[AutumnCrown]

If there are no balance problems after 10 o'clock, why does iFi recommended having the volume pot between 12 and 3? 
 
Also, is +- 2 volts (eco mode) enough to drive the HD600? If I have it on normal, I can't put the knob past 12 except for certain classical tracks. I listen to music quietly, so I guess that means that the 2 volt max of eco mode is enough?

 

[technobear]

If there are no balance problems after 10 o'clock, why does iFi recommended having the volume pot between 12 and 3? 

Also, is +- 2 volts (eco mode) enough to drive the HD600? If I have it on normal, I can't put the knob past 12 except for certain classical tracks. I listen to music quietly, so I guess that means that the 2 volt max of eco mode is enough?

If it's loud enough then that means it's loud enough.

 

[TjPhysicist]

I asked a similar question in the th-x00 thread (the HP's i use with this dac), because I always wonder about this: @iFi audio why 6.3mm? Don't get me wrong, the 6.3mm is why i CHOSE ifi idsd over chord mojo (that and price, even though mojo is smaller), but I always wonder about why people choose 6.3mm jacks (for that matter, I want to know why fostex/massdrop decided to go with 6.3mm jacks on th-x00).

 

[iFi audio]

  If there are no balance problems after 10 o'clock, why does iFi recommended having the volume pot between 12 and 3? 
 
Also, is +- 2 volts (eco mode) enough to drive the HD600? If I have it on normal, I can't put the knob past 12 except for certain classical tracks. I listen to music quietly, so I guess that means that the 2 volt max of eco mode is enough?

 
12 - 3 o'clock means least resistance, which translates to the most open listening. If it's there, it's for the best to maximise than minimise. Picture driving a Honda Fireblade. There's no point driving it at 500rpm. Should be up closer to 10,000rpm 

 

[PabloSRT8]

Hello! I have a few questions:
is the ifi micro idsd black better sounding than the silver?
 
can I use it with a surface pro 4 and if so, should I use foobar2000?
 
is a pioneer xdp-100 or onkyo dp-x1 a good match or should I get something else?
 
I'll be using the ifi with fostex th-900mk2 because it came as a set from adorama for 1299; or should I just sell the ifi and get something else to use with the headphones.
 
I have 700 left for the dap or if I sell the ifi ill have some more, what do you recommend?
thanks!

 

[AutumnCrown]

   
12 - 3 o'clock means least resistance, which translates to the most open listening. If it's there, it's for the best to maximise than minimise. Picture driving a Honda Fireblade. There's no point driving it at 500rpm. Should be up closer to 10,000rpm 

Interesting. Thanks for the response. Can you point me toward a primer on this concept of resistance vis a vis headphone performance?

 

[TjPhysicist]

OMG that short black cable that was with this is a 3.5mm to RCA digital Coax cable? dang, I didnt realise and I was going CRAZY looking online for a short digital coaxial to use with my new DAP. 

 

[iFi audio]

Boys and girls, just a quick reminder. We'll attend to UK's world famous  Sound & Vision - Bristol Show. As per usual, we'll show a new thing or two there, so if you're around, please come and visit us! 
 
 
The date: 24th - 26th of February
The place: Marriott City Centre Hotel, Lower Castle Street, Bristol, BS1 3AD
The brand: iFi Audio / suite 11
 
 
 

 
 
 
For further info, please take a look here:
 
http://www.bristolshow.co.uk
 
 
 
See you on the spot!

 

[technobear]

Boys and girls, just a quick reminder. We'll attend to UK's world famous [COLOR=222222] Sound & Vision - Bristol Show. As per usual, we'll show a new thing or two there, so if you're around, please come and visit us! [/COLOR]

See you on the spot!

See you there

http://www.bristolshow.co.uk/news_detail.lasso?newsid=8234

Intriguing! :rolleyes:

 

[iFi audio]

 
Interesting. Thanks for the response. Can you point me toward a primer on this concept of resistance vis a vis headphone performance?

 
Potentiometers are made with tracks using a variety of conductive materials and using wipers to connect to the signal.

For standard ‘linear law’ potentiometers, the resistive coating is the same all across the track, but such potentiometers can't be used in standard volume control applications.

