Earbones
500+ Head-Fier
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Both these units seem to be attracting a lot of attention lately, as far as smaller desktop-slash-portable DAC/amp solutions go. Having owned the Concero HP until recently, and now owning the Micro iDSD, I thought I'd post a comparison review comparison.
Right off the bat, these are both phenomenal units for the money. Anyone deciding between the two can't really lose. Both punch way, way above their price limit. The caveat I've been using ad-nauseum lately is that there is a tendancy among audiophiles, particularly the more enthusiastically-inclined (fanboys), to declare anything that sounds terrific and costs under a thousand dollars US to be a "giant slayer"... A magical budget product that somehow goes toe to toe with true reference rigs costing thousands, sometimes of ten of thousands. In my expereience, reference rigs cost big money because they are the bleeding edge of audio technology and craftsmanship, they are the flagships of some of the most respected names in audio. To say that a budget option making use of trickle-down tech is a true competitor for these is generally nonsense. I have heard this claim at least a hundred times. And I've only agreed with it twice. Enter the Resonessence Labs Concero HP and the IFI Micro iDSD.
Build Fit and Finish:
Both are very solid little units, however this category has to go to the Concero. It's hand-made in Canada in the same manufacturing facility that builds the $5,000 Invicta, and there is no percievable difference between the fit and finish of that unit and the $850 Concero. Not a screw is out of alignment. Tolerances are impeccable. It's a work of art.
The IFI by comparison, is made in China, and while it's very well put together, it doesn't have that extra mile of craftsmanship. On my unit, one of the end plates is about a half millimeter out of perfect alignment. The unit arrived with a few blemishes in the finish, on the upper edges of the front end plate. The rubber switches on the side are uneven, they sit at slightly different angles.
This is not to say the IFI isn't a sturdy, well put together unit, because it is. Thick alluminum is used throughout. At $499, it represents some of the most solid construction I've seen for the money, and the little imperfections like switch angle tolerances are really non-factors. But the Concero is literally the best construction one can expect from a piece of audio kit, at any price-point.
Technologies
This one has to go to the IFI. With the ability to support Octa-DSD512 and Double Speed DXD, the Micro iDSD's DAC smokes anything out there. Did I say anything out there? I meant anything. Out there. Octa-DSD doesn't even exist yet, but if that insane standard ever does come to pass, this guy will handle it. It's currently the only DAC in the world, at any price-point, that can. The Micro iDSD also boasts the 3D Holographic Sound System and XBass Control, both of which I enjoy and use.
The Concero HP has a few tricks up it's sleeve as well. Pushing in the volume button once or twice will activate Upscaling modes, which will actively upscale audio files of at least 44.1 or higher. I didn't take advantage of this too much, as at the time I was mostly listening to Spotify files which are too low a quality to upscale, or DSD, which was already there. Towards the end of my time with the Concero, I did try the upscaling feature with some iTunes (44.1 ALAC) files, as well as the Tidal streaming service (44.1 FLAC). It did seem to enrich the sound somewhat, but it was not a huge difference.
The IFI also has a built in attenuator, in the form of their IEMatch technology, basically a switch on the bottom of the unit that allows one to select for full size headphones (off) or harder to drive IEMs (High Sensitivity) or easy to drive IEMs (Ultra Sensitivity). This insures you will always have an inky black background with zero hiss, no matter what IEMs you may choose to use. It is worth noting that I never experienced any hiss with the Concero HP and my various IEMs, so an attenuator feature is not strictly needed on that unit. However, the other benefit of a built-in attenuator like the Micro's is that you have more range with the volume knob when using an IEM... That is to say, you're not using full size headphones and IEMs in the same "mode", so you're not stuck at between, say, half-past-six and seven o'clock before you hit unbearable levels of volume when adjusting the knob for your IEMs.
The Micro also makes use of a built-in version of IFI's iPurifer USB cleaning device. I can't comment too much on this, as I don't have the necessary equipment to measure if there is an actual difference in the uniformity of the ones and zeros going into the Micro vs the Concero. It's nice to have, I guess. The standalone iPurifer device goes for a $100 on it's own...
Lastly, both devices can be used a preamplifier in conjunction with either a larger headphone amp or a full size speaker set up. I can't comment on this at all, as I never tried it with the Concero, and have no plans to try it with the Micro.
