[iFi audio]

By the sounds of things It seems as if the idefender with the ipower is the way to go, so I will try those and report back the results.

Sure, please do

 

[AGT777]

Sure, please do

I just plugged in the iDefender+ 3.0 firstly, whilst in-game (buzzing was there, of course - my USB DAC requires power from the USB line), there was a decrease of the buzzing etc,seemed to faintly reduce the loudness of it.

So I attached my/the iPower 5V (not the iPower X), using the provided adapter, into the side of the iDefender (while the iD. was unplugged from the computer, but the iPower plugged into the power strip I am using), and heard that pop sound you get when you plug in or unplug stuff from speakers, through my studio monitors, which were still on during the first test I described in the previous paragraph - sounds like something was isolated perhaps? So I then insert the iD. with the iPower + adapter, etc, into the USB socket in the back of my desktop PC whilst still in-game, and oh my dear lord, the buzzing has been completely eliminated. I mean completely. Somebody call the cops because ground loop hum has been murdered (with the iDsD BL it has been reduced by about 50-75%).

Sweet so that above is all done through the audient EVO 4 USB DAC, which is only about 220NZD, yet pretty good for what it is I suppose.
Although, I also bought a micro iDSD black label, which I am about to hook up.
Not sure how many pairs of underpants I will go through in the next few minutes; the iD. with the iPower has already cleaned up the audio output, but I will report back again, surely enough..

EDIT: So the micro iDSD BL is pretty disgustingly good, god damn.
When I picked it up from my store, I realized the provided RCA cables will be too short to hook up to my studio monitors, so big Manu over the counter recommended some Luna 8 RCAs (male to male) - however my monitors now pick up some sort of high-pitched tones that seem to stop and start every 10 seconds or so. I am using the iFi-provided blue USB cable with the iDSD BL plugged into the back of the iDefender+ (that has an iPower plugged into the side to feed the iDSD BL), which is plugged into the USB socket in my desktop PC (Windows 10).

I'm guessing this is electrical interference of some kind? Lol, what do I do now, it is not exactly a problem if the faders on my monitors are low enough (the idsd BL can power them easy), but I'm wondering what would eliminate this? iSilencer, a high quality USB cable, RCA to TRS adapters at one end of the Luna 8 RCAs, micro USB?

 

[iFi audio]

I just plugged in the iDefender+ 3.0 firstly, whilst in-game (buzzing was there, of course - my USB DAC requires power from the USB line), there was elimination of the buzzing etc, although it seemed to faintly reduce the loudness of it. Ok, fine.

So I attached my/the iPower 5V (not the iPower X), using the provided adapter, into the side of the iDefender (while the iD. was unplugged from the computer, but the iPower plugged into the power strip I am using), and heard that pop sound you get when you plug in or unplug stuff from speakers, through my studio monitors, which were still on during the first test I described in the previous paragraph - sounds like something was isolated perhaps? So I then insert the iD. with the iPower + adapter, etc, into the USB socket in the back of my desktop PC whilst still in-game, and oh my dear lord, the buzzing has been completely eliminated. I mean completely. Somebody call the cops because ground loop hum has been murdered.

Sweet so that above is all done through the audient EVO 4 USB DAC, which is only about 220NZD, yet pretty good for what it is I suppose.
Although, I also bought a micro iDSD black label, which I am about to hook up.
Not sure how many pairs of underpants I will go through in the next few minutes; the iD. with the iPower has already cleaned up the audio output, but I will report back again, surely enough..

EDIT: So the micro iDSD BL is pretty disgustingly good, god damn.
When I picked it up from my store, I realized the provided RCA cables will be too short to hook up to my studio monitors, so big Manu over the counter recommended some Luna 8 RCAs (male to male) - however my monitors now pick up some sort of high-pitched tones that seem to stop and start every 10 seconds or so. I am using the iFi-provided blue USB cable with the iDSD BL plugged into the back of the iDefender+ (that has an iPower plugged into the side to feed the iDSD BL), which is plugged into the USB socket in my desktop PC (Windows 10).

I'm guessing this is electrical interference of some kind? Lol, what do I do now, it is not exactly a problem if the faders on my monitors are low enough (the idsd BL can power them easy), but I'm wondering what would eliminate this? iSilencer, a high quality USB cable, RCA to TRS adapters at one end of the Luna 8 RCAs, micro USB?

Whoa, thanks for your feedback, great stuff

As for that noice, it's there with these RCAs (Luna Cables I presume?), but otherwise not?

 

[AGT777]

Whoa, thanks for your feedback, great stuff

As for that noice, it's there with these RCAs (Luna Cables I presume?), but otherwise not?

No iFi, thank you.

And yes, it is there with the RCA Luna Cables and also using a RCA Y-Splitter (plugs into the XLR end via 3.5mm female >) to dual XLR Male (and just through the monitors which are hooked up to the cables ie not headphones), it is there during playback using Tidal, Youtube, etc, and then disappears shortly (up to maybe 10 seconds or so) after I press pause, but then resumes when I start the playback again.

This noise sounds like a high pitch ringing, like when you play the music too loud for too long, and your ears are making that ringing sound.

I mean it is not as bad as the buzzing (that was reduced thanks to the iDefender + iPower) during gaming, but it is still enough to make me want to eliminate it too?

 

[iFi audio]

No iFi, thank you.

Sure thing!

