iFi audio xCAN - The Official Thread

[iFi audio]

I'm thoroughly enjoying this little "pocket dynamite" - I've been happily using it as a to power 300-ohm ZMF's and Senns on my desktop "stacked" with the xDSD as a wired DAC, and doing solo duties on the go via Aptx Bluetooth with my Andromedas.

I have a 2.5 TRRS cable on the way from Aliexpress to get the most out of the xCAN with my HD580 + HD650, can't wait to hear them all over again via balanced! Full review will be incoming shortly...

Lovely setup. Great cans. Cool LS50. Nice work, sir.

 

[Dobrescu George]

I'm thoroughly enjoying this little "pocket dynamite" - I've been happily using it as a to power 300-ohm ZMF's and Senns on my desktop "stacked" with the xDSD as a wired DAC, and doing solo duties on the go via Aptx Bluetooth with my Andromedas.

I have a 2.5 TRRS cable on the way from Aliexpress to get the most out of the xCAN with my HD580 + HD650, can't wait to hear them all over again via balanced! Full review will be incoming shortly...

Man, the vintage-style stand and desk are nice

Also, lovely stack!

 

[andy-2667]

I am also considering the XDAC vs XCan. I would normally used it as a BT streamer for driving headphones whether at home or on the go for convenience.

It would be great if those have used/owned both could advise:
1. Whether the XDSD sounds better or the XCan sounds better when used alone.
2. The extent of improvement when stacking the XDAC with the XCan.

Normally, I would not use it as a stand alone DAC. I think it is more senisible to buy only one of them unless there is huge improvement after stacking.

(SP: I would use it to drive quite demanding Headphone: HD600, DT880 and T1 first gen. Possibly HD800s as I am now seriously considering buying one).

 

[rafaelo]

I am also considering the XDAC vs XCan. I would normally used it as a BT streamer for driving headphones whether at home or on the go for convenience.

It would be great if those have used/owned both could advise:
1. Whether the XDSD sounds better or the XCan sounds better when used alone.
2. The extent of improvement when stacking the XDAC with the XCan.

Normally, I would not use it as a stand alone DAC. I think it is more senisible to buy only one of them unless there is huge improvement after stacking.

(SP: I would use it to drive quite demanding Headphone: HD600, DT880 and T1 first gen. Possibly HD800s as I am now seriously considering buying one).

1) I personally prefer xCan when is used alone by a considerable margin . We are talking about Bluetooth here and in my case apt X Bluethooth.
2) this question is a bit tricky since implicitly we can move from Bluetooth to usb in this framework even adding a ipurifier 3.

But even if we stay only in Bluethoth framework is not clear to me that when you stuck one on top of each other that immediately means one is better than the other. Despite any double amping arguments, again my opinion is that stacking one to the other brings further improvement since they are working in a kind of modular additive mode. As the little bear added some quality to xDSD the same is happening with adding xCan in the chain.

It is difficult to separate the quality coming from the amp section from the difference in quality from the DAC sections at least in my modest testing. My opinion (once again) is that if you are in Bluetooth mode your are in a first convenience mode anyway so you need one device and thus I would choose xcan. For a desktop mode where an elaborate set up can be made I can also say that according to my testing even the ipurifier 3 (another review of mine that is pending) had quite an effect in the sound quality given that a decent usb cable is used (6£ in value Amazon generic and not a 20 cents one from a raspberry pi hub). So we move to different situation anyway. In that case, someone can choose also the extremely fabulous value for money ione and have the best of two worlds in a best value for money package.

 

[iFi audio]

1) I personally prefer xCan when is used alone by a considerable margin . We are talking about Bluetooth here and in my case apt X Bluethooth.
2) this question is a bit tricky since implicitly we can move from Bluetooth to usb in this framework even adding a ipurifier 3.

But even if we stay only in Bluethoth framework is not clear to me that when you stuck one on top of each other that immediately means one is better than the other. Despite any double amping arguments, again my opinion is that stacking one to the other brings further improvement since they are working in a kind of modular additive mode. As the little bear added some quality to xDSD the same is happening with adding xCan in the chain.

