[Deolum]

While I do not have any experience with 2Qute and Mac here are two points that comes to my mind:

• 2Quote supports USB2.0 so you can get cheaper version of Mercury (if needed - I would leave the cable exchange as last step)
• According to Chord product page 2Quote has galvanic isolation implemented so I wonder what iGalvanic would add. Here is the link https://chordelectronics.co.uk/product/2qute/

Yeah that's what i wonder too.
Are the older versions of the Mercury sonically the same like the new version?

 

[technobear]

What would be better?

For 2Qute, the iPurifier3 is really all you need. I would get one to trial as it may not make much difference to 2Qute. Note that like most electronics, they require a 30 minute warm-up to reach full performance.

 

[iFi audio]

When i talked to my local ifi dealer he told me that iUSB 3.0 wouldn't make a difference since it's mainly for clean power and my 2qute has it's own power supply.

I can't agree with that bit

It's true that iPurifier3 and micro iUSB3.0 are similar in what they do, but the latter is more efficient as a reclocker/cleaner as well. That's in fact one of reasons why it's more expensive. Perhaps your iFi rep didn't have any iUSB3.0 products left in stock

But having said that, whether you'll hear micro iUSB3.0's better performance over iPurifier3 also depends on a product to which they connect. Maybe @technobear is onto something.

 

[kp297]

I can't agree with that bit

It's true that iPurifier3 and micro iUSB3.0 are similar in what they do, but the latter is more efficient as a reclocker/cleaner as well. That's in fact one of reasons why it's more expensive. Perhaps your iFi rep didn't have any iUSB3.0 products left in stock

But having said that, whether you'll hear micro iUSB3.0's better performance over iPurifier3 also depends on a product to which they connect. Maybe @technobear is onto something.

Hi! From the USA, I can't purchase the iUSB3.0 as it's unavailable on Amazon. Do you know where we can purchase one? Thanks

 

[technobear]

Hi! From the USA, I can't purchase the iUSB3.0 as it's unavailable on Amazon. Do you know where we can purchase one? Thanks

https://ifi-audio.com/stockists/americas/

 

[kp297]

https://ifi-audio.com/stockists/americas/

Seems to be unavailable in many retailers. Also I prefer to shop via Amazon, as it’s from IFI direct and returns are simple.

 

[iFi audio]

Seems to be unavailable in many retailers. Also I prefer to shop via Amazon, as it’s from IFI direct and returns are simple.

Please write us a mail at: support@ifi-audio.com

Thanks!

 

[zorilon]

Well, I posted a couple weeks back my first impressions of this device, and since then, it had time for burn in and I also added an iGalvanic 3.0 before the MicroUSB 3.0.
The sound is amazing!
It is so clear, clean, every instrument has his place and for the first time I can hear the different recording background of every instrument (in the mastering process they add different effects and different instruments recorded in isolation) and I can now pick every one of this recordings in a 3D space that has depth.
It is remarkable.
I use the Mercury 3.0 and Gemini 3.0 cables so the full investment is almost 1500 euro (insanely expensive) but now even Chord Mojo sounds closely as good as the Holo Spring KTE (closely but still far back ).

 

[iFi audio]

Well, I posted a couple weeks back my first impressions of this device, and since then, it had time for burn in and I also added an iGalvanic 3.0 before the MicroUSB 3.0.
The sound is amazing!
It is so clear, clean, every instrument has his place and for the first time I can hear the different recording background of every instrument (in the mastering process they add different effects and different instruments recorded in isolation) and I can now pick every one of this recordings in a 3D space that has depth.
It is remarkable.
I use the Mercury 3.0 and Gemini 3.0 cables so the full investment is almost 1500 euro (insanely expensive) but now even Chord Mojo sounds closely as good as the Holo Spring KTE (closely but still far back ).

Hey, thanks a lot! It's kinda cool to know how much can we squeeze out of USB eh ?

 

[Bat4ery]

@iFi audio

Currently using Mercury 3.0 and micro iUSB 3.0 before DAC, and is planning to get a iGalvanic 3.0 (preferably with another Mercury cable) as you previously said these two works better as a team.

However, there are many selling the iGalvanic together with the iDefender and iPower to achieve isolated power supply, so I wonder if the latter two is still necessary if I already have the micro iUSB 3.0? will appreciate for any information on this.

