[grizzlybeast]

 impressions​

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

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[size=15.08px]Things I have wondered: [/size]

 
- If you would have bought this amp prior to listening or reading impressions, would you have been disappointed?
NO...
 
- Do you honestly think that this little amp can hold a candle to some of the big and beastly looking Flagship solid state amps out there?
YES
 
- Are the functions gimmicky?
Not sure yet
 
- Would you sell your TH2 to fund this amp?
No. 
 
- How does it compare to my TH2 with NOS tubes?
The full review will reveal this
 
- How does it compare to the iHA-6?
The full review will reveal this. 
 
- How does it sound with the HE-6?
The full review will reveal this
 
- Could you be happy with this as your only amp?
NO but almost
 
 

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[size=15.08px]Sound impressions so far...[/size]

 
After reading the negative impressions of this amplifier, I am compelled to say that they simply do not know what they are talking about. Or, rather they have become very handicapped in an acclimation to amps that etch and sharpen sounds to give that hi-fidelity impression. This amp does no such foolery. Its a very organic sounding amplifier that while not brutal, is revealing, clean, liquid, and slightly energetic in dynamics. 
 
Bass:
I think the bass sounds pretty good but it is not gripping the 650 and reeling in its control. I find the bass to be substantially present, punchy, solid, and natural but it does allow rumbles to be free. It doesn't cut short any decay, impact, or reduce the amount that was mixed in the recording. Quantity seems slightly warm. Quality is rich textured, but could, so far, make the HD650 a little tighter. I think this headphone belongs on an OTL amp anyway for that because it responds to most solid states that way, with some exceptions. 
Edit:  spoke to
 
Midrange:
Smooth with a little warmth in the lower - middle midrange. This amplifier is for the midrange lover. You will not get a dry and flat midrange. To further make the midrange stand out you have this clean blackground that is (spoiler alert) cleaner than anything on my desk, or that has been placed on it so far, besides the Pavane of course. There is a way that this amp makes vocals and instruments resonate, slightly linger, and then fade into utter blackness that very special about this amplifier.  The Macro dynamics are great. Micro dynamics are decent. 
 
Highs:
Good texture, clean, and snappy but missing a bit of air it seems. Very clean though and not swishy and just like the rest of the frequency range, full of body. 
 
Soundstage: 
Deep, not wide and kind of narrow. Maybe the 3D knob will help but I like forwardness of the instruments and hope they don't lose body. Nice space around every instrument.
 
Overall fidelity:
Very refined. I reallllly love this amp for its refinement, clean sound, realistic timbres. If it had slightly more air and space in width it would be a total knock out amp. As Is I need to test it with other headphones and really compare it to other gear to get an answer. 
 
I was expecting a less organic sound than this but am pleasantly surprised. Apart from the slight flattery I am hearing this amp sounds like REAL MUSIC. Clean, sweat, detailed and emotion stirring MUSIC. 
 

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[size=15.08px]Will I buy this amp?[/size]

 
No...well at least not before christmas. 
 
Why? Because at 1699 I would have to sell my HE-6 and iHA-6 and only have the Eikon. After hearing the ZMF Eikon, I have a feeling that it may make a good pairing but ultimately believe my TH2 will do better with its high impedance  being better matched by my tube amp. 

[size=15.08px] [/size]

But if I had funds available right now I would buy one for sure. I actually will forget my goal of getting a Master 9 and just go for this one or the Milo. Before I heard this I torn between the 9 and the milo but I also don't imagine the milo having such a clean sound like this based on its THD specs. 
 

[size=15.08px]Do I at least want this amp?[/size]

 
yes yes yes...
I have a feeling that shipping this to the next person will leave a big hole in my stable, almost as big as shipping the  ZMF Eikon back to Zach did. 

Finding contradictions to my post and apologize. I need to sit down with it a little more. Wasn't expecting certain songs to reveal these contradictions. 
 
Also the cable was part of the issue. 

 

[technobear]

Sound impressions so far...

Thank you for that. An accomplished summary of the inadequacies of the HD650

 

[grizzlybeast]

Sound impressions so far...

Thank you for that. An accomplished summary of the inadequacies of the HD650

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Spoiler
That may seem like an hd650 summary but the 650 sounds tighter on my TH2 and a lot wider in sound stage, as well as more airy . I don't find the 650 overly warm in the lower-middle midrange and it is warmer on the pro than on the iha6, jotunheim, and TH2.

 

[iFi audio]

Q#9: Your advertising materials highlight that ifi products leverage technology from the higher end AMR line of products. In the case of the ican pro amp, what are some of the technology that has trickled down?

