Would adding an iCAN SE achieve a noticable bump in performance?
Yes.
Would adding an iCAN SE achieve a noticable bump in performance?
I have read that the idea that the TubeState sounds tube like is just marketing BS. I am curious if anybody here can confirm that the iCAN SE actually does have a little of the tube like sound or is it so subtle that you could also explain it by expectation?
Here's what iFi replied to me in post# 5524 of this thread:
We find that with the Tubestate build into iCAN SE, it delivers a very large chunk of 'Tube Magic' in itself and even our tube loving chief designer (who has a Nixie clock on his Android Phone - with tubes for numbers) does not use a iTube with the iCAN SE. He does use the iTube in his Speaker setup, which is more what the iTube was designed for (3D Matrix for speakers, optional preamp function). Some of the senior staff still hold onto the iTube with the iCAN SE. Neither are right nor wrong.
So try the different combinations and decide for yourself.
just listening to tidal hifi on both the micro and the mojo.
(want to sell one as i also have the df red and mad ear+hd tube amp)
guess i don't have golden ears, as i can't really (not now anyway) determine that big a diff between the 2.
have the mercury and ipurifer 2 hooked into it from my laptop.
must admit, love the 3D and bass boost of the micro...nice ways to enhance the sound.
That all depends on you. You're gonna have to buy one and find out. I think this and the Mojo are the Best AMP/DACs (portable) that there are right now IMO. I have a slight preference for this over the Mojo though.
Interestingly enough, I auditioned the Chord DAVE against my iDSD micro, using the exact same gear in my sig. What's not in my sig, is that I always plug into the classic PS Audio, P300 balanced AC regenerator.
Anyway, for PCM I thought the DAVE and the iDSD micro were the same. The salesman had to admit it, too. Except with the iDSD micro I had to use my SPL Auditor to grab that much width and depth from the iFi product. With the DAVE all I had to do was plug in direct to its headphone jack.
For DSD audio I won't go into that here; I'm going to post my impressions in the Chord DAVE thread. Nevertheless, we're talking about for PCM a $1200 DAC & amp combo vs. an all-in-one solution for $13k+.
The iDSD micro still remains a minor miracle.
The iDSD micro still remains a minor miracle.
Excellent! Trust your ears. Mojo will sell fast and close to what you paid for it. I don't miss mine at all. To my ears, Mojo has a bit more separation and bite to the highs but that's not something everybody wants. I tend to like more organic, and not analytical presentation and the iDSD to me is more organic than Mojo. Beyond that, I absolutely hated the stupid glowing balls and digital stepped volume control.
Funny how audio is so often subjective, as I've read the same sound sig criticism (analytic, a bit dry)... But it was levelled at the micro vs the 'warmer sounding' mojo...they're both top end units, more similar than not, imo... I don't have golden ears, however.
Its amazing to me how the IDSD micro scales. I have put in much better diy usb cables, a reclocker, and a PCI-E dedicated USB port from Paul Pang! It improved substantially each time.
And it works incredibly well on DSD files. I have bought some of the Blue Coast stuff. Listing to their 11.2MHz stuff is unbelievable.
Happy listening,
jgwtriode