Also, could you please explain how adding the iGalvanic before the micro iUSB 3.0 would improve the results? How big will the difference be when compared to the none to iUSB 3.0+Mercury 3.0 upgrade? (Personally I can hear a huge difference of the latter even on my $100 DAC)

Thanks

 

[alekc]

@iFi audio

Currently using Mercury 3.0 and micro iUSB 3.0 before DAC, and is planning to get a iGalvanic 3.0 (preferably with another Mercury cable) as you previously said these two works better as a team.

However, there are many selling the iGalvanic together with the iDefender and iPower to achieve isolated power supply, so I wonder if the latter two is still necessary if I already have the micro iUSB 3.0? will appreciate for any information on this.

Also, could you please explain how adding the iGalvanic before the micro iUSB 3.0 would improve the results? How big will the difference be when compared to the none to iUSB 3.0+Mercury 3.0 upgrade? (Personally I can hear a huge difference of the latter even on my $100 DAC)

Thanks

You probably do not need another Mercury cable between iGalvanic and iUSB. The difference iGalvanic adds when using micro iUSB 3.0 depends on your setup so it may be hard to guess. iPower now comes with iUSB in the box. I do not think you will get anything more by adding iDefender to your USB path when using iGalvanic together with iUSB. Probably the only other improvement you could get is by introducing Gemini cable to your setup from iUSB to your DAC. Again the final result will vary on your setup. Hopes this help.

 

[zorilon]

@iFi audio

Currently using Mercury 3.0 and micro iUSB 3.0 before DAC, and is planning to get a iGalvanic 3.0 (preferably with another Mercury cable) as you previously said these two works better as a team.

However, there are many selling the iGalvanic together with the iDefender and iPower to achieve isolated power supply, so I wonder if the latter two is still necessary if I already have the micro iUSB 3.0? will appreciate for any information on this.

Also, could you please explain how adding the iGalvanic before the micro iUSB 3.0 would improve the results? How big will the difference be when compared to the none to iUSB 3.0+Mercury 3.0 upgrade? (Personally I can hear a huge difference of the latter even on my $100 DAC)

Thanks

The difference adding an iGalvanic before the micro iUSB 3.0 will not be very big if you don’t use a Gemini cable. Let me explain how and why from my experience.
I started using the micro iUSB 3.0 with one Mercury cable and one Gemini cable in the classic fashion:
1. PC - Mercury - micro iUSB - Gemini - DAC. In this configuration the micro iUSB was feed with the dirty power from the PC before separating and cleaning the data and directing it to the DAC with a new and clean power.
Then I thought to feed the micro iUSB with data from PC and clean power from himself using Gemini cable:
2. PC - Gemini - micro iUSB - Mercury - DAC. In this configuration I had much better results then in the first configuration. Using the Gemini before micro iUSB it was like doing an galvanic isolation to the dirty power of the PC, but no galvanic isolation to the data signal. But in this configuration you feed the data with clean power to micro iUSB and after that you still feed the DAC with clean power from micro iUSB using Mercury.
I will recommend you to buy a Gemini cable (they are very expensive) as short as possible at first and try this. Maybe get an iGalvanic later.
After some time I introduced the iGalvanic in the chain and noticed the following results:
3. PC - Mercury - iGalvanic - Mercury - micro iUSB - Gemini - DAC. In this configuration the sound was a little slow and thick. I preferred better the configuration without iGalvanic and with Gemini before the micro iUSB (2.). Then I switch to this configuration:
4. PC - Gemini - iGalvanic - Mercury - micro iUSB - Mercury - DAC and things started to improve in speed department. Also I used the iGalvanic setting on RF mode and micro iUSB in ground mode for best results. The difference using this configuration and not the one without iGalvanic (2.) is that with this you have a little better bass and have the hole representation of music. With the second configuration you have speed, the music flows natural but it seems to come closer, is like you loose the peripheral boundaries of some songs that had enveloping bass on that boundary. Also you have to notice that using this configuration you are feeding iGalvanic with clean power and galvanic isolating the data signal.
I have bought another Gemini and now I listen sometimes using PC - Gemini - micro iUSB - Gemini - DAC (for jazz, lofi, and acoustic) and sometimes I am using PC - Gemini - iGalvanic - Gemini - micro iUSB - Mercury - DAC (for pop and trance music) depending on the music that I listen.
I had the same results using 3 different DAC (Hugo 1, Mojo, Holo Spring KTE). The headphones were Susvara and the amp is a Niimbus US4.
If I will be crazy and a perfectionist I will go with Gemini cable on all three points but my wallet won’t let me for now.
Anyway, I will not listen to music using USB connection without the Ifi micro iUSB anymore, it is that good!

