[iFi audio]

@Cuthbert 80: true, what you said. the truth is in the listening, but like many have said before:

measure twice, cut once!

anyway, there is some info on iFi's site for their older and more costly iFi Pro iDSD device's MQA decoder. rather convoluted and difficult to understand by me, a mere amateur hobbyist, but maybe some of the good folks here with more knowledge might be able to decipher this information:

" GTO TRICKLE-DOWN

Unlike the xCore-200 series which include built-in DSP capabilities, implementing MQA on xCore-100 required the ground-up design of a DSP engine. With the DSP engine now available, our natural inclination was to have our new filter baked onto the XMOS Firmware.

Technical assistance came from an unexpected source; MQA. Using very different filter parameters as part of a more complex system including the decoder section requires serious DSP chops. The implementation of MQA rendering on the original xCore-100 series XMOS processors widely used in the iFi products required extensive DSP work.

This took some extra work, and some fine-tuning of resource allocation, however with the version 5.3C of our XMOS firmware we now offer this new, Global Transient Optimised digital filter to all our customers, including just about all our legacy products, as an alternate option to the filters implemented in the DAC chip that apply for version 5.30 and before.

TECHNICAL BACKDROP

The ‘Gibbs Transient Optimised’ filter was developed by iFi according to our specifications in conjunction with the MQA team. We must make clear that GTO is not directly related to filter types used by MQA, it is not “MQA through the backdoor”, but instead what we feel is the optimum solution for the playback of digital audio that has not undergone the MQA process. We would like to thank MQA for their technical assistance in integrating this into our firmware."


This is copied and pasted from iFi's document here:

https://ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/iFi-audio-Tech-Note-The-GTO-Filter.pdf

I'm a bit confused. Which part of that text you don't understand?

 

[iFi audio]

NEO iDSD's inputs, enjoy!

 

[Bazaar]

And outputs, right after

 

[betula]

I just couldn't wait with my review until the tour. I am still hoping to enter the prize draw.

 

[qsk78]

Taking into account its power capabilities I don't think that it can drive efficiently planar-magnetic headphones , that's why you are not satisfied with the bass I think.
Looking at Neo I'm more curious on how it sounds as a pure DAC with a desktop amplifier.

 

[BattousaiX26]

I just couldn't wait with my review until the tour. I am still hoping to enter the prize draw.

Are you able to try using neo as dac only?

 

[BattousaiX26]

Taking into account its power capabilities I don't think that it can drive efficiently planar-magnetic headphones , that why you are not satisficed with bass I think.
Looking at Neo I'm more curious on how it sounds as a pure DAC with a desktop amplifier.

This is what I thought too

 

[betula]

Are you able to try using neo as dac only?

Not at the moment.

 

[BattousaiX26]

Not at the moment.

I see, but still thank you very much for your review, really appreciated. I hope someone can try this as standalone dac.

 

[betula]

I see, but still thank you very much for your review, really appreciated. I hope someone can try this as standalone dac.

In my experience DACs determine technicalities and amps only add preferred colouration. I think my review reflects the technicalities of the Neo which you can colour with whatever amp you like.

 

[qsk78]

In my experience DACs determine technicalities and amps only add preferred colouration. I think my review reflects the technicalities of the Neo which you can colour with whatever amp you like.

Ideally Amps should not bring any coloration)

 

[betula]

Ideally Amps should not bring any coloration)

Ideally.
But most hobbyist buy amps to get closer to their preferred sound.

 

[jsmiller58]

Ideally.
But most hobbyist buy amps to get closer to their preferred sound.

That is probably true for some. However I certainly do my best to pair an objectively (OK, I used the O word) good DAC with an objectively (there I go and do it again!) good amp. I have not been happy with any of the all in ones that I have tried. But that is just me and my experience!

 

[betula]

That is probably true for some. However I certainly do my best to pair an objectively (OK, I used the O word) good DAC with an objectively (there I go and do it again!) good amp. I have not been happy with any of the all in ones that I have tried. But that is just me and my experience!

DAC/amp combos are the future, but we are still only witnessing the birth of that new era. I used to own the Chord TT2. Overpriced for an average Joe like me but I can confirm, this is the future.

 

[jsmiller58]

DAC/amp combos are the future, but we are still only witnessing the birth of that new era. I used to own the Chord TT2. Overpriced for an average Joe like me but I can confirm, this is the future.

I hope you are right - it would save me time, space, and probably money!!