The Amplifiers
This will be a short one, due to my personal beliefs when it comes to solid state amplification. If you disagree with me, please keep it to yourself. It's a subject that's been much debated, and it's not the point of this thread. Simply put, I will compare tube amps and various tube-rolling configurations all day. Tube amps inherently feature a pleasant (or in some cases unpleasant) distortion that can reasonably be percieved as a sound quality, the merits or failings of which can be discussed. Solid state amps, on the other hand, I believe are power, and nothing more. The tolerances on modern solid state amplification are so tight that I don't believe a difference in sound quality can be heard, A, B, AB, D, whatever. What I do believe can affect the sound is whether or not enough power is going into a specific headphone or speaker. If a headphone doesn't have a comfortable overhead of power, it's not going to sound it's best. But once that comfortable overhead is reached, that's it. That's as much as a solid state amp can add to the equation on it's own. Another mile or ten of overhead isn't going to change a thing. Again, these are my personal beliefs and it's not my intention nor wish to derail this thread with yet another boring debate on this topic. Don't agree with me? Okay, I'm an idiot, you're right. Now on to the amp comparison...
With that long-winded explanation/disclaimer out of the way, the Micro has more juice than the Concero, in my estimation. That's not to say I ever had an issue with the Concero's ability to drive any of my headphones, including some planars. It's just that the Micro, on the "Turbo" setting, is a little bananas. It was too much for my Audeze LC2.2... I've never even run anything on the "Normal" setting honestly... The "Eco" setting is more than enough juice.
Bottom line, both units should power whatever you throw at them.
Portability
Both of these units are easily portable. They are roughly the same size... the Micro is longer and narrower, roughly 7"x2.5". The Concero is square, a bit over 4"x4". Both units are about an inch tall. Weight is comparable. As desktop/portable units, they are larger and heavier than true portable units like the HRT Microstreamer, but easily managable in a backpack, courier bag, breifcase, whatever.
In this category, the nod has to go to the Micro for it's ability to travel with mobile devices. The Concero is USB powered, and as such, needs to be powered from a laptop. It will also impact the battery life of that laptop. If you're setting up in a cafe with a wall socket nearby for your laptop, you're golden. Otherwise, you're looking at a maximum listening/work time of probably four to six hours, depending on your laptop's battery capacity. This time can be increased with an external battery to power the laptop, or probably with a Y-split USB into the Concero, drawing power from an external battery and data from the laptop. This complicated work-around may also make it compatible with mobile devices, although I've never tried it. Theoretically, it should work.
The Micro has an internal battery, which should ensure ten hours of listening pleasure. It will work with a phone or tablet via USB or the Apple camera connection kit. A nice touch for iOS device users is the male USB Type A nestled within a port... This allows the otherwise bulky female USB Type A of the Apple lightning camera connection kit to fit snugly inside the Micro, making for a clean look. The Micro also has the ability to run via USB power off a laptop. So if you're going to be out working for more than ten hours, you'll be able to plug it in and keep going, assuming your laptop has enough juice, or there is a wall socket nearby.
Additionally, the Micro has a USB Type A female port on the side, that can be used to charge other devices. It can charge an iPhone twice over. This is actually a big factor in the portability equation. Like many people who work out of home off a laptop or tablet, I carry a large external battery. In my case, an Anker Astro 5, which is roughly the same size and weight as the Micro. If I know I'll be out working on my computer all day or traveling, I'll still take along the Anker. But if I'm headed out for six hours or less, I'll leave the Anker at home, and if I need to charge my phone I'll use the Micro. This is kind of huge, because by replacing the Anker, the Micro essentially erases it's footprint and cancels out it's presence in my bag.
The Sound
Remember back in my opening remarks when I mentioned that of all the budget devices I've seen equated to true reference rigs, the Concero HP and IFI Micro iDSD were the only ones I've found to stand up to those claims? This is the area where they really do it. The Concero's spectacular build quality and the Micro's uber advanced DAC aside, the sound is where these low-cost warriors prove they can go blow for blow with rigs costing thousands more.
