[Bat4ery]

Yes, a PC/laptop to iGalvanic3.0 and then to micro iUSB3.0 and lastly your DAC, would be the best USB line we got.



Some users reported a quality spike in applying external 5V (from iDefender and ipower) before iGalvanic3.0, even though micro iUSB3.0 next in line is externally powered too. It's worth a shot.



iGalvanic3.0 provides galvanic isolation for USB, which is what iUSB3.0 doesn't do but benefits from. Think of the former as a product that prepares USB for micro iUSB3.0 to have it easier. But to make this to work the most efficiently, glavanic isolation has to be applied as soon in a setup as possible, and that's why we strongly suggest to use iGalvanic3.0 right next to your PC/laptop's USB out.

Thanks ifi.

I totally agree that using better gears sooner gets better results. I previously tested that and got the same answer.

I used to have the micro iDSD BL but sold it as it was a bit fatigue sounding to me at the time (I do not have any USB solutions then), but now I realize that might be a issue of dirty digital signal.

 

[Bat4ery]

@iFi audio Sorry for bothering again but can you please explain the difference between original gemini/mercury and new gemini/mercury cables other than the USB3.0 standard?
There seems to be very few comparisons between the two.

 

[alekc]

@iFi audio Sorry for bothering again but can you please explain the difference between original gemini/mercury and new gemini/mercury cables other than the USB3.0 standard?
There seems to be very few comparisons between the two.

@Bat4ery if your DAC is USB 2.0 only you can get away with older gemini/mercury cables version. The main difference is USB 3.0. Unless you prefer visuals/design of newer cables, but this does not influence SQ In reality I would first try iGalvanic with iUSB first and only after sometime considered if your setup really needs further cable upgrade.

 

[iFi audio]

Thanks guys.These are really helpful advices. It seems that we agree that the gemini plays a big role in ifi USB kits.

Agreed, it sure does.

but now I realize that might be a issue of dirty digital signal.

Most likely yes. micro iDSD BL (and pretty much all our products) are tuned to keep listening fatigue away. Some folks see this tuning as somewhat round and musical, and if we stick to basic descriptions I agree.

 

[iFi audio]

The main difference is USB 3.0. Unless you prefer visuals/design of newer cables, but this does not influence SQ

No it doesn't Although compliance with the USB3.0 standard is the significant change, there were more reworks than just the 3.0 connector, i.e. gemetry or movable filtering blocks, and that's only what exterior tells us

@iFi audio Sorry for bothering again but can you please explain the difference between original gemini/mercury and new gemini/mercury cables other than the USB3.0 standard?

Please see the above.

 

[Bat4ery]

@Bat4ery if your DAC is USB 2.0 only you can get away with older gemini/mercury cables version. The main difference is USB 3.0. Unless you prefer visuals/design of newer cables, but this does not influence SQ In reality I would first try iGalvanic with iUSB first and only after sometime considered if your setup really needs further cable upgrade.

No it doesn't Although compliance with the USB3.0 standard is the significant change, there were more reworks than just the 3.0 connector, i.e. gemetry or movable filtering blocks, and that's only what exterior tells us



Please see the above.

Thanks guys! Just bought the igalvanic and the older gemini

 

[zorilon]

Thanks guys.These are really helpful advices. It seems that we agree that the gemini plays a big role in ifi USB kits.

However, brand new Gemini 3.0 cable sells at an unbelievably price with the short one for about $600 and the long one for $700 here in my country.
So I guess I will wait for some used sales for the Gemini but there haven't been any yet.

And it is a shame that I cannot currently use gemini/mercury to connect my DAC as they come with only USB-C inputs. I use an Audioquest Carbon instead, which looks really cheap like $5 generic cables, but they perform in a good way although very different from the ifi cables.

@zorilon are you using the new orange Geminis or the silver old ones? There are affordable used offers for the old ones but I assume the new ones would be better.
Also, could you please share any thoughts on the comparison between your setup 1 and 3? (understand they are both dirty signal, but 1 being my current setup and 3 is what I am likely to get)

Hi,

I use the new Gemini USB 3.0 cable (the orange one and also Mercury 3.0 orange). The difference between setup 1 and setup 3 is not big, setup 1 has more speed and airiness but lack a little bass. Setup 3 has fuller sound and has more bass but it seems to have a slow sound. This are very minor differences.

 

[iFi audio]

Thanks guys! Just bought the igalvanic and the older gemini

Please report back once you get some mileage out of it, alright?

This are very minor differences.

Yes, these are subtle changes, but noticeable in the long run. Personally I find it very cool that a simple cable swap can actually do something and is free

 

[Quince]

First post!, hi all.

