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  1. View Classified Gryphon Essence Zena DAC module Up for sale is rare Gryphon Essence/Zena DAC module. WON'T FIT IN GRYPHON DIABLO 300 ! THIS MODULE IS DIFFERENT, WORKS ONLY FOR ESSENCE OR ZENA PRE Retail $6800 - True Dual Mono Class A Analog configuration - Zero negative feedback - Sabre ES9018 High-End D/A converter - User-selectable PCM and DSD digital roll-off filters Fit both Essence and Zena preamplifiers. Both preamplifiers have power supplies for this module. So, the DAC module doesn't take any resources away from preamp. As far as I see, it was never offered on the marketplace. Nobody ever wanted to part with it :) Diminishing returns, they say, but I decided to go for much more expensive DAC. Condition like new. Comes in the original box with foaming for safe travels. Installation is very easy. Everyone could do this. The Essence/Zena DAC Module uses an ESS Sabre ES9018 DAC chip. Not the latest version from ESS, but I’ve always found that it’s not what you use but how you use it that counts most in the audio world. And here Gryphon seems to have got it just right. It’s capable of 384kHz/32 bit and DSD up to 512. The Essence/Zena DAC module is fully isolated in an independent housing with grounded panels and is impervious to HF radiation, eliminating any risk of interference with the preamplifier stages. INPUTS The Gryphon Essence/Zena DAC module adds five high-quality digital inputs to the preamplifier’s standard complement of five analog inputs: - XLR socket for 110Ω AES/EBU, - TOSLink optical input, - dual 75Ω BNC sockets with Teflon insulation for two S/PDIF components, - USB input. With the DAC module on-board, preamplifier displays - the selected digital source, - sampling frequency, - PCM or DSD audio format, - SuperCap power supply status (charging or fully charged) - active digital filter setting. For PCM sources, fast or slow roll-off digital filter settings are available. For DSD sources, choose between 50, 60, 70 kHz (-3dB) bandpass filters. FROM GRYPHON Ready for current and future digital audio formats, the ESS Sabre ES9018 DAC chip stands at the heart of the Zena DAC module, partnered with heavily regulated, fully discrete, ultra-low noise +/- 22VDC voltage supplies to ensure optimal noise suppression and minimal analogue THD. Installing an exceptional digital to analog converter inside an equally ambitious preamplifier significantly shortens the signal path, eliminating exterior interconnects and multiple plugs and soldering points to maintain the integrity and purity of the audio signal. This Essence/Zena internal DAC module draws heavily on the innovative engineering that was inspired by the highly acclaimed Gryphon Kalliope digital-to-analogue converter. USB INPUT SUPERCAP POWER SUPPLY The Essence/Zena DAC module draws no power from any USB source component, generating instead its own pure power for maximum isolation from the PC. This effectively removes one of the weak points in conventional DAC designs: dependence on USB bus power, i.e., 5V fed to the USB receiver from the source computer via the USB cable’s power line which “bleeds” noise and interference into the two data lines with significant audible impact. The 12.5 Farad (!) SuperCap dedicated power supply acts as a stable, isolated, ideal virtual battery, eliminating the computer as a power source altogether for an ultra-low noise floor and unrestricted dynamics. Pure power at this crucial early stage makes a major contribution to the natural, effortless ease that defines the sound of digital by Gryphon. Seller Anton_s0s Date 12/23/23 Price 4,200.00 USD Category Digital to Analog Converters  
  2. I have a rather nice Gold Note DS-10 Plus streaming DAC, which will "play nice" with DSD 64 files served up to DS-10 Plus through its Ethernet socket; I use the GN control app to do that, pointing the DS-10 to the MinimServer-managed material on the Multimedia folder of my QNAP NAS dive. Where I need help from gurus here is in understanding how to get higher-res DSD files (up to DSD 512 f/s, in theory, according the User Manual for the DS-10 Plus) recognised and played by the Gold Note DS-10 Plus. The User Manual for the DS-10 Plus makes it clear that such >64 f/s DSD files need to be fed to it via the USB B socket on the rear panel. Link to the manual: https://www.goldnote.it/download/manual/DS-10.pdf But how to achieve that, and what control software to use? As I understand it, the USB standards only accommodate a maximum USB cable length of 5 metres. I could perhaps drag my (large) MacBook pro into the same room as the hi-fi kit, and connect a USB C to USB B cable from the MacBook to the back of the DS-10 Plus, and juggle with e.g. Audirvana Plus or some other fancy software on the MacBook to do this .... but that seems a horribly clunky approach (and rather ties up my MacBook). I'm asking because I've downloaded a few DSD 128 and DSD 256 files (via NativeDSD and HDTT), and I'd like to appreciate what they have to offer. through the DS-10 Plus, which is not cheap, and which is clearly specified as able to recognise DSD files of high resolution, up to 512 f/s. I realise this is an extremely basic question, am just looking for suggestions for a practical way to get high-res DSD files into the DS-10 Plus through its rear panel USB B socket ... Can some helpful soul to whom this is more obvious perhaps help here? (If it helps, I am not a ROON user - should I be? The DS-10 Plus is I believe ROON-certified.) Thanks in advance ... Sidemounter, Guildford, UK QNAP NAS drive, Naim HDX-SSD, Gold Note DS-10 Plus + Gold Note PSU, Linn Klimax 320A (active) speakers, Sunfire Signature sub-woofer
  3. View Classified FS: Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC Seller junker Date 09/18/23 Price 9,500.00 USD Category Digital to Analog Converters  
  4. View Classified Chord Dave (Silver) Up for sale is a Chord Dave that I originally purchased from another member of this forum in 2020. It comes with the original packaging, including the power cord, remote, instruction manual, and previous receipts. I used it daily for approximately 2 years for home listening and mastering recordings. No scratches as far as I can tell, but you be the judge. I mainly listen to (and play) jazz and classical, and the highlights of this DAC for these genres is its timing/speed/coherence, its wide soundstage, and its clear, separated imaging. I'm selling my all my high-end equipment after a work-related hazard left me with hyperacusis about a year ago, making it difficult to enjoy music in the same way. With no improvement after seeing multiple specialists, I've decided its time for someone else to enjoy my stuff. If you want a truly miraculous pairing with this DAC that comes close to the experience of live music, please see my other advertisements for Chord Ultima 6 power amp as well as the RAAL SR1As. I'm open to offers, especially if you want to buy what I have listed as a set, but I'm already selling at a very competitive price. Please let me know if you have any questions. Buyer pays shipping. Local pickup from Baltimore, MD. Seller witters Date 02/17/23 Price 6,500.00 USD Category Digital to Analog Converters  
  5. View Classified Experience the wonders of PGGB Remastered Files with this Kit Get these perfectly paired components all at once rather than ordering them individually. Discounted price and free CONUS shipping. A Chord Mojo 2 is the heart of this combo deal. By itself it sounds fabulous, but achieve the next level with these components: Mojo 2 (new price: $650) Shipped with original packaging. Purchased on January 9, 2024. Still under warranty Audiowise SRC-DX (new price: $523) 2 Silver Dragon Coax cables - 1.5 ft. (new price: $200) 2-pair Audiowise DC-Block and LP-Filter (new price: $460) 1-Black Dragon Portable Mini Cable V2 3.5mm to RCA (new price: $140) 1 Right Angle dual RCA female to 3.5mm (Included at no cost) 1 Right Angle 3.5mm TRS male to female (Included at no cost) 2 BNC to RCA adapters (Included at no cost) TOTAL NEW PRICE: $1,973 Yours for $1,570 + Shipping This combo allows you to feed 705.6/768kHz PGGB files to the chord Mojo. The transparency of this combo will amaze you. If you're unfamiliar with the value added benefit these components provide then go to https://audiowise-canada.myshopify.com/ For PayPal payments, please factor in an additional 3% for fees. Seller pays actual shipping costs. Shipping can be via USPS Priority, UPS or Fedex, fully insured, and a signature upon receipt is mandatory. Seller NWLanding Date 02/05/24 Price 1,570.00 USD Category Cables  
