[semeniub]

 
I squeezed a pretty high level of performance from the nano with my set-up. I hate to give anything back. There will be no way for me to prove how much that adapter will limit me as I will always have to go through it. I am surprised it got through the crowd design without a fight.
I imagine an iphone cable fits perfectly there and they had their way with the usb input connector type.

I also had "squeezed" very good performance with the nano using the cables I mentioned before I tried the micro iDSD. There was a really nice step up in everything when moving to the micro, so I don't think that the adapter is an issue. I also don't remember it being mentioned in the forums as being an issue for anyone, sound-wise at least.
 
iFi mentioned the rational for usb input connector type during the crowd design, and the choice was clearly geared towards portable convenience (Apple's lightning camera connector plugs right in...).

 

[Franatic]

 
I also had "squeezed" very good performance with the nano using the cables I mentioned before I tried the micro iDSD. There was a really nice step up in everything when moving to the micro, so I don't think that the adapter is an issue. I also don't remember it being mentioned in the forums as being an issue for anyone, sound-wise at least.
 
iFi mentioned the rational for usb input connector type during the crowd design, and the choice was clearly geared towards portable convenience (Apple's lightning camera connector plugs right in...).

I can understand their decision there.
 
I look forward to the SQ++ the micro will give me over the nano, even with the adapter. I am a big ifi fan and know they wouldn't provide a component that is an "issue" as an accessory. I will always wonder if I didn't lose that 5-10% SQ which is what quality cables and connectors is all about.
 
Thank you much for your responses. I see you are in the same situation as me. I opened a support ticket with ifi and was told they will pass my concerns to the senior designers. Maybe someone will develop an "audiophile" quality b to a adapter for those who are using it in a quality home system.

 

[technobear]

I can understand their decision there.

I look forward to the SQ++ the micro will give me over the nano, even with the adapter. I am a big ifi fan and know they wouldn't provide a component that is an "issue" as an accessory. I will always wonder if I didn't lose that 5-10% SQ which is what quality cables and connectors is all about.

Thank you much for your responses. I see you are in the same situation as me. I opened a support ticket with ifi and was told they will pass my concerns to the senior designers. Maybe someone will develop an "audiophile" quality b to a adapter for those who are using it in a quality home system.

I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping that you will come back and give us your honest opinion of the differences (if any) between the iFi 'blue' cable and your expensive cables + adaptor.

I have Kimber USB here and it has made a big difference to some DACs in the past but I can hear no difference between it and the iFi 'blue' cable.

 

[fzman]

 
Maybe someone will develop an "audiophile" quality b to a adapter for those who are using it in a quality home system.

 
I doubt this will happen, at least not any time soon.  There are too few micros in the field for any company to spend the money on R&D or tooling to develop one.  Once full production begins, this may change....
 
That said, if you already have a great USB cable, you can compare it plus adaptor to the included/recommended cable and decide for yourself.... And, yes, I think USB cables matter - just don't pre-judge the offering from iFi

 

[maricius]

 
I squeezed a pretty high level of performance from the nano with my set-up. I hate to give anything back. There will be no way for me to prove how much that adapter will limit me as I will always have to go through it. I am surprised it got through the crowd design without a fight.
I imagine an iphone cable fits perfectly there and they had their way with the usb input connector type.

 
iFi actually admitted that they believe USB cables do influence sound and they designed the blue USB cable to deliver high performance albeit its bland appearance. They also mentioned to ease doubt that any problems caused by the adapter (though they mentioned their adapter shouldn't have any) would be fixed by the onboard iPurifier. 

 

[iFi audio]

AKG K-1000: elephunked, on-the-go

 
During the Crowd-Design phase, we tested the infamous AKG K-1000s with the micro iDSD and some of the last minute improvements to the Turbo section before the micro iDSD was launched were a result of our auditions with the K-1000 and the HE-6.
 
 
The AKG K-1000s are notoriously difficult to drive and while the micro iDSD does not drive them to the absolute zenith, it does a very accomplished job making them eminently listenable.
 
