I am a big fan of vertical mounting, it is a excellent choice for Ifi to have included that feature. It really clears out desk space. I went from a big Audio GD to Questyle for that reason.
Great review. I tried this unit but found the SE output lacking, which was a deal breaker for me. As you mentioned, I also found the noise floor unacceptably high. I ended up with the RME ADI-2 DAC fs, which of course is more expensive, but provides plenty of power and ultra-low noise for nearly any conceivable situation.
A very nice and detailed review as always. After having mine for about a month now I absolutely love it and it sounds great with my 2 favorite headphones. I use it as a combo and with my A50s and xDuoo TA-20 amp and they all sound great. I find it does have a open clean sound with a slight touch of warmth that works great with my AP2000ti but even with a warm headphone like my Z1R the Neo brings the mids a little more forward and I really enjoy that. Overall I'm very happy with it and I've finally found my desktop setup that I'll use for quite a while.
I saw this device on your desk in a review you did over a month ago. I've been waiting for this review. Thank you! Still thinking I'm going to pull the trigger on an Audio-gd R-27 at some point though.
I purchased this a couple of months ago. I really love the sound. Very clean. My 6xx sounds great. It sounds great with the fiio FH7 IEM - there is a tiny bit of background noise but you only hear it with the music off.
I just watched today’s Jotunheim 2 review. I thought it was great. I noticed comments are disabled. I was hoping to make this comment for that video. You explain technology extremely well. I bought the Bifrost 2 based on your review. Your explanation really closed it for me. I also liked it is made here in the US. I hope you’ll consider reopening comments for your videos. Thanks for your consideration.
Pretty tired of separates churn, so a good one box desktop solution really appeals right now. Interested how the ifi compares to the matrix audio mini 3 pro if you have this on your radar.
Great channel, good source of knowledge for me. Looking to start building a system out of a headphone/preamp/dac combo. After some research it looks like this combo could be an option adding a power amp down the road. However I have seen a review that rates its preamp capabilities as "lacking". Any inputs on that? Was looking for a mytek brooklyn bridge but it is waaaay over my budget. So far I have also considering matrix audio I3 pro. Any thoughts TIA
hi there, happy New Year. Is this any upgrade from iFi ZEN DAC/CAN/BLUE stack (i.e. with Sundara) or the stack would be better (quality/power output)? thx
Not anything bad. A few people like to use IEMs with desktop amps, and some design choices in the amplifier circuit can result in more or less hiss with very sensitive IEMs.
@@Currawong Thank you very much for the reply. How would you say the sound signature compares to a Dragonfly Cobalt. I'm powering an HD 599, and was looking for an upgrade of DAC.
Does it have an output selector switch to choose between the heaphone outputs and the back outputs? For example, when using on desktop, I want to leave headphones connected and switch to xlr/rca variable outputs. If it has this functionality built in, does it remember the headphones volume when I switch back to them (to not blow them up)? Does it do Bluetooth transmission, or only receiving? P.S.: the remote looks cheap and flimsy. I think a phone app to control the Neo through BT would be a great addition.
No switch, and only Bluetooth receiving. Control via a phone app would be great, but it would be a great deal more complex to implement, pushing the price up considerably.
Im always worried about damaging my hearing. Do you have a specific methodology to determine how many decibels your headphones are putting out? Or should I just buy a decibel meter and stick it between my headphones?
A sound meter app on your phone will do it. Just put the phone's microphone close up to the driver in one of your headphones or IEMs when measuring to get a general idea.
Thank you for a very informative review. The NEO iDSD supports full MQA unfold via S/PDIF. I own the Android version of MConnect Player app which can "cast" Tidal MQA files to iFi's Pro iDSD. I also have a Chromecast Audio. Will it pass through MQA files "cast" from MConnect to the NEO iDSD's S/DIF for full unfold? I am not interested in MQA via USB. Happy New Year!
As long as the transfer is bit-perfect, MQA will be passed through properly. However, note that MQA is lossy, the 2nd or greater "unfolds" are really just up-sampling, and most TIDAL MQA has been distorted by whatever processing they use.
Sorry for what I think may be a stupid question. Are there 6.3 adapters to the Pentagon? The standard 6.3 is single ended. Hence, I don't think it is possible. Please help me out. Thanks Leo
@@Currawong I bought a 2.5mm male -to- 3.5mm female adapter (on eBay) that I use to listen to my SE headphones through a balanced connection. It works perfectly. I know that Amazon has many of these balanced-to-unbalanced cables/adapters, so they do exist.
Can’t wait for the Jotunheim 2 review!
I am a big fan of vertical mounting, it is a excellent choice for Ifi to have included that feature. It really clears out desk space. I went from a big Audio GD to Questyle for that reason.
Great review. I tried this unit but found the SE output lacking, which was a deal breaker for me. As you mentioned, I also found the noise floor unacceptably high. I ended up with the RME ADI-2 DAC fs, which of course is more expensive, but provides plenty of power and ultra-low noise for nearly any conceivable situation.
You read my mind. It is a cheaper RMI ADI-2. Comparison might be useful at this point.
Alan are you still happy with the adi2? What headphones are you using? You use it on a pc?
A very nice and detailed review as always.
After having mine for about a month now I absolutely love it and it sounds great with my 2 favorite headphones. I use it as a combo and with my A50s and xDuoo TA-20 amp and they all sound great. I find it does have a open clean sound with a slight touch of warmth that works great with my AP2000ti but even with a warm headphone like my Z1R the Neo brings the mids a little more forward and I really enjoy that. Overall I'm very happy with it and I've finally found my desktop setup that I'll use for quite a while.
