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The EISA award is perfectly understandable, the product in the hand e a remarkable piece of jewellery for audio on the go, the sound is almost on par with the micro iDSD Black Label in a quarter of the size simply amazing.
I can't remember another brand but Sony to have in the past this level of pleasure of owning one great quality product on my hand like their top of the line walkman hardware in the 80’s.
iFi with the xDSD made me feel today the same desire and satisfaction. It a wow! product since the initial unpacking to the pleasure of having it on the hand, is beautiful crafted and on the dark side a fingerprint revelation, I am simply in love by it.
The sound, I never used my micro iDSD away from the desktop, it was portable but not that portable, and very awkward to me to use something like the micro iDSD BL on the go, even if the micro sounds a little better the small advantage that the micro can have on sound does not justify the space and lack of usability on the size of the unit, no way I was using it on the go, anyway the micro Black is more complete and better sounding hardware that deserve is place on the best of the best.
The xDSD is something I will gladly use on the go with pride like an Hugo Boss suit, or an Breitling watch, it simply feels premium and sounds so good, it's not awkward it's beautiful, makes heads turn and look at it with curiosity, it's great sound with stylish looks.
The xbass makes magic on music, the 3D makes everything float around, the effects are not Audiophile correct, but who cares, on the go they are magical, and with all the noise around you on the streets you get more pleasure with them, the xBass and 3D are simple like honey, it produces lot's of detail in a musical way. All other portable Dac's now seem ugly as hell comparing the hardware alone side by side, but not only the portable DAC's, there is a lot of hardware that design and build is not on par with their sound, some have the design and sound horrible, other have the sound and are bad looking. The xDSD is the synergy of sound and looks well made.
EISA Award is very deserved for sound, size, battery duration, beauty, portability, even the price.
There are things we sell to be able to upgrade, and then many years after we regret to have sold that hardware that marked our memories. The iFi xDSD is one product that you will never forget if for some motive I sell it, in 10 or 20 years I will regret have done it, this one is special.
This was my computeraudiophile forum post about the xDSD www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/38723-ifi-audio-x...
Congratulations iFi.
In the search for a better musical experience extracting better sound from my recent iFi DAC upgrade and get more pleasure in the sound presentation I discovered SOTM products, I searched for information of network streamers and similar user opinions about them, saw videos and all that I can find about on the web, and after reading lots of average consensus of users in their with their experience, and after some weeks acquired an SOTM sMS-200 Ultra without listening.
I have to admit that acquiring without listening is risky decision, and sometimes you could end with a unit that do not give any positive enhancement to your system. The intent was to remove my noisy Mac Pro from degrading the sound of the DAC, is this case an iFi iDSD Pro that has galvanic isolation but is very sensible to all cables and accessories before it, as any other DAC the quality of the USB connection is primordial to a better sound experience.
You can clean your computer USB, but you will pay the same or more than buy a optimised and clean dedicated computer exclusively for audio.
It’s that quality USB connection I was searching and found it on the SOTM sMS-200 Ultra, it impressive how a single device for giving you a great USB link affects the final sound.
Computers are terribly noisy devices, electricity in an apartment is full of noise, that contaminates the computer, processor, motherboard, fan, hard drive, external devices with bad power supply’s, even software resource needs generate noise, and that noise affects the link that is made from the computer to the DAC.
Any user like me trying to get better audio will start a journey of cleaning that USB transmission with galvanic isolated solutions, USB regenerators and re-clockers, and many other solutions that exist on the market and stores that clean the USB signal. Some of devices at every step give you an extra more, or a different presentation, or change the total presentation, sometimes in a good way, other times not accomplishing what they promote or I expect for the price
What did SOtM do, they produced a small audio optimised network computer to connect to your DAC by USB, it has an optimised and excellent internal clock board, but they build it with high quality audiophile components, for me they have made something very special that results very well on my system.
The SOtM SMS-200 Ultra is a simple audiophile network streamer for the only propose to pass the bits to your DAC in the cleanest way possible.
The sMS-200 Ultra supports various audio standard protocols like the Roon RAAT, HQPlayer, LibreSpot, Minim Server, Airplay, Bubble UPnP, DLNA, Squeezelite, and runs a light linux optimised version for audio called Eunhasu that can be upgraded with more functionality and add support for future DAC hardware.
Their service and support has been very receptive to beginner questions, with fast reply and helpful responses, thats a thumbs up for support. For me, product support is one of the most important features of any product.
