[Topspin70]

 I had the SE here for an extended trial.  There is no comparison between the two units, IMHO.  I have a Cavalli Liquid Carbon here until my Gold arrives and thought the LC was a much better sounding amp than the SE (for brevity I will leave out all the sonic verbiage).  The PRO is extremely good.  I was truly not expecting it to be this good (actually hoping).  I recognize iFi has always made excellent products when weighed against price versus the competition but I was very leery about their ability to jump to the "high end".  While I get the price differential, this could easily be a person's endgame purchase as it is that good, will meet all your future needs should you decide to move in a different direction including electrostatics with their add on module.  It is incredibly flexible, built like a tank with a sound to die for.  It will bring out the best of your cans.  It really is a huge step up from the SE.  It gets my highest praise and despite it's price I think it is a bargain.  

I know that the ifi ican se needed 500 hours to even be able to compare to the previous ifi ican. are you sure your unit was well break in?

I added an iTube to the iCAN SE and the SQ improved quite substantially. I'm keen to hear how such a combo compare with the Pro, which to me is a turbo charged version of the combo.

 

[murphythecat]

I added an iTube to the iCAN SE and the SQ improved quite substantially. I'm keen to hear how such a combo compare with the Pro, which to me is a turbo charged version of the combo.

I tried the ifi itube, I still have it.
I must say that even in buffer mode, the lost of resolution, even if very small, was not worth it. YMMV

 

[Topspin70]

I added an iTube to the iCAN SE and the SQ improved quite substantially. I'm keen to hear how such a combo compare with the Pro, which to me is a turbo charged version of the combo.

I tried the ifi itube, I still have it.
I must say that even in buffer mode, the lost of resolution, even if very small, was not worth it. YMMV

That's interesting. I have the exact opposite experience. ITube improved realism, depth and resolution. Goes to show our own ears are our best judge.

 

[grdlow]

 I got my iCan Pro last week and have been burning it in continuously for the past week (~120hrs). Here are some quick listening impressions of the amp thru a pair of HD800S. 
 
Settings: Solid state mode, XBass and 3D Holographic off, 0 gain, 4-pin XLR output
 
Sound: The iCan Pro offers a beautiful creamy mid-range, deep slamming bass and sweet silky treble, with the most organic and natural tonality out of all my previous amps (hdva600, bha-1). It is easy to appreciate how the different elements of a recording are presented in their own 3-dimensional spaces with pinpoint precision in a wide and deep, holographic soundstage. The amp is able to faithfully reproduce the delicate nuances of any recording. It is incredibly smooth with no hint of grain even on solid state mode, and yet can sound enthusiastic and dynamic when the music calls for it. Taken together, the experience is nothing short of stunning.
 
I'm loving it and it ranks among the best headphone amps at any price. 

 

Tried the Tube+ setting today and there seemed to be positive gains in airiness, texture and resolution. However, the sound also seemed a little thinner and sharper. I know the tubes are still new with barely an hour of use, so hopefully as they burn-in the sound will improve.     

 

[EVOLVIST]

I have owned the Sennheiser HDVA600 and Bryston BHA-1 prior to the iFi iCan Pro. I would rank them in the following order:

iFi iCan Pro >> Bryston BHA-1 > Sennheiser HDVA600

The iCan Pro is the most powerful amp by far, and it exceeds the other amps in most aspects (i.e. detail, tonality, richness, smoothness, imaging, sound stage, dynamic contrast). 

Say, what kind of DAC are you using? Don't have a balanced DAC anymore, since I am using the iDSD micro, and I worry that I won't get the full benefits of the iCAN Pro without a balanced DAC like the iDSD Pro when it comes out.

 

[grizzlybeast]

I have owned the Sennheiser HDVA600 and Bryston BHA-1 prior to the iFi iCan Pro. I would rank them in the following order:

iFi iCan Pro >> Bryston BHA-1 > Sennheiser HDVA600

The iCan Pro is the most powerful amp by far, and it exceeds the other amps in most aspects (i.e. detail, tonality, richness, smoothness, imaging, sound stage, dynamic contrast). 

Say, what kind of DAC are you using? Don't have a balanced DAC anymore, since I am using the iDSD micro, and I worry that I won't get the full benefits of the iCAN Pro without a balanced DAC like the iDSD Pro when it comes out.

No offense my kind friend but even if its balanced any DAC in that tier will hold it back. 1700 smacks should sound TOTL for an amp. You should hear improvement though. I would think getting it still makes sense, especially if you plan on upgrading your DAC.

 

[EVOLVIST]

No offense my kind friend but even if its balanced any DAC in that tier will hold it back. 1700 smacks should sound TOTL for an amp. You should hear improvement though. I would think getting it still makes sense, especially if you plan on upgrading your DAC.

