[qsk78]

Can I please ask my fellow signature owners to chime in and comment if they see the same in their units?

I have this rattle coming from the side switches. That's it.

 

[Pcppps]

I have been hoping for a dac amp from ifi with bluetooth sincr last year. Please update the xdsd. Lol

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

Heya, I would love some help if possible, I switched my laptop to an Apple Macbook Pro M1 and suddenly Amazon Music HD only recognises the Signature as a 24 bit/48 khz device, I thought Macs didn't need any driver... I'm also getting some random disconnects from time to time, less than one second but they do drive me crazy. Any ideas?

Thanks

Hey there! You are correct, re Macs not needing a driver because they have built-in Audio Class 2.0 if you're on OS X.

If you can, can you try the Signature on your old device and let us know if it has the same issues? Try it with a phone as well if you have the relevant OTG cable. I can help you better know if it's a Signature-related problem or specifically in relation to the M1.

Thanks!

 

[aspirina750]

Hey there! You are correct, re Macs not needing a driver because they have built-in Audio Class 2.0 if you're on OS X.

If you can, can you try the Signature on your old device and let us know if it has the same issues? Try it with a phone as well if you have the relevant OTG cable. I can help you better know if it's a Signature-related problem or specifically in relation to the M1.

Thanks!

Hi, I tested on my Windows laptop and works perfectly there same on the Samsung Tab S7. I also tried connecting it directly via USB-C to the M1 but it does give me the same issue.

Thank you!

 

[Nixdmon]

Doesn't sound like a common problem at all ~ open a support ticket with us and one of our support team will get back to you soon: https://support.ifi-audio.com/open.php

I have this rattle coming from the side switches. That's it.

Hello again friends,

Just opened a ticket, thanks for the suggestion and link @Sebastien Chiu. I'll post the result of the ticket once resolved.


@qsk78 rattle from switches is normal. Thanks for confirming

 

[bflat]

Hi, I tested on my Windows laptop and works perfectly there same on the Samsung Tab S7. I also tried connecting it directly via USB-C to the M1 but it does give me the same issue.

Thank you!

I think the issue is with the Amazon HD app. On my M1 MacBook Air, I have no issues and can go all the way up to 384 kHz. Keep in mind the bit rates are either set as a system level preference using the Audio Midi Setup as my screenshot shows or your music player will set the bit rate. My Audirvana music player is configured to set the bit rate to the original file so it switches bit rates on the fly. I'm not sure how the Amazon HD app configures bit rates. DoP DSD works fine too up to 128.

 

[aspirina750]

I think the issue is with the Amazon HD app. On my M1 MacBook Air, I have no issues and can go all the way up to 384 kHz. Keep in mind the bit rates are either set as a system level preference using the Audio Midi Setup as my screenshot shows or your music player will set the bit rate. My Audirvana music player is configured to set the bit rate to the original file so it switches bit rates on the fly. I'm not sure how the Amazon HD app configures bit rates. DoP DSD works fine too up to 128.

Thx for the tip, I tried but it defaults back to 48khz every time I try to change it... driving me nuts.. MQA thru Tidal works well thou...

 

[iFi audio]

I think the issue is with the Amazon HD app.

It looks that way.

 

[LuciR]

How loud is iDSD Signature in ECO mode vis hip-dac on SE output with PowerMatch off?

According to specifications, the Signature outputs 2V in ECO mode. The hip-dac seems to output 3.2V, though there is no breakdown by PowerMatch on/off.

Does it mean that it can be quieter in ECO mode at the same volume pot position, than hip-dac, iEMatch aside?

Background: My preferred listening volume seems to be lower than average. On hip-dac, I typically listen with volume pot at 12 o'clock, PowerMatch off and IEMatch in High Sensitivity position, and digital volume control on the phone around -20dB. The latter means that I cannot profit from bit perfect playback, the sound is either too loud (when the volume pot is above 10 o'clock), or suffers from channel imbalance (when the volume pot is below 10 o'clock). The headphones are Focal Elegia (35 Ohms, 105 dB SP), if it matters.

I like the sound signature of hip-dac, even when the source is not bit perfect, the listening is pleasant. The iDSD Signature must be even better in terms of sound quality. I wonder if it can also extend the volume control range into the quieter area.

 

[iFi audio]

How loud is iDSD Signature in ECO mode vis hip-dac on SE output with PowerMatch off?