  6. View Classified PS Audio Directstream DAC Selling my much loved PS Audio Directstream DAC as I upgraded to the Mola Mola Tambaqui in the summer. Great (almost perfect) condition unit and remote control, with original boxing as shown. The only blemishes are a few slight cosmetic scratches as highlighted on the last couple photos. I wasn't even aware of these until today and taking the pictures to create the listing. Also I sold the Bridge II and couldn't find the backplate to seal the unit so did so with sellotape as shown to keep dust out. The buyer could probably source a backplate if they set their mind to it, but it was at the rear of my rack so I didn't care as the sellotape does the job. Factoring this and the fact many are available for sale now PS Audio has released the successor MKII DAC into the low price. Looking for £2200 £2000 which is a bargain as this was a £6000 DAC when I bought it in March of 2017. UK sale preferred but will ship to UK or EU at my expense. I'm based in London if the buyer wish to come around and inspect the unit or collect. PayPal Friends & Family (or buyer pays PayPal fees if they want an invoice) or bank transfer only please. Much as I love the Tambaqui I'm sad to be selling the Direcstream as this was my pride and joy for the last 6 years and is a truly awesome DAC. Happy to answer any questions. Thanks for looking. Cheers, Alan Seller BigAlMc Date 11/05/23 Price 2,500.00 USD Category Digital to Analog Converters  
  7. NEO iDSD (around 700-800 $) : HIGH HOPES I need to underline that iFi had understood some of the critical input raised by the reviewers and made changes to the package and the firmware selection. The recent incarnation of iFi neo iDSD comes along as the iFi Audio Performance Edition at 799$ MSRP. The NEO iDSD Performance Edition now does include now the iPurifier3 USB B reclocker plus the SPDIF iPurifier and gives you a firmware choice that allows you to use all capabilities of the BB DSD1793 chips. For the older version for the serial number starting with 60010 xxxxx the updated firmware is here. The firmware branding allows the guessing that there might be a difference in the XMOS chips, which demands different firmware for the older and newer models. Original review: As noted in the introduction the NEO iDSD might have been seen as "THE ONE" by many, a device to fulfill our demand for a PRE/DAC/HPA device below 1k$ that ticks ALL the boxes. All early announcements have led to high hopes with the iFi fan crowd, me included. Now we are looking into the details. The device, prone to stand on the silver socket or lie 90 degree to the right (the display rotates only in that direction or back) has a beautiful sleek "purist" silver aluminum design with two headphone ports, one input selection and the on/off button, plus this big silver multifunctional rotary controller which may be used for: - the analog volume control and mute - dimming the brightness of the display - select the fixed and variable output i.e. DAC or preamp mode in conjunction with the on/off button - In fixed mode (DAC) the volume control for all outputs is bypassed. The flipside is the arrangement of the power input on the device's top back end and all the digital inputs located in the upper half. Using the rigid blue USB cable - which is usually a quality feature of iFi Audio - the unit always showed tendencies to move sideward as the cable supplied with the NEO iDSD is essentially short in quite a reduced way. Luckily for us and different from former iFi Audio micro cable experiences, this one is a standard USB 3.0 A to B connector. Too bad for me that it is pretty much the only USB cable type I haven't lying around in 3 available lengths in my homegrown USB vipers nest with roughly 80+ brothers and sisters from different USB generations. In case you decide to own the device, here's an advice for you: Get a more flexible 1m USB cable or use shorter but less rigid ones. perhaps combined with a wireless RPI as an endpoint. Don't forget to add weight on them if using them horizontally. The included analog cable is the lilac RCA connection we've learned to love from other iFi devices. The supplied adapter is 3.5mm to 6.3mm TRS. My first idea had been; Great, but why don't they supply a Pentaconn adapter? Second one: Time is ripe for iFi Audio to supply balanced cabling. I can see some room for improvement here. To the contrary of my failed perception & most importantly for the new owner, the box comes with an IFI Audio iPower 5v as DC power plug included plus a extra purist remote control which even fits the needs of Becky from WHF without constraints. A new kid in town My first impressions were: - Quite light but solid craftsmanship. - Designed by IFi, licensed by AMR Audio in the UK and assembled in China. - Display and analog volume control are two important boxes to tick when thinking about a future PRE/DAC. - This one comes with XLR balanced outputs, too. - And a remote control. 4 ticks, already!! Let's spy ahead: Burr Brown DSD1793 DAC, up to DSD512 & 2xDXD and balanced headphone output using the new 4.4. mm Pentaconn socket for cables with balanced TRRRS adapter. These specs sound like a delicious audio dream come true after 3 years using the Micro BL as go-to-DAC in my main system. I've had high hopes too, absolutely. The digital inputs NEO iDSD has inputs for three fixed digital sources: Toslink and SPDIF connection allow to transmit signals from other DACs, streamers or digital players. The maximum input is not specified, neither in the manual nor on the iFi website. The USB 2.0 compatible USB 3.0B input does not feature the iPurifier technology we have seen in the last two Micro iDSD devices. Bluetooth (see below) is provided as well. Balanced Analog Design If we look at the details, the Neo iDSD looks like the new kid in town featuring tech we've already seen throughout the iFi toolkit, most of it but not all, to be correct. The new sensation comes with the introduction of a balanced analogue output circuit, referenced as "PureWave" design which distinguishes it from the micro class of devices, including the recent Signature unit. "iFi calls this circuit design ‘PureWave’, referring to the sonic purity it achieves thanks to exceptional linearity and infinitesimally low levels of noise and distortion." (IFI Press Release). The PureWave design is "a new, balanced, symmetrical dual-mono topology with short, direct signal paths” that was "perfected" specifically for this model by IFI's Thorsten Loesch and the recently added wisdom of experienced & famous circuit designer John Curl. According to their website, the device, using this new balanced circuit design technology, the NEO sits in-between the entry-level ZEN and the totl PRO devices. BurrBrown DSD 1793 DAC chip When it comes to DAC chips, IFI Audio hat pretty much proved for years the validity of that gracefully aged phrase "it’s not the chip, it’s the execution that matters". Since the introduction of the Micro iDSD series with the dual mono implementation of the BurrBrown DSD1793 DAC chip, launched in 2003 by Texas Instruments. iFi has used this monolithic integrated circuit for almost all DAC designs - only adapting ESS chips with the ZEN Blue and xCan for Bluetooth based signal transmission. The top flight PRO iDSD i.e. uses four of these BB chips in an interleaved design, while until now single chip implementations were left exclusively with the lines below 400 USD. This rule of thumbs has changed with the NEO, which - with respect to its purist design philosophy - executes the signal conversion with a single BB DSD1793 chip and the GTO filter set before reaching the new balanced analog output circuit. Different to older devices, the NEO uses a more recent & powerful XMOS implementation which allows to process all announced formats including MQA simultaneously and deploys a new type of firmware. It can be changed accordingly to the small video you'll find in regard of the firmware upgrade process later on, however the most recent FW 1.35 does not include any different filter set options as we have been educated to with the iMicro and iNano series. For the NEO iDSD the selection of the GTO as single filter option plus the absence of a dual mono DAC chip concept may be the reason why its analog output could not live up to the sound qualities I enjoyed with the Signature and firmware 5.20. It may have its forté with chamber music and TV presentation, though it lacks the musicality of the micro iDSD devices for my ears. As of February 08, 2021 the FW v1.35 hadn’t been no longer available in the ever changing IFI website's download section. You can see in the FW upgrade video that this has been different in January. Personally, I was informed about availability the day before Christmas, however that link now leads into website nirvana without any notice about the FW retirement. I would assume that it may come back soon in an updated version. IFi Audio, when still present @ Audiophile Style forum in March 2019, once explained their underlying philosophy: "We always like to give our customers a choice." If this is still true, we may see the option to change the filter setting for the NEO in the future. UPDATE (12/2022) : My assumption has been proved to be correct ;-) In 2022, the iFi software engineers started providing FW options that allow to circumvent the GTO. Here’s the link, please be careful with the choosing the correct firmware, there might be a difference in the XMOS design with the newer generations of the NEO.
