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

Wasn't sure I got it, hence the '(or is it that you'll cascade the iDAC and the iDSD ?)' part.
Got it now!
 
Yours truly,
The Noob

julez3c said:

Wasn't sure I got it, hence the '(or is it that you'll cascade the iDAC and the iDSD ?)' part.
Got it now!

Yours truly,
The Noob

Click to expand...

I don't have an iDAC.

I will be feeding the RCA outputs of the micro iDSD into my micro iCAN.

If the XBASS on the micro iDSD proves to be different to those offered on the micro iCAN then I will select pre-amp mode on the iDSD so that I can take advantage of it.

Welcome to Head-Fi. Look before you leap :atsmile:

I contacted my local iFi dealer in Singapore and they said they currently have no news about the pre-order...
Is Singapore receiving any allocation of the 512 preordered units? Thanks!!!

Looking for a preorder here in the US, which seems silly but - I know Music Direct carried the iFi iDSD Nano, but apparently the place to go is Avatar Acoustics here in the USA?
 
Wrote to them - hopefully that can happen...

zzzmonster said:

I contacted my local iFi dealer in Singapore and they said they currently have no news about the pre-order...
Is Singapore receiving any allocation of the 512 preordered units? Thanks!!!

Click to expand...

They will usually post on FB when the pre-order is available I guess? I think that's what Stereo did during the nano iDSD and nano iCAN

billsonchang007 said:

They will usually post on FB when the pre-order is available I guess? I think that's what Stereo did during the nano iDSD and nano iCAN

Click to expand...

 


This time it is different, there are only 512 first batch units - I don't think that there will be more than 10 1st batch units hitting Singapore shores.

technobear said:

For the hard of understanding, what I meant was that I hope the single XBASS setting on the micro iDSD falls somewhere between the Level 1 and Level 3 settings already provided on my micro iCAN.

Geddit?

Click to expand...

 
Hi,
 
3D Holographic for Speakers
3D Holographic for Headphones
XBass
 
All three of the above fall between the * and *** that you find on the iCAN and iTUBE.
 
Hope this helps.

Just ordered the the one of the first 512 units.Iooking forward plugging in.

ifi audio said:

   
Hi,
 
3D Holographic for Speakers
3D Holographic for Headphones
XBass
 
All three of the above fall between the * and *** that you find on the iCAN and iTUBE.
 
Hope this helps.

Click to expand...

 
Would using the Preamp bypass option eliminate the 3D and Xbass or can those still be switched into the circuit while bypassing the volume control? (will they be active through the RCA outs in bypass mode?)

kmanchu said:

Would using the Preamp bypass option eliminate the 3D and Xbass or can those still be switched into the circuit while bypassing the volume control? (will they be active through the RCA outs in bypass mode?)

Click to expand...

Nope. From what I've read, they only work on preamp mode and amplifier mode and not in direct mode

ifi audio said:

jeff-c said:

 
Absolutely agree: if the Bass is not right, then “There's a certain something missing that the treble can't erase”.  Thus I love the XBass feature in iCAN 


XBass is set to "on" and "off" instead of 2 select-able levels in iCAN?

Click to expand...

Hi,

X-Bass on/off is correct, it does both RCA Out when preamp is selected and 6.3mm (so use for headphones and speakers)

If set to line out, then no X-Bass on RCA.

Click to expand...

XXHighend software upsamples to 768Khz and it normally works with a filterless dac (Phasure NOS1). iDSD has 3 selectable filters, maybe a 4th option (no filter) could be implemented to be paired with this special type of software (or others like HQplayer, etc...).
Paco.

maricius said:

Nope. From what I've read, they only work on preamp mode and amplifier mode and not in direct mode

Click to expand...

 
Correct!
 
But if under Pre-amp + Eco mode, then can go to full volume and just about bypass yet can still employ 3D for Speakers and XBass.
 
Pre-amp + Normal or Turbo would give a lot more gain. But can still execute the same.

ifi audio said:

   
Correct!
 
But if under Pre-amp + Eco mode, then can go to full volume and just about bypass yet can still employ 3D for Speakers and XBass.
 
Pre-amp + Normal or Turbo would give a lot more gain. But can still execute the same.

Click to expand...

Cool. Very helpful there. I am excited by the iDSD as it will allow me to try the XBass and 3D effect that I like about the iCAN with my non-iFi tube amp.

Yesterday, we posted about the iPurifier inside of the micro iDSD.
 
Following-up from your previous concerns that CCK/OTG port may involve the use of an adapter but whilst this is an additional connector in the signal path, we would like to refer you back to the Global Master Timing/Jitterless Lite technology which along with the iPurifier means the micro iDSD has built-in technology that is second to none when it comes to addressing USB transmission issues.
 
We also promised to explain more in detail the thinking behind this port.
 
 
Addendum on the CCK/OTG Port
 
 

We thought long and hard about this feature and internally, this was a keenly-debated feature for micro iDSD.
 
