iFi iDSD Micro DSD512 / PCM768 DAC and Headphone Amp. Impressions, Reviews and Comments. | Page 182 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

iFi audio · Feb 14, 2015 at 5:03 AM

matttcg said:
Why is there considerably less volume when using battery power with the micro?

Hi,

But all tihngs being equal, there is no power output difference between running battery and USB.

Hence, we do not know - as we need to know your full system before we can do any diagnostics.

But check that your source (PC/DAP) has maxed out volume.

Check this and if it doesnt work then open an iFi support ticket so our support team can go through step by step.

Cheers.

maricius · Feb 14, 2015 at 5:05 AM

On volume difference between battery power vs USB powered while on USB connection:

Macbook + IDSD on battery power, Macbook + iDSD on USB power, iPhone + iDSD on battery power, DX90 + battery power…

I don't notice any differences in volume while on the same area of the volume pot travel. If there are any, it's minimal.

Other details that may be of importance:
iDSD on Normal power mode with High Sensitivity driving a Focal Spirit Pro
iDSD on full charge

cheznous · Feb 14, 2015 at 6:49 AM

kawaivpc1 said:
Did you check PHA-3's balanced out? Many people have said PHA-3's balanced out is the best ever made.
I'm not sure how it sounds compared to iDSD. PHA-3 seems to be more portable than iDSD too.

I listened to the PHA 3 balanced and cannot say it thrilled me. Found it somewhat constrained compared to iDSD.

Hubert481 · Feb 14, 2015 at 7:08 AM

Is there any adaptercable to listen iDSD micro via lightning adapter cable to Apple iPAD AND power both during listening?

In other words, is there an option to use a powered usb-hub - connected to iPAD and iDSD which allows listening and charging?

I do not have an IDSD now, so i cannot check it out myself - thank you

MattTCG · Feb 14, 2015 at 7:16 AM

ifi audio said:
Hi,

But all tihngs being equal, there is no power output difference between running battery and USB.

Hence, we do not know - as we need to know your full system before we can do any diagnostics.

But check that your source (PC/DAP) has maxed out volume.

Check this and if it doesnt work then open an iFi support ticket so our support team can go through step by step.

Cheers.

Maybe when I was testing this the micro was very low on power. I'm not sure but will have to go back and test again. The difference was quite obvious though even with just informal testing. Comfortable levels on usb power were at 10:00 and on batter power at nearly 1:00.

There is quite a bit of tweaking that can be done to the micro, which I like. Could anyone share their favorite settings with the hd650?

Regarding the PHA 3 vs micro. I own the micro and auditioned the pha 3. The sound quality is as good as they say on the Sony and the balanced is very well implemented, but the comparison is not really fair given that the sony is 2x the price of the micro and has NO dac.

maricius · Feb 14, 2015 at 7:54 AM

matttcg said:
Regarding the PHA 3 vs micro. I own the micro and auditioned the pha 3. The sound quality is as good as they say on the Sony and the balanced is very well implemented, but the comparison is not really fair given that the sony is 2x the price of the micro and has NO dac.

NO DAC meaning no RCA outs? I believe it has a lineout although 3.5mm at the back. Quite a number find the iDSD to be on par or only slightly behind the Chord Hugo as a DAC/amp so I don't think price should be the determining factor if in deciding between the two (iDSD and PHA-3) if one's willing to shell out cash for the PHA-3. I guess what wouldn't be fair or what would be determining factors would be the direct purposes for each e.g. use with balanced headphones, but one could compare the single ended of the iDSD versus the balanced output of the PHA-3.

iFi audio · Feb 14, 2015 at 9:01 AM

matttcg said:
Maybe when I was testing this the micro was very low on power. I'm not sure but will have to go back and test again. The difference was quite obvious though even with just informal testing. Comfortable levels on usb power were at 10:00 and on batter power at nearly 1:00.

There is quite a bit of tweaking that can be done to the micro, which I like. Could anyone share their favorite settings with the hd650?

Regarding the PHA 3 vs micro. I own the micro and auditioned the pha 3. The sound quality is as good as they say on the Sony and the balanced is very well implemented, but the comparison is not really fair given that the sony is 2x the price of the micro and has NO dac.

Hi,

Understood.

It is highjly recommended that always use from battery on fully-charged at 100%.

We know a previous "measurement comparison" was performed with the nano iDSD (not micro iDSD) battery at <10% and then measurements were taken which of course reflect badly (as the battery is about to shutdown, things don't measure normal).

Very naughty indeed. (hint: the giveaway was in the readings when you have designed the thing, you should know the numbers inside and out!)

We kept our cousel on this but more technically adept people easily saw through the bluster too as they verified with us off the record.

The HD650/HD600 are quite "normal" as headphones go - we recommend "Normal" Power Mode. Then try iEMatch in the Off or HIgh Sensitivity to suit your ears and your music (as of course recording levels vary).

Ideally, the analogue volume control should be 12 > 3 'o clock.

ClieOS · Feb 14, 2015 at 9:54 AM

kawaivpc1 said:
Did you check PHA-3's balanced out? Many people have said PHA-3's balanced out is the best ever made.
I'm not sure how it sounds compared to iDSD. PHA-3 seems to be more portable than iDSD too.

I did listen to the PHA-3's balanced-out, but not against iDSD micro as that's with another setup (and of course iDSD can't output balance). It isn't with a headphone I am familiar with (it is a balanced Z7), so I can't say how good it goes. But again, I didn't hear anything that wow me in the Sony booth.