I'll get into specifics below, but overall, I found the Concero to have a warmer, richer sound signature, and the Micro to have a more dynamic sound signature. I'm still making up my mind as to which I prefer. Both do different things exceedingly well. I can say that immediately after getting my Micro and comparing it to my Concero, I didn't have a knee-jerk reaction of "This is better" or "This is worse"... Rather, "This is spectacular in a different way". I'll also note that neither of these units, much like the vast majority of reference rigs, are neutral sounding. They are definitely musical in their sound. This is not to say anything is overtly artifcially boosted or subdued, rather each has a unique presentation, much the same way one grand piano sounds from another.
The highs... Both feature liquid highs, with no rolling off or shrillness. I'm not a fan of bright rigs, and neither of these disappointed me. The Concero features a bit more body in the treble, which is fantastic for acoustic guitar (Sue Jorge, the Life Aquatic Sessions).. I feel the slightly leaner highs of the Micro make electric guitar solos (Slash, November Rain) slightly more visceral. Detail retrieval is perhaps slightly in the Micros favor here.
The vocals... Both do these very, very well. It's a toss-up. And it's also the one area where the two are virtually indisinguishable... Both the Concero and the Micro have similar reads on voices. Natural. The timbre, breadth of articulation, and detail is captured perfectly. Airy and effortless to deep and rumbling with a quickness and dexterity I've yet to see rivaled by any rig. These are big-time, true reference vocals.
The mids... This is where the warmth and richness of the Concero is most apparent. The mids are powerful and charging and thick. It's like audio hot fudge, without the muddiness or lack of detail that description suggests. The Micro's mids by comparison, while still maintaining nearly the same weight and richness, are more airy and bouncing. Detail retrieval from both units is truly staggering. Instrument separation is natural yet evident, like listening live.
The soundstage... Another thing both units do very well, although this aspect is somewhat less than reference levels of accomplishment. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to use words like "intimate" here, both have large soundstages for their price-point. At any rate, I'll give the edge to the Concero here, by a nose. Just a slighly larger spread. Live concert recordings are slighly more realistic and fun to listen to on the Concero.
The bass... Both the Concero and Micro deliver superb bass. Deep, powerful, impacting and detailed, with no roll-off. This is another area where the Concero showed it's affinity for warmth and richness, while the Micro showed off it's dynamism. Where the Concero enveloped, the Micro hit. Where the Concero chugged, the Micro bounced. Ultimately, I feel the Micro was the more successful with it's bass presntation. The Micro presented more detail, hit slighly lower, was faster, and displayed more dexterity overall. I'm unsure one can find better bass quality from anything on the planet, frankly. The Micro ate my brother's (formally mine) $2000 Burson Conductor alive in this capacity. It wasn't close. Again, the Concero is no slouch with bass, but the Micro is simply unparalleled. To hear bass of this quality coming out of a small portable device is a surreal experience all it's own.
Conclusions
As I stated in the beginning, you can't really go wrong with either. The Concero HP and the Micro iDSD represent what I believe to be the absolute best two values in headphone DAC/amps currently available. They are light years beyond anything else in the sub-$1000 price point.
In terms of which a person should choose, it's always going to be a matter of personal tastes and specific needs. For me, the sound quality was basically dead even. I ended up selling my Concero and sticking with the Mico because these days I'm mostly working off an iPad, rather than a laptop with a USB port... So I needed something mobile-device friendly with an internal battery. A smaller factor is that I use IEMs more than I do full size cans lately, and the Micro has the attenuation circuitry giving me more range on the volume knob.
If I were someone who was using one of these devices mostly tethered to a plugged-in computer, or for a few hours with an unplugged computer, I honestly might flip a coin. They're both spectacular machines.
Headphones/IEMs Used
Sennheiser ie800
Shure SE846
DITA The Answer (non-Truth)
Westone UM2 with Plussound EXO
Audeze LCD2.2 (non-Fazor) with WyWires Red
German Maestro GMP 8.35 D
Sources Used
iPod Touch 5g running Tidal, Spotify, iTunes, DSD and various hi-rez files via Onkyo HF Player
iPad Air 2 running Tidal, Spotify, iTunes, DSD and various hi-rez files via Onkyo HF Player
Macbook Air running Tidal, Spotify, iTunes, DSD and various hi-rez files via Audiverna
EDIT: Some audiophile porn for your viewing pleasure...
iPod Touch 5g + IFI Micro iDSD + Shure SE846 = Sonic Bliss. I use two strips of 3M Dual Lock instead of rubber bands. Note the clean interface with the Apple lightning camera connection kit.
