iFi Micro iDSD Black Label Rigs vs. Schitt stacks and Others......???

[Blasterinn]

This discussion is pretty interesting!
Ihave the micro black too, and i think that it's great.
However i am also interested in an upgrade, a desktop one is what I am looking for.
How did things go with the audio-gd products?

 

[Condocondor]

Still researching. I've demoed the Yulong DA-ART Aquilla DAC/AMP and the TEAC UD-505 DAC/AMP for $700 and $1700 respectively. Both were a "NO" for me. The Yulong was a side grade at best and I missed the warmth and lusciousness of the iDSD BL + iGalvanic + iPurifier3. The TEAC was supposed to be dual mono, dual 9038Pro DAC chips, Balanced, etc. and guess what? It sounded thin and hollow and lacked any bass that I'd grown custom to with my set-up.

It appears that while the iDSD has some weaknesses, so does everything else regardless of money. I think I'm about ready to go on a "buying to Demo" rampage and just start buying several things at once on the credit cards to try. Josh Valour of Youtube fame recommends the Topping D70s MQA as it has a better soundstage than it's more expensive brother the D90 and nearly indistinguishable--for $100 less. He then recommends the Gustard H16 for an amp and HiFiMan Arya for headphones. Now, what I think I'm after is just a bit more space around the instruments in the music. Perhaps the new iDSD Signature would provide that little "extra". Maybe it's the Diablo? Maybe it's a Schitt Bifrost2/Jotenheim2 stack? All of these items are in play for me.

 

[Chamade]

Still researching. I've demoed the Yulong DA-ART Aquilla DAC/AMP and the TEAC UD-505 DAC/AMP for $700 and $1700 respectively. Both were a "NO" for me. The Yulong was a side grade at best and I missed the warmth and lusciousness of the iDSD BL + iGalvanic + iPurifier3. The TEAC was supposed to be dual mono, dual 9038Pro DAC chips, Balanced, etc. and guess what? It sounded thin and hollow and lacked any bass that I'd grown custom to with my set-up.

It appears that while the iDSD has some weaknesses, so does everything else regardless of money. I think I'm about ready to go on a "buying to Demo" rampage and just start buying several things at once on the credit cards to try. Josh Valour of Youtube fame recommends the Topping D70s MQA as it has a better soundstage than it's more expensive brother the D90 and nearly indistinguishable--for $100 less. He then recommends the Gustard H16 for an amp and HiFiMan Arya for headphones. Now, what I think I'm after is just a bit more space around the instruments in the music. Perhaps the new iDSD Signature would provide that little "extra". Maybe it's the Diablo? Maybe it's a Schitt Bifrost2/Jotenheim2 stack? All of these items are in play for me.

Check out the Dethonray Honey H1 if you want a transportable amp/dac. Lush, detailed and warm sound with lots of character...different from my BL, more detailed and dynamic while retaining the warmth. Drives the Arya very well.

 

[Blasterinn]

I have just heard so much in the way of negative comments about schiit products and audio-gd stuff too.
That it mesures really bad and in many cases the distortion is audible and the design is really old.
Not judging as i have not heard it myself.
The ifi pro idsd dac/amp is sweet, but prohibitingly expensive.
I also want to keep the full sound of the micro black, however, the search has not been successful.

 

[Condocondor]

I recently picked up a Topping A90 and have been using my micro idsd black as a dac with Hifiman Arya balanced. The combination is absolutely sublime.

So did the Topping A90 amp just crush the amp in the iDSD BL? What is the difference exactly and how big of a jump was it? Or was it just a matter of higher power for the Aryas...rather than the sound signature difference?

 

[iFi audio]

So did the Topping A90 amp just crush the amp in the iDSD BL?

That's an interesting question and I'd like to know the answer myself

 

[squadgazzz]

Hi! I've tried to switch from BL to Signature with no luck. Signature has better details sacrificing soundstage and warmth.
What exactly advantages iPurifier and iGalvanic bring? According to documentation, these devices should help with some hisses and when a long USB cable is used. I don't hear any with my headphones and BL. My source is MacBook, not a desktop PC.
BTW, I found IFI's OTG cable is much better than the blue one.

 

[iFi audio]

What exactly advantages iPurifier and iGalvanic bring?

These accessories essentially condition USB signal prior to it entering a DAC. iGalvanic provides glavanic isolation to the USB pipeline, and iPurifier (a "baby" nano/micro iUSB3.0) reclocks it. In other words, they do digfferent things to make your USB connection better, and can work together.

