[vortrex]

What would be the point? The biggest part of the cost of a component is the casework. The circuit and socket for the headphone amp is only a small part of the cost. Removing it won't make the product significantly cheaper.

 
I was thinking about those who want a quality DSD DAC without all the extras.  Actually, have a base model without any of the add-ons.  Can you post how much the casework and circuit parts costs?  I'm not aware of the prices.

 

[technobear]

What would be the point? The biggest part of the cost of a component is the casework. The circuit and socket for the headphone amp is only a small part of the cost. Removing it won't make the product significantly cheaper.

I was thinking about those who want a quality DSD DAC without all the extras.  Actually, have a base model without any of the add-ons.  Can you post how much the casework and circuit parts costs?  I'm not aware of the prices.

Most of the analogue circuitry used to drive the headphones is also used to drive the RCA and XLR outputs too. Only the final output buffer could actually be removed along with the headphone sockets.

 

[vortrex]

I see, guess it's not as easy as it sounds then. I suppose I am a minimalist and prefer only to have things in the chain that I intend to use.

 

[diamondears]

I was thinking about those who want a quality DSD DAC without all the extras.  Actually, have a base model without any of the add-ons.  Can you post how much the casework and circuit parts costs?  I'm not aware of the prices.

They already have that---AMR DP777.

 

[vortrex]

They already have that---AMR DP777.

 
But that does not have DSD capability, right?

 

[diamondears]

But that does not have DSD capability, right?

I thought it does, but checking AMR website it seems you're right. Well, now I'm really waiting for that mini iDSD!...

Including a HP amp wouldn't hurt. In fact I think that's better (vs external HP amp) because you got a much shorter signal path.

 

[tf1216]

AMR has released an upgrade for their DAC. It allows one to listen to native DSD as well as improves other aspects of an already popular design.

 

[vortrex]

I see the AMR used is still over 2x the price of the Mini.  I'd just go with a Mini in that case.

 

[diamondears]

AMR has released an upgrade for their DAC. It allows one to listen to native DSD as well as improves other aspects of an already popular design.

Great to know that. Thanks for the info. Cheers.

 

[tf1216]

Sorry guys, I think I'm wrong. No DSD yet with the upgrade.

 

[rickyleelee]

  Hi all,

Major case of feature creep - so we are going to aim for prototype for CES and then launch in Mar.


 
When we have anything close to soup, we'll put it up here.


 
The next new product is the Retro and that is coming in November.


 
Okay, not fully soup, but here you go as we're in a good mood today!






 

iDSD mini
Fully-Balanced DAC (USB/SPDIF/AES-EBU/Bluetooth)
Formats:	44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192/352.8/384/705.6/768KHz PCM
	2.8/3.1/5.6/6.2/11.2/12.4/22.4/24.8MHz DSD
	DXD
Filter:	PCM: Standard/Minimum Phase digital, Bitperfect 1, Bitperfect 2; selectable
	DSD: Standard/Extended Range/Minimal analogue, selectable
	DXD: Bitperfect Processing, fixed analogue filter
DAC:	Quad Core Dual Mono Bit Perfect DSD, PCM & DXD DAC by Burr Brown in current output mode (4-DAC Chip; 8-Channel; 16-Signals)
Clock:	Ultra low jitter Crystal Clock (rms jitter < 300 Femtoseconds)
Analogue Stages:	Balanced fully discrete Class A - Non-Feedback I/V conversion by single BISS Supertransistor
	Balanced fully discrete Class A - Non-Feedback Line output buffer using J-Fets and BISS Supertransistors
	High Speed current mode Class A Headphone Buffer with balanced fully discrete Class A - Non-Feedback input buffer using J-Fets and BISS Supertransistors
Volume Control:	Balanced 4-Way precision analogue by ALPS, Remote Control, can be bypassed for Line Outs
Audio Path passives:	Tantalum Oxide Thin Film thin film surface mounted resistors,
	TDK high stability C0G surface mounted capacitors
	Panasonic PolyPhenylene Sulfide stacked film surface mounted capacitors
	Elna Silmic II Electrolytic Capacitors
Input: (selectable)	USB 3.0
	compatible with iPhone,iPod, iPad and Android Devices USB-OTG#
	SPDIF RCA/Optical (only PCM up to 192KHz)
	AES-EBU Balanced
	BNC SPDIF Unbalanced
	Bluetooth with aptX
Audio System Support:	PC - ASIO 2.2, WASAPI, Kernel Streaming (KS), Directsound
	Mac - Core Audio
Output	XLR True Balanced Audio (Output adjustable 4/10V @ 0dBFS [+14dBu/+22dBu])
	Audio RCA (2V/5V @ 0dBFS)
	6.3mm Headphone 4V/10V maximum output
	Headphone Output Power 4,000mW/16R max.
Dynamic Range:	TBD
THD &N (Line)	TBD
THD &N (HP 100mW)	TBD
Output Power (16R):	> 4000mW
PowerSource:	External DC 14V (compatible with 12V Battery systems)
Power Consumption:	< 15W
Size:	220mm x 62mm X 210mm (W X H X D including feet, knobs and connectors)

Cheers.

I saw the real pieces of both Mini and Retro in a event at the AV Fair in Guangzhou, China.  I like their designs and specs as well as the materials that they use for Retro's case and speaker boxes (are made by bamboo). In particular, the sound quality of Retro (can't test the mini yet) is so sweet and powerful given that the small size. I enclose few pics of Retro I took at the AV Fair for your reference. iFi will launch Retro in Europe first, follow by the USA and Asia. I can't wait to have one 

 

 
 

 

[tf1216]

Sweet. Thank you. Any pics of the Mini?

 

[diamondears]

What is iFi retro? What does it do?

 

[john57]

http://ifi-audio.com/audio_blog/the-ifi-retro-makes-an-appearance-at-the-2014-national-audio-show-whittlebury/
 
That will explain a bit.

 

[diamondears]

http://ifi-audio.com/audio_blog/the-ifi-retro-makes-an-appearance-at-the-2014-national-audio-show-whittlebury/

That will explain a bit.

Thanks.

Will the Retro integrated amp be offered as a stand-alone like in the pic above of rickyleelee? And what's the price range?