[howdy]

My review has been delayed a bit, but should be done in a couple days. Last week I decided it would be awesome to get a full fore-arm tattoo, on the underside, on my right-dominant side. Yeah, I quickly realized that while it heals it would be detrimental to type, and try as I did it is very awkward to try and rattle out words with one arm floating. In the mean time, enjoy:

Lets see the tat. Tats are another area where I to, like to spend money.

 

[Slashn77]

Is there a IE match built in this unit like the micro Bl?

Even though this unit is rated at <1 ohm output impedance I still hear a hiss with my Andromedas that is bothering me while listening to Miles Davis.
If not can anyone comfirm that plugging the Andromedas (or other sensitive IEMs) into the xdsd will fix the issue before I spend $50

Thanks

 

[Bansaku]

Lets see the tat. Tats are another area where I to, like to spend money.

It's my first one. Given my headphone inventory, it's not going to be my last. What have I started...
My next is (hopefully) going to be either a classic pin-up girl, or possibly an anime gal, wearing a pair of HD-600. Going to get my niece who works for Disney to draw it up for me.

Anyway, hopefully my review will be up next day or so. The past 3 days has been comedic in nature in regards to trying to write it now that my arm is good to go. So Thursday after I get home from work and unwind a little, I loaded up TextEdit, and wrote the word "Intro" before getting up to brew me a fresh cappuccino. Being a night my wife works late I thought that having piece and quite, it would be the perfect time to get a start on things. No sooner had I placed my coffee on the coaster and sat down I get a series of texts from my younger brother reading " I am outside / you home / I got a new graphics cards and need you to install it " Doh, these things are never go smoothly, and it didn't. Night wasted but at least my brother now has 4K gaming greatness, so I thought...

Friday comes and being payday I had errands to run but after I got home and put away the groceries, I again booted up TextEdit and loaded my Tassimo with a cappuccino cartridge. My wife was reading a new book and again I thought what a good quiet night to get'er done. No sooner had I sat down and rattled off the first sentence I hear a knock at my door. There stood my brother with his tower and new PSU in hand. "Ya, my system kept shutting down, I needed a new power supply. " Sigh... at least it's modular. Another night gone. Dagnabit!

So I wake up early Saturday and get the chores done before noon. Perfect! The wife is going straight to the pool after work and I got nothing on the go (sadly). I load up TextEdit, que up a playlist in Audirvana, turn on the iTube2 to warm her up, and start a cappuccino. I literally had sat down, placed my HE 560 upon my head, and I get a text, from my older brother. " Yo man, are you busy today? Can I grab that old PSU from you? And can you take a look at Windows for me, I am having issues reaching the Desktop. " Really?! Are you freaking kidding me?! Are there hidden cameras or something? 3 days and literally every time I sat down... The Universe/God has quite the sense of humour...

I got 1/3 of my review done today. No issues at all, except as I was writing I realized I missed the xDSD; Hearing my DSD files in their native format was a treat.

 

[davesday]

Is there a IE match built in this unit like the micro Bl?

According to iFi audio, they included an 'alternative' into their Cyberdrive circuitry design. Not much is known how this design works with respect to 'iematch' functionality. I think it is 'kicked in' depending on load sensing and volume. Since you're still getting hiss, perhaps try EarBuddy?

Instead of iEMatch, we've included our proprietary 'Cyberdrive' circuitry for amplification/volume/power supply. In effect alternatives for eco mode and iEMatch are built-in and engaged automatically when the volume is lowered far enough.

 

[iFi audio]

It's my first one. Given my headphone inventory, it's not going to be my last. What have I started...
My next is (hopefully) going to be either a classic pin-up girl, or possibly an anime gal, wearing a pair of HD-600. Going to get my niece who works for Disney to draw it up for me.

That's a lovely piece. Classy but made really well. And we look forward to your review!

 

[GHoldridge]

Has anyone tried to see if this will work with a Nintendo Switch?

 

[iFi audio]

Is there a IE match built in this unit like the micro Bl?

No, it uses a parallel circuit that achieves similar results.

Even though this unit is rated at <1 ohm output impedance I still hear a hiss with my Andromedas that is bothering me while listening to Miles Davis.

Many Miles Davis recordings have very high levels of tape hiss, due to the age. To confirm if the noise is actually from the xDSD or from the recording simply mute the unit.

This effectively sets the volume to zero, but does not cut the outputs themselves. The noise level you hear with the xDSD muted is the noise generated by xDSD itself.

The impedance rating has no direct bearing on noise.

The xDSD's 'SNR' (signal to noise ratio) is rated at 113dB and will have this SNR for a 2V output, whereas at 1V it'll be 109dB

The IEM you mention has been measured to have sensitivity of 141.5dB/1V, which is extremely high.

https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/report/hp/campfire-andromeda.php#rw2

It means audible background noise with xDSD in mute (noise actually generated by xDSD) would be around 32.5dB, which is very quiet and should not be audible with music playing.

It is a little louder than a very quiet fan (e.g. low noise computer fan at 1m distance) and about equal to the lowest whisper of the human voice.

