[Amoy Utot]

Hi,
If I plug a 3.5mm jack from a DAP to the iDSD 3.5mm input and set the unit to "pre amp" mode (not direct),.. will the signal pass thru the iDSD DAC then AMP section, or just the AMP section?

 

[technobear]

Hi,

If I plug a 3.5mm jack from a DAP to the iDSD 3.5mm input and set the unit to "pre amp" mode (not direct),.. will the signal pass thru the iDSD DAC then AMP section, or just the AMP section?

3.5mm input >> headphone amp >> headphone output


The pre-amp/direct switch only affects the RCA outputs.

There is no output at the RCAs when using the 3.5mm input.

The 3.5mm input is an analogue input. A DAC requires a digital input so feeding the 3.5mm input to the DAC section is a logical impossibility.

Edit: my mistake - could have sworn I read that somewhere in these threads :rolleyes:

 

[Amoy Utot]

3.5mm input >> headphone amp >> headphone output


The pre-amp/direct switch only affects the RCA outputs.

There is no output at the RCAs when using the 3.5mm input.

The 3.5mm input is an analogue input. A DAC requires a digital input so feeding the 3.5mm input to the DAC section is a logical impossibility.

I'm sorry, my previous post is incomplete. Here's my signal flow on the setup:

DAP (set to "direct" mode, full volume from AMP) >> iDSD 3.5mm input >> iDSD RCA output >> Analog input of Integrated Amp

Yes, there's an output at the RCA when using the 3.5mm input (no headphone plugged in)
Here's my previous question:

If I plug a 3.5mm jack from a DAP to the iDSD 3.5mm input and set the unit to "pre amp" mode (not direct),.. will the signal pass thru the iDSD DAC then AMP section, or just the AMP section?

 

[iFi audio]

 
If I plug a 3.5mm jack from a DAP to the iDSD 3.5mm input and set the unit to "pre amp" mode (not direct),.. will the signal pass thru the iDSD DAC then AMP section, or just the AMP section?

 
Hi,
 
The 3.5mm input is for an analogue signal only. So it will not pass through the DAC section, only the AMP section.
 
It is for amplifying an analogue signal only not a digital signal.
 
Cheers.

 

[Amoy Utot]

   
Hi,
 
The 3.5mm input is for an analogue signal only. So it will not pass through the DAC section, only the AMP section.
 
It is for amplifying an analogue signal only not a digital signal.
 
Cheers.

Thank you so much, the X bass and 3D circuitry is located before or after the AMP section?

 

[technobear]

...the X bass and 3D circuitry is located before or after the AMP section?

Before/after/within? Why does it matter?

X-BASS and 3D are part of the amp, not part of the DAC. Does that answer your question?

 

[Amoy Utot]

Before/after/within? Why does it matter?

X-BASS and 3D are part of the amp, not part of the DAC. Does that answer your question?

Thank you so much, I'm just curious on the circuit design these days. I haven't done any electronic circuit design in 35 years.

 

[iFi audio]

 
Thank you so much, the X bass and 3D circuitry is located before or after the AMP section?

 
Hi,
 
XBass and 3D Holographic are both Analogue Signal Processing circuits.
 
So they are in the analogue domain (as opposed to Digital Signal Processing which we don't do because we prefer Bit-Perfect).
 
If set to 'Off' they are not in the circuit path. We leave it to the customer to decide if they wish to use it or not. Audio is subjective and all that.

 

[iFi audio]

  Well I'm happy with the sound I'm getting through the Genelec 8010s and so far I've tried Denon D7000 and Audeze LCD-2v1 with great results.
 
However, the Micro gets dropped from my laptop somehow when I'm not playing anything (after approx 10-15 minutes of websurfing, etc).  It sends a loud thud to the Genelecs and then the only way to get sound again is to turn the Micro off and then on again.  
 
Suggestions on how to resolve this?

 
Hi,
 
In default setting (factory) the Genelec Monitors will produce 100dB/1m with 0.39V input (-6dBU). In other words, these monitors have very high input sensitivity and will require less than 0.39V to produce maximum rated output (96dB/1m). 
 
The studio standard is normally -14....-20dBFS = +6dBU or around 3.9V = 0dB. So this is a HUGE mismatch with any sensible source, even an iPhone will overload these speakers easily (never mind the micro iDSD).
 
