[gordec]

A lot of these things they experiment with definitely have the potential to sound different - and depending how it affects things in the system, can be heard by people as sounding subjectively better.

But different doesn't mean technically better.

Unless you are trying to sync multiple Pro iDSD's, I can't see how an external clock can be technically better than the excellent clocks that are mm's from the Pro iDSD's D-to-A conversion stage?

Maybe @iFi audio can confirm if they agree or disagree with the above?

Btw, the experimenting they all do is fine of course. It's not life or death - this is all fun stuff... but it can get really expensive with this external clock stuff...

They do agree. It's in their manual.
"It is equally possible to use an atomic reference clock (at least Sanford Research Systems PERF10 should be used) to further elevate the Pro iDSD performance over the internal clock system."

 

[flyte3333]

at least Sanford Research Systems PERF10 should be used

Nice, "at least Sanford Research Systems PERF10 should be used".

Getting ready to spend USD$3.5k on that clock?

I wonder if it's better to just get a better (performance) DAC (the coming AMR Diablo?) , rather than pair the USD3.5k PERF10 with a single Pro iDSD?

 

[gordec]

Nice, "at least Sanford Research Systems PERF10 should be used".

Getting ready to spend USD$3.5k on that clock?

I wonder if it's better to just get a better (performance) DAC (the coming AMR Diablo?) , rather than pair the USD3.5k PERF10 with a single Pro iDSD?

I think for me Pro iDSD is end game for a while. Out of the 3 categories, headphones, amps and dacs, DACs have the quickest path to the land of diminishing returns. Especially I'm not a detail freak. This is probably part of the reason I never caught up to the Chord products. I never quite appreciate the greater detail Hugo 1 and Qutest (owned both) provided. Pro iDSD sounds so good out of network play, it walks all over most $1k-$2.5k DACs out there.

 

[flyte3333]

I think for me Pro iDSD is end game for a while. Out of the 3 categories, headphones, amps and dacs, DACs have the quickest path to the land of diminishing returns. Especially I'm not a detail freak. This is probably part of the reason I never caught up to the Chord products. I never quite appreciate the greater detail Hugo 1 and Qutest (owned both) provided. Pro iDSD sounds so good out of network play, it walks all over most $1k-$2.5k DACs out there.

Hehe agreed. USD$3500 MIGHT be much better used on something else other than a Sanford Research Systems PERF10...

Unless someone needed to sync multiple Pro iDSD's, then an external clock may be needed.

 

[tinnitize]

Folks:

...

2. 4.4mm. It's an ongoing process. We know that we didn't update this fine community in the matter for a while, but this is in the pipeline and soon we'll have something to share with you all.

-

The same procedure as last year?

(The same procedure as every year, James." - from "Diner For One",every New Years Eve short film in German broadcast, British humor, Geman delight)

Cheers, tinnitize

 

[tinnitize]

Hehe agreed. USD$3500 MIGHT be much better used on something else other than a Sanford Research Systems PERF10...

Unless someone needed to sync multiple Pro iDSD's, then an external clock may be needed.

--
Better replace the SMPS with a proper LPS and gain better dynamics, shaping, details, reverb, smoothness and so on - or at least use the JSSG grounding of extremely high impedance noise typical for SMPS with two secundary rails. Using the latter causes as much better sound as achieved with much higher investment in gear.

After following a tip from one of you around here (or in the iDSD 512 tread - don't know who it was but am very thankful for him) I personally was exited, and it cost me no money at all, just walked to my parts area and soldered two spots, plugged in and - wow! Really funny, that: so easy and such an improvement.

Look here:
https://www.computeraudiophile.com/...ps-and-grounding/?tab=comments#comment-721414

And you will find a lot more (cheap) tricks around there indeed: DIY cables, better cable shielding etc.. I am going to use it more and more and let my ifi units shine even better...

Cheers, tinnitize

 

[tinnitize]

Of course some if not most of you know this well, so you Em2016, but I find it really worth mentioning. And to add: I now use my old once reasonably priced achieved naked 240VA isolation transformer beast (yes, needs a cage) for iUSB3.0, iCANpro and BL and also was surprised by the improvenment.

tinnitize

 

[flyte3333]

or at least use the JSSG grounding of extremely high impedance noise typical for SMPS with two secundary rails. Using the latter causes as much better sound as achieved with much higher investment in gear.

After following a tip from one of you around here (or in the iDSD 512 tread - don't know who it was but am very thankful for him) I personally was exited, and it cost me no money at all, just walked to my parts area and soldered two spots, plugged in and - wow! Really funny, that: so easy and such an improvement.

Look here:
https://www.computeraudiophile.com/...ps-and-grounding/?tab=comments#comment-721414

I hope no one bothers with this one with Pro iDSD...

The stock iPower Plus 15Vdc is already internally grounded

 

[gordec]

DSD still stutters sometimes both with Jriver and Audirvana+ for Windows. I haven't figured out why that is. I have tried changing bit rate and how DSD is being converted.

 

[iFi audio]

Maybe @iFi audio can confirm if they agree or disagree with the above?

Well, someone already mentioned Sanford Research Systems PERF10 and that's what we think might be considered as an upgrade.

 

[iFi audio]

The same procedure as last year?

Can you explain what do you mean?

 

[tinnitize]

I hope no one bothers with this one with Pro iDSD...

The stock iPower Plus 15Vdc is already internally grounded

Thanks for the information, Em2016 - maybe I should have read the iXXXpro manuals properly.
But nonetheless I did apply it to my iCANpro, and it didn't heart at all and of course not: just doubled the grounding. I added it the same time to my iUSB3.0 and got the described improvement while it obviously happened only to the iUSB3.0. And later on to my laptop, too: another turn of sound improvement.

And I should better repeat my post with this tip in the iDSD 512 etc.thread :-/
Ifi should do so themselves...
)
Thanks, Em2016 and ifi, and cheers, tinnitize

 

[iFi audio]

Maybe @iFi audio can confirm if they agree or disagree with the above?

We were already vocal what needs to be included to possibly outperform Pro iDSD's internal clocks. That's our take on the case. And external clock is something we'd consider if there was no room to maneuver left as far as remaining components go.

 

[tinnitize]

Can you explain what do you mean?

I am sorry, should have posted this with a smiley to make it clear:
It is a saying in Germany cause of this well known film many of us here look at again and again at Dec 31. We repeat this saying, kind of dry humor, when something may happen again and in a funny to grotesk way - Thorsten might know it well.
I was teasing a bit but harmless by laying my finger into this - well, matter of prolonging the long awaited change, this time not just bringing iDSDpro itself to market but at least with the desired 4,4mm socket. Kind of "let us hope so".
So to supply it later:

Cheers, tinnitize

 

[bluesaint]

DSD still stutters sometimes both with Jriver and Audirvana+ for Windows. I haven't figured out why that is. I have tried changing bit rate and how DSD is being converted.

I personally think there's a memory leak issue in the software programming of the DSD. I can get high res files to play just fine, and even put it on repeat for hours on end. However, more often than not, if I change playlists quickly or often, then the same content starts to stutter even if it were working great previously.