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Going Digital!

davidro said:
Byron...how about ifi against psaudio dsd?

Sent from my X10a using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...

Hi David!,

I like the PS Audio Direct Stream Digital (DSD) DAC. Its a fine DAC if you ask me. Some say that its dry but that wasn't my experience. I thought it had lots of resolution and air. In fact it was in a shoot out with the Lapizator DAC. The PS Audio was more laid back in comparison to the Lampi which was more aggressive and a tad bit richer due to the tubes.

Having not heard them side by side, I think the iFI would give as much detail, richness,resolution and fidelity as the PS Audio DAC. But it wouldn't be as huge, dynamic and strong a sound as the PS Audio DSD DAC which can really accommodate much larger rooms . Bring the PS Audio into my room which is about 14x18x7 with stand monitor Canton Vento speakers and it will really sound nice and powerful, but may even be overkill in my room to the point I can go with a smaller and less expensive DAC.....take my iFI into a huge room like my buddy's room with Legacy Focus SE floor-standers and "The Dude" tube preamp and CODA power hungry mono amps,and the iFI might sound small and out classed....that gear would be looking for more dynamic and punch in such a huge room.

I wouldn't buy a $6k DAC for my system, when my amp/preamp cost $4200 together and speakers cost $2500.

The iFI Micro DSD DAC and iUSB Power together cost $700 and is going up in price, will compete with DAC's costing $2k and perhaps even better some of them in what it can do. But Not the big boy DAC's costing $5k and up. Those DAC's are just to dynamic in sonics.....but in a room like mine and others who own the iFI....its jaw dropping.

And btw, David....there is a guy over at Computeraudiophile who also post at Audioshark who has been through a few DAC's and has settled on two DAC's....the Lampizator Level 7 which is a powerful DAC and the little iFI Micro with the iUSBPower...Hmmm.

Cheers my friend!

Byron
 
slippers-on said:
What is the associated gear in your system. Also, from what I'm hearing over here with the ifi gear, PCM cant touch DSD 128.

These are the high dollar DAC's I have listened to extensively at friends homes.

Lampizator and PSU Level 7 $10k

Bricasti $9k

Cary DCM 600SE $8k

PSAudio Direct Stream Digital $6k

Marantz na 11S1 $3,500

All of these DAC's do very well and have a much bigger sound than the iFI. Notice I said bigger sound. Thats not to say better sound. Some dac's are richer in sound than others......its all about preference. Out of the bunch, I'd have to say the Lampi was the best followed by the Bricasti. Can the iFI compete with those high dollar dac's? I'd have to say, depends on which system it was in. Some Dac's simply have more slam than others....but you know the odd thing that struck me as I was listening to the Bricasti DAC in hi rez PCM? While having more slam and dynamic, It lacked the polish and resolution of the iFI doing DSD 128.
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My system - IFI micro DSD / IFI power - CI AUDIO passive pre amp - DSPeaker antimode 2.0 - in the tape loupe - VTL -100 mono blocks - OHM WALSH 2000 speakers and stereo REL Q201e subs . MAC mini Channel D pure music software . I am happy with the sound until the battery goes dead. like all us nuts looking to one up it.
 
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enginedr said:
My system - IFI micro DSD / IFI power - CI AUDIO passive pre amp - DSPeaker antimode 2.0 - in the tape loupe - VTL -100 mono blocks - OHM WALSH 2000 speakers and stereo REL Q201e subs . MAC mini Channel D pure music software . I am happy with the sound until the battery goes dead. like all us nuts looking to one up it.
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What size room? The Yiggie probably is a great option for you. And tho it doesn't come with DSD, word is you can add it.

Are you going to open up a ticket to solve the issue?
 
slippers-on said:
What size room? The Yiggie probably is a great option for you. And tho it doesn't come with DSD, word is you can add it.

Are you going to open up a ticket to solve the issue?
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I am on my second one . the first one went back to the US distributor .
waiting to hear back from them . my dealer replaced it on a advanced replacement . The replacement functions the same way . my room is 12x18
and opens into another room. Thank you
 
enginedr said:
I am on my second one . the first one went back to the US distributor .
waiting to hear back from them . my dealer replaced it on a advanced replacement . The replacement functions the same way . my room is 12x18
and opens into another room. Thank you
Click to expand...

It would be best to open a ticket. http://support.ifi-audio.com/
They could help a lots. Especially if its your second one...they need to know about these issues. I don't think the dealer is helping to get to the bottom of the issues. For the size of your room and the gear you have, I think those other high dollar DAC's I mentioned above would be a bit over kill for you, (not that you where going in that direction)....the Yiggy seems like a good option, more in line and balance with your room size as well as gear.
 
slippers-on said:
It would be best to open a ticket. http://support.ifi-audio.com/
They could help a lots. Especially if its your second one...they need to know about these issues. I don't think the dealer is helping to get to the bottom of the issues. For the size of your room and the gear you have, I think those other high dollar DAC's I mentioned above would be a bit over kill for you, (not that you where going in that direction)....the Yiggy seems like a good option, more in line and balance with your room size as well as gear.
Click to expand...