 
 
No offense taken. I mean, I used to go all balanced, but when I ran into the iDSD micro, I just had to have it because it was that good, even if I had to run an RCA to XLR cable to the back of my SPL Auditor. But, of course, originally the iCAN Pro and the iDSD Pro were supposed to come out at the same time, and I would have gotten both automatically. Now it seems the iDSD Pro will come out in Q4.
 
Well, regardless, I should be able to compare apples to apples with my Auditor vs. the iCAN Pro running the same DAC. I could only imagine that it would get better with the iDSD + iCAN Pro combo. Sooooooo...there's always more to look forward to. Especially since I'll start off using my dual 3-pin XLRs for the iCAN Pro, yet I often wonder if I should get the Senn manufactured 4-pin XLR cable for the HD800s.
 
Anyway, the iCAN Pro is on order with Music Direct. Now I'm just waiting for the model to hit United States shores.

 

[grdlow]

Say, what kind of DAC are you using? Don't have a balanced DAC anymore, since I am using the iDSD micro, and I worry that I won't get the full benefits of the iCAN Pro without a balanced DAC like the iDSD Pro when it comes out.

Schiit Yggdrasil

The choice of DAC makes a greater difference than single ended or balanced connections. I first heard the iCan Pro at a shop which was connected to the single ended iDAC2. It was quite decent still.

 

[JWahl]

Schiit Yggdrasil

The choice of DAC makes a greater difference than single ended or balanced connections. I first heard the iCan Pro at a shop which was connected to the single ended iDAC2. It was quite decent still.

That's good to hear.  I used to have the Yggdrasil /w Trafomatic Head 2, and also my old Eddie Current Super 7.  I've since had to downgrade to the Gungnir MB and ECP Torpedo III.  I like the T3 but I'm still curious about the iCan Pro.  And curious how it meshes with the Schiit MB DACs.  Also using an HD650 now instead of HD800, but I'd like to upgrade back again, to an HD800S in the future. 

 

[grizzlybeast]

Schiit Yggdrasil


The choice of DAC makes a greater difference than single ended or balanced connections. I first heard the iCan Pro at a shop which was connected to the single ended iDAC2. It was quite decent still.

That's good to hear.  I used to have the Yggdrasil /w Trafomatic Head 2, and also my old Eddie Current Super 7.  I've since had to downgrade to the Gungnir MB and ECP Torpedo III.  I like the T3 but I'm still curious about the iCan Pro.  And curious how it meshes with the Schiit MB DACs.  Also using an HD650 now instead of HD800, but I'd like to upgrade back again, to an HD800S in the future. 

Is ths torpedo really a downgrade from the TH2... Prob not?
The ican pro seems like it trys to do so many things. It cant possibly beat the torpedo at its own game. A built t3 is 1200 and is said to be a bargain at its price.
Knowing ifi its been thoroughly thought out and developed. I really want to hear one though.

 

[MaceHane2]

Do we know the official (according to iFi) UK price?
Currently, at the couple of UK online places that have it, I'm seeing it as being £1500. I was hoping it would be closer
to circa £1200, based on other currency ($) prices.
Ah well ..... £1000 was my upper budget for a genuinely (hopefully!) great amp, and this little gem almost seems too good to
be true. Gonna be a long time 'til I can get another five hundred!
Bugger.

 

[Rob N]

UK price is £1495

 

[EVOLVIST]

Well, it looks as if the eagle has landed in the US of A. Mine will be here at my home on Friday.
 
Now begins the burn-in. Yay!

 

[JWahl]

Is ths torpedo really a downgrade from the TH2... Prob not?
The ican pro seems like it trys to do so many things. It cant possibly beat the torpedo at its own game. A built t3 is 1200 and is said to be a bargain at its price.
Knowing ifi its been thoroughly thought out and developed. I really want to hear one though.

It's hard to say for sure because I'm using it with the HD650 now also, rather than the HD800 than I had when I had the Trafo.  My T3 also has Cinemag OPTs and Mundorf caps.  In that config, I'd say it's probably in the same league.
 
Likewise I'm curious about the iFi because of the flexibility and features.  The Trafo was also a very versatile amp.  The T3 sounds great, but is strictly an amp, with no extra frills.

 

[EVOLVIST]

Boy, the iCAN Pro really warms up after having it on for several hours with tubes! I take it that the temperature is supposed to be like that?
 
Well, about two weeks of burning in is the next step. I figured I've waited this long without a listen, so what's two more weeks (336+ hours)?
 
Would you guys say the best way to burn it in would be with the tube+ state, or alternate between all three?