I know now. Initially finding the finalized features was a bit of a scavenger hunt

john57 said:

  After the micro iDSD is in full production there is still the mini to come out the third DAC from IFI which will just be a 100% desktop version that will have balanced outputs as per my understanding. There is a separate thread for it.  Who knows that Thorsten may have more surprises in store.

Click to expand...

Well, at least us 100% desktop guys can look forward to another piece coming out as a straight DAC sometime in the future.

66triumph said:

Well, at least us 100% desktop guys can look forward to another piece coming out as a straight DAC sometime in the future.

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Yeah, who knows when, though. I know their next big project is for the mini iDSD. I wonder if that will have an amp with it, like the nano and micro. I would love to see a mini iDAC that competes in the ~ $1000 range. Cheaper would be nice, but that level in terms of features and performance.

kugino said:

Yeah, who knows when, though. I know their next big project is for the mini iDSD. I wonder if that will have an amp with it, like the nano and micro. I would love to see a mini iDAC that competes in the ~ $1000 range. Cheaper would be nice, but that level in terms of features and performance.

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I know let's hope sooner than later as I'm in the market for a $1000 and below DAC as we speak.  With balanced and unbalanced connectors, no head amp or volume control needed/wanted, DSD x64/x128 and DXD capabilities.
 
To me it seems as if a lot of manufacturers are just trying to cram as much stuff possible into the smallest possible chassis.  I would like to see what they could come up with in a pure DAC only design where all the focus and budget is purely related to the DAC performance rather than headphone amps and portability, etc.

66triumph said:

I know let's hope sooner than later as I'm in the market for a $1000 and below DAC as we speak.  With balanced and unbalanced connectors, no head amp or volume control needed/wanted, DSD x64/x128 and DXD capabilities.

To me it seems as if a lot of manufacturers are just trying to cram as much stuff possible into the smallest possible chassis.  I would like to see what they could come up with in a pure DAC only design where all the focus and budget is purely related to the DAC performance rather than headphone amps and portability, etc.

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I have a geek pulse coming in July. I'm hoping the DAC part is really good. That might satisfy my need for a really good DAC. But also keeping an eye on the matrix sabre and whatever ifi has later this year.

kugino said:

I have a geek pulse coming in July. I'm hoping the DAC part is really good. That might satisfy my need for a really good DAC. But also keeping an eye on the matrix sabre and whatever ifi has later this year.

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Those are the 2 highest on my list as well.

66triumph said:

  I know let's hope sooner than later as I'm in the market for a $1000 and below DAC as we speak.  With balanced and unbalanced connectors, no head amp or volume control needed/wanted, DSD x64/x128 and DXD capabilities.
 
To me it seems as if a lot of manufacturers are just trying to cram as much stuff possible into the smallest possible chassis.  I would like to see what they could come up with in a pure DAC only design where all the focus and budget is purely related to the DAC performance rather than headphone amps and portability, etc.

Click to expand...

My feeling that over the years that the number of features does not have much correlation to the price. It is the execution that counts. Some manufactures just have better value to the SQ. You can pay some crazy high price for a DAC only unit if you like. The micro will have the bass boast and the 3D sound that users wanted even know that those features are not necessary the top of my list.  If I have all the money in the world I would considered the PS Audio DirectStream over the Light Harmonic Da Vinci any day but I do not have that kind of a budget for it.  The point is that I enjoy my tiny nano iDSD and it can keep up with the big boys just as well. I am looking forward to the micro iDSD when it comes out. Nothing wrong with getting all the bells and whistles as long the SQ is good and the price is right.  Size does mater for some, the smaller the better. Look at all those tiny USB DACS out there.     

Wow I can't believe I won... Thanks for the iPurifier, iFi! You've just made me a fan with your awesome products and community interaction. Looking forward to trying out the iDSD micro when it's released!

PM sent.

john57 said:

  My feeling that over the years that the number of features does not have much correlation to the price. It is the execution that counts. Some manufactures just have better value to the SQ. You can pay some crazy high price for a DAC only unit if you like. The micro will have the bass boast and the 3D sound that users wanted even know that those features are not necessary the top of my list.  If I have all the money in the world I would considered the PS Audio DirectStream over the Light Harmonic Da Vinci any day but I do not have that kind of a budget for it.  The point is that I enjoy my tiny nano iDSD and it can keep up with the big boys just as well. I am looking forward to the micro iDSD when it comes out. Nothing wrong with getting all the bells and whistles as long the SQ is good and the price is right.  Size does mater for some, the smaller the better. Look at all those tiny USB DACS out there. 