The sOTM sMS-200 Ultra is an awesome product it made a big change for the better to my music enjoyment… The final result is based on my personal system, room, cables, and could be different on your system, but one thing I have certain, If anyone tries one of this units the change will be noticed for the better.
When I dedicate some of my time to write about it, it’s because I the product quality and benefit it gave me. Is common that the new upgraded unit is better than the last used solution, and the big motive I upgraded an stayed in the system. But regarding the presence I feel now when I listen to a good album, the SOtM sMS-200 Ultra is one of the best upgrades I have done in the last few years, and the upgrades where a lot.
Apart from some rock concerts, small jazz groups and some classical music concerts, my live music experience is not that active, I will not compare the real presentation that I can achieve, but instead the enjoyment the SOtM offered to me from my system, and with it came a new musical experience. The difference of hearing a real orchestra in plain euforia is something that I never heard any system being capable of, the real thing is a more powerful experience that any system or my small one can reproduce, I herd systems close to that reality with prices impossible to archive by a normal person, but with my hardware limitation, the emulation of the artist presence was upgraded to a new level.
All of this to explain that is difficult to quantify how better in my case the SOtM is compared to reality, but I can quantify listen experience before and after the SOtM, and here it goes.
The SOtM is all about music, after changing the in the box power supply for an SBooster it really shines, the music presentation grows a lot, and the speakers grow the sound to a huge presentation, the sound is so big that the room feels larger, a friend of mine when showing the music, started to look behind searching for surround speakers on the back wall, the SOtM sMS 200 Ultra really made the presentation of some albums impressive. One example of this is the Pink Floyd track On The Run from the Dark Side of the Moon album, or tracks from the album Blood from This Mortal Coil.
The SOtM sMS-200 Ultra is musical and not aggressive in any way, and has this 3D way of presenting the sound a sensation of magical sweetness without loss of information, I am loving it and ordered an SPS-500 Power supply with silver cable, it deserves the best friend to complement and shine even more.
The sound from my Mac Pro was somehow a little bi dimensional when compared to the SOtM, the highs sometimes where to much, and lacked the dimension that the SOtM has, it sounded ok but was not holographic like the sound I have now, and lacked some musicality, some albums where too harsh and very aggressive to be played, this doesn’t mean a bad recording will sound good, the bad will sound always bad, but good recording elevate your experience in a way with the SOtM that the computer did not acomplished.
When used with a good DAC and a quality usb cable, in my case the iFi iDSD Pro DAC and the Audioquest Diamond USB, it gave me impressive results connected to my Focal Solo 6be.
I find the SOtM sMS-200 Ultra very sensitive to power cables, I used Audioquest tornado cables on the iFI and SOtM, and they proved to result very well in my setup.
So I think audiophiles will love it, for me is not an option to revert back to my Mac Pro as a USB source.
If you are using a DAC connected to your computer, you have to try an SOtM streamer and see what you have been loosing in sound with your computer, and pair the SOtM with a good and decent power supply and it will really shine.
The EISA award is perfectly understandable, the product in the hand e a remarkable piece of jewellery for audio on the go, the sound is almost on par with the micro iDSD Black Label in a quarter of the size simply amazing.
I can't remember another brand but Sony to have in the past this level of pleasure of owning one great quality product on my hand like their top of the line walkman hardware in the 80’s.
iFi with the xDSD made me feel today the same desire and satisfaction. It a wow! product since the initial unpacking to the pleasure of having it on the hand, is beautiful crafted and on the dark side a fingerprint revelation, I am simply in love by it.
The sound, I never used my micro iDSD away from the desktop, it was portable but not that portable, and very awkward to me to use something like the micro iDSD BL on the go, even if the micro sounds a little better the small advantage that the micro can have on sound does not justify the space and lack of usability on the size of the unit, no way I was using it on the go, anyway the micro Black is more complete and better sounding hardware that deserve is place on the best of the best.
The xDSD is something I will gladly use on the go with pride like an Hugo Boss suit, or an Breitling watch, it simply feels premium and sounds so good, it's not awkward it's beautiful, makes heads turn and look at it with curiosity, it's great sound with stylish looks.
The xbass makes magic on music, the 3D makes everything float around, the effects are not Audiophile correct, but who cares, on the go they are magical, and with all the noise around you on the streets you get more pleasure with them, the xBass and 3D are simple like honey, it produces lot's of detail in a musical way. All other portable Dac's now seem ugly as hell comparing the hardware alone side by side, but not only the portable DAC's, there is a lot of hardware that design and build is not on par with their sound, some have the design and sound horrible, other have the sound and are bad looking. The xDSD is the synergy of sound and looks well made.
