iFi Audio Pro iDSD discussion thread

[Tom Blake]

Check this out you guys

Pro iDSD on top, Pro ICAN in the middle and the Pro iESL at the bottom.

That's on their rack though which is not out yet. It looks to provide a bit more breathing space between each component vs direct stacking. Not sure how much heat the iESL generates but would be nice to know if iCAN can be directly stacked on top, especially since it has that solid anti-vibration pad on the bottom. Hopefully the scalloped top of the Pro series components provide enough ventilation for direct stacking.

 

[etc6849]

So it will absolutely be released in the US before say 10/2017?

I love your products, and am thinking about reordering the iCan Pro as I loved it before, just couldn't justify it without a matching DAC and I wasn't sure when/if it would come. I still want this combo, and sold my Oppo HA-1, and so it's time for an upgrade.

iESL is out at the end of June and Pro iDSD follows that date. That's what we aim for.

 

[iFi audio]

To be shown with Sennheiser Orpheus HE-1 is a reason for us to be proud, hence we'll just leave the proof here...

 

[h1f1add1cted]

Would the Pro iESL could run the Sennheiser HE-1 or did you tried that too? Or it's just possible to use the Sennheiser "special HE-1 amp"?

 

[Roen]

And I'll leave it here...

The Pro iESL
First among energizers

The Pro series iESL is an unsurpassed energiser for electrostatic headphones (and transformer-coupled stage for flagship dynamic headphones too).

The Pro iESL driven by either the iFi Pro iCAN or a powerful amplifier takes electrostatic headphones to an unprecedented level of performance.

Its defining characteristic is a transparency and an ultra-wide dynamic range that is totally natural. The Pro iESL works with Stax, Sennheiser Orpheus and many more.

Classic & Cutting Edge Technology

The Pro iESL’s three key elements combine the very best in classical approaches with the latest in cutting-edge technology AND superb component quality to deliver the ‘perfectly matched’ headphone experience.

• Atypical Pinstripe Permalloy Core transformer
• Bias voltage generator
• Capacitive Battery Power Supply


Outstanding Component Quality

• One-off, hand-wound, Pinstripe Permalloy Core Transformer
• Wima Capacitors
• Vishay MELF resistors
• Gold-plated silver and sealed-silver alloy contact relays

Specifications
Maximum Output voltage: 640V RMS (16Ω/20V in)
320V RMS (64Ω/20V in)
Frequency Response: 5Hz – 50kHz (-3dB)
Input Voltage (Pro iESL): 5V – 9V/1A max
Input Voltage (iPower): AC 85 – 265V, 50/60Hz
Power Consumption: < 1W
Dimensions: 213(l) x 206(w) x 63.3(h) mm
Weight: 2.5kg (5.5 lbs)

The retail price of the Pro iESL is US$1,399 (ex-tax) or €1,575/£1,395 (incl VAT).

Stay tuned, tech stuff coming up shortly!

Can It drive a Shure KSE1500? 230V Bias Voltage from the 6-pin port, vs. 200V Bias Voltage Requirements from the KSE1500

 

[Slim1970]

Would the Pro iESL could run the Sennheiser HE-1 or did you tried that too? Or it's just possible to use the Sennheiser "special HE-1 amp"?

On the iESL webpage it lists the Orpheus as one of the headphones that it can drive.

http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/pro-iesl/

 

[Trogdor]

@iFi audio Those pics are killer.

 

[iFi audio]

@iFi audio Those pics are killer.

Thanks!

 

[Fastnbulbous]

So it's been a month since the iESL was released. Are we still looking at September for the iDSD?

 

[iFi audio]

So it's been a month since the iESL was released. Are we still looking at September for the iDSD?

We don't have any details regarding date, but rest assured that the product is in the pipeline.

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

So why the delay? You changed DAC chips/design?

 

[iFi audio]

So why the delay? You changed DAC chips/design?

Simply because we want it to be as great as possible. This project is too important for us to rush it and it's far too late to do any significant changes at this point. We're tweaking things constantly and it's a very time consuming thing to do.

 

[Tom Blake]

@iFi audio - I found the following Jan 2015 post from you earlier in this thread. Is the plan outlined still the same for clock synchronization features on the Pro iDSD? I am considering some SOtM products that have clock sync capabilities and it would be nice to know for future planning if the Pro iDSD could benefit. Thanks!

..."1) External Clock Synchronisation

The iDSD Pro will allow the use of external clocks for USB and AES/EBU modes.

Options available are the use of the BNC socket as 10MHz atomic clock input (this affects all clocks and inputs).

For external sync either Wordclock via BNC or AES3 on the XLR input are supported. Finally the BNC can be configured as wordclock out (to make one iDSD Pro the "master" in a multi channel playback setup).

The wordclock synchronisation is mainly for professional use, but will also allow the iDSD to be used in multichannel playback at home, as for this all DACs MUST be synchronised.

The ability to add an external atomic (or other low-jitter) clock will cater to those who like to tweak their setups to the limit, as it replaces the internal crystal clock reference directly."

 

[iFi audio]

@iFi audio - I found the following Jan 2015 post from you earlier in this thread. Is the plan outlined still the same for clock synchronization features on the Pro iDSD? I am considering some SOtM products that have clock sync capabilities and it would be nice to know for future planning if the Pro iDSD could benefit. Thanks!

..."1) External Clock Synchronisation

The iDSD Pro will allow the use of external clocks for USB and AES/EBU modes.

Options available are the use of the BNC socket as 10MHz atomic clock input (this affects all clocks and inputs).

For external sync either Wordclock via BNC or AES3 on the XLR input are supported. Finally the BNC can be configured as wordclock out (to make one iDSD Pro the "master" in a multi channel playback setup).

The wordclock synchronisation is mainly for professional use, but will also allow the iDSD to be used in multichannel playback at home, as for this all DACs MUST be synchronised.

The ability to add an external atomic (or other low-jitter) clock will cater to those who like to tweak their setups to the limit, as it replaces the internal crystal clock reference directly."

Let us just say that we'll return to the iDSD Pro topic soon and everything - every tasty detail people here might be interested in - will be revealed then.

 

[Esprit]

Simply because we want it to be as great as possible. This project is too important for us to rush it and it's far too late to do any significant changes at this point. We're tweaking things constantly and it's a very time consuming thing to do.

Jan 26, 2014 THREAD STARTER Post #1 of 1724
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