http://rover901.pixnet.net/blog/post/232173994
an independent Hugo vs iDSD review from Hong Kong, use google translate, here is the summary:
"Finally, I sold my Hugo
Hugo is not bad, basically all aspects of Hugo IDSD than good. But give me a high IDSD music enjoyment. I used to listen IDSD pop, jazz, but more and more into the feelings! IDSD, so that makes me happy."
I read it and found it very interesting. So I took the liberty of spending the last week or so of translating this. Others who understand both languages correct me if I have made any errors but I do not think I have done any screw ups.
Review: IFI Micro IDSD, a miraculously economic DAC
Recently I got an iFi Micro iDSD. I like it very much and would like to share with you.
iFi is a subsidiary of AMR. (As I understand it) iFi has two product ranges, micro and nano, the former is more advanced, slightly bigger, more expensive. Products are dac, psu, phono, ddc, buffer ... etc. Pricing from one thousand to over two thousand Hong Kong dollars (Editor: 1USD = 7.8HKD), the most expensive one is the micro iDSD that I’ve just bought, around HKD4,000 (I got it form the first batch which was a special HKD3xxx). It is designed for the entry level computer audio market. Entry computer audio peripheral products are currently dominated by cheap computer brands, iFi with a strong HiFi background breaks this tradition by providing excellent sound quality.
A few months before I purchased the Micro iDSD, I had bought iUSB, Gemini double-headed USB cable and iLink DDC, each around a thousand dollar, the quality is very high. I use them with the Chord Hugo / Squeezebox, they bring significant improvements to the sound. (will review them in another post)
(Squeezebox Touch with USB output, first use iUSB psu to cleanup USB, and then connect to the iLink DDC using Gemini Dual-Headed USB cable, and finally into the Chord Hugo via SPDIF coaxial for D to A decoding)
Support for the most advanced industry decoding
iFi's micro series, already has a decoder called iDAC, can support a maximum of 24/192, around Hong Kong 2k, words from people said it sounded quite good. iFi then introduced a more economical nano series, which includes the nano iDSD. It supports DSD decoding and only costs around HK$1300-1400 !!
Micro iDSD is the latest iFi DAC, built-in headphone amp, battery-powered, can be used on the go. If using the mobile phone as player (need to install USB player apps), with an OTG USB cable output to Micro iDSD, it can produce music and suitable for taking it to work. (With my LG G Flex, Grado 325iS headphones, the result is excellent, see below) the decoder chip is 2x BB dac chips, which can decode 8xDSD, 2xDXD. It can playback all the formats on the market, impressive.
Initially I didn’t intend to. But when I was the retail shop for the iLink, I said I would like one and shortly after I got a ring and said it had arrived and had a special launch promotion, so here it goes, talk about an unintentional purchase…
(Accessories inside the iFi micro iDSD box)
Headphone driving performance
In the office, I use the iDSD to drive the Grado SR325is, my music source is an android phone with USB Audio Player pro (upgraded to play DSD), digital signal out via an OTG cable to iDSD.
It is so much fun listening to it.
My current DAC, has Chord Hugo, has a neutral sound. All the HiFi elements were better, in the usual hifi areas than the iDSD. This is to be expected as the price difference is very big. But with my LG g flex line + USB Audio Player Pro into the iDSD driving Grado 325, it gives a full-body, sweet, liquid and produces quite an intoxicating sound. The vocals are sweet with body, highly enjoyable even with busy and lively pop and jazz tracks. I was very surprised, its musical charm/fun factor didn’t give much to the set up I have at home. However, resolution and sound stage are still limited by the headphones.
In short, the iDSD’s performance with the above style of music is quite pleasing. Six thousand dollars is not a high-end setup for portable in today’s standard, but the iDSD together with the Grados, I think there is no need to spend any more money for a more expensive system.
