iFi audio iCAN Phantom - Vanish into the music!

[soundlogic]

I had an issue with it but it may have been just specific to my unit so I just downgraded and everything works fine.

Someone I know who got a new unit in the past week says he is on the latest firmware and the bias cards are working fine.

You can always downgrade the firmware so give it a try.

thank you for your response

 

[soundlogic]

thank you for your response, I still need to make or acquire an adapter cable for my KossESP 950’s before I try the firmware update.

 

[iFi audio]

@soundlogic
As others have already answered, my apologies, I would contact our support folks generally for any inquiries of this nature. As others have already mentioned if there is no issue with the unit as it is with the current firmware there really is no reason to upgrade, I have had many units from several companies over the years that perform just fine for me and I haven't felt any need to upgrade firmware, and at times they are meant to address specific issues.

https://support.ifi-audio.com/

Cheers!!

 

[soundlogic]

Thank you for your response.
Tim

 

[THE 001 Music]

I don't have time to read all thirty four pages of this thread, but I'm curious to know if any Phantom owner has any particularly negative experiences with the unit (assuming one is permitted to post such negative reviews here, otherwise please send me a private message).

Reverend Dr. Thomas,
The Vegan Vicar.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

Why does the bass have more impact on the LCD 4 with the ESL turned on and AC off? When I turn the ESL off, I noticed the bass just doesn't hit the same. Doesn't make sense to me lol.

 

[TheR0v3r]

I really wanted to like this unit, because it does sound very good and have all the features that you'd ever want. But I had the same issues as you and many others with 2 separate units that made me return them. Crackling/static when turning the volume knob, switches sticking, and some imbalance issues when using the Tube or Tube+ mode (but only sometimes). If iFi can fix these issues with a "Phantom Signature" or something I'd be an immediate customer. Wish list:

• Replace the volume pot with a reliable relay switched unit with 1db steps
• Replace the delicate sticky switches with a more simple robust design
• Remove the noisy OLED screen; I much prefer sound quality and clean signals over a fancy screen. Buttons/knobs with indicator LED's would do just fine.
• While the SD card method for BIAS selection is novel, its inconvenient. A simple knob or button would suffice.
• Ditch the 2 color scheme; it looks like 2 different design teams worked on the top and bottom halves. The easily removable clear top panel can remain!
• Increase the power/gain to the E-stat energizer. More power hungry e-stats (SR-007, Corina, etc) can't get to loud listening volumes or control the bass with the current unit

When auditoning a Hifiman Arya Unveiled I used a Chord Alto and an iFi Phantom. This is what I wrote in the Alto thread and it aligns with your comments:

Talking about ergonomics, the other amplifier I used was an iFi Phantom which is in the same price range. It had a sound and several functions that made it appealing but was let down by poor ergonomics such as terrible volume control and an overall feeling of being a prototype rather than a finished product. IMHO.

 

[Thorsten Loesch]

When auditoning a Hifiman Arya Unveiled I used a Chord Alto and an iFi Phantom. This is what I wrote in the Alto thread and it aligns with your comments:

If you get a 2nd hand original edition (not Signature) iCAN Pro you have a pretty reliable version of the same Amp

Sold: iFi Pro iCAN Signature w/ Elite Power Supply - 1,250.00 EUR

Minus the "ESL Energiser" which originally was a second stand alone product.

iFi Pro iESL energizer for electrostatic or dynamic headphones - 1,200.00 USD

(Note, not my adverts, I was always too poor to own a set).

No Bluettoth, SD Cards, Firmware updates etc. on those machines.

Sound should be same, except well run in.

Thor

 

[Aryzon]

Hello. I am about to get the iCAN Phantom to use it with the Mini Shangri-la. Does anybody know what Bias Voltage card I should use with it?
On the product page of the Shangri-la headphones they all list a range of 550V-650V. I emailed Hifiman to ask the same question but they replied with:
"Mini Shangri-la headphone belong to electrostatic headphone ,there is no specific voltage limit."


In the manual I see Shangri-la and Shangri-la jr. are listed at 620V AND 640V.

Can someone tell me which bias voltage should I use before I blow up my headphones? Or am I overthinking it?

