[BarDash]

You know the drill... "Hi, welcome to Head-fi.org and sorry about your wallet!", right :wink_face:  ?

This has probably been asked and answered already but still don't know if you guys recommend leaving the
IFi ICans on all the time? I shut it off when I'm done listening to preserve tube life but leave the Yggy on as recommended by ****t. I definitely love what I'm hearing more after some warm up time but will take your advice... Thanks

 

[JootecFromMars]

This has probably been asked and answered already but still don't know if you guys recommend leaving the
IFi ICans on all the time? I shut it off when I'm done listening to preserve tube life but leave the Yggy on as recommended by ****t. I definitely love what I'm hearing more after some warm up time but will take your advice... Thanks

I have an Yggy and iCAN also. I always turn the iCAN off but give it about 20 mins to warm up before listening. I'd never leave it on 24/7 those tubes have a limited lifespan (is it about 10,000 hours? That's 416 days). Now that I've had the iCAN 4 months or so where as I used to prefer listening in tube mode, now its burned in I much prefer solid state mode for the detail. Initially SS mode sounded sort of weak and lacking low end. Not any more.
 
I leave the Yggy on 24/7 and that thing gets better all the time.

 

[Khragon]

I leave mine on, only turn it off before I go to work.  Turned it back on when I get home and leave it on until the next morning.  In the weekend I just leave the amp on.  Only in SS mode, of course not in tube mode, I turn tube off after each use.
 
I believe that reduces thermal cycling of the amp and help extend the life, and also it's in warm up state all the time and I can start listen right away.  iFi please comment so we know what best to do.

 

[BarDash]

I have an Yggy and iCAN also. I always turn the iCAN off but give it about 20 mins to warm up before listening. I'd never leave it on 24/7 those tubes have a limited lifespan (is it about 10,000 hours? That's 416 days). Now that I've had the iCAN 4 months or so where as I used to prefer listening in tube mode, now its burned in I much prefer solid state mode for the detail. Initially SS mode sounded sort of weak and lacking low end. Not any more.

I leave the Yggy on 24/7 and that thing gets better all the time.

Until I hear otherwise than I'm going to stick with what I'm doing also. I wonder if I'll end up following you on using SS? I'm primarily using tubes right now but only have had the iCans about a month.
What headphones are you using?

 

[iFi audio]

'Nuff said!
 

 

[JootecFromMars]

What headphones are you using?

See my signature but LCD-2F.

 

[BarDash]

I have the the IFi iCan hooked up to my Yggy with XLR. When I hooked up my speakers which have a built in DAC to the iCans RCA outs I get sound coming from my HP's and speakers. Is this normal? I like to hook the speakers up to the amp so I can use the amps volume control vs the speakers volume control.

 

[BarDash]

  I have an Yggy and iCAN also. I always turn the iCAN off but give it about 20 mins to warm up before listening. I'd never leave it on 24/7 those tubes have a limited lifespan (is it about 10,000 hours? That's 416 days). Now that I've had the iCAN 4 months or so where as I used to prefer listening in tube mode, now its burned in I much prefer solid state mode for the detail. Initially SS mode sounded sort of weak and lacking low end. Not any more.
 
I leave the Yggy on 24/7 and that thing gets better all the time.

I tried SS mode for a couple of days and can't help but switch back to tube mode. It's just IMO warmer, more inviting and overall takes some of the "bite" out of what I'm listening to. Maybe I'm just a tube guy, but I don't hear less detail with the tubes as opposed to SS mode. I've tried every genre of music I have as well as CD recorded Flac files  to 24/192 files.

 

[iFi audio]

 
I tried SS mode for a couple of days and can't help but switch back to tube mode. It's just IMO warmer, more inviting and overall takes some of the "bite" out of what I'm listening to. Maybe I'm just a tube guy, but I don't hear less detail with the tubes as opposed to SS mode. I've tried every genre of music I have as well as CD recorded Flac files  to 24/192 files.

 
Apples and oranges. So different, yet each tasty  

 
 
If you're happy, we're happy! 

 

[iFi audio]

This has probably been asked and answered already but still don't know if you guys recommend leaving the
IFi ICans on all the time? 

 
Warm-up does play a role. The iCAN (even micro) runs fairly toasty, but the parts used are rated for much higher operational temperatures.
 
The official lifespan for the tubes is 10,000 hours at the nominal operating conditions. The iCAN Pro operates these bulbs at a much lower power, which will increase their lifespan dramatically. When operated in the iCAN Pro and used with the iCAN's soft-start system etc., we tend to think that an actual lifespan of 100,000 hours is more likely.
 
If you turn everything off in order to save the planet (which is perfectly fine btw.) and at the same time want everything nice and warm and save tubes' lives, you can only turn the iCAN Pro (and the upcoming iDSD Pro) to solid state mode. This completely shuts down the aforementioned glass component.

 

[BarDash]

Warm-up does play a role. The iCAN (even micro) runs fairly toasty, but the parts used are rated for much higher operational temperatures.

The official lifespan for the tubes is 10,000 hours at the nominal operating conditions. The iCAN Pro operates these bulbs at a much lower power, which will increase their lifespan dramatically. When operated in the iCAN Pro and used with the iCAN's soft-start system etc., we tend to think that an actual lifespan of 100,000 hours is more likely.

If you turn everything off in order to save the planet (which is perfectly fine btw.) and at the same time want everything nice and warm and save tubes' lives, you can only turn the iCAN Pro (and the upcoming iDSD Pro) to solid state mode. This completely shuts down the aforementioned glass component.

Thank you for the detailed explanation. Much appreciated!

 

[jcdreamer]

  Just ordered the iCan Pro + LCD 3 combo deal from Adorama. Already have the iDSD Micro and love it. Can't image what my ears are about to experience!

 

It is awesome! Got mine on a black Friday deal and it's an amazing combo... I was going to wait for the IDac but got the Yggy instead which arrives today. Can't wait!!!

I missed out on the black Friday deal. If Adorama were still offering that combo deal, I'd be all over it.

 

[BarDash]

   

I missed out on the black Friday deal. If Adorama were still offering that combo deal, I'd be all over it.

Maybe they'll have something similar for New Years.

 

[naimless]

I'm going to order the ican pro in the next couple of weeks and I'm planning on adding a power amp to drive some bookshelf/stand mount speakers,is there anything I should bare in mind to ensure a good match between the two components ?
So far the one I have in mind is the compact d-class amp from Ghent Audio.
If anyone has any thoughts on alternatives or impressions of the pro as a preamp I'd be pleased to hear them.
Thanks.

 

[Mediahound]

I got this in for review. Here is my 'first look' video: