iFi audio iDefender3.0 (Official) - Ground Loop Eliminator

[Middy]

http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/accessory-idefender3-0/
I am not sure the 5V will have an effect but a ground lift may do. Thier ISO lift may do the same as a manual lift on the GND..You could try a straw or something to block the 5V and see if the opposite works as your DAC is self powered. A manual ground lift is not too hard on a diy basis you could just cut the ground and touch bare wire until lock.....
Or spend £40 and try.
I am not expert just trying things...

 

[audi0nick128]

hey there,

did anyone try the Idefender with a Chord Mojo?
Would like to try it with my Odroid as source, and out of curiosity with my phone as well.

So any first hand experience with Idefender and Mojo is highly welcome

Cheers

 

[iFi audio]

http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/accessory-idefender3-0/
I am not sure the 5V will have an effect but a ground lift may do. Thier ISO lift may do the same as a manual lift on the GND..You could try a straw or something to block the 5V and see if the opposite works as your DAC is self powered. A manual ground lift is not too hard on a diy basis you could just cut the ground and touch bare wire until lock.....
Or spend £40 and try.
I am not expert just trying things...

To try a rather affordable thing is always the best way to go. We wholeheartedly concur to what you wrote 

 

 

[Middy]

I have spent nearly as much on making a diy version. I am a fan of affordable IFI kit. The Idefender is cracking and solid. My only issue is I use my phone into an intona reclocker so I will need a usb2 B male end adapter for lower down the cable .. highly recommended as a piece of kit..
Keep up the good work as always

Cheers
Dave

 

[Yviena]

 

Accessories > iDEFENDER3.0 

​

 

The iDEFENDER3.0 solves the common ground loop/hum. It ‘breaks’ the ground loop but in a, proper and electrically safe way Just add iPOWER 5v to inject clean power at the source.​

Break ground loops the correct way.
iDefender3.0 with IsoEarth®

Use upstream at the audio source.
Because USB is bi-directional.

Latest USB3.0 standard.
For optimum performance.

Cut-off noisy power.
Inject pure, clean iPOWER 5v.

The iDefender3.0 protects against the common problems of ground loop noise and noisy USB power (if used with optional external iPower 5V).

As USB is bi-directional, it is important to address noise issues upstream as well as downstream.
Common USB noise problems addressed by the iDefender are:

 ​

• Breaks noisy ground-loops. Significantly reduces system noise floor and makes for better dynamic contrast, warmth and resolution
• Disconnects the USB Power from the PC and replaces it with a clean external power (optional iPower* 5V for ultra low noise)
• USB3.0 port technology – most advanced and highest USB specification

The iDefender, just like its iUSB power sibling, brings usb port noise at the computer from a typical 100uV down to 1uV. So a 100x reduction that is quieter than a 9v battery.



Beneath the compact exterior, the iDefender is feature-rich, with the latest iFi technology.

To be used directly at the Source such as the PC usb port, it breaks ground loops and cuts the noisy USB power line. From computer audiophiles, musicians, home studio artists to pro audio customers, it improves audio playback quality at home and on-the-go.

*To obtain the best result, the optional iPower 5V is recommended.

USB is bi-directional, pays to look upstream

Unlike SPDIF which is directional, even as the USB logo itself illustrates, USB is bi-directional. 

Therefore, despite more efforts and benefits to looking downstream such as at the DAC end, we believe it is also beneficial to look upstream at the source.

The iDefender3.0 solves one quite common issue found with either:
 ​

1. Multiple earths​

2. No earth​

That is a ground loop which manifests itself as an audible ‘hum.’

The iDefender3.0 cuts the ground loop AND also offers the ability to inject a clean 5v power supply via the micro USB port at the side.

For computer audio enthusiasts to professional recording studio engineers, the iDefender3.0 slves these two issues in one fell swoop.

Break the noisy USB power, but in the correct way

There are more than a few products that break the USB Power connection, but of the ones known to us, they do very little because the noisy ground connection remains. This is quite a major oversight in our opinion.

For DAC's that do not use USB Power (except for handshake) the iDefender3.0 breaks the ground connection eliminating earth loops, while allowing normal handshake operation to continue. So in terms of cutting out the noise, it does it in the most comprehensive way possible while at the same time, in an electrically correct way.

