[Paulus XII]

There is a well-documented psychological effect where a higher price can increase the subjective perception over the quality of something. I heard Hugo1 and iDSD BL, and the iDSD Silver, and many other DAC/AMP units. I do believe that you can make an elegant end-game with iDSD BL

I've heard Hugo 1 and now own Hugo 2 and they're on a different league. Definitely more refined if you're a purist and the bass is tighter and with superior resolution. Soundstage's wider. Imaging's better as is separation. Midrange is incredible.

I'll order the BL by Monday. Let's see how does it stacks against the Hugo 2. If it has 80% of the sound of the Hugo 2, I sell the Hugo, but to be quite frank, I doubt it. BL is also more portable, which would be better for the kind of use I give it (mostly outdoors).

 

[Rayzilla]

There is a well-documented psychological effect where a higher price can increase the subjective perception over the quality of something. I heard Hugo1 and iDSD BL, and the iDSD Silver, and many other DAC/AMP units. I do believe that you can make an elegant end-game with iDSD BL

This is quite true. And how well some can block or minimize this effect varies from person to person.

I'm right there with you. I'll admit, I haven't had a chance to listen to much in the way of dacs/amps. But from the few that I have, I would be blown away to hear something better. That's why I too would love to hear the ICan Pro. I love the look of it, and from the experience I have with the BL, the quality of the sound it puts out, I just can't imagine something sounding that much better. Not saying it doesn't sound better. It's just that the BL has put my expectations way up high, especially knowing it's from the same company.

I feel exactly the same way as you, which is why I am looking into the iCan Pro as well as their electrostatic add on. I guess there are no Black Friday deals on these? I hope to try these out one day but I don't think I will be able to find a dealer with the electrostatic add on.

I've heard Hugo 1 and now own Hugo 2 and they're on a different league. Definitely more refined if you're a purist and the bass is tighter and with superior resolution. Soundstage's wider. Imaging's better as is separation. Midrange is incredible.

I'll order the BL by Monday. Let's see how does it stacks against the Hugo 2. If it has 80% of the sound of the Hugo 2, I sell the Hugo, but to be quite frank, I doubt it. BL is also more portable, which would be better for the kind of the use I give it (mostly outdoors).

I look forward to your comments on this.



I did a post in the other BL thread but I guess I should be posting it here instead. And here it is:

I am loving this thing. I have been using it recently with my portable headphones (ED8). I always liked the ED8 because I think they are marvellous looking headphones for portable use because they are so sleek, simple and comfortable. I have the Limited Edition model which has the wood grain detailing. The only thing I thought it was missing was a wider soundstage, being a big time HD800 fan. Using the 3D on the BL with the ED8 is like applying some magic dust to my music. It is so good now.

But like I said before, it has re-ignited a problem of my past. I want to try it with other headphones now. I dropped by my local headphone shop the other day and it looks like I will be dropping by there again the next chance I get to try out the Focal Clear, which they just received and will be on display soon.

 

[BB 808]

I've heard Hugo 1 and now own Hugo 2 and they're on a different league. Definitely more refined if you're a purist and the bass is tighter and with superior resolution. Soundstage's wider. Imaging's better as is separation. Midrange is incredible.

I'll order the BL by Monday. Let's see how does it stacks against the Hugo 2. If it has 80% of the sound of the Hugo 2, I sell the Hugo, but to be quite frank, I doubt it. BL is also more portable, which would be better for the kind of the use I give it (mostly outdoors).

Hugo 2 $2379 vs. iDSD BL $549. C'mon man

 

[gLer]

Just to chime in with my 0.02, we tend to forget that at this level, it’s all about preference and ‘flavour’ rather than better or best.

Go to Innerfedelity and read Bob Katz’s review of the LCD-4 vs $60,000 Dynaudio speakers (where he concludes the LCD-4 is virtually a match for the speakers). The point here is that he used a single ended Audeze Deckard as his dac/amp for the LCD-4, commenting that it’s about as transparent a source as he could find.

I’d wager the BL is every bit as ‘good’ as the Deckard, and likewise the Hugo. By far biggest difference in sound comes from the headphones you use, followed by the quality of source file, followed by the dac and amp - which essentially should be as transparent as possible. Of course most are not, adding their own ‘flavour’ to the sound, be it warmth, separation, more or less of an analogue sound, filters and so on.

You might love what the BL does with your music and with your headphones, while the same setup could sound too warm or too bright or too dark to someone else. Heck many enthusiasts prefer the more analogue, less “hi-fi” sound of mid-century tubes!

So to say you can build an ‘end game’ setup around the BL is true, just as it is with the original iDSD Micro (many prefer the more analogue and warmer tonality of the original, for example), as it is for the Hugo. If your dac and/or amp pairs better with your headphones than another that costs five times the price, then it’s better for you.

Vendors will always try to push the latest and greatest product on you, but trust your ears, not the spec sheets.

 

[Paulus XII]

Hugo 2 $2379 vs. iDSD BL $549. C'mon man

Anything is possible

To be frank, I have high expectations for the BL based on the hardware used, technology and users experience. Let's see.

