I have been waiting for this review. I was looking at this and the yggdrasil. I ended up ordering a Hugo TT2 after auditioning it locally. I did not get a chance to hear the ifi or yggy. I am hoping that the TT2 will work well for me in my system. Great review as always.
I paired the new Signature version of the IFi Pro iDSD with Susvara. For true, they are a very good match without adding an external amp. Admittedly, I am not the loudest listener but there is plenty of headroom leftover before reaching full volume. Thanks Amos. This was a worthy recommendation. BTW: what internet radio source do you like for music? You mentioned one in a previous video but I can’t place it.
This is the best review on this product and I've been watching for them. An excellent, thorough job with relevant tidbits of information like the wifi streaming best option. Hey, you need to send me this unit. :)
Very helpful video thank you. I liked your excellent description of the difference between technically correct signals and sounds that are pleasing. You also mentioned in passing that you are not a huge fan of MQA and I was wondering why. I have just installed the NEO iDSD and the iFi Zen Stream and I am just listing to Vikingur Olafsson's JS Bach highly acclaimed album and it sounds fabulous in PCM 96 from my Android phone over WiFi and I am looking forward to trying the MQA pass through if I can get it to function, which as yet I have not managed. I have previously tried to use MQA from Tidal on a Windows PC using USB3 to a cheaper iFi USB DAC and that did sound pretty good but I have just realised that without having selected MQA pass through in a hidden TIDAL menu on Windows, it was not using MQA !
The MQA group have run music through some form of DSP that has a similar effect to what you get from a 3D effect plug-in on low settings. With some old music, they have boosted the bass alone. However, in both cases, while it at first listen seems to improve the soundstage, with a lot of the batch-processed music, and quite a bit of classical, it audible removes background detail and atmosphere for the sake of placing emphasis on the instruments. The rest has to do with each of the claims they make contradicting other claims about the technology, and the lock-in required. This is clearly for the purposes of making money by putting themselves between the labels and the consumers.
For noise via 2.5mm jack you most definitely need to use the IEMatch 2.5. The noise is due to iems semsitivity. The IEMatch reduces inborn noise and will eliminate this issue with the Pro iDSD as well as most other electronics. A fantastic device worth its weight in gold.
That very well could be, it certainly is the case with the 3.5 mm SE and Balanced output on the iCan Pro. That said, based on the fact you’re getting significant noise via the 2.5 mm output you likely would still benefit from IEMatch on ‘high’ setting. A couple of clues that this might be the case A. Are you at high volume levels when volume is at or around 50% or less? B. Aside from WiFi/Bluetooth induced noise do you hear any hiss or any other noise (tube microphonics, cell phone interference etc) IEMs are tricky as their high sensitivity expose the smallest of issues even in superb equipment.
I've heard both; the TT2 is a whole league ahead. Its a league ahead of the Hugo 2 for that matter, which as you heard in the review is a clearer, better sound than the iDSD. But, the TT2 does come at a next-level cost.
I believe there is too much marketing hype created for custom FPGA, R2R against the Delta Sigma chips. This DAC is a great example of a very good DACs, or the Burson Conductor 3x Reference (which allows OP amp rolling - play with Sparkos or V6 classic etc). Sure there are very very miniscule gains going high end and spending $20,000, for the likes of Chord Dave + upscaler or Mola Mola Tambiqui or DCS Bartok. But does is really matter to enjoying music?
Great review, thanks. I can’t get the MQA working on my Pro iDSD. You are right that the firmware for MQA is still in beta stage. How did you download it? I asked iFi. They said it is not released yet as it is still in beta stage. Please tell me how to make it work. In addition, iDSD is not supported by Roon yet. I can’t select Native DSD when I set up the machine with Roon. I could only choose “DSD to PCM” and as a result the display showed the sampling rate as 2.8MHz. Any other software I can use so that the real sampling rate can be achieved with iDSD? Thanks.
They told me to open a support ticket, and I got the firmware that way. DSD works fine over USB using Roon, up to DSD256. Are you connecting a different way?