 

[TheAbyss2022]

Hello. I am about to get the iCAN Phantom to use it with the Mini Shangri-la. Does anybody know what Bias Voltage card I should use with it?
On the product page of the Shangri-la headphones they all list a range of 550V-650V. I emailed Hifiman to ask the same question but they replied with:
"Mini Shangri-la headphone belong to electrostatic headphone ,there is no specific voltage limit."


In the manual I see Shangri-la and Shangri-la jr. are listed at 620V AND 640V.

Can someone tell me which bias voltage should I use before I blow up my headphones? Or am I overthinking it?

You should use the 640V card.

Each physical card has a list on the back which shows which headphones should be used with that specific card.

 

[THE 001 Music]

Hello. I am about to get the iCAN Phantom to use it with the Mini Shangri-la. Does anybody know what Bias Voltage card I should use with it?
On the product page of the Shangri-la headphones they all list a range of 550V-650V. I emailed Hifiman to ask the same question but they replied with:
"Mini Shangri-la headphone belong to electrostatic headphone ,there is no specific voltage limit."


In the manual I see Shangri-la and Shangri-la jr. are listed at 620V AND 640V.

Can someone tell me which bias voltage should I use before I blow up my headphones? Or am I overthinking it?

Any voltage between the listed range is fine.

 

[privatekeplar]

Hello I am new here and posting the following message to get some help.

I am experiencing allot of background hiss on my new ifi phantom amp.

Here is my current and NEW setup

1. Computer to ifi dac via usb
   Ifi dac to ifi phantom via rca
   Ifi phantom to either iem and headphone via a unbalance output
2. 64 audio 12t iem
3. theiaudio origins iem
4. hifiman arya stealth
5. hifiman he1000

- please note only thing new in this setup chain is the ifi phantom, this issue did not exist in teh past in any of the amps (previous amps included smsl, ifi can 2, element audio, schiit)

1. My old set up i.e. prior to receiving ifi phantom
   Computer to ifi dac via usb
   Ifi dac to ifi can 2 via rca
   Ifi can 2 to either iem and headphone via a unbalance output
2. 64 audio 12t
3. theiaudio origins
4. hifiman arya stealth
5. hifiman he1000

Things I observed

• Hiss sounds like constant background electrical hiss grain type noise
• Hiss present at all volumes on both headphones and iems in all of the above stated volumes
• Hiss same amplitude (level of loudness) no matter changing the volume dial i,e, if i increase the volume the hiss amount does not change
• Iems produce a louder hiss compared to headphones, likely because they are more sensitive
  iem match feature - Specifically for iems I tried iem match feature and With iem match feature the loudness of the hiss became lower but present all the time. Again both headphones and iems

Settings at the phantom amp

1. 0 gain
2. ESL off
3. tested on unbalanced 3.5 output and both right and left 6.35 output - same issue replicated

Things I have tried to troubleshoot

The esl is off, has been off the whole time I was trouble shooting.
I am currently plugged into number 20, but I am able to replicate the issue 12 (via 6.3 adapter plugged into the right channel)

1. Changed the USB cable of dac - no change in sound noted
2. unplugged all other usb devices from computer even mouse and keyboard - no change in sound noted
3. Changed ifi dac to element audio dac- no change in sound noted
4. Change source from computer to laptop - no change in sound noted
5. Next
   Changed the RCA cables from DAC to amp - no change in sound noted
6. Next
   I directly plugged the phantom amp to the wall socket, no power or extension cords - no change in sound noted
7. I tried iem match feature and With iem match feature the loudness of the hiss became lower but present all the time. Again both headphones and iems

Questions.
1. What is going on? I am not an engineer, just a simple consumer with a simple Understanding that this high end expensive amp should not be producing this result.

2. I have the ifi can 2, this was never a problem with that amp and it's a 300$ amp. in addition pulled out an old smsl and schiit amp , no background hiss issue with above mentioned iems, seriously curious and want to know why are these amps not producing these results what is about the design or components in these amps that is not present in ifi phantom.

thank you in advance

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Hello I am new here and posting the following message to get some help.

I am experiencing allot of background hiss on my new ifi phantom amp.

