iFi audio iDSD Signature - The saga continues!

[MarkParity]

How easy would it be to replace the battery? Since there is no way to bypass the battery, I’m concerned about how many cycles it will last and how to get it serviced.

As @elira said the battery will last many years. The battery is very easy to replace too, just remove the end caps (8 screws) and slide the circuit board out complete with the battery. The connector is a standard one and although not officially supported there are quite a few suitable third party replacement batteries available on ebay and other places if your iFi warranty has expired.

 

[Richard Wray]

Hi IFI

I just need to know if the iDSD Signature and the DAC part of the NEO are essentially the same? I’m 100% headphones and desktop based so would appreciate a recommendation. I’ll be upgrading from a Zen Dac.

 

[qsk78]

The 1st difference I see is the XLR output on the NEO, so you can connect to any balanced desktop amplifier if needed.

 

[utdeep]

As @elira said the battery will last many years. The battery is very easy to replace too, just remove the end caps (8 screws) and slide the circuit board out complete with the battery. The connector is a standard one and although not officially supported there are quite a few suitable third party replacement batteries available on ebay and other places if your iFi warranty has expired.

What is the search on eBay that would get me the right replacement kit? I couldn’t find anything with ifi black label battery. Would keep this answer for future use

 

[iFi audio]

How easy would it be to replace the battery? Since there is no way to bypass the battery, I’m concerned about how many cycles it will last and how to get it serviced.

These batteries are tough and can easily serve several years. And if we can, we exchange batteries even in our discontinued products too so I wouldn't worry if I were you

Looking forward to ordering the Signature for myself now.

Thanks!

"Better" ... difficult word

It sure is

The 1st difference I see is the XLR output on the NEO, so you can connect to any balanced desktop amplifier if needed.

Yup, NEO iDSD is internally balanced.

 

[pompecukor]

Hi IFI

I just need to know if the iDSD Signature and the DAC part of the NEO are essentially the same? I’m 100% headphones and desktop based so would appreciate a recommendation. I’ll be upgrading from a Zen Dac.

Neo has real balance, Sig has fake balance.
Sig has, gains and filters (3d, Xbass), Neo has none of these.

I am actually not sure about this last part, but the MQA render/decode part. I think Neo does 100% on its own. While Sig needs some of the work done on the PC (?). This is hinted to in the marketing jibberish of the Neo, see the part about 16 cores and such. There is no such highlight in the Sig, less you realize that it has "limited" MQA support.

 

[Richard Wray]

Neo has real balance, Sig has fake balance.
Sig has, gains and filters (3d, Xbass), Neo has none of these.

I am actually not sure about this last part, but the MQA render/decode part. I think Neo does 100% on its own. While Sig needs some of the work done on the PC (?). This is hinted to in the marketing jibberish of the Neo, see the part about 16 cores and such. There is no such highlight in the Sig, less you realize that it has "limited" MQA support.

Thanks for the feedback. My question would be why are they such a similar price? The battery can’t cost ‘that’ much in the Sig.

The Neo has a whole bunch of Bluetooth gubbins too.

 

[pompecukor]

Thanks for the feedback. My question would be why are they such a similar price? The battery can’t cost ‘that’ much in the Sig.

The Neo has a whole bunch of Bluetooth gubbins too.

Based on net parts cost most Hifi equipment would only cost 50 bucks.
I don't think any of these have total parts cost more than 200EUR.

Anyway I think one reason is there is much less competition in the portable MQA capable marketplace. Just go look how many other portable can do it apart from IFi and FiiO products. I think almost none. Not saying MQA is a big deal. As you probably have seen if you did some research there has been no factual testing where humans could tell the difference (in a positive way).

When it comes to the Neo. There is very tough competition in the price bracket. Especially from the highend Chinese options.

 

[iFi audio]

I think Neo does 100% on its own.

Previously only our Pro iDSD was a full MQA decoder and each other DAC was MQA renderer. Now NEO iDSD is a full MQA decoder as well.

 

[pompecukor]

Previously only our Pro iDSD was a full MQA decoder and each other DAC was MQA renderer. Now NEO iDSD is a full MQA decoder as well.

You mean like Topping D90 MQA and SMSL M400, M500, SU-9, etc none of those are full?
But they do.

 

[iFi audio]

You mean like Topping D90 MQA and SMSL M400, M500, SU-9, etc none of those are full?

I don't know how devices you listed process MQA, but most MQA DACs out there are MQA renderers.

 

[531412]

You mean like Topping D90 MQA and SMSL M400, M500, SU-9, etc none of those are full?

I think they are all full decoder. But in the ifi lineup, there is just the Pro iDSD with a full MQA decoder.

I do not know why and I compare those out of memories, but my Sig sounds better to me compared to the Pro iDSD (used/using an Arya as headphone). I exchanged the Pro iDSD for the Signature to save some money and be more flexible.

 

[pompecukor]

I don't know how devices you listed process MQA, but most MQA DACs out there are MQA renderers.

If you do not know them, then why claim that "... only our Pro iDSD was a full MQA decoder..."? Many other also do this.
I am not saying that it is bad thing in anyway. I was stating the differences to that guy, which is not very obvious when just reading your marketing pages

I mean you as a manufacturer would either say MQA decode is over hype. But then you would be challenged as to why then hype the decode/render capability in the Neo as a highlighted "feature".
...what come around goes around

 

[pompecukor]

I think they are all full decoder. But in the ifi lineup, there is just the Pro iDSD with a full MQA decoder.

Correct.

 

[Kike6685]

Ifi micro idsd signature is mqa full decoded, too?