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iFi iDSD Micro DSD512 / PCM768 DAC and Headphone Amp. Impressions, Reviews and Comments.
Mar 21, 2015 at 12:33 PM Post #3,227 of 9,047
franatic said:
 
ifi gave a bit more explanation here:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/711217/idsd-micro-crowd-designed-v0-16-beta-firmware-calling-iclub-members-page-135/1050
 
I tend to leave it in the mid position which gives you:
PCM - Minimum Phase
DSD - Extended
 
I find in this position both PCM and DSD have a fuller more natural presentation. Of course YRMV
Click to expand...

 
Thanks for the response Franatic. I read the posts by iFi on that page, but they do not comment on which position of the switch corresponds to each DSD filter (i.e. only the PCM filter names are marked on the case). Given the order they are listed in the manual, I assume PCM bit-perfect position = Extreme DSD, and PCM Standard position = Standard Range DSD. Is this correct?
 
For the record, I also find the middle position to give the best common sound between PCM/DSD.
 
edit: Also, I presume the DSD filters are simply different low-pass settings? Does anyone know the specifics of each one? Thanks again.
 
Mar 21, 2015 at 1:01 PM Post #3,229 of 9,047
I know of no better explanation of the filters than the page I linked above
 
The guide specifies each setting for dsd and pcm...section 11
http://www.wodaudio.de/Downloads/Micro-iDSD-Manual.pdf
 
The micro itself is labeled for PCM, but from section 11 you can relate the settings to their dsd counterpart.
 
Mar 21, 2015 at 5:15 PM Post #3,230 of 9,047
I'm curious if anybody has successfully played Octo DSD on the micro yet. I have been able to play Quad speed (11289600) but not Octo speed (22579200) by upsampling out of HQPlayer.
I am wondering what my limiting factor is. I can select it but it will not play....the timer stays at 0:00.
It could be some computer limitation....or Jplay....or my usb card. I would like to rule out the micro as the problem if I can. Any input on this would be appreciated.
 
Mar 21, 2015 at 6:27 PM Post #3,232 of 9,047
rafa said:
gixxerwimp said:
... I just discovered a local seller on Taiwan's version of Amazon just discounted it by 40% :D

So I'm going to pull the trigger and have it delivered to my doorstep for US$315 :beyersmile:
Click to expand...


Wow, you were super lucky with the price! I bought mine for 499 € because, I did not wanted to wait to be shipped somwhere far away :)

Still worth the money.
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Doh! Too good to be true. gr8soundz caught my error. It turns out its the iDAC and not the iDSD (I'd forgot there was an iDAC and thought it was a typo). Back to plan A :frowning2:
 
Mar 21, 2015 at 6:46 PM Post #3,233 of 9,047
Franatic,
How do you like JPlay 6? Have a favorite DAC Link setting? How about ASIO or kernel streaming into the iDSD?
 
Mar 21, 2015 at 9:46 PM Post #3,234 of 9,047
tf1216 said:
Franatic,
How do you like JPlay 6? Have a favorite DAC Link setting? How about ASIO or kernel streaming into the iDSD?
Click to expand...

I really like Jplay 6. The SQ is definitely better than 5. Darker background producing superior imaging and details.
I use kernel streaming and 170hz dac link with .01sec buffer. Ultrastreaming/ throttle on/ hibernate mode on.
 The problem I have playing OctoIs is a Jplay/ ifi problem. Josef of Jplay replied to me:
"Is that iFi micro?
If so, it does not support DoP over DSD256 - For DSD512 only ASIO works (so you can't use Kernel Streaming) and we do not support DSD over ASIO as of yet..."
So since I use kernel streaming, I am limited to 4xDSD....however, it sounds awesome, so I really have no problem.
 