It is difficult to separate the quality coming from the amp section from the difference in quality from the DAC sections at least in my modest testing. My opinion (once again) is that if you are in Bluetooth mode your are in a first convenience mode anyway so you need one device and thus I would choose xcan. For a desktop mode where an elaborate set up can be made I can also say that according to my testing even the ipurifier 3 (another review of mine that is pending) had quite an effect in the sound quality given that a decent usb cable is used (6£ in value Amazon generic and not a 20 cents one from a raspberry pi hub). So we move to different situation anyway. In that case, someone can choose also the extremely fabulous value for money ione and have the best of two worlds in a best value for money package.

Cool feedback, thanks!

 

[Wiljen]

Pardon me while I go full-on iFi fanboi here. Lawrence sent me the xCAN to review about a week ago. I took it out of the box, looked it over, and connected it between my Opus #1s and my Eartech Quints. A couple hours later, I sent Lawrence an email saying "Send me the invoice, you aren't getting this one back." It has been a long time since I have had a product make me want to open my wallet immediately and without reservation. The xCAN takes the Opus #1S and AK70v2 to another level and I would say the combination puts either into DX200 territory for overall sound quality and output power. I spent some time last night listening to Beyer 990DT (600s) and the xCAN could drive them to levels that are ridiculous. I've had desktop amps that cannot drive 300 Ohm headphones this well let alone 600. Absolutely insane what iFi has managed to do in a package the size of a deck of cards without overheating and with a near double the average battery life (I got a legit 13 hours out of it).

I thought I had my best products of 2018 article about done, and iFi just ruined that for me. Oh well - first world problems.

 

[rafaelo]

A couple hours later, I sent Lawrence an email saying "Send me the invoice, you aren't getting this one back."

It took me 5 minutes to realize that but I know well the feeling when I know immediately that I am in trouble...

 

[iFi audio]

Pardon me while I go full-on iFi fanboi here. Lawrence sent me the xCAN to review about a week ago. I took it out of the box, looked it over, and connected it between my Opus #1s and my Eartech Quints. A couple hours later, I sent Lawrence an email saying "Send me the invoice, you aren't getting this one back." It has been a long time since I have had a product make me want to open my wallet immediately and without reservation. The xCAN takes the Opus #1S and AK70v2 to another level and I would say the combination puts either into DX200 territory for overall sound quality and output power. I spent some time last night listening to Beyer 990DT (600s) and the xCAN could drive them to levels that are ridiculous. I've had desktop amps that cannot drive 300 Ohm headphones this well let alone 600. Absolutely insane what iFi has managed to do in a package the size of a deck of cards without overheating and with a near double the average battery life (I got a legit 13 hours out of it).

I thought I had my best products of 2018 article about done, and iFi just ruined that for me. Oh well - first world problems.

You know the drill: "Welcome to Head-fi.org and sorry about your wallet!"

It took me 5 minutes to realize that but I know well the feeling when I know immediately that I am in trouble...

Yup, things of this sort escalate rapidly. Pleasant trouble to be in though

 

[iFi audio]

Folks, since it's almost holiday time...



Also we encourage you to check out our winter playlist in Tidal!

https://tidal.com/playlist/8c5a9a27-70df-4acf-8cd5-a3c938b757cf

 

[HungryPanda]

Merry Christmas to all at ifI

 

[iFi audio]

 

[dafos58]

So, as usual I became weak. Bought the xCan, connected it with the Opus 1S (balanced). Used the E-Mu Teak headphone and started listening.


Oh my goodness. I can not believe what I hear. @iFi, you nailed it for 200%. Clean, open, natural...This is the best drug I had in a long time. Out of this small box, I'm up high in the blue sky.......

 

[Wiljen]

So, as usual I became weak. Bought the xCan, connected it with the Opus 1S (balanced). Used the E-Mu Teak headphone and started listening.


Oh my goodness. I can not believe what I hear. @iFi, you nailed it for 200%. Clean, open, natural...This is the best drug I had in a long time. Out of this small box, I'm up high in the blue sky.......

Not to say I told you so, but..... Ok, I told you so. Great pairing with the Opus #1S.

 

[Wiljen]

My review is posted here and my blog.

 

[dafos58]

Not to say I told you so, but..... Ok, I told you so. Great pairing with the Opus #1S.

You warned me. You were totally right. It took one minute to be flabbergasted. It's so small, but 100% pure music quality.