Hello there! I'm a happy owner of iFi iDSD Micro BL + iUSB 3.0 and I'd like to find a true desktop replacement for my current setup.
Things I do like in iDSD BL + iUSB:
+Warm, spacious, energetic and detailed sound;
+3D/XBass options;
+Size;
+With iUSB 3.0 it sounds like a serious desktop amp.
What I dislike:
-Single 6.3mm output.
What I'd like to achieve:
Even more addictive, maybe a bit more detailed, but still warm. A balanced output(4.4 or XLR) would be a good addition, but not necessary.
What I have already tried:
1. iFi iDSD Pro: it has much more technical, less enjoyable sound;
2. Adding iGalvanic3.0 into the scheme: again, the sound became more technical;
3. iFi iDSD Neo: not impressed at all. BL+iUSB sounds much better to me;
What I'm going to try:
1. Quad PA-One+
2. Questyle CMA-400i
3. RME ADI-2 DAC FS + which amp??
4. Sony TA-ZH1ES
5. Topping A90/D90
6. WA8 Eclipse
Any other options I have to try? May max budget is $2000
My headphones, Audeze LCD2f. My preference, warm and detail. Love some bass impact and presence. Music taste is all over the place, from electronic to metal and neoclassical soundtracks.
I recently got myself a neo and I really love using this thing with my iCAN SE. I also demo'd it with a Violectric V200 and that was REAL good. I currently have both the neo and ican SE running off the ipowerX upgraded power supplies. I have to say this comes pretty close to the violectric and sounds like it's punching well above its price class. No high-mid congestion/micro-distortions, you can pick it all apart easily without detail fatigue. I listen to a very wide variety of music so an all-round agreeable sound with detail is my aim. The neo is a good DAC first and foremost, then a capable amp but nothing mindblowing. I think it needs a separate amp, like the RME.
I also demo'd the neo with a rupert neve headamp, the new burson soloist, the zen can signature, THX 789, but they don't compete with the v200 to my preferences.
In terms of ranking paired with the neo idsd and audeze LCD2f I'll put those:
violectric v200 (might have a smidge too much bite, need to demo at home at some point)
ifi ican SE + ipowerX (most accessible and adjustable sound)
rupert neve
burson soloist (it's surprisingly treble happy)
zen can tied with THX 789, maybe edging it out
I stick to warmer and dynamic sounding DACs myself, maybe consider an r2r like the schiit bifrost2. I also had a questyle CMA400i I bought 2 years ago, but I barely used it and went back to my old (much cheaper) TEAC DAC (burrbrown)+iCAN SE seperates setup. The questyle just does not bring out the macro dynamics (crescendos) and bass. It's nice and detailed, precise and seems fast, but it's just not bringing out the things I want. I'll take a wild guess that maybe to improve THD+N performance they added a strong negative feedback loop in the DAC, and that presses down the dynamic swings in the music. I once built an amp that had a neg-feedback knob to reduce noise/distortion, but you could clearly tell the effect it had on dynamics. You can tell the dynamics don't really come out even when hooking up a different amp. Sadly the 400i does not allow for analog inputs.
A DAC I've been told is a good musical alternative to the D90 is the D70s. Maybe put that on your shortlist too.
Going back to my DAC choice I opted to trade that CMA400i in for the idsd neo, because the deal was good and the bifrost2 is impossible to demo here in Europe. I don't regret it so far. The neo idsd sounds much better to my ears. More musical, much more dynamic swing, better bass, more resolving in busy passages, better spatial information, a little less fatiguing.
Another option that I hadn't demo'd was the Chord Qutest + Violectric V200. I get the feeling that pairing might be pretty great too.
Hope this helps!
