[Svperstar]

I am very pleased to see this review of the Phantom. When the Phantom was first announced and demoed at shows I was very skeptical and did not like the look of it. However, I bought one anyway out of curiosity. I must say that the reviewer got it right. This compact, low heat, unit does so many things and does them well. While it is not my main rig for e-stats and planars, I do use it quite a bit in an area where compactness is important. I have enjoyed listening to all my e-stats on the Phantom as well every other headphone I own. Plug a really good DAC into it and you could hardly ask for more. I've even grown to appreciate the unusual, two-toned look.

Do you hear any difference out of your main e-stat amp compared to the Phantom?

 

[iFi audio]

Full review is now up: https://www.hifipig.com/ifi-audio-ican-phantom

Awesome! Thanks so much for your review and thoughts, I have also shared this with folks in the company, and others as well.

Cheers!!

 

[BTD1]

Do you hear any difference out of your main e-stat amp compared to the Phantom?

Since I already have the ifi iESL which is now built into the Phantom, I was familiar with the sound and what is possible. My main e-stat amp is the Mjolnir carbon CC which is very powerful, heavy and costly. I can say that harder to drive e-stats run easier on the carbon, but I can't say that any of my e-stats sound bad or lacking on the Phantom. The classical music I listen to doesn't really challenge the e-stat headphones, so maybe there is more headroom on the carbon and better bass, but I don't really notice it so much. if you are new to e-stats the Phantom would probably be a good way to go. The features, tone controls and options on the Phantom are hard to come by at the price it sells for. The Carbon CC has nothing but a volume contol. You need something else if you want to do any sound shaping or coloration. So, my e-stats sound probably better on the Carbon, but they don't sound bad or lacking on the Phantom.

 

[Svperstar]

Since I already have the ifi iESL which is now built into the Phantom, I was familiar with the sound and what is possible. My main e-stat amp is the Mjolnir carbon CC which is very powerful, heavy and costly. I can say that harder to drive e-stats run easier on the carbon, but I can't say that any of my e-stats sound bad or lacking on the Phantom. The classical music I listen to doesn't really challenge the e-stat headphones, so maybe there is more headroom on the carbon and better bass, but I don't really notice it so much. if you are new to e-stats the Phantom would probably be a good way to go. The features, tone controls and options on the Phantom are hard to come by at the price it sells for. The Carbon CC has nothing but a volume contol. You need something else if you want to do any sound shaping or coloration. So, my e-stats sound probably better on the Carbon, but they don't sound bad or lacking on the Phantom.

I've been on the fence getting into Stax for years and years mainly because I can't decide what amp to get. A used Mjolnir or a regular Stax amp or something else. I was super close to buying one last week but backed out at the last minute.

 

[BTD1]

I've been on the fence getting into Stax for years and years mainly because I can't decide what amp to get. A used Mjolnir or a regular Stax amp or something else. I was super close to buying one last week but backed out at the last minute.

I understand your hesitation. When I got into e-stats a few years ago I was pulled down the bigger, more powerful, more esoteric rabbit hole. I was driven to keep upgrading and to buy more expensive equipment than I really needed or would ever use. I am trying to think differently these days. That last 5% of audio perfection is probably never attainable. I'm trying to enjoy what I have and not get into the leader board, race horse mentality. I'm not always successful.

 

[iFi audio]

I understand your hesitation. When I got into e-stats a few years ago I was pulled down the bigger, more powerful, more esoteric rabbit hole. I was driven to keep upgrading and to buy more expensive equipment than I really needed or would ever use. I am trying to think differently these days. That last 5% of audio perfection is probably never attainable. I'm trying to enjoy what I have and not get into the leader board, race horse mentality. I'm not always successful.

The rabbit holes are deep, and the desire for perfection is strong! I think we all at some point reach that point, but the journey is indeed fun!

Cheers!!

 

[Gippy]

Just found out about this. $5500 CAD, urgh. That's more than double the cost of the Pro iCAN Original which I bought at the MSRP of $2400.

I'll have to pass on this one. I don't daily an estat, so that part of the Phantom would be useless to me. Really wish that iFi would put the variable XBass and 3D (now called XSpace) features on their more modestly-priced amps, but it seems they just want to keep that on their premium Pro iCAN models.

 

[ufospls2]

Just found out about this. $5500 CAD, urgh. That's more than double the cost of the Pro iCAN Original which I bought at the MSRP of $2400.

I'll have to pass on this one. I don't daily an estat, so that part of the Phantom would be useless to me. Really wish that iFi would put the variable XBass and 3D (now called XSpace) features on their more modestly-priced amps, but it seems they just want to keep that on their premium Pro iCAN models.

As far as I understand, the Phantom is essentially the Pro iCAN and Pro iESL in one box, so you should be good to go with your original Pro iCAN, especially if you have no need for an e-stat solution.

 

[TooFrank]

Just found out about this. $5500 CAD, urgh. That's more than double the cost of the Pro iCAN Original which I bought at the MSRP of $2400.

I'll have to pass on this one. I don't daily an estat, so that part of the Phantom would be useless to me. Really wish that iFi would put the variable XBass and 3D (now called XSpace) features on their more modestly-priced amps, but it seems they just want to keep that on their premium Pro iCAN models.

+1 and to me the ProiCAN is still a great piece of work

 

[iFi audio]

+1 and to me the ProiCAN is still a great piece of work

Thanks for that! I am enjoying mine more and more every day! I will pass along your praise!

Cheers!!

 

[Loftprojection]

Just a suggestion, make a ProiCAN v2 without the estat function but adding a great DAC section to make it a one box solution for iem and regular headphones.

 

[iFi audio]

Just a suggestion, make a ProiCAN v2 without the estat function but adding a great DAC section to make it a one box solution for iem and regular headphones.

Suggestion duly noted! You never know!

Cheers!!

 

[Loftprojection]

Suggestion duly noted! You never know!

Cheers!!

Since we are in wet dream territory, may I also suggest that the great DAC section be R2R? Since the ProiDSD is already in your catalog with a BB chip, making a flagship iDSD with a custom R2R DAC to complement tube+, melow, soft and velvety, would be a clear winner!

 

[iFi audio]

I agree! I have often thought (and mentioned) the fact that an R2R DAC would be great, but at this moment I do not see one on the Horizon, but again we can dream, and "never say never"...

Cheers!!

 

[Svperstar]

I understand your hesitation. When I got into e-stats a few years ago I was pulled down the bigger, more powerful, more esoteric rabbit hole. I was driven to keep upgrading and to buy more expensive equipment than I really needed or would ever use. I am trying to think differently these days. That last 5% of audio perfection is probably never attainable. I'm trying to enjoy what I have and not get into the leader board, race horse mentality. I'm not always successful.

I have a Stax 007 mk2 and a Stax SRM-T1S coming in the mail, both used. I was very close to buying a really expensive estat amp but figured that I should hear what the "entry level" ones sound like first so I have some point of reference.