 
We must say, the AKG K-1000s are very enjoyable "ear speakers" they really not like a headphone at all. They are exceptionally open and spacious as it is literally wearing a pair of open baffle electrostats on your head.
Our Thorsten coined a new phrase for wearing them. To be "elephunked". 

Back then we promised some shots and along with the iPhone 6 Plus, we thought we'd put a few pics up for you.
 
 
Here you go.
 


 


 


 


Some back ground here:
http://ifi-audio.com/audio_blog/k-1000-got-hungry-headphones-willing-to-travel/

 

[NinjaHamster]

 

AKG K-1000: elephunked, on-the-go

 
 
We must say, the AKG K-1000s are very enjoyable "ear speakers" they really not like a headphone at all. They are exceptionally open and spacious as it is literally wearing a pair of open baffle electrostats on your head.

 
The AKG K-1000's are electrostats ??  Surely not!

 

[ChrisCaubin]

The AKG K-1000s aren't electrostatic as far as I know
 
EDIT: It appears NinjaHamster beat me to it!

 

[BillsonChang007]

Vincent mentioned a little bit about that when Micro iDSD was first released, are the Micro iDSD the most powerful portable head amp that is available in the market?

 

[Franatic]

   
I doubt this will happen, at least not any time soon.  There are too few micros in the field for any company to spend the money on R&D or tooling to develop one.  Once full production begins, this may change....
 
That said, if you already have a great USB cable, you can compare it plus adaptor to the included/recommended cable and decide for yourself.... And, yes, I think USB cables matter - just don't pre-judge the offering from iFi

I have to admit it is an impressive array of accessories. However, I don't see myself using them. I've proven to myself what a big difference my PPA usb cable > iusb power > Gemini cable setup provides with the nano. It increased depth and detail significantly. I had a Kimber cable originally before I upgraded. I will use the B to A usb adapter provided and hope it doesn't hurt SQ too much. 
I'll provide some feedback after I get my micro and burn it in.
Thanks for all the feedback

 

[iFi audio]

  The AKG K-1000s aren't electrostatic as far as I know

 
EDIT: It appears NinjaHamster beat me to it!

Correct, they just sound not like any normal dynamic driver. Heck, they even look like electrostats/magnetostats! 

 

[iFi audio]

Hi,
 
We are off to exhibit at the Hifi News Show (Old Windsor, London) this weekend.
 
- iFi is in Sandringham House headphones area - along with AKG and HiFi Man and a few others
 
- We are also in Sandringham 9 (upstairs with the soon-to-be-launched) Retro system.
 
Not to hang around but we have just uploaded this for you to try out if you cannot attend the show this weekend.
 
 

iCLUB members wanted to test drive the latest iFi driver

If you are in the iCLUB, please contact one of our concierges so that we can send you the password to download the latest iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio driver. Go to iCLUB CRM
 
http://ifi-audio.com/iclub_blog/members-wanted-to-test-drive-the-latest-ifi-driver/
 
This V2.23.0 driver update contains improvements and bug fixes, including:
• Improvements

• Stream startup optimized to reduce startup latency. Startup delay is reduced from ~100ms to ~20ms
• DFU GUI utility: status output revised, improved support for resizeable dialog, another firmware upgrade now requires to restart the application, ESC key doesn’t close the application
• Subdevice creation is more generic now: a subdevice will be created for any IAD or interface that is not claimed by Audio, MIDI, DFU
• Stream formats (alternate settings) parsing is more flexible now. PCM and RAW/DSD formats can be placed in any order

Automatic uninstall of earlier version from 2.0 upwards
• And some Bug fixes.


 

 

[LoryWiv]

Hi,


 


We are off to exhibit at the Hifi News Show (Old Windsor, London) this weekend.


 


- iFi is in Sandringham House headphones area - along with AKG and HiFi Man and a few others


 


- We are also in Sandringham 9 (upstairs with the soon-to-be-launched) Retro system.


