iDAC2. Calling 5 Head-Fi'ers. A litte surprise. (page 37) | Page 3 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

iFi audio · Apr 20, 2015 at 3:37 PM

technobear said:
Does the iDAC2 sound less good, as good or better than the micro iDSD (used purely as a DAC) ?

Technobear, you auditioned both at Bristol. We prefer you to say what you heard. No need to take our word!

naimless · Apr 20, 2015 at 3:52 PM

ifi audio said:
Yes but you'll need the iUSBPower

So the idac2 requires the same setup as the currant idac,just so I understand,why can't you use the Apple cck to connect directly to the idac USB just as you do on the idsd?

technobear · Apr 20, 2015 at 4:21 PM

naimless said:
ifi audio said:

Yes but you'll need the iUSBPower

Click to expand...

So the idac2 requires the same setup as the currant idac,just so I understand,why can't you use the Apple cck to connect directly to the idac USB just as you do on the idsd?

Because the iDAC2 doesn't have a battery and the iPad/iPod does not have the power to drive it.

naimless · Apr 20, 2015 at 4:31 PM

Ah thanks,hadn't spotted that the idac has no external power supply,for some reason I had convinced myself that it did,that explains the need for the iusb.

technobear · Apr 20, 2015 at 5:23 PM

ifi audio said:
technobear said:

Does the iDAC2 sound less good, as good or better than the micro iDSD (used purely as a DAC) ?

Click to expand...

Technobear, you auditioned both at Bristol. We prefer you to say what you heard. No need to take our word!

Under show conditions and using two different headphones and with no commonality in the tunes on offer on the two rigs - impossible to draw any conclusions there.

mdiogofs · Apr 21, 2015 at 10:02 AM

Didn't quite undestand.

So, can I just connect the iDAC2 to my computer by USB and hit play? What about my Android? Where is iDAC2 getting the power to operate, from the wall electricity? Can't see the AC input in the picture...Thanks!

Vartan · Apr 21, 2015 at 10:13 AM

mdiogofs said:
Didn't quite undestand.

So, can I just connect the iDAC2 to my computer by USB and hit play? What about my Android? Where is iDAC2 getting the power to operate, from the wall electricity? Can't see the AC input in the picture...Thanks!It takes power from

USB powered (Mac & PC only).

mdiogofs · Apr 21, 2015 at 11:22 AM

So, let's see:

http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/micro-idac2/

-USB 3.0 (compatible with iPhone, iPod, iPad and Android USB-OTG#)

Power consumption:

<1.5W

500 max output power for USB 2.0, 900 max output power for USB 3.0

Well, that power consumption < 1.5W must be under 900mA and above 500mA i guess...

So, USB 2.0 is out?

@iFi audio

My work laptop only have USB 2.0, outputing max 500 mA, can it work with iDAC2? Or it only supports USB 3.0 due to power necessity?

ClieOS · Apr 21, 2015 at 11:38 AM

mdiogofs said:
So, let's see:

http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/micro-idac2/

-USB 3.0 (compatible with iPhone, iPod, iPad and Android USB-OTG#)

Power consumption: <1.5W

500 max output power for USB 2.0, 900 max output power for USB 3.0

Well, that power consumption < 1.5W must be under 900mA and above 500mA i guess...

So, USB 2.0 is out?

@iFi audio

My work laptop only have USB 2.0, outputing max 500 mA, can it work with iDAC2? Or it only supports USB 3.0 due to power necessity?

Okay, here is the math for power: P = V x I, so assuming iDAC2 draws its max possible power at 1.5W = 5V x (I), then (I) = 1.5W / 5V = 0.3A = 300mA.

Given iDAC2's power consumption is less than 1.5W, therefore it maximum current consumption will be less than 300mA (as USB Voltage is fixed at 5V). By your logic, both USB 2.0 and 3.0 should work.

iFi audio · Apr 21, 2015 at 12:52 PM

mdiogofs said:
Didn't quite undestand.

So, can I just connect the iDAC2 to my computer by USB and hit play? What about my Android? Where is iDAC2 getting the power to operate, from the wall electricity? Can't see the AC input in the picture...Thanks!

The iDAC2 micro just like the original iDAC it replaces / draws it's ppower from the USB connection. The iPhone and many Android devices either cannot supply sufficient power or have small batteries which would be quickly depleted.

We have tested the iDAC2 micro as drawing between 200 and 250mA (depending on sample rate and loudness of headphone Amplifier. Given the usual design of the USB Host mode on Android and iOS devices this translates into a draw of around 1.5Wh or with a common Lithium based battery of 430mA/h. So if a given Phone delivers (say) 10 Hours playback time while fitted with a 4,300mAh battery, powering the iDAC2 micro will cut this playback time in half.

When using Laptops or desktop PC's the extra 1.5Wh power draw is usually inconsequential to operating time. The iDAC2 micro is designed for semi-stationary use on Desktop, for a portable/mobile solution the iDSD nano and iDSD micro are recommended, as they both offer up to around 8...10 Hours playback time in mobile operatioin without drawing power from Phone/Tablet etc.

Vartan · Apr 21, 2015 at 1:10 PM

After iDAC2 we will see iCAN2?

mdiogofs · Apr 21, 2015 at 1:53 PM

ifi audio said:
The iDAC2 micro just like the original iDAC it replaces / draws it's ppower from the USB connection. The iPhone and many Android devices either cannot supply sufficient power or have small batteries which would be quickly depleted.

We have tested the iDAC2 micro as drawing between 200 and 250mA (depending on sample rate and loudness of headphone Amplifier. Given the usual design of the USB Host mode on Android and iOS devices this translates into a draw of around 1.5Wh or with a common Lithium based battery of 430mA/h. So if a given Phone delivers (say) 10 Hours playback time while fitted with a 4,300mAh battery, powering the iDAC2 micro will cut this playback time in half.

When using Laptops or desktop PC's the extra 1.5Wh power draw is usually inconsequential to operating time. The iDAC2 micro is designed for semi-stationary use on Desktop, for a portable/mobile solution the iDSD nano and iDSD micro are recommended, as they both offer up to around 8...10 Hours playback time in mobile operatioin without drawing power from Phone/Tablet etc.

Thanks, great explanation!

I already use a DAC from my smartphone that draws between 200-270 and it uses all the smartphone battery in about 5 hours (Oneplus One), this will last about 2 hours, sort of. So, yeah, I got the point :wink:

It's doable but not very practical.

Faber65 · Apr 21, 2015 at 10:03 PM

It would had been perfect it it had the SPDIF input as well, but in cases like this I like to remember the words of the philosopher Jagger: "you can't always get what you want".

iFi audio · Apr 22, 2015 at 2:42 PM

faber65 said:
It would had been perfect it it had the SPDIF input as well, but in cases like this I like to remember the words of the philosopher Jagger: "you can't always get what you want".

Hi, Understood. Note made for future reference. Thanks.

mdiogofs · Apr 22, 2015 at 5:56 PM

And the price?

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