[Reyess]

In mute, without RCA or USB connected, indeed with my AKG N40 IEM and my Sony MDR-1AM2 the noise from the 4.4 balanced output is annoying, especially when you choose the bluetooth receiver. It looks like an internal electronic circuit issue.

I hope that with a firmware it will be solved, but in iFi Audio they must be very concerned.

Yeah, they responded a few posts back that it appears to be something with the baked-in software infra, and that they think a firmware update will fix it.

Once they do that, I think many of the noise complaints I am seeing (both here on Forums as well as on published written reviews online) will be amended, and make it an easy recommendation to buy

 

[Joaqu2n]

Hi @iFi audio. When you say that the output power through 4.4mm is 1000mW at 32 Ohms is it 1000mW per channel or 500mW per channel?

Thanks a lot

 

[iFi audio]

Even the NEO user manual clearly recommends upgrading to the iPower X "for best performance".

Yup, it's the best power supply we currently have in our roster.

My position on this (and perhaps, observation?) is that if you are using the NEO iDSD via USB as input, the external power wall-wart is irrelevant, and perhaps is ignored by the device - and it instead elects to use only USB power when it is available. (Can @iFi audio confirm this?)

I take this stance because when using USB with the NEO, and also have the power plugged in, turn it on, and then during playback ,unplug the iPower, the unit is entirely unaffected.

If my theory is correct, you'd still see potential effect if you DONT have a USB cable connected to a source and are using other input types (BT, SPDIF, etc)... but i think that even if you're using something like SPDIF, and you have USB connected, itll still prefer the available USB power and ignore the ipower... maybe?

I'll gladly double-check this, but NEO's DC input is prioritized over USB power and upon connecting an external charger the latter is disengaged.

Hi @iFi audio. When you say that the output power through 4.4mm is 1000mW at 32 Ohms is it 1000mW per channel or 500mW per channel?

These specs are always per one channel.

 

[Joaqu2n]

These specs are always per one channel.

It's curious. When I connect my Focal Elegia (32Ohms-105 dBmW) to the Sony Walkman NW-ZX300 it is offering me very similar power performance to the iFi Neo. With 120 volume steps on the Sony, when we hit 80-85 I have an iFi-like performance at -35 / -30 (100 steps). It is true that the iFi gives slightly more impact, but considering that the Sony offers 200mW + 200mW and the iFi 1000mW + 1000mW (5 times more) it seems strange to me. However, when I connect the iFi Neo to the Musical Fidelity LX2-HPA, which in low gain should offer something very similar to 1000mW per channel (a beast) the maximum volume is achieved when the knob is between 10-12 o'clock, depending on the recording, and here yes with much more impact.

I make this reflection thinking that those noise problems in the headphone outputs are not also affecting the power.

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[corgifall]

It feels about the same volume as the schiit heresy when it’s in low gain. High gain on the heresy is a bit louder but the NEO is missing high gain. Both are a claimed watt at 32ohm

 

[Brubacca]

Patiently (not) waiting for my tour Neo iDSD to be delivered today...

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

Patiently (not) waiting for my tour Neo iDSD to be delivered today...

Looking forward to your impressions!

 

[Brubacca]

Looking forward to your impressions!

Says out for delivery, but still don't have it.

No joy for tonight. Hopefully tomorrow when I also am supposedly getting my Light Harmonic Mera IEMs.

 

[iFi audio]

It's curious. When I connect my Focal Elegia (32Ohms-105 dBmW) to the Sony Walkman NW-ZX300 it is offering me very similar power performance to the iFi Neo. With 120 volume steps on the Sony, when we hit 80-85 I have an iFi-like performance at -35 / -30 (100 steps). It is true that the iFi gives slightly more impact, but considering that the Sony offers 200mW + 200mW and the iFi 1000mW + 1000mW (5 times more) it seems strange to me. However, when I connect the iFi Neo to the Musical Fidelity LX2-HPA, which in low gain should offer something very similar to 1000mW per channel (a beast) the maximum volume is achieved when the knob is between 10-12 o'clock, depending on the recording, and here yes with much more impact.

Well, I can't say anything about that Sony, but NEO iDSD provides 1040 mW into 32Ω to its balanced headphone out, whereas unbalanced isn't as powerful.

 

[Brubacca]

Says out for delivery, but still don't have it.

No joy for tonight. Hopefully tomorrow when I also am supposedly getting my Light Harmonic Mera IEMs.

We'll according to the post office the Neo never left the last destination. Its in a completely different state that starts with a M. My state starts with P. So not close. Went to the local Post Office. The lady practically laughed at me. Look tracking says its in M. I said all day yesterday it said out for delivery before 9pm. She said well its still in M. I swear I checked at least 50 times between Sunday and Monday. It said Out for Delivery. (And now it doesn't).

Ugh.

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

We'll according to the post office the Neo never left the last destination. Its in a completely different state that starts with a M. My state starts with P. So not close. Went to the local Post Office. The lady practically laughed at me. Look tracking says its in M. I said all day yesterday it said out for delivery before 9pm. She said well its still in M. I swear I checked at least 50 times between Sunday and Monday. It said Out for Delivery. (And now it doesn't).

Ugh.

Keep us posted and let us know if there's anything you think we can do on our end.

Pretty much every postal service (no matter personally or professionally) has been wack for me with seemingly no avail.

 

[Ichos]

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

Hurray, glad it made it to you safe!

 

[Ichos]

Just to make clear that this is not the official tour unit.

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

Just to make clear that this is not the official tour unit.

Either way, looking forward to your impressions!