Hi I've just purchased the iCAN NANO yesterday from a local dealer.
Previously I went to the same shop to preview the sound of the original iCAN through a Macbook running iTUNES with USB output through the iDAC.
I was wowed by the sound through headphones such as the M50 especially. The 3D effect made the music sound more spacious and the bass boost feature really got the drivers vibrating in their housings. All in all it was a very engaging listening experience.
It was the only time I previewed it but the sound signature stayed in my head all this time till I found out that the store was selling a new version called the iCAN NANO.
I read the specs online and found the price and functions such as the battery operation very appealing as now I could get the same sound on the go. So I took the plunge and decided to buy it.
Of course I tested it out at the store first and found the effects though not as dramatic as the original iCAN, the small size and portability won me over.
*It must be noted that I found it less dramatic may be because I only tested it out through the headphone port on my iPhone 5C and perhaps, it would have reached the same level of awesomeness if it had the iDAC as a source instead.
So far I'm having fun testing it out at home after charging it and running on battery power through my HD 518 on the iPhone 5C as well as on a pair of Beats Solos that I purchased in Vietnam. (Don't judge me cause I have it, I bought it cause it was a steal of a price. Like about $30 USD and it looked and sounded like the real thing and even came with the accessories)
So anyway, I've been testing it on the lowest gain settins. There are dip switches on the underside of the iCAN NANO that allow you to increase the gain to suit your headphone impedance. And I have tested it out on a pair of HD 600's at the store and it can drive them well past ear splitting levels.
It's fun playing with the switches for the bass boost and 3D effect. Flicking them on and off while listening to a song. I can hear an increase in bass on the HD 518 when I have the bass switch on on but it makes the already bass heavy Beats Solo sound too boomy.
I feel I must commend the 3D effect switch as it does give a wider sound stage and makes me notice more details that I previously did not hear in the song. As well as enabling me to crank up the volume much louder which I previously could not do perhaps due to the enclosed in-your-head feeling of the music without the effect.
Bass boost and 3D effect switches both on works well with the HD 518 but only the 3D effect switch for the Beats Solos. Without the bass boost for the HD 518, with the 3D effect only, the music still sounds more detailed and wider staged but a little thin and lacking bass.
That's my review so far and yes it does produce an audible hiss when there is no music playing both with the Beats and HD 518 with the 3D effect on but I don't find it disturbing. I imagine the sound to be like a little classic analog tape hiss which I suppose helps to bring out more details? (Wild guess)
I'll be happy to answer any more questions and FYI this is my first time posting as I just signed up today but I've been a guest on these forums for perhaps a year or two already and I have to thank everyone here for their wordy contributions in the past which helped me to make more informed buying decisions when it comes to audio gear.
Cheers.