Right off the bat, these are both phenomenal units for the money. Anyone deciding between the two can't really lose. Both punch way, way above their price limit. The caveat I've been using ad-nauseum lately is that there is a tendancy among audiophiles, particularly the more enthusiastically-inclined (fanboys), to declare anything that sounds terrific and costs under a thousand dollars US to be a "giant slayer"... A magical budget product that somehow goes toe to toe with true reference rigs costing thousands, sometimes of ten of thousands. In my expereience, reference rigs cost big money because they are the bleeding edge of audio technology and craftsmanship, they are the flagships of some of the most respected names in audio. To say that a budget option making use of trickle-down tech is a true competitor for these is generally nonsense. I have heard this claim at least a hundred times. And I've only agreed with it twice. Enter the Resonessence Labs Concero HP and the IFI Micro iDSD.
Build Fit and Finish:
Both are very solid little units, however this category has to go to the Concero. It's hand-made in Canada in the same manufacturing facility that builds the $5,000 Invicta, and there is no percievable difference between the fit and finish of that unit and the $850 Concero. Not a screw is out of alignment. Tolerances are impeccable. It's a work of art.
The IFI by comparison, is made in China, and while it's very well put together, it doesn't have that extra mile of craftsmanship. On my unit, one of the end plates is about a half millimeter out of perfect alignment. The unit arrived with a few blemishes in the finish, on the upper edges of the front end plate. The rubber switches on the side are uneven, they sit at slightly different angles.
This is not to say the IFI isn't a sturdy, well put together unit, because it is. Thick alluminum is used throughout. At $499, it represents some of the most solid construction I've seen for the money, and the little imperfections like switch angle tolerances are really non-factors. But the Concero is literally the best construction one can expect from a piece of audio kit, at any price-point.
Technologies
This one has to go to the IFI. With the ability to support Octa-DSD512 and Double Speed DXD, the Micro iDSD's DAC smokes anything out there. Did I say anything out there? I meant anything. Out there. Octa-DSD doesn't even exist yet, but if that insane standard ever does come to pass, this guy will handle it. It's currently the only DAC in the world, at any price-point, that can. The Micro iDSD also boasts the 3D Holographic Sound System and XBass Control, both of which I enjoy and use.
The Concero HP has a few tricks up it's sleeve as well. Pushing in the volume button once or twice will activate Upscaling modes, which will actively upscale audio files of at least 44.1 or higher. I didn't take advantage of this too much, as at the time I was mostly listening to Spotify files which are too low a quality to upscale, or DSD, which was already there. Towards the end of my time with the Concero, I did try the upscaling feature with some iTunes (44.1 ALAC) files, as well as the Tidal streaming service (44.1 FLAC). It did seem to enrich the sound somewhat, but it was not a huge difference.
The IFI also has a built in attenuator, in the form of their IEMatch technology, basically a switch on the bottom of the unit that allows one to select for full size headphones (off) or harder to drive IEMs (High Sensitivity) or easy to drive IEMs (Ultra Sensitivity). This insures you will always have an inky black background with zero hiss, no matter what IEMs you may choose to use. It is worth noting that I never experienced any hiss with the Concero HP and my various IEMs, so an attenuator feature is not strictly needed on that unit. However, the other benefit of a built-in attenuator like the Micro's is that you have more range with the volume knob when using an IEM... That is to say, you're not using full size headphones and IEMs in the same "mode", so you're not stuck at between, say, half-past-six and seven o'clock before you hit unbearable levels of volume when adjusting the knob for your IEMs.
The Micro also makes use of a built-in version of IFI's iPurifer USB cleaning device. I can't comment too much on this, as I don't have the necessary equipment to measure if there is an actual difference in the uniformity of the ones and zeros going into the Micro vs the Concero. It's nice to have, I guess. The standalone iPurifer device goes for a $100 on it's own...
Lastly, both devices can be used a preamplifier in conjunction with either a larger headphone amp or a full size speaker set up. I can't comment on this at all, as I never tried it with the Concero, and have no plans to try it with the Micro.