There are many spheres but the main areas are the use of tubes. Many of the selected passive components which are used in AMR gear and were picked after long testing for their applications.

 

Referring back to what we outlined earlier, the AMR equipment long ago started out with their own bespoke signal and power sections. Never mind the insane levels of digital and analogue circuitry implementation. So as to not rehash here, anyone suffering from insomnia can read the AMR tech papers:

 

www.amr-audio.co.uk

 

As a side note, the remote control used by high-end manufacturers is commonly a generic Philips remote but the AMR RC-77/RC-777 are clearly not ‘the common garden variety’ – which is one small illustration that ‘we don’t do stock’ as this unit was a pain to develop.

 

 

Q10: Many amplifiers, including headphone amps, are really heavy. Presumably because parts, like transformers and heat sinks are necessary for great sound. However, technology (and corresponding miniaturization) marches on. What technologies are responsible for your ability to keep the size and weight so low?

The iCAN Pro is not very small or light. It also has fairly big heatsinks, internally, types designed for computer use, because of maximum thermal efficiency.

 

Using the latest technology where appropriate allows some reduction is size and weight without compromising performance, we use classic technology wherever necessary and beneficial.
 

 

[rickyleelee]

agree with mr bear. the hd650 is at its limits. try with more and better headphones and update this thread. interested.

 

[grizzlybeast]

I wont update the thread. That was with other amps in mind as a reference.

Ie. If a headphone has a weakness it will have less of a weaknesses on some amps and and be stronger on others. Its all about points of reference. I have 4 amps on my desk and a good dac and source.

I will have the full review with not just the 650 but wont post any more impressions here. Only the review. Fwiw, I am using a modded he6 and the 650 is just as responsive to the different amps on my desk.

Also the 650 is modded and when amped right is an excellent phone. So compared to stock my 650 has better clarity, much better bass, and sounds more open.

Lastly you would think that with me having an 2 650's (one modded and one unmodded right now), having had 6 pairs, Hearing it on the Teton, other TOTL amps and my own gear over the years I would know how it responds to different amps.

 

[tesox]

Great to learn more about the iCan Pro!
Thank you ifi for all the extra informations.
 
I use my iCan Pro every single day and it's a pure pleasure.
 
With my previous amps I ended up picking the same albums again and again
because they sound very good on this particular system.
Today I just pick an album, adjust my iCan Pro and enjoy the music.
 
... and it's such a beautiful little beast

....
 

 

 

 

[iFi audio]

  Great to learn more about the iCan Pro!
Thank you ifi for all the extra informations.
 
I use my iCan Pro every single day and it's a pure pleasure.
 
With my other amps I ended up picking the same albums again and again
because they sound very good on this system.
Today I just pick an album, adjust my iCan Pro and enjoy the music.
 
... and it's such a beautiful little beast

....
 

 

 

Wow, this space! That's a properly organized HQ you got in there!

 

[tesox]

  Wow, this space! That's a properly organized HQ you got in there!

 
Thank you ! I think my iCan Pro feels comfortable here.

 

[iFi audio]

Q#11: Do you consider the iFi Pro iCan to be in the same tier as the Audeze King?  In other words, what segment of the personal audio market is the Pro directed to?  Performance is relative, and it would be interesting to understand against whom you benchmark.

It is general company policy not to comment on other manufacturers' products. Notwithstanding, we highly respect the work Sankar and his team do. Our USA team already pre-ordered some Sine planar IEMs at RMAF.
 
We also do not ‘benchmark’ against other products, though we do of course audition as it would be churlish not to respect other products in the market.
 
Our main ‘competitors’ are to AMR gear and real music. For example, we reference our digital gear to our turntable setups for example; from Garrard 301 to Dr Feickert Blackbird to Revox B790.
 
Pic of these the AMR Reference Turntables.
 

                  
 
We always attempt to extract the absolutely highest performance, subjectively first, objective second, that is possible within the fundamental constrains that apply to the project.
 
If we simply set out to match or exceed a specific product or group of products we would end making something that sounds similar instead of sounding like real music, which is our objective.

 

[grizzlybeast]

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[Jozurr]

 

 
Waiting for the full review, but can you post some general impressions of how the HE-6 sounds on this amp?

 

[Allanmarcus]

Hey grizz, will you be comparing the Pro to the NuPrime?

 

[grizzlybeast]

Hey grizz, will you be comparing the Pro to the NuPrime?

I will make reference to it but I do not have the nuprime anymore. 

 

[grizzlybeast]

http://www.head-fi.org/products/ifi-pro-ican/reviews/17300