[dcguy73]

Hi everyone, I have picked up a ifi Pro (non signature version) upgraded from the Neo.

Can someone advise for a power supply upgrade (manual suggested 9v - 18v) will a 15v ipower x or a 15v ipower elite works? (I suppose the ipower elite 24v won’t?)

I currently have a Keces p3 lps at 16v/3A not sure if that would work???

Cheers
Deric

The Keces will work. The 15v iPower Elite would be the equivalent. I've used both the Keces P8 and the iPower Elite with mine. There are some differences, but I wouldn't say one is necessarily better than the other.

 

[iFi audio]

The Keces will work. The 15v iPower Elite would be the equivalent. I've used both the Keces P8 and the iPower Elite with mine. There are some differences, but I wouldn't say one is necessarily better than the other.

Thanks! Here let me just add that any DC power supply rated at 15V/4A will do

 

[dericchan1]

Hi ifi, but I believe the ipower elite is only rated 15v/3A ?

 

[iFi audio]

Hi ifi, but I believe the ipower elite is only rated 15v/3A ?

Ach, that's correct, now I remember that we have a bug in our manual that we should fix ASAP. 15V/3A it is

 

[dericchan1]

Ach, that's correct, now I remember that we have a bug in our manual that we should fix ASAP. 15V/3A it is

A silly question perhaps, do you recommend leaving the ifi pro idsd turned on all the time as some other dacs manufacturers recommended? Or you are fine to turn it off at the end of the night?

Cheers

Deric

 

[iFi audio]

do you recommend leaving the ifi pro idsd turned on all the time as some other dacs manufacturers recommended?

Although it's fine to leave Pro iDSD powered on as long as you like, we recommend turning off audio components when they're not in use

 

[MLGrado]

As a iDSD PRO owner (4.4mm Pentaconn, non signature version) I am about to put it through a set of measurements for the sake of curiosity. Right now I have an older but NOS pair of GE 5670 tubes in it; I will be testing with those in place and then I am going to roll in a NOS pair of Tesla 6CC42 that got here perfectly safe from Kiev, Ukraine.

I just finished testing the other end of the iFi pricing spectrum which you can read all about it here.

https://www.euphonicreview.com/blog/ifi-zen-v2-test-review

Also just for fun, I am going to have a deep look at what is going on inside my RME ADI-2 PRO FS R Black Edition.


Also, please note I am giving away that iFi ZEN V2. No requirements to win except just put your name/email in the comment section on the list here. Absolutely anyone is free to enter.. no action of any kind other than saying 'I want it' in a comment is required. Computer will pick from names at random on December 25th 2022. Happy Holy-Days to all!

Again, here is the link for the giveaway. As nice at the ZEN DAC v2 sounds and measures, getting a practically new one for free? Wow. What a lucky day for somebody. Just remember to thank EuphonicReview.com

https://www.euphonicreview.com/blog/ifi-zen-v2-test-review

 

[iFi audio]

As a iDSD PRO owner (4.4mm Pentaconn, non signature version) I am about to put it through a set of measurements for the sake of curiosity. Right now I have an older but NOS pair of GE 5670 tubes in it; I will be testing with those in place and then I am going to roll in a NOS pair of Tesla 6CC42 that got here perfectly safe from Kiev, Ukraine.

I just finished testing the other end of the iFi pricing spectrum which you can read all about it here.

https://www.euphonicreview.com/blog/ifi-zen-v2-test-review

Also just for fun, I am going to have a deep look at what is going on inside my RME ADI-2 PRO FS R Black Edition.


Also, please note I am giving away that iFi ZEN V2. No requirements to win except just put your name/email in the comment section on the list here. Absolutely anyone is free to enter.. no action of any kind other than saying 'I want it' in a comment is required. Computer will pick from names at random on December 25th 2022. Happy Holy-Days to all!

Again, here is the link for the giveaway. As nice at the ZEN DAC v2 sounds and measures, getting a practically new one for free? Wow. What a lucky day for somebody. Just remember to thank EuphonicReview.com

https://www.euphonicreview.com/blog/ifi-zen-v2-test-review

That's a very nice gesture of you re ZEN DAC V2 and one impressive review on top of that. Thanks a lot

 

[dericchan1]

Hi ifi, just picked up the idsd pro tonight, reading the manual there is an option using the left knob to switch polarity. Can you please explain what that does and in what situation do I need to use it?

Thanks

Deric

 

[JaquesGelee]

Hi ifi, just picked up the idsd pro tonight, reading the manual there is an option using the left knob to switch polarity. Can you please explain what that does and in what situation do I need to use it?