EISA Award is very deserved for sound, size, battery duration, beauty, portability, even the price.
There are things we sell to be able to upgrade, and then many years after we regret to have sold that hardware that marked our memories. The iFi xDSD is one product that you will never forget if for some motive I sell it, in 10 or 20 years I will regret have done it, this one is special.
This was my computeraudiophile forum post about the xDSD www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/38723-ifi-audio-x...
Congratulations iFi.
I am not new to home cinema, my preference and priority always was the two channel audio setups, In the past I had some Dolby systems from Yamaha, Sony ES pre power setups like the interesting Sony DVP-S9000ES connected to my SONY TA-N9000ES, TA-E9000ES, acquired some 7.1 systems from Samsung for Blu-ray 3D, but two channel was my primary focus and passion.
In the last 5 years I have listened to amazing cinema setups from friends and family, so I decided to start acquiring a new updated cinema sound with projector for my living room.
This year in Audio Show 2019 Lisbon when I saw the Denon AVC-X8500H it was love at the first sight, a 13.2 channel Dolby Atmos and Auro-3D amplifier with an amazing set of features as astonishing build and look.
The AVC-X8500H will be the soul and first component of my new home cinema setup, now connected to recent acquired Epson EH-TW9300 Projector. All the speaker and HDMI Cables will be by my preference from Audioquest, the speakers will come slowly and for now some old ones are being used.
Here are some photos of the new Denon AVC-X8500H.
It was an amazing day with great auditions and fantastic people.
Photos taken in AudioShow 2018 at Hotel Pestana Palace in Portugal.
Audioshow is up until 2018.03.18.
It was an amazing day with great auditions and fantastic people.
Photos taken in AudioShow 2018 at Hotel Pestana Palace in Portugal.
Audioshow is up until 2018.03.18.
The EISA award is perfectly understandable, the product in the hand e a remarkable piece of jewellery for audio on the go, the sound is almost on par with the micro iDSD Black Label in a quarter of the size simply amazing.
I can't remember another brand but Sony to have in the past this level of pleasure of owning one great quality product on my hand like their top of the line walkman hardware in the 80’s.
iFi with the xDSD made me feel today the same desire and satisfaction. It a wow! product since the initial unpacking to the pleasure of having it on the hand, is beautiful crafted and on the dark side a fingerprint revelation, I am simply in love by it.
The sound, I never used my micro iDSD away from the desktop, it was portable but not that portable, and very awkward to me to use something like the micro iDSD BL on the go, even if the micro sounds a little better the small advantage that the micro can have on sound does not justify the space and lack of usability on the size of the unit, no way I was using it on the go, anyway the micro Black is more complete and better sounding hardware that deserve is place on the best of the best.
The xDSD is something I will gladly use on the go with pride like an Hugo Boss suit, or an Breitling watch, it simply feels premium and sounds so good, it's not awkward it's beautiful, makes heads turn and look at it with curiosity, it's great sound with stylish looks.
The xbass makes magic on music, the 3D makes everything float around, the effects are not Audiophile correct, but who cares, on the go they are magical, and with all the noise around you on the streets you get more pleasure with them, the xBass and 3D are simple like honey, it produces lot's of detail in a musical way. All other portable Dac's now seem ugly as hell comparing the hardware alone side by side, but not only the portable DAC's, there is a lot of hardware that design and build is not on par with their sound, some have the design and sound horrible, other have the sound and are bad looking. The xDSD is the synergy of sound and looks well made.
EISA Award is very deserved for sound, size, battery duration, beauty, portability, even the price.
There are things we sell to be able to upgrade, and then many years after we regret to have sold that hardware that marked our memories. The iFi xDSD is one product that you will never forget if for some motive I sell it, in 10 or 20 years I will regret have done it, this one is special.
This was my computeraudiophile forum post about the xDSD www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/38723-ifi-audio-x...
Congratulations iFi.
It was an amazing day with great auditions and fantastic people.
Photos taken in AudioShow 2018 at Hotel Pestana Palace in Portugal.
Audioshow is up until 2018.03.18.
The EISA award is perfectly understandable, the product in the hand e a remarkable piece of jewellery for audio on the go, the sound is almost on par with the micro iDSD Black Label in a quarter of the size simply amazing.