 

[iFi audio]

Currently using Mercury 3.0 and micro iUSB 3.0 before DAC, and is planning to get a iGalvanic 3.0 (preferably with another Mercury cable) as you previously said these two works better as a team.

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.

However, there are many selling the iGalvanic together with the iDefender and iPower to achieve isolated power supply, so I wonder if the latter two is still necessary if I already have the micro iUSB 3.0? will appreciate for any information on this.

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.

Also, could you please explain how adding the iGalvanic before the micro iUSB 3.0 would improve the results? How big will the difference be when compared to the none to iUSB 3.0+Mercury 3.0 upgrade? (Personally I can hear a huge difference of the latter even on my $100 DAC)

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.

 

[iFi audio]

4. PC - Gemini - iGalvanic - Mercury - micro iUSB - Mercury - DAC

Yes, it makes sense to use a better cable in a setup sooner. This rule of a thumb applies to regular stereo setups too. Having two different RCA cables, I'd use the better one in-between DAC and preamp, and the other in-between a preamp and power amp, not the other way around. Your best USB setup scenario confirms this nicely.

 

[Bat4ery]

@iFi audio

Currently using Mercury 3.0 and micro iUSB 3.0 before DAC, and is planning to get a iGalvanic 3.0 (preferably with another Mercury cable) as you previously said these two works better as a team.

However, there are many selling the iGalvanic together with the iDefender and iPower to achieve isolated power supply, so I wonder if the latter two is still necessary if I already have the micro iUSB 3.0? will appreciate for any information on this.

Also, could you please explain how adding the iGalvanic before the micro iUSB 3.0 would improve the results? How big will the difference be when compared to the none to iUSB 3.0+Mercury 3.0 upgrade? (Personally I can hear a huge difference of the latter even on my $100 DAC)

Thanks

The difference adding an iGalvanic before the micro iUSB 3.0 will not be very big if you don’t use a Gemini cable. Let me explain how and why from my experience.
I started using the micro iUSB 3.0 with one Mercury cable and one Gemini cable in the classic fashion:
1. PC - Mercury - micro iUSB - Gemini - DAC. In this configuration the micro iUSB was feed with the dirty power from the PC before separating and cleaning the data and directing it to the DAC with a new and clean power.
Then I thought to feed the micro iUSB with data from PC and clean power from himself using Gemini cable:
2. PC - Gemini - micro iUSB - Mercury - DAC. In this configuration I had much better results then in the first configuration. Using the Gemini before micro iUSB it was like doing an galvanic isolation to the dirty power of the PC, but no galvanic isolation to the data signal. But in this configuration you feed the data with clean power to micro iUSB and after that you still feed the DAC with clean power from micro iUSB using Mercury.
I will recommend you to buy a Gemini cable (they are very expensive) as short as possible at first and try this. Maybe get an iGalvanic later.
After some time I introduced the iGalvanic in the chain and noticed the following results:
3. PC - Mercury - iGalvanic - Mercury - micro iUSB - Gemini - DAC. In this configuration the sound was a little slow and thick. I preferred better the configuration without iGalvanic and with Gemini before the micro iUSB (2.). Then I switch to this configuration:
4. PC - Gemini - iGalvanic - Mercury - micro iUSB - Mercury - DAC and things started to improve in speed department. Also I used the iGalvanic setting on RF mode and micro iUSB in ground mode for best results. The difference using this configuration and not the one without iGalvanic (2.) is that with this you have a little better bass and have the hole representation of music. With the second configuration you have speed, the music flows natural but it seems to come closer, is like you loose the peripheral boundaries of some songs that had enveloping bass on that boundary. Also you have to notice that using this configuration you are feeding iGalvanic with clean power and galvanic isolating the data signal.
I have bought another Gemini and now I listen sometimes using PC - Gemini - micro iUSB - Gemini - DAC (for jazz, lofi, and acoustic) and sometimes I am using PC - Gemini - iGalvanic - Gemini - micro iUSB - Mercury - DAC (for pop and trance music) depending on the music that I listen.
I had the same results using 3 different DAC (Hugo 1, Mojo, Holo Spring KTE). The headphones were Susvara and the amp is a Niimbus US4.
If I will be crazy and a perfectionist I will go with Gemini cable on all three points but my wallet won’t let me for now.
Anyway, I will not listen to music using USB connection without the Ifi micro iUSB anymore, it is that good!

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)