    Headphone amplifier The headphone section offers a true balanced Pentaconn 4.4mm TRRRS output socket plus the standard 6.3 single ended connection. Unfortunately, the fancy new feature which allows an output up to 1040mW per channel, did not happen to work properly with the device under review. I assume a contact malfunction as the channels were unstable and changing when the connector was turned inside the Pentaconn output. This left me using only the SE output with my Hifiman HE400i-2020 planar cans and the Sennheiser HD650. Contrary to the properly executed output to the HD650 (SE), the match with the 400i-2020 didn't work out to my satisfaction. The SE HPA provides a mere 295mW@32Ohm, enough for an acceptable performance with the HD 650, thus not sufficient for the HiFiMan HE400i. When I reported back to the manufacturer, I received a set of photos explaining how to connect your Pentaconn cable to the NEO correctly. Sadly, this didn't solve my problem, but decidedly it solved theirs. I informed them as well about my experience with the NEO driving my planar headphones. iFi support showed the air of being surprised about that topic and consequently led me to their HP calculator page in order to confirm that the NEO was designed to work with cans like the HE400i-2020. ("Using the headphone calculator, neo iDSD should have more than enough power") and suggesting a broken HP device. Did I mention to them that these cans were singing with the Signature? iFi Audio notes in their FAQ that you can use 2 cans at the same time with the NEO iDSD with limitations, "however, this will limit total power output delivered to each headphone socket as both rely on the same amplifier circuit." After reading this info, I tested that specific scenario for the Sig (due to malfunction on one of the NEO’s ports) with an output of 75dB on the HD650 and 69db with the HiFiMan: neither my ears nor my manual Sound Level Meter could indicate any loss of output power when a second device was attached. However, I would assume that at that level the threshold of the possible output power wasn't reached at all. Bluetooth Another killer feature - this time well executed - is the powerful Bluetooth 5.0 implementation which includes AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, LDAC and the LHDC/HWA Codec up to PCM 96khz. After launching the NEO the device welcomes you with a female voice out of your speaker and informs you that you are not connected with BT. This lip service provided me with a surreal feel of IoT. You can store up to 8 BT devices with this module. An audio signal transfer to connectable speakers or cans is not part of the plan. Connection to my phone using LDAP with 96kHz worked flawlessly. "Pairing" & "Your device is connected - LDAC" are the commands you'll hear from NEO. Resume: The NEO iDSD ticks many boxes, comes along in a nicely purist design and may be crowned by a nod from your partner if placed in the living room. I can't see any problem with the device if your demands are balanced by nature which includes you won't mind the GTO filter and MQA integrated with the machine. For progressing audiophiles and the ones aspiring to get there - to the contrary - some criteria might be more important than others and expectations may have been different in comparison to NEO's real life appearance, technical concept and equipment. Personally, I wouldn't mind to pay even 200$ more if I would get these features known from the iFi tool box: - a HPA with sufficient output power to drive my cheap planar headphones, - a full dual mono design - and the possibility to avoid the GTO filter / MQA. I could accept the purist remote control, the missing analog input, the questionable concept of the back plate and the disappointing cable provision, as these factors are not important or genuine for sound quality. Nevertheless, the NEO iDSD will leave me with the feeling that it did not achieve what's possible in the segment between 500 and 1000 bucks. These are chances left behind and it gave me the strange feeling that the company did not live up to its own reputation but stopped half way before they would have achieved something very special. Looking at the +/- balance below, for audiophiles this just isn't special enough for the serious dough to pay. Exhibit 4 - Firmware Special One of the important qualities of iFi micro devices is the adjustable firmware that permits owners to make choices according to personal taste. The recent devices come with the newest firmware that does not feature DSD512 but MQA instead. You could either upgrade to GTO filters or downgrade to the MQA free version. I have had created a small video that could have guided you through the process. In the final test session both FW (V5.30 and V5.30c) showed flawless playback for DXD and DSD256, native and up sampled. A result different from my initial testing when the Signature arrived and I started feeding it. I had tested my initial setup with 2 different types of playback software and 4 different DACs, 3 of them from iFi and only the Sig showed problems in transmission then. However, the device has by now seen multiple FW up and downgrades and I am happy to confirm that it started working flawlessly for DXD and DSD256 with the MQA firmware 5.30. Please note the need to use FW 5.20 if your desire is enjoying DSD512, 2xDXD and upsampling to PCM768. DSD512 however is still a special case for most, as you need some horsepower under the hood of your server (My CAPS has i7 4790 - using ROON integrated upsampling - and achieves it only with ROON, thus the processor power is not sufficient for up sampling with Audirvarna. From a sq perspective, DSD256 and DXD sounded better with FW 5.20 and FW5.30, whereas I did not perceive the GTO filter in 5.30c as any advancement. However, if MQA isn’t your preferred format, the 5.20 FW with sub options for SPDIF usage and disabling the sleep mode may be the most advantageous choice. During the final review I've noticed that by mid-March 2021 iFi has changed the website design and provides a download hub for software / firmware, where you are asked to provide the serial number of your device prior having the options for DL displayed. When I visited the site lately, the firmware 1.35 for the NEO iDSD was on display again as are the USB 2.0 driver v3.2 (2018) and the 5.20 Limoncello for the iDSD signature. Consequently, the video sequence I’ve done in January renders worthless and I had to update work correspondingly. I refrained for doing it again, but if you need any guidance just contact me via PM and we’ll sort that out. Exhibit 5 – The Hifiman HE400i (2020) Turning into the world of balanced Headphone amps, I felt that my proven pair of Sennheiser HD650 may not live up completely to the expectations for this review. The Focal Elegia I had as a loaner in 2019 and 2020 was also returned, thus I acquired my first pair of planar headphones, the Hifiman HE400i which were just starting as the all recent value champion into 2021. According to Sandu Vitale, Hifiman followed suit after Sennheiser has dropped prices of popular models for enhancing market share and enforce customer loyalty by adopting this strategy and undercutting the initial price (2014) of its beloved predecessor – the mass market champion HE400i by 70 % - selling the 2020 model for 149$ in their online shop. The 2020 comes along with the same specifications as the original, however there were some design decisions taken and some cuts to be done. The packaging feels good, but less luxury as before. Related to the new pricing the packaging has a minimalist flair: The cans, cables, a standard 3.5-to-6.3 adapter and the paperwork. Please find it & the specs just below 20201124101738_90760.pdf . The ear cups didn’t change, thus the 2020 does profit from the newer (imho better) designed replaceable pads and a new comfortable headband. The 3.5mm mini jacks at the bottom of each ear cup are a step up to me, as these seems to be more reliable and resistant and particularly gives you a plentiful of options for aftermarket cables or your personal DIY build.
    The HE400i 2020 scores in the lower 95th percentile of Jaakko Pasanen’s Headphone ranking (Basis 580 over ear headphones) and I would invite you to test out the available presets for eq’ing these headphones. I am using the oratory1990 minimum phase with JRIVER convolution for them. The proper list is to found here. Measurements for the HE400i can be found in the previously linked review by Sandu. For me these cans were a first personal planar experience, and I was happy to work out the differences to i.e. the Focal Elegia which I used for the last year and the HD650s which I use like forever. The 2020’s weight lies just between the other cans, and the closed back Elegia is naturally the heaviest. I found the Hifiman phones extremely comfy for my not so small but sensitive head, whereas the headbands of the other two had slightly more grip, which I even didn’t notice before I started using the 2020s. From all three, the He400i excel in soundstage, have better detail retrieval than the HD650 and seem to be neutral with a pinch of warmth, not far away from the HD650s but quite different from the Focals in terms of detail retrieval. In my opinion, the HE400i 2020 really does appreciate the available power of your headphone amp, that’s the reason why they didn’t work well with the Neo but performed excellently with the Signature. I need to admit that I really enjoyed the tuning and the performance of the Elegia, nevertheless the Hifimans did impress me thoroughly positive. At this entry level price, they are an excellent budget option to start a headphone journey. This is the 3rd part of the review. The last part about the Red Elephant in the room will be published after Xmas. Part one and two can be found here:
  8. Hello All, I wanted to know if there are any owners of the Rockna Wavelight DAC. Would you recommend it? Thanks and regards, Giuseppe
  9. Great expectations, high hopes & the elephant in the room iFi Audio Micro iDSD Signature & NEO iDSD review The Micro iDSD Signature - Great Expectations Contents Part two: Signature review Exhibt 2: 4.4mm balanced output Pentaconn Exhibit 3: The GTO filter Signature review Last November I was kind of surprised when I read the announcement of a Signature edition for the iFi Micro iDSD. Great expectations had been raised instantly about this shiny new gladiator for the pursuit of sound quality in your home system and for portable use cases. The package content is shown right here: This review will look into the details in pursuance of clarity about the Signature’s strengths and weaknesses in comparison with its predecessor the Micro iDSD Black Label edition, which I have reviewed here in 2017. You'll find a head-2-head feature comparisonjust below: As of IFI Audio’s PR material the Signature edition of the Micro iDSD will be produced in limited quantity, which may qualify for calling it a transitional device, smoothing the transition from the versatile Black Label edition to the new “portable king of the hill” iDSD DIABLO, preparing the iFi customers for a streamlined PCB design, perfected purist sound experience and a whiff of boosted mobility. The Signature’s form, haptic and technology is very much reminiscent of the Micro iDSD series, the most notable changes are: - the exciting blue colored surface, - the additional Pentaconn HP socket for S-balanced output - plus the separation USB port duties for signal transmission and advanced power supply. Looking at the spec sheets, not much has changed related to the signal path and the HP output apart from the higher output. The provision of digital inputs via USB and a combined SPDIF/Toslink port (adapter provided) is well known from the iFi micro range. The Signature still uses the BB DSD1793 Dac chip in dual mono configuration and a dual mono analogue & pre amplification stage. above the DAC sections of the iDSD micro Black Label and Micro iDSD Signature (wholeheartly thanks @ sandalaudio) However, the additional performance in the power supply and HP section comes at a cost. With the announcement of the recent DAC/Pre/HP amp in the iFi-portfolio the Signature lost the ability of variable RCA output mode and along with that change we notice the evanescence of the analog input and optical output. Consequently, we experience a lack of gain selection and supporting line stage. Connecting the RCA output, the volume control now is bypassed. Secondary features like loading external devices via USB port and polarity selection have been eschewed for the crusade toward better sound, purist experience and enhanced portability. On the positive side, IFi Audio has stepped up SQ with the new micro iDSD Signature, accessible under clear defined presets, a success accomplished especially through changes within the device's power structure and less importantly by enhancements in the output section using the 4.4mm s-balanced output design. The major impact in my view comes from the separation of duties for signal transfer and power provision. These presets for success were most distinctive to the reviewers' ears after changing back to the iFi Limoncello firmware 5.20 that permits the owner the spotless use of DXD and DSD512. Using the most recent software, both features aren't available and the more sterile sounding GTO filter is dominating the SQ. Nonetheless, as filters are often suspect to personal taste and experience, I'd suggest taking the challenge to find out for yourself. The manual for upgrading/downgrading firmware had been delivered here and effects - in my ears - were well distinguishable.