@@CurrawongToday I sent off my Pro iDSD (4.4 mm) to iFi Audio for them to install the latest firmware update. I also have a Mac (iMac 27" late 2015 model). I'm rather annoyed by the fact that I just bought the Dac last month and already it's giving me issues. It should have shipped with the latest firmware. Unacceptable for a device that cost almost $3,000!
The distortion you said when using cd quality is introduced while using bit perfect mode or is it introduced generally independently of filer ?? (I am not referring to iems) Thank you :)
Bit Perfect (NOS) mode and the GTO filter. It is not something that shows up when listening to music, it's something that shows up when using test tones for measurements.
OMG at 4:28 you go in to hyperdrive. I cant keep up.! Man you are talking waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too fast! Slow Down, Its A Big Purchase and Im missing out on the features!
![ถามตรงๆ กับ อาจตุพร ทำไม ประเทศไทย ใครเป็นนายก ก็โดนด่า พอออกเเล้วคนคิดถึง!!?? l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3YFLMXxBGAs/mqdefault.jpg)
The photography analogy worked very well here.
Excellent job on this long and thorough review. I've been dreaming about this DAC/AMP for a while and I'm now much more confident to buy this unit!
great analogy for the explanation of filtering and upsampling.
Glad it was helpful!
I have been waiting for this review. I was looking at this and the yggdrasil. I ended up ordering a Hugo TT2 after auditioning it locally. I did not get a chance to hear the ifi or yggy. I am hoping that the TT2 will work well for me in my system.
Great review as always.
Great job. Thank you for another thorough review. I've been waiting for this one.
I paired the new Signature version of the IFi Pro iDSD with Susvara. For true, they are a very good match without adding an external amp. Admittedly, I am not the loudest listener but there is plenty of headroom leftover before reaching full volume.
Thanks Amos. This was a worthy recommendation. BTW: what internet radio source do you like for music? You mentioned one in a previous video but I can’t place it.
The source I've been using for music discovery has been Radioparadise.com. Other than that, I use Qobuz, and Roon Radio.
Is there any difference in sound between the older versions and the signature one?
Very comprehensive. Thanks
This is the best review on this product and I've been watching for them. An excellent, thorough job with relevant tidbits of information like the wifi streaming best option.
Hey, you need to send me this unit. :)
Very helpful video thank you. I liked your excellent description of the difference between technically correct signals and sounds that are pleasing. You also mentioned in passing that you are not a huge fan of MQA and I was wondering why. I have just installed the NEO iDSD and the iFi Zen Stream and I am just listing to Vikingur Olafsson's JS Bach highly acclaimed album and it sounds fabulous in PCM 96 from my Android phone over WiFi and I am looking forward to trying the MQA pass through if I can get it to function, which as yet I have not managed. I have previously tried to use MQA from Tidal on a Windows PC using USB3 to a cheaper iFi USB DAC and that did sound pretty good but I have just realised that without having selected MQA pass through in a hidden TIDAL menu on Windows, it was not using MQA !
The MQA group have run music through some form of DSP that has a similar effect to what you get from a 3D effect plug-in on low settings. With some old music, they have boosted the bass alone. However, in both cases, while it at first listen seems to improve the soundstage, with a lot of the batch-processed music, and quite a bit of classical, it audible removes background detail and atmosphere for the sake of placing emphasis on the instruments.
The rest has to do with each of the claims they make contradicting other claims about the technology, and the lock-in required. This is clearly for the purposes of making money by putting themselves between the labels and the consumers.
Say What? A Hugo 2 matching amplifier? Did I hear correctly?
very thorough review!
For noise via 2.5mm jack you most definitely need to use the IEMatch 2.5. The noise is due to iems semsitivity. The IEMatch reduces inborn noise and will eliminate this issue with the Pro iDSD as well as most other electronics. A fantastic device worth its weight in gold.
I was under the impression that it was built in to the Pro iDSD, but I could be wrong.
That very well could be, it certainly is the case with the 3.5 mm SE and Balanced output on the iCan Pro.
