Ifi Micro IDSD Black Label

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Cellist88, Dec 6, 2016.

  1. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    I have the original silver iDSD and the iDAC2 which I use at work. I can't really hear much difference between them with the iDSD on default settings.
     
  2. TjH

    TjH New

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    Been doing this intermittently all day. Looks like this is a full dud after all. I'm just frustrated because by this point it's been a month since I've been able to listen to my supposed "new DAC".

    Anyway, I'm thinking of cutting my losses and going for a chord mojo (which, on amazon is sold directly by chord if i recall) or the BL (sold by ifi rather than a third party).

    More on topic: I'm hearing mixed things here btw, so how does the BL compare to the mojo when it comes to treble splash and hiss etc? Now note, 300 hours of burn in, to me, is just plain ludicrous and well above what I can do within the 30 days return policy as I travel a lot. (that's almost 2 weeks of continuous play).
     
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2017
  3. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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  4. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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  5. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Well, only in the context that @TjH has had bad luck/karma with both of his.
     
  6. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Does this mean there was nothing wrong with your first unit?
     
  7. gldgate

    gldgate New

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    Thank you so much for your thoughts. For my usage case the iDAC2 looks like it will do the trick.
     
  8. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    If you're going to be using it as a desktop DAC, especially fed via USB, I can't personally recommend Mojo.

    Mojo has slightly more hiss than the iFi Micro iDSD Black Label. It's not apparent with EITHER unit unless you're using very sensitive IEMs. It's not problematic for either unit either. Half the people I know cannot hear the hiss from the Mojo AT ALL even with the same IEMs I'm using. The iFi is still quieter and easier to match with a broader array of headphones and IEMs.

    Mojo has no treble splashiness, though it can wind up sounding hard - which typically results from it being driven via a less-than-ideal USB source. If anything it's rolled off somewhat (more so with IEMs in my experiences). It also lacks air and a sense of "space" (not to be confused with presenting an image).

    With the iFi unit the treble splashiness I heard was ONLY when using it as a combined DAC/amp (using just the amp, or just the DAC and it was not present). Other people here that reported the same kind of initial splashy sound had it abate a lot faster than the time it took my unit to settle down.

    ...

    All of this is covered, along with a lot more, and comparisons to other things you might want to consider (especially the GOV2+ Infinity ... or variation there-of), in this thread, as previously mentioned by @gixxerwimp.
     
  9. TjH

    TjH New

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    Thanks torq reading through it now. I have heard people talk about there being a bit of treble issue the initial few hundred hours on the BL, but most ppl seem to be rating it on par with or better than mojo. Plus my setup works best with idsd so I'm still a bit torn. But i'm a bit scared of the words "treble splash" now.


    I'm still not quite sure to be honest. The problem does seem like it would be an issue with idsd, however the way it presented itself (after a few hours and suddenly) makes me feel it's a headphone issue, and some testing might be confirming this. Honestly it might be a combination of the two. The issue is i've been doing so much of testing i've gotten to that point where, u know how if you say a word too many times in a row it starts to loose all meaning? kinda like that. The fact is with my AKG it sounds a lot cleaner, but the treble splash is still present in a lot of songs, splash that gets worse with th-x00's plugged in (however this may be just because of the noise indirectly affecting what I'm hearing and making it seem like there more treble splash as the noise is a hiss in the same treble region).

    Due to my travels I could not return the first unit within the return period, even if I had wanted to though. Maybe ifi support can help under warranty.

    Either way I'm RMA'ing the th-x00 too, thankfully massdrop has agreed to send me another pair of th-x00 (didn't know they keep spares, that's nice!).
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2017
  10. beowulf

    beowulf Guest

    I'm considering this for the Andromeda, mostly due to reports of nice low frequencies, warmer sound and totally flat noise floor. Anyone care to comment on this combo?

