[iFi audio]

  Part 6?????

 
Hi,
 
Without further ado:
 
 
 

Power supply – With great Power brings great responsibility (part 6/6)

Almost 940uF power supply capacitance directly supports the DAC Chip analogue power supply and a further almost 470uF dedicated to the digital supplies. The digital supplies incorporate three low noise series regulators for the 3.3V supply voltages of different parts of the digital section (including one dedicated for the Audio Clocks only).
 
To maximise dynamic performance, especially with bass, the analogue stage is backed by audio-grade ELNA Silmic Capacitors dedicated only to the analogue stage and additional capacitors giving a total of 1,400uF, while the Headphone Amplifier uses by almost 2,000uF in local power supply capacitance, located within a few mm of the audio circuitry supplied.
 

 
All in all, of the iDAC 2 micro printed circuit board, nearly 50% is taken up with power supply circuitry while the rest is used for all other functions. By using such extreme and elaborate power supply circuitry, the iDAC2 micro achieves a new level of dynamic performance in USB powered DACs and a USB powered performance (objective & subjective) that previously required either battery or external mains power.
 
So while it is good to talk about the digital section and the DAC chip used or not used, we also like to 'go to town' on the analogue and power sections. Hence why we are explaining the work that has gone into the iDAC2. We hope you found these articles interesting as we certainly enjoyed putting them together.
 
As we always say, the proof is in the pudding.
 
iFi iDAC 2 Specifications:
 
Input:                                    USB3.0 (USB2.0 compatible)
Output:                                        SPDIF RCA (only PCM up to 192KHz)
                                             Audio RCA
                                              3.5mm Headphone
 
Formats:                                           44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192/384KHz PCM up to 32 Bit
                                                2.8/3.1/5.6/6.2/11.2/12.4MHz DSD
                                                353/384KHz DXD
 
DAC:                                      Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC by Burr Brown (1-DAC; 2-Channel; 4-Signals)
 
Filters:                                  -PCM:   Bit-Perfect/Minimum Phase/Standard, Digital filters selectable
                                            -DSD:     Extreme/Extended/Standard, Analogue filters selectable
                                            -DXD:    Bit-Perfect Processing, Fixed Analogue filter
 
Line Section:     
Output:                                  2.1V (+/-0.05V) fixed
Zout:                                     < 39 Ohm
SNR:                                     > 114dB (A) @ 0dBFS
THD+N:                                 < 0.0025% @ 0dBFS (100k Load)
 
Headphone Section:     
Output:                                  > 350mW (2.40V) into 16R (<10% THD+N)
                                            > 34mW (3.20V) into 300R (< 0.1% THD+N)
Zout:                                     < 2 Ohm
THD+N:                                 < 0.0025% (1V into 16 Ohm, 0dBFS)
SNR:                                     > 114dBA (3.2V into 16 Ohm, 0dBFS)
 
General:
Power consumption:                <1.5W
Dimensions:                           158(l)x68(w)x28(h)mm
Weight:                                  265g(0.58 lbs)
 
 
Thanks.

 

[xrobbo]

Hi, how would you compare SQ of this with the micro IDSD?

 

[iFi audio]

  Hi, how would you compare SQ of this with the micro IDSD?

 
 
This is a summary of the current iFi family of digital-to-analogue converters.
 
In descending order, think of them as BMW 5 series, 3 series and 1 series.
 

Model

Chipset​

no of DACs​

Native​ DSD​

Native PCM​

Filters​

Zerojitter Lite​

SPDIF​

iPurifer Lite​

Battery​

Headphone Amplfiier​

XBass®​

3D Holographic®​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

micro iDSD

Burr-Brown (True Native)​

2​

Up to Octa-DSD512​

Up to 768kHz​

Bit-Perfect/ Min Phase/ Standard​

Yes​

In/Out​

Yes​

Yes​

Up to 4,000mW​

Yes​

For Headphones and Speakers​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

micro iDAC2

Burr-Brown (True Native)​

1​

Up to Quad-DSD256​

Up to 384kHz​

Bit-Perfect/ Min Phase/ Standard​

Yes​

Out​

No​

No​

350mW​

No​

No​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

nano iDSD

Burr-Brown (True Native)​

1​

Up to Quad-DSD256​

Up to 384kHz​

Min Phase/ Standard​

Yes​

Out​

No​

Yes​

150mW​

No​

No  ​

 
Sound quality is frighteningly close. So you can spend less and go for iDAC2 and not lose on SQ. Later on, more important is better ancillaries such as iP2 and Gemini which benefits all dacs.
 
More important consideration is if you are 90% desktop, then go iDAC2. If you are 50% desktop/50% portable, then got to be micro iDSD.
 
Cheers.

 

[xrobbo]

Very clear, thank you. My use would be 100% desktop, to tell the truth I was waiting for the mini idsd because my Stax amplifier requires higher input voltage and XLR are better at that, but it has been a while I was waiting and nothing seems to come out....
Otherwise: would the idsd micro benefit of the new purifier, considering it has a purifier built in?

