austinpop Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 View full article My Audio Setup Link to comment
firedog Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Great review, all the combinations and comparisons are really helpful for people looking for a DAC. austinpop 1 Main listening (small home office): Main setup: Surge protector +>Isol-8 Mini sub Axis Power Strip/Isolation>QuietPC Low Noise Server>Roon (Audiolense DRC)>Stack Audio Link II>Kii Control>Kii Three (on their own electric circuit) >GIK Room Treatments. Secondary Path: Server with Audiolense RC>RPi4 or analog>Cayin iDAC6 MKII (tube mode) (XLR)>Kii Three . Bedroom: SBTouch to Cambridge Soundworks Desktop Setup. Living Room/Kitchen: Ropieee (RPi3b+ with touchscreen) + Schiit Modi3E to a pair of Morel Hogtalare. All absolute statements about audio are false Link to comment
Popular Post anroj Posted October 26, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted October 26, 2018 That was a very thorough review and well thought out approach to evaluating the iFi Pro iDSD. I will definitely put it on my audition list. DuckToller, Currawong and austinpop 1 1 1 Link to comment
ted_b Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Great review! As someone who has dabbled in dac reviews myself, I am in awe of your ability to keep the process of trying all these variables to something that is very easy to follow. Furthermore, your innate skill to differentiate and communicate based on hearing (as opposed to measuring) musical aspects (tonality, speed, depth, etc etc) is quite a talent. These comparisons are fun to read! Thanks. Ted austinpop 1 "We're all bozos on this bus"....F.T. My JRIver tutorial videos Actual JRIver tutorial MP4 video links My eleven yr old SACD Ripping Guide for PS3 (needs updating but still works) US Technical Advisor, NativeDSD.com Link to comment
austinpop Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 1 minute ago, ted_b said: Great review! As someone who has dabbled in dac reviews myself, I am in awe of your ability to keep the process of trying all these variables to something that is very easy to follow. Furthermore, your innate skill to differentiate and communicate based on hearing (as opposed to measuring) musical aspects (tonality, speed, depth, etc etc) is quite a talent. These comparisons are fun to read! Thanks. Ted Thank you Ted! Despite being a complete techie, I find the only way to keep track of all the listening sessions - and there are weeks of them! - is with an old fashioned pen and notebook. As for the flow, I am glad you appreciated it. I got into writing these articles because I would find reviews in conventional publications to be frustratingly vague in answering the kinds of questions I'm exploring. My Audio Setup Link to comment
sdolezalek Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Terrific review, thank you for the care in putting together an articulate, easy to read and very comprehensive review. In reading it, I couldn't help but wonder whether AMR (the iFi parent company) was likely to produce its own iFi iDSD Pro counterpart by adding in the power supply and clock upgrades and perhaps eliminating at least some of the tube/solid state type choices to focus solely on highest quality sound. Of course, that's likely to come out at a price-point more like your Ayre QX-5 Twenty (and without the ability to upgrade to even better power supplies/clocks). I guess this takes the notion of "separates" to a whole new level. austinpop 1 Synology NAS>i7-6700/32GB/NVIDIA QUADRO P4000 Win10>Qobuz+Tidal>Roon>HQPlayer>DSD512> Fiber Switch>Ultrarendu (NAA)>Holo Audio May KTE DAC> Bryston SP3 pre>Levinson No. 432 amps>Magnepan (MG20.1x2, CCR and MMC2x6) Link to comment
Superdad Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Dear Rajiv: On behalf of myself and John Swenson, I wish to thank you for again including UpTone Audio's unique JS-2 choke-filtered, dual-rail, 5-7 amp linear power supply as a companion piece in your highly informative ongoing survey of DACs. The only further piece of information that I would like to convey is that the JS-2 ($925 with 1 custom 1.5m Oyaide/Belden heavy-gauge, shielded star-quad DC cabe; $75 more for a second cable) is always readily available--in continuous production of about 25 units per month. (I pinch myself when reflecting that its been over 4 years and close to 700 units!) We do sell out most every month, so although there is no AddToCart button on the JS-2's web page, a simple e-mail to us via the contact form will be replied to promptly with a guaranteed ship date (typically 1-2 weeks) and a reasonable freight quote for international FedEx or domestic Priority Mail delivery. Again, we are glad that you have so enjoyed partnering the JS-2 with such fine DACs. It always delights us—and our clients—when the JS-2 is used to power a quality audio component such as a DAC or DDC (as opposed to various computers, NAS, etc.—which it does fine for as well). With kind regards, --Alex Crespi austinpop 1 UpTone Audio LLC Link to comment
