iFi audio Pro iDSD (Official) - NEW Firmware - MQA and more.

[flyte3333]

Roon works with Pro iDSD's ethernet port the way as described in this JPlay thread: http://jplay.eu/forum/index.php?/topic/2783-roon-with-jplayfemto-it-is-possible/

All you need is the upnp-bridge. A microRendu or ultraRendu with Sonore's UPnP app will do it, too. And you must activate the squeezebox support in Roon.

The official Sonore guide and support thread is here too, since November 2016...

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/29745-sonicorbiter-sonoreupnp-bridge/

 

[holzohr]

I see basically a work around to use Roon. Why are you doing it that way instead of connecting the microRendu directly to Pro iDSD? did you feel Pro iDSD sounded with direct ethernet connection also?

The USB port of the DAC is reserved for HQPlayer and Jplay Femto. How did you realize the direct ethernet connection?

I currently use a Logitech Transporter as my Roon wifi streamer. From the Transporter I go into a Sonic Frontiers DAC. Would the ifi work the same way? What would I lose?

Yes, the ifi would work the same way but you must have such an UPnP-bridge (as a kind of "Squeezelite-device") in your network. Hmm.. you would not lose anything I think. Not sure if your current DAC is DSD- or MQA-ready. With the ifi you additionally could stream DSD64 (via DoP) and MQA.

I am very sorry that I am just a newbie in Roon. May I know is it possible for me to use Raspberry Pi 3 as an endpoint and then connected with the Pro iDSD and enjoy the all the things from Roon?

Yes that's possible. The probably easiest way is to download RoPieee https://www.ropieee.org/ and to use the pi3 via USB. If you are concerned about sound quality you can add a HAT as Allo's DigiOne or the HifiBerry Digi + Pro. RoPieee supports all these HATs.

 

[webmi]

Got that 14 days trial. Is there a how to for Roon /w Tidal and MQA with ifi iDSD Pro? Ifi iDSD Pro shows "MQA" like with Tidal natively. So i think i am fine, am i?

 

[iFi audio]

Is there a how to for Roon /w Tidal and MQA with ifi iDSD Pro?

We might have a tutorial of the sort in near future.

 

[Currawong]

Ifi iDSD Pro shows "MQA" like with Tidal natively. So i think i am fine, am i?

Yes. If the Pro iDSD shows "MQA" on the front, then yes.

 

[doggiehowser]

Got that 14 days trial. Is there a how to for Roon /w Tidal and MQA with ifi iDSD Pro? Ifi iDSD Pro shows "MQA" like with Tidal natively. So i think i am fine, am i?

Roon over USB will work with Pro iDSD to the full capabilities including MQA and DSD.

But if you have Audirvana, try playing the same TIDAL MQA over Ethernet/UPNP and tell me what you think and which you prefer...

 

[flyte3333]

We might have a tutorial of the sort in near future.

Ahh, another hint here (perhaps).

 

[fodowsky]

I have these outputs on my wifi streamer: optical, coaxial, BNC, balanced XLR. Which would you recommend as an input to the iFi?

 

[gordec]

I have these outputs on my streamer: optical, coaxial, BNC, balanced XLR. Which would you recommend as an input to the iFi?

Ethernet owns all of them. Recommend you setup bridge more for your PC.

 

[fodowsky]

Ethernet owns all of them. Recommend you setup bridge more for your PC.

Can you help me understand why this would be?

 

[gordec]

Can you help me understand why this would be?

One ethernet sounds the best. Some of us have tried them all. That's with very good USB cable, USB reconditioning. Ethernet is just so clean.

The best setup up is to set up bridge mode for your PC or MAC. I have 2 ethernet cards. One takes in internet data, the other card connects directly to Pro iDSD. You can also set it up with Wifi receiving data and ethernet port go to Pro iDSD. This way you have a direct ethernet connection from PC to Pro iDSD. I also tried by going through a network switch. Overall the results is about the same, but network bridge is cleaner. You need to setup UPNP/DNLA server on PC with either Jriver or Audirvana.

 

[fodowsky]

Thanks for the excellent reply. I am using a Mac, Roon and a Logitech Transporter as the wifi streamer (Roon supported) into a tubed DAC. I can't go directly from the Mac to the DAC (room setup issue). I'm trying very hard to find a way to make Roon, Wifi and the iFi work together. In addition, I am not a networking wiz.

I am very happy with my DAC but find all the options on the iFi compelling.

 

[gordec]

I think how good Pro iDSD sounds through ethernet even surprised iFi. I know during testing, the iFi engineers actually used a SMS200 Ultra (via USB). Only if they diverted more attention to network function then it would be pretty awesome. The real drawback now is that even with the latest firmware, you may experience stutter with DSD64 but it clears up if you wait a little. 96k is the sweet spot and will never stutter.

To market Pro iDSD as a network streamer first means that a lot more efforts needs to be placed in software development. At minimum, they need to implement something similar to the Sonore or SMS offerings like a Sonicorbiter OS system. If you get real serious like Lumin and Auralic and develop your own apps, then the cost becomes exponential. This is probably why Pro iDSD was marketed as a DAC first.

 

[iFi audio]

If you get real serious like Lumin and Auralic and develop your own apps, then the cost becomes exponential. This is probably why Pro iDSD was marketed as a DAC first.

Agreed, network options are huge money sinks if you want to do them from scratch and Pro iDSD is a DAC above all else and a very complex one. This has always been the key function of this device.

 

[flyte3333]

If you get real serious like Lumin and Auralic and develop your own apps, then the cost becomes exponential.

Agreed, network options are huge money sinks if you want to do them from scratch and Pro iDSD is a DAC above all else and a very complex one. This has always been the key function of this device.

Or include Airplay, UPnP, Roon and Chromecast support (especially the latter...) and let the best app developers around do all the app work...

In future anyway, maybe.