 

[iFi audio]

  Very clear, thank you. My use would be 100% desktop, to tell the truth I was waiting for the mini idsd because my Stax amplifier requires higher input voltage and XLR are better at that, but it has been a while I was waiting and nothing seems to come out....
 
Otherwise: would the idsd micro benefit of the new purifier, considering it has a purifier built in?

 
Hi,
 
Reply to question1
my Stax amplifier requires...
 
Which model Stax Amplifier do you have?
 
Generally consumer XLR connections are implemented to offer double the level of unbalanced connections, but such balanced inputs also expect double the input voltage. The net result is that there is no actual advantage in terms of signal levels.
 
In addition, almost invariably the SE/RCA signal path is simpler and of higher sound quality in equipment featuring balanced inputs (exceptions exist of course), as it avoids the added electronics of Balanced to SE conversion, about 95% of so called 'balanced' equipment operates internally in single-ended mode.
 
You can usually spot this by the presence of a dual track volume control. If the Volume control is 2-Track the internal operation is unbalanced, balanced operation needs a 4-Track volume control. They are clearly distinguishable:
 
Alps Blue 4-Way (balanced):
 

Alps Blue 2-Way (unbalanced):
 

All the Stax made ES Headphone Amplifiers have single ended RCA inputs of a sensitivity more than sufficient to totally max out the output stage. Stax Amplifiers generally offer up to 400V RMS output at clipping.
 
For example the  SRM007 will be driven to 100V by 200mV, so a 2V input will produce 1,000V, which is already overloading the output stage by 8dB and will likely cause damage to the ES Headphone if you play this level sustained.
 
 
Reply to question 2
"Otherwise: would the idsd micro benefit of the new purifier, considering it has a purifier built in?"
 

The iPurifier 2 performs a complete re-generation of the USB signal, its functionality and effect extends by far further than the original iPurifier embedded in the iDSD micro. Several Head-Fi'ers have found it beneficial to add the iPurifier 2 to their iDSD micro. Please note it goes without saying the iPurifier 2 will benefit ALL DACs, not just iFi ones.

 
Cheers

 

[xrobbo]

Hi again,
thanks again for your prompt reply. I have a Stax SRM-00tII. With the ifi micro idsd, which is the one I own, to have a decent listening volume I have to turn the knob well beyond hrs 12. Sometimes clipping happens. Before I had W4S dac with both rca and xlr output, and using the balanced output the problem was not there.
Just to make things clearer, I mostly listen to classical music, not to hard metal rock, and moving the knob up to 2pm or 3pm is often required just to have the appropriate level of sound pressure, not a particularly high one.

 

[iFi audio]

Unified Firmware 5.1

Gelato and then some
 
 

 
Southport, UK – 18^th February 2016
 
 
Latest Unified Firmware v5.1 ‘Gelato’ (for Stereo 50 /micro iDSD / micro iDAC2 / nano iDSD)
 
The very latest in-house firmware[1] version 5.1 for ALL iFi products[2] is available:

• All-new XMOS ‘deep-core processes’ software for different behaviour of SPDIF (after XMOS previously modified the USB section).
• Enables DSD256 for 48kHz based sample rates up-conversion when using DSD256 in DoP mode.
• Fixed issues surrounding DoP standard; including ‘clicks’ when changing tracks and sonic differences to native DSD and other minor bug fixes.

 
For customers with particular requirements, there are two firmware sub-versions (PLEASE read carefully):
 
2) For nano iDSD and micro iDAC2 v5.1A - Enables DOP256 operation

1. This enables DSD256(DoP) operation, which requires 768kHz PCM at the USB interface level.  
2. Nano iDSD and micro iDAC2 CANNOT decode 768kHz at the DAC level, but they can all be programmed to receive 768kHz PCM at the USB interface level hence enable DSD256(DoP). 
3. With 5.1A, the user MUST make sure to manually alter the PCM audio settings correctly (especially Mac), otherwise there will be no audio output at all.
4. In other words, when playing PCM files, the sample rate must NOT set to be higher than 384kHz.  Only set the sampling rate to 768kHz when one wants to play DSD256(DoP).
5. There is no need to use this firmware if one uses ‘native mode’ (not DoP) to play DSD or DSD files are not played at all.
6. Do NOT use 5.1A on any other products other than nano iDSD and micro iDAC2.

3) For iDSD micro Firmware v5.1B - Disable Sleep Mode (Smartphone users ONLY)

1. This is strictly for Smartphone users ONLY, there is no other reason to use 5.1B on the micro iDSD.
2. The micro iDSD micro will try to recharge while in Sleep Mode (e.g. when connected to a PC).  If connected to a Smartphone which is ‘seen’ as a computer, it will recharge via the Smartphone.
3. 5.1B disables the Sleep Mode within the micro iDSD; hence it will no longer try to recharge during Sleep Mode and flatten the Smartphone’s battery.
4. Do NOT use 5.1B on any other products other than micro iDSD.

 
 
For detailed instructions and the download files, please follow this link:
http://ifi-audio.com/downloads/
 
or on the website, select 'Support' > 'Download'
 

---

[1] WARNING: Do NOT flash non-iFi products on the XMOS platform with iFi firmware!