 

[Blasterinn]

I have ordered the Topping D70S MQA dac & Singxer SA-1 amp to accompany it.
I realize this combination might not have the warmth of the Ifi micro black but at least it's going to be fun!

 

[iFi audio]

I have ordered the Topping D70S MQA dac & Singxer SA-1 amp to accompany it.
I realize this combination might not have the warmth of the Ifi micro black but at least it's going to be fun!

Do let us know how it works out for you

 

[Condocondor]

Hi! I've tried to switch from BL to Signature with no luck. Signature has better details sacrificing soundstage and warmth.
What exactly advantages iPurifier and iGalvanic bring? According to documentation, these devices should help with some hisses and when a long USB cable is used. I don't hear any with my headphones and BL. My source is MacBook, not a desktop PC.
BTW, I found IFI's OTG cable is much better than the blue one.

Oh man. Where do I start? The iPurifier3 and iGalvanic take the BL to a whole other level. It's not about getting rid of hiss although it will do that. It's about increased sound stage, clarity, smoothness, richness, dynamics, etc. These devices working together are worth the cost. I'm having a tough time trying to find an upgrade path that lets me hang on to the the BL's warmth and richness. If you like the basic tonality and functions of your BL then simply upgrade the accessories to improve it. It may actually cost you less than upgrading the whole rig and you'll be thrilled. Trust me, the iPurifer and the iGalvanic added to your chain will put an instant grin on your face. So another $500 bucks to BL nirvana.......... AND you can take these devices with you to your next rig if in fact you find something you like better. I will say that I'd start with the iPurifier3 then add the iGalvanic later if you can't afford the whole thing at once. For whatever reason, the iGalvanic by itself is not quite as impressive as when added to the iPurifier. Perhaps iFi can chime in here on why these two devices sound so good together.

 

[squadgazzz]

Oh man. Where do I start? The iPurifier3 and iGalvanic take the BL to a whole other level. It's not about getting rid of hiss although it will do that. It's about increased sound stage, clarity, smoothness, richness, dynamics, etc. These devices working together are worth the cost. I'm having a tough time trying to find an upgrade path that lets me hang on the the BL's warmth and richness. If you like the basic tonality and functions of your BL then simply upgrade the accessories to improve it. It may actually cost you less than upgrading the whole rig and you'll be thrilled. Trust me, the iPurifer and the iGalvanic added to your chain will put an instant grin on your face. So another $500 bucks to BL nirvana.......... AND you can take these devices with you to your next rig if in fact you find something you like better. I will say that I'd start with the iPurifier3 then the iGalvanic later if you can't afford the whole thing at once. For whatever reason, the iGalvanic by itself is not quite as impressive as when added to the iPurifier. Perhaps iFi can chime in here on why these two devices sound so good together.

Thanks, I'll try this out. Have you tried to compare this set with IFI iDSD Neo or RME ADI-2 DAC FS or Chord Hugo 2 or Chord Mojo or Sony TA-ZH1ES or Questyle CMA-400i?

 

[Condocondor]

Thanks, I'll try this out. Have you tried to compare this set with IFI iDSD Neo or RME ADI-2 DAC FS or Chord Hugo 2 or Chord Mojo or Sony TA-ZH1ES or Questyle CMA-400i?

No, I have not. But I've read and viewed a lot YouTubes of comparisons over the years. I would say the BL set (with purifier/galvanic) should smoke the Mojo which is close to the Hugo2. Neither the Mojo or the Hugo2 has galvanic isolation. And galvanic isolation is a mainstay in all higher end DACs for a reason. I would say that the BL with the purifier/Galvanic set is perhaps 15-20% better than BL by itself......and that's saying something! And you get to keep the basic tonality and functionality of the BL. Here is a great article on the iFi Audio iGalvanic which explains everything in great detail:

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/31125-ifi-audio-igalvanic30-the-holy-grail-of-computer-audio/#comments

 

[iFi audio]

The iPurifier3 and iGalvanic take the BL to a whole other level.

Quite the something, isn't it ?

iGalvanic alone does a lot to the USB pipeline and these changes are anything but subtle, but they don't alter the core you already have. At least that's how I see them.

 

[squadgazzz]

I've recently got iPurifier3. I'd like to say I have noticed a minor difference only. Lows sound a bit cleaner and less boomy. Highs a bit longer/extended. Maybe you hear a bigger difference because of your laptop or better headphones. I use a MacBook Pro 2018 with Campfire Cascade.
@Condocondor, could you please provide any track names to listen and hear the difference with and without iPurifier? And if possible with description of differences