And yes, it is there with the RCA Luna Cables and also using a RCA Y-Splitter (plugs into the XLR end via 3.5mm female >) to dual XLR Male (and just through the monitors which are hooked up to the cables ie not headphones), it is there during playback using Tidal, Youtube, etc, and then disappears shortly (up to maybe 10 seconds or so) after I press pause, but then resumes when I start the playback again.

This noise sounds like a high pitch ringing, like when you play the music too loud for too long, and your ears are making that ringing sound.

I mean it is not as bad as the buzzing (that was reduced thanks to the iDefender + iPower) during gaming, but it is still enough to make me want to eliminate it too?

OK, but this is after you swapped RCA cables? Do I get this right?

 

[AGT777]

Sure thing!



OK, but this is after you swapped RCA cables? Do I get this right?

Oh so I currently am purely using the Luna 8 RCAs with nothing attached/adapters/splitters, etc out of the RCA outs on the black label to my monitors.

I haven't yet tried or used the RCA cables provided in the black label's box (as they are too short, hence the longer Luna 8s (2m total length)).

The ringing noise is not present when there is no connection via the RCAs on the black label (or when the faders on my monitors are at zero).

Ringing noise doesn't come through my headphones (HD650) using the 6.3mm jack from the black label.

 

[iFi audio]

Ringing noise doesn't come through my headphones (HD650) using the 6.3mm jack from the black label.

OK, so it occurs when you connect iDSD BL to an external device via RCAs? Do I understand this right?

 

[AGT777]

OK, so it occurs when you connect iDSD BL to an external device via RCAs? Do I understand this right?

So the setup I am using is:

Desktop PC (Windows 10) > iDefender, plugged direct into PC USB (with iPower injected into iDefender) > iDSD BL > RCA outs to Studio Monitors.

I'm not sure if studio monitors are categorized as external devices?

 

[iFi audio]

Desktop PC (Windows 10) > iDefender, plugged direct into PC USB (with iPower injected into iDefender) > iDSD BL > RCA outs to Studio Monitors.

I'm not sure if studio monitors are categorized as external devices?

Yes, your studio monitors in this context are external devices. To know whether micro iDSD BL or your speakers are the cause of this ringing, I'd replace one or the other with their counterparts and see whether anything changes, but this would require either a separte DAC or another speaker set. In short, first we should locate the source of this noise you're experiencing and then knowing it we might have a think how to counteract.

 

[AGT777]

Yes, your studio monitors in this context are external devices. To know whether micro iDSD BL or your speakers are the cause of this ringing, I'd replace one or the other with their counterparts and see whether anything changes, but this would require either a separte DAC or another speaker set. In short, first we should locate the source of this noise you're experiencing and then knowing it we might have a think how to counteract.

Thanks again iFi.

So I was previously (within 3 days ago) using an Audient EVO 4 USB DAC (in the same setup I described above, excluding the iDefender/iPower) which I just replaced with the iDSD BL very recently (and iDef./iPow.).

The EVO 4 had no high-pitch ringing during use through the same setup, with which I was testing using the iDef. + iPow. - the sound was very clean, etc (no high-pitch ringing).
[ I just tested it again in the last few minutes, no high pitch ringing. iDef. + iPow. included ]

So it seems the iDSD BL is the 'culprit' here? Although, it is more of a black panther than a culprit.
Oh and FTR iFi, I am also using the latest firmware, and drivers from your site;
In the iFi control panel I have:
USB Streaming mode > safe
ASIO buffer size > Auto
And in Windows control panel > sound > playback > speakers (ifi by AMR..) > the output format is set to 32bit, 192KHz.

 

[iFi audio]

Thanks again iFi.

So I was previously (within 3 days ago) using an Audient EVO 4 USB DAC (in the same setup I described above, excluding the iDefender/iPower) which I just replaced with the iDSD BL very recently (and iDef./iPow.).

The EVO 4 had no high-pitch ringing during use through the same setup, with which I was testing using the iDef. + iPow. - the sound was very clean, etc (no high-pitch ringing).
[ I just tested it again in the last few minutes, no high pitch ringing. iDef. + iPow. included ]

So it seems the iDSD BL is the 'culprit' here? Although, it is more of a black panther than a culprit.
Oh and FTR iFi, I am also using the latest firmware, and drivers from your site;
In the iFi control panel I have:
USB Streaming mode > safe
ASIO buffer size > Auto
And in Windows control panel > sound > playback > speakers (ifi by AMR..) > the output format is set to 32bit, 192KHz.

If with another DAC you don't get that ringing sound, it would seem that your micro iDSD BL is the culprit indeed. In that case can I please ask you to open up a ticket at our support platform so our support team can investigate?

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

Thanks!

 

[AGT777]

Will do, thx iFi.

 

[dakanao]

Anyone here that had both iSilencer+ and iSilencer3.0? If so, what difference have you with your system? My iSilencer+ came in today, listened to it for 5 minutes so not enough time to form a proper opinion.

 

[iFi audio]

Anyone here that had both iSilencer+ and iSilencer3.0? If so, what difference have you with your system? My iSilencer+ came in today, listened to it for 5 minutes so not enough time to form a proper opinion.

I haven't compared them, but by all means please share your impressions whenever it's convenient

 

[dakanao]

I haven't compared them, but by all means please share your impressions whenever it's convenient

It certainly makes my Chord Mojo sound more analogue than the Jitterbug. Whole sound is more refined, imaging and separation improved as well.