jtwrace Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 This is all done with headphones? W10 NUC i7 (Gen 10) > Roon (Audiolense FIR) > Motu UltraLite mk5 > (4) Hypex NCore NC502MP > JBL M2 Master Reference +4 subs Watch my Podcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXMw_bZWBMtRWNJQfTJ38kA/videos Link to comment
Cortes Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 well, putting together the pieces... looks like the hifi world needs a R2R with DC and WC input ? Link to comment
AMR/iFi audio Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Fabulous review @austinpop, we thoroughly enjoyed it and soon will provide some additional nfo about the product. austinpop 1 Our PowerStation is here: click me! Check out our Tidal MQA Set-up Guides below. Android (Renderer) MobileDesktop (Decoder) via USBDesktop (Decoder) via SPDIF Link to comment
Ralf11 Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 3 hours ago, firedog said: Great review, all the combinations and comparisons are really helpful for people looking for a DAC. I agree - these comparisons are exactly what the audio community needs (and rarely gets from the paid press). My only issue is lack of blind testing. Link to comment
Popular Post Account Closed Posted October 26, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted October 26, 2018 This review reminds me of the reviews of years past in the various print magazines. Those reviews were, like this one, very detailed and gave enough data points to really begin a decision tree process. So much of what passes as reviews these days are really not much more than listening impressions or worse yet thinly veiled marketing pieces. Very much a pleasure to read. Keep up the good work. Thanks Forehaven, Ralf11, Superdad and 2 others 3 1 1 Link to comment
Popular Post Raimund Heubel Posted October 26, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted October 26, 2018 I fully agree, this is a really well written review and proper DAC comparison test which is greatly missed these days in any public media dealing with our hobby. What impresses me most is the logic in each of the steps you, ‘austinpop‘, are undertaking to achieve your goal of the highest sound quality in a DAC at an affordable, i.e. value for money, price point. Best Regards, Raimund DuckToller and austinpop 1 1 Best Regards, Raimund Living Room Apple Mac mini Mid 2011 (MacOS Sierra 10.12.6, 64 GB OWC SSD, 16 GB OWC RAM, iTunes 12.9, Pure Music 3.09c) -> artistic fidelity USB cable -> artistic fidelity External USB-Module -> 3 Fibre Optical Cables -> artistic fidelity afis / arfi-psu -> artistic fidelity RJ45 cable -> artistic fidelity arfi-dac2 / arfi-psu -> artistic fidelity XLR-to-BNC cable -> Bakoon HPA-21 Headamp + Sennheiser HD 800 Home Office Apple Mac mini End 2018 (MacOS Mojave 10.14.6, 128 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM, Audirvana 3.5.19) -> artistic fidelity USB cable -> Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital / Pro-Ject Accu Box S2 USB PSU -> Abacus C-Box 2 Active Speakers Link to comment
austinpop Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 2 hours ago, jtwrace said: This is all done with headphones? Mostly, although I also do some listening on a speaker system. Details in the article... davide256 1 My Audio Setup Link to comment
jtwrace Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 26 minutes ago, austinpop said: Mostly, although I also do some listening on a speaker system. Details in the article... I didn't see anything listed below in the article. Quote Associated Equipment Here is a diagram of how the Pro iDSD integrated into my system: Music Server: Innuos Zenith Mk II SE Headphone Amplifier: Cavalli Liquid Gold Headphones: Sennheiser HD800 (Super DuPont Mod), Audioquest Nighthawk USB Regenerator: SOtM tX-USBultra Ethernet Switch: The Linear Solution OCXO switch Reference Clock: Mutec Ref 10 10MHz clock driving the tX-USBultra Power supplies: Utpone LPS-1.2 for switch, Paul Hynes SR-4 for tX-USBultra Power Details: Dedicated 30A 6 AWG AC circuit, PS Audio P5 PerfectWave Regenerator Power Cables: PS Audio AC-12 (wall to P5), Pangea AC-9SE MkII (Cavalli Amp), Cardas Golden Cross (Zenith SE), Pangea AC-14XL (Mutec Ref-10), Pangea AC-14SE MkII to all PSUs, Cardas Clear to all DACs under test USB cables: Phasure Lush USB AES/EBU cables: Cardas Clear Clock cables: Habst 5N Cryo Pure Silver Ethernet cables: SOtM dCBL-Cat7 (switch to SE), TLS cable (switch to QX-8) DC cables: Audio Sensibility Signature Silver (LPS-1.2), Paul Hynes DC3FSXLR fine silver (SR-4) Interconnects: Cardas Clear XLR balanced (DAC to Amp) Headphone cables: Cardas Clear balanced and SE cables for HD800 Acknowledgments Many thanks to Cardas Audio for providing a loom of Cardas Clear cables to allow identical cables to be used for all the DACs under test! W10 NUC i7 (Gen 10) > Roon (Audiolense FIR) > Motu UltraLite mk5 > (4) Hypex NCore NC502MP > JBL M2 Master Reference +4 subs Watch my Podcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXMw_bZWBMtRWNJQfTJ38kA/videos Link to comment
