[koolas]

So iDSD uses different DAC chip for 44/16 than it uses for other rez? The article mentioned tubes, but I don't suppose iDSD contains any, does it?

Interestingly, but this is only my personal opinion, 44/16 sounds (to me) better when up-sampled to 176. I guess I might prefer the sound of hi-rez chip from 44/16 chip. Is that this famous 16bit Philips DAC?

 

[technobear]

So iDSD uses different DAC chip for 44/16 than it uses for other rez? The article mentioned tubes, but I don't suppose iDSD contains any, does it?

He was talking about AMR kit, not ifi :rolleyes:

 

[thisisvv]

Hi,
 
just a question can spdif output from Idsd can be fed to PCM only dac....if that is the case what will happen if i am playing a dsd song...
 
will the dsd song will be converted to PCM and fed to a dac or the song wont be played....
 
 
V

 

[thisisvv]

Here's ifi's answer

I guess i got my answer....
 
V

 

[thisisvv]

Anyone have any review of how the Idsd Dac is ....i want idsd to my Raptor amp....i also have a chord dac....but chord cant do DSD so asking if anyone have review of Idsd as a dac....

 

[iFi audio]

T-minus 1 day: Crowd-Design (NOT Crowd-Funding) of the micro iDSD

Guys and gals. ONE more day left for all entries to be submitted. There are a few who have contributed a heck of a lot but at the other end, there are some neck and neck entries.

It is really difficult to to pick those at the moment as it is a real close-call.

If you are one of those, keep chiming in as it is likely to make a difference.

See you on the other side!
http://www.head-fi.org/t/711217/t-minus-1-day-idsd-micro-crowd-design-this-dac-hp-amp-is-beyond-awesome-some-last-minute-entries

 

[iFi audio]

Which USB Asynch does iFi use? AMR's of course!
 
We have been asked more than once or twice "Like most Audiophiles, I like to know where the Asynch code is coming from. It's silly not to touch on that in the documentation...".
 
We thought it was quite clear.....it is our own code of course!
 
Using someone else's off the shelf solution is great if you want a turnkey solution that you pay a small licence fee per unit shipped and can live with certain limitations such as only being able to use one vendor's DAC chips. Along with the XMOS and ESS reference designs, you just plug them together and you have an all singing and dancing USB DAC.
 

 
During the development of the DP-777 we evaluated many USB Solutions (including ones then still in Beta).  We found that no "off the shelf" solution that quite suited our needs and requirements.
 
It should be noted that the fundamentals for Asynchonous USB Audio are part of the USB Specification (under USB Audio Class), so in principle anyone with enough time and a fast enough CPU/MCU/PIC/FPGA can write their own Asynchronous USB Firmware for such a device, according to USB Audio Class documentation. The first commercially available solution for this was Gordon Rankin's "Streamlength" which has become very popular indeed. However since then, many solutions have become available, including the open source USB Widget.
 
We do have our own software team (in addition to the electronic and industrial/mechanical design teams) so we decided to build our own on the XMOS foundation. As a result we were able to greatly customise the XMOS Firmware in the iDSD nano. The fact that the AMR DP-777 and iFi iDAC worked with iPhone/iPAD + Camera Kit when no-one elses USB products did is also owing to us writing our own software (and being Apple "Made For iPhone" Licencee). 
 
Writing our own code allowed us to use the DAC Chip we wanted to use, with DSD and DSD128 and with 352.8/384KHz PCM which is not possible using any of the off the shelf solutions in circulation (they all tend to work only with ESS DAC Chips) but need an extra external DSP Chip or FPGA. Doing this seems a waste if you already have paid for a RISC CPU that manages 500 Million Instructions Per Second [MIPS] (for reference, this is the same as a late 1990's PowerPC Chip or Pentium Pro at 200MHz), plus if you can program that FPGA or DSP Chip - you might as well program the XMOS CPU.
 
So that is what we do. Who's Async Code do we use? AMR's of course, nothing else does what we need.

 

[iFi audio]

Hi All,
 
micro iDSD Crowd-Design (latest update: 16th April)
See this poll:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/711217/idsd-micro-crowd-design-phase-2-desktop-vs-portable-listening-poll-open-to-everyone-5-ipurifiers-up-for-grabs
 
 
 
What % of your listening is Desktop vs Portable? (click on ONE answer)
 
This poll will close next Tuesday 22nd April.
 
Please click on ONE answer. (you do have to be a HF member).
 
We will put all the names into a hat and 5 names out of the hat will receive an iPurifier (from their local dealer). The iPurifier placed at the USB port of the DAC, audibly improves sonics by filtering out grunge on the audio+power lines.
 
More details here:
http://ifi-audio.com/en/iPurifier.html
 
Thank you for voting AND for noting your moniker in a post.
 
It seems the poll only shows the number of voters and not the actual voters.
 
Keep it up and we welcome your family and friends!
 
Chance of a free iPurifier? - heck yes!
 

 

 

[nbourbaki]

Any updates on getting the USB working with the Macbook Pro Retina?  The device seems to have all of the attributes I want, but only if it can work with my gear.
 
Thanks

 

[iFi audio]

  Any updates on getting the USB working with the Macbook Pro Retina?  The device seems to have all of the attributes I want, but only if it can work with my gear.
 
Thanks

Hi,
 
Drop tech@ifi-audio.com an email.
 
thanks

 

[nbourbaki]

  Hi,
 
Drop tech@ifi-audio.com an email.
 
thanks

 
Email sent.  When I get a response, I'll let everyone know the status.

 

[earwaxxer]

Question for the iFi guys and anyone else with opinions for that matter - It SEEMS to me that ASIO is better sounding than using WASAPI via JRiver. The iDSD seems to handle ASIO quite well by the way via windows 7. I appears from what JRiver recommends is that ASIO is preferred, but they dont make a big deal about it - thanks - Eric

 

[KmanChu]

  Question for the iFi guys and anyone else with opinions for that matter - It SEEMS to me that ASIO is better sounding than using WASAPI via JRiver. The iDSD seems to handle ASIO quite well by the way via windows 7. I appears from what JRiver recommends is that ASIO is preferred, but they dont make a big deal about it - thanks - Eric

 
I have used JRiver with the ifi iDAC, the NAD M51 USB interface, Audiophilleo 2 converter, and Yellowtec Puc2 converter. In all cases I found the ASIO driver to sound significantly better than WASAPI. I was told WASAPI should be better but I never found that to be true. I didn't know JRiver recommended ASIO over WASAPI until just now, but I agree with them.

 

[earwaxxer]

   
I have used JRiver with the ifi iDAC, the NAD M51 USB interface, Audiophilleo 2 converter, and Yellowtec Puc2 converter. In all cases I found the ASIO driver to sound significantly better than WASAPI. I was told WASAPI should be better but I never found that to be true. I didn't know JRiver recommended ASIO over WASAPI until just now, but I agree with them.

Very cool... I would agree. I have been listening through ASIO for a couple of days now, and I like it. I guess there are differing opinions out there... Such is our hobby.

 

[john57]

  Question for the iFi guys and anyone else with opinions for that matter - It SEEMS to me that ASIO is better sounding than using WASAPI via JRiver. The iDSD seems to handle ASIO quite well by the way via windows 7. I appears from what JRiver recommends is that ASIO is preferred, but they dont make a big deal about it - thanks - Eric

When I creating music or mixing ASIO is the only way to go. ASIO has much lower latency than WASPI specially important when using MIDI or USB keyboards. ASIO is much better when using JRiver with video.