In Eco mode the iDSD micro will produce > 2V output with the volume control maxed out and a 0dB signal, this would produce in theory 114dB, where normal listening levels are commonly at 85dB average and 105dB peak for 0dBSF. 
 
In practice it will overload the speaker severely with the volume at max. and it results in magnifying a fairly minor click when the DAC goes into standby.
 
Using Normal or Turbo mode boosts the preamp output gain another 9dB and produces around 5.5V (normal mode) output, WAY too much for the Genelec 8010, though appropriate for any gear following traditional studio standards. 
 
The Genelec 8010 can be switched to lower sensitivity, using the -10dB switch. This will give a better volume control range in Eco mode and significantly reduce the loudness of the click. 
 
Even better choice and match between DAC and active monitor may be to use an external 20dB attenuator between iDSD micro and Monitor and normal mode for both items. This way 3.9V will produce 100dB. 
 
Alternatively, as others have suggested Software version 5.XB will disable sleep mode and do away with the click. In stationary, 'always on' use in Eco or Normal mode sleep mode is not necessary, as long as the iDSD micro is occasionally turned off and allowed to top up the battery to full.
 
We hope we haven't data overloaded anyone who reads this! 

 

[cbl117]

Just out of curiosity, what is the next set up from the iDSD micro assuming a DAP as source, and at least for transportable use? It seems like the iDSD micro doesn't have many peers with the exception of the mojo, but that's more of a lateral move. I would be using full size cans so needs to have power.

 

[Sonic Defender]

Just out of curiosity, what is the next set up from the iDSD micro assuming a DAP as source, and at least for transportable use? It seems like the iDSD micro doesn't have many peers with the exception of the mojo, but that's more of a lateral move. I would be using full size cans so needs to have power.

iCAN SE Pro sounds impressive to say the least, and I think it is transportable, at least if not ideally so still possible.

 

[cbl117]

iCAN SE Pro sounds impressive to say the least, and I think it is transportable, at least if not ideally so still possible.

Does iCAN pro have a dac? I'm looking to keep the dac and amp in one transportable unit. Preferably with battery so I only need to worry about charging one in a while.

I guess another option is to use the AK100ii as a dac and focus on the best portable amp. Any ideas which direction could produce the highest SQ possible?

 

[Sonic Defender]

Does iCAN pro have a dac? I'm looking to keep the dac and amp in one transportable unit. Preferably with battery so I only need to worry about charging one in a while.

I guess another option is to use the AK100ii as a dac and focus on the best portable amp. Any ideas which direction could produce the highest SQ possible?

Yes, my bad, when you said DAP as a source I was thinking DAC function as well, when really I shouldn't have. Yes, no DAC, but if you have a DAP with a solid DAC section, prioritizing the amplifier isn't a bad idea as a good amp such as this one would give you plenty of flexibility. Other than that, the Micro still remains competitive and a great sounding, transportable all in one solution. Edit: removed dumb question as your signature clearly shows you have the Micro - which is quite a nice little device.
 
As for which approach is better, really no answer to that as it is all about sound signature preferences. Even basic DACs these days when properly implemented sound great, and if the tuning of the DAC is similar, most DACs I suspect would sound very, very similar to users, and the same can be said for properly implemented amp designs; it is all about the signature preference once the technical designs are solid.

 

[technobear]

iCAN SE Pro sounds impressive to say the least, and I think it is transportable, at least if not ideally so still possible.

Does iCAN pro have a dac? I'm looking to keep the dac and amp in one transportable unit. Preferably with battery so I only need to worry about charging one in a while.

I guess another option is to use the AK100ii as a dac and focus on the best portable amp. Any ideas which direction could produce the highest SQ possible?

The micro iCAN does not have a DAC.

The micro iCAN SE does not have a DAC.

The Pro iCAN does not have a DAC.

Also none of these models have a battery. They all require a power supply.

There is no such model as an "iCAN SE Pro".

From your requirement, it sounds like you already have the best solution in the micro iDSD.


ps. there is also no such model as "the micro". Please be specific. You are confusing the noobs.

 

[Sonic Defender]

The micro iCAN does not have a DAC.

The micro iCAN SE does not have a DAC.

The Pro iCAN does not have a DAC.

Also none of these models have a battery. They all require a power supply.

There is no such model as an "iCAN SE Pro".

From your requirement, it sounds like you already have the best solution in the micro iDSD.

Yes my bad, remembered incorrectly it was indeed the Pro iCan I was referring to.