[hsimsh10]

It is related to firmware indeed, clock sync was removed several FW versions ago. I'll check which FW was the last one that supported it and I'll get back to you

I do not understand it!
This feature still appears in the user manual!
There is no publication that IFI ceased supporting external clock !
I bought the external clock because I was led to think it will upgrade the DAC SQ.
And I do not want to downgrade to version 1.x as it does not include MQA support !

 

[dcguy73]

I do not understand it!
This feature still appears in the user manual!
There is no publication that IFI ceased supporting external clock !
I bought the external clock because I was led to think it will upgrade the DAC SQ.
And I do not want to downgrade to version 1.x as it does not include MQA support !

Yes, if this is a "professional" product, why in the world would the clock sync function be removed from the firmware?

 

[iFi audio]

I do not understand it!
This feature still appears in the user manual!
There is no publication that IFI ceased supporting external clock !
I bought the external clock because I was led to think it will upgrade the DAC SQ.
And I do not want to downgrade to version 1.x as it does not include MQA support !

I feel your pain, but perhaps there is a firmware that has clock sync and MQA, I should know within a day or so.

 

[iFi audio]

@hsimsh10

A small update. It turns out that the clock sync function wasn't removed along with FW updates. Today I've asked one of our staff to try his 10MHz external clock with his Pro iDSD (FW2.08) and it worked without any issues.

The status displayed on your Pro iDSD indicates that it doesn't see your Mutec. There are three options here:

- your Pro iDSD's clock connections are broken
- your cable isn't 75 Ohms
- your Mutec doesn't output what it should

The simplest thing to do would be to swap a BNC cable and see whether this helps. If there's no change, then either Mutec has to be checked, or Pro iDSD. They should talk to each other without problems.

 

[hsimsh10]

@hsimsh10

A small update. It turns out that the clock sync function wasn't removed along with FW updates. Today I've asked one of our staff to try his 10MHz external clock with his Pro iDSD (FW2.08) and it worked without any issues.

The status displayed on your Pro iDSD indicates that it doesn't see your Mutec. There are three options here:

- your Pro iDSD's clock connections are broken
- your cable isn't 75 Ohms
- your Mutec doesn't output what it should

The simplest thing to do would be to swap a BNC cable and see whether this helps. If there's no change, then either Mutec has to be checked, or Pro iDSD. They should talk to each other without problems.

Thanks. I checked it with several 75ohm BNC cables. Including the one that your IFI support team sent to me.
I checked it with another Pro IDSD that my dealer loaned to me.
I sent my mutec to Germany and they checked in their lab and did no find any issue.
It works perfectly with other devices.
I also have SOTM devices (TX-USBultra and Sms200Ultra) and they work fine with the MUTEC.
Thus is why I thought that there is a defect in 2.01 and 2.08 firmware versions.
I ask again, do you have any customer that uses reference 10mhz clock and his Pro IDSD works fine while its firmware is 2.0x?
By the way - when I power up the IFI PRO while I push the filter selector, then the IFI pro enters into Service mode and its display is changed and include additional information
including notification that the ifi is connected external 10mhz clock.
Therefore I think think that PRO IDSD does recognize the MUTEC. However , after working few minutes - It start to display this intermittent messages I sent your before …

 

[Baten]

By the way - when I power up the IFI PRO while I push the filter selector, then the IFI pro enters into Service mode and its display is changed and include additional information
including notification that the ifi is connected external 10mhz clock.
Therefore I think think that PRO IDSD does recognize the MUTEC. However , after working few minutes - It start to display this intermittent messages I sent your before …

It does sound like your unit does not work stable with it. Hopefully someone can help you isolate the issue.

 

[iFi audio]

I ask again, do you have any customer that uses reference 10mhz clock and his Pro IDSD works fine while its firmware is 2.0x?

As I wrote, Pro iDSD works with external clocks on latest FW, that's not where the problem is in your case. If your Mutec is OK and so are cables, then your Pro iDSD might be at fault here. Do you have it under warranty?

 

[hsimsh10]

As I wrote, Pro iDSD works with external clocks on latest FW, that's not where the problem is in your case. If your Mutec is OK and so are cables, then your Pro iDSD might be at fault here. Do you have it under warranty?

As I wrote, Pro iDSD works with external clocks on latest FW, that's not where the problem is in your case. If your Mutec is OK and so are cables, then your Pro iDSD might be at fault here. Do you have it under warranty?

As I wrote - the dealer in Israel lent me his demo Pro IDSD and the problem occurred with his device as well …

 

[dcguy73]

For those that own the iDSD Pro, I can unequivocally recommend the new iFi SupaNova cable. It brings much blacker backgrounds, sharper transients, and better dynamics to the DAC. If you're using the iDSD Pro as a streamer via an Ethernet connection, I also recommend using a SupaNova cable with your network switch. The combination of the two upgrades in my system is fantastic.