    I'd prefer if it had the possibility of getting power from the mains while in use as desktop gear (my main use cases are occasional portable use on the move and probably leaving it sitting on the desk at work, connected to the laptop where I keep a lot of music)

    Don't trust the rechargeable battery to last years and USB power might not be enough for some cans.
     
  11. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    I use the original silver iDSD at home with my Andromedas. With its built-in iEMatch on High, power on Normal, and Bit-Perfect, it sounds pretty good. You'll need some level reduction at source to get past the channel imbalance though. Power on Eco might let you run the source at full strength but the sound is less punchy. iEMatch on Ultra sounds anemic.

    I've been using it exclusively on battery mode for coming on 2 years without issue. I charge it up, use it for 6-8 hrs, then charge it up again. Theoretically, it should sound cleaner that way. You run it in battery mode by turning it on before you connect your source device. If you turn it on after, it'll charge if there's enough current available.

    Connected to your laptop, it'll keep the battery charged at 80% if you leave it turned on. I think power still ends up coming from the battery in this mode, it's all 5V so I don't see that being an issue. And if set to Turbo when connected to USB power, it'll eventually run out of juice and have to be turned off to recharge, meaning the battery is required to provide that amount of current. If you really want to know, you'll have to filter through the 7485 posts on the HF thread. I'm sure this info is in there somewhere.

    Ifi answered the question recently.
    http://www.head-fi.org/t/728236/ifi...sions-reviews-and-comments/7350#post_13171033
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2017
  12. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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  13. beowulf

    beowulf Guest

    Thanks for the tips and links, folks.

    I decided to give it a go and just ordered a Micro BL. I like the flexibility of being able to use it as a portable or as a desktop setup connected to a computer if required. Most likely I'll end up dragging this around between the couch at home and the desks at work (and home).

    I do a lot of listening on my gaming PC at home where I have the SMSL VA2/M8/P1 stack (which I really like considering the low cost) but it's even possible that the Micro ends up staying there full-time if it is considerably better (at least on paper specs, it is).
     
  14. TjH

    TjH New

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    Nope. Ended up returning it. I can get enough money next month to buy a BL, so might as well do that.

    On another note: I missed the adorama camera sale so... :(
     
  15. TjH

    TjH New

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    After much reading and thinking about it, I don't think I'd go with the idsd BL (ifi support is really bad, geez). Honestly the $400 I paid for the idsd micro is basically a write off, amazon won't let me RMA it anymore, and ifi is of zero help.

    Since I'm now deathly afraid of the words "treble splash" mojo is a no go as well. Does anyone have any other suggestions:
    • Obviously since I am willing to put up with the micro IDSD i don't care about size
    • It does need to have batteries though, be able to run off them, as I do plan on using it on the go (train/bus etc).
    • Digital Coaxial input into the DAC is a must. NO USB input i despise USB input
    • 1/4" HP out would be nice, not necessary but nice
    • "100 hours burn in" makes sense, "350 hours minimum burn in" less so..that's 1/2 a month of constant running...and most return windows are 30 days.
     
  16. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Before you write off that $400, I'd put more pressure on iFi. Poke at their customer support some more. When I was following the HF thread regularly, they seemed to make good on most people's problems (and mine personally). Post your story on HF and complain that you aren't getting satisfaction. Your unit has a dud battery and they should give you a new one.
     
  17. TjH

    TjH New

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    I actually managed to return the unit with the dud battery to amazon, thankfully. I do, however, still have the original unit I bought that has the high noise floor and really bad treble splash. And going by @Torq 's review even with the BL "treble splash" is still a thing for the first 300 or so hours (which is just insane amounts of burn in tbh). So BL might be a no go for a replacement as well.
     
  18. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    There are reasons not to go with Mojo for sure, but I've never heard it's treble described as splashy. Lacking some air, no sense of space, and being a somewhat rolled off are all traits legitimately associated with the Mojo, but treble-splashiness is not something I've ever heard out of it.

    Per your other requirements, you have very few options. In fact I can only think of one currently-shipping unit that would fulfill all of them, and that's the Chord Hugo ... which will let you down on the treble side of things as it's has a brighter signature than Mojo.