I can't remember another brand but Sony to have in the past this level of pleasure of owning one great quality product on my hand like their top of the line walkman hardware in the 80’s.
iFi with the xDSD made me feel today the same desire and satisfaction. It a wow! product since the initial unpacking to the pleasure of having it on the hand, is beautiful crafted and on the dark side a fingerprint revelation, I am simply in love by it.
The sound, I never used my micro iDSD away from the desktop, it was portable but not that portable, and very awkward to me to use something like the micro iDSD BL on the go, even if the micro sounds a little better the small advantage that the micro can have on sound does not justify the space and lack of usability on the size of the unit, no way I was using it on the go, anyway the micro Black is more complete and better sounding hardware that deserve is place on the best of the best.
The xDSD is something I will gladly use on the go with pride like an Hugo Boss suit, or an Breitling watch, it simply feels premium and sounds so good, it's not awkward it's beautiful, makes heads turn and look at it with curiosity, it's great sound with stylish looks.
The xbass makes magic on music, the 3D makes everything float around, the effects are not Audiophile correct, but who cares, on the go they are magical, and with all the noise around you on the streets you get more pleasure with them, the xBass and 3D are simple like honey, it produces lot's of detail in a musical way. All other portable Dac's now seem ugly as hell comparing the hardware alone side by side, but not only the portable DAC's, there is a lot of hardware that design and build is not on par with their sound, some have the design and sound horrible, other have the sound and are bad looking. The xDSD is the synergy of sound and looks well made.
EISA Award is very deserved for sound, size, battery duration, beauty, portability, even the price.
There are things we sell to be able to upgrade, and then many years after we regret to have sold that hardware that marked our memories. The iFi xDSD is one product that you will never forget if for some motive I sell it, in 10 or 20 years I will regret have done it, this one is special.
This was my computeraudiophile forum post about the xDSD www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/38723-ifi-audio-x...
Congratulations iFi.
This new X line of iFi product range is something to beautiful to look at and feel in the hand, the xCan is really small like the amazing xDSD that received the EISA award last year, the xCan looks as good as the sounds, is a magical combination of hardware and passion.
That passion is present when you send music from your phone to the xDSD you understand how weak your phone amplifier is, this small wonder has power to drive some difficult headphones without showing signs of weakness, in a small package like this, and for me is really impressive.
The xCan is a portable amplifier that can be connected to your phone by bluetooth and use any set of wired headphones, even very demanding ones, and stream your music from your phone.
And this is a most needed add-on in a present where phone manufacturers are removing the headphone Jack, migrating users to a new wave of wireless headphones. Wireless headphones are practical but with that practicability we pay premium for a not so good sound, and for the same price there are a lot of superior wired headphones the we can buy and have a more rewarding sound experience.
In the end the best of the best earphones that I know are wired, so the xCan can be the the perfect add-on you can buy to your phone to listen music on the go.
Also at home you can connect this little marvel to a set of amplified speakers or even your living room system and transform tour speakers in wireless bluetooth speakers, streaming music by bluetooth in ACC or aptX from your tablet or phone.
You can also use the xBass and 3D effect if you wish, on some tracks it’s really good effect, the xCan implementation of xBass is an addictive effect to have on the go.
You can not go wrong with the xDSD, it plays very well, has a lot of functionality, it’s beautiful, very portable, the iFi X line really has the X Factor.
If you are looking to a good portable bluetooth preamp the xCan should be on your list of hardware to try.
It was an amazing day with great auditions and fantastic people.
Photos taken in AudioShow 2018 at Hotel Pestana Palace in Portugal.
Audioshow is up until 2018.03.18.
The EISA award is perfectly understandable, the product in the hand e a remarkable piece of jewellery for audio on the go, the sound is almost on par with the micro iDSD Black Label in a quarter of the size simply amazing.
I can't remember another brand but Sony to have in the past this level of pleasure of owning one great quality product on my hand like their top of the line walkman hardware in the 80’s.
iFi with the xDSD made me feel today the same desire and satisfaction. It a wow! product since the initial unpacking to the pleasure of having it on the hand, is beautiful crafted and on the dark side a fingerprint revelation, I am simply in love by it.
The sound, I never used my micro iDSD away from the desktop, it was portable but not that portable, and very awkward to me to use something like the micro iDSD BL on the go, even if the micro sounds a little better the small advantage that the micro can have on sound does not justify the space and lack of usability on the size of the unit, no way I was using it on the go, anyway the micro Black is more complete and better sounding hardware that deserve is place on the best of the best.
