[BrainFood]

Thanks for the feedback.  You are not the first to report that it sounds very similar indeed to the idsd, which is a good thing.

 

[richpjr]

  anyone tried hd598 with idac2? any impressions?

Anyone try this combo?  Picked up the HD598s on the Amazon Black Friday sale and need an amp/dac for my desk at work.

 

[iFi audio]

  Anyone try this combo?  Picked up the HD598s on the Amazon Black Friday sale and need an amp/dac for my desk at work.

 
Hi,
 
The HD598 is pretty high sensitivity, so the iDAC2 micro will drive it fine, loudness should not be an issue. Sound quality performance, as usual, find a local iFi retailer and take your music and HD598s over and take it for a spin.
 
Cheers.

 

[hfflt]

  Anyone try this combo?  Picked up the HD598s on the Amazon Black Friday sale and need an amp/dac for my desk at work.

 
I'm looking to that as well.

 

[richpjr]

   
I'm looking to that as well.

Spent a lot of time looking at dac/amp combos and decided that feature-wise this was right what I was looking for so I ordered it.  My work listening has suddenly taken a dramatic change for the better!

 

[godslayer]

Just gotten my iDAC2 from an earlier upgrade of my iDAC.
 
Pairing it at the moment with my HD800 with iDAC2, iLink and iUSB.
 
Audio is definitely louder and clearer now thanks to the built in headphone amp. I had previously contemplated getting the iCan to boost the volume since I had to turn it to around 1 o'clock to get reasonable volume with my HD800. Now I can comfortably listen to it at around 11 o'clock or lower. 
 
Overall I am very pleased with the iDAC2.
 
Just curious, is there anything else I can do to further improve on my HD800 audio quality. Audio is subjective I know, but just curious what some of the experts here can recommend.
 
Thanks!

 

[technobear]

Pairing it at the moment with my HD800 with iDAC2, iLink and iUSB.

What purpose is the iLink serving here?

Just curious, is there anything else I can do to further improve on my HD800 audio quality. Audio is subjective I know, but just curious what some of the experts here can recommend.

The iPurifier2 and the iCAN are the obvious upgrades.

I can't really decide which should come first. If you need the extra XBASS settings or the Crossfeed then I guess the iCAN should come first.

The iLink should NOT be playing a part here. You should be using the USB input on the iDAC2.

 

[godslayer]

Sorry, my bad.
 
I didn't meant iLink but rather Gemini.
 
My brain must have zoned off yesterday.
 
Since Gemini and iUSB both work together to clean up USB noise, is the iPurifier/2 still necessary in this case?
 
In fact I am looking into iCan or iTube as my next upgrade plan.
 
I am no audiophile but I do understand processing sequence does matter. Assuming i get either of those two, what should be the recommended chain of sequence? Or would it be a case of too many cooks spoil the broth if I add those into the mix?

 

[technobear]

Sorry, my bad.

I didn't meant iLink but rather Gemini.

My brain must have zoned off yesterday.

Since Gemini and iUSB both work together to clean up USB noise, is the iPurifier/2 still necessary in this case?

In fact I am looking into iCan or iTube as my next upgrade plan.

I am no audiophile but I do understand processing sequence does matter. Assuming i get either of those two, what should be the recommended chain of sequence? Or would it be a case of too many cooks spoil the broth if I add those into the mix?

The current recommendation if you already have an iUSBPower is to put the iPurifier2 on the input of the iUSBPower.

Computer > USB cable > iPurifier2 > iUSBPower > Gemini > iDAC2 > iCAN > Headphones

iFi Audio explained it here:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/784983/ifi-ipurifier-2-reviews-impressions-and-discussion-thread/90#post_12105778

 

[iFi audio]

iDAC2: Spilling the Secret Sauce (6/6)

Power Supply – with great Power brings great responsibility

 
Almost 940uF power supply capacitance directly supports the DAC Chip analogue power supply and a further almost 470uF dedicated to the digital supplies. The digital supplies incorporate three low noise series regulators for the 3.3V supply voltages of different parts of the digital section (including one dedicated for the Audio Clocks only).
 
To maximise dynamic performance, especially with bass, the analogue stage is backed by audio-grade ELNA Silmic Capacitors dedicated only to the analogue stage and additional capacitors giving a total of 1,400uF, while the Headphone Amplifier uses by almost 2,000uF in local power supply capacitance, located within a few mm of the audio circuitry supplied.
 
(image missing)

 
All in all, of the iDAC 2 micro printed circuit board, nearly 50% is taken up with power supply circuitry while the rest is used for all other functions. So whilst there should be discussion over the DAC chipset that surrounds the digital section, we always ask our readers to not overlook the analogue and power supply sections. These two are less 'sexy' but they are both just as important to the total sound.
 
By using such extreme and elaborate power supply circuitry, the iDAC2 micro achieves a new level of dynamic performance in USB powered DACs and a USB powered performance (objective & subjective) that previously required either battery or external mains power. This also results in why the headphone section sounds really impressive.
 
As we always say, the proof is in the pudding.
 

 

[godslayer]

Thanks for the link!

Much appreciated. I shall go by the recommended path as stated

Much thanks again!

 

[richpjr]

  Anyone try this combo?  Picked up the HD598s on the Amazon Black Friday sale and need an amp/dac for my desk at work.

To answer my own question on how the HD598 sounds with the iDac2 - great!  Just got my iDac2 in today and while I have only had a chance to listen to it at work this morning (not a great place to do critical listening!), it drives the HD598s very well.  Loaded the drivers on my Windows 10 laptop and everything was painless and works as expected.  I'll bring it home over the weekend and compare it to my Bifrost Uber.  Very happy so far!

 

[BrainFood]

 
I'll bring it home over the weekend and compare it to my Bifrost Uber.  Very happy so far!

 
Congrats!  Look forward to the comparison 

 

[iFi audio]

Join the force.......head over to our competition for a chance to win some iFi goodies and get the latest on the iCan SE Micro!
 
Thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/790869/ican-micro-se-intergalactic-launch-competition

 

[Mbeeching]

Out of interest, has anybody experienced any issues with the iDAC2 on a laptop?
There were no problems using it on my main rig, but on the laptop the iDAC2 disconnects when I try to play music or video content.
 
The laptop is connected to the mains and I've tried various bitrate/buffer settings without success.
Perhaps the CPU is not powerful enough or the USB 3.0 port is not delivering the full power requirements?
 
I'm currently homeless as my flat has been badly affected by flooding. What a rubbish Christmas