    The Signature’s SQ over Headphones, be it through the SE 6.3mm output or the 4.4mm S-balanced tuned Pentaconn port, is exciting by design. iFi confirmed to me that the DAC section with the BB 1793DSD double mono configuration was left untouched while the important changes towards SQ were made in the amplification section and through the selection between important and less important features. The selection of unbalanced SE or S-balanced Pentaconn did not make a significant difference for my ears, given the power output of both outputs is equal by design and the first demand of the HE-400i is current, current, current. My amateurish hand measurements with a SPL meter have confirmed my “ear educated” guesswork for that instance. I credit the direct drive HP amplification stage well known from the Black Label, with the responsibility for amplifying the signal that arrived through the dual mono analogue stage in both, single ended and s-balanced mode. As a matter of consequence, the Signature has lost some features we had learned to love with the older micro iDSD editions. There is no capable line stage that would qualify the unit as a digital preamp providing variable output and analog input anymore, while the device's new power circuit design doesn’t allow uninterrupted usage in your system without connecting it to an external power source. There is, for sure, an advantage inherited with that solution, the SQ enhancement driving the unit solely from battery and no USB bus power interference may inject unwanted noise of all sorts. Thus the Sig is an exquisite sounding device for "more transportable" or desktop use, with or without demanding headphones, however it features a far less complex functionality compared to its predecessor. Accordingly, with this minor "streamlined" changes the device now leans more toward mobility than the Black Label edition which for many users would do greatly as DAC/PRE in the main system. However, I need to admit that using the BL plus a RPI as endpoint rendered somehow as less comfortable for the limited charging power from the RPI2/3 ports plus the need for recharging after listening. Connected directly to the USB3 ports of my CAPS Zuma it has never asked for battery refill. The cleaner way of powering the Signature may allow you to use the battery now up to twelve hours, depending on the selected power mode. iFi support indicates no quality loss if the device is charged during playback. I've noticed a certain signal loss the very moment when connecting the device to the power supply and preferred generally to listen without power feed. However, employing a 20maH power bank proved to be a solution to allow nearly unlimited (2days) use when needed. Having noticed the availability of iFi 5v power plugs with some of the 2020/21 product range I would have saluted an inclusive solution for the Sig as well. Depending on what your objectives are, the Micro iDSD Signature may be exactly the device you are looking for. If you're in for a DAC with preamp functionality in your systems, the Sig won't make you happy with its new configuration and you may rather want to look for the Black Label edition, which is richer in features and not far away in line level sq with identical audiophile heritage, although some caveats regarding component selection are the price to pay for the comfort upgrade, knowing that slightly better SQ can be had with the Signature. Exhibit 2: 4.4mm balanced output Pentaconn This is a quick overview about TRS, TRRRS, Pentaconn, Balanced and S-balanced headphone amp output. There are some things to be understood when it comes to the new wave of so called balanced outputs from headphone amps. I am not an expert in EE, therefore I provide some third party information which I found useful for understanding what’s going on. TRS and TRRRS: The three contact phone connector standard version called TRS is a Tip-Ring-Sleeve connector that arrives in 2 formats (stereo/mono) and three sizes 6.35, 3.5 and 2.5 mm. The five contact phone connector standard called TRRRS is based on the same concept, providing but was only brought into the ITU-T standard P.382 in 2017 for 2.5 and 3.5 mm phone connector 4.4mm Pentaconn: The Pentaconn technology was developed by NDICS (Nippon Digital Information Communication and Service") in 2015 under the Jeita standard 8141C (only in Japanese), marketed under the name Pentaconn (5-connector) and the website pentaconnglobal.com. Sony was an early adopter and is the most prominent manufacturer to date using this standard. Since last year IFI audio provides this adapter/socket technology as headphone & balanced analog output solution in their devices. With the latest devices the installation is used for balanced signal transmission to XLR connectors. As noted above both units offer a 4,4mm Pentaconn HP output socket, which is by definition only usable with a TRRRS connector. In my opinion, based on acquired knowledge and experience, I like truly symmetrical signal paths for stereo output and balanced line level connections for offering some solutions and a higher dynamic range. With the Pentaconn balanced output I may enjoy higher power output to my planar headphones which in my reception could make a distinction in perceived sound quality compared to SE / TRS based connection. With reference to the Benchmark-Paper by John Siau about “Balanced Headphone Amplifiers” I like to list 3 important findings: Headphone transducers are always balanced devices and agnostic to the way (SE vs. Balanced) current is delivered to them. Balanced line Level connections are a common solution in regard to ground loop and noise injection problems. Balanced outputs in HPA can deliver up to 4 times more power for a given power supply voltage . While this proves to be helpful in battery driven devices, it gives no advantage in AC powered devices. Here are some quotes that offer food for thought why a 4.4mm pentaconn connection might not be completely indispensable: “Fully balanced internal circuitry has been promoted as yielding 3 dB better dynamic range, though at increased cost over single-ended designs.” Wikipedia “A truly balanced and differential signal path from source to load requires double the circuitry and is thus more expensive to manufacture, but it can yield an audible improvement. This is sometimes referred to as ‘dual-mono’ to indicate that each channel is completely isolated from the other” Headphonesty “Most audio products (recording, public address, etc.) provide differential balanced inputs and outputs, typically via XLR or TRS phone connectors. However, in most cases, a differential balanced input signal is internally converted to a single-ended signal via transformer or electronic amplifier. After internal processing, the single-ended signal is converted back to a differential balanced signal and fed to an output. A small number of audio products have been designed with an entirely differential balanced signal path from input to output; the audio signal never unbalances. This design is achieved by providing identical (mirrored) internal signal paths for both the "non-inverting" and "inverting" audio signals. Wikipedia /Source: http://www.co-bw.com/Audio_balanced_cables_audio.htm We could think about the Pentaconn as a solution that is looking for a problem in real life, however it works as well as a solution for easy adaption between the smallish TRRRS output and balanced inputs for the signal path outside the headphone environment. The easy solution for your existing cable could have been an adapter from SE 3.5 or 6.3 connectors to 4.4 pentaconn. When starting the review period I've looked at five weeks delivery time for such an useful gadget and decided on ordering a complete balanced cable for my Planar headphones instead - which was expedited in 4 days. However, buying a 4.4mm Pentaconn aftermarket cable could rip some serious cash out of your pocket. I paid about 50$ for the aftermarket cable for my 150$ Hifiman HE-400i 2020, if you are in it for your Meze Empyrean, for example, you may need to shed more than 300$ for a suitable connection. iFi Audio provides for both devices the timeless 6.3 male to 3.5mm female adapter. For me this exactly feels like they have kind of lost that special touch that made them so unique 5 years ago. In my opinion, you may get a stronger push for Pentaconn if you’d include a suiting adapter for 3.5mm TRRS connectors. Only a percentile of customers may be able to use the strongest unique selling points of the devices straight from the start. Even the majority of balanced headphone cables can't, because in the past they were XLR, 2.5mm or 3.5mm .... Late in 2020 - during my research - I found not more than a handful of cans using 4.4mm connectors as standard connectors, given I didn't go to specialist places with low volume output. My short research in European search engines just before Christmas did only provide 5 recent headphones apart from Sony products featuring 4.4mm Pentaconn connector cabling. The 25 best headphones endorsements for 2021 for the British HiFi consumer provides just a single pair of Sony cans (2k GPB) with the specific 4.4mm connection. Obviously we are facing the early adopter problem and the solution may find its problem in the years to come. iFi Audio used the Pentaconn technology with two different designs, the fully balanced design for the Neo and the s-balanced design for the Sig. As noted above, the strongest argument for balanced design for headphones may be the surplus current available for demanding cans, which is not provided for the Signature’s configuration. Most unfortunate, my new adapter did only work with the Sig’s output, but refused to function 100% with the NEO iDSD'S Pentaconn port, which led me to use it only with the