asdf1000 Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 1 minute ago, jtwrace said: I didn't see anything listed below in the article. Link to comment
Ralf11 Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Right - not just 'speakers' but Maggies* (not to mention another fav of mine, ARC) * just don't let Wendell know he put subs on them... Link to comment
austinpop Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 @limniscate Eric's system sounds stunningly good. Between the Maggie 3.7's, the AR and Hegel electronics, the highly-optimized digital chain, and proper room treatments - with an absence of WAF constraints - produces an incredible experience. In fact, one of the rooms at RMAF had Maggie 3.7s, and we were appalled at how bad they sounded compared to Eric's home. Anyway, suffice it to say that this system was perfectly able to evaluate DAC differences. My Audio Setup Link to comment
austinpop Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 3 hours ago, Ralf11 said: My only issue is lack of blind testing. The listening sessions were a combination of sighted and single blind, but I didn't want to belabor the point. For all practical purposes, just consider these sighted. My Audio Setup Link to comment
Ralf11 Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Thx - either way, far better than contemporary reviews by "professionals" Link to comment
Deyorew Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Something I was hoping you would touch on is the DSD through the Schitt. I know the ifi pro iDSD's strengths are its native DSD for DSD content. How did the sound of this DSD content (either native or upscaled DSD) compare to the Schitt conversion of DSD to PCM? My personal library consists of 1000's of DSD (DSF) files and very little hi res PCM. So I am always interested in hearing modern analysis on native DSD playback vs DSD to PCM conversion on non native DSD DAC's. I was expecting to see the ifi and schitt were very close on PCM, but on DSD files, the native DSD player had an edge. Samsung 2TB SSD external drive > Oppo 205 USB in > McIntosh C45 > Proceed AMP5 > Mirage HDT Speakers > Velodyne HGS15 Sub // Nordost Blue Heaven Cables, PS Audio Quintet, OWC 2TB Mercury Elite Pro Firewire Link to comment
JDoyle Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Would love to hear your review of a Benchmark DAC3 along with the Benchmark AHB2 amp for your next article... Yes I own this setup, it’s IMHO, it’s a great bang for buck combo JD audiobomber 1 Link to comment
Popular Post One and a half Posted October 26, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted October 26, 2018 If only the iDSD pro was an Ethernet Roon Ready device. davide256 and Holzohr 2 AS Profile Equipment List Say NO to MQA Link to comment
austinpop Posted October 27, 2018 Author Share Posted October 27, 2018 23 minutes ago, Deyorew said: Something I was hoping you would touch on is the DSD through the Schitt. I know the ifi pro iDSD's strengths are its native DSD for DSD content. How did the sound of this DSD content (either native or upscaled DSD) compare to the Schitt conversion of DSD to PCM? My personal library consists of 1000's of DSD (DSF) files and very little hi res PCM. So I am always interested in hearing modern analysis on native DSD playback vs DSD to PCM conversion on non native DSD DAC's. I was expecting to see the ifi and schitt were very close on PCM, but on DSD files, the native DSD player had an edge. I too have hundreds of albums in DSD, ripped from SACD. My take on DSD support is different. If a manufacturer chooses to limit their device's capability to exclude my requirements, then that device is not for me. It may be great value and sound great, but there are far too many great alternatives to worry about it. I'm philosophically opposed to doing DSD-PCM conversions just to suit a manufacturers whim. But that's me. johndoe21ro 1 My Audio Setup Link to comment
Deyorew Posted October 27, 2018 Share Posted October 27, 2018 I am opposed as well which takes products like Schitt out of my selection. I was curious if the the time you spent with both audibly confirmed the "disadvantage" of not supporting DSD natively. Occasionally products come along that defy this type of logic and folks preach...don't look at the stats, use your ears, etc. In my mind (not ears) seeing PCM converted to DSD (like the DirectStream) seems mathematically uncompromising compared with DSD to PCM conversion. Samsung 2TB SSD external drive > Oppo 205 USB in > McIntosh C45 > Proceed AMP5 > Mirage HDT Speakers > Velodyne HGS15 Sub // Nordost Blue Heaven Cables, PS Audio Quintet, OWC 2TB Mercury Elite Pro Firewire Link to comment
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