That said, based on the fact you’re getting significant noise via the 2.5 mm output you likely would still benefit from IEMatch on ‘high’ setting.
A couple of clues that this might be the case A. Are you at high volume levels when volume is at or around 50% or less? B. Aside from WiFi/Bluetooth induced noise do you hear any hiss or any other noise (tube microphonics, cell phone interference etc)
IEMs are tricky as their high sensitivity expose the smallest of issues even in superb equipment.
Thoughts on this vs. holo spring kte or mhdt orchid + flux lab acoustics fa10? I was told when in doubt go with separate dedicated components?
Very informative. Thank you
Do you know how it stacks up against Chord Hugo TT2?
I've heard both; the TT2 is a whole league ahead. Its a league ahead of the Hugo 2 for that matter, which as you heard in the review is a clearer, better sound than the iDSD. But, the TT2 does come at a next-level cost.
he1000se vs utopia any thoughts?
Thanks so much for posting!
The ifi pro ican or the iDSD better ?
I believe there is too much marketing hype created for custom FPGA, R2R against the Delta Sigma chips.
This DAC is a great example of a very good DACs, or the Burson Conductor 3x Reference (which allows OP amp rolling - play with Sparkos or V6 classic etc).
Sure there are very very miniscule gains going high end and spending $20,000, for the likes of Chord Dave + upscaler or Mola Mola Tambiqui or DCS Bartok. But does is really matter to enjoying music?
I have a DAVE and MScaler here on loan, and DACs at the $2500 level now sound veiled in comparison. It does depend a lot on the music though.
What tube is in your Lyr 3 in this video? :)
How does this compare to the RME-ADI 2 FS?
Aside from adding a 4.4mm balanced headphone jack what other differences are there between this and the Signature version?
The Signature has an upgraded version of the power supply.
Great review, Amos! What's the new amp in place of the Master 9?
I'll be doing more
Great review, thanks. I can’t get the MQA working on my Pro iDSD. You are right that the firmware for MQA is still in beta stage. How did you download it? I asked iFi. They said it is not released yet as it is still in beta stage. Please tell me how to make it work. In addition, iDSD is not supported by Roon yet. I can’t select Native DSD when I set up the machine with Roon. I could only choose “DSD to PCM” and as a result the display showed the sampling rate as 2.8MHz. Any other software I can use so that the real sampling rate can be achieved with iDSD? Thanks.
They told me to open a support ticket, and I got the firmware that way. DSD works fine over USB using Roon, up to DSD256. Are you connecting a different way?
@@CurrawongToday I sent off my Pro iDSD (4.4 mm) to iFi Audio for them to install the latest firmware update. I also have a Mac (iMac 27" late 2015 model). I'm rather annoyed by the fact that I just bought the Dac last month and already it's giving me issues. It should have shipped with the latest firmware. Unacceptable for a device that cost almost $3,000!
Excelent!
The distortion you said when using cd quality is introduced while using bit perfect mode or is it introduced generally independently of filer ?? (I am not referring to iems) Thank you :)
Bit Perfect (NOS) mode and the GTO filter. It is not something that shows up when listening to music, it's something that shows up when using test tones for measurements.
@@Currawong ok thank you
Also the noise from wifi can be heard through headphones?
plz plz do the northstar design esissio 32 bit dac i love it but wonder what you would say about it against others you have there
Do you mean the Excelsio?
@@Currawong sorry i mean the ESSENSIO
As far as I can see, that's not a current Northstar product, but a quite old one.
@@Currawong its ok never mind
What DAC do uou currently use daily?
Whatever you see on the rack behind me in the videos. Currently that's the TT2/MScaler stack.
Watching gear I can't afford
2
OMG at 4:28 you go in to hyperdrive. I cant keep up.! Man you are talking waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too fast! Slow Down, Its A Big Purchase and Im missing out on the features!
thanks well done! which one is your favorite? I love my mojo....mhh32452
Good review. But look at the edges of the back side. What a terrible quality. For gear in such price range this is unacceptable.
Which part? The ripples in the design? They are very noticeable from the back because they go all the way to the edge.