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iFi's xDSD (official) - Award winning.


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1 minute ago, One and a half said:

I guess after 3 years the xDSD is trashed since the battery can’t be changed due to production run outs ? What’s the position on battery change  outs?

 

I hope they have a replacement battery option, because having half a product that can't replace a battery could be disappointing. 

 

The hardware will for sure work connected to a computer, I replaced recently a battery of an iPhone 5s, and is a phone with five years, if a product dies when the battery dies and there is no replacement service, is not a good investment. The chord Hugo and Mojo also work on battery, all portable Dac's work on battery. and there are post's on computer audiophile from users mentioning battery failure.

 

 

So this is not iFi specific, if I can't replace a battery after 2 or 3 years some of my confidence dies with the brand, and with it future acquisitions of portable gear, because it's going to happen sooner or later, and normally always occurs after expiring warrantee. But it does not take me the pleasure of using it in it's plenitude today.

 

But is a big but when it starts to happen, and then for sure users start complaining the reply from iFi regarding this will be also the reply to this doubts.

Batteries don't live forever, the big question is if the unit continues to work at least connected to a computer, if not is like a service you rent for 2 or 3 years at a high price and then simply dies, having to buy another unit could be more negative then positive for the confidence of an user.

 

The reason I buy Apple products, iFi products and other services is because their support has been very good, and support is 50% of a product, and their products also inspire me quality, confidence, give me very good sound for the price, iFi always help me when an issue arrived, there are not many brands that take care of their users in this respect. So only time will tell, I will not suffer the anticipation of this.

 

I abandoned many brands in the past because of poor support, some of them where really high end, to be sincere abandoned all of them for more then 8 years, started fresh from below hardware again some years ago, new brands new people new support.

 

But I also can't expect iFi replacing a battery 10 years from now, it's not possible. Evolution has been fast, and it will continue to be fast. Will see.

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Folks...

 

IFA 2018 
...it's almost here!

 

[IMG] 


When?

  • The 31st Aug - 5 Sept 2018!

The place?

  • Berlin!

Where exactly?

  • Hall 1.2, stand 206, WOD Audio (iFi's German distributor)

 

You'll have a chance to preview our EISA award winner - xDSD! Our two lovely girls - Victoria and Sarah - will be there supported by Thorsten Loesch himself.

 

If you'll attend, please visit us!

 

 

Our PowerStation is here: click me!

 

Check out our Tidal MQA Set-up Guides below. 
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  • 3 months later...

Hi,

I have it! it sounds just fine from iphone via bluetooth.

However, I can not make it work with USB A. i have a original cck from apple (lightning to usb/female), where I plug the blue USB cable that came with the xDSD but no sound.

When I plug it in, the xDSD just looking for bluetooth (blue blinking input led) but no music. (and no device found by iphone)

What am I missing?

Edt: of course I tried it directly (iphone - cck - xdsd) to no avail...)

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12 hours ago, Banray said:

Nevermind, I found it! Just selebt input *before* switching on. I propose to add this info to the 'input'-section, even though it is mentioned under 'power' which is the first paragraph...

 

Thanks for your input.

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1.thumb.png.44182c37eee2280ecb5caef7c37bbe54.png

 

Silence in Seattle

 

We all enjoy music, whether we’re at home, in the car or pounding the treadmill at the gym.

 

However, from time to time we all need time to enjoy some rest and relaxation. Whether that’s from music, television or, dare we say it, the better half.

 

So, whenever you need to unplug from the world around you, reach for the new iFi Ear Plug.

 

The Tech Spec

  • Premium 100% pure memory foam
  • Incredible 37dB noise reduction (62dB total noise reduction if used in conjunction with Noise-Cancellation headphones which offer 25dB noise reduction)

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All iFi Ear Plugs come with a hard, clear plastic case with the option of purchasing an iPouch which stores both earplugs and your IEMs.