The xDSD is something I will gladly use on the go with pride like an Hugo Boss suit, or an Breitling watch, it simply feels premium and sounds so good, it's not awkward it's beautiful, makes heads turn and look at it with curiosity, it's great sound with stylish looks.
The xbass makes magic on music, the 3D makes everything float around, the effects are not Audiophile correct, but who cares, on the go they are magical, and with all the noise around you on the streets you get more pleasure with them, the xBass and 3D are simple like honey, it produces lot's of detail in a musical way. All other portable Dac's now seem ugly as hell comparing the hardware alone side by side, but not only the portable DAC's, there is a lot of hardware that design and build is not on par with their sound, some have the design and sound horrible, other have the sound and are bad looking. The xDSD is the synergy of sound and looks well made.
EISA Award is very deserved for sound, size, battery duration, beauty, portability, even the price.
There are things we sell to be able to upgrade, and then many years after we regret to have sold that hardware that marked our memories. The iFi xDSD is one product that you will never forget if for some motive I sell it, in 10 or 20 years I will regret have done it, this one is special.
This was my computeraudiophile forum post about the xDSD www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/38723-ifi-audio-x...
Congratulations iFi.
I am not new to home cinema, my preference and priority always was the two channel audio setups, In the past I had some Dolby systems from Yamaha, Sony ES pre power setups like the interesting Sony DVP-S9000ES connected to my SONY TA-N9000ES, TA-E9000ES, acquired some 7.1 systems from Samsung for Blu-ray 3D, but two channel was my primary focus and passion.
In the last 5 years I have listened to amazing cinema setups from friends and family, so I decided to start acquiring a new updated cinema sound with projector for my living room.
This year in Audio Show 2019 Lisbon when I saw the Denon AVC-X8500H it was love at the first sight, a 13.2 channel Dolby Atmos and Auro-3D amplifier with an amazing set of features as astonishing build and look.
The AVC-X8500H will be the soul and first component of my new home cinema setup, now connected to recent acquired Epson EH-TW9300 Projector. All the speaker and HDMI Cables will be by my preference from Audioquest, the speakers will come slowly and for now some old ones are being used.
Here are some photos of the new Denon AVC-X8500H.
I became addict of the iPurifier when it fist brought it to my first edition iFi Micro iDSD, at the time I was discovering the iFi Products, and the iPurifier was an interesting product then in price and quality.
The original changed the sound signature of my system in a positive way, giving me more information and after that I brought the original Micro iUSB, but with the micro iUSB I also purchased the iPurifier 2, and they work paired giving me a lot or more information and dynamics, better sense of dimension with the harman kardon GLA-55, the effect was present in texture, better highs and lows, better small dynamic perception.
This small changes that sometimes when reading could be interpreted as big and that your system changes completely, but they are not in the magnitude of the words, but the words used are a good guide to focus a user in the perceptible changes in an easy to better evaluate the perceived benefits , for me in the way they work are in a magnitude way bigger than the 100 euros could give.
But this review is not about the iPurifier 2, instead the new iPurifier 3.
The iPurifier 3 is a USB gadget that reclocks, regenerates and has a rebalance tech, it incorporates a active noise cancelation technology that works impressively, a revised and upgraded version of the last itineration of their iPurifier 2 I also own, as always the unbox experience of the package from iFi products is very special.
The little package comes with a lot of extras and no one will indifferent of the construction quality of the iPurifier 3, it’s a rewarding hardware tech marvel.
Ifi upgraded all the internals resulting in a little bigger piece of hardware, there are new OS-CON capacitors, a new version of the noise canceling technology named “Active Noise Cancellation2® (ANC2)” and all the internals are better quality.
What about the iPurifier 3 in sound when compared to the 2.
The iPurifier 2 was a great product and it made an very good sonic upgrade, the iPurifier 3 feels a lot more refined, it has most the benefits form the iPurifier 3, but is more transparent, musical and natural, when connected to the system it does not have a defined personality, to explain I will try to explain the effect of the iPurifier 3 and the original iUSB, it added bass and highs noticeably, and when I connected to some of my higher quality and recent components like the iFi Pro iDSD version 2 gave a small veil in the sound. Notice that the iFi Pro iDSD does not need an iPurifier 2.
Anyway I tried the iPurifier 3 in my iFi iDSD pro to see if the same issue was present, and it was not, it simply cleaned the sound without any added issue, so this was an interesting test, the product has no degradation effect on the cables.
