[iFi audio]

iGalvanic

Galvanic isolation should be used as early in an USB chain as possible.

I have the ground switches set to off on the iGalvanic and the iUSB

You could a different knob position, or ask us here: https://support.ifi-audio.com/

 

[stuck limo]

What is the difference betweeen v1 and v2?

See Pic below for Version 1.1. Is this the only version that was created? I'm not at home now so I can't look at mine. @iFi audio

..of what exactly?

Some claim that the iUSB3.0 was updated on the hardware part without any change in the product description. So we have the V1 (initial iUSB3.0 released 2-3 years ago) and an improved one with a better clock which they call v2.
The question was which is the official position: are there 2 versions of iUSB3.0 and if yes, how can we differentiate them? For example, an answer could be "Yes, from S/N xxxxxx you buy the second hardware revision" or "No, you guys are crazy".

 

[stuck limo]

@Everyone Can all of you guys look at the back of the boxes to see what versions you have and post them? I'm tracing down a lead on a used one and I'm trying to figure out which "Version" this guy has. Mine's at home so I can't tell right this second.

 

[2thfixr]

Mine says 2.0

 

[stuck limo]

Mine says 2.0

@iFi audio What's the deal?

 

[2thfixr]

Just kidding. Mine is at my office I can’t check at the moment. Just wanted to see you lose your mind. LOL!

 

[stuck limo]

Just kidding. Mine is at my office I can’t check at the moment. Just wanted to see you lose your mind. LOL!

LMAO dude not cool. I have a potential seller on the line waiting for my PayPal funds.

 

[2thfixr]

Just buy it. There aren’t many out there for some reason they discontinue it and bring it back. Honestly the igalvanic3.0 made the biggest difference for me but I can’t hook up the iUSB3.0 until my Gemini 2.0 cable comes Monday. The Gemini3.0 cable I got isn’t compatible with my Chord M Scaler

 

[stuck limo]

Just kidding. Mine is at my office I can’t check at the moment. Just wanted to see you lose your mind. LOL!

I seriously about died. I freaked.

 

[2thfixr]

Just checked and mine is v1.1 Can't speak for ifi but I'd imagine if they're saying it hasn't been updated it's more a means of designating batch or release. If there were any changes it would behoove them to mention it as such to generate more sales or interest in a upgraded product... zero reason to hide a update.

With that said, I have the iGalvanic3.0 --> Oyaide USB cable --> iUSB3.0 Nano --> iGemini2.0 cable --> Chord Cutest at my office. Just switched it from iUSB3.0 Nano --> iGalvanic3.0 --> Chord Cutest per ifi's suggestion and it does sound much better with the iUSB as the last step in the chain.

At home I have the iGalvanic3.0 --> Oyaide USB cable --> iUSB3.0 Micro --> generic USB cable --> Chord M Scaler --> Chord TT2 with a iGemeni2.0 cable on order. Can't wait to see what the correct iGemeni2.0 cable does for that setup!

I was never big on USB reclocking etc and actually ran a generic USB cable straight from my PC to the Chord DACs LOL! After these changes, I'm a firm believer.

 

[iFi audio]

There aren’t many out there for some reason they discontinue it and bring it back. Honestly the igalvanic3.0 made the biggest difference

micro iUSB3.0 has been around for several years, we sold everything we manufactured, so it eventually got discontinued. That's the natural order of things. Still, enough customers expressed ther interest in having micro iUSB3.0 reviwed, that we did it.

per ifi's suggestion and it does sound much better with the iUSB as the last step in the chain.

Yes, it should, because you galvanically isolated signal before its entry to reclocker (iUSB3.0).

@iFi audio What's the deal?

None as far as performance goes.

 

[alekc]

I've got mine about a 2 weeks ago and I had to search for it a bit. While I find it odd that such a great and versatile product is out of production without providing any replacement I understand it is a business decision of a manufacturer. Should I hurry up getting iGalvanic since some dealers don't have it on stock already?

While I haven't heard that much difference after introducing iUSB3.0 to my setups (but I've never really used stock USB cables either from the begging) and everyone can have own opinion on possible sound improvement, I must say it is perfect fit for Chord Mojo providing both data and power from a single device at the same time and I can not believe I could somehow live with out it. Tested it with Fiio Q5s and it also works flawlessly so far.

 

[One and a half]

The iUSB3.0 is a very stable device compared to the iGalvanic which I bought two of when released. The iGalvanic dropped out irregularly, the support dragged on for weeks, just had enough and sent the IGalvanics back and exchanged for the iUSB3.0.

In some twisted blessing, the iGalvanic drove me off using USB for good and went Ethernet instead.
One iUsb3 are used in a secondary system , and perhaps the other in a data line for an external CD drive used for ripping.

 

[technobear]

The secret with the iGalvanic seems to be the position of that ground link switch. Also, some computers don't like extra USB hubs in the chain. I just use the iGalvanic and the DAC - even adding an iPurifier3 caused some connection issues.

I have a combined silent computer and TV/AV system in the living room. It includes an RME ADI2-DAC and an XTZ class D power amp. The DAC is immune to ground plane noises but passes them from the USB input to the analog output and into the power amp which is very sensitive. Without the iGalvanic it is a horror show of nasty noises. Adding the iGalvanic eliminated those noises but gave rise to regular short dropouts and frequent bouts of high frequency jitter/whistling. The solution was to move the ground link switch to the down position. No more dropouts and no noises.

Without the iGalvanic, this system would not be possible so I am very pleased with it.

In terms of my second system (silent laptop + iDAC2 + iCAN), I find that an iPurifier2 or iPurifier3 does all that is necessary with a decent (Kimber) USB cable. I previously sold an iUSBPower as it added nothing. The Gemini and iPower 5V also add nothing to this system once the iPurifier2/3 is warmed up. The headphones are T1 and LCD-X so if there is a difference worth hearing then I should be hearing it.

I think the iPurifiers are great and they are all most people probably need when the source is a quiet laptop. They don't stop ground plane noise from a computer affecting susceptible gear though. For that you need iGalvanic. To their credit, the ADI-2 DAC, iDAC2 and iCAN are all immune to this ground plane noise so if I were only using headphones I would have no issue anyway.

 

[looge]

I recently updated the iFi USB audio driver to ver 3.2 and found that my music player can’t recognize my Micro iDSD (non BL) that’s connected to the iUSB3.0. Raised a ticket with iFi Audio support and was told to use ver 2.26 driver instead. Did just that but same result; device not initialized/ recognized. However, if I bypass the iUSB3.0 and connect the Micro iDSD directly to the laptop’s USB port it works just fine. I’m regretting having updated the iFi USB driver which has left me with an unusable iUSB3.0. Anyone else having the same issue? Know where, how, can I get back the older driver?