My layout is very similar in conceptual approach to zorilon’s. Here is what my chain looks like:

MacBook Pro -> OWC Thunderbolt doc 3 -> Gemini 3 -> iGalvanic (Just data from the OWC Doc, power through gemini from micro iUSB later in the chain) -> Mercury 3 -> micro iUSB -> curious USB -> Chord Qutest -> Lavri RCA interconnects -> Rupert Neve amp.

The supplied wall wart powers the Micro iUSB 3 with a DC Purifier in between. The Qutest is powered with an Anker power bank.

I mostly use Qobuz through Audirvana in HQ mode + Can opener Audio unit.

The iFI part of the chain has been a very welcomed addition. I went through it sequentially, first adding the mercury and the iGalvanic, with provided a better packaging to the low end, extra air, and a little bit of resolution. Then added the micro iUSB, which made the previous just better, there is more of it all, especially noticeable in the quality of the bass and the air, the highs and mids exhibit great separation (vocals as well) and are more lush without any hardness or loss of detail. The final and noticeable touch was the DC Purifier.

I played with different power feeds to the DAC (Chord provided PSU, microUSB and power bank), and the battery renders better SQ by far.

All in all, very happy with the sound that this produces through any of my headphones. Maybe I could have skipped the iGalvanic, but I think that it adds, especially when the power comes from the micro iUSB.

It might look as if I was becoming an iFI groupie. I am not, I have returned stuff (iPurifier 3) that did nothing in my setup, and I am very annoyed by the heavy-handedness of their marketing and the lack of memorability of their product naming. The fact that they got trigger happy with their logo application doesn’t help either (if I look toward the stuff that is sitting in my desk, I see nine iFI logos). But the truth is that my system sounds better with their products than without.

 

[iFi audio]

First post!, hi all.

My layout is very similar in conceptual approach to zorilon’s. Here is what my chain looks like:

MacBook Pro -> OWC Thunderbolt doc 3 -> Gemini 3 -> iGalvanic (Just data from the OWC Doc, power through gemini from micro iUSB later in the chain) -> Mercury 3 -> micro iUSB -> curious USB -> Chord Qutest -> Lavri RCA interconnects -> Rupert Neve amp.

The supplied wall wart powers the Micro iUSB 3 with a DC Purifier in between. The Qutest is powered with an Anker power bank.

I mostly use Qobuz through Audirvana in HQ mode + Can opener Audio unit.

The iFI part of the chain has been a very welcomed addition. I went through it sequentially, first adding the mercury and the iGalvanic, with provided a better packaging to the low end, extra air, and a little bit of resolution. Then added the micro iUSB, which made the previous just better, there is more of it all, especially noticeable in the quality of the bass and the air, the highs and mids exhibit great separation (vocals as well) and are more lush without any hardness or loss of detail. The final and noticeable touch was the DC Purifier.

I played with different power feeds to the DAC (Chord provided PSU, microUSB and power bank), and the battery renders better SQ by far.

All in all, very happy with the sound that this produces through any of my headphones. Maybe I could have skipped the iGalvanic, but I think that it adds, especially when the power comes from the micro iUSB.

It might look as if I was becoming an iFI groupie. I am not, I have returned stuff (iPurifier 3) that did nothing in my setup, and I am very annoyed by the heavy-handedness of their marketing and the lack of memorability of their product naming. The fact that they got trigger happy with their logo application doesn’t help either (if I look toward the stuff that is sitting in my desk, I see nine iFI logos). But the truth is that my system sounds better with their products than without.

Hey, thanks a lot for sharing! And it's very cool that yet another HF member found the iGalvanic3.0 + micro iUSB3.0 combo useful and effective.

I am not, I have returned stuff (iPurifier 3) that did nothing in my setup

Considering you already have micro iUSB3.0, iPurifier3 (a baby-iUSB3.0) shouldn't do anything.

 

[nxxo]

Hi Gentlemen, I would like to know if I can use my iusb3.0 to power my Chord Qutest...on chord's website they say 5V 2A for Chord for the alimentation ?

 

[technobear]

Hi Gentlemen, I would like to know if I can use my iusb3.0 to power my Chord Qutest...on chord's website they say 5V 2A for Chord for the alimentation ?

Qutest only uses 0.6A so it will be fine.

 

[nxxo]

Qutest only uses 0.6A so it will be fine.

Okay, perfect, 'cause I was trusting the xfo and it says 2A 5V.

 

[technobear]

Okay, perfect, 'cause I was trusting the xfo and it says 2A 5V.

NO, the PSU supplied by Chord can supply 2A. Rob Watts himself has stated somewhere here (I can't find it but it's there somewhere) that Qutest only uses 0.6A.

The Qutest manual recommends a minimum of 1A which gives some headroom.

 

[iFi audio]

NO, the PSU supplied by Chord can supply 2A. Rob Watts himself has stated somewhere here (I can't find it but it's there somewhere) that Qutest only uses 0.6A.

The Qutest manual recommends a minimum of 1A which gives some headroom.

Helpful as ever