[mwhals]

Which firmware comes installed on the Signature?

I would guess it would depend on what firmware is most current during manufacturing of the iDSD signature.

 

[CANiSLAYu]

Which one of the positions for the filter switch is the GTO filter? Literally everywhere I look it says the iDSD Signature comes with it installed, even iFis own product site. I can't seem to find any more information about it though.

@iFi audio can you chime in here? I have the same question. It looks like the Signature comes with 5.3 firmware installed, but I thought GTO was only available on 5.3c. The marketing materials state GTO is available by default. How do you enable the GTO filter out of the box? Or do you need to install 5.3c and then use the minimum phase filter? Thank you.

 

[CANiSLAYu]

I would guess it would depend on what firmware is most current during manufacturing of the iDSD signature.

5.3c came out in September 2018, but looks my unit had 5.3 (March 2018) upon checking manually.

 

[dcguy73]

I've been experimenting with swapping USB filters in and out between my Mac mini (running macOS/Windows) and the iDSD Signature.

I tried out the following:

1. iSilencer 3.0
2. iDefender 3.0 (with and without iPower X 5v)
3. iGalvanic 3.0 Nano
4. iUSB 3.0 Nano (which my Mac couldn't "see" so it was a bust)
5. Holo Audio Titanis USB Turbo filter

For me, an effective USB filter makes the music sound a bit louder (due to a reduction in background noise) and a little crisper/clearer. None of the devices I tried were able to achieve that. The only sound changes I detected were a slight rounding of treble and a slight softening of transients. Not a desirable outcome. The iDSD Signature sounded best with a direct USB connection to my Mac.

Conclusion: iFi did well with its USB implementation in the iDSD Signature. Just like with the iDSD Pro, none of my USB filters were able to improve upon the iDSD Signature's sound.

 

[bflat]

Which firmware comes installed on the Signature?

I got 5.3 on mine out of box. Went with 5.3c GTO filter and really like the combo with my T5 Gen 3.

 

[dbturbo2]

Which one of the positions for the filter switch is the GTO filter? Literally everywhere I look it says the iDSD Signature comes with it installed, even iFis own product site. I can't seem to find any more information about it though.

Just in case you didn’t get a response, i believe the GTO filter operates in all filter switch positions with firmware 5.3c

I’m not sure what firmware the Signature ships with, my non Signature BL shipped with 5.3

 

[jirams]

I like 5.3c in Minimum Phase position best.
I wonder if 5.3c will pull more power out of battery due to oversampling?
Case def getting warmer.

 

[dcguy73]

Just in case you didn’t get a response, i believe the GTO filter operates in all filter switch positions with firmware 5.3c

I’m not sure what firmware the Signature ships with, my non Signature BL shipped with 5.3

I'm confused about this. If the GTO filter operates in all filter switch positions, why is there a middle filter switch position designated just for it (replacing the minimum-phase filter)?

On the iDSD Pro, one of the filter switch options is GTO, but I don't think it's active when the other filter options are selected.

@iFi audio, could you please explain how firmware 5.3c affects the three different filter switch positions?

 

[iFi audio]

Which firmware comes installed on the Signature?

It should be 5.3.

@iFi audio, giveaways are nice, but how about spreading some Xmas cheer with holiday discounts on iFi's products? + iFi discounts =

You know, we don't sell directly, so...

Just in case you didn’t get a response, i believe the GTO filter operates in all filter switch positions with firmware 5.3c

@iFi audio, could you please explain how firmware 5.3c affects the three different filter switch positions?

Yes, our GTO filter was designed to be constantly engaged for PCM playback, it overrides any other filter (including filter knob positions) and the only way to turn it off is to install a different firmware.

but I thought GTO was only available on 5.3c.

That's correct, the GTO is auto-engaged upon installing our 5.3c firmware and it replaces every other filter.

 

[mwhals]

It should be 5.3.



You know, we don't sell directly, so...





Yes, our GTO filter was designed to be constantly engaged for PCM playback, it overrides any other filter (including filter knob positions) and the only way to turn it off is to install a different firmware.



That's correct, the GTO is auto-engaged upon installing our 5.3c firmware and it replaces every other filter.

So GTO is good for someone that only uses FLAC files?

 

[iFi audio]

So GTO is good for someone that only uses FLAC files?

It might be, yes. The GTO is a filter, so a subjective matter to discuss. One would have to try using this one and see for her/himself

 

[Baten]

So GTO is good for someone that only uses FLAC files?

GTO is just a filter, flac is just a container format.

 

[dcguy73]

Yes, our GTO filter was designed to be constantly engaged for PCM playback, it overrides any other filter (including filter knob positions) and the only way to turn it off is to install a different firmware.

That's correct, the GTO is auto-engaged upon installing our 5.3c firmware and it replaces every other filter.

@iFi audio, this change with v5.3c isn't made clear on your firmware download web page.

Above the link to download firmware 5.3, it says at the top of the page, "Gibbs Transient Optimised Digital (GTO) Filter implemented – This replaces the Minimum Phase Filter."

It's not apparent that it overrides the two other filters.

Also, I could have sworn that after I installed firmware 5.3c, I could hear differences in the sound when switching between the three filter switch positions, but I guess that was just in my head?

 

[bflat]

@iFi audio, this change with v5.3c isn't made clear on your firmware download web page.

Above the link to download firmware 5.3, it says at the top of the page, "Gibbs Transient Optimised Digital (GTO) Filter implemented – This replaces the Minimum Phase Filter."

It's not apparent that it overrides the two other filters.

Also, I could have sworn that after I installed firmware 5.3c, I could hear differences in the sound when switching between the three filter switch positions, but I guess that was just in my head?

I think there are two parts to GTO implementation - upsampling and the filter itself. Based on the PCM indicator LED, it appears that upsampling is applied to all 3 filters for PCM files. However, I would think the filters are still different since there is no reason why Standard (Linear) or Bit Perfect can't be applied to the 352/24 upsampled PCM stream.

 

[jirams]

@iFi audio, this change with v5.3c isn't made clear on your firmware download web page.

Above the link to download firmware 5.3, it says at the top of the page, "Gibbs Transient Optimised Digital (GTO) Filter implemented – This replaces the Minimum Phase Filter."

It's not apparent that it overrides the two other filters.

Also, I could have sworn that after I installed firmware 5.3c, I could hear differences in the sound when switching between the three filter switch positions, but I guess that was just in my head?

I can also hear differences. I find ambience better in middle position as I said in earlier post.