iFi Audio Pro iDSD discussion thread

[Hunki Chunki]

Hey @iFi audio , did you manage to go into detail about the filters? I see a post saying "Stay tuned, coming up is Pro iDSD's digital filtering!" but I can't seem to find it

thanks!

 

[iFi audio]

Hey @iFi audio , did you manage to go into detail about the filters? I see a post saying "Stay tuned, coming up is Pro iDSD's digital filtering!" but I can't seem to find it

thanks!

It's not published yet but it will in the upcoming days.

 

[gordec]

This may be a silly question, but the tube and tube+ modes, at which point does it affect the circuit pathway? I can hear clear differences in DAC only mode as I do not use the amp at all.

 

[iFi audio]

but the tube and tube+ modes, at which point does it affect the circuit pathway?

After the d/a chip, passive lowpass and volume control if variable output/headphone out is selected (fixed output provides a 'hard bypass' of the volume control).

The input element of the line/headphone driver is selected to be either a cascoded J-Fet or the NOS GE Tube.

The Tube+ mode alters the internal circuitry to reduce the amount of negative feedback around the tube to almost zero.

This means that the tube's own harmonic (distortion) spectrum develops naturally, but measured distortion is relatively high.

The audible effects of doing this are covered to some degree by Bob Katz's article originally published here:

https://www.innerfidelity.com/content/katzs-corner-episode-25-adventures-distortion

I can hear clear differences in DAC only mode as I do not use the amp at all.

There is no separate 'amplifier' in our iDSD Pro. As it is required to drive 200 ohm loads to as much as 10V in professional use, this product's line driver stage is able to directly drive most headphones.

The circuit path is as follows:

DAC in voltage out mode
RLC 3rd order passive lowpass filter
(volume control - if used)
line-driver/headphone driver
line/headphone selector relay
output connector (XLR+RCA or headphone jacks)

The circuit path is entirely direct coupled, Class A (except when driving very low impedance headphones to very high power levels).

The signal routing (volume control bypass and selecting the signal to be routed to line-out or hp-out) uses signal relays (by Omron - Japan) with gold over silver contacts hermetically sealed in a chemically inert gas.

To avoid using multiple relay contacts, the line/HP selection relays also function as 'mute' relays.

This makes for a signal-path as simple as possible to avoid signal degradation due to multiple unnecessary amplification circuits.

 

[gordec]

After the d/a chip, passive lowpass and volume control if variable output/headphone out is selected (fixed output provides a 'hard bypass' of the volume control).

The input element of the line/headphone driver is selected to be either a cascoded J-Fet or the NOS GE Tube.

The Tube+ mode alters the internal circuitry to reduce the amount of negative feedback around the tube to almost zero.

This means that the tube's own harmonic (distortion) spectrum develops naturally, but measured distortion is relatively high.

The audible effects of doing this are covered to some degree by Bob Katz's article originally published here:

https://www.innerfidelity.com/content/katzs-corner-episode-25-adventures-distortion



There is no separate 'amplifier' in our iDSD Pro. As it is required to drive 200 ohm loads to as much as 10V in professional use, this product's line driver stage is able to directly drive most headphones.

The circuit path is as follows:

DAC in voltage out mode
RLC 3rd order passive lowpass filter
(volume control - if used)
line-driver/headphone driver
line/headphone selector relay
output connector (XLR+RCA or headphone jacks)

The circuit path is entirely direct coupled, Class A (except when driving very low impedance headphones to very high power levels).

The signal routing (volume control bypass and selecting the signal to be routed to line-out or hp-out) uses signal relays (by Omron - Japan) with gold over silver contacts hermetically sealed in a chemically inert gas.

To avoid using multiple relay contacts, the line/HP selection relays also function as 'mute' relays.

This makes for a signal-path as simple as possible to avoid signal degradation due to multiple unnecessary amplification circuits.

Thanks for the reply. So you are saying I should hear a difference even in DAC only mode correct? That second part was too technical for me.

 

[wadi]

The Tube+ mode alters the internal circuitry to reduce the amount of negative feedback around the tube to almost zero.

Is this also true for iCan Pro? In Tube+ mode is negative feedback almost zero?

 

[iFi audio]

Is this also true for iCan Pro? In Tube+ mode is negative feedback almost zero?

That's correct.

Oh, one more thing, our new site is up!

http://ifi-audio.com

 

[gordec]

Dropped my review for the Pro iDSD. https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ifi-audio-pro-idsd.23234/reviews

 

[iFi audio]

Dropped my review for the Pro iDSD. https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ifi-audio-pro-idsd.23234/reviews

That's a lovely piece to read, thanks and congrats!

 

[Morimoriya 62]

Hi guys


Has anyone hd800s pair with pro idsd ?
How does comparison idsd black + Ican pro with pro idsd ?
I'm currently using this collection (idsd bl +pro ican)
But I'm not very satisfied .
Is it possible pro idsd Choose a better one?
Pro ican, of course, is broken, must be sent for warranty.


Regurds Mori

 

[gordec]

iFi, please help me clarify me on 2 things:
1. Does tube and tube+ circuit affect DAC only mode with the analogue outputs?
2. Is there any reason to use USB 3.0 cable over USB 2.0 as both work with the Pro iDSD?

Thx.

 

[tonyo442]

[QUOTE = "Morimoriya 62, post: 14413429, membre: 459669"] Salut les gars


Quelqu'un at-il un HD800 couplé avec pro idsd?
Comment la comparaison idsd noir + Ican pro avec pro idsd?
J'utilise actuellement cette collection (idsd bl + pro ican)
Mais je ne suis pas très satisfait.
Est-ce possible pro idsd Choisissez-en une meilleure?
Pro ican, bien sûr, est cassé, doit être envoyé pour garantie .: triportsad :: triportsad:


Regurds Mori [/ QUOTE]

 

[tonyo442]

[QUOTE = "Morimoriya 62, post: 14413429, membre: 459669"] Salut les gars


Quelqu'un at-il un HD800 couplé avec pro idsd?
Comment la comparaison idsd noir + Ican pro avec pro idsd?
J'utilise actuellement cette collection (idsd bl + pro ican)
Mais je ne suis pas très satisfait.
Est-ce possible pro idsd Choisissez-en une meilleure?
Pro ican, bien sûr, est cassé, doit être envoyé pour garantie .: triportsad :: triportsad:


Regurds Mori [/ QUOTE]

hello, thank you for knowing the problem of ii pro ican, thank you

 

[Currawong]

Has anyone hd800s pair with pro idsd ?
How does comparison idsd black + Ican pro with pro idsd ?
I'm currently using this collection (idsd bl +pro ican)
But I'm not very satisfied .
Is it possible pro idsd Choose a better one?
Pro ican, of course, is broken, must be sent for warranty.

I reckon, get rid of the Pro iCan and iDSD BL and get the Pro iDSD.

 

[iFi audio]

Folks, awesome news!

EISA (the European Sound and Imaging Association) has awarded the xDSD as the Best Portable DAC/Headphone Amplifier for 2018-2019.

The official release is to be found here:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ifi-audio-xdsd-the-official-thread.873787/page-56#post-14422901

HAPPY!