Here is my current and NEW setup

1. Computer to ifi dac via usb
   Ifi dac to ifi phantom via rca
   Ifi phantom to either iem and headphone via a unbalance output
2. 64 audio 12t iem
3. theiaudio origins iem
4. hifiman arya stealth
5. hifiman he1000

- please note only thing new in this setup chain is the ifi phantom, this issue did not exist in teh past in any of the amps (previous amps included smsl, ifi can 2, element audio, schiit)

1. My old set up i.e. prior to receiving ifi phantom
   Computer to ifi dac via usb
   Ifi dac to ifi can 2 via rca
   Ifi can 2 to either iem and headphone via a unbalance output
2. 64 audio 12t
3. theiaudio origins
4. hifiman arya stealth
5. hifiman he1000

Things I observed

• Hiss sounds like constant background electrical hiss grain type noise
• Hiss present at all volumes on both headphones and iems in all of the above stated volumes
• Hiss same amplitude (level of loudness) no matter changing the volume dial i,e, if i increase the volume the hiss amount does not change
• Iems produce a louder hiss compared to headphones, likely because they are more sensitive
  iem match feature - Specifically for iems I tried iem match feature and With iem match feature the loudness of the hiss became lower but present all the time. Again both headphones and iems

Settings at the phantom amp

1. 0 gain
2. ESL off
3. tested on unbalanced 3.5 output and both right and left 6.35 output - same issue replicated

Things I have tried to troubleshoot

The esl is off, has been off the whole time I was trouble shooting.
I am currently plugged into number 20, but I am able to replicate the issue 12 (via 6.3 adapter plugged into the right channel)

1. Changed the USB cable of dac - no change in sound noted
2. unplugged all other usb devices from computer even mouse and keyboard - no change in sound noted
3. Changed ifi dac to element audio dac- no change in sound noted
4. Change source from computer to laptop - no change in sound noted
5. Next
   Changed the RCA cables from DAC to amp - no change in sound noted
6. Next
   I directly plugged the phantom amp to the wall socket, no power or extension cords - no change in sound noted
7. I tried iem match feature and With iem match feature the loudness of the hiss became lower but present all the time. Again both headphones and iems

Questions.
1. What is going on? I am not an engineer, just a simple consumer with a simple Understanding that this high end expensive amp should not be producing this result.

2. I have the ifi can 2, this was never a problem with that amp and it's a 300$ amp. in addition pulled out an old smsl and schiit amp , no background hiss issue with above mentioned iems, seriously curious and want to know why are these amps not producing these results what is about the design or components in these amps that is not present in ifi phantom.

thank you in advance

Sorry you are having issues here...

You have tested most everything I can think of here, so unless someone chimes in as having the same issue, I would contact our support immediately and include everything you have posted here for further guidance, also inquire from the shop you purchased from if it was not us directly.

https://support.ifi-audio.com/

Do keep us updated as to what was going on as you are correct, this is not normal behaviour.

Cheers!!

 

[privatekeplar]

Hello

The ifi support team reached out to me and instructed me to ask for a replacement from the retailer. The retailer kindly send a new replacement unit and few days later I ran into even a bigger issue.

Although the afro mentioned hissing and buzzing was no longer a problem with the new unit, the screen of the new unit started showing weird artifacts and glitch like appearance of various colors, eventually to a point where it simply turned off.

currently after all my troubleshooting, with the device solely plugged in the wall it shows the same problem

I do have to apologize for my frustrated tone, but this is my second unit and I am not sure why I am having such quality control issues.

I have attached a pictures and videos (in a zip file as that is what is allowed to be uploaded) for anyone that wants to share their thoughts.

 

[MartussDer]

Hello

The ifi support team reached out to me and instructed me to ask for a replacement from the retailer. The retailer kindly send a new replacement unit and few days later I ran into even a bigger issue.

Although the afro mentioned hissing and buzzing was no longer a problem with the new unit, the screen of the new unit started showing weird artifacts and glitch like appearance of various colors, eventually to a point where it simply turned off.

currently after all my troubleshooting, with the device solely plugged in the wall it shows the same problem

I do have to apologize for my frustrated tone, but this is my second unit and I am not sure why I am having such quality control issues.

I have attached a pictures and videos (in a zip file as that is what is allowed to be uploaded) for anyone that wants to share their thoughts.

OMG. In my case after 2 units, I decided send it back and buy hugo tt2 and vintage stax amplifier.

I could not wait for 3 unit. I hope you have lucky with the third unit.