Thanks

Deric

This for phase switching, when having any issues in your chain. If you don't experience any audible difference, keep it on +.

Cheers

 

[dericchan1]

So I have picked up the Pro IDSD on Monday and been too busy to set it up in my system. Brought it over to a friend's place tonight to run it for the first time in a headphone set up.

Embarrassing to say, I do not know anything about headphones, my friend has a pair of Grado PS2000e. I suppose they are fairly easy to drive, we did not need to turn on any gain so (at 0db gain) and did not need to crank up that much. Using Hqplayer as playback DSD256 7ECV2 and turn on the DSD1024 remaster mode. Impression as follows:

Solid state mode was very clean, detailed, neutral sounding

We both thought the tube mode was the best mode, a touch smoother, things seem to open up a bit more, but still very clean, detailed sounding

Tube + mode was a no for us, things open up further more, but tubey, distorted sounding in a bad way (perhaps a tube upgrade to WE396A would help?)

Overall it was a great listening experience as a newbie in the headphone world - well until we listened to his Aqua La Scala DAC to the Thoress HP amp/preamp. That combo was a big step up (so was the price), as you can immediately tell the sound opens up more, bass dig deeper, overall a more refined sound.

I don't believe that Thoress and Aqua combo completely blew me away compared to the PRO tho, I think I would be happy to use the HP amp of the PRO still, and honestly considering the HP AMP in the PRO is really a complimentary add-on to the dac, I have to say it did pretty well. Have to do some research on HP to match the amp tho.

I should be able to find sometime (hopefully) to hook up the PRO to my 2.2 speaker system tomorrow and will report back how I like it.

Cheers

Deric

 

[iFi audio]

So I have picked up the Pro IDSD on Monday and been too busy to set it up in my system. Brought it over to a friend's place tonight to run it for the first time in a headphone set up.

Embarrassing to say, I do not know anything about headphones, my friend has a pair of Grado PS2000e. I suppose they are fairly easy to drive, we did not need to turn on any gain so (at 0db gain) and did not need to crank up that much. Using Hqplayer as playback DSD256 7ECV2 and turn on the DSD1024 remaster mode. Impression as follows:

Solid state mode was very clean, detailed, neutral sounding

We both thought the tube mode was the best mode, a touch smoother, things seem to open up a bit more, but still very clean, detailed sounding

Tube + mode was a no for us, things open up further more, but tubey, distorted sounding in a bad way (perhaps a tube upgrade to WE396A would help?)

Overall it was a great listening experience as a newbie in the headphone world - well until we listened to his Aqua La Scala DAC to the Thoress HP amp/preamp. That combo was a big step up (so was the price), as you can immediately tell the sound opens up more, bass dig deeper, overall a more refined sound.

I don't believe that Thoress and Aqua combo completely blew me away compared to the PRO tho, I think I would be happy to use the HP amp of the PRO still, and honestly considering the HP AMP in the PRO is really a complimentary add-on to the dac, I have to say it did pretty well. Have to do some research on HP to match the amp tho.

I should be able to find sometime (hopefully) to hook up the PRO to my 2.2 speaker system tomorrow and will report back how I like it.

Cheers

Deric

Thanks a lot for your impressions Deric! We're familiar with Thoress, so you had to listen to their DFP model, right? Thanks again!

 

[dericchan1]

Yup the DFP model!!

 

[dericchan1]

Finally get a chance to hook up to my 2.2 speaker set up tonight - listened to the Lady Blackbird album

I was not expecting much improvement from the dac upgrade from the NEO since I use the exact same hqplayer digital filter and modulator set up for the PRO and the NEO (merely hoping to add a bit more tube magic to the sound). Was I wrong!!!! The sound is at least a couple notches up and I am only using solid state output stage on the dac!!!!

Warmth and neutrality is retained but the sound is much more refined and much more detailed retrieved!!! Wow!!!

Thanks IFI, I think you have hit a home run on the pro

 

[iFi audio]

I was not expecting much improvement from the dac upgrade from the NEO since I use the exact same hqplayer digital filter and modulator set up for the PRO and the NEO (merely hoping to add a bit more tube magic to the sound). Was I wrong!!!! The sound is at least a couple notches up and I am only using solid state output stage on the dac!!!!

That's good to hear, thanks a lot! As for the DAC in-built in NEO Stream, we think it's quite great as an extra feature, but a nice external DAC will still make a difference