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I agree that execution is what counts, but my feeling is that these extra features in correlation to the design and development, the interaction of each component within the unit do add up to the cost.  I believe there's a market for both a head amp/DAC combo and one without all those features as even the poll here on head-fi (which is primarily a head phone based forum) would confirm that there are people who don't want amps or portability.
 
Since the cost of the iFi iDSD Nano is an incredible deal at under $200, it makes me wonder what they could build for $500 ~ $1000 where those other features could be left out?   Without having to worry about those additional elements and portability perhaps they could give the PS Audio DirectStream or even the PWD II a run for the money performance (or even bypass the sound quality) while beating the cost of those units significantly.  iFi could possibly bypass Sabre DACs altogether and dig into FPGA's which may have some of the biggest potential in DACs.

Hi,



 



 
A few comments to answer the most recent questions:



 



 
1) Pure Desktop accounts only for 22% in the poll and likely of these some also use Headphones and would like an amp. Also, Japan is a core market for us and there, portable-use is compulsory. Looking ahead, the Smart Device + DAC = high-end audio is a track that we are firmly convinced of.



 



 
2) From the poll, some 78% of poll respondents expressed some amount of portable use, so we have no plans to limit ourselves to a "desktop only" version. We have the micro iDAC for that (and even that can be used on the road as it is USB-powered).



 



 
3) A "statement" Desktop DAC will become available with the iDSD mini this year and it will be quite something else...separate thread.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/702376/ifi-audio-mini-desktop-line-discussion-thread



 



 
4) The PCB's in the photo were already prepared while the feature contest was running to try some things we hoped to include, it does not have the final feature set, that is being worked at right now. as you can see, it doesn't have half the features that came up from your inputs. That is something we are busting our butts to incorporate so please bear with us. We are determined to not let our launch date of early July slip.


 


 
Here you go:

 

USB port with RCA outs (yellow) and SPDIF out (white)



 

6.3mm headphone jack with analogue volume pot. 3D Holographic and Digital Filter Switch



 

All nice and neatly laid out. Not much wasted real estate.


 

1) excellent market research! I MUST SAY! 
2) I love the 4th line, last sentence xD a lot of company [not only in audio world] tend to delay their product release date making the consumer wait which is rediculous. 

ifi audio said:

  Hi,
 
 
A few comments to answer the most recent questions:
 
 
1) Pure Desktop accounts only for 22% in the poll and likely of these some also use Headphones and would like an amp. Also, Japan is a core market for us and there, portable-use is compulsory. Looking ahead, the Smart Device + DAC = high-end audio is a track that we are firmly convinced of.
 
 
2) From the poll, some 78% of poll respondents expressed some amount of portable use, so we have no plans to limit ourselves to a "desktop only" version. We have the micro iDAC for that (and even that can be used on the road as it is USB-powered).
 
 
3) A "statement" Desktop DAC will become available with the iDSD mini this year and it will be quite something else...separate thread.
 
 
4) The PCB's in the photo were already prepared while the feature contest was running to try some things we hoped to include, it does not have the final feature set, that is being worked at right now. You don't have to be a technician to see it doesn't have half the features that came up. That is something we are busting our butts to incorporate so please bear with us. We are determined to not let our launch date of early July slip.

Click to expand...

 
In relation to point 4, of course it would be great if the launch date remains but personally i would not mind to wait a bit longer until your 100% satisfied with the end product. The micro iUSB should arrive this week and will be powering my "no-iFI" Dac/Amp until the iDSD is released, might even be able to to some comparative impressions for the two later this year.

roamling said:

 
 
In relation to point 4, of course it would be great if the launch date remains but personally i would not mind to wait a bit longer until your 100% satisfied with the end product. The micro iUSB should arrive this week and will be powering my "no-iFI" Dac/Amp until the iDSD is released, might even be able to to some comparative impressions for the two later this year.

Click to expand...

We always try our best to do both. Not let slip while also be 100% satisfied.
 
For iFi, these two are not mutually exclusive. 
 
Heck, the nano iDSD has been out since December last year and that little puppy is a "True Native" DSD/PCM/DXD pocket-rocket - so we got our reputation to uphold!

so I assume there is no gain switch for micro iDSD? @.@ 
 
am I the only one who kept on staring at the PCB? hehe 

billsonchang007 said:

  so I assume there is no gain switch for micro iDSD? @.@ 
 
am I the only one who kept on staring at the PCB? hehe 

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no your not  ... i was wondering about that as well, it might be on the bottom of the unit like on the micro iCan. If the headphone section has the same power and voltage rating as the iCan it would really need one in my opinion. As i mentioned in a post earlier my HD650 runs at sufficient volume on the iCan with 0db gain.  I do tend to listen at lower levels so others might use the 10db or even 20db gain on the iCan but of course the iCan was also revised to have a gain switch by user feedback.