After that, as I brought it to the micro iDSD Black Label for my son I, removing the iPurifier 2 and connecting the iPurifier 3, it does give a more realistic and neutral musical presentation, also it really cleans more as some little sound are more perceptible like if o had sharpness to little details that where there but not so audible, the high frequencies are substantial more natural and less “irritating”, the lows are also more perceptible, and example is the Album Tubular Bells 3 from Mike Oldfield, the first track in the beginning has a bass that goes from left to right and right to left and that perception with the iPurifier 3 is a lot more defined and engages you more on the music track.
Also, the sound stage has benefits, as you gain small details and separation, you also gain in density of information, focus on all the dimensions of the soundstage and a global better enjoyment of your music.
Reading all the above and buying the iPurifier 3 is a no brainer if you have a system transparent enough that could show changes in the whole, I used the iFi new Gemini 3.0 Cable and also an Audioquest Diamond, and the original version of the iFi Gemini.
As I have been upgrading my system a lot in the last year, every step comes with trades and benefits, my system has turned out to become more revealing each time, some hardware results very well other not that so. The iPurifier 3 made no degradation and gave me a more beneficial effect with the iDSD Black Label.
I have to give my regards to iFi as each itineration of their product line, has been really an upgrade from the last, the iPurifier 3 deserves a very good listen.
The EISA award is perfectly understandable, the product in the hand e a remarkable piece of jewellery for audio on the go, the sound is almost on par with the micro iDSD Black Label in a quarter of the size simply amazing.
I can't remember another brand but Sony to have in the past this level of pleasure of owning one great quality product on my hand like their top of the line walkman hardware in the 80’s.
iFi with the xDSD made me feel today the same desire and satisfaction. It a wow! product since the initial unpacking to the pleasure of having it on the hand, is beautiful crafted and on the dark side a fingerprint revelation, I am simply in love by it.
The sound, I never used my micro iDSD away from the desktop, it was portable but not that portable, and very awkward to me to use something like the micro iDSD BL on the go, even if the micro sounds a little better the small advantage that the micro can have on sound does not justify the space and lack of usability on the size of the unit, no way I was using it on the go, anyway the micro Black is more complete and better sounding hardware that deserve is place on the best of the best.
The xDSD is something I will gladly use on the go with pride like an Hugo Boss suit, or an Breitling watch, it simply feels premium and sounds so good, it's not awkward it's beautiful, makes heads turn and look at it with curiosity, it's great sound with stylish looks.
The xbass makes magic on music, the 3D makes everything float around, the effects are not Audiophile correct, but who cares, on the go they are magical, and with all the noise around you on the streets you get more pleasure with them, the xBass and 3D are simple like honey, it produces lot's of detail in a musical way. All other portable Dac's now seem ugly as hell comparing the hardware alone side by side, but not only the portable DAC's, there is a lot of hardware that design and build is not on par with their sound, some have the design and sound horrible, other have the sound and are bad looking. The xDSD is the synergy of sound and looks well made.
EISA Award is very deserved for sound, size, battery duration, beauty, portability, even the price.
There are things we sell to be able to upgrade, and then many years after we regret to have sold that hardware that marked our memories. The iFi xDSD is one product that you will never forget if for some motive I sell it, in 10 or 20 years I will regret have done it, this one is special.
This was my computeraudiophile forum post about the xDSD www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/38723-ifi-audio-x...
Congratulations iFi.
iFi and Audioquest products become an addiction, and they really are good.
iFi ha become the new Somy of the 21 century.
The latter X Line has a build that is something with a luxury appeal.
The EISA award is perfectly understandable, the product in the hand e a remarkable piece of jewellery for audio on the go, the sound is almost on par with the micro iDSD Black Label in a quarter of the size simply amazing.
I can't remember another brand but Sony to have in the past this level of pleasure of owning one great quality product on my hand like their top of the line walkman hardware in the 80’s.
iFi with the xDSD made me feel today the same desire and satisfaction. It a wow! product since the initial unpacking to the pleasure of having it on the hand, is beautiful crafted and on the dark side a fingerprint revelation, I am simply in love by it.
The sound, I never used my micro iDSD away from the desktop, it was portable but not that portable, and very awkward to me to use something like the micro iDSD BL on the go, even if the micro sounds a little better the small advantage that the micro can have on sound does not justify the space and lack of usability on the size of the unit, no way I was using it on the go, anyway the micro Black is more complete and better sounding hardware that deserve is place on the best of the best.