  

The Art of Noise

The following graph depicts the level of noise attenuated (reduced) in four situations:

  • Headphones Without ANC: 20dB reduction above 300kHz
  • Headphones With ANC: 20dB attenuation from 40kHz to 1kHz
  • iFi Ear Plugs: 30dB to 50dB reduction across the frequency range
  • iFi Ear Plugs with Headphones with ANC: 40dB reduction up to 70dB reduction

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It’s clear the iFi Ear Plugs alone are incredibly effective, and when coupled with NC headphones, they make an unbeatable team.

 

Crybaby

 

According to medical experts, a baby’s cry can reach up to 130dB. That’s only 10dB less than a jet engine on take-off!

 

It’s hardly a surprise then the sound of a crying baby can pierce your ears and sound so unpleasant.

 

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We’ve all experienced extreme noise – and crying babies are a perfect example.

 

Picture this. You’re on a plane, you take off and – BHAM – a baby starts to cry because of the air pressure change in the cabin. Typically, this is anywhere up to 130dB (but this varies across the frequency range).

 

The graph below depicts the typical baby cry which from 300kHz to 8kHz surpasses 70dB – then charts the reduction in noise when an NC headphone and iFi Ear Plug are introduced.

 

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With an NC headphone, this noise level is reduced by some 25dB to 40dB or so.

 

However, with the iFi Ear Plug and the NC headphones, the combined noise reduction brings the noise down to a barely perceptible 20dB - or even lower.

 

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What about ambient cabin noise?

 

A primary objective of noise-cancellation headphones is to cancel out the ‘drumming’ of airplane ambient cabin noise of 60-80Hz. Premium ANC headphones reduce 25dB which brings this down to 30-50Hz. But if augmented with Earplugs, then the ambient noise is reduced to below 30dB which is better than a quiet room!

2.thumb.jpg.d14aeb25fc5749fc09e2f2a486fc70f6.jpg

Now, that’s got to be music to anyone’s battered ears.

 

Full product info: https://ifi-audio.com/products/ifi-audio-ear-plugs/

 

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Our PowerStation is here: click me!

 

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  • 2 months later...
6 hours ago, John Fitzpatrick said:

Okay, so I've seen some comments about the xDSD since I've been on here. What's the top 5 reasons I should go for it? I have an iPhone X that I use while I'm on the go. I normally buy second hand stuff but am feeling brave. 

 

OK so the #1 reason is.... Naah, we won't push it😁

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@John Fitzpatrick,  reviews of the unit abound.  Here's one of my favorite sites for personal audio: https://headfonics.com/2018/08/ifi-audio-xdsd-review/

 

I think you'll find your answer there.  Technical or more specific questions about the unit that aren't publicly available is what @AMR/iFi audio can help with.  

 

But I don't think they'd be dissuaded from a sales pitch if you PM them.  

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  • 4 months later...

Folks, something from our friends at NativeDSD:

 

We are pleased to announce the availability of Native DSD Presents 5 Tracks in DSD 512. The album brings you some of the highest quality DSD 256 stereo recordings from the NativeDSD Music catalog in DSD 512 stereo.


This special album made its debut at 2019 High End Munich. It is an album that will bring owners of DSD 512 capable Portable Players and DACs (Digital to Analog Converters) from iFi Audio some amazing DSD 512 listening experiences. 

NativeDSD has given iFi Audio permission to share 1 track with you for free, as an instant download in this Dropbox folder:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/uynhtxephlr7dpu/AAB6lv2iOP8WOZfKbhKeWqNXa?dl=0


The Track in DSD 512: Yuko Mabuchi Plays Miles Davis – Milestones


Recorded and Released by Yarlung Records, with special thanks to Bob Attiyeh. Yuko Mabuchi Plays Miles Davis is a tribute to the music of legendary Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis.  It features 5 tracks written by Miles Davis plus 3 original compositions by Yuko Mabuchi.  For this special album, recorded live in concert in Stereo and Multichannel DSD 256, the Yuko Mabuchi Trio - Yuko Mabuchi (piano), Del Atkins (bass) and Bobby Breton (drums) - is joined by trumpeter JJ Kirkpatrick from the Sophisticated Lady Jazz Quartet.  With this line-up of musicians, it is a musical adventure you won't want to miss.

