Yes you can. I've used the previous generation Gemini that way many times (and yes you can mix USB2.0 and USB3.0 ports and no I do not know which way round will sound better in your case).
iFi Audio Gemini3.0 & Mercury3.0 - The New Dynamic Duo
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maro8
New Head-Fier
Thank you for your reply. It brings me more questions. In this case Gemini work like single cable? If so, I think it doesn't work fully functionally. Mercury might be better choice. I wonder Gemini is good choice only for users they have micro/nano iUSB3.0 ?
Both the Gemini 3.0 and the Mercury 3.0 are single cables. What makes the Gemini special is that physically separates off the USB power and data lines, which I've found improves sound with other double ended cables. This splitting means that you need two ports on your source to use the cable. If you can't make two ports available then the Gemini is not for you.
In this image, I believe that this is the chain:
Mac to Gemini 3.0 (£379) to iGalvanic 3.0 (£369) to Mercury 3.0 (£209).
It is possible that this is the chain with one element hiding behind the Mac:
Mac to Gemini 3.0 to iUSB3.0 (£195 for Nano, and £395) to Gemini 3.0. to iGalvanic 3.0 to Mercury 3.0
I currently have the data end of Gemini plugged into my desktop PC and the power end plugged into an iPower 5V. The other end goes into an iPurifier2 and micro iDSD.
maro8
New Head-Fier
Both the Gemini 3.0 and the Mercury 3.0 are single cables. What makes the Gemini special is that physically separates off the USB power and data lines, which I've found improves sound with other double ended cables. This splitting means that you need two ports on your source to use the cable. If you can't make two ports available then the Gemini is not for you.
In this image, I believe that this is the chain:
Mac to Gemini 3.0 (£379) to iGalvanic 3.0 (£369) to Mercury 3.0 (£209).
It is possible that this is the chain with one element hiding behind the Mac:
Mac to Gemini 3.0 to iUSB3.0 (£195 for Nano, and £395) to Gemini 3.0. to iGalvanic 3.0 to Mercury 3.0
I understand what glassmonkey and technobear said. I thought Normal PC cannot recognize which port is for data and for power. It must work like single head usb cable. But It was wrong. Gemini cable controls it, its not PC's task. So if two ports are available, I can use gemini cable. Thank you very much
I use the Gemini 3.0 USB cable feeding data to DAC with the data side directly from my MacBook, and feeding clean power to DAC with the power side from a IFi Micro USB 3.0. It sounds better then sending data to Micro USB 3.0 first and then to DAC.
The Gemini 3.0 USB is a very good way to feed clean power to the USB DAC module in any DAC, and doing this it significantly improves the sound.
The Gemini 3.0 USB is a very good way to feed clean power to the USB DAC module in any DAC, and doing this it significantly improves the sound.
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I agree. It's interesting to what measures (cables, reclocking, galvanic isolation) the USB interface responds really well and how much better can it get.
@iFi audio speaking about both cables: are those two short version of gemini and mercury available anywhere:
Both pictures comes from this thread: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/micro-iusb3-0-impressions-thread.781064/page-14#post-13769452
I am asking since the shortest version I can find is 0.5m, and those are definitively shorter.
Both pictures comes from this thread: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/micro-iusb3-0-impressions-thread.781064/page-14#post-13769452
I am asking since the shortest version I can find is 0.5m, and those are definitively shorter.
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These shorties are not avialable. We made several for our own event usage only. Sorry!
Thank you for answer. I am sorry to hear that since adding 0.7m cable from iUSB to iDAC2 or iDSD micro while both units are on the same iRack less than 10 cm away is overkill especially for such nice setup that does not take a lot of space on my desk. It is not even about the price but more about usability in my case.
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I understand. Perhaps one day we will come up with a commercially available shorty USB cable. I'll let my team know that there's some demand for it.
Thanks for your input!
You are welcome & thanks for passing my input. Keeping my fingers crossed for shorter Gemini cable
squadgazzz
100+ Head-Fier
Did anyone compare the Jcat reference with Gemini3.0?
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Personally I haven't and the odds of such a comparison are rather small, I think.
@iFi audio The 3.0 ver. says I need to have 3.0 USB ports, if my computer has 3.2 Gen 2 USB ports, it should work fine right?
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