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iDAC: For me, this is the best product in the product line. The iDAC utilizes an ESS Sabre ES9023 DAC, which worried me at the beginning since the internal Sabre DAC is the same DAC used on cheap DACs being sold off from eBay and other small audio companies. The iDAC is very basic and straight-forward with its features, asynchronous USB with 24bit playback, with its own internal amplifier. The iDAC is generally bright which perfectly compliments the iCAN. Detail is above average, and even though it is bright, I quite frankly enjoyed it a lot! Guitar riffs had additional oomph and grunt to them along with cymbals due to the slightly bright nature of the DAC. A big addition to the iDAC‘s plus points is with how it can simply be powered through the USB. Truly portable indeed. Power on top is also impressive by being able to power 600 ohms through the high gain. Pairing the iDAC to a warm amplifier was ethereal. Bliss filled enjoyment indeed! Making the iDAC my favorite product from the line!
iUSB Power: The iUSB is more of a power conditioner and grounding eliminator for USB powered audio devices. Basically, you can sum this up as an equivalent for the LLP (Lisa Lab Power) by Triad-Audio. There is only one switch which is the IsoEarth which boasts ground elimination by 10 times. I tested this on my work PC which had insane amounts of ground noise coming from the USB port on ANY DAC that I use with it. With IsoEarth switched off, the noise was pretty much similar to normal, except that it had around 15% less jitter. Turning on the IsoEarth eliminated the noise by almost 90%. I don’t really blame iFi or the iUSB for not fully eliminating the noise since this has been an on-going issue with my work PC at my office. Evidently, it did almost clean out all the noise that not any single DAC had put off. For those though that seek much audio performance from the iUSB, I don’t really recommend it unless you have issues with noise.
iPhono pre-amp: I am no expert with pre-amps since I am not quite experienced in this area. I honestly don’t feel that I am much qualified in this aspect, so you can go ahead and try the iPhono out for yourselves just to be sure. Underneath the iPhono, underneath as in under, really, the iPhono packs a lot of switches. It packs a lot of features like the 6 different equalization curves and ultra-wide gain that enables matching with all cartridges perfectly. It also boasts a class-A Tube State sound. Additional detail and warmth can be heard through the iPhono when placed in-between set-ups. Detail retrieval is good and sound is very natural. Thumbs up!Â
Overall: iFi has come up with a good line of audiophile equipment meant to replicate more of the capabilities of a full desktop set-up in a more transportable shape. I would definitely love to see them venture further and develop more in the audiophile realm. Pretty sure they can create this line and further develop them in the near future. Nonetheless, their current line-up does what they are made for well. Looking forward to more of their products!
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iFi-audio: Transport your desktop audio!