Consider the following global trends:
 

1. More and more people want high-quality sound on the move, just look at the explosion of headphone market, especially IEMs.
2. The undisputed Portable Audio Player (PAP) market leader - Apple iPod, its sales is falling by 50% per year. Apple is downsizing the iPod department and slowing the development.
3. The audiophile type of PAP sales is only stable,

 
How does one reconcile the above facts? Where have all the missing iPod users gone? It doesn’t make any sense, does it?
 
If we look closely, all those iPod users have switched to Smart Phones instead. Using a Smart Phone to replace the PAP makes a lot of sense actually:
 
Excellent user interface

1. By contrast, most PAPs have a UI that feels 10 years behind (except the iPod Touch of course) when pitched against the constantly evolving iOS and Android user interfaces.
2. For PAP, one can’t freely choose his favourite player.  So no iTunes, Onkyo HF Player, Capriccio, Hibiki, USB Audio Player Pro etc.
3. PAPs do not stream, on 3G or wifi

 
Streaming via the mobile network is the future

1. Hugely popular are:, iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Last.fm, Slacker Radio, Rhapsody; also big plans from the big guns: Sony, Nokia, Microsoft. Further, one can now easily set up a streaming host in his/her own house by using a simple Network Attached Storage (NAS, e.g. Synology Diskstation) and start his/her own streaming services.
2. With 4G mobile networks (actually 3G is more than sufficient for audio streaming) rolling out across the globe and data plans are falling in price drastically, streaming is the future of music on the move and this needs a smart phone.
3. So in a perfect world, iFi would team up with Apple and Samsung, and bring out an iPhone/Galaxy by iFi. We should be so Kylie.

 
If one has to carry an extra item, why not carry the best?

1. For casual listeners, using the Smart Phone for music playback means one less item to carry and sound quality is improving all the time (especially with a better aftermarket headphone).
2. For serious listeners, adding a separate DAC to the smart phone makes much more sense, as quality wise, even the best PAP out there cannot match a hard-core dedicated DAC.  So far, none of the PAP (or those promised for 2015) will support DSD256, at best they will only support DSD128.
3. So making the micro iDSD most portable and mobile-friendly is one of the top design priorities.  The micro iDSD already has a built-in battery and phone charging function. Hence to make it even more mobile-friendly, the inclusion of this USB port which can directly connect to a mobile device using CCK/OTG cable with no additional adapter/cable makes sense.

 
Disadvantages of the direct CCK/OTG connection
Nonetheless, we did foresee the disadvantages of this feature, namely for desktop user:

1. A male to A female “audiophile” USB cable is not common; or
2. Need for an extra USB adapter.

 
The micro iDSD will come with a understated but high-performing USB A-to-A cable (see below).
 
In our opinion, one can spend upwards of US$600 and get but diminishing returns is severe.
 
To add an adapter in the USB signal path is not ideal. However, if you recall, we have provided an overview of the micro iDSD’s technologies.

• GMT and ZeroJitter– to cut out jitter from the computer and the USB connection
• iPurifier– deals with imperfect (DC offset, Unbalanced, Noise) USB signals coming through the USB cable/adapter

 
Both of these technologies more than compensate for the potential addition of a USB adapter and makes it far less of a compromise.
 
Hence from a sonic perspective, this lent extra weight to why we were happy to go with the CCK/OTG port.
 
Conclusion
So in the end it is was a toss-up between:
 
1. Maximum mobile friendliness but with a perceived slight compromise on the USB connection for desktop use.
2. No compromise on the USB connection for desktop use but mobile-friendliness not as good.
 
It was a tough design decision to make, but since we added GMT/Jitterless and iPurifier to minimise the effect of the USB cable and adaptor, we all agreed to go for maximum mobile-friendliness.
 
You may not agree with our reasoning, but we hope that at least now you understand our logic and justification.
 
Down the road, if you use your micro iDSD on-the-go more and more, we hope you warm to our thinking (if you are not already converted).
 
 
What Accessories are included in the micro iDSD box?"
 
Here you go (from top to bottom):
 
1. iFi velvet pouch
2. Silcone sheet with 2 x Silicone bands - situated between Smartphone+micro iDSD with silicone bands to hold firmly together
3. USB 3.0 cable (A plug > A socket)
4. Purple copper RCA cable
5. USB 2.0 cable (A plug 90 degree > A socket)
6. Silicone feet (white strip with 4 "feet")
7. Headphone adapter for (3.5mm>6.3mm)
8. Coaxial>Optical converter
9. USB 2.0 cable (A plug > A socket)
10. Jumper (3.5mm > 3.5mm) for Smartphone headphone out  into 3.5mm in of the micro iDSD
11. USB Adapter (B socket > A socket)
 
Previously, we could not disclose the Accessories list until it was final, final and now it here - it pays to be patient cos we are pulling out every stop for you guys.
 
So after all of this, an adapter is not essential. Choices, choices,..have it your way.