single ended 6.5 TRRS cable/output. The caveat I had to face has been the nominal power output, which is too low to drive the (now more affordable) planars from Hifiman in a satisfying manner. Even with the 1040 mA @32 Ohm aren't sufficient to let the cans sing to me. A short look on the s-balanced design: “No second amplifier is used, neither is extra signal nor noise, nor distortion added, perfect for sensitive IEMs. Further including the iEMatch technology extends compatibility with ultra-sensitive IEMs. A dedicated negative wire per channel all the way to each channel’s amplifier’s star-ground makes sure there is no crosstalk between the channels” (iFi Audio) With the iDSD Nano BL this design permitted the use of both TRS and TRRS connectors without compatibility issues. Using it for the Pentaconn output while having a dual mono output stage in the device seems to be that kind of mystery to me that manufactures won’t like to explain. Here’s an overview of technology deployed & the output specs for iFi’s headphone amps: Exhibit 3: Gibbs transient optimized This GTO is neither a Ferrari nor a Pontiac GTO („Gran Turismo Omologato") of digital filters but a development that had been in the pipeline of the AMR/iFi universe since 2011 when they were in research for optimized organic filter solutions for the AM-777. Actually its primary aim is to minimize pre-ringing and correct the timing in order for optimizing the transient response. The introduction of "GTO" was escorted by a "white paper" like 9-page-document available here in 2018 when the GTO filter arrived as an alternative with the iFi iDSD pro. iFi says the GTO is their first choice when only a single filter is in the race. That is the case for example with the Neo iDSD. For their XMOS based legacy products the filter is available since FW 5.30c and substitutes the minimal phase filter. These GTO filters are a collaborative development from IFI Audio / AMR with the MQA Labs. "We must make clear that GTO is not directly related to filter types used by MQA, it is not “MQA through the backdoor”, but instead what we feel is the optimum solution for the playback of digital audio that has not undergone the MQA process. " The Gibbs Transients Optimized (GTO) is a set of filters for analog output which has been critically reviewed by mansr at our forum in 2019. Nearly everything written there as subjective support to the objective data provided by the thread starter correlates with my personal experience. My previous and first experience with the GTO filters came with an exclusive setup in a listening booth in Paris 2019. I recall liking the apodizing filter most then, which was a surprising experience because it was the first and only time I can remember this type of filter being my preference, while I was disinclined with most of the others and especially with the GTO filter that was recommended by the IFI personal at the show. To understand why I was kind of put off from that experience, let me introduce the Paris high quality chain: Aurender A10 & IFI Audio iDSD PRO & PrimaLuna EVO 100 with MEZE EMPYREAN or Audeze LCD4. This may have been the most rewarding headphone system I have ever listened to. During this review, whether it was comparing the iDSD NEO with no filter selection available against the ALLO Revolution with minimum phase fast roll off FIR filter setting or the different firmware selections 5.20 vs. 5.30c for the Signature, the GTO never worked to my aural satisfaction. While my overall less enthusiastic impressions about the GTO filter endured, the Sig & Planar combination allowed better SQ than experienced with the NEO, however it was the Sig's (FW 5.20) "bit perfect" processing that remained my go to choice. The GTO compared to bit perfect sounded to me again more sterile (like the opposite of organic), flat, less lively and providing absence of anything I would call PRAT for the ones who use that definition to describe audio performance. Surely it is called “analytical”- thus unfortunately not transporting the emotional bits to my ears. In a car metaphor I would point out to Toyota Camry or Chevrolet Trax, cars so uninspiring that concentrating on the road traffic is very easy. Some folks may be happy with that, I'll pass on that GTO. Part 1 Part 3 Part 4 This is the 2nd part of the 2021 iFi review. I decided to add it today, when the first installment had reached more than 120 views in less than 24 hours and I felt that the interest seems to be right there . Thank you guys and gals. PS: If you wonder about the big blue layout for the signature, in the word document it was in a handwriting (Signature) type, but the blog layout didn't provide that extravaganza.
  10. I have re-read my 2021 review about these two iFi devices, which I wrote between December 20 and Mars 21, and found that the work is likely worth to be published, even it is seemingly kind of old news, as the Neo iDSD has already received a revamp. I will make a series of entries out of the material, starting today with Part 1 1. Review intro and overview 2. The Micro iDSD Signature - Great Expectations 3. NEO iDSD - HIGH HOPES 4. The red elephant & the art of product life cycle enhancement Great expectations, high hopes & the elephant in the room iFi Audio Micro iDSD Signature & NEO iDSD review In 2020 most informed readers may have noted that top shelf DAC performance can be had starting 500 quids and climbing up the ladder gives you usually a plethora of choice on desired features, like build quality, architecture & implementation of DAC chip(s) in use, display, Pre-Amp functionality or headphone amp (HPA) integration, while balanced output design nowadays starts south of the 200$ coastline. If a company like IFI Audio, which had brought us in 2020 already affordable & powerful devices like the ZEN series with balanced design and a HPA output of 1150mW per channel @32 Ohm below this magic price point, announces their first upgrade to the celebrated portable series Micro iDSD since 2017with the Micro iDSD Signature, these exciting news are welcomed with great expectations. The new designed DAC/PREAMP/HPAMP device iDSD NEO with balanced analog design & output - announced just 4 weeks later - likewise is greeted with high hopes. Since December 2020 I have had both DAC / headphone amps on loan from IFI Audio/UK. The NEO iDSD is a desktop amp, best used close to your audio source in your main system or in your workstation environment. The Micro iDSD Signature, a more mobile device tagged portable by IFI, is a battery driven DAC and HPA powerhouse that allows you to drive even demanding headphones with ease. Both devices play in the 500-1000$ segment of combined DAC/HPA devices, with prices of 699$ for the Neo and 649$ for the Signature respectively at the time of writing. This review aims to have a close look at both devices, the deployed technology and attempts to classify them within the portfolio of IFI devices under 1000$. The review is not looking to compare overly the devices against each other thus to underline the distinct characteristics of each. In order to get familiar with some IFI specifics we make some excursions into history, portfolio, new & advanced technologies and the importance of firmware. Manufacturer’s description The Signature is a mobile DAC and headphone amplifier and the direct successor of the accomplished micro iDSD Black Label which was reviewed at CA/AS in 2017 here & here. ifi Audio says about the device: “The micro iDSD Signature is a micro iDSD BL, but internally streamlined and optimized, and externally equipped with several QOL (quality of life) improvements to be more user-friendly ... (it) features a Pentaconn 4.4mm headphone out, larger LEDs and a sleeker volume knob. Its internal circuitry is optimized and is more direct. (It) ... is better than micro iDSD Black Label in terms of functionality and ease of use.” The NEO iDSD is a home audio device for desktop or full system use featuring technology from different iFi devices, a new type of enclosure and a balanced design for headphones and analog output. iFi offers this description: “The NEO iDSD is our new desktop DAC/amp with bleeding-edge tech. Put simply, it is the first 3-in-one system at this price range to combine the following: 1. Hi-Res USB and S/PDIF DAC – PCM768/DSD512. Full MQA decoding. 