USB3.0 technology, at the cutting-edge 

It is now a hallmark of all the latest iFi signal and power products to be USB3.0 standard. First USB3.0 is backwards compatible with USB2.0. Second, in terms of the specifications, USB3.0 is superior to USB2.0 eg the wire gauge specification is more exhaustive and the connections are better.

Need clean power? Inject iPower ‘quieter than battery’ technology

As the iDefender3.0 breaks the noisy power supply, this is it for DACs with an internally-powered USB line.

But for DAC's that use USB Power a separate power connection is provided to feed in a 5V DC Supply - this is needed to break the ground connection, as long as the DAC tries to draw USB power from the Source instead the ground cannot be isolated.

With a noise floor that of 1uV, the iPower is a new-breed of near silent DC-power supply. Low power consumption and low-noise.

With 12-Element Array on the output and 6-Element Array technology on the input, there is next to no noise supplied and ‘leaked’ back out to nearby devices.

Specifications:

Super-Speed USB3.0 (and USB2.0 backwards compatible)
Connectors: USB3.0 gold-plated connectors
Dimensions: 48 (l) x 18 (w) x 8 mm (h)
Weight: 6.5g (0.23oz)
Warranty period: 12 months

The EU retail price: €49 incl VAT
The US retail price: $45 ex-tax​

So how does this new thing work, does it only break ground loops, or does it create new clean ground and block noisy ground currents from computer affecting dac circuits?

 

[slex]

is this thing galvanic isolated? I might use it to feed Singxer F1 with LPS into the idefender's 5V rail to supply clean power into F1.

 

[Vitaly2017]

would this improve my sound quality or make it more clean if I use it in between lg v30 otg cable then iDefender3.0 blue usb cable then to micro idsd black? I am trying to kill the random pop I am getting of my unit

 

[jermaink]

I'm wondering if the iDefender3.0 can be used before an iUSBPower 3.0? I previously used a Vbus2 (removes USB power) before my iUSBPower 2.0, but when I switched to a iUSBPower 3.0 my chain would not work with the the Vbus2 present earlier in the chain. Would love some clarification. Thanks!

 

[iFi audio]

I'm wondering if the iDefender3.0 can be used before an iUSBPower 3.0? I previously used a Vbus2 (removes USB power) before my iUSBPower 2.0, but when I switched to a iUSBPower 3.0 my chain would not work with the the Vbus2 present earlier in the chain. Would love some clarification. Thanks!

Of course you can use iDefender3.0 before iUSBPower3.0, but the latter does the same thing (and so much more) and that's why the former seems to be not needed. We also suggest to ask the other manufacturer about potential compatibility issues.

 

[jermaink]

It was actually the iUSBPower 3.0 that wouldn't function properly without USB bus power. I think maybe something to do with USB3.0 specifications (can't quite remember).

 

[iFi audio]

Hi guys

Wanted to share this wicked review with you.

https://www.amazon.com/iDefender3-0...ie=UTF8&qid=1522161041&sr=1-1#customerReviews

"I am very pleased with this product overall, and it was well worth the premium over cheaper isolators and the dirt cheap 3.5 mm analog filters."

 

[wushuliu]

Just want to say I've been swapping my isilencer and idefender placement to my dac and I prefer using the idefender AFTER the isilencer. Anyone else try that?

 

[iFi audio]

Just want to say I've been swapping my isilencer and idefender placement to my dac and I prefer using the idefender AFTER the isilencer. Anyone else try that?

If this setup works for you the best, that's great, feel free to use this combination!

 

[theworstguy]

Been using this recently on my desktop. Have a Schiit Modi 2 Uber connected to it, no added power source. Solved an issue I was having where I would get high frequency noise coming out of my speakers whenever I started up software that had my video card kick in.

 

[iFi audio]

Been using this recently on my desktop. Have a Schiit Modi 2 Uber connected to it, no added power source. Solved an issue I was having where I would get high frequency noise coming out of my speakers whenever I started up software that had my video card kick in.

That's great to know this small red bugger helped you out!