PHA-3 is indeed much more portable than iDSD micro, though it doesn't make a difference for me as I always have a small bag with me to carry my whole rig, plus a few more things. This totally depends on how big a rig that you consider non-portable. I am using a Sony A15 as a digital transport feeding the iDSD micro, so it is still quite manageable for me.

Hubert481 · Feb 14, 2015 at 10:36 AM

hubert481 said:
Is there any adaptercable to listen iDSD micro via lightning adapter cable to Apple iPAD AND power both during listening?

In other words, is there an option to use a powered usb-hub - connected to iPAD and iDSD which allows listening and charging?

I do not have an IDSD now, so i cannot check it out myself - thank you

Here is the self powering usb-hub
http://www.lindy-usa.com/usb-hub-4-port-usb-20-smart-hub-pro-with-power-supply-42999.html

RAFA · Feb 14, 2015 at 10:44 AM

clieos said:
I did listen to the PHA-3's balanced-out, but not against iDSD micro as that's with another setup (and of course iDSD can't output balance). It isn't with a headphone I am familiar with (it is a balanced Z7), so I can't say how good it goes. But again, I didn't hear anything that wow me in the Sony booth.

PHA-3 is indeed much more portable than iDSD micro, though it doesn't make a difference for me as I always have a small bag with me to carry my whole rig, plus a few more things. This totally depends on how big a rig that you consider non-portable. I am using a Sony A15 as a digital transport feeding the iDSD micro, so it is still quite manageable for me.

What cables do you use with the Sony in combination with the iDSD micro?

iFi audio · Feb 14, 2015 at 2:06 PM

Calling all iCLUB members.

If and only if you are comfortable with upgrading the firmware on your micro iDSD, then please see below and open a ticket with your concierge.

3 Steps: Micro iDSD Firmware Upgrade (and nano iDSD and Stereo 50 but not other iFi products)

Preparation:
1.Ensure you have the latest iFi Windows Driver (v2.23 or v2.20) from here

2.Once you receive the email, save the firmware file “iFi firmware (Universal) v0.16 Beta.bin” to a folder of your choice (eg. C: Downloads)

3. Connect the NANO/MICRO iDSD or Stereo 50 to a Windows computer (OS X is not possible).

Beta v0.16 is the same as v4.06, but:
1) Upgrade core code to version 6.6
2) Apply previous Clock and Code optimisation to 6.6 core
3) Fix completely clicks when switching between PCM and DoP DSD
4) Fix for some units where small timing bug on v4.06 caused vinyl static like clicks at 192kHz sample rates
So the key change is an upgraded version of the core code and bug fixes.

WNBC · Feb 14, 2015 at 4:46 PM

Checking in after 6 months of ownership. The secret is well out of the bag by this point, but this iDSD Micro is an amazing device. Having used it as a standalone DAC/amp with many headphones I will eventually try an external headphone amp out of curiosity. However, the integrated amp suits my tastes. I really like it with Grado headphones. I borrowed a friend's PS1000 and I instantly knew the combo was a winner. Even now, I am using it soley with a pair of HD800s and I could probably live with no separate amp for quite a while longer. This is saying a lot because my former rig was a Decware CSP3 > Taboo 3 > HD800 which was no slouch of a setup.

Today there was a new first for me, trying the SPDIF input. Dare I say better than USB input? Well, I'll have to listen more but I like what I'm hearing.

h1f1add1cted · Feb 14, 2015 at 5:26 PM

ifi audio said:
Calling all iCLUB members.

If and only if you are comfortable with upgrading the firmware on your micro iDSD, then please see below and open a ticket with your concierge.

3 Steps: Micro iDSD Firmware Upgrade

Preparation:
1.Ensure you have the latest iFi Windows Driver (v2.23 or v2.20) from here

2.Once you receive the email, save the firmware file “iFi firmware (Universal) v0.16 Beta.bin” to a folder of your choice (eg. C: Downloads)

3. Connect the MICRO iDSD to a Windows computer (OS X is not possible).

Beta v0.16 is the same as v4.06, but:
1) Upgrade core code to version 6.6
2) Apply previous Clock and Code optimisation to 6.6 core
3) Fix completely clicks when switching between PCM and DoP DSD
4) Fix for some units where small timing bug on v4.06 caused vinyl static like clicks at 192kHz sample rates
So the key change is an upgraded version of the core code and bug fixes.

When will this for public? Or did we get a non beta like v4.07 or something?

Dobrescu George · Feb 14, 2015 at 6:15 PM

a thing i had not read yet about ifi idsd micro is what op-amps and what amp buffers it uses.. if it is a public known thing...

Earbones · Feb 14, 2015 at 6:29 PM

Regarding the 90° angled male Type A USB to female Type A USB cable...

Appears some people are getting them, and some people are not. Also, it appears there are two versions, a black one and a clear/white one.

Is this is a random thing, or if it is indicative of production batches? For instance, black cable denotes an early production batch, clear/white means from a later batch, and none at all means the latest batches? Or perhaps in some other order?

Mine didn't ship with one (I looked very carefully, in case I got the apparently easy-to-miss clear/white version), and I'm bummed about that... It's the one cable I actually DID need... For people using the iDSD with an iPad in a keyoard case, it's an essential length and design... Annoying I'll have to spend money on something that others got free.

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