[diamondears]

I think there was even a post from iFi audio suggesting Normal mode for Audezes.

 

[TheAttorney]

With my relatively-easy-to-drive Senn HD600s, I initially used only the Eco setting, as that gave the right volume for pot setting for me, resulting in many hours of listening between charges.
 
More recently, on directly comparing Eco with Normal (with volume levelling of course), I found the Normal setting gave a significanly more detailed and dynamic sound to the HD600s, so well worth it (and it still seems to last hours and hours between charges).
 
Turbo has far too much gain for my HD600s, so I've never bothered with it.

 

[Tobias89]

Is there a line out function for use with an external amplifier?

 

[lucidreamer]

  Is there a line out function for use with an external amplifier?

Yes, there is a switch at the bottom of iDSD to turn the unit into a pre-amp when connecting to the power amplifier. That way the volume control can be used to manage the volume output from iDSD going to the power amplifier because many of those power amps especially quality ones are running in Class A mode and have no volume attenuator controls.
 
When using iDSD in DAC-only mode with amplifiers or receivers that have volume controls - it would be better to turn the bottom switch to a direct drive mode for better output quality.
 
I think it is pretty clear explained in the instructions and online already.

 

[Tobias89]

  Yes, there is a switch at the bottom of iDSD to turn the unit into a pre-amp when connecting to the power amplifier. That way the volume control can be used to manage the volume output from iDSD going to the power amplifier because many of those power amps especially quality ones are running in Class A mode and have no volume attenuator controls.
 
When using iDSD in DAC-only mode with amplifiers or receivers that have volume controls - it would be better to turn the bottom switch to a direct drive mode for better output quality.
 
I think it is pretty clear explained in the instructions and online already.

Sorry, I mean to use it as DAC only connected to a portable amplifier like for example fiio e12diy.

 

[lucidreamer]

  Sorry, I mean to use it as DAC only connected to a portable amplifier like for example fiio e12diy.

Of course it has a true line out to be used as a DAC only, this is what I also do and connect my iDSD Micro to a PPA headphone amplifier.

 

[Tobias89]

  Of course it has a true line out to be used as a DAC only, this is what I also do and connect my iDSD Micro to a PPA headphone amplifier.

Oh ok. I was told by the salesperson that there wasn't any. Thanks!

 

[Sound Eq]

i was wondering did anyone manage to get viper4android work with ifi micro dsd on android
 
i drove me crazy on my sony xperia z ultra rooted
 
when i disconnect the phone from the ifi dsd the viper4android works, but once connected it stop working and driver shows its not enabled
i tried to force enable viper4android and nothing worked
 
any hints

 

[happybuyer]

My iFi iDSD Micro no longer works.
 
I plug it into USB and the little blue light on the top near the back goes on for about one second, then goes off.
 
There is no sign anything is happening.
 
If I try to play music, JRiver says it doesn’t see the device.
 
I had the Micro in a drawer for a couple of weeks. During that time it wasn't plugged in.
 
Did the battery drain and now it won't charge?
 
Or is this some other problem?
 
It worked great earlier.

 

[Triodemode]

  My iFi iDSD Micro no longer works.
 
I plug it into USB and the little blue light on the top near the back goes on for about one second, then goes off.
 
There is no sign anything is happening.
 
If I try to play music, JRiver says it doesn’t see the device.
 
I had the Micro in a drawer for a couple of weeks. During that time it wasn't plugged in.
 
Did the battery drain and now it won't charge?
 
Or is this some other problem?
 
It worked great earlier.

Did you remember to turn it off before storage?  Sounds to me like the unit may have been on all this time and the battery is completely drained.  Have you tried to leave the micro plugged in to a powered USB port for 24 hours with it turned off?  This may allow the micro to recharge it's battery. Also, make sure the mode switch is set to ECO so it will only draw power from the USB port. 
 
I have also ran into this situation.  With a dead battery the unit can only be used via USB in ECO mode until the battery is charged.

