[iFi audio]

I mean in terms of the gain in SQ. I am trying to decide which direction to go, usb or source optimization.

It mainly comes down to what you already have and how significant changes are you willing to make. Separate streamers in comparison to laptops change the way how you listen to and use your music, whereas our products do far different things in comparison.

Our products will work with any USB setup and are futureproof so if you'll decide to go this route you're safe in the long run. On the other hand, wirelessly controlled servers are true eye openers to people who roll with laptops. Also, our USB accessories work nicely with streamers.

What are your priorities?

 

[iFi audio]

ifi has updated their micro iusb3.0 and igalvanic to 2nd gen reclock regen rebalance (but they did not tell how to differentiate the old and new version). you should try

Current versions are always more effective than previous. For example, just recently we got feedback that our iPurifier3.0 is far superior to the previous model.

 

[smodtactical]

It mainly comes down to what you already have and how significant changes are you willing to make. Separate streamers in comparison to laptops change the way how you listen to and use your music, whereas our products do far different things in comparison.

Our products will work with any USB setup and are futureproof so if you'll decide to go this route you're safe in the long run. On the other hand, wirelessly controlled servers are true eye openers to people who roll with laptops. Also, our USB accessories work nicely with streamers.

What are your priorities?

Thats what I figured. I'm running out of a desktop right now with a gaming asus maximus IV motherboard and a big gaming card etc. I just upgraded from an HDV 820 to a Terminator + HE9 stack and just plugged in the terminator with a mercury 3.0 cable from the front of my pc. I was impressed with the improvement of SQ but just felt deep down the terminator and stack overall is capable of more.

By optimizing my usb first I not only should get a decent boost of SQ but the usb rig can be used in a future network streamer upgrade between the streamer and the dac.

PS. If I do your micro 3.0 + igal 3.0 setup... is there any value of adding on ipurifier 2/3 on the chain ?

 

[littlexx26]

Thats what I figured. I'm running out of a desktop right now with a gaming asus maximus IV motherboard and a big gaming card etc. I just upgraded from an HDV 820 to a Terminator + HE9 stack and just plugged in the terminator with a mercury 3.0 cable from the front of my pc. I was impressed with the improvement of SQ but just felt deep down the terminator and stack overall is capable of more.

By optimizing my usb first I not only should get a decent boost of SQ but the usb rig can be used in a future network streamer upgrade between the streamer and the dac.

PS. If I do your micro 3.0 + igal 3.0 setup... is there any value of adding on ipurifier 2/3 on the chain ?

ifi said no need to add ipurifier3. if you buy micro 3.0 and igal 3.0, make sure they are updated version with 2nd gen reclock regen rebalance.

 

[iFi audio]

Thats what I figured. I'm running out of a desktop right now with a gaming asus maximus IV motherboard and a big gaming card etc. I just upgraded from an HDV 820 to a Terminator + HE9 stack and just plugged in the terminator with a mercury 3.0 cable from the front of my pc. I was impressed with the improvement of SQ but just felt deep down the terminator and stack overall is capable of more.

By optimizing my usb first I not only should get a decent boost of SQ but the usb rig can be used in a future network streamer upgrade between the streamer and the dac.

That's one way of doing this, yes. Later on, when you'll decide to try SOtM, you'll already have tools to enchance its USB out.

PS. If I do your micro 3.0 + igal 3.0 setup... is there any value of adding on ipurifier 2/3 on the chain ?

micro iUSB3.0, nano iUSB3.0 and our latest iPurifier act in the same way, though their potency in cleaning the USB pipeline differs and their prices reflect this. micro iUSB3.0 is the best one out there of its kind from our current lineup and with iGalvanic3.0 it creates the best team we have in our offer to date.

 

[littlexx26]

I am looking for a high quality lps for my micro iusb3.0, replacing ipower. anyone has any suggestion? I heard uptone lps-1.2 is a good choice.

 

[lithiumnk]

I am looking for a high quality lps for my micro iusb3.0, replacing ipower. anyone has any suggestion? I heard uptone lps-1.2 is a good choice.

I have not tried lps1.2. Few users at computer audiophile reported improvement over ifi ipower.
lps 1.2 has a noise floor 0.8µV/RMS & 100% galvanic isolation from the AC mains at all times. (435 usd)
ipower has a noise floor of 1uv. (included with micro iusb3.0)
micro iusb 3.0 will further reduce the noise floor to 0.1uv.

Try it yourself & compare it with ipower.

 

[ballard3]

Just received Micro Iusb 3: the "power" led is always on even when the switch is set to "auto" and pc is off. So the only way to turn off the led is to disconnect the power supply,
Is this normal?

 

[theveterans]

Just received Micro Iusb 3: the "power" led is always on even when the switch is set to "auto" and pc is off. So the only way to turn off the led is to disconnect the power supply,
Is this normal?

It does not have a power switch on the unit. However, I leave it on 24/7 to charge my iPod Touch and Chord Mojo for cleaner DC power charging

 

[littlexx26]

I have not tried lps1.2. Few users at computer audiophile reported improvement over ifi ipower.
lps 1.2 has a noise floor 0.8µV/RMS & 100% galvanic isolation from the AC mains at all times. (435 usd)
ipower has a noise floor of 1uv. (included with micro iusb3.0)
micro iusb 3.0 will further reduce the noise floor to 0.1uv.

Try it yourself & compare it with ipower.

i just got lps1.2 to power my micro iusb3.0 and i confirm the improvement is not small.

 

[iFi audio]

Just received Micro Iusb 3: the "power" led is always on even when the switch is set to "auto" and pc is off. So the only way to turn off the led is to disconnect the power supply,
Is this normal?

The "Power" LED will be on as long as the external PSU is connected and powered. This is normal and intentional.

The "Auto" setting of our iUSB 3.0 will switch off all other circuitry (except the power LED) when the host (PC etc) is off and only the power LED will be on.

 

[macx]

so i just purchased a Micro iUSB3.0 and the Igalvanic3.0, is correct setup, PC>iGalvanic3.0>Micro iUSB3.0>Chord Hugo 2?

also any recommended usb cable from iUSB3.0 to Hugo 2? or stock cable is fine.

Also question, should i use the power from the IUSB3.0 to charge/power the chord hugo 2 has anyone tried this or currently doing this and if so a recommended cable.

 

[lithiumnk]

so i just purchased a Micro iUSB3.0 and the Igalvanic3.0, is correct setup, PC>iGalvanic3.0>Micro iUSB3.0>Chord Hugo 2?

Also as a secondary question, should i use the power from the IUSB3.0 to charge/power the chord hugo 2 has anyone tried this or currently doing this and if so a recommended cable.

The chain is correct. I used this setup for more than 6 months and iusb power to charge hugo2 coz it's the cleanest one. There was a day and night diff. between a typical usb connection and this setup.
This sounds way better than coaxial n optical.(A/Bed many times)
Once you get used to this setup its very difficult to go back to other inputs unless you upgrade to I2S.
Cheers

Edit: I had curious usb cable for data and silver dragon for charging.

 

[macx]

do you feel the usb cables made a difference

also i cant seem to find the Moon Audio cable Micro to A.

I did find the Curious Cable Hugo Link cable

 

[lithiumnk]

do you feel the usb cables made a difference

Its subjective... YMMV
For sound yes... (curious is damn good)
I had a spare silver dragon lying around so used that instead of stock for power ...