According to specifications, the Signature outputs 2V in ECO mode. The hip-dac seems to output 3.2V, though there is no breakdown by PowerMatch on/off.

Does it mean that it can be quieter in ECO mode at the same volume pot position, than hip-dac, iEMatch aside?

Background: My preferred listening volume seems to be lower than average. On hip-dac, I typically listen with volume pot at 12 o'clock, PowerMatch off and IEMatch in High Sensitivity position, and digital volume control on the phone around -20dB. The latter means that I cannot profit from bit perfect playback, the sound is either too loud (when the volume pot is above 10 o'clock), or suffers from channel imbalance (when the volume pot is below 10 o'clock). The headphones are Focal Elegia (35 Ohms, 105 dB SP), if it matters.

I like the sound signature of hip-dac, even when the source is not bit perfect, the listening is pleasant. The iDSD Signature must be even better in terms of sound quality. I wonder if it can also extend the volume control range into the quieter area.

You can easily compare both products with your settings and cans of choice here: https://ifi-audio.com/home/headphone-calculator/

 

[LuciR]

You can easily compare both products with your settings and cans of choice here: https://ifi-audio.com/home/headphone-calculator/

Thanks for the quick response. Can you please help with the tool? There are a couple of unclarities:

• There seem to be no iDSD Signature in the list of DACs. Would the result be different for iDSD BL?
• Trying to compare the hip-dac agains iDSD BL, I see different impedance in the "DAC or Amplifier" section, 32 Ohm vs 8 Ohm.
  • What is the meaning of these numbers? Both are different from the impedance of the headphones (35 Ohm), and both look too high for the amp output impedace (which is AFAIK around 1 Ohm, certainly under 2 Ohm for SE).
  • Are the results directly comparable, given that they are calculated for different impedances?

 

[iFi audio]

• There seem to be no iDSD Signature in the list of DACs. Would the result be different for iDSD BL?

They're alike on power output, so plese select iDSD BL

Trying to compare the hip-dac agains iDSD BL, I see different impedance in the "DAC or Amplifier" section, 32 Ohm vs 8 Ohm.

• What is the meaning of these numbers? Both are different from the impedance of the headphones (35 Ohm), and both look too high for the amp output impedace (which is AFAIK around 1 Ohm, certainly under 2 Ohm for SE).
• Are the results directly comparable, given that they are calculated for different impedances?

Please see both these manuals:

https://ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MicroiDSDBL-manual.pdf
https://ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/hip-dac-User-Manual_Ver1.3.pdf

Under headphone power output you should see specified power and at what impedance was it was specified.

For iDSD BL you have:

• Turbo (8.0V max/4,000 mW @ 16 Ohm)
• Normal (4.0V/1,000 mW @ 16 Ohm)
• Eco (2.0V/250mW@16 Ohm)

For hip-dac you have:

• BAL:400mW@32Ω; 6.3V@600Ω
• S-BAL(SE): 280mW@32Ω; 3.2V@600Ω

But I'd look primarily at the table with results on the bottom of the page. That's the one to tell which device can produce more SPL in dB with selected headphones/iEMs.

 

[LuciR]

Ah, got it, so the tool is not trying to adjust the numbers in the "DAC or Amplifier" section to exactly match the selected headphones, it shows constant values for headphones with some impedance (32 Ohm for hip-dac, and 8 Ohm for iDSD BL).

But I'd look primarily at the table with results on the bottom of the page. That's the one to tell which device can produce more SPL in dB with selected headphones/iEMs.

Thanks, it answers my question - the iDSD in ECO mode can be indeed a bit quieter than hip-dac. One more incentive to upgrage. Now that the Diablo is out, I tempted to wait until it reaches our local stores.

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

Ah, got it, so the tool is not trying to adjust the numbers in the "DAC or Amplifier" section to exactly match the selected headphones, it shows constant values for headphones with some impedance (32 Ohm for hip-dac, and 8 Ohm for iDSD BL).

Thanks, it answers my question - the iDSD in ECO mode can be indeed a bit quieter than hip-dac. One more incentive to upgrage. Now that the Diablo is out, I tempted to wait until it reaches our local stores.

Yep! Eco Mode is great for sensitive IEMs, it's my preferred solution when I am looking for longer battery life when I'm on the go with my Signature, and the same will carry over to the Diablo!

 

[Melting735]

Looks like they don't have the switch between dac and preamp mode anymore