Two channel performance at home
What is truly shocking is the iDSD’s two channel performance with a home system. In comparison with the Hugo, the Hugo bettered the iDSD in all areas, including resolution, power, recreation of space, high and low extensions, density, texture, transparency etc..., iDSD lost out on the Huge by a fair margin.
But when you hear iDSD, you will be hooked by its emotional feelings. When playing Beyond (a famous rock band in Hong Kong), the feeling is just right. The resolution, power, high and low extensions, density, texture, transparency etc... is it really that bad on the iDSD?
If not compared side by side, the iDSD is not bad at all. I liked it even more than the Northstar USB32 (a euro2000 machine) I had before. The iDSD does have a sound style similar to the Lavry DA11 (a usd1500) in a certain way, the iDSD may have slightly higher definition, the DA11 may have a bit more authority.
And this is the iDSD performance freshly new out of the box.
Wait till the iDSD has been burnt-in and I will share more you.
Question regarding usability (inevitably also comparing with Hugo)
Both machines are for portable travel. In terms of portability, hugo wins as the iDSD is too long.
Battery life, I did not do a full test, but should last 7-8 hours.
On operation, both are not difficult to use. But the power switch on the hugo is too small, the iDSD has large (half-inch) rotary power switch (it is also the volume control), even usable with gloves.
For daily use, the micro iDSD is not as user friendly as the hugo.
1) Power
For example, the charging method, in this regard too the hugo is outstanding. hugo and iDSD both have built-in lithium battery. To operate it must first be charged. Hugo has a separate DC input, small wall plug power supply and charge the hugo with a DC cable. When used in home as a two-channel DAC, you can leave this connection in all the time, Hugo would cut electricity when there is sufficient power. It will start charging when power drops themselves. Basically plug and play, no need to bother too much. The iDSD is obviously less easy to use than hugo. The iDSD relies on the USB socket for charging, this socket also carries USB signal input. I connect this USB socket to a PC (computer audio source) for decoding use, it cannot play and charge at the same time, the iDSD will shut itself down after the power runs out, cannot play and charge at the same time. If one wants to use computer audio source to listen to music the next day, he must charge the iDSD the night before. . . . . iFi does not include a charger neither. If you want to charge the iDSD, use the supplied USB cable together with a mobile phone charger. Because the side where my home hifi cabinet sits I don’t have spare outlets for phone charger (I do not want to), so for each charge, I need to disconnect all the wiring on the iDSD and move it to the other side of the living room for charging, very troublesome. Finally, to solve the problem, I made a special USB socket of with LPS (linear power supply) especially for iDSD charging. (I believe the iDSD is mainly design for on the go application, hence these inconveniences cannot be avoided).
2) Connections
In terms of connections, hugo has a total of four sets of inputs. But all the socket spacings are too small, especially the RCA outlet, I only have one pair of interconnect that can be used. Instead the iDSD have no spacing issue, but only has one coaxial and one USB input. The USB socket is designed for use with OTG cable (USB female plug), or using an adaptor to connect with an USB cable, the sound will be significantly discounted.
The Hugo's spdif inputs can take DSD signal. I can use iFi iLink DDC convert USB signal from CAS / Squeezebox to spdif signal (maintaining native DSD signal) to Hugo's SDPIF input (better sound than its USB input). On the other hand, for playing DSD, iFi micro IDSD can only use USB input. Hence it can’t enjoy the benefit brought by the iLink DDC.
Final words
Finally, I sold my Hugo.
It’s not that the Hugo is bad, basically Hugo is better than the iDSD on all aspects. But the iDSD provided me with the same level of music enjoyment. When I use iDSD to listen to pop, jazz, I am actually involved more emotionally! The iDSD, just makes me happy.
(Rotary power switch. Headphone output.)
(iDSD the USB/SPDIF input)
(The bottom side.)
(All kinds of filters, power mode (for headphone) and polarity adjustment)
(Power output for charging .... the iDSD can act as a mobile power pack to power to your mobile equipment.)