 

[iFi audio]

Anything is possible

To be frank, I have high expectations for the BL based on the hardware used, technology and users experience. Let's see.

Please do let us know how it went. We look forwrd for reading your impressions!

 

[iFi audio]

@iFi audio I'm quite curious if I'll ever get to hear any of your Pro series of items, especially if you plan on sending a demo unit to AVstore or something like that.

It's for the best to ask your local iFi dealer, but we do pay attention to what people would like to do here as well. If something happens, we'll let you know for sure!

 

[Slim1970]

I can't even imagine how iCan Pro thingy must sound like, given that it is supposed to be an upgrade to iDSD BL

The iDSD BL uses trickle down technology from the Pro iCan the way I understand it. As good as the iDSD BL is, the Pro iCan really is a step up in clarity, detail, refinement, control, resolution, connectivity and adjustments. I love both products but the Pro iCan is worthy of being a TOTL amp in my opinion.

 

[Slim1970]

But I am very curious about this item:


Not sure if it’s going to replace the iDSD BL or not. But from the looks of it one thing I can say is it’s definitely a little more portable.

 

[BB 808]

Anything is possible

To be frank, I have high expectations for the BL based on the hardware used, technology and users experience. Let's see.

Interested in your comparison since I already have the micro iDSD BL.

 

[hemipowered007]

It's for the best to ask your local iFi dealer, but we do pay attention to what people would like to do here as well. If something happens, we'll let you know for sure!

Any chance of getting a tour going for the ican pro? I am also interested in possibly selling my micro bl, as well as a few other items and buying the ican pro. BUT, would like to try it for minimum 2 weeks besides my micro bl and pioneer sx1010, to see IF it bests that combo. I have a serious doubt that it could, but, would love to test those waters!

EDIT;
I believe I may have come off a bit rude although not trying to be. I'm so impressed by the sq of the micro bl, especially when used as a dac/pre amp to my sx1010, that I really don't know how it gets any better than that combo with my he4. BUT, the ican pro having the tube pre really has my interest. I just wish there was somewhere local I could try one out. Guess I need to goto a show.

 

[Swiftfalcon]

Never heard the black label, but I own the ifi micro ican se (4w max into 16 ohm) and mojo as well as hugo 2. Comparing mojo>he400i and mojo>ican se>he400i I easily prefer the former. Nevertheless this thread has piqued my interest to try black label, maybe it’s dac section is that good.

 

[iFi audio]

Never heard the black label, but I own the ifi micro ican se (4w max into 16 ohm) and mojo as well as hugo 2. Comparing mojo>he400i and mojo>ican se>he400i I easily prefer the former. Nevertheless this thread has piqued my interest to try black label, maybe it’s dac section is that good.

Please feel free to let us know if this happens!

 

[Vitaly2017]

Hi fellow friends of head fi, I currently purchased a pair of hd800s and played them from a lg v30, sound was to bright and thin. Then I gave a try to my old jds labs c5d and wow the sound was superb and pleasant I loved the bass boost with 3 lvl ( 0db --- 3db ---6db ) Now I have encountered some distortion with my c5d at some point when you set the volume to high. I am really looking into the idsd black or ican pro to pair with my new hd800s. I never heard any ifi before. For me its important to know how many lvl of adjustments I can do on the bass boost with idsd bl and does it sound similar as the c5d? like a lushy, warm and tube amp style? I Believe the lg v30 quad dac is very good and was thinking just to use the amp part from idsd bl, or would the idsd bl dac also be better then the v30?
And the Ican pro offers the xlr 4 pin and also a real true tube amp or solid state and even the hybrid version. Also I saw 4 options of bass boost but couldn't find the db gain of each lvl. And same time do love the portable idea of the idsd bl too. So I trying to understand will I be fine with idsd bl or ican pro could you guys please help me out with the buying decision.

 

[iFi audio]

Hi fellow friends of head fi, I currently purchased a pair of hd800s and played them from a lg v30, sound was to bright and thin. Then I gave a try to my old jds labs c5d and wow the sound was superb and pleasant I loved the bass boost with 3 lvl ( 0db --- 3db ---6db ) Now I have encountered some distortion with my c5d at some point when you set the volume to high. I am really looking into the idsd black or ican pro to pair with my new hd800s. I never heard any ifi before. For me its important to know how many lvl of adjustments I can do on the bass boost with idsd bl and does it sound similar as the c5d? like a lushy, warm and tube amp style? I Believe the lg v30 quad dac is very good and was thinking just to use the amp part from idsd bl, or would the idsd bl dac also be better then the v30?
And the Ican pro offers the xlr 4 pin and also a real true tube amp or solid state and even the hybrid version. Also I saw 4 options of bass boost but couldn't find the db gain of each lvl. And same time do love the portable idea of the idsd bl too. So I trying to understand will I be fine with idsd bl or ican pro could you guys please help me out with the buying decision.

Our micro iDSD BL is a transportable device, designed to do as many things as possible. Yes, it can drive your HD800S and quite effortlessly. Yet Pro iDAC is on another level as far as headphones amplification goes. What you need to do is to answer yourself whether you need/want one transportable solution which does it all or are keen to push things higher and complete a desktop only setup over time.