That said, using an IEM with 141dB/1V on an amplifier that can output nearly 4V means that maximum SPL the combination can produce is 153dB, which is insane and offers a high risk of hearing damage. Even the 141dB with 1V (1V is the typical output from a smartphone) are extremely loud and will cause permanent hearing damage if accidentally produced.

We STRONGLY recommend our standalone iEMatch in "Ultra" for any user of IEMs of such extremely high sensitivity. Even with 24dB sensitivity reduction, you end up with 117dB/1V using smartphones which is well loud enough to cause hearing damage if sustained over a long time and at maximum output an xDSD will produce 126dB with this IEM & iEMatch set at ultra.

If not can anyone comfirm that plugging the Andromedas (or other sensitive IEMs) into the xdsd will fix the issue before I spend $50

There is no way for any DAC to reduce noise in the actual recording. As we feel you are most likely reacting to noise in the recording, no DAC will fix the issue.

IOnce the noise stops if the music's paused, it is in the recording.

 

[Slashn77]

No, it uses a parallel circuit that achieves similar results.



Many Miles Davis recordings have very high levels of tape hiss, due to the age. To confirm if the noise is actually from the xDSD or from the recording simply mute the unit.

This effectively sets the volume to zero, but does not cut the outputs themselves. The noise level you hear with the xDSD muted is the noise generated by xDSD itself.

The impedance rating has no direct bearing on noise.

The xDSD's 'SNR' (signal to noise ratio) is rated at 113dB and will have this SNR for a 2V output, whereas at 1V it'll be 109dB

The IEM you mention has been measured to have sensitivity of 141.5dB/1V, which is extremely high.

https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/report/hp/campfire-andromeda.php#rw2

It means audible background noise with xDSD in mute (noise actually generated by xDSD) would be around 32.5dB, which is very quiet and should not be audible with music playing.

It is a little louder than a very quiet fan (e.g. low noise computer fan at 1m distance) and about equal to the lowest whisper of the human voice.

That said, using an IEM with 141dB/1V on an amplifier that can output nearly 4V means that maximum SPL the combination can produce is 153dB, which is insane and offers a high risk of hearing damage. Even the 141dB with 1V (1V is the typical output from a smartphone) are extremely loud and will cause permanent hearing damage if accidentally produced.

We STRONGLY recommend our standalone iEMatch in "Ultra" for any user of IEMs of such extremely high sensitivity. Even with 24dB sensitivity reduction, you end up with 117dB/1V using smartphones which is well loud enough to cause hearing damage if sustained over a long time and at maximum output an xDSD will produce 126dB with this IEM & iEMatch set at ultra.



There is no way for any DAC to reduce noise in the actual recording. As we feel you are most likely reacting to noise in the recording, no DAC will fix the issue.

IOnce the noise stops if the music's paused, it is in the recording.

Thanks for the response.
I love my xdsd and I went back and checked (I am new to jazz music)
It sounds like it is the tape hiss on the tracks.

In regards to the hearing loss
With the Andromedas I listen in the upper blue section (color before green)
I tend to listen at about 72-80db max(83ish dB peaks) which I think is a safe area volume.
One of the reasons I got this product to upgrade was so I could count the steps in each color for my different HP/IEMs to always make sure I am in a safe listening volume

As I posted before in the Andromeda thread I think the xdsd pairs well with them connected to iPhone 7 streaming tidal mainly. Works well with Apple CCK for plug and play

 

[ExpatinJapan]

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ifi-audio-xdsd.23046/reviews

My review and impressions are done. enjoy

 

[davesday]

My review and impressions are done. enjoy

Your review mentioned about the warmth which is exactly how I found it too. Warm on the low end. I read that another reviewer has also mentioned the same thing and also attributed it to the choice of op-amp.

 

[Brooko]

My review (as part of the tours) is now posted
https://www.headphone-earphone.reviews/2018/07/18/ifi-xdsd-portable-dac-and-amplifier-review/

I think once iFi irons one or two bugs out, the xDSD is (like the Q5) going to be a game changer in portable audio.

 

[iFi audio]

Folks...

CanJam London 2018!



...and two of our staff - Sarah and Hannah - will be there! The girls will be located with iFi audio hardware at the Electromod's booth! Please do visit the place, the iFi ladies don't bite!

And to all able to visit the event, enjoy!

 

[Alanaudio]

xDSD vs Mojo(Thank you ifi audio for providing the xDSD tour!)

 

[audio duck]

I’m guessing this may be in the thread but thought I would ask. I just got my xDSD dac and can not figure out how to get sound from the Bluetooth setting. I get sound from USB but when I switch it to Bluetooth (by switching it off and then holding the knob until it is blue) I get no sound. Using same headphones In both modes. Any suggestions? Probably a step I am missing in the process.

 

[Brooko]

I’m guessing this may be in the thread but thought I would ask. I just got my xDSD dac and can not figure out how to get sound from the Bluetooth setting. I get sound from USB but when I switch it to Bluetooth (by switching it off and then holding the knob until it is blue) I get no sound. Using same headphones In both modes. Any suggestions? Probably a step I am missing in the process.

Sounds like the Bluetooth bug I was plagued with too. Try disconnecting and “forgetting” the device settings, then reset up the Bluetooth connection again