If you want to hear more, you can check out their 5 Tracks in DSD 512 sampler, available for only 10 USD.

https://nativedsd.com/albums/NDSD013-nativedsd-presents-5-tracks-in-dsd-512
 

1.thumb.jpg.472fe5ac1f68b114adcfe923b99faba8.jpg

 

Included in the collection are performances by Les Chats Noirs, Yuko Mabuchi Trio with JJ Kirkpatrick, Rachel Podger with Brecon Baroque, Ricardo Gallen, and the Feenbrothers. The music covers a variety of styles and genres including French Vocal and Chanson, Jazz Quartets, Classical Ensemble, and Guitar.

These higher bit rate DSD 512 tracks are all pure DSD created. They are not up samplings, for there are no PCM or DXD conversions involved in their production. They are re-modulations of the original DSD 256 encoding modulation that produced the DSD 256 releases. The sonic advantage to these new Stereo DSD 512 releases, as with all higher DSD bit rate releases, is the wider frequency passband prior to the onset of modulation noise. This results in the listener’s DAC using gentler and more phase linear filters for playback of the music.

The resulting DSD 512 music files were monitored with a DSD 512 Stereo system that included HiFiMan HE-1000 Stereo Headphones with Lazuli HF Headphone Cables by Dana Cable and the iFi Audio iDSD Micro Black Label Headphone Amp and DAC (available for purchase at the NativeDSD Gear Store). 

We want to thank the labels Forward Music Italy, Yarlung Artists, Channel Classics, Eudora and Sound Liaison for their participation in this project.

 

Don’t forget to share your thoughts on the DSD 512 listening experience!

Or go straight to 
More Music in DSD 512

Our PowerStation is here: click me!

 

Check out our Tidal MQA Set-up Guides below. 
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Thank you for the download.

QNAP TS453Pro w/QLMS->Netgear Switch->Netgear RAX43 Router->Ethernet (50 ft)->Netgear switch->SBTouch ->SABAJ A10d->Linn Majik-IL (preamp)->Linn 2250->Linn Keilidh; Control Points: iPeng (iPad Air & iPhone); Also: Rega P3-24 w/ DV 10x5; OPPO 103; PC Playback: Foobar2000 & JRiver; Portable: iPhone 12 ProMax & Radio Paradise or NAS streaming; Sony NWZ ZX2 w/ PHA-3; SMSL IQ, Fiio Q5, iFi Nano iDSD BL; Garage: Edifier S1000DB Active Speakers  

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So for anyone who want's to try the 5.4 update for PS4/PS5 comatiblitiy. 
 

  1. Right click the iFi_XMOS_5.3C application
  2. Click Show Package contents
  3. Navigate to Content > MacOS
  4. copy all the files to Downloads/iFi_XMOS_5.4
  5. Open the folder in Finder
  6. Rename copy the "XMOS_U8_USB1.0_V5.A0 (4).bin" to Downloads/iFi_XMOS_5.4/fw
  7. IMPORTANT: rename the firmware from   "XMOS_U8_USB1.0_V5.A0 (4).bin" to  "XMOS_U8_USB1.0_V5.A0_4.bin" or anything else you like.
  8. open "terminal" and execute the following commands to: rename the updater file, execute it with root privileges (if asked, enter your macos user password):
  9. cd ~/Downloads/iFi_XMOS_5.4
    mv iFi_XMOS_5.3C.sh iFi_XMOS_5.4.sh
    sudo ./iFi_XMOS_5.4.sh

     

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