The Amplifiers
This will be a short one, due to my personal beliefs when it comes to solid state amplification. If you disagree with me, please keep it to yourself. It's a subject that's been much debated, and it's not the point of this thread. Simply put, I will compare tube amps and various tube-rolling configurations all day. Tube amps inherently feature a pleasant (or in some cases unpleasant) distortion that can reasonably be percieved as a sound quality, the merits or failings of which can be discussed. Solid state amps, on the other hand, I believe are power, and nothing more. The tolerances on modern solid state amplification are so tight that I don't believe a difference in sound quality can be heard, A, B, AB, D, whatever. What I do believe can affect the sound is whether or not enough power is going into a specific headphone or speaker. If a headphone doesn't have a comfortable overhead of power, it's not going to sound it's best. But once that comfortable overhead is reached, that's it. That's as much as a solid state amp can add to the equation on it's own. Another mile or ten of overhead isn't going to change a thing. Again, these are my personal beliefs and it's not my intention nor wish to derail this thread with yet another boring debate on this topic. Don't agree with me? Okay, I'm an idiot, you're right. Now on to the amp comparison...
With that long-winded explanation/disclaimer out of the way, the Micro has more juice than the Concero, in my estimation. That's not to say I ever had an issue with the Concero's ability to drive any of my headphones, including some planars. It's just that the Micro, on the "Turbo" setting, is a little bananas. It was too much for my Audeze LC2.2... I've never even run anything on the "Normal" setting honestly... The "Eco" setting is more than enough juice.
Bottom line, both units should power whatever you throw at them.
Portability
Both of these units are easily portable. They are roughly the same size... the Micro is longer and narrower, roughly 7"x2.5". The Concero is square, a bit over 4"x4". Both units are about an inch tall. Weight is comparable. As desktop/portable units, they are larger and heavier than true portable units like the HRT Microstreamer, but easily managable in a backpack, courier bag, breifcase, whatever.
In this category, the nod has to go to the Micro for it's ability to travel with mobile devices. The Concero is USB powered, and as such, needs to be powered from a laptop. It will also impact the battery life of that laptop. If you're setting up in a cafe with a wall socket nearby for your laptop, you're golden. Otherwise, you're looking at a maximum listening/work time of probably four to six hours, depending on your laptop's battery capacity. This time can be increased with an external battery to power the laptop, or probably with a Y-split USB into the Concero, drawing power from an external battery and data from the laptop. This complicated work-around may also make it compatible with mobile devices, although I've never tried it. Theoretically, it should work.
The Micro has an internal battery, which should ensure ten hours of listening pleasure. It will work with a phone or tablet via USB or the Apple camera connection kit. A nice touch for iOS device users is the male USB Type A nestled within a port... This allows the otherwise bulky female USB Type A of the Apple lightning camera connection kit to fit snugly inside the Micro, making for a clean look. The Micro also has the ability to run via USB power off a laptop. So if you're going to be out working for more than ten hours, you'll be able to plug it in and keep going, assuming your laptop has enough juice, or there is a wall socket nearby.
Additionally, the Micro has a USB Type A female port on the side, that can be used to charge other devices. It can charge an iPhone twice over. This is actually a big factor in the portability equation. Like many people who work out of home off a laptop or tablet, I carry a large external battery. In my case, an Anker Astro 5, which is roughly the same size and weight as the Micro. If I know I'll be out working on my computer all day or traveling, I'll still take along the Anker. But if I'm headed out for six hours or less, I'll leave the Anker at home, and if I need to charge my phone I'll use the Micro. This is kind of huge, because by replacing the Anker, the Micro essentially erases it's footprint and cancels out it's presence in my bag.
The Sound
Remember back in my opening remarks when I mentioned that of all the budget devices I've seen equated to true reference rigs, the Concero HP and IFI Micro iDSD were the only ones I've found to stand up to those claims? This is the area where they really do it. The Concero's spectacular build quality and the Micro's uber advanced DAC aside, the sound is where these low-cost warriors prove they can go blow for blow with rigs costing thousands more.
I'll get into specifics below, but overall, I found the Concero to have a warmer, richer sound signature, and the Micro to have a more dynamic sound signature. I'm still making up my mind as to which I prefer. Both do different things exceedingly well. I can say that immediately after getting my Micro and comparing it to my Concero, I didn't have a knee-jerk reaction of "This is better" or "This is worse"... Rather, "This is spectacular in a different way". I'll also note that neither of these units, much like the vast majority of reference rigs, are neutral sounding. They are definitely musical in their sound. This is not to say anything is overtly artifcially boosted or subdued, rather each has a unique presentation, much the same way one grand piano sounds from another.