The xDSD is something I will gladly use on the go with pride like an Hugo Boss suit, or an Breitling watch, it simply feels premium and sounds so good, it's not awkward it's beautiful, makes heads turn and look at it with curiosity, it's great sound with stylish looks.
The xbass makes magic on music, the 3D makes everything float around, the effects are not Audiophile correct, but who cares, on the go they are magical, and with all the noise around you on the streets you get more pleasure with them, the xBass and 3D are simple like honey, it produces lot's of detail in a musical way. All other portable Dac's now seem ugly as hell comparing the hardware alone side by side, but not only the portable DAC's, there is a lot of hardware that design and build is not on par with their sound, some have the design and sound horrible, other have the sound and are bad looking. The xDSD is the synergy of sound and looks well made.
EISA Award is very deserved for sound, size, battery duration, beauty, portability, even the price.
There are things we sell to be able to upgrade, and then many years after we regret to have sold that hardware that marked our memories. The iFi xDSD is one product that you will never forget if for some motive I sell it, in 10 or 20 years I will regret have done it, this one is special.
This was my computeraudiophile forum post about the xDSD www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/38723-ifi-audio-x...
Congratulations iFi.
Photos from AudioShow 2019 in Lisbon, the event was open from 1 of March to 3 of March 2019.
This year was in Hotel Ritz and Hotel Intercontinental.
As usual full of great gear audio gear be seen and listen live.
After you start controlling the noise that the power line products and hear the benefits that gives to the audio on your system, a product like the ifi AC iPurifier is a bargain.
I am not new to home cinema, my preference and priority always was the two channel audio setups, In the past I had some Dolby systems from Yamaha, Sony ES pre power setups like the interesting Sony DVP-S9000ES connected to my SONY TA-N9000ES, TA-E9000ES, acquired some 7.1 systems from Samsung for Blu-ray 3D, but two channel was my primary focus and passion.
In the last 5 years I have listened to amazing cinema setups from friends and family, so I decided to start acquiring a new updated cinema sound with projector for my living room.
This year in Audio Show 2019 Lisbon when I saw the Denon AVC-X8500H it was love at the first sight, a 13.2 channel Dolby Atmos and Auro-3D amplifier with an amazing set of features as astonishing build and look.
The AVC-X8500H will be the soul and first component of my new home cinema setup, now connected to recent acquired Epson EH-TW9300 Projector. All the speaker and HDMI Cables will be by my preference from Audioquest, the speakers will come slowly and for now some old ones are being used.
Here are some photos of the new Denon AVC-X8500H.
Photos from AudioShow 2019 in Lisbon, the event was open from 1 of March to 3 of March 2019.
This year was in Hotel Ritz and Hotel Intercontinental.
As usual full of great gear audio gear be seen and listen live.
Photos from AudioShow 2019 in Lisbon, the event was open from 1 of March to 3 of March 2019.
This year was in Hotel Ritz and Hotel Intercontinental.
As usual full of great gear audio gear be seen and listen live.
Photos from AudioShow 2019 in Lisbon, the event was open from 1 of March to 3 of March 2019.
This year was in Hotel Ritz and Hotel Intercontinental.
As usual full of great gear audio gear be seen and listen live.
After you start controlling the noise that the power line products and hear the benefits that gives to the audio on your system, a product like the ifi AC iPurifier is a bargain.
Photos from AudioShow 2019 in Lisbon, the event was open from 1 of March to 3 of March 2019.
This year was in Hotel Ritz and Hotel Intercontinental.
As usual full of great gear audio gear be seen and listen live.
Photos from AudioShow 2019 in Lisbon, the event was open from 1 of March to 3 of March 2019.
This year was in Hotel Ritz and Hotel Intercontinental.
As usual full of great gear audio gear be seen and listen live.
Photos from AudioShow 2019 in Lisbon, the event was open from 1 of March to 3 of March 2019.
This year was in Hotel Ritz and Hotel Intercontinental.
As usual full of great gear audio gear be seen and listen live.
This new X line of iFi product range is something to beautiful to look at and feel in the hand, the xCan is really small like the amazing xDSD that received the EISA award last year, the xCan looks as good as the sounds, is a magical combination of hardware and passion.
That passion is present when you send music from your phone to the xDSD you understand how weak your phone amplifier is, this small wonder has power to drive some difficult headphones without showing signs of weakness, in a small package like this, and for me is really impressive.
The xCan is a portable amplifier that can be connected to your phone by bluetooth and use any set of wired headphones, even very demanding ones, and stream your music from your phone.
