Hi everybody. I didn't see a thread about this DAC/amp, so I thought I'd create one. Every review I've read so far of this DAC has been very positive.
I just bought one to replace my Dragonfly Red. I will say right off the bat that it does sound better than the DFR (a bit more bass response mainly), though they are close. I've been using it mainly for classical, but also rock and electronica (paired with Sennheiser HD599s).
Description
The Nano iDSD BL was released in November 2017. It has a Burr Brown DAC chipset (though I've found no specifics about which DAC chip is used) and supports DSD as well as MQA and PCM up to 384 KHz. It has an analog volume dial, USB input, two headphone outputs (one optimized for IEMs), a line out, and a filter switch (though I've yet to discover exactly what effect this has).
https://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/nano-idsd-bl/
Impressions
When I first got it, I had an issue with clicks and pops while pausing and changing tracks, as well as when switching YouTube videos. This problem can be solved by updating the firmware to 5.3C (it will come with 5.2).
The sound is warm overall, which is what I prefer, but highs are not obscured. The soundstage is very wide, and it can seem a bit too artificially wide in some tracks. But after using it, the soundstage of the Dragonfly Red or the Schiit Modi/Magni doesn't seem to be wide enough for me. The volume knob is quite sensitive, but this isn't an issue for me as I always shut it off when I'm not using it. I have not yet used it with a smartphone.
Anyone else have one of these? What are your thoughts so far? Here are some photos of mine:
(The cable I'm using is my own USB-C to A cable. It comes with a somewhat unsightly blue USB-A cable).
I just bought one to replace my Dragonfly Red. I will say right off the bat that it does sound better than the DFR (a bit more bass response mainly), though they are close. I've been using it mainly for classical, but also rock and electronica (paired with Sennheiser HD599s).
Description
The Nano iDSD BL was released in November 2017. It has a Burr Brown DAC chipset (though I've found no specifics about which DAC chip is used) and supports DSD as well as MQA and PCM up to 384 KHz. It has an analog volume dial, USB input, two headphone outputs (one optimized for IEMs), a line out, and a filter switch (though I've yet to discover exactly what effect this has).
https://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/nano-idsd-bl/
Impressions
When I first got it, I had an issue with clicks and pops while pausing and changing tracks, as well as when switching YouTube videos. This problem can be solved by updating the firmware to 5.3C (it will come with 5.2).
The sound is warm overall, which is what I prefer, but highs are not obscured. The soundstage is very wide, and it can seem a bit too artificially wide in some tracks. But after using it, the soundstage of the Dragonfly Red or the Schiit Modi/Magni doesn't seem to be wide enough for me. The volume knob is quite sensitive, but this isn't an issue for me as I always shut it off when I'm not using it. I have not yet used it with a smartphone.
Anyone else have one of these? What are your thoughts so far? Here are some photos of mine:
(The cable I'm using is my own USB-C to A cable. It comes with a somewhat unsightly blue USB-A cable).
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