[spookygonk]

  I would just stick with a USB3 cable and plugged into a USB2 port.  Why buy an old outdated cable?  I mean I have lots of those already LOL.  Not sure about you.  

Nope, only one for my USB hub.
I did dig out a 6 foot Geeksquad USB 2 cable from a box, so I've got that in use at the mo.

 

[vnmslsrbms]

  Nope, only one for my USB hub.
I did dig out a 6 foot Geeksquad USB 2 cable from a box, so I've got that in use at the mo.

Yeah for me when I needed a USB cable, it was too short.  All of them were.  

 

[diamondears]

I'm looking for another iFi DAC...what would be the iFi micro iDAC2's advantage over the iFi micro iDSD? I'm looking to get another iFi micro iDSD for pure desktop use, but I'm thinking I might save some dough with the iDAC2. Would micro iDSD be better all across the board?

 

[iFi audio]

I'm looking for another iFi DAC...what would be the iFi micro iDAC2's advantage over the iFi micro iDSD? I'm looking to get another iFi micro iDSD for pure desktop use, but I'm thinking I might save some dough with the iDAC2. Would micro iDSD be better all across the board?

 
Hi,
 
Pure desktop, go iDAC2. It is 80:20 portable/desktop. (unless you use super sensitive IEMs that need reigning in).
 
Micro iDSD = 60:40 portable/desktop.
 
Cheers.

 

[diamondears]

Hi,

Pure desktop, go iDAC2. It is 80:20 portable/desktop. (unless you use super sensitive IEMs that need reigning in).

Micro iDSD = 60:40 portable/desktop.

Cheers.

Thanks.

What's the basic difference on their sound?

 

[iFi audio]

Thanks.

What's the basic difference on their sound?

 
Hi,
 
Same family signature, as nano iDSD, micro iDAC2 and micro iDSD all have the same Burr-Brown at the heart. Micro iDSD has better headphone section (more options to dial-in, obviously). But from RCAs, pure sonics, the iDAC2 runs the micro iDSD very, very close.
 
As we always say, try for yourself before you buy.
 
If desktop, we prefer iDAC2+iCAN (but just try the iDAC2 itself first as normal headphones like AT MSR-7s etc work mighty fine)
If portable, we rec micro iDSD.
 
Cheers

 

[diamondears]

Hi,

Same family signature, as nano iDSD, micro iDAC2 and micro iDSD all have the same Burr-Brown atthe heart. Micro iDSD has better headphone section (more options to dial-in, obviously). But fromRCAs, pure sonics, the iDAC2 runs the micro iDSD very, very close.

As we always say, try for yourself before you buy.

If desktop, we prefer iDAC2+iCAN (but just try the iDAC2 itself first as normal headphones like AT MSR-7s etc work mighty fine)
If portable, we rec micro iDSD.

Cheers

Thanks.

I like the sound out of the MacBook Pro with MIDI set to 768khz (16/44 oversampled to 768khz), using the non-oversampling Bit-Perfect Filter. Smoother with more analogue-like bass. Why is that?

This is one reason I'm having 2nd thoughts on the iDAC2, which only have 384khz.

 

[iFi audio]

Thanks.

I like the sound out of the MacBook Pro with MIDI set to 768khz (16/44 oversampled to 768khz), using the non-oversampling Bit-Perfect Filter. Smoother with more analogue-like bass. Why is that?

This is one reason I'm having 2nd thoughts on the iDAC2, which only have 384khz.

 
Hi,
 
You may wish to comparre setting the Apple SRC to 384k vs 768k. We somewhat doubt the difference will be material, as the same SRC will be upconverting the same Data, just with the same algorithms.
 
As always, try yourself first.
 
Cheers.

 

[diamondears]

   
Hi,
 
You may wish to comparre setting the Apple SRC to 384k vs 768k. We somewhat doubt the difference will be material, as the same SRC will be upconverting the same Data, just with the same algorithms.
 
As always, try yourself first.
 
Cheers.

Yes, already did that. And many times to make sure I'm not imagining things. But invariably, the treble is always smoother, and the bass is noticeably more and better to my ears if at 768khz. If at 384khz, I don't notice a tweak on the sound.
 