[2] iFi Native DSD-capable DACs so original iDAC excluded so do NOT update using v5.10.

 

[glassmonkey]

I've added my voice to the chorus. Check out my review of the iDAC2. I like it, but it didn't knock my socks off. Load up yer ammunition and prepare for some duels.
 

 

[Fink24]

How is the SQ compared to the nano iDSD? (RCA output only, since I use it most of the time at the desktop with a different amplifier)

 
I own a nano and I am thinking about upgrading, but I am not sure if it is worth nearly twice the price (and if it would be better to keep the nano iDSD and get something like the nano iUSB)

 

[glassmonkey]

  How is the SQ compared to the nano iDSD? (RCA output only, since I use it most of the time at the desktop with a different amplifier)

 
I own a nano and I am thinking about upgrading, but I am not sure if it is worth nearly twice the price (and if it would be better to keep the nano iDSD and get something like the nano iUSB)

I haven't had the opportunity to hear the nano iDSD, so I can't really tell you. What you should get will depend on what you need it for. I'd recommend getting the iPurifier2, then taking that pairing into a shop and seeing how it sounds vs. the iDAC2 if you can. You can always do an Amazon purchase and see if the sound is for you. Their returns are pretty painless. I think an iPurifier2 will improve your sound. Depending on the USB cable you have, or RCAs, you may be able to get improvement there, also. Right now I've got the iCAN SE, and I can tell you that it is pretty dang groovy. Maybe an amp upgrade is the way to go, depending on your amp.
 

 

[hamachan]

  How is the SQ compared to the nano iDSD? (RCA output only, since I use it most of the time at the desktop with a different amplifier)

 
I own a nano and I am thinking about upgrading, but I am not sure if it is worth nearly twice the price (and if it would be better to keep the nano iDSD and get something like the nano iUSB)

I bought nano iDSD first and upgraded to micro iDAC2.  I am listening music 80% from speaker (see my gear in my profile).  I feel it is worth enough because of the SQ.  Especially high bit rate high-res source, much more details and analog like feeling.  CD quality source (16bit, 44.1kHz PCM) is less improvement than high-res.  I am testing brand new USB filter, nano USB3.0 borrowed from the agent now.  It improve the sound further but I recommend your first choice should be the DAC, not the filter.

 

[iFi audio]

Audiophile Club of Athens – the President uses the iFi iDAC2 in his ultra-fi system!
 
Late last year, when we were at the Athens Audio Show, we met Mr Kyriakos Kougioumtzoglou – President of the ACA since 2016. Mr Kougioumtzoglou, who also happens to be an EE, knows his onions. He has an ultra-fidelity system which is something to behold; including the Micro Seki RX-1500 and Tascam BR-20 Reel-to-Reel. Not to mention Wilson Audio Alexandria X2 speakers and Siltech cables (if you have to ask…), among other things this gent has.
 
We were quite taken aback when Mr Kougioumtzoglou told us he bought an iDAC2 for digital duties fed by the Metronome C2A. It has stayed there ever since. Yes, you got this right. He obtained the unit first, gave it a good spin in his expensive setup and then reported that he liked it. And that’s the reason why this is huge for us as we never knew the President of the ACA had iFi in his system. 

We are lost for more superlatives but thank you Mr Kougioumtzoglou for letting us know of your little iFi in your big system!
 
Here is the system:
 

 

http://www.aca.gr/index/members/greece?row=18
 
Thank you ACA!

 

[OctavianH]

Just ordered an iDAC2 to use with my Littledot MKII. Had an offer also for the iPurifier (first version). Let's see if it will sound as expected. Headphones will be HD600 and Beyerdynamic T5p. I have also some Grado's but I will see if I will use them in this setup. I decided for iDAC2 instead of iDSD because I just need a static DAC for my tube amp, no portability needed or extra connectivity (speakers are connected to NFB11). This will be my secondary DAC.
Coming from a Sabre DAC and willing to pair with tube amp, I wonder if it will not be too warm for me. We will see. 
Of course, the base idea was to add a new DAC with a different chip, so I can switch them if needed (sabre chip to the littledot and burr brown one to the speakers).

 

[OctavianH]

Ok, my first 2 cents:
- DAC is good
- Headphone amp is mediocre (not bad, but not as good as my other gear)
 
Currently using it with iPurifier and the Littledot MKII. Sounds good.
 

 
Question related to Shut Down:
 
I observed that the 3 leds remain green while the PC is shut down. It makes sense to unplug/replug USB every time or I can let it connected and "on" forever? Any advices on that?

 

[hamachan]

  Ok, my first 2 cents:
- DAC is good
- Headphone amp is mediocre (not bad, but not as good as my other gear)
 
Currently using it with iPurifier and the Littledot MKII. Sounds good.
 

 
Question related to Shut Down:
 
I observed that the 3 leds remain green while the PC is shut down. It makes sense to unplug/replug USB every time or I can let it connected and "on" forever? Any advices on that?

It means your PC still supplies USB bus power while S/D.  Some motherboard does (my former PC was like that).  Some motherboard can switch off USB bus power while S/D.  Please check.