[alekc]

Interesting pairing. So far checked out only in SS mode. Tube & Tube+ is next. Definitively worth listening on high gain.

 

[Shane D]

Interesting pairing. So far checked out only in SS mode. Tube & Tube+ is next. Definitively worth listening on high gain.

Mine is just locked In tube mode. I don't see ever selling this amp. Power and versatility to spare.

 

[TooFrank]

Mine is just locked In tube mode. I don't see ever selling this amp. Power and versatility to spare.

Thanks Shane D for "convincing" me into buying the ICan. It - off course - goes super nicely with my iDSD pro. Still experimenting with different settings and different headphones. But I think those two are keepers - have sold my other amp.

 

[Shane D]

Thanks Shane D for "convincing" me into buying the ICan. It - off course - goes super nicely with my iDSD pro. Still experimenting with different settings and different headphones. But I think those two are keepers - have sold my other amp.

It is quite the amp. I am currently trying to slim down my headphone collection. After that I think I want to get rid of one amp. I am currently running three and the Pro iCAN isn't going anywhere.

Like you, I am still learning. For instance bass boost doesn't always need to be maxed.
And 3D can be even better in moderation.
Of my top six headphones, three prefer the iFi.

 

[squeakez]

I feel the same as Shane D. The Pro iCan and iDSD are end game for me. Their versatility is unmatched. My audio goal is to find headphones that play well with the iFi system. If I can't find the right combination of adjustments to make a headphone sound great, then I won't be keeping that headphone (looking at the ZMF VC).

My favorites right now are the Sundaras and the DT700 Pro X on tube mode. I just finished demoing some Ultrasone Edition 8s that were fantastic on Solid State mode (thanks to @TWerk for the loan).

 

[alekc]

Mine is just locked In tube mode. I don't see ever selling this amp. Power and versatility to spare.

This is actually an interesting story: I've got Pro iCan due to great experience with micro iCan SE + micro iTube2. Removal of micro iTube2 from the rig after some time has been quite a surprise for me: while almost everyone agreed that this tube buffer adds very little to the sound signature, one can really appreciate it when you miss this little addition after longer period of time. With Pro iCan this is a different story in my case: I rarely use tube modes and I found myself - quite surprising - I am almost exclusively using it in SS mode. Guess I like its signature so much I don't need addition bit of tube goodness.

Indeed the versatility of an amp is great, as long as you are limiting yourself to using it exclusively as headamp or preamp. It is a pity you can't use it simultaneously. This is a huge drawback for me.

The 3D and xbass can be great but are very track and cans dependant. Maxing any of those does not always brings best experience from my experiments. Unfortunately when engaging any of those functions I have a feeling sound slows down and dynamics is somehow lost.

 

[zolom]

Great pairing with the Chord Hugo2.
Waiting for the iFi Zen Stream to replace my RPI+JustBoom streamer (red box).

 

[iFi audio]

Thanks Shane D for "convincing" me into buying the ICan. It - off course - goes super nicely with my iDSD pro.

Yes, it does

while almost everyone agreed that this tube buffer adds very little to the sound signature, one can really appreciate it when you miss this little addition after longer period of time.

Agreed on that. We don't notice things until they're gone and the more gets used to certain sonic features, the more their lack becomes noticeable. On this count tube input is quite special.

The 3D and xbass can be great but are very track and cans dependant.

That's true, these utilities aren't always needed, but can be highly beneficial for cans that sound thin or too narrow/intimate.

 

[iFi audio]

Great pairing with the Chord Hugo2.
Waiting for the iFi Zen Stream to replace my RPI+JustBoom streamer (red box).

A very nice rig btw. Just a suggestion, but at some point you might consider replacing your power bar and quite possibly squeeze extra performance from all connected components. They deserve it

 

[zolom]

A very nice rig btw. Just a suggestion, but at some point you might consider replacing your power bar and quite possibly squeeze extra performance from all connected components. They deserve it

Not quite familiar with that power bar improvement you are talking about. Can you reffer me there?

Thanks

 

[alekc]

Not quite familiar with that power bar improvement you are talking about. Can you reffer me there?

Thanks

Considering Hugo 2 can be run from batteries, I'd rather experiment with switching from iPower to iPower Elite for Pro iCan. Just my 2 cents.

 

[alekc]

I have a great contender to replace Pro iCan in my desktop headphone setup. Just like ifi has a brilliant house sound, adding a unique bit of magic and musicality. Plays amazing with R2R and Delta Sigma dacs and maybe it is not as powerful on paper as Pro iCan you can throw at it most cans anyway. I'll tell more after spending more time with it - so for now it is hidden in shadow

And yes, in my book it can compete with Tube/Tube+ mode too.

 

[Shane D]

This is actually an interesting story: I've got Pro iCan due to great experience with micro iCan SE + micro iTube2. Removal of micro iTube2 from the rig after some time has been quite a surprise for me: while almost everyone agreed that this tube buffer adds very little to the sound signature, one can really appreciate it when you miss this little addition after longer period of time. With Pro iCan this is a different story in my case: I rarely use tube modes and I found myself - quite surprising - I am almost exclusively using it in SS mode. Guess I like its signature so much I don't need addition bit of tube goodness.

Indeed the versatility of an amp is great, as long as you are limiting yourself to using it exclusively as headamp or preamp. It is a pity you can't use it simultaneously. This is a huge drawback for me.

The 3D and xbass can be great but are very track and cans dependant. Maxing any of those does not always brings best experience from my experiments. Unfortunately when engaging any of those functions I have a feeling sound slows down and dynamics is somehow lost.

I also first hopped on the iFi train with the Micro iCAN SE. The sound was good and the power was great, but bass boost and 3D really stuck in my brain. I looked for a more standard iFi amp but never really found one until the Pro iCAN and that was Way too expensive for me.

Flash forward a year or two and I come across this used unit...

 

[TooFrank]

It is quite the amp. I am currently trying to slim down my headphone collection. After that I think I want to get rid of one amp. I am currently running three and the Pro iCAN isn't going anywhere.

Like you, I am still learning. For instance bass boost doesn't always need to be maxed.
And 3D can be even better in moderation.
Of my top six headphones, three prefer the iFi.

So which prefer the ICan and which don't? To me, all my headphones (Grado HF3, Hemps, GH2, GS2Ke, Stellia's, Arya vs 2 and now the HD650) seem to like this setup

 

[Shane D]

So which prefer the ICan and which don't? To me, all my headphones (Grado HF3, Hemps, GH2, GS2Ke, Stellia's, Arya vs 2 and now the HD650) seem to like this setup

Man, you are really into Grado!


Now that I am finished buying for a while (he said with no sense of authority at all), the line-up currently sits at (there is overlap):

The iFi is AMAZING with the HiFiman HE6se V2's, T60 Argon's and LSA HP-2's.

The Grado's, of course, like the bass boost of the iFi, as do the LSA HP-2's, but they both sound so sweet out of the Violectric V220. As do the CFA Cascades and Beyer T5's.

My LP is a near perfect match with my Focal Elex's and the HD660's.

1) My LP is probably my least valuable amp.

2) The Violectric has a such a full, warm sound. It is like hanging out with your cat or dog on your lap.

The Pro iCAN is irreplaceable at this point. The only downside is the wobbly 1/4" output in the front. While I do use the HAC system, my Grado's are hardwired and I hate the wobbly connection, but maybe that is just my machine.