Its a tweak to the sound, but it's a good tweak to my ears. May not be transparent or true to the recording, but I like it. And to my ears, the difference is material. Try it. I only notice this on the NOS Bit-Perfect Filter.

 

[ngntailoc]

How the sound quality when the direct connection from mini-pc to IDAC 2 not use the combo (IFI PURIFIER + IFI GEMINI + IFI IUSBPOWER)??? 

 

[diamondears]

Can someone describe the differences in sound between the micro iDAC2 and micro iDSD? I know the differences may be minimal, but hoping someone could describe them.

 

[gixxerwimp]

Can someone describe the differences in sound between the micro iDAC2 and micro iDSD? I know the differences may be minimal, but hoping someone could describe them.

 
I can't hear any differences between them, sound quality-wise. The micro iDSD gives you more adjustability for (and more available) power output and gain adjustment via iEMatch, and it has XBass (very minor boost) and 3D Holographic (cross-feed, I don't use it). Plus the battery for portable use (possibly less noisy).
 
If you're driving high-sensitivity phones or IEMs, you may have trouble getting past the channel imbalance (~9 o'clock) on the iDAC's volume knob.
 
All this has been discussed either in this thread or the iDSD thread. You can try searching for iFi Audio's reply to previous questions.

 

[hfflt]

I know it can be extreme, but can someone describe the differences in sound between the stock computer on-board audio vs iDAC2? Yep, I am sure difference is enormous, but I would like to know exactly. Detailed and emotional description would be highly appreciated.

 

[Mbeeching]

Back later with impressions!

 
Back with belated impressions. My first month with the iDAC2!

 
Test conditions: Bit-Perfect mode / ASIO / Foobar2000 / Win 10 64-bit
The Cable: Fisual Havana (1.4m) with iFi Audio Purifier
The Cans: Shure 1440 (Stock) [101 dB SPL/mW - 37 Ω]
 
The short:
Superb, great sounding DAC and solid headphone amp.
 
The long:
The packaging is excellent and certainly looks the part. Arriving in a robust matt laminated box with silver foiled logos accenting both ends, the clean minimalist design looks great.
I particularly liked the pictures posted on Head-Fi showing the internals, perhaps iFi should include them on the packaging or pamphlet as the PCB definitely looks the business!
Curiously the website and box state differing weights (Box: 193g / Web: 265g), with no scales to hand I cannot determine which is correct but it's of no major concern (one will be the boxed/device weight).
 
The iDAC2 is a nicely constructed unit and certainly feels solid. Given a colour choice I may have preferred black but the matt silver does look good.
Curiously my sealed unit did arrive with a slight grubby mark on top but it has polished out. A 'very' short USB 3.0 lead is also included to get you started.
Three small LEDs adorn the top of the device and I find the bit-rate light particularly useful and gently reassuring. As a non-battery powered unit the other two are perhaps unnecessary but at least they look appealing as a trio.
 
For the PC/DAC connection I'm currently using a Fisual Havana USB lead. Despite shortlisting the popular Supra cable and quite striking Wireworld Chroma, eventually it did come down to price and potentially dimishing returns.
The Twin USB solutions (e.g. iFi Gemini/Forza Audioworks) do look like a great concept and logically make sense, however with my budget blown this is not an area I can explore any further.
I'm definitely saving my pennies for a FAW 'quad copper' headphone cable though!
 
The sound
My previous DAC was the Fiio E10 and the iDAC2 improves upon this in all areas. I was honestly not expecting such a stark difference and I'm thoroughly impressed, there is definitely no going back.
I'm not going to spend too much time attempting to explain the difference but there is a distinct separation to all elements of the sound, comparatively the Fiio sounds very muddled and confused.
It's very pleasurable and I just wish I had more time to spend enjoying the music.  I used to love the Burr Brown sound from my Denon 2900 and it's great to have it back again with the iDAC2.
 
The iDAC2 certainly pairs well with my Shure 1440s and has revealed a detailed low end which seemed relatively absent. Those slightly fatiguing mids have also been brought under control affording extended listening sessions.
There is plenty of power under the hood for these headphones but I could find myself short with something less efficient (e.g. AKG K702). Maybe I will need an iCan one day... or even an iTube. Can it really get better!?
 