I talked to the US distributor when I was at my dealer . and explained the whole scenario . they have the first one I bought to test it.
As for higher priced DAC most of the computer audio community listens with headphones . if you can tell the difference with good headphones I am sure
you will notice it with a reveling system. I am lurking at head fi and computer audio . As for room size that is a speaker and amp match .
a DAC is more like a Phono cartridge and pre match . Thank you for your input
 
slippers-on said:
Hi David!,

I like the PS Audio Direct Stream Digital (DSD) DAC. Its a fine DAC if you ask me. Some say that its dry but that wasn't my experience. I thought it had lots of resolution and air. In fact it was in a shoot out with the Lapizator DAC. The PS Audio was more laid back in comparison to the Lampi which was more aggressive and a tad bit richer due to the tubes.

Having not heard them side by side, I think the iFI would give as much detail, richness,resolution and fidelity as the PS Audio DAC. But it wouldn't be as huge, dynamic and strong a sound as the PS Audio DSD DAC which can really accommodate much larger rooms . Bring the PS Audio into my room which is about 14x18x7 with stand monitor Canton Vento speakers and it will really sound nice and powerful, but may even be overkill in my room to the point I can go with a smaller and less expensive DAC.....take my iFI into a huge room like my buddy's room with Legacy Focus SE floor-standers and "The Dude" tube preamp and CODA power hungry mono amps,and the iFI might sound small and out classed....that gear would be looking for more dynamic and punch in such a huge room.

I wouldn't buy a $6k DAC for my system, when my amp/preamp cost $4200 together and speakers cost $2500.

The iFI Micro DSD DAC and iUSB Power together cost $700 and is going up in price, will compete with DAC's costing $2k and perhaps even better some of them in what it can do. But Not the big boy DAC's costing $5k and up. Those DAC's are just to dynamic in sonics.....but in a room like mine and others who own the iFI....its jaw dropping.

And btw, David....there is a guy over at Computeraudiophile who also post at Audioshark who has been through a few DAC's and has settled on two DAC's....the Lampizator Level 7 which is a powerful DAC and the little iFI Micro with the iUSBPower...Hmmm.

Cheers my friend!

Byron
Click to expand...

Wery interesting thanks!

Sent from my X10a using Tapatalk 2
 
enginedr said:
I talked to the US distributor when I was at my dealer . and explained the whole scenario . they have the first one I bought to test it.
As for higher priced DAC most of the computer audio community listens with headphones . if you can tell the difference with good headphones I am sure
you will notice it with a reveling system. I am lurking at head fi and computer audio . As for room size that is a speaker and amp match .
a DAC is more like a Phono cartridge and pre match . Thank you for your input
Click to expand...

Lots of guys listening with headphones....many also ditching the CDP's and replacing with DAC,s in a two channel configuration as well.......like the guys over at Audioshark. Some guys at Head-fi and Computeraudiophile are using DAC's in two channel configurations, but yeah....I agree with you that more are into headphone gear...guys over at Audioshark are mainly into two channel systems with their DAC's.

The iFI was in a shootout with some bigger more expensive dacs in a bigger room, and it wasn't quite dynamic enough as the bigger more expensive dac's. Just wasn't enough there like the high dollar dacs to fill the room with quality sound....yeah, you could turn it up but sounds washed out and thin. I didn't believe it as well until I spoke with the person who was at the shootout. DAC's and dynamics and room size do make a difference. Now as far a AMR's bigger high dollar DAC's like the Digital Processor-777......no issue. http://www.amr-audio.co.uk/html/dp777_individual.html
 
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slippers-on said:
Lots of guys listening with headphones....many also ditching the CDP's and replacing with DAC,s in a two channel configuration as well.......like the guys over at Audioshark. Some guys at Head-fi and Computeraudiophile are using DAC's in two channel configurations, but yeah....I agree with you that more are into headphone gear...guys over at Audioshark are mainly into two channel systems with their DAC's.

The iFI was in a shootout with some bigger more expensive dacs in a bigger room, and it wasn't quite dynamic enough as the bigger more expensive dac's. Just wasn't enough there like the high dollar dacs to fill the room with quality sound....yeah, you could turn it up but sounds washed out and thin. I didn't believe it as well until I spoke with the person who was at the shootout. DAC's and dynamics and room size do make a difference. Now as far a AMR's bigger high dollar DAC's like the Digital Processor-777......no issue. http://www.amr-audio.co.uk/html/dp777_individual.html
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The IFI Runs on 5 volts .
 
It's a down month for me if you've time during day hours. Otherwise in a couple weeks I'll have several free evenings.
 
Bob_in_OKC said:
I saw the title of this thread and the OP was slippers. I thought for a minute my eyes were messed up.
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Hahahahaha! What up! Im still a vinyl first guy but I've fell in love with DSD 128....no digital edge, and sounding closer to vinyl that any Hi Rez PCM! At least to my ears!
 
Ok...thanks. I hope it works out for you. Other wise that Yiggie looks pretty sweet! I'd be interested in what you think if you go that route.
 
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