iFi Audio Pro iDSD discussion thread

[LoganRoss]

Thats a bummer given the quality of the headphone amp in the idsd. its like paying for the headphone amp twice.

 

[Rob N]

We understand your frustration, but let's keep it civilized. Our support staff gave you honest and polite reply and is doing their best to help and solve your issue.



There are far more people actually very happy with Pro iDSD than individuals who were able to find any issues with it. And if they've found and reported anything via our support platform, we're addressing each case as fast as we can. Pro iDSD is a complex product, it took us long time to develop and introduce to the market and still some things slipped under our radar. In such cases we're there for our customers as per usual.



We're sorry to hear that.

What percentage of problem units exist?

 

[iFi audio]

Probably because the idea is that you pair it with the Pro iCAN.

Well, things we could move from Pro iCAN to Pro iDSD we moved.

Finally, will this include Roon support?

That's unlikely at the moment, but we look into this.

Thats a bummer given the quality of the headphone amp in the idsd. its like paying for the headphone amp twice.

With a quality DAC, Pro iCAN shows its teeth more clearly. It's better if one is after TOTL setup and wants to remain within our range.

 

[notorious4163]

Hi Guys,

New owner of iMicro DSD Black Label and boy is it amazing, however the imbalance/unbalance sound is just insanely annoying. I don’t usually listen to my music a lot at low/mid volumes however it is clearly imbalanced (left ear is louder).

Is there a solution to this problem? I’ve already returned and exchanged the product at Audio46 (NYC) and it’s just as bad.

Does it bother anyone else this much? Im on the verge of returning this amp because of this.


USING the Campfire Atlas, does anyone recommend the settings to fix this?

EDIT: Yes, I have fiddled and tried all the switches and various matches. The Eco Channel fixes the imbalance by a little (but does it take away from the power of the bass, treble, soundquality, etc?)

It would be perfect, but the Eco channel is almost loud enough for me, but not quite there yet which is why I'm frustrated

 

[ufospls2]

I've been using the IEmatch on the bottom of the device for this problem. Once I am above about 8:30-8:45 on the volume control the imbalance subsides. If you use the highest IEmatch setting, combined with the eco gain, you should be ok

 

[iFi audio]

Folks...

CanJam London 2018!



...and two of our staff - Sarah and Hannah - will be there! The girls will be located with iFi audio hardware at the Electromod's booth! Please do visit the place, the iFi ladies don't bite!

And to all able to visit the event, enjoy!

 

[Condocondor]

New owner of iMicro DSD Black Label and boy is it amazing, however the imbalance/unbalance sound is just insanely annoying. I don’t usually listen to my music a lot at low/mid volumes however it is clearly imbalanced (left ear is louder).

You should see what the new iFi iPurifier3 does for your Micro DSD Black Label! I just bought one for my Micro BL and wow! $129 from Music Direct. Bargain. AND, if you want to go further add the iGalvanic3.0 to your stack. Don't want to get off-topic but had to chime in. Of course the iDSD Pro has all that built in.

 

[iFi audio]

You should see what the new iFi iPurifier3 does for your Micro DSD Black Label! I just bought one for my Micro BL and wow! $129 from Music Direct. Bargain. AND, if you want to go further add the iGalvanic3.0 to your stack. Don't want to get off-topic but had to chime in. Of course the iDSD Pro has all that built in.

Yup, it has all these goodies indeed. But yeah, iPurifier3.0 is quite special.

 

[Baten]

Yeah, the custom-order 4.4mm balanced version would be nice but even with all the other features I'm still not sure it's worth $1K more than the Holo Spring especially when it uses cheap off-the-shelf PCM1793 chips. No idea why iFi still refuses to use flagship PCM1792A chips (a favorite DS chip of mine) even in their Pro model?

My Soekris R2R DAC is USB-powered and has galvanic isolation built-in. I also use an iPurifier2 (will upgrade to the new iP3 shortly).

