iFi Audio Pro iDSD discussion thread
Feb 3, 2023 at 11:51 AM Post #3,331 of 3,458
Makes me wonder too. I take good care of my gear. Just days after the 1 year warranty ended, unit itself made a horrible noise when set to tube or hybrid. I didn't use the tube much, so didn't think that would have died already, so I think it's just a bad unit. I just kept it on solid state -- the light display started degrading the past couple years too.
you have bad, gassy tubes. I am 95 percent confident this is your issue.

the iDSD is very finnicky about tubes.

I always know the tubes are bad when in either tube mode, there is massive crackling. Switch to solid state, problem solved. or of course, change to new tubes. I have a supply of the OEM GE 5670, as well as some NOS tubes just in case. Currently I am running Tesla (the REAL Tesla tubes, not the current JJ company... and not the car lol)

However, if the issue has progressed to no sound with Solid State, let iFi take care of you.

I would only be making gross speculation that the gassy tubes may have caused some sort of overall issue?
 
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Feb 3, 2023 at 12:14 PM Post #3,332 of 3,458
you have bad, gassy tubes. I am 95 percent confident this is your issue.

the iDSD is very finnicky about tubes.

I always know the tubes are bad when in either tube mode, there is massive crackling. Switch to solid state, problem solved. or of course, change to new tubes. I have a supply of the OEM GE 5670, as well as some NOS tubes just in case. Currently I am running Tesla (the REAL Tesla tubes, not the current JJ company... and not the car lol)

However, if the issue has progressed to no sound with Solid State, let iFi take care of you.

I would only be making gross speculation that the gassy tubes may have caused some sort of overall issue?
My stock tubes are fine, no crackling whatsoever, but they don’t sound nice at all so I seldom use the tube modes.

Just ordered a pair of these bad boys from TAD and plan to roll them in over the next couple of weeks!!

Cheers

Deric
 

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Feb 3, 2023 at 1:24 PM Post #3,333 of 3,458
My stock tubes are fine, no crackling whatsoever, but they don’t sound nice at all so I seldom use the tube modes.

Just ordered a pair of these bad boys from TAD and plan to roll them in over the next couple of weeks!!

Cheers

Deric
yeah, I find that my NOS RCA 5670 from the 1960's I believe, are amazing. Same goes for the NOS Tesla tubes.
I had a pair of what iFi might say is the best replacement for their OEM GE tubes... the Western Electric 396a. WOW they sounded great but once again, they were a bit gassy and I had to replace them. It was too bad.
 
Feb 3, 2023 at 1:26 PM Post #3,334 of 3,458
yeah, I find that my NOS RCA 5670 from the 1960's I believe, are amazing. Same goes for the NOS Tesla tubes.
I had a pair of what iFi might say is the best replacement for their OEM GE tubes... the Western Electric 396a. WOW they sounded great but once again, they were a bit gassy and I had to replace them. It was too bad.
Yes, I read quite a bit on different forums that WE396a NOS can be difficult to find properly matched, low noise, low hiss. That's why I paid the hefty premium to order from TAD with their premium select balance match option which guarantees no leak, no hiss, pass the noise test....... but boy they are expensive!!!
 
Feb 3, 2023 at 5:20 PM Post #3,335 of 3,458
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Feb 19, 2023 at 10:37 AM Post #3,337 of 3,458
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Feb 22, 2023 at 1:15 PM Post #3,338 of 3,458
Folks, just so you know:

https://ifi-audio.com/canjam_nyc_2023/

iFi to Release Diablo X, First DAC to Support xMEMS Technology, at CanJam NYC 2023

iFi will be presenting the Diablo X alongside Singularity Audio's In-Ear Monitors. These both feature xMEMs tech to push the boundaries of IEM and headphone performance.

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Southport, England – iFi audio will be adding to its already extensive list of portable DAC audio products with the release of their Diablo X at CanJam NYC, February 25-26, 2023.

iFi have partnered with xMEMS as an official DAC/headphone amp technology partner. The Diablo X is being released to support the brand-new xMEMS' ground-breaking solid state monolithic speaker technology.

The Diablo X, when paired with In-Ear Monitors featuring the xMEMS' monolithic micro speaker, will provide audiophile-level resolution, creating lightning-fast transient response, near-zero phase shift, and +/-1° part-to-part phase consistency, resulting in the most natural sounding In-Ear Monitors with the most accurate time domain music reproduction. The result is a highly uniform and reliable driver that eliminates the need to match and calibrate.

Just like the original iDSD Diablo, the Diablo X delivers reference level sound by using two BurrBrown DAC chips and a 16-core XMOS chip to process the data received via the USB and S/PDIF digital inputs, meaning the Diablo X can handle up to PCM 768, DSD 512, 2xDXD. It also provides full MQA decoding, like its predecessor.


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A Perfect Pairing

iFi audio will be showcasing the Diablo X alongside In-Ear Monitors from Singularity Audio at CanJam NYC 2023. Singularity Audio will be releasing their xMEMS In-Ear Monitors, the first IEMs to feature xMEMS solid state speaker technology. Paired with the iFi Diablo X, the two become a perfect bundle, because one cannot be properly utilized without the other.

“iFi audio is excited to be working with xMEMS as an official DAC/headphone amp technology partner,” said Victoria Pickles, Head of Partnerships for iFi audio. “xMEMS’ ground-breaking micro speakers offer great potential to push the boundaries of IEM and headphone performance. And our portable audio technologies are uniquely positioned to ensure this potential is fully realized. With specially optimized iFi DAC/headphone amps set for launch in 2023, it’s going to be an xCITING year!"