Previously, I had all of my digital equipment hooked into my PS Audio P5 Power Plant via PS Audio cables. My system has been sounding rather flat lately, so I picked up two iPower Elites, one for my iCan Pro (which is now moved to my other system) and one for my iDSD Pro. I was undecided about the iPower Elites with PS Audio cabling, but adding the SupaNova cables brought them up another level.

Right now, as I only have two SupaNova cables, I have one designated for my network switch and one for the iDSD and my music server. My Keces P8 is doing double duty for the iDSD and music server with one SupaNova cable. The iPower Elites are set aside for now, but only because I lack three individual SupaNova cables to power everything separately.

The sound I get with my digital sources plugged directly into the wall outlet via SupaNova cables is more vibrant and vivid than what I was getting with my P5 power plant and PS Audio cables.

*Note: the SupaNova cables didn't play well with my P5 Power Plant (the dynamics got flattened out), so I have them plugged directly into the wall. As they're active cables with surge protection, I'm not worried about the connected equipment getting fried. They also didn't sound good with my Pathos tube amp (flattened dynamics), so I have them on my digital sources only.

 

[iFi audio]

For those that own the iDSD Pro, I can unequivocally recommend the new iFi SupaNova cable. It brings much blacker backgrounds, sharper transients, and better dynamics to the DAC. If you're using the iDSD Pro as a streamer via an Ethernet connection, I also recommend using a SupaNova cable with your network switch. The combination of the two upgrades in my system is fantastic.

Previously, I had all of my digital equipment hooked into my PS Audio P5 Power Plant via PS Audio cables. My system has been sounding rather flat lately, so I picked up two iPower Elites, one for my iCan Pro (which is now moved to my other system) and one for my iDSD Pro. I was undecided about the iPower Elites with PS Audio cabling, but adding the SupaNova cables brought them up another level.

Right now, as I only have two SupaNova cables, I have one designated for my network switch and one for the iDSD and my music server. My Keces P8 is doing double duty for the iDSD and music server with one SupaNova cable. The iPower Elites are set aside for now, but only because I lack three individual SupaNova cables to power everything separately.

The sound I get with my digital sources plugged directly into the wall outlet via SupaNova cables is more vibrant and vivid than what I was getting with my P5 power plant and PS Audio cables.

*Note: the SupaNova cables didn't play well with my P5 Power Plant (the dynamics got flattened out), so I have them plugged directly into the wall. As they're active cables with surge protection, I'm not worried about the connected equipment getting fried. They also didn't sound good with my Pathos tube amp (flattened dynamics), so I have them on my digital sources only.

Thanks a ton! We like PS Audio and what Paul McGowan does on YT, so it's nice to know that our cable did well in this company

As I wrote - the dealer in Israel lent me his demo Pro IDSD and the problem occurred with his device as well …

I give up then

However, someone from our support should contact you again by now.

 

[hsimsh10]

Thanks a ton! We like PS Audio and what Paul McGowan does on YT, so it's nice to know that our cable did well in this company



I give up then

However, someone from our support should contact you again by now.

@iFi audio
Do you know if there is any owner of Pro IDSD that uses it together with external reference 10mhz clock?

 

[iFi audio]

Do you know if there is any owner of Pro IDSD that uses it together with external reference 10mhz clock?

Yes, as I wrote for example one of our staff here in UK, who built himself a standalone 10MHz clock for his Pro iDSD. It works. Based on his feedback I know that the issue you're experiencing isn't related to firmware. There probably are others here on this forum, but I can't recall anyone specific.

 

[Baten]

@iFi audio
Do you know if there is any owner of Pro IDSD that uses it together with external reference 10mhz clock?

Here is an older audiophilestyle article. There, they claim they had it working with Mutec Ref-10 reference clock. (imagine how funny it would be if it never synced and all of their listening experience was with mutec clock unsynced lol. just saying! )
https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/my-quest-for-a-new-dac-part-4-ifi-pro-idsd-and-friends-r748/

 

[hsimsh10]

Here is an older audiophilestyle article. There, they claim they had it working with Mutec Ref-10 reference clock. (imagine how funny it would be if it never synced and all of their listening experience was with mutec clock unsynced lol. just saying! )
https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/my-quest-for-a-new-dac-part-4-ifi-pro-idsd-and-friends-r748/

Yes. This article raised my curiosity around external clock. This article is before firmware 2.01 was introduced.
I could not find any later article about combination of Pro IDSD and external clock.
This is why I think is is related to firmware 2.0x problem

 

[iFi audio]

This is why I think is is related to firmware 2.0x problem

I was just about to say again that firmware has nothing to do with this situation, but instead let me ask how that Mutec worked out with other DACs (have you tried it?), and whether have you tried any other clock with your Pro iDSD?