2. Hi-Res Bluetooth DAC – 96kHz Hi-Res Bluetooth: LDAC, HWA/LHDC, aptx Adaptive/HD/LL, AAC 3. True Balanced circuit and headphone amp.” The attached table includes the available information of both devices taken from the manual and ifi Audio’s website. I put them into relation with the Micro iDSD BL which offers DAC, battery driven headphone power plus preamp functionality. The differences in features are indicated in red. Both devices share the Pentaconn 4.4 mm balanced output technology, although two different balanced designs are in play for each of the devices: "S-balanced" for the Signature and "pure wave" for the NEO. I found it useful to dig a bit deeper into specifics provided with Exhibit 2. Exhibit 1: Who is iFi-Audio “iFi audio believes that innovative high-end audio should be available to everyone, everywhere, so iFi uses the latest technology, materials and consumer feedback to provide an audiophile quality listening experience at an affordable price.” (LinkedIn) iFi Audio was launched in 2012 as the sister branch of AMR (Abbingdon Music Research), a British high end HiFi manufacturer, most famous for their innovative AM-777 designs, circa 2008. After a grace period during which iFi Audio blossomed into one of the most lauded and applauded manufacturers for portable & affordable HiFi equipment and accessories. The dormant AMR brand was revived in 2019. Trusting the Wikipedia information, AMR and iFi are subsidiaries of Abbingdon Global Limited, which is directed and owned by iFi's Sales director Vincent Luk(e). Depending on which iFi product you own, you may have spotted the information for this product: “Technology licensed from AMR-Audio, UK Assembled in China”. Vincent Luke has explained roughly the design/manufacturing process - in 2018 to 6 Moons and in March 2020 to stereonet.au - as an internationally divided organisation between their home surf at Southport, UK, their manufacturing/assembly site in China, including their design team in France/China and component supply worldwide. While there may have been supply disruption by Covidian inertia, iFi Audio has bounced back strongly with major product overhauls and new product announcements nearly every two month since last summer holidays ended. The end of 2020 saw Abbingdon Global establishing a subsidiary at the European mainland in France, where according to the articles mentioned above the new industrial design has its origins with the Studio Cocktail design company, which is officially located in the buzzing Dongguan region in China. ifi's product design has won them several awards in the last decade, from the multiple EISA’s to the famous “adesign” award in Italy. And we haven't started talking about the 5* reviews and accolades in the Audio trade press. In a nutshell, the iFi products - as we know them - are outstanding in design and technology, value for the money that often comes with the enthusiast's pleasure of selecting personal adjustments for the greatest audiophile enjoyment. The mobile audio branch has provided a steady stream of devices, enhancers, applications and even strictly @home devices like the Pro series or the wonderfully designed AURORA all-in-one music system to their customers. Having had DAC technology and headphone amplification as focal points for most of their gear in the beginnings, iFi Audio have introduced as well new product lines that may help their valued clients to overcome perceived quality issues with existing audio gear, power supplies and cabling. While most of us would think a company under influence from engineers like Thorsten Loesch and John Curl would be dominated by engineering, we have noticed over time that their marketing drive is quite remarkable, too. iFi audio has - for example - proved to be a vivid member of important audio forums throughout the last years, organizing product tours and crowd design calls . Being a company that is in full support of MQA technology’s “full ‘three unfold’ decoding process”, iFi/AMR - in 2019 - consequently have left our forums where they were highly entertaining for a couple of years (in my personal opinion). During the last two years of their sponsored forum presence here, they have faced many challenges from AS members that have left for more "objective" forums. iFi Audio's audio forum activity naturally went in the opposite direction. Since the last Munich High End in May 2019 Ifi has launched the Aurora wireless music system, some ZEN devices & the HIP DAC and overlooked the re-launch of the flagship iDSD pro 2020 4.4mm version. Then, they went into overdrive. Since the last quarter of 2020 the product pipeline didn't stop: We saw the launch of the iDSD Signature in October, a minor upgrade version of the beloved iDSD Black label and the new kid in town, the NEO iDSD, just 14 days later. 2021 has started with the iDSD DIABLO on Jan.15th plus a Signature edition of the ZEN series has been announced in February. It is a challenge to stay up-to-date with this pace because some devices are pure DACs or pure HPAs, although most of them are both. In case you find it sometimes difficult to digest the difference between these products I have prepared this overview for iFi DAC & HPA under 1000$, dated 31st January 2021. The Aurora and PRO devices are beyond the 3 digits $$$ edge, Zen & Hip below 200 and Micro iDSD are usually located above 600$.For the market space in-between the Nano iDSD and xCan/xDSD are IFI’s choice. It’s not an untamed jungle to cross although we face a serious variety of gear with different skill sets in accordance to the respective price bracket. You might be not completely on the wrong side of engineering if you think that the iFi toolbox & portfolio strategy looks like a smaller version of the Volkswagen Group modular matrix system for cross-engineering platforms & products. I.e. the iDSD pro uses a 4 x Burr Brown DAC interleaved installation, while the iDSD Micro has a double-mono set up of the DSD1793 and the NEO iDSD performs through a single BB chip, as does the XDSD. A look at mainstream* retail - main street sounds a bit flawed in these pandemic times - sites in France and the US revealed iFi Audio's marketing has made an excellent job to place these two devices in the bracket between 500 and 1000 $/€, because the fierce competition is either above or below, and nearly no other competitor can offer the range of skills & features like IFI does. Obviously some Chi-Fi devices are waiting in the shadows and I would see at the upper end the Matrix mini and the Mytek Liberty may be competing with a 30% markup to the Neo iDSD, while around the 700$/€ price point you may find brand-conscious devices from Shure or McIntosh that can’t stress the micro iDSD Signature on technical terms. *mainstream audio shops: Audiophonics, SonAudio, Bestbuy, Crutchfield, Audioadvisor, one thing in common, they have at least one of the devices under review on offer Executing a reality check where IFI Audio as a company stands in the audiophile DAC/HPA department, I had a look into the recent Headfonia poll featuring that precise market segment, which creates a pretty good impression about iFi’s strategy and success: From 69 DAC/HPA devices enlisted, 7 were from Chord (incl. DAVE, TT, TT1, Hugo1 / MScaler and Hugo2 / MScaler which imho are in a different universe, pricewise), equally 3 devices were presented by FIIO and SCHIIT respectively, while 6 devices in that list are manufactured by iFi Audio, although we miss out on the NEO iDSD here. Including the NEO and discounting the iDSD PRO from that list makes IFI Audio probably the “market leader” in the segment for devices between 100$ and 1000$,. With half of the units below 500$ - in my opinion - a real competition with CHORD is visibly not on the cards. In the aftermath of 2020 year’s end BREXIT, IFI Audio as a British manufacturer faces some new hills to climb regarding supply, shipping and service on European Mainland and elsewhere applying to new rules and procedures. It is fair to assume that the incommodities will sum up at a certain point into rising prices, which in turn means in order to support your favorite manufacturer: BUY NOW, prices may not drop further ... ( ... sorry that was March 21 ) Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 I did not check if all the links are still valid, sorry if one or the other doesn't work anymore. Especially the iFi website has overhauls regularly, that's why I will follow up with some of their documents I have either on PDF or as saved graphics. Last year, shortly after I finished my work on this review, when the slow dying of my Mum began and changed my perception of important things for the time I accompanied her and her estate. I did not follow up an Audio things back then, and when I came back from Germany in July ‘21 I had to fight many other demons rather than to concentrate on writing or publishing any review. With my mind slowly opening up again for my audio hobby I am starting to participate with refreshed energy in the forums and diving in my freelance hobby, which is represented in this blog and by being a contributor to the AS front page (Thanks, Chris!).
  11. This system showed up in my timeline today: - Klipsch RP600M II @ 749$ - Marantz PM7000N @ 1199$ - PRO-JECT T1Phono SB Turntable @449$ Would you think thats legit? I remember that system with the Magnepan LRS and a VERY expensive phono-preamp (ear?) a year ago, or two. However, The LRS has a new edition, which may perform better on the ASR testbench than the predecessor. We have seen the 4k with a phono pre amp here this spring, but could you do better than above? How do you see the options to create a 2.5k $ system which could be interesting for newbies? As they often ask here, I've chosen the Q&A section for that topic. Let the systems fly in ... ;-) Cheers, Tom
  12. I have been on the look out for a new DAC with a built-in quality Pre + analog input(s). A built-in streamer would be nice but it's not a must. Here's my short list of new DACs I am following. If you also prefer one box solution like me, then please add any similar (new) DACs to the list. T+A DAC 200 Lumin P1 Happy listening.
  13. Happy Holidays AS Members! I am interested in two DAC's that I may decide to purchase. The DAC's under consideration are the MHDT Orchid and the Lampizator Amber 3. I am seeking feedback from users that have experience with either or both DAC's. My current system consists of an Innuos music server/streamer with a Hegel integrated amp/dac. Looking to capture a bit more analog sound or warmth to my digital frontend. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
  14. Hi there, Hope everyone is sound and safe during this historic event. I am looking for setting up a budget bedroom system that is compact and simple. Does anyone have recommendation for an all-in-one DAC/Streamer/Pre unit? I have an OPPO 103 which does have streaming capacity but the sound quality is not at audiophile level. I have a pair of Meridian 605 mono amp and a pair of Proac tablette monitors. I am not up to date with current market, and I think Naim has Uniti, and NAD has something similar, but I haven't heard them in person. My budget is $2000 or less used or new. Any suggestions anyone?
