Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

Great reviews. I will consider the hissing sound issue. I was thinking of buying one of this as my traveling companion. Now I will wait for ifi next update.

I mentioned the hissing to Avatar Acoustics and they are going to double check the amp I had in case it was just a problem with the particular unit they loaned me.

I have this amp as well. I generally like its performance even with very sensitive IEMs. However, there are 2 problems, one small the other a bit more annoying. There is a small amount of hiss. I don't notice it when playing music, but if I listen with no signal, I can hear it. I don't find this a problem, but it is definitely different from the JDS Labs O2 I used previously.
 
The other problem which I find more serious is that the channels are not balanced at low volumes. This is a more serious problem with sensitive phones because listening at a comfortable level often requires turning the volume down to the point of noticeable channel imbalance. I asked iFi's customer support about this and got an answer basically saying most analog volume controls have this issue, so no fix. As a compromise, I purchased a cheap in-line volume control that I connect between my phones and the Nano. I turn the in-line volume control down to to about 60% and then raise the volume on the Nano. This eliminates the channel imbalance but it is inconvenient to have to carry / use one more piece of equipment for my portable set up.

I added a note to the review about some attenuators that iFi is going to send me to try with the Nano. They should reduce the hiss and also increase the usable range of the volume control, which should eliminate problems with channel imbalance at comfortable listening levels. I will update this review once I have had a chance to try the attenuators out with the Nano.

I hope the attenuators work and that iFi will be kind enough to ship them to loyal early adopters like me.

You could contact them and ask. Maybe they would at least give you a good price on the attenuators.

PS: I also just picked up a pair of Soundmagic HP100s on Amazon for under $100 (cosmetic issues), so I will also have a headphone with lower sensitivity to try with the Nano when it gets back to me from Avatar.

Nice review. As you know I love the 3D sound especially, do you think this one makes a good choice for my commute?

Did you get a chance to try it with a smartphone (Samsung Galaxy in my case) and full size headphones, to see how it goes? It looks like something I'd be prepared to carry (unlike your battery + iCAN micro stack!). 

I use Audio Technica noise cancelling headphones for travel, with noise cancelling on they are quite loud, but without, in passive mode (which sounds WAY, WAY better) they struggle driven from the phone and of course no 3D Sound.

I don't know if the AT full size headphones would work well with the Nano. The only problems are with high sensitivity headphones like a lot of iem's. Then the hiss issue arises, and also because you are using the volume control only in the lowest setting, there can be a problem with channel imbalance. Do you know what the sensitivity is of the AT's? In any case, the Nano should give you more than enough power.

You can also check back to see if the attenuators work well once I have had a chance to test them out. It would be a much more portable solution than my big battery with the larger iCAN you mentioned as pictured here:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/654405/ican-amp-review-a-new-amp-that-gives-you-more-more-bass-more-soundstage-and-more-detail/195#post_9628605
 
I am hoping to end up with the 3D and XBass features in a more portable setup that still works with my sensitive headphones.

I think the first batch of attenuators are just now being shipped out for reviews, and they are not yet in full production. So it might still be a while before you can buy a pair. I would contact Avatar Acoustics in Georgia if you are in the USA and ask them when you can expect to buy a pair.

Hi Holylhj,
 
We explained you cant buy the iFi attenuators. Our reply to your email was cc'd to Headphone World (iFi: Korea). They can explain to you how the attenuators work and arrange to get a set you to if you like.
 
They are on the iFi website:
http://ifi-audio.com/en/sales.html#korea
 
Hope this clarifies!

now I realize your explanation,
thank you

The whole attenuator thing turns me off.

It is a kind of band-aid approach, but if you are addicted to the features of the iCAN amps like I am, then the attenuators allow you to use the amps with more sensitive headphones. But to each their own, of course.

Where can I buy this nano I can? Preferred with international shipping cause I'm in

There dealers are listed here: http://ifi-audio.com/en/sales.html

When will attenuators be available for sale?