",  that will allow me to interfere in the original signal?
what is the importance of a "bit-perfect" signal, when, at the end, our room has problems in certain frequencies?...we will still hear "wrong" things
 
again, if we use our dac mainly, to drive active speakers, and not headphones...

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thad-e-ginathom said:

   
Digital/Analogue Procesing: Home is where one hangs one hat, so sure, I accept that you hung that hat. ifi's purpose is to sell this thing, and I doubt that entering into yet another of the world's digital-controversy threads would really help either you or your customers (which includes me). It is up to us to do our homework on what all this big/bigger/biggest numbers really mean, and what, if anything, they offer us. Big/bigger/biggest numbers are here to stay: we do depend on the manufacturers to play them properly and equally. Unequal performance at different sampling rates/formats seems to be a big potential reason for "hearing the difference." Doing everything well  is the way to go. More power to your elbow.
 
Linux: I was fairly sure that was going to be the answer, but just needed confirmation on that one. Thank you

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ifi audio said:

   
Hi,
 
If you use speakers, as you rightly say, the room is the last component in the system that you hear.
 
Now if one wishes to 'dial-in' via analogue methods such as like bass straps or diffusers OR with digitally, with DSP - that is their choice.
 
But what we are trying to do is to send it without manipulation to the customer and it is up to him/her to do what they wish afterwards.
 
As for room correction, some people swear by DSP and do it in JRMC with Convolution. Some people use a Behringer Ultracurve and do it in the analogue domain.
 
But at least we have not manipulated the music file - it is for the customer to do what they wish.
 
The same goes for headphones.
 
Hope this clarifies.

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ifi audio said:

  Super Duper feature 2.1
 
The CCK/OTG USB port
 
 

 
 
Background
Nowadays, high-fidelity portable audio is on the rise and shows no sign of abating. If you just look around and see how many IEMs there are, it gives you a sense of the sheer number of users who want audio on the move.
 
For the micro iDSD Crowd-Design, the CCK/OTG connection came up. And so now you have it.
 
 
Explanation
To use a Smart device as a portable transport + DAC, there are two options:
 
1. Apple - has the Camera Connection Kit (CCK) is the previous, 30-pin version. The newer USB Adapter is the 9-pin version. But both are essentially the same.
 
2. Android - Samsung has the On-The-Go (OTG) cable.
 
Both the CCK/OTG have the proprietary manufacturer connection at one end and the USB type A socket at the other end.
 

 
With USB type A socket, this NORMALLY goes to a short USB cable and then connects to the USB Type B port (as most DACs have this port).
 
With the micro iDSD, there is no need, the CCK/OTG cable can be connected directly to the micro iDSD as it has a type A plug.
 
Like this:
 

 
 
When you are home on a desktop/main system, you just use either of these USB adapters (both are to be found inside the micro iDSD box) to connect the USB cable > micro iDSD.

 
 
How this benefits the listener
Now you get the best of both worlds with unrivalled convenience:
 
Portable audio = Smart device + CCK/OTG + micro iDSD > IEMs
 
Desktop/Home audio = Computer + USB Adapter + micro iDSD > Headphones/Amplifier
 
 
Addendum:
For Apple - the playback players range from iTunes, Onkyo HF Player, Capriccio and Hibiki.
For Android - best stick with the most ubiquitous which is the USB Audio Player UAP.
 
You can open a, iFi support ticket (http://support.ifi-audio.com/) and we shall email the pdf to you concerning these connections.

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guglia72 said:

I don't like this usb port too much. I think that desktop use must have maximum SQ and mobile use the best possible SQ considering the environment and equipment. I will have the best HP and the best connections in the quietness of my home and a good HP + good connections in the messy world outside. I don't like to be forced to use a rather cheap quality adapter with my high quality usb cable.
Plus, if my main goal is mobility, maybe I'd go for an iDSD nano. The micro is supposed to be mainly for desktop use, I guess (also considering the poll results on top of this page!)

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guglia72 said:

  I don't like this usb port too much. I think that desktop use must have maximum SQ and mobile use the best possible SQ considering the environment and equipment. I will have the best HP and the best connections in the quietness of my home and a good HP + good connections in the messy world outside. I don't like to be forced to use a rather cheap quality adapter with my high quality usb cable.
Plus, if my main goal is mobility, maybe I'd go for an iDSD nano. The micro is supposed to be mainly for desktop use, I guess (also considering the poll results on top of this page!)

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