[tuyentien88]

Which power mode is suitable for planar headphone like HE-560, HE-500? Should I use Turbo mode or Normal mode with higher volume point?

 

[Baten]

Which power mode is suitable for planar headphone like HE-560, HE-500? Should I use Turbo mode or Normal mode with higher volume point?

Try normal first.

Make sure iematch is OFF OFF OFF

Iematch will make your planars cry.

 

[audiofil]

Normal mode is enough to drive them.
I listen to my HE-500 only in normal mode, usually between 11 and 2 o'clock on the pot. Anything past 3 o'clock is too much for me.
Turbo will give you more power, but less usable range in the (not so well balanced) volume pot. Personally, I'd avoid turbo unless it's absolutely needed.

 

[Promenadeplatz]

Is the silvered (old) iDSD still state-of-the-art driving the HD800 ? .... Despite it is portable and the BCL is not, is it soundwise an option vs. the Lehmann?

I will use mine probably only for amplification with an external DAC, I forgot to mention.

 

[iFi audio]

Good job @iFi audio !

Our pleasure!

 

[iFi audio]

Is the silvered (old) iDSD still state-of-the-art driving the HD800 ?

iDSD is still holding strong, but we won't lie to you, we have better stuff now

 

[iFi audio]

Or will it not because the iDSD BL is a renderer only and not a decoder? The lights on the iDSD BL aren’t any help because it’s always yellow with any audio, even just playing through th built in music app. It might be placbo, but I feel like the sound is better when using he MBP versus the iPhone.

All our MQA capable products are renderers, with exception of our flagship model - Pro iDSD - which does it all (MQA decoder + renderer). That yellow LED is due to 5.30C firmware. It enabled our GTO filter (yellow light) and iDSD BL indicates MQA via yellow light as well.

 

[iFi audio]

Which power mode is suitable for planar headphone like HE-560, HE-500? Should I use Turbo mode or Normal mode with higher volume point?

Please use the mode which gives you reasonable volume control, please use setting which allows you to achieve sufficiently high SPL while remainin within the range of 9 - 14 o'clock on your volume pot. Highly likely this will be normal mode.

 

[iFi audio]

Folks...


Silence in Seattle

We all enjoy music, whether we’re at home, in the car or pounding the treadmill at the gym.

However, from time to time we all need time to enjoy some rest and relaxation. Whether that’s from music, television or, dare we say it, the better half.

So, whenever you need to unplug from the world around you, reach for the new iFi Ear Plug.



The Tech Spec

• Premium 100% pure memory foam
  
• Incredible 37dB noise reduction (62dB total noise reduction if used in conjunction with Noise-Cancellation headphones which offer 25dB noise reduction)

All iFi Ear Plugs come with a hard, clear plastic case with the option of purchasing an iPouch which stores both earplugs and your IEMs.

The Art of Noise

The following graph depicts the level of noise attenuated (reduced) in four situations:

i. Headphones Without ANC: 20dB reduction above 300kHz
ii. Headphones With ANC: 20dB attenuation from 40kHz to 1kHz
iii. iFi Ear Plugs: 30dB to 50dB reduction across the frequency range
iv. iFi Ear Plugs with Headphones with ANC: 40dB reduction up to 70dB reduction



It’s clear the iFi Ear Plugs alone are incredibly effective, and when coupled with NC headphones, they make an unbeatable team.

Crybaby

According to medical experts, a baby’s cry can reach up to 130dB. That’s only 10dB less than a jet engine on take-off!

It’s hardly a surprise then the sound of a crying baby can pierce your ears and sound so unpleasant.

We’ve all experienced extreme noise – and crying babies are a perfect example.



Picture this. You’re on a plane, you take off and – BHAM – a baby starts to cry because of the air pressure change in the cabin. Typically, this is anywhere up to 130dB (but this varies across the frequency range).

The graph below depicts the typical baby cry which from 300kHz to 8kHz surpasses 70dB – then charts the reduction in noise when an NC headphone and iFi Ear Plug are introduced.



With an NC headphone, this noise level is reduced by some 25dB to 40dB or so.

However, with the iFi Ear Plug and the NC headphones, the combined noise reduction brings the noise down to a barely perceptible 20dB - or even lower.



What about ambient cabin noise?

A primary objective of noise-cancellation headphones is to cancel out the ‘drumming’ of airplane ambient cabin noise of 60-80Hz. Premium ANC headphones reduce 25dB which brings this down to 30-50Hz. But if augmented with Earplugs, then the ambient noise is reduced to below 30dB which is better than a quiet room!



Now, that’s got to be music to anyone’s battered ears.

Full product info: https://ifi-audio.com/products/ifi-audio-ear-plugs/

 

[CANiSLAYu]

All our MQA capable products are renderers, with exception of our flagship model - Pro iDSD - which does it all (MQA decoder + renderer). That yellow LED is due to 5.30C firmware. It enabled our GTO filter (yellow light) and iDSD BL indicates MQA via yellow light as well.

So that explains why it’s always yellow, but any confirming/input regarding if MQA is working for the setup posted? Thank you.

 

[Amalek6]

might be lil off topic but anyone here ever tried to update the BL with a 2017 MBP and genuine apple 3,1usb to 2.0 adaptor ? (has USB 3.1 ports only) ? Meaning the 5.30C I have contacted ifi, telling me to use a windows machine. Pretty weird, I cannot update a 2018 firmware because all my ports USB 3.1 . Downward-compatibility ? Doess anyone els has this Mac related problem? Thanks

 

[CANiSLAYu]

might be lil off topic but anyone here ever tried to update the BL with a 2017 MBP and genuine apple 3,1usb to 2.0 adaptor ? (has USB 3.1 ports only) ? Meaning the 5.30C I have contacted ifi, telling me to use a windows machine. Pretty weird, I cannot update a 2018 firmware because all my ports USB 3.1 . Downward-compatibility ? Doess anyone els has this Mac related problem? Thanks

I have a 2018 MBP and I was unable to update my iDSD Micro BL. I would get this error straight away firmware-fail-mac.png. After a couple attempts I said screw it and ended up updating it on my son's Windows 10 laptop.

 

[domho7]

Hi I am presently having the Chord Mojo with Cayin DAP N5. Will the black label be as good as the Mojo.
Tks.

 

[Baten]

Hi I am presently having the Chord Mojo with Cayin DAP N5. Will the black label be as good as the Mojo.
Tks.

Depends on preference. iFi has more switches, bass toggle 3D sound toggle. Mojo is more sparkly/trebley supposedly, ifi more warm sounding imo.

I'm very happy with the iFi, love mine. Some swear by the mojo. One thing the ifi wins at, the mojo's battery really sucks. Many people have problems with it after some years, not built to last.

 

[cardeli22]

Hi I am presently having the Chord Mojo with Cayin DAP N5. Will the black label be as good as the Mojo.
Tks.

If you search "Mojo" in this thread, you will find plenty of comparisons. The short answer is, like everything, some like the Mojo more, some like the BL more.