The so-called ‘audio taper’ (aka. logarithmic) potentiometers vary the resistance across the arc of the track to get a change in attenuation with angle that approximates equal increments in loudness per angle of rotation.

In many ways making potentiometers requires craft and know-how.

The varying coating causes potential issues. The higher up towards ‘max’ a potentiometer is set, the better things are. Ideally for the highest listening levels a volume control position near maximum (or fully open) is desirable, as takes sonic degradation from the volume control down to negligible.

This is why it is important to get the gain right and have the volume control operating in its best range with "loud but normal" listening levels near the maximum (better at 3 o'clock than 12 o'clock).

We say it's 12 to 3 range simply because music recording levels vary!

 

[joshnor713]

   
12 - 3 o'clock means least resistance, which translates to the most open listening. If it's there, it's for the best to maximise than minimise. Picture driving a Honda Fireblade. There's no point driving it at 500rpm. Should be up closer to 10,000rpm 

 
What if I can't go past 10 o'clock on the Ultra Sensitivity setting before it's too loud?

 

[technobear]

 

12 - 3 o'clock means least resistance, which translates to the most open listening. If it's there, it's for the best to maximise than minimise. Picture driving a Honda Fireblade. There's no point driving it at 500rpm. Should be up closer to 10,000rpm :wink_face:

What if I can't go past 10 o'clock on the Ultra Sensitivity setting before it's too loud?

Too bad!

You must be using extremely sensitive IEMs for that to be true. I assume you are using Eco mode.

 

[joshnor713]

Quote:

Too bad!

You must be using extremely sensitive IEMs for that to be true. I assume you are using Eco mode.

 
Lol. Using the SE846, and yes, on Eco mode. I can at least get further with the BL than the original idsd, which was 9 o'clock.

 

[synapse09]

LOL with my K7XX I'm barely at 9:30-10 in eco mode and IE match off... I can go 12 o'clock if I set IE Match to high sensitivity. Waiting for my Ether C Flow to come in and I'll see where the volume knob is sitting with those...

 

[Condocondor]

Dear iDSD Black Label fans,

Well, I'm a newbie to personal audio in the last year-and-a-half, and when I tell you all what I've discovered, you'll likely tell me I'm "late to the party".  But there's magic in the telling. 

Well here goes:  I was using my iDSD with the stock blue cable and my Beyer T5p.2 cans.  The whole system sounded pretty good--I thought.  I certainly didn't skimp on headphones and the iDSD BL is a very respectable DAC/AMP.  My listening habits are mostly listening to Youtube and ripped CD's to JRiver via my laptop.   I have pretty good ears and very good upper-mid quality home and office stereo equipment.

So I bought this little device from iFi after doing some research called the "iPurifier2" and I'm still using the stock blue cable.  After I hooked it up, OMG!  What a difference!  The sound takes the iDSD to a whole other level.  So much cleaner sound....so much more ambiance and dimension that I could flip the 3D+ off most of the time.  Best $109 I ever spent--BARGAIN.

Next up after doing some research is upgrading the USB cable.  I HATED the thought of spending $200 on a damned cable.  "You'd have to be crazy" I thought.  "Digital is digital, how much difference can there be?"  So just to prove there was no difference to myself, I ordered a Kimber Silver cable with one solid silver wire conductor for the signal and one "silver plated" conductor for the power leg (they have a cheaper model with two silver-plated conductors.)  It arrived today and hooked it up to the iDSD BL with the iPurifier2 and let it warm up for 30 minutes before listening.

Within about 10 seconds my jaw hit the floor!  What a freaking difference a good USB cable makes.  Now this Micro iDSD BL absolutely sings....it's smooth, detailed, dynamic, spacious, and refined.  This new USB cable and iPurifier2 together simply makes the iDSD a COMPLETELY different animal for the better.  The 2 items together subjectively improve the entire listening experience AT LEAST 20-25%.  I don't even need the 3D+ and X-Bass+ engaged at all now! 
 
My next "experiment" is that I've ordered an even higher end USB cable from MOON AUDIO called the "Silver Dragon" which has solid silver conductors on both the signal and the power legs of the USB cable.  We will see what that does for the iDSD sound experience and I'll report back to this forum with the results.

Goodness what a learning experience.  The additional $280 spent on these accessories was well worth it.  Hope this sharing helps some other newbie be enlightened.