Introducing NEO iDSD2! The world's first lossless Bluetooth DAC/Amp...

[mattris]

Can the headphone jacks be disabled without having to disconnect the headphones? Can the XLR- and RCA-outputs be disabled?

 

[Jazz1]

Thanks so much for your initial thoughts and impressions, we really appreciate it!

Please keep us updated as you move along with the New NEO.

Cheers!!

Bubba

Well yesterday's headphone trial with the Neo2 was the Sennheiser HD-650. I'd like to say the Neo2 breathed new life into them, but in actuality the HD-650 just needed the Neo2 to show me their wonderful sound! I've had the the HD-650 for many years, and quite frankly didn't use the much with the Schiit Asgard 3 w/TrueMultibit. Nothing against the Asgard by any means, but the Neo2's ability to let me tweak the sound really brought the music home with the HD-650. Madeleine Peyroux's "We Might As Well Dance" has me dancing in my desk chair this morning!

Having said that, my initial tryout with the Bowers & Wilkins P9 wired headphones was a little disappointing. I need to play around with the Neo2 and the P9's because I've certainly raved about them simply using them with an AudioQuest DragonFly Red on my iPhone/iPad for travel. So I'll give this combo another try soon.

 

[iFi audio]

Well yesterday's headphone trial with the Neo2 was the Sennheiser HD-650. I'd like to say the Neo2 breathed new life into them, but in actuality the HD-650 just needed the Neo2 to show me their wonderful sound! I've had the the HD-650 for many years, and quite frankly didn't use the much with the Schiit Asgard 3 w/TrueMultibit. Nothing against the Asgard by any means, but the Neo2's ability to let me tweak the sound really brought the music home with the HD-650. Madeleine Peyroux's "We Might As Well Dance" has me dancing in my desk chair this morning!

Having said that, my initial tryout with the Bowers & Wilkins P9 wired headphones was a little disappointing. I need to play around with the Neo2 and the P9's because I've certainly raved about them simply using them with an AudioQuest DragonFly Red on my iPhone/iPad for travel. So I'll give this combo another try soon.

Do let us know your continuing thoughts and trials here!

Good or bad, that's what impressions are all about, and open things up to further discussion!

Cheers!!

Bubba

 

[Andrew Rieger]

@iFi audio How does the Neo2 compare, sound quality wise, with the iDSD Diablo portable? Can we expect a bump in performance from both the DAC and Amp section since this is a desktop unit?

 

[talan7]

@iFi audio How does the Neo2 compare, sound quality wise, with the iDSD Diablo portable? Can we expect a bump in performance from both the DAC and Amp section since this is a desktop unit?

And more importantly, driving power

 

[pekiskol]

Currently, I own the Beyerdynamic Amiron Home headphones and the DAC/AMP Audio-gd R2R 11 and am considering an upgrade. The Audeze LCD-2 headphones, which are widely recognized for their warm and natural sound, something I prefer, have caught my attention. I plan to pair them with the upcoming DAC/AMP iFi NEO iDSD 2. I would be interested to know if anyone has experience with the Audeze LCD-2 in combination with the iFi NEO iDSD 2.

 

[Jazz1]

Currently, I own the Beyerdynamic Amiron Home headphones and the DAC/AMP Audio-gd R2R 11 and am considering an upgrade. The Audeze LCD-2 headphones, which are widely recognized for their warm and natural sound, something I prefer, have caught my attention. I plan to pair them with the upcoming DAC/AMP iFi NEO iDSD 2. I would be interested to know if anyone has experience with the Audeze LCD-2 in combination with the iFi NEO iDSD 2.

I have the original Audeze LCD-2, and now the new NEO 2. I do have a PS Plus third party cable on the Audeze headphone. I’ll give some more time with this combo tomorrow and update. I’ll give the stock cables a shot again. I’d like to buy a balanced Moon Audio cable and see if that further improves the sound!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I have the original Audeze LCD-2, and now the new NEO 2. I do have a PS Plus third party cable on the Audeze headphone. I’ll give some more time with this combo tomorrow and update. I’ll give the stock cables a shot again. I’d like to buy a balanced Moon Audio cable and see if that further improves the sound!

Thanks for checking this combo out, and bouncing some thoughts out on it! Part of why I love Head-Fi sharing thoughts and opinions in a constructive way!

Cheers!!

 

[Jazz1]

I have the original Audeze LCD-2, and now the new NEO 2. I do have a PS Plus third party cable on the Audeze headphone. I’ll give some more time with this combo tomorrow and update. I’ll give the stock cables a shot again. I’d like to buy a balanced Moon Audio cable and see if that further improves the sound!

First I just want to say I appreciate this community. It keeps me searching for better and better sound with the commentary and encouragement it provides.

So this morning I broke out the original cable for the Audeze LCD-2 (ordinal, that came in a "bomb proof" waterproof hard case. Listening to HAIM using the first bass boost (blue) and the first space (red) I found nothing lacking in the sound. I then listened to the same "Want You Back" by HAIM ( in think the stock cables wanted me back).

I then listened swapped out the cables back to the PS Plus cables. I don't know if the company still exists, but it is a twisted wire and I believe there is some silver in them. I found the female vocals a little brighter and maybe the bass a little tighter with the same settings on the Neo 2. Both tests were using Tidal. In this case MQA files on some of the sampling. I try to find the highest sampling rates I can find on Tidal.