Highly informative and comprehensive review. I don't see many/any Customers lining up for this Product.
Thanks for another useful review. Definitely a crowded price point...
I saw this device on your desk in a review you did over a month ago. I've been waiting for this review. Thank you! Still thinking I'm going to pull the trigger on an Audio-gd R-27 at some point though.
another great review, content like this is why i subscribed and come back time and time again!
I purchased this a couple of months ago. I really love the sound. Very clean. My 6xx sounds great. It sounds great with the fiio FH7 IEM - there is a tiny bit of background noise but you only hear it with the music off.
I just watched today’s Jotunheim 2 review. I thought it was great. I noticed comments are disabled. I was hoping to make this comment for that video. You explain technology extremely well. I bought the Bifrost 2 based on your review. Your explanation really closed it for me. I also liked it is made here in the US. I hope you’ll consider reopening comments for your videos. Thanks for your consideration.
Love that device
Currently rocking the smsl su9/thx 789 .was cool to see my baby's thrown in this video lol
Pretty tired of separates churn, so a good one box desktop solution really appeals right now. Interested how the ifi compares to the matrix audio mini 3 pro if you have this on your radar.
You can power off a battery bank for phone charging that would be the best scenario try it
Your reviews are always excellent, very easy to understand too!! Keep up the good work!!
Happy new year to you and your family!!
Happy new year!
Would you please review ifi micro idsd signature? Thanks!
Yes, that's coming.
Debating to whether buy this or wait for the Cambridge Evo 150...🤔
Great channel, good source of knowledge for me.
Looking to start building a system out of a headphone/preamp/dac combo. After some research it looks like this combo could be an option adding a power amp down the road. However I have seen a review that rates its preamp capabilities as "lacking". Any inputs on that? Was looking for a mytek brooklyn bridge but it is waaaay over my budget. So far I have also considering matrix audio I3 pro.
Any thoughts
TIA
hi there, happy New Year.
Is this any upgrade from iFi ZEN DAC/CAN/BLUE stack (i.e. with Sundara) or the stack would be better (quality/power output)?
thx
Very good and detailed review, thank you.
Is that hiss on IEMs some bad indication or something to worry about?
Not anything bad. A few people like to use IEMs with desktop amps, and some design choices in the amplifier circuit can result in more or less hiss with very sensitive IEMs.
@@Currawong Thank you very much for the reply.
How would you say the sound signature compares to a Dragonfly Cobalt. I'm powering an HD 599, and was looking for an upgrade of DAC.
www.hear.audio/faq :) (I've not had the Dragonfly here since the original.)
fascinating
You also reviewed Schiit vali and modi. How do you compare them with this IFI? Please explain the sound difference.
Wait for my Vali 2 and Modi 3+ videos.
Does it have an output selector switch to choose between the heaphone outputs and the back outputs? For example, when using on desktop, I want to leave headphones connected and switch to xlr/rca variable outputs. If it has this functionality built in, does it remember the headphones volume when I switch back to them (to not blow them up)?
Does it do Bluetooth transmission, or only receiving?
P.S.: the remote looks cheap and flimsy. I think a phone app to control the Neo through BT would be a great addition.
No switch, and only Bluetooth receiving. Control via a phone app would be great, but it would be a great deal more complex to implement, pushing the price up considerably.
This only delivers one watt of power in balanced mode. Is that strong enough for planar magnetic headphones like the Arya?
Unless you listen hearing-damagingly loud, it'll work. Not sure about synergy though.
I spy a jotenheim 2 👀
Im always worried about damaging my hearing. Do you have a specific methodology to determine how many decibels your headphones are putting out? Or should I just buy a decibel meter and stick it between my headphones?
A sound meter app on your phone will do it. Just put the phone's microphone close up to the driver in one of your headphones or IEMs when measuring to get a general idea.
Do you think the asgard 3 amp will be warmer sounding then the monoprice thx 788 amp?
Please and thanks
Did you see my Asgard 3 review? th-cam.com/video/jOw3Wu45Y00/w-d-xo.html Basically, yes it is.
@@Currawong thank you very much ill watch that now!!
Which cable for Utopia is it on the thumbnail?
Norne Audio Silvergarde.
Latest firmware has filters.
Is the neo that light to hold ?
It weighs 970g if that helps.
Thank you for a very informative review. The NEO iDSD supports full MQA unfold via S/PDIF. I own the Android version of MConnect Player app which can "cast" Tidal MQA files to iFi's Pro iDSD. I also have a Chromecast Audio. Will it pass through MQA files "cast" from MConnect to the NEO iDSD's S/DIF for full unfold? I am not interested in MQA via USB. Happy New Year!
As long as the transfer is bit-perfect, MQA will be passed through properly. However, note that MQA is lossy, the 2nd or greater "unfolds" are really just up-sampling, and most TIDAL MQA has been distorted by whatever processing they use.
Sorry for what I think may be a stupid question. Are there 6.3 adapters to the Pentagon? The standard 6.3 is single ended. Hence, I don't think it is possible. Please help me out.
Thanks
Leo
You can't adapt a non-balanced cable to a balanced one. If you cross the signal returns, you'll likely damage the amp.
@@Currawong I bought a 2.5mm male -to- 3.5mm female adapter (on eBay) that I use to listen to my SE headphones through a balanced connection. It works perfectly. I know that Amazon has many of these balanced-to-unbalanced cables/adapters, so they do exist.
That doesn't mean that you are either damaging your gear, or that it is a good idea to do universally.
@@Currawong The adapter must only be utilizing the (+) signals, not the (-) to avoid a shared ground. If so, the gear used would suffer no damage.
Then you may as well just used the 6.3mm output.