  15. Hello to all I own since 2 months a DAC audio GD R8 2021 in replacement of a Network Player Lumin D1 and the choice towards the listening of a DAC R2R is up to my expectations. However another actor on the DAC market not to mention Denafrips produces quality DACS and the Pontus 2 which is in the same budget as the one I own seems to have serious assets. I didn't really find any comparison between the 2 brands in the different Forums or specialized magazines thank you for your feedback Sincerely cpasmoi
  16. Dear all, Is anyone using the Lampizator DAC with an CD Drive? As I am not using any computer audio / streaming device right now, I'd love to use it with a CD drive. Any experience to share? It it worth to upgrade, compared to built in DACs? Thanks, BR Peter
  17. Wesion - Khadas, well known for the 99$ Khadas Tone Board DAC, has announced a sublimal successor for the beloved unit, here are the first renderings: The Tone2 pro - details: DAC + OPA1612 Op-Amps - Tone2 Pro combines the ESS ES9038Q2M with x4 OPA1612 operational amplifiers that deliver superior audio quality. High Performance - Up to 32bit 384KHz sample rate, bit-perfect DSD512, and -118dB THD+N (line-out). Balanced RCA - Next-generation "balanced RCA line-out" with 3-pin output, sets a new interface standard for the Hi-Fi industry. Balanced & SE headphone output - 3.5mm single-end headphone jack, paired with a 4.4mm balanced jack. Each headphone jack is powered by an independent amplification pathway. Linear Power Supply - Tone2 Pro has a second USB-C (I2S) port that supports 5V linear power supplies for ultra clean signal-to-noise ratios. Volume knob - Hybrid digital-analog control knob for headphone volume. RGB LED ring for status indication and feedback. Rotary-push encoder for mode selection. The unit deploys as well Hardware MQA Decoding through an XMOS XU216 processor for full MQA decoding, enabling next-gen "original master quality" web streaming and audio playback. It looks like the unit design is quite close to the initial ideas and demands from customer in Khadas' own support forum. In pre-sales the offer stands at 169$, later it will be available at 199$ via hifigo. I have requested a demo model today .. let's wait and see.. More information on: https://www.khadas.com/tone2pro?cid=d71395af-d297-4468-b3b9-42735d23ae4d&utm_campaign=0ed4141f-01b2-4b2f-b13b-1106fe233dcc&utm_medium=mail&utm_source=so
  18. => Metrum Amethyst DAC + headphone amp - BLACK ...Includes original box and accessories (latter unopened) https://metrumacoustics.com/product/amethyst https://6moons.com/audioreviews2/metrum5/1.html https://www.criticalsound.co.nz/assets/Uploads/Nasnerds-review-Amethyst.pdf I'm a massive fan of the NOS R2R approach when it is implemented well, and this DAC + Headphone Amp combo with its relatively uncoloured "but a mite to the warm side" in the mids, organic sound signature is very adept at taming sibilance without sacrificing resolution. Especially does vocals justice, lending a sense of full body & involvement if that area's of import to you. The Amethyst is a good match with my headphones - Arya, LCD-2 Classic & HD 650. No longer using as I have moved to the Amethyst's big sibling, Onyx - more of the same goodness, but with an added refinement in opening up the soundstage presentation & in its rendering of low level details esp. in the freqency extremes...albeit at more than double the price of the Amethyst and w/o a head amp! 😛 Bought new in Feb 2019. 9-10 months warranty remaining. Mint condition, low hours, smoke/pet free + temp/humidity controlled environment (bedroom). Asking $650. I will cover both the PayPal fees and standard shipping to the continental US. Thanks.
  19. View Classified Chord 2qute in Immaculate Condition (Make Best Offer) Accepting 'Best Offer' Selling my Chord 2Qute DAC which is in great working condition and has been well looked after. It's basically a Hugo with an improved USB input (galvanic isolation) more connection space, and no headphone amp. Comes with Original Adapter (OEM), Original Chord box packing and a USB cable. For Sale in US (48 States Only) Will cover Shipping, Insurance and PayPal fee of 3% Payment by PayPal only. Seller nrj08840 Date 02/03/21 Price 850.00 USD Category Digital to Analog Converters
  20. View Classified Aeolus Audio magiDAC The DAC is in excellent condition. The magiDAC is a unique transformer-coupled DAC. No tubes, caps or solid-state devices to add coloration. Inputs include USB, AES/EBU and Coax. The sale includes the magiDAC + external 2A, 12V power supply. It is a stellar performer! Paid $325, asking $99 I will ship anywhere in the continental U.S. Buyer pays shipping +3% Paypal fee. Seller gsquared Date 12/06/20 Price 99.00 USD Category Digital to Analog Converters
  21. View Classified PS Audio DirectStream DAC Hi-End stereo Audiophile class A+ component This is the one of the best DACs ever! The reason for sale - I have two of these: one in a living room, one in my office. I'm thinking of selling the one from the office because I just don't really listen to it much - COVID slowdown is over, so have to work. The DirectStream DAC is a reference standard D to A converter. It is unlike any standard chip-based DAC, and has received countless awards, worldwide. It handles all PCM sources up to 352.8 kHz, and DSD 64 and 128 (USB and I2S), and DSD256 (I2S). Its zero-loss digital volume control allows it to be used as a preamplifier, directly feeding a power amp. Output Stage - Passive audio transformer, fed by high current, high speed analog amps producing double rate DSD. USB Digital Input Asynchronous 100% DSD BASED D-A CONVERTER FULLY BALANCED FROM INPUT TO OUTPUT ZERO-LOSS VOLUME CONTROL DXD SUPPORT DIRECT SIGNAL PASS WITH 1x MASTER CLOCK IMPROVES IMAGING + SOUNDSTAGE 7x DIGITAL INPUTS IMMUNE TO OUTSIDE SOURCE JITTER COLOR TOUCH SCREEN Mint condition. Factory double box and all accessories. Firmware v5.0.0 (Sunlight) installed. Luxurious remote which can control other PS Audio components too. New cost $6500 Asking $2900 Plus shipping and PayPal fee (Zelle, Venmo, PayPal Friends&Family - no fee) Class A+ Stereophile rated DirectStream DAC converts any digital input format from CDs, servers, and streamers, into a pure DSD format and outputs near-perfect analog directly to your power amplifier or preamplifier. Whatever the format, sample rate, or medium, DirectStream provides a pure output that fulfills the promise of high-resolution analog performance from digital sources. Hear what’s been missing in your music for all these years. If you know the sound of music and instruments and want to hear what’s been missing on your discs, then this DAC is right for you. Most of today’s sophisticated DACs are IC based instruments using off-the-shelf-chips that rely upon Multi-bit Sigma-Delta functions to process the incoming digital audio. While these are relatively simple to design and produce, they rarely give the best sonic results. DirectStream takes a different approach by first converting all digital audio signals into a purer form of digital audio known as DSD. DSD is a far more analog-like encoding and decoding process than the classic CD based PCM. In fact, most modern A/D converters used to make recordings are DSD based already. DirectStream takes both PCM and DSD, upsamples the data and converts to single-bit DSD and then outputs pure music regardless of input format for the data. The results of this design can be heard in increased musical information presented to the listener at every opportunity. When you listen to DirectStream you never are accosted by added bright, hard glare in the music as happens with many active designs. Instead, clean, pure music flows from the DirectStream directly to your preamplifier or power amplifier. Seller Anton_s0s Date 08/27/21 Price 2,900.00 USD Category Digital to Analog Converters  
  22. View Classified SOLD - SOLD - Border Patrol SE SPDIF (COAX input) R2R DAC - SOLD SOLD - SOLD - For sale is my Border Patrol SE SPDIF (COAX input) R2R DAC in perfect functional and excellent cosmetic condition with new NOS EZ80 vacuum tube (~20 hours). High quality, hand-crafted by the Border Patrol owner, and made in the USA (Maryland). I am asking $900 USD. It will ship from the Twin Cities, Minnesota 55337 USA. I will ship it via FedEx; local pickup/delivery is available. I accept PayPal, US Postal Money Orders, or cash if meeting in person. This is a great R2R DAC chip (TDA1543) with no over-sampling (NOS) and no digital filtering fed from a very sophisticated choke input, and vacuum tube rectified power supply that will make digital files and CDs sound natural and smooth, very close to vinyl. Please refer to the photos for the physical condition, as I could not see any scratches, dents, or cosmetic issues with my DAC. I can supply more photos upon request. Tube “rolling” is rewardingly addictive, and I was able to tailor the sonic signature by trying additional New Old Stock tubes, which I purchased online and in person. I am only including the new NOS EZ80 vacuum tube with ~20 hours on it. I would suggest you try other EZ80 and compatible 6V4 tubes in this DAC as they do change the sound characteristics. This DAC can also be used with vacuum tube “off” in the circuit if desired - depends on taste and type of music. The only time I enjoyed turning off the tube was with my Monoprice Monolith Liquid Platinum headphone amplifier and a few audio tracks, which seemed overly lush. 99.9% of the time the tube sounds better, but it is fun to experiment and have this option. There are many glowing reviews on this DAC and other “new” entry level R2R DACs. I was my second R2R DAC, and