I also enjoyed Norah Jones, Margaret Glaspy "Get Back" song. As well as "Come Together" interrupted by Arctic Monkeys. Ed Sheeran's "Magical" was rendered nicely with the bass still in the Neo2 blue mood boost coming in articulate but gently as to not overwhelm the vocals.

Could I live with the standard cables from Audeze on the LCD-2? Well yes I could. But cables are a tweak I enjoy (naysayers stay home) . One huge plus of the Neo2 IMHO opinion you can tweak the sound using its built in features. Somewhat similar to cable swapping. But of course it is nice to have both options.

I will go so far as to say that while the Audeze LCD-2 are the heaviest headphones I own, the physical weight of these headphones is well worth the effort when you get the right equipment chain pushing them to their full potential. The Neo2 made me appreciate the Audeze LCD-2 headphones even more (in fact the improvement was heard with my HD-650, Dan Clark Neon 2 Noir).

I need to try out my B&W P9's a bit more as earlier reported, as I was feeling maybe this matchup wasn't working as well as my memory told me. I'll try again and I hope I was not just giving this paring a fair match. I know they sound great with my iPhone and iPad. I was not over driving them with the Neo2 I swear!

I have yet to really explore the high sampling BlueTooth sampling rate support that the Neo2 offers. I may need a little coaching on that. In that I'm not sure if my B&W Px8 or M&D MW75 support what the Neo2's higher resolution BT? BT does still have a place in my life. But when I'm at my desk it is easier to forego BT and plug in my headphones to the Neo2.

Sorry for droning on. But, now I'm wondering if my Chord2 could even hope to drive the Audeze LCD-2? My spouse will kill me if I starting loading the Audeze LCD-2 hardcore, hard case into the SUV for trips!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

First I just want to say I appreciate this community. It keeps me searching for better and better sound with the commentary and encouragement it provides.

So this morning I broke out the original cable for the Audeze LCD-2 (ordinal, that came in a "bomb proof" waterproof hard case. Listening to HAIM using the first bass boost (blue) and the first space (red) I found nothing lacking in the sound. I then listened to the same "Want You Back" by HAIM ( in think the stock cables wanted me back).

I then listened swapped out the cables back to the PS Plus cables. I don't know if the company still exists, but it is a twisted wire and I believe there is some silver in them. I found the female vocals a little brighter and maybe the bass a little tighter with the same settings on the Neo 2. Both tests were using Tidal. In this case MQA files on some of the sampling. I try to find the highest sampling rates I can find on Tidal.

I also enjoyed Norah Jones, Margaret Glaspy "Get Back" song. As well as "Come Together" interrupted by Arctic Monkeys. Ed Sheeran's "Magical" was rendered nicely with the bass still in the Neo2 blue mood boost coming in articulate but gently as to not overwhelm the vocals.

Could I live with the standard cables from Audeze on the LCD-2? Well yes I could. But cables are a tweak I enjoy (naysayers stay home) . One huge plus of the Neo2 IMHO opinion you can tweak the sound using its built in features. Somewhat similar to cable swapping. But of course it is nice to have both options.

I will go so far as to say that while the Audeze LCD-2 are the heaviest headphones I own, the physical weight of these headphones is well worth the effort when you get the right equipment chain pushing them to their full potential. The Neo2 made me appreciate the Audeze LCD-2 headphones even more (in fact the improvement was heard with my HD-650, Dan Clark Neon 2 Noir).

I need to try out my B&W P9's a bit more as earlier reported, as I was feeling maybe this matchup wasn't working as well as my memory told me. I'll try again and I hope I was not just giving this paring a fair match. I know they sound great with my iPhone and iPad. I was not over driving them with the Neo2 I swear!

I have yet to really explore the high sampling BlueTooth sampling rate support that the Neo2 offers. I may need a little coaching on that. In that I'm not sure if my B&W Px8 or M&D MW75 support what the Neo2's higher resolution BT? BT does still have a place in my life. But when I'm at my desk it is easier to forego BT and plug in my headphones to the Neo2.

Sorry for droning on. But, now I'm wondering if my Chord2 could even hope to drive the Audeze LCD-2? My spouse will kill me if I starting loading the Audeze LCD-2 hardcore, hard case into the SUV for trips!

Awesome to read your thoughts on this pairing, I am sure everyone will benefit from your thoughts on them.

Thanks again for sharing, and I am looking forward to more!

Cheers!!

 

[GlenAppleton]

Y'all are gonna make me spend more money again...

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Y'all are gonna make me spend more money again...

HA!

You know my advice bro, always buy from a retailer that asks no questions on a return, best practice always!

I am seriously considering getting one myself, so I feel ya!

Cheers!!

 

[erekola]

I changed NEO iDSD to NEO iDSD 2 and I can't stand it when the line output vlm ctrl is on, so there is always a bang when the clock changes between 44 and 48k rate DSD. So is there a new fw or should I return this?

 

[Condocondor]

I changed NEO iDSD to NEO iDSD 2 and I can't stand it when the line output vlm ctrl is on, so there is always a bang when the clock changes between 44 and 48k rate DSD. So is there a new fw or should I return this?

Open a ticket with iFi Audio and tell them the problem. They'll take care of you. The Ticket date should forestall any return deadline but contact your retailer also. It's likely a situation where a software update will do the job.

 

[erekola]

Open a ticket with iFi Audio and tell them the problem. They'll take care of you. The Ticket date should forestall any return deadline but contact your retailer also. It's likely a situation where a software update will do the job.

Opened ticket and contacted retailer. Thanks!