    FiiO have one or two low-end units (that I would not recommend), but that are battery powered and have COAX inputs. If you're willing to use TOSLINK instead of COAX, then you have a few more options (for example, the Sony PHA-3 etc.), but that doesn't open things up much further and is going to be more than $400. CEntrance have a couple of options (well, one if you insist on COAX - the Mini-M8), which is $600 I think. Other than those I can't name any off the top of my head.

    As @gixxerwimp says, you're probably better served by putting some pressure on iFi, publicly if necessary, fix their unit. Or, accept the fact that most of portable DACs in the world are USB-only and choose one that doesn't have a shitty USB input (e.g. the LH Labs units).
     
  19. TjH

    TjH New

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    FIrst off, I apologise if this is the wrong place for this, let me know and I can post elsewhere. But so far from what you've said my choices are the following (note: I'm stuck with buying from amazon):
    1. Sony PHA-3 ($700 used, $1k new)
    2. Ifi micro IDSD BL ($550)
    3. HiFi-M8 LX ($325 used?, not really available on amazon new)
    4. Chord Mojo $530
    If anyone can offer to narrow this down for me based on the following:
    1. I am using TH-X00
    2. sounds wise, as long as it doesn't have glaring issues like excessive treble splash (honestly with my idsd micro unit i could basically only hear the aftermath of high hats and cymbals on every song that had even a glimpse of said, for the entire song, could barely enjoy or hear anything else).
    3. I like a lot of detail, clarity and so on (which is why i hated the treble splash on my idsd so much, it ruined the detail and clarity of everything else because it just bled into everything), which the th-x00's have plenty of to me so anything adding to that is a plus. Other than that, I'm coming from pretty low-fi gear so I doubt i'll notice too much of any other lacks.
    So far chord mojo is coming out on top, I'm a wee bit hesitant after reading @Torq 's review ... but I've seen nothing but praise for the chord mojo everywhere else.

    @Torq if you've heard other low end stuff.. when you say "lacking some air" can you give me an example of something (maybe from Fiio?) that has equal amount of air-less ness or less of it? I'm just not quite sure what "lack of air" would sound like to me, or if I'd even notice it at all (it's not like i've ever listened to much of open air headphones either).
     
  20. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    It's not the "wrong" place, but you might get more input asking for a recommendation in the "All Purpose Advice" thread (it'll be much more heavily trafficked).

    Also, what source are you using to drive your desired DAC/amp (if it's posted earlier in the thread then color me bad, but I'm doing several things at once and am not going looking for it right now)?

    Those were just suggestions off the top of my head, there may be other options ... it's not really my "speciality" area. I researched it heavily around the time I bought my Mojo, which was when I was still willing to deal with a "stacked" solution on the go, and really haven't paid much attention since then. Most recently I got tired of dealing with stacks and went back down the DAP path (I never use the portable stuff on the desktop, I'm far too lazy to keep plugging/unplugging stuff).

    You are hugely limiting yourself with a requirement for COAX input on a portable unit though. Give that up and the very-impressive LH Labs Geek Out stuff becomes an option (and is perhaps the best-sounding portable DAC/amp I've had in my hands so far). And that was really nice paired with the TH-X00 (Purpleheart).

    Some DAPs can be used as DAC/amps ... though I can't name one off the top of my head that can do so using a non-USB input.

    I'll have more on this in a little bit (working on finishing it up right now, I just wasn't in an "editing" mood last night). The Mojo isn't bad by any means. It's just not great value as a pure-DAC given more recent competition. It's a bit more laid-back than some other offerings. If the TH-X00 is your go-to can it's probably got the wrong tonal profile for you ... it'll make them sound more neutral (which is not what I personally want when I use them).

    Not really. My further commentary in the next couple of posts I'll make in my portable DAC/amp comparison thread may help there a bit, but there won't be any specific comparisons to FiiO or similar stuff.
     

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