My HD audio collection is fairly decent and unquestionably the iDAC2 handles these superbly but I was really surprised by it's strong performance with 'bog-standard' VBR/320 MP3 files.
It's hard to avoid brickwalled output these days with their ghastly clipping and generally poor dynamic range, but compared to the Fiio these recordings are a far more comfortable listen.
I'm also using the iDAC2 for gaming and so far I'm pleased to report there are no latency or compatibility issues. [For general use I have Windows Audio set to 32bit/192kHz].
 
The minor quibbles
It would be nice to have the L/R outputs on the back of the unit though I do appreciate they are positioned there for technical reasons.
The iDAC2 has a pretty decent headphone section though I wish it had L/R inputs for my old SACD player. I'm sure the end-users that would benefit from this are a relative minority though.
My dream iFi would be slightly larger unit, desktop based, but with external power and a slightly beefier headphone output.  The power on tap is good but I would have to take further upgrade costs into consideration if I changed my headphones.
 
The future and beyond?
I've not tried the iDAC2 without the iPurifier yet and really should try some blind A/B tests. Admittedly it was a bundle purchase and I'm not sure I could justify the cost as a separate item.
Unfortunately I lack the income to take risks and gambles but this device was worth every hard earned penny (though way over my £200 budget). I'm confident I will enjoy it for many years to come unless iFi release something truly spectacular. And breathe

 

[iFi audio]

The iDAC2 – spilling the secret sauce (part 1)

 

 

The iDAC2’s musicality has wooed – most recently the iDAC2 + iPurifier2 + Pro iCAN at the Fujiya AVIC Headphone Festival in Tokyo where the market is probably the most demanding on the planet.
 

 
 
 
Source: http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2015/10/ifi-retro-stereo-50-ipurifier2-at-fujiya-avic-2015/
 
The Pro iCAN was one of the show ‘best sound winners’ so the small but mighty iDAC2 + iPurifier 2 combo deserve some credit for producing the digital-to-analogue conversion to feed the Pro iCAN.
 

 
At the show, the quite technically proficient Japanese press asked us on more than one occasion why the recently-launched iDAC2 sounded so nice. And this is a press pack that has turntables in heavy rotation so they know their onions. This gave us the idea to put finger to keyboard.
 
Source: http://www.fujiya-avic.jp/blog/?p=21041
 
 
Bake-Off: the iFi recipe behind a really good DAC
 
The following are our thoughts only. The application of the parts budget as common industry practice is similar to what we did in the iFi iDSD nano which is more indicative of <US$1,000 DACs. Often a very large part of the budget is needed for the digital platform (after all, we need a DAC Chip that headlines and a good USB processor). Power supplies and analogue stages receive the remaining budget.
 
Hence, the three key cost areas in the electronics of a digital-to-analogue converter:
 

• Digital section cost - is much the same across the board, chipsets/clocks vary but slightly and software is usually ‘off the shelf’ like the XMOS firmware and off the shelf DAC Chips of usually comparable cost. In a USB DAC the USB Processor is usually the biggest ticket item before the DAC. Clocks and their power supplies often cost as much as a DAC Chip.
• Analogue section cost – from a simple double Op-Amp for 20 cent to things done much more extensively cost varies. The iDAC2 has BB Soundplus integrated amplifier and a discrete JFet and BJT Class A output stage. Further it employs C0G Capacitors and MELF Resistors for all signal positions, all this adds cost.
• Power supply section cost – Often USB DACs have minimal power supply arrangements with generic 3-pin regulators. If done more extensively, then the cost is higher eg iDAC2 uses ELNA Silmic Capacitors and Active Noise Cancellation® to eliminate the USB power noise.

 
iDAC2 is no piece of cake
 
Things are different in the iDAC 2: we started with a larger budget, we could have spent it in a number of ways, like more DAC Chips or different ‘fashionable’ DAC Chips or fancy clocks. Instead we chose to put the extra budget where it impacts most, namely analogue stages and power supplies.
 
The iDAC2 has a similar cost digital section as with other DACs out there (and to our iDSD nano) but its analogue and power sections are more extensive hence its overall cost is greater so its pie chart area is larger.
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
The proof is in the eating listening.
 
Next time: Part 2. The Digital section