 


Not to hang around but we have just uploaded this for you to try out if you cannot attend the show this weekend.


 


 

iCLUB members wanted to test drive the latest iFi driver

If you are in the iCLUB, please contact one of our concierges so that we can send you the password to download the latest iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio driver. Go to iCLUB CRM


 


http://ifi-audio.com/iclub_blog/members-wanted-to-test-drive-the-latest-ifi-driver/


 


This V2.23.0 driver update contains improvements and bug fixes, including:


• Improvements

• Stream startup optimized to reduce startup latency. Startup delay is reduced from ~100ms to ~20ms
• DFU GUI utility: status output revised, improved support for resizeable dialog, another firmware upgrade now requires to restart the application, ESC key doesn’t close the application
• Subdevice creation is more generic now: a subdevice will be created for any IAD or interface that is not claimed by Audio, MIDI, DFU
• Stream formats (alternate settings) parsing is more flexible now. PCM and RAW/DSD formats can be placed in any order

Automatic uninstall of earlier version from 2.0 upwards


• And some Bug fixes.





 

 


I understand that the iClub is for 1st 512 purchasers and /or invitation only, but it's starting to feel a little shoddy that those of us who spent $500 + don't have access to improved drivers in a timely manner. It's one thing for "perks" like DSD downloads or dinners, but this seems like a basic functionality improvement that any purchaser should be entitled to.

Is the driver still beta? Are you planning to make it available to all owners soon?

Please understand, I love my iDSD and can put up with being a second class owner / citizen "not in the club" despite my purchase. The company has every right to run promotions. That said, a driver seems like something that should be available to all.

Just my 2 cents. Thanks for listening.

 

[kugino]

 

  Hi,
   
  We are off to exhibit at the Hifi News Show (Old Windsor, London) this weekend.
   
  - iFi is in Sandringham House headphones area - along with AKG and HiFi Man and a few others
   
  - We are also in Sandringham 9 (upstairs with the soon-to-be-launched) Retro system.
   
  Not to hang around but we have just uploaded this for you to try out if you cannot attend the show this weekend.
   
   
 

iCLUB members wanted to test drive the latest iFi driver

 
 

If you are in the iCLUB, please contact one of our concierges so that we can send you the password to download the latest iFi (by AMR) HD USB Audio driver. Go to iCLUB CRM
   
  http://ifi-audio.com/iclub_blog/members-wanted-to-test-drive-the-latest-ifi-driver/
   
  This V2.23.0 driver update contains improvements and bug fixes, including:
  • Improvements
 

• Stream startup optimized to reduce startup latency. Startup delay is reduced from ~100ms to ~20ms
• DFU GUI utility: status output revised, improved support for resizeable dialog, another firmware upgrade now requires to restart the application, ESC key doesn’t close the application
• Subdevice creation is more generic now: a subdevice will be created for any IAD or interface that is not claimed by Audio, MIDI, DFU
• Stream formats (alternate settings) parsing is more flexible now. PCM and RAW/DSD formats can be placed in any order
  
   

  Automatic uninstall of earlier version from 2.0 upwards
  • And some Bug fixes.
 
 
 
   

 


I understand that the iClub is for 1st 512 purchasers and /or invitation only, but it's starting to feel a little shoddy that those of us who spent $500 + don't have access to improved drivers in a timely manner. It's one thing for "perks" like DSD downloads or dinners, but this seems like a basic functionality improvement that any purchaser should be entitled to.

Is the driver still beta? Are you planning to make it available to all owners soon?

Please understand, I love my iDSD and can put up with being a second class owner / citizen "not in the club" despite my purchase. The company has every right to run promotions. That said, a driver seems like something that should be available to all.

Just my 2 cents. Thanks for listening.

i'm guessing it's a beta and that it will be released for everyone soon...i doubt that they'd withhold something like an updated driver and only make it available to iclub members...

 

[BillsonChang007]

iClubs members wanted to (TEST) the latest iFi Drivers

I am having trouble installing it myself thought but I am worse in computing so it will take me sometime