And this is a most needed add-on in a present where phone manufacturers are removing the headphone Jack, migrating users to a new wave of wireless headphones. Wireless headphones are practical but with that practicability we pay premium for a not so good sound, and for the same price there are a lot of superior wired headphones the we can buy and have a more rewarding sound experience.
In the end the best of the best earphones that I know are wired, so the xCan can be the the perfect add-on you can buy to your phone to listen music on the go.
Also at home you can connect this little marvel to a set of amplified speakers or even your living room system and transform tour speakers in wireless bluetooth speakers, streaming music by bluetooth in ACC or aptX from your tablet or phone.
You can also use the xBass and 3D effect if you wish, on some tracks it’s really good effect, the xCan implementation of xBass is an addictive effect to have on the go.
You can not go wrong with the xDSD, it plays very well, has a lot of functionality, it’s beautiful, very portable, the iFi X line really has the X Factor.
If you are looking to a good portable bluetooth preamp the xCan should be on your list of hardware to try.
The Room:
- G-Plan Fresco Dressing Table
- 1960's Light Fitting
- 1960's Record Cabinet
- Real Cow Hide Rug
- Stag C-Range Chest of Drawers
- Atomic Magazine Rack
- Teak Flipped Mirror
The Audio setup:
-Monitor Audio BX2 Speakers
-Symphony Cable
-Marantz M-CR603
-iMac/iPad/iPod Source and Controlled via AirPlay
-Mission Stands
...its getting there!
Photos from AudioShow 2019 in Lisbon, the event was open from 1 of March to 3 of March 2019.
This year was in Hotel Ritz and Hotel Intercontinental.
As usual full of great gear audio gear be seen and listen live.
Photos from AudioShow 2019 in Lisbon, the event was open from 1 of March to 3 of March 2019.
This year was in Hotel Ritz and Hotel Intercontinental.
As usual full of great gear audio gear be seen and listen live.
The EISA award is perfectly understandable, the product in the hand e a remarkable piece of jewellery for audio on the go, the sound is almost on par with the micro iDSD Black Label in a quarter of the size simply amazing.
I can't remember another brand but Sony to have in the past this level of pleasure of owning one great quality product on my hand like their top of the line walkman hardware in the 80’s.
iFi with the xDSD made me feel today the same desire and satisfaction. It a wow! product since the initial unpacking to the pleasure of having it on the hand, is beautiful crafted and on the dark side a fingerprint revelation, I am simply in love by it.
The sound, I never used my micro iDSD away from the desktop, it was portable but not that portable, and very awkward to me to use something like the micro iDSD BL on the go, even if the micro sounds a little better the small advantage that the micro can have on sound does not justify the space and lack of usability on the size of the unit, no way I was using it on the go, anyway the micro Black is more complete and better sounding hardware that deserve is place on the best of the best.
The xDSD is something I will gladly use on the go with pride like an Hugo Boss suit, or an Breitling watch, it simply feels premium and sounds so good, it's not awkward it's beautiful, makes heads turn and look at it with curiosity, it's great sound with stylish looks.
The xbass makes magic on music, the 3D makes everything float around, the effects are not Audiophile correct, but who cares, on the go they are magical, and with all the noise around you on the streets you get more pleasure with them, the xBass and 3D are simple like honey, it produces lot's of detail in a musical way. All other portable Dac's now seem ugly as hell comparing the hardware alone side by side, but not only the portable DAC's, there is a lot of hardware that design and build is not on par with their sound, some have the design and sound horrible, other have the sound and are bad looking. The xDSD is the synergy of sound and looks well made.
EISA Award is very deserved for sound, size, battery duration, beauty, portability, even the price.
There are things we sell to be able to upgrade, and then many years after we regret to have sold that hardware that marked our memories. The iFi xDSD is one product that you will never forget if for some motive I sell it, in 10 or 20 years I will regret have done it, this one is special.
This was my computeraudiophile forum post about the xDSD www.computeraudiophile.com/forums/topic/38723-ifi-audio-x...
Congratulations iFi.
Photos from AudioShow 2019 in Lisbon, the event was open from 1 of March to 3 of March 2019.
This year was in Hotel Ritz and Hotel Intercontinental.
As usual full of great gear audio gear be seen and listen live.
Photos from AudioShow 2019 in Lisbon, the event was open from 1 of March to 3 of March 2019.
This year was in Hotel Ritz and Hotel Intercontinental.
As usual full of great gear audio gear be seen and listen live.