[TooPoorForHiFi]

Need we say more?

The Best of StereoNET UK Applause Awards 2019 - iFi Audio xCAN

Gib me an xCAN w/ improved battery life, 4.4 and Music control buttons!

Also Congrats

 

[iFi audio]

Congratulations!

Also Congrats

Gib me an xCAN w/ improved battery life, 4.4 and Music control buttons!

Don't tempt us please

 

[iFi audio]

Folks, just a friendly reminder that our headphone calculator got upgraded and it incorporates all our products:

https://ifi-audio.com/home/headphone-calculator/

hip-dac and xCAN are in there too!

 

[iFi audio]

Whoa, very cool!

"Singer L Devine decided to give her fans an online tour, after her European Tour was postponed!"

https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-5...P7vsjfyxrQwlCX9MpvB8WPlMQMqA067ea8nQ59mnQC2XI

I know that nothing beats live gigs, but the idea of doing these online is much better than nothing, right?

 

[bedlam inside]

Hey there @iFi audio - like the rest of the world I'm now stuck at home. I have your xDSD, possibly thinking about a hip-dac but then got to wondering about the xCAN. As a bit of an iFi fan, this one I've nver quite got. Can you give me 5 bullet points as to why it would be worth my time and money at the moment? (Not that I'm bored at home or anything!) I'm looking to getting back into writing decent reviews and wondered if I should give this a go?

 

[dsrk]

Hey there @iFi audio - like the rest of the world I'm now stuck at home. I have your xDSD, possibly thinking about a hip-dac but then got to wondering about the xCAN. As a bit of an iFi fan, this one I've nver quite got. Can you give me 5 bullet points as to why it would be worth my time and money at the moment? (Not that I'm bored at home or anything!) I'm looking to getting back into writing decent reviews and wondered if I should give this a go?

If you have harder to drive headphones, xcan delivers 1 watt per channel @32ohms on balanced out. It only has Bluetooth DAC option.
xcan is AMP and Bluetooth DAC only.
Hip-dac is only DAC/AMP, you can't use it as dedicated AMP.
xdsd is all but not as powerful AMP compared to xcan.

 

[audiomonkey777]

If you have harder to drive headphones, xcan delivers 1 watt per channel @32ohms on balanced out. It only has Bluetooth DAC option.
AMP and Bluetooth DAC only.

So, with the xCAN then, do you still need a separate DAC? The DAC is only there to make the Bluetooth work then? I'm considering an xDSD (still!) and have just been looking at other options - this one is less in terms of cost. Can you use it with your iPhone or laptop? How does it sound?

 

[alekc]

Hey there @iFi audio - like the rest of the world I'm now stuck at home. I have your xDSD, possibly thinking about a hip-dac but then got to wondering about the xCAN. As a bit of an iFi fan, this one I've nver quite got. Can you give me 5 bullet points as to why it would be worth my time and money at the moment? (Not that I'm bored at home or anything!) I'm looking to getting back into writing decent reviews and wondered if I should give this a go?

https://www.innerfidelity.com/content/ifi-audio-xdsd-and-xcan-review

While this review has been written before hip-dac release it may be helpful explaining differences and synergy in case of xDSD and xCAN. Hope it helps as it describes xCAN and BT feature.

 

[iFi audio]

xdsd is all but not as powerful AMP compared to xcan.

That's true and of course intentional. Although on functionality both xCAN and XDSD are similar, they also have different priorities. xCAN is a powerful headphone amp in the first place and a DAC on the side, and xDSD is mainly a DAC with a headphone out.

Due to its higher power output xCAN will handle headphones difficult to drive better than xDSD.

The DAC is only there to make the Bluetooth work then?
So, with the xCAN then, do you still need a separate DAC?

xCAN has a regular DAC inside already and a Bluetooth receiver before it for wireless functionality. In other words, xCAN is a DAC/amp combo designed as a wireless device.

Can you use it with your iPhone or laptop?

As long as your transport (as smartphone, tablet or a laptop) has Bluetooth and can send music over it, you're good!

 

[iFi audio]

Let's make a small detour from the usual hardware stuff to one of our crew, Aimée. She was kind enough to answer several questions, so here goes!

What's your role at iFi?

I'm the company's Marketing Assistant, which means that I share my time between regular office work and iFi audio's social media

What's your favourite iFi device and why?

My favourite iFi product is the xDSD. It was my first-ever DAC/Amp, and I've never let go. I love it because it's portable, so I can clean, cook, work and travel while listening through my headphones!

What type of music do you listen to?

My music preference definitely depends on my mood and it ranges from folk, alternative rock, reggae rock and indie pop, to pretty much any 70's & 80's music, jazz, and western classical (when I'm in the 'focus mode').

What are your favourite headphones/IEMs?

To be honest, I don't think I've found my 'favourite' headphones yet...there's too many to choose from! I'll try whatever is available at our UK office and there's a lot of stuff in there. HifiMan and Meze just to name two brands. I like Susvaras A LOT but rarely can use them! While I may not have found 'the one' just yet, I'll give a try to whatever lands near my desk.

 

[rafaelo]

I have xDSD, xCan, es100 and BtR5 and an old dragonfly. By far my favourite device is the xCan for driving balanced my favourite 6XX and 58X.

I stand by my review and even more, at least soundwise, that I did one year ago but I have an issue.

The ring from the balanced input is ready to unglue completely, is half moving right now. Although I have the xCan for more than a year now it was used vary rarely so this is very unfortunate that happened in my favourite device.

This is one of the reasons I decided to buy the BtR5. Great device for 76£ that I have paid but not even close to drive the senns like the ifi products.

Do you have any tips for how to fix this issue relatively easy? Although to be honest I am not a great DYi person or having the right tools here maybe there is simple way with some special glue and toothpick?

The thing is that I am very busy with two small kids and my job lately so currently I am listening music one hour per month at best...

Nevertheless, I want to be able to use the xCan some time in the future again especially in the balanced mode that I really love.

 

[iFi audio]

Do you have any tips for how to fix this issue relatively easy? Although to be honest I am not a great DYi person or having the right tools here maybe there is simple way with some special glue and toothpick?

Thanks for your nice feedback about xCAN and I'm sorry to hear that something is off with it. The best way would be to open up a ticket at our support platform here: https://support.ifi-audio.com/

Our staff will do their best to handle your case.

Thanks and apologies for inconvenience!

 

[rafaelo]

Thanks for your nice feedback about xCAN and I'm sorry to hear that something is off with it. The best way would be to open up a ticket at our support platform here: https://support.ifi-audio.com/

Our staff will do their best to handle your case.

Thanks and apologies for inconvenience!

Thank you very much for your response, I will do that where I will provide also some photos with the issue.

 

[iFi audio]

Thank you very much for your response, I will do that where I will provide also some photos with the issue.

Yes, our tech staff would appreciate that. Thanks!

 

[iFi audio]

Even though it's a review from a while ago, it's as up to date as it ever was!

"I honestly cannot find a downside to buying one." - Stereonet UK. Applause Award 2019 winner, xCAN.

Read more HERE