I've been planning to switch to i2s for a more direct connection but the hdmi pinouts among manufacturers using it are becoming more fragmented. Plus, afaik, only one company makes a pcie hdmi i2s bridge (for internal PC mounting; don't plan to use a Singxer USB converter) and their card only handles 192khz max (no DSD).

Guess I must be holding out for a balanced R2R DAC with hdmi i2s input and hardware DSD1024 upsampling........

Is it known if the iDSD Pro uses the top of the line burr brown 1792A chips, or not?

 

[gr8soundz]

Is it known if the iDSD Pro uses the top of the line burr brown 1792A chips, or not?

According to this review 1793 chips are being used:

http://www.highfidelity.pl/@main-828&lang=en

"The main PCB features the DAC - these are four PCM1793 chips operating in an unusual system, that allowed designers to bypass the limitations of the DACs regarding the upper sampling frequency. The company calls this mode of operation "interleaved". These systems separately convert PCM and DSD signals separately. Both first are go through digital filters. These were implemented in a powerful Crysopeia FPGA hidden under a large heat sink - this part is just like a microcomputer. The converter work in "voltage" mode, and the signal after them is filtered passively in third order filters."

 

[Baten]

According to this review 1793 chips are being used:

http://www.highfidelity.pl/@main-828&lang=en

"The main PCB features the DAC - these are four PCM1793 chips operating in an unusual system, that allowed designers to bypass the limitations of the DACs regarding the upper sampling frequency. The company calls this mode of operation "interleaved". These systems separately convert PCM and DSD signals separately. Both first are go through digital filters. These were implemented in a powerful Crysopeia FPGA hidden under a large heat sink - this part is just like a microcomputer. The converter work in "voltage" mode, and the signal after them is filtered passively in third order filters."

Thanks. I think the short of it is that they used 1793 because it is more "musical sounding" / for the "burr brown house sound" (0.001% THD on the 1793 vs 0.0004% THD on the 1792A) ?
That's really too bad for a true "top of the line" product which I thought they were going for. (for the record I'm sure the technical performance would be great, but great could still be better, maybe).

 

[iFi audio]

Thanks. I think the short of it is that they used 1793 because it is more "musical sounding" / for the "burr brown house sound" (0.001% THD on the 1793 vs 0.0004% THD on the 1792A) ?
That's really too bad for a true "top of the line" product which I thought they were going for. (for the record I'm sure the technical performance would be great, but great could still be better, maybe).

Pro iDSD is our TOTL product and that's what we aimed for from the start of this project. Also there's no point in focusing too much on chips and numbers associated with them. Far more important is what one does with them and Pro iDSD's d/a section is quite unusual.

 

[tonyo442]

[QUOTE = "iFi audio, post: 14379834, membre: 361812"] Pro iDSD est notre produit TOTL et c'est ce que nous visions depuis le début de ce projet. De plus, il est inutile de trop se concentrer sur les puces et les numéros qui leur sont associés. Ce qui est beaucoup plus important, c'est ce que l'on fait avec eux et la section d / a de Pro iDSD est assez inhabituelle.
hello, I do not think that chips are just numbers, of course that's what chips are very important, but some of these chips are able to roll back the background noise. is what will make the difference between one dac and another,

hello, I do not think that chips are just numbers, of course that's what chips are very important, but some of these chips are able to roll back the background noise. is what will make the difference between one dac and another,

I have a dac which has 4 dac per channel, TI PCMhirlec 5102, and the power supply will play an important role,

the choice of these chips on the ifi pro DSD makes me think, ..........

 

[tonyo442]

Yup, it has all these goodies indeed. But yeah, iPurifier3.0 is quite special.

I have the i purify 2, for those who have the purify 3, the difference is it interesting, thank you

 

[gordec]

The battle of British Elites. The Pro iDSD is going up against the Qutest. Early impression of the iDSD is very good.