Mar 21, 2015 at 10:07 PM Post #3,235 of 9,047
franatic said:
  I'm curious if anybody has successfully played Octo DSD on the micro yet. I have been able to play Quad speed (11289600) but not Octo speed (22579200) by upsampling out of HQPlayer.
I am wondering what my limiting factor is. I can select it but it will not play....the timer stays at 0:00.
It could be some computer limitation....or Jplay....or my usb card. I would like to rule out the micro as the problem if I can. Any input on this would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

 
I'm upsampling pcm to Octa through Foobar. Sounds incredible and uses around 10-20% cpu off a low watt i7.
 
I used this tutorial (direct pdf link):
http://www.hificlube.net/download.ashx?media=/media/194651/Foobar2k%20MP3%20to%20DSD512.pdf
 
Mar 21, 2015 at 10:20 PM Post #3,236 of 9,047
gr8soundz said:
   
I'm upsampling pcm to Octa through Foobar. Sounds incredible and uses around 10-20% cpu off a low watt i7.
 
I used this tutorial (direct pdf link):
http://www.hificlube.net/download.ashx?media=/media/194651/Foobar2k%20MP3%20to%20DSD512.pdf
Click to expand...


Awesome! Now I understand my limitation with Jplay/ ifi kernel streaming....Quad will be good enough. This set-up sounds so good.
 
I have 2 pc setup my control pc is an i5 processor, it's running at 38% converting pcm to quad dsd. My Audio pc is an i7 and it is in core mode (deep meditation) playing awesome tunes! :)
 
Mar 22, 2015 at 2:14 AM Post #3,237 of 9,047
i did try octa with foobar and it worked on my old dual core laptop. the limiting factor with regard to sq is the cpu load,
at that sampling rate, overdriving the cpu at 60 to 80 per cent. i found the best sq was on dsd 128 as it was
at 20 t0 25 percent cpu load, on sdm type b (fp 32), being the most efficient. this was when i was
comparing jriver with foobar. at octa, jriver was so distorted, whereas foobar was passable.
 
Mar 22, 2015 at 3:12 AM Post #3,238 of 9,047
lakai said:
i did try octa with foobar and it worked on my old dual core laptop. the limiting factor with regard to sq is the cpu load,
at that sampling rate, overdriving the cpu at 60 to 80 per cent. i found the best sq was on dsd 128 as it was
at 20 t0 25 percent cpu load, on sdm type b (fp 32), being the most efficient. this was when i was
comparing jriver with foobar. at octa, jriver was so distorted, whereas foobar was passable.
Click to expand...

 
My old music pc is an amd dual core. Saw the JRiver benchmark #s required for dsd upsampling and freaked out. Thankfully, I was in the process of building an i7 machine.
 
After hours of bios and os tweaks to kill windows services, the i7 still spikes to 45% at times. Never imagined I'd need this much horsepower for audio processing. Sounds incredible though; well worth it.
 
Mar 22, 2015 at 6:37 AM Post #3,240 of 9,047
sodafish said:
   
Thanks for the response Franatic. I read the posts by iFi on that page, but they do not comment on which position of the switch corresponds to each DSD filter (i.e. only the PCM filter names are marked on the case). Given the order they are listed in the manual, I assume PCM bit-perfect position = Extreme DSD, and PCM Standard position = Standard Range DSD. Is this correct?
 
For the record, I also find the middle position to give the best common sound between PCM/DSD.
 
edit: Also, I presume the DSD filters are simply different low-pass settings? Does anyone know the specifics of each one? Thanks again.
Click to expand...

 
Sodafish, it's an excellent point you raise.
 
Although I love the iDSD Micro in pretty much every respect, I really wish ifi had dropped some of the more pointless logos from the bottom of the unit, and instead included something useful such as proper labelling for the filter switch and/or a reference for the multitude of LED colours.
 
I mean, do we really need the XBass and 3D logos three times each on the bottom? And do we really need a massive "headamp turbo" logo when the switch next to it clearly has a "turbo" setting?
 
Anyway, rant over...
wink.gif

 
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