iFi iDAC Has anyone purchased one?? Looking for under $300 DAC
Feb 10, 2013 at 3:25 AM Post #46 of 65
Thanks for asking - I'm using Grado SR-325is presently driven by a Rega Ear, but looking to upgrade the amp. The usual wisdom is to look for a secondhand Gilmore Lite, but one dealer recommended the iCan as a good alternative.
 
 
Feb 10, 2013 at 5:36 AM Post #47 of 65
Hi,
Quote:
Thanks for asking - I'm using Grado SR-325is presently driven by a Rega Ear, but looking to upgrade the amp. The usual wisdom is to look for a secondhand Gilmore Lite, but one dealer recommended the iCan as a good alternative.
 


If you can find the Gilmore Lite 2nd hand at a good price why not buy it? And then see if you can get the iCan on trial (it seems not so hard). Just try them both.

If you fancy the iCan you can get your lolly back on the Gilmore moving it on. If you fancy the Gilmore you can send the iCan back.

If you fancy both, it ain't as if either would get the bank manager to take away your cash-card. And they ain't bits of fluff, so they won't mind you playing with both, innit?

Cheerio Rich

 
 
Feb 25, 2013 at 10:01 PM Post #48 of 65
The idac finally showed up today. It doesn't work with the ipad, powered usb hub and camera connectivity kit. I charged the hub first for a few hours in another computer. It does sound pretty nice coming from that computer. Perhaps it'll work with an android tablet like the Zenithink C93.
 
Feb 26, 2013 at 1:37 AM Post #49 of 65
Quote:
The idac finally showed up today. It doesn't work with the ipad, powered usb hub and camera connectivity kit. I charged the hub first for a few hours in another computer. It does sound pretty nice coming from that computer. Perhaps it'll work with an android tablet like the Zenithink C93.

 
Check out this review as it mentions "Note: the iDAC on its own draws too much power for the iPad so you either have to use it with the iUSBPower or a powered USB hub."   The ifi website also has exactly the same configuration you have.  I don't have the iDAC but I do run a Kensington 4 port hub off an iMac and occasionally get a not enough power error message when attempting to sync an iPod.  Try removing some of the devices from the powered hub and see if this helps.  
 
Feb 26, 2013 at 8:50 PM Post #50 of 65
I got this one because it was reported to work with the ipad and dragonfly.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/110855033353?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
It is so small but apparently there is a battery in it. Time will tell once others begin trying it out with other hubs. I use an ipad 2 with the latest iOS.
 
Feb 26, 2013 at 10:39 PM Post #51 of 65
Quote:
The idac finally showed up today. It doesn't work with the ipad, powered usb hub and camera connectivity kit. I charged the hub first for a few hours in another computer. It does sound pretty nice coming from that computer. Perhaps it'll work with an android tablet like the Zenithink C93.

I use the iFi iUSB with a dragonfly attached to my iPad, and it works great. The iUSB has to be plugged in however.
 
Feb 27, 2013 at 10:19 AM Post #52 of 65
Mmmmmm, The new Resonessence Labs Concero with the iCan would be a killer transportable single ended setup. 
 
Feb 27, 2013 at 10:31 AM Post #53 of 65
Quote:
I would be suprised based on hype surrounding amr ifi idac, if you could not pick it out on a blind listening test.

 
Why? Virtually every damn blind listening test ever done has failed to show a difference between non-broken source components, with cheap receiver amps sounding exactly like $6000 mono-blocks and people unable to distinguish $2000 CD players from playstations, iPods, and cheap CD players. Hype still exists for all these things.
 
Feb 27, 2013 at 12:06 PM Post #54 of 65
New solution is a asus eepc laptop that I used prior to ipad. I think it would be better for me in the long run as I am sensitive to wifi. Currently having driver issues. Going to try to see if there are any conflicting ones already there. Windows ain't fun, but at least portability is no longer an issue.
 
Apr 2, 2013 at 9:35 AM Post #55 of 65

 
idac unboxing!
 
Apr 5, 2013 at 3:00 PM Post #57 of 65
No as Android does not like anything that shows up as a 192 DAC does it. Their website claims it will but no luck at all which is a shame :frowning2: I would have posted it on your thread ASAP if it had!
 
Apr 8, 2013 at 7:07 PM Post #58 of 65
Thanks!
 
By the way, a 24/192 Zero Dac can work with a Galaxy S3:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/269458/review-zero-24-bit-192khz-dac-headphone-amp-pre-amp
http://www.head-fi.org/t/633201/confirmed-list-of-usb-dacs-for-the-galaxy-s3-international-us-or-note-2#post_9329790
 
"Fyi I just tested the Galaxy s3 (international) with a Zero Dac (24/192) (dac mentioned elsewhere in this blog). 
Works very well simply plug in.  No further config required."
 
Apr 8, 2013 at 10:35 PM Post #59 of 65
Quote:
Thanks!
 
By the way, a 24/192 Zero Dac can work with a Galaxy S3:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/269458/review-zero-24-bit-192khz-dac-headphone-amp-pre-amp
http://www.head-fi.org/t/633201/confirmed-list-of-usb-dacs-for-the-galaxy-s3-international-us-or-note-2#post_9329790
 
"Fyi I just tested the Galaxy s3 (international) with a Zero Dac (24/192) (dac mentioned elsewhere in this blog). 
Works very well simply plug in.  No further config required."

 
That is not entirely true. The Zero DAC works in 24/192 only in S/PDIF (coaxial and optical). The USB port only supports up to 16/48 because it relies on PCM2706 as USB receiver.
 
Apr 9, 2013 at 8:02 AM Post #60 of 65
Thanks for the info!
I've just reported the Galaxy S3 - Zero Dac interworking info.
 
I have a 24/96 capable ODAC, and the Galaxy S3 using USB Audio Recorder PRO can output a 24/96 high-res PCM stream to the ODAC.
 
 
Audio Streaming Format Type Descriptor:
bLength:              0x1A
bDescriptorType:      0x24
bDescriptorSubtype:   0x02
bFormatType:          0x01
bNrChannels:          0x02
bSubframeSize:        0x02
bBitResolution:       0x10
bSamFreqType:         0x06
tSamFreq[1]:      0x001F40 (8000 Hz)
tSamFreq[2]:      0x003E80 (16000 Hz)
tSamFreq[3]:      0x007D00 (32000 Hz)
tSamFreq[4]:      0x00AC44 (44100 Hz)
tSamFreq[5]:      0x00BB80 (48000 Hz)
tSamFreq[6]:      0x017700 (96000 Hz)
 
 

 

 
The free and open source Linux ALSA USB audio driver, used by Samsung, is a USB audio class 2 driver.
It is able to drive USB Audio Class 2 (UAC2) devices (i.e. USB DAC playing up to 32/384):
https://github.com/sgs3/GT-I9300_Kernel/blob/master/sound/usb/card.c#L2
https://github.com/sgs3/GT-I9300_Kernel/blob/master/sound/usb/card.c#L246
http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/USB_Audio.htm
 

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