iFi iPurifier 2 - Reviews, Impressions and Discussion Thread

[peterinvan]

  Did you notice any downsize in sound quality from using both the ipurifier and the jitterbug together?

I tried the Jitterbug at the USB outlet on my iMac and the iPurifier2 at the USB in on the iUSB.
 
I could not detect any difference with/without the Jitterbug.

 

[furllan]

  Correct, these indeed need a while to kick-in properly.

How long exactly?
 
And, to warm it up it is enough to leave it plugged on, or it is required to actually play something through it?

 

[gr8soundz]

  I tried the Jitterbug at the USB outlet on my iMac and the iPurifier2 at the USB in on the iUSB.
 
I could not detect any difference with/without the Jitterbug.

 
What I remember most about adding the Jitterbug was how much better cymbals sounded. First thought the volume was too high but presence and decay definitely improved.
 
IIRC, the iP2 brought improved separation and a lower noise floor. Everything sounded a bit more lively (best word I can think of to describe for now).
 
Each person and setup is different so no surprise if some hear no difference. The effects can be very subtle (like a less than 5% change). But I'm a firm believer in stacking small changes for larger improvements. Feel like my combo of the Jitterbug, Mercury cable, and iPurifier 2 gives my setup a 10-15% edge.
 
In the future think I plan to try iFi's iSilencer 3.0 in place of the Jitterbug. Might be more of a lateral swap but curious to see how well it works.
 

 

[furllan]

I also ordered an Uptone Regen just now.
 
It will be fun to mess around with all that gear to see how it will behave on my system.

 

[iFi audio]

  I also ordered an Uptone Regen just now.
 
It will be fun to mess around with all that gear to see how it will behave on my system.

 

 

[wakka992]

 
How long exactly?
 
And, to warm it up it is enough to leave it plugged on, or it is required to actually play something through it?

I second his question: "to warm up iPurifier2's clock is enough to leave it plugged on, or it is required to actually play something through it?"

 

[iFi audio]

 
How long exactly?
 
And, to warm it up it is enough to leave it plugged on, or it is required to actually play something through it?

 
No playback is needed, plugging 'em in is enough. About 30 minutes and you're good to go.

 

[furllan]

I recieved the jitterbug yesterday, running tests yet. But my first impression was not the best, seems to me that the jitterbug is making the sound more artificial and muffled. The iPurifier alone sounds more organic.

 

[Lohb]

  I recieved the jitterbug yesterday, running tests yet. But my first impression was not the best, seems to me that the jitterbug is making the sound more artificial and muffled. The iPurifier alone sounds more organic.

That was the case for me between the 2.

 

[furllan]

In my system the jitterbug really didn't came along well with the ipurifier 2, and between the two, i prefer the ipurifier.
 
Jitterbug made the sound pretty much aggressive to my taste, added some kind of artificialness and made the sound kinda muffled, it is hard to explain but once the jitterbug was gone everything sounded more natural.
 
IDK if it has to do with my DAC or speakers and I'm not saying that the jitterbug sucks completely, but in my system, to my ears, it really didn't work.

 

[Lohb]

  In my system the jitterbug really didn't came along well with the ipurifier 2, and between the two, i prefer the ipurifier.
 
Jitterbug made the sound pretty much aggressive to my taste, added some kind of artificialness and made the sound kinda muffled, it is hard to explain but once the jitterbug was gone everything sounded more natural.
 
IDK if it has to do with my DAC or speakers and I'm not saying that the jitterbug sucks completely, but in my system, to my ears, it really didn't work.

Jitterbug was brittle/icy in the treble for me once I used a more transparent opamp before. The previous opamp was masking it as it had rolled off treble and a tubey presentation to it.

 

[Krutsch]

  I also ordered an Uptone Regen just now.
 
It will be fun to mess around with all that gear to see how it will behave on my system.

So, what did you conclude?
 
I have an Uptone REGEN w/ a 7v linear PSU, as well as an iFI iPurifier 2.
 
I've been experimenting with these in series with my Bel Canto REFLink. Currently, I am using: MacBook --> REGEN --> iP2 --> REFLink --> Bel Canto DAC 2.5.
 
I am pretty sure my REFLink isn't drawing any 5v power from USB, so this chain is what I've read to be recommended by iFI Audio.

 

[Lohb]

 
So, what did you conclude?
 
I have an Uptone REGEN w/ a 7v linear PSU, as well as an iFI iPurifier 2.
 
I've been experimenting with these in series with my Bel Canto REFLink. Currently, I am using: MacBook --> REGEN --> iP2 --> REFLink --> Bel Canto DAC 2.5.
 
I am pretty sure my REFLink isn't drawing any 5v power from USB, so this chain is what I've read to be recommended by iFI Audio.

Sorry, why do you need regen behind the iP2 ?
I though iP2 took care of multiple/all USB issues behind it ?

 

[Robert Padgett]

Upon reading your review, I was able to replicate your results, but an interesting affect occurred which I found humorous.
I Have both the Schiit Modi2 DAC and their SYS passive pre-amp. A recently tuned up Yamaha RX-135 provides 35w/ch stereo into vintage Large Loudspeakers by Advent.
 
For my test, I used the iFi iDSD nano LE DAC/Headphone amplifier in the chain.
 
I cued up Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, and listened to the first two tracks. Of course the Burr-Brown chip-set of the iFi nano provides a much clearer signal than the Modi2. 
 
Everything you described with the cymbal crash and the overall depth of sound stage was present. The funny part is my dog, wanted to sing along with "Dreams"-- the only other track to elicit this response is Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight". If only I could hear in that range!
 
At $109.00 with free shipping from MusicDirect, I have to give the iFi iPurifier2 a "Must Buy" accessory for the "Computer Audiophile on the Cheap" system.
 
It is the second best purchase, after getting the external DAC.

 

[Krutsch]

 
Sorry, why do you need regen behind the iP2 ?
I though iP2 took care of multiple/all USB issues behind it ?

 
I don't know about *need*, but I have the iP2 between the REGEN and the DAC. My thought was to provide really clean power to the iP2, where it would then do whatever was left to do to the USB signal before going into the DAC.
 
Since then, I've removed the iP2 and just use the REGEN into my REFLink USB-to-SPDIF converter, then into the DAC.