I like it better than the first (popular brand and all solid-state design), as the Border Patrol SE has a sweet, natural, open and organic sound and soundstage – these characteristics were the design goals for the Border Patrol SE DAC. Too many digital audio products sound processed, unnatural and un-involving and this is particularly true of many of the new generation of hi-resolution delta-sigma DAC’s. You’ll enjoy listening pleasure for hours without “digital” fatigue. I have thoroughly enjoyed it since the COVID-19 lockdown. I never used the stock power cord, as I have 10+ aftermarket power cords and enjoyed listening to the changes in the sound by swapping out different power cords. I settled on a “silver” power cord from TG Audio, which highlighted the detail and 3D-soundstaging characteristics of this DAC. I am only including the stock power cord, as the aftermarket power cords are dear to me. Border Patrol recommends to keep the DAC “powered on” 24/7 and just turn the tube on and off for listening sessions—this button on the front of the DAC powers the vacuum tube on and off. I only left the DAC powered “on” and the vacuum tube powered “off” on weekends, or when I could enjoy the DAC on multiple days/evenings in a row. Many Border Patrol SE owners have said this is the first DAC that they can listen to for long periods without irritation or fatigue and that lets them emotionally connect to digital music for the first time. Several vinyl diehards are now happily streaming and playing CD’s after previously giving up on digital audio. I am selling this SE DAC because I have brought home my “work” headphone audio system, which is another Border Patrol SE DAC that I purchased from the estate of a dear friend (it is not in good cosmetic condition). This SE unit is upgradable to the SEi version for $295, including return shipping from Border Patrol in Maryland USA. The “SEi” upgrade replaces the high quality “Musicap” capacitors with the Ultra Hi-End Jupiter beeswax cryogenically treated capacitors. After I sell this SE unit, I will consider upgrading my second unit to the SEi model, as I enjoy “changing” my music system. If you buy this SE, please enjoy it “as-is” and then if you like natural sounding “NOS” digital audio, consider upgrading it to the current SEi version and enjoy the transformation process, tube-rolling, and aftermarket power cords too! The SE DAC features: A non-oversampling (NOS), no digital filtering Phillips TDA1543 R2R DAC chip circuit with no output buffering. Plays files up to 24/96kHz via SPDIF(COAX) including TIDAL Master recordings. A painted copper metal chassis, which helps keep external (Wi-Fi, 2.4GHz, 5G, etc.) electronic/microwave noise out of the DAC. A tube/solid state hybrid choke input filter power supply featuring a vacuum tube rectifier. Border Patrol is the only company applying tube rectification and choke input filtering to digital circuits. Dimensions: W x D x H: 9 x 7x 3 inches (226 x 173 x 78mm) Shipping Weight: 8lb/4kg (it is solid and well built in the USA) Includes: Border Patrol SE DAC, Original box and packaging, original (“stock” OEM ) power cord, and manual are included. PLEASE NOTE: No extra tubes nor aftermarket power cords are included. This DAC is resolving and benefits from minor changes. I recommend you have fun trying different tubes and power cords to best match your system. Single Adult owner, no smoke, no funky smells, no pet, no children exposure—although I enjoy my friends' kids and pets, I don’t have any in my home. Seller bganz Date 07/25/21 Price 900.00 USD Category Digital to Analog Converters  
  23. View Classified SMSL VMV D1 Reference DAC - MINT SMSL VMV D1 Reference DAC Mint condition. Comes with Manual, Remote and power **Buyer pays $28.88 flat FedEx Home Delivery Shipping, insured and signature. Since PayPal is now tracking seller sales: Pay with PayPal F/F and use your credit card for buyer protection if you feel it is necessary. No PayPal fee from me. Please see my 100% long term positive feedback over several years here and under kingbarbuda at Audiogon and under rhinocom at usaudiomart. All payments by buyer to be made in USD. Thanks.** Features: Using 2 pcs of ES9038PRO DAC chips. Using split power supply. User friendly remote control. Dynamic range up to 140dB Using direct and NORATEL UK custom ultra-low noise toroidal transformers. USB Xmos solution Technical Parameters: Input: USB/Optical/Coaxial/EBU Output: XRL/RCA Dynamic range: 131dB SNR: 122dB THD+N: 0.0002% USB transmission: Asynchronization USB compatibility: windows XP/7/8/8.1/10, Mac OSX10.6 or later, Linux OTG supporting: Yes Bit Depth: USB 16bit 24bit 32bit 1bit Sampling rate: USB DSD: 2.8224/ 5.6448/ 11.2896/ 22.5792 MHz USB PCM: 44.1/ 48/ 88.2/ 96/ 176.4/ 192/ 352.8/ 384/ 705.6/ 768 kHz Optical/Coaxial: 44.1/ 88.2/ 96/ 176.4/ 192 kkHz XLR output: 4.6Vrms RCA output: 2.2Vrms Power consumption: 10W Standby power: 1.8W Voltage: 110v-120v or 220v-240v Net weight: 5kg Size: 265 x 215 x 50 mm Features & details Using 2 pcs of ES9038PRO DAC chips. The D1 has 10 built-in sound modes: Standard; Rich, Crystal, and Tube, each with three gears. Rich: rich harmonics; Crystal: clear voice. ES9039PRO DAC chip : Built-in 8 channels, can reduce the interference of the left and right channels. Built-in high-performance programmable DSP, preset 7 kinds of digital filter modes. Using split power supply. Input interface: USB/optical/coaxial/EBU ;Output interface: RCA/XLR; Dynamic range: 131dB; THD+N:0.0002%.Signal to noise ratio 112dB ; USB PCM 44.1-768 kHz. Use friendly remote control. Dynamic range up to 140dB Use high-quality electronic components; 24K gold-plated RCA balanced socket; NORATEL ultra-low noise toroidal transformer, low vibration, fixed, and durable. Using direct and NORATEL UK custom ultra-low noise toroidal transformers. Siamese split power supply: All aluminum backplane connects the main unit and power box together, and the power supply has low noise and low interference. USB XMOS solution. Seller RJ Date 10/15/21 Price 778.88 USD Category Accessories  
  24. View Classified EMM Labs DA2 V1 For your consideration EMM Labs DA2 V1 in mint condition. I am the original owner and DAC was purchased new in October 2018 from EMM Labs authorized dealer. Lots of glowing reviews online, IMO the DA2 is one of the best DAC’s currently available. This DAC does not come up often for sale so here is your opportunity to grab a DAC that simply transcends in transparency, details and sublime soundstage. The build quality is top notch as one would expect from EMM Labs. The recently released V2 upgrade is available at a additional cost of $5K. My dealer can assist you with the upgrade should you choose to go that route. Honestly, I did not felt the need to upgrade as V1 sounds superlative. The latest DA2 V2 now retails for $30K :-) Payment Terms: Wire Transfer or PayPal ‘friends n family’. You may use normal PayPal as long as you’re willing to absorb the 3% fee. I will pay shipping with insurance for safe arrival within 48 states. No International Sales! Serious inquiries, please refrain from audiophile curiosity questions. Key Features: • Ed Meitner’s proprietary discrete Dual Differential 16xDSD/DSD1024 DACs. • The enhanced MDAT2 DSP upsamples and conditions digital audio to sixteen times the SACD/DSD (45/49Mhz) samplerate. • Proprietary MFAST technology for getting rid of source jitter. • Proprietary Masterclock for sub-pico second jitter performance. • Uses our exclusive aerospace grade composite laminate pcbs. • Supports up to 24bit, 192kHz on all PCM inputs including USB • Supports DSD and 2xDSD streaming over USB • Supports 352 and 384DXD streaming over USB • Supports DSD for CD/SACD playback over EMM Optilink Specifications: Digital inputs: EMM Optilink (CD/SACD) AES/EBU, 2x S/PDIF Coax, 2x S/PDIF, TOS & USB up to 24bit/192kHz and DSD USB also supports 2xDSD, DXD (352/384kHz). Stereo Analog Outputs: XLR and RCA Output Impedance: 300 ohms balanced (XLR) 150 ohms unbalanced (RCA) Output Levels (High/Low): XLR outputs: 7.0/5.0V (+19.1/16.2dBu) RCA outputs: 3.5/2.5V (+13.1/10.2dBu) Power Supply: Proprietary high-isolation resonant mode power supply for silent & eco-friendly operation Dimensions: W x D x H: 438 x 400 x 161mm Weight: 17.2kg Seller zebo67 Date 07/06/21 Price 13,450.00 USD Category Digital to Analog Converters  
  25. View Classified FS: Lumin D2 Streamer/DAC in Black Lumin lets you hit several birds with one stone! This is a functionally perfect streamer and DAC featuring dual Wolfson chips, on-the-fly transcoding/upsampling to DSD, balanced output, and the new Leedh digital volume capability for direct to amp or speaker possibility. Flip between Spotify Connect and UPnP output easily, Tidal and Qobuz too. No physical blemishes, sounds great–I'm selling to go another route (realistically I should've gotten the U1 instead). Black color Latest firmware with Leedh digital volume Use as streamer with your DAC via BNC coax or USB, or use the built in DAC ROON ready, and other UPnP control software Original boxes/package/manual MSRP: $2,300 Asking: $1,550 firm. Buyer pays PayPal and shipping (it's small/light). CONUS only. Select details: DSD128 capable MQA, Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify Connect, AirPlay, gapless playback Latest Lumin firmware with Leedh Digital Volume Custom upsampling: DSD and PCM Ethernet or USB digital input BNC coax SPDIF digital output for external DAC Copious details at Lumin website: http://www.luminmusic.com/lumin-d2.html Seller feelingears Date 06/06/20 Price 1,550.00 USD Category Music Servers / Streamers
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