The highs... Both feature liquid highs, with no rolling off or shrillness. I'm not a fan of bright rigs, and neither of these disappointed me. The Concero features a bit more body in the treble, which is fantastic for acoustic guitar (Sue Jorge, the Life Aquatic Sessions).. I feel the slightly leaner highs of the Micro make electric guitar solos (Slash, November Rain) slightly more visceral. Detail retrieval is perhaps slightly in the Micros favor here.
The vocals... Both do these very, very well. It's a toss-up. And it's also the one area where the two are virtually indisinguishable... Both the Concero and the Micro have similar reads on voices. Natural. The timbre, breadth of articulation, and detail is captured perfectly. Airy and effortless to deep and rumbling with a quickness and dexterity I've yet to see rivaled by any rig. These are big-time, true reference vocals.
The mids... This is where the warmth and richness of the Concero is most apparent. The mids are powerful and charging and thick. It's like audio hot fudge, without the muddiness or lack of detail that description suggests. The Micro's mids by comparison, while still maintaining nearly the same weight and richness, are more airy and bouncing. Detail retrieval from both units is truly staggering. Instrument separation is natural yet evident, like listening live.
The soundstage... Another thing both units do very well, although this aspect is somewhat less than reference levels of accomplishment. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to use words like "intimate" here, both have large soundstages for their price-point. At any rate, I'll give the edge to the Concero here, by a nose. Just a slighly larger spread. Live concert recordings are slighly more realistic and fun to listen to on the Concero.
The bass... Both the Concero and Micro deliver superb bass. Deep, powerful, impacting and detailed, with no roll-off. This is another area where the Concero showed it's affinity for warmth and richness, while the Micro showed off it's dynamism. Where the Concero enveloped, the Micro hit. Where the Concero chugged, the Micro bounced. Ultimately, I feel the Micro was the more successful with it's bass presntation. The Micro presented more detail, hit slighly lower, was faster, and displayed more dexterity overall. I'm unsure one can find better bass quality from anything on the planet, frankly. The Micro ate my brother's (formally mine) $2000 Burson Conductor alive in this capacity. It wasn't close. Again, the Concero is no slouch with bass, but the Micro is simply unparalleled. To hear bass of this quality coming out of a small portable device is a surreal experience all it's own.
Conclusions
As I stated in the beginning, you can't really go wrong with either. The Concero HP and the Micro iDSD represent what I believe to be the absolute best two values in headphone DAC/amps currently available. They are light years beyond anything else in the sub-$1000 price point.
In terms of which a person should choose, it's always going to be a matter of personal tastes and specific needs. For me, the sound quality was basically dead even. I ended up selling my Concero and sticking with the Mico because these days I'm mostly working off an iPad, rather than a laptop with a USB port... So I needed something mobile-device friendly with an internal battery. A smaller factor is that I use IEMs more than I do full size cans lately, and the Micro has the attenuation circuitry giving me more range on the volume knob.
If I were someone who was using one of these devices mostly tethered to a plugged-in computer, or for a few hours with an unplugged computer, I honestly might flip a coin. They're both spectacular machines.
Headphones/IEMs Used
Sennheiser ie800
Shure SE846
DITA The Answer (non-Truth)
Westone UM2 with Plussound EXO
Audeze LCD2.2 (non-Fazor) with WyWires Red
German Maestro GMP 8.35 D
Sources Used
iPod Touch 5g running Tidal, Spotify, iTunes, DSD and various hi-rez files via Onkyo HF Player
iPad Air 2 running Tidal, Spotify, iTunes, DSD and various hi-rez files via Onkyo HF Player
Macbook Air running Tidal, Spotify, iTunes, DSD and various hi-rez files via Audiverna
EDIT: Some audiophile porn for your viewing pleasure...
iPod Touch 5g + IFI Micro iDSD + Shure SE846 = Sonic Bliss. I use two strips of 3M Dual Lock instead of rubber bands. Note the clean interface with the Apple lightning camera connection kit.
I have a Concero HP and Normal Concero both wonderful little units.
