Hello everyone!
Thank you BucketInABucket for the mention and MrWong for the PM!
It's hard to find a PORTABLE headphone amplifier with 1/4 jacks, but there are a few and the Micro iDSD is one of them + loaded with tons of power [4 000mW @ 16Ohm in turbo mode].
Load wise, the Micro iDSD will for sure have enough power to drive the Alpha Dog but to use it as a standalone amplifier, it is sort of waste since the Micro iDSD's DAC is more amazing than the built in amplifier. The built in amplifier SQ wise, is good, but I personally like the FiiO E09K better [but I sold the E09K because the difference wasn't a huge margin and I am thinking of tubes for my set up]. As a standalone amp, the Micro iDSD offer decently wide soundstage [especially with the 3D flipped on] but at times, the bass can sound slightly lean which you should not worry about since the Alpha Dog is pretty warm at the bottom. I would personally prefer to use the Micro iDSD as a comb DAC/amp as the duo DAC compliments the amplifier extremely well [match made in Heaven].
I have a friend who compared the iFi-Audio Micro iDSD to the Chord Hugo will post it here once I found it somewhere on the net.
Hope it helps!
Billson
nanoevil [on IG]'s impression on Micro iDSD vs Chord Hugo with Alpha Dogs:
**iFi Micro's XBASS was turned off during the whole side by side process.
....[some few words with Audeze LCD 2.2]
Using the Mr.Speakers Alpha Dogs- a WHOLE different from what I heard in the first step [he meant the Audeze LCD2.2 if I am not mistaken]... sub and mids areas from the micro iDSD was very flat almost non existent specially during the drum roll near the intro of War Pigs.. very hard to feel bass presence and the body of the drums. Using the Hugo still gives you good sub and mid presence that you also feel with the LCD 2.2- Mids / Highs Hugo wins again. Vocals are cleaner on the Hugo but this time a bigger margin compared to the 1st setup (LCD2.2). You can feel the vocals open up more and its more airy. Better extensions on the mid/mid-highs are also present.
Verdict: If you are an Audeze LCD2.2 user you will only feel very minor advantages comparing the 2 amp / DACs which means I would recommend the Micro iDSD more. On the other hand if you use the Alpha Dogs I will recommend the Hugo still for the price it beats the Micro iDSD in terms of overally tonality on all aspects. Maybe if I listened to the Micro iDSD with the XBASS on that could have compensated for the lacking / flat sub / mid when the Alpha Dogs was connected but I don't believe in boosting a few freqs to improve something that's not existent at basic configuration. Mids and mid-highs is where the Hugo shines and specially when you plug the Alpha Dogs in.
MY THOUGHTS on the XBass: I personally find the Micro IDSD's XBass can be an obvious boost in the sub-bass region which I keep it on to compensate my AKG Annies and I find it useful even thought the bass boost is probably just about 2-3dB at most but its very useful with some of my test tracks. My friend did the comparison by both DAC/amp combo using coax out from his DX90.
Things to note as well: If you can run DSD or convert MP3 to DSD 512 with Asio Driver on Foobar, that would be great! Because the filter switch to "Minimum Phase", the Micro iDSD makes whole lotta difference! Very smooth and no more "Digital" sound.
Let me know if you need more help