 

[happybuyer]

 
Did you remember to turn it off before storage?  Sounds to me like the unit may have been on all this time and the battery is completely drained.  Have you tried to leave the micro plugged in to a powered USB port for 24 hours with it turned off?  This may allow the micro to recharge it's battery. Also, make sure the mode switch is set to ECO so it will only draw power from the USB port. 
 
I have also ran into this situation.  With a dead battery the unit can only be used via USB in ECO mode until the battery is charged.

It was not turned off before storage. Didn't think of that (forgot it even has a battery).
 
I had accidentally moved the switch to Eco mode, which is when the light came back on.
 
So now it all makes sense.

Thank you!
 
I wish there was a way to bypass battery entirely, because this is always only going to be played while connected to USB.

 

[Triodemode]

  It was not turned off before storage. Didn't think of that (forgot it even has a battery).
 
I had accidentally moved the switch to Eco mode, which is when the light came back on.
 
So now it all makes sense.

Thank you!
 
I wish there was a way to bypass battery entirely, because this is always only going to be played while connected to USB.

Well, you could always place a post it or other label on top, reminding you to turn it off before removing the micro from USB.

 

 

[digitallc]

  My iFi iDSD Micro no longer works.
 
I plug it into USB and the little blue light on the top near the back goes on for about one second, then goes off.
 
There is no sign anything is happening.
 
If I try to play music, JRiver says it doesn’t see the device.
 
I had the Micro in a drawer for a couple of weeks. During that time it wasn't plugged in.
 
Did the battery drain and now it won't charge?
 
Or is this some other problem?
 
It worked great earlier.

Similar story happened to me last month - left on for 4  days in a drawer by the housekeeper as she was cleaning up. It never did re-charge. Hope that you have better luck.

 

[Bigbwb]

Hey guys,
New here
 
Been doing quite  bit of research regarding a new DSD capable DAC to replace my existing Parasound Zdac.  Ive been a member of the Computer Audiophile forum for some time and found my way here as well!  The DAC that caught my eye and attention is the ifi Micro IDSD.  For $500 it seems tough to beat.
 
My setup so you guys have some background to work off of -
Ascend Acoustic Sierra Towers with RAAL
Parasound Halo A21 amp
Parasound Halo P5 pre
Currently building a new CAPS server with Intel i5, mini Itx MB, 8GB RAM, Streamcom F8 case, PPA USB v2 card, Samsung SSD, etc.
 
 
Here are a few questions I have before making the leap:
I know there is a ifi "Pro line" IDSD coming in a month or so, does it pay to wait?  Pricing looks to be around $1500 which might be a bit more than I want to spend
 
Does the current Micro IDSD handle PCM just as well as DSD files?  I ask because the large majority of my collection is CD files ripped to FLAC and some other High res stuff.
 
Am I missing any other DSD capable DACs in the $1k or under price range that would suit my needs?
 
Thank you in advance!
Brandon

 

[TheAttorney]

Hi Brandon
 
I doubt if anyone can yet say whether the pro version will be worth the extra cost over the micro iDSD, but it certainly looks promising. If you can spare the cash, my guess is it would be worth waiting for. However, as it's mains-only desktop, it's a very diffrent target usage to the portable micro iDSD.
 
Back to the iDSD, it handles redbook FLAC files really, really well if you're prepared to do some updsampling/conversion. ALL my computer music files are CD-ripped-to-FLAC so far (so I can't comment on how it handles hi rez files).
 
If you want to get the best out of the iDSD, I recommend you look at the more specialised playback software: HQPlayer, JPlay, Fizelizer, AO and Bug Head Emperor (or something like that). As you come from computeraudio, you probably know more about these than I do, but if not, my thoughts on the first 3 are on the JPlay 6 thread (I haven't tried the last 2).
 
The combination of HQP, JPlay and Fidelizer (all working in unison) simply transforms the sound of redbook through the iDSD, Particularly when using HQP to convert on the fly to DSD (others prefer sticking with PCM, so YMMV).
 
I haven't tried any other comparable DACs. I did my research and went straight for the iDSD and have found no reason to look for anything else in that price range (my TOTL desktop search is an altogether different matter).