More on xMEMS, Singularity Audio and CanJam NYC 2023 below

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xMEMs

Founded in January 2018, xMEMS Labs is reinventing sound with the world’s first solid-state True MEMS speakers for TWS and other personal audio devices. xMEMS has over 90 granted patents and over 100 patents pending for its technology. The monolithic architecture implements both actuation and diaphragm in silicon resulting in unmatched part-to-part frequency response consistency and reduced speaker matching or calibration time at manufacturing. This innovative transduction mechanism has also produced the worlds’ fastest and most precise µspeakers, eliminating spring and suspension recovery of coil speakers which improves audio quality and sound field reproduction.

For more information, visit https://xmems.com.

Singularity Audio

Incorporated in 2022, Singularity Audio’s mission is to create audiophile products Singular in design and purpose. From conception through design and fabrication, Singularity Audio products embody a purity in design, harmonizing advanced materials with an unwavering commitment to accurate sound reproduction.

Singularity Audio’s first product is a flagship IEM which utilizes the fastest and most phase accurate µSpeaker available, the xMEMS Labs Montara Piezo-MEMS transducer. Using reductive principles, an elegant industrial design using a minimal number of components was realized. The outer shells are machined from titanium, with each IEM weighing <5 grams and under 19mm in length, resulting in featherweight IEM that the user will forget they are wearing, allowing them to be fully immersed in music.

For more information, visit https://singularityaud.io
 
iFi audio Stay updated on iFi audio at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
 
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Feb 24, 2023 at 3:02 PM Post #3,339 of 3,458
Yup, we're here and so is our support: https://support.ifi-audio.com



WE396a are expensive, but sure worth their price and a very nice upgrade for Pro iDSD for usre :)
Just a bit of an update after swapping in the pair of WE396A NOS matched pair of tubes ordered from TAD to my dac and had played roughly 15 hours, I can confirm that these WE396a are definitely a significant upgrade to the stock GE5670 tubes. Added so much warmth and richness to the mids and highs it sounded like a completely different dac!!!

This to me is a bigger upgrade than the PSU upgrade from stock to the iPower Elite!!! I did not previously like the tube mode at all but now I am loving the tube mode more than the solid state mode!!!
 
Feb 24, 2023 at 4:23 PM Post #3,340 of 3,458
Just a bit of an update after swapping in the pair of WE396A NOS matched pair of tubes ordered from TAD to my dac and had played roughly 15 hours, I can confirm that these WE396a are definitely a significant upgrade to the stock GE5670 tubes. Added so much warmth and richness to the mids and highs it sounded like a completely different dac!!!

This to me is a bigger upgrade than the PSU upgrade from stock to the iPower Elite!!! I did not previously like the tube mode at all but now I am loving the tube mode more than the solid state mode!!!
Many thanks - so I checked the price for a pair: €329 from TAD - pretty much as you say, but apparently worth it. However, from a practical point of view: are there any risks associated with swapping? Is it easy? And I also have a iCAN and had been considering swapping tubes and that one. But then I realize that if I do it on the iDSD Pro, then the tube mode may be beneficial when connecting other amps?
 
Feb 24, 2023 at 4:44 PM Post #3,341 of 3,458
Many thanks - so I checked the price for a pair: €329 from TAD - pretty much as you say, but apparently worth it. However, from a practical point of view: are there any risks associated with swapping? Is it easy? And I also have a iCAN and had been considering swapping tubes and that one. But then I realize that if I do it on the iDSD Pro, then the tube mode may be beneficial when connecting other amps?
Hi, risks associated with swapping include void of warranty (if you are still under warranty). For me, not really a handy person, it was not easy to open up the chassis but I managed to do no harm. I agreed t makes more sense to swap the tubes in the dac rather than the iCAN since the tube output will impact other amps you maybe connecting to in the future or in my case, I connect my PRO DAC to the Schiit Freya preamp.
 
Feb 24, 2023 at 4:49 PM Post #3,342 of 3,458
Hi, risks associated with swapping include void of warranty (if you are still under warranty). For me, not really a handy person, it was not easy to open up the chassis but I managed to do no harm. I agreed t makes more sense to swap the tubes in the dac rather than the iCAN since the tube output will impact other amps you maybe connecting to in the future or in my case, I connect my PRO DAC to the Schiit Freya preamp.
Think the warranty is 2 years, so that was last year - Then maybe worth to take the chance swapping.... :ksc75smile:
 
Feb 24, 2023 at 4:52 PM Post #3,343 of 3,458
Think the warranty is 2 years, so that was last year - Then maybe worth to take the chance swapping.... :ksc75smile:
I say GO AHEAD!!! Its definitely worth it. Yes you pay a hefty premium with TAD but their premium select matching guarantees proper matching, low noise, no leak..... plus its also hard to come across properly matched WE396A NOS.
Considering for me I only want to swap the tubes once and not having to open the chassis again, its worth paying a bit more.
 
Feb 24, 2023 at 5:00 PM Post #3,344 of 3,458
I say GO AHEAD!!! Its definitely worth it. Yes you pay a hefty premium with TAD but their premium select matching guarantees proper matching, low noise, no leak..... plus its also hard to come across properly matched WE396A NOS.
Considering for me I only want to swap the tubes once and not having to open the chassis again, its worth paying a bit more.
Just to be absolutely sure to make this right: I have to order the "pair" right? Thanks again
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