Love this unit, along with the iCan. No other stack allows for so much flexibility to both optimize and bring the best attributes out of any headphone out there. The filters, the Solid State or Tube and Tube+ modes, the X-Bass and 3D functions. Just searching for an iESL Pro now (and willing to pay double retail for a unit if anyone out there is interested) to allow for the expansion into Estats. Great review 👍🏼
Love the detailed but concise information on this review. The DAC is really feature packed and I thought that this review would have been complicated and confusing, but you picked out all the right things to discuss. If this was to be paired with the pro icon signature then would it be okay to set the fixed output to the pro (higher voltage) output or would you recommend leaving it on the 4.6 V?
@@O_D_O_U4YA a very good question, from memory I’ve only had the phantom here. I think the inputs can take the professional mode 10 V, or 12 V, but I would need to double check they are supposed to work in unity together, and I’m pretty sure you can say it to either, if it’s attached to that amplifier, but it’s been awhile and I need to double check.
@@ConvinceMeAudio, thank you for the tip. The Phantom certainly has the power to drive the Tungsten, and it may have sufficient output voltage. However, I may never use the electrostatic portion of the amplifier, and the price is about TWICE the amount I was hoping to pay. I can always wait for one to appear on the secondhand market, I suppose.
@@TheVeganVicar yes I don’t think the weight will be too long, and at the moment they used market is insane, looks really interesting. I can’t wait to review it. I heard Shang Junior on it and it was lovely as well.
@@ConvinceMeAudio, I am planning to move from mostly-loudspeaker listening, to mostly-headphone/earphone listening, within the next couple of years, so I am not in hurry to acquire a headphone amplifier. On the other hand, if the Phantom is manufactured in Britain, and I can buy one at a reasonable discount, I may just pony-up and purchase a brand new unit within that time-frame. I'll also need to grab a Tungsten during one of the forthcoming monthly sale releases. I just missed-out in January. The next opening is on the 23rd of February. Fingers crossed!
I have the same setup (pro dsd sig+lcd 5), you should look at digital enhancers like the ifi ipurifiers, iusb micro, isilencers, etc. After adding them to the chain they improved the sound A LOT! Even on the SS mode, it sounds organic, smoother, and overall more dynamic. Didn't believe in them before but after adding the first igalvanic and ipurifier, it changed my mind, you can also use them on your other components. The proof really is in the pudding
Wrong implication around 13:13 about bypassing filters - the upsampling is done before the filters and any filter can be applied after. Filters cannot be applied only if MQA.
Is this compatible with ps5?? , hoping it might improve hearing audio footsteps on warzone, and is it powerful enough to use with he800s or do I need to buy an amp??
@@destruction_9888 compatible I can’t be sure, but it certainly can drive HD 800 S. I need to bring a PS5 in for a lot of this DAC testing. I kept meaning to buy one then I forgot about it.
Thank you for the review. I just bought a 3-month old Pro iCAN Signature and paired it with Gustard R26 DAC or connects via iFi 4.4mm-XLR interconnects using the iFi Gryphon as a DAC and I am very happy with it. I read that the Pro iDSD can upsample to DSD512 & 1024, is it just for listening or can I convert a file and save as DSD1024? There is a 8-month old iDSD Signature for sale now and I need more reasons to get it as I’d just purchased the iCAN, Gryphon, Gustard, a ZMF and a Sennheiser headphone.
The unit is very versatile it is a streamer, memory, card, reader, DAC, powerful amplifier, if you’re a fan of the sound signature, it’s spectacular plus tubes
@@ConvinceMeAudio thank you for replying. I have a tube amp for higher impedance and the iCAN has tube and tube+ too for all my headphones. Currently, the Gustard R26 is making me very happy and it keeps getting better with time. Can the iDSD converts files to DSD512 or 1024 that I can saved or are the conversions only for listening?
@@ConvinceMeAudio thank you for taking time to reply me. This is really important for me as there’s a Pro iDSD Signature for sale now and I have the Pro iCAN but have exceeded my budget with several recent purchases. Again, thank you!
Right now I have a Gryphon only and was really puzzled whether I should get the iCAN Signature or the Pro iDSD Signature. They both seem nice based on what I have read, but for my use case the iDSD seems to be not worth the extra money because I won't use all the features; also the iCAN seems to be a better amp overall. Your comment here somehow saved me because then I can just use my Gryphon as the DAC and go for the iCAN - didn't know that the 4.4mm-XLR interconnect existed. Do you hear differences when using the Gustard R26 DAC vs the Gryphon?
By Amping Using balanced out to balanced in so that the DAC can be used on both amplifiers? Not particularly but you’re going to have to find tune both volume parts to the perfect volume matching, or max out the signature at the other end and completely control it by bliss, which might be a possibility. It just depends on noise floor and pushing DSD at the other end as a power ramp is not really designed to be run that way some of them don’t work and could be problematic
@@ConvinceMeAudio Now i understand, i did not recognize the possible studio mode on the back! I was asking because you said that this could be dangerous. Which Output of the IDSD would you choose with using it as DAC (and pre) coupled to the Bliss? a possible usage of both amps is no need for me. The ifi should only do its job to feed the Bliss.
@@inn3B I do beg your pardon, this is the DAC review. I only saw the title before I responded, this is a DAC, you can connect this to bliss with absolutely no problems. Don’t worry about the high voltage studio mode. You don’t need to set this to 12 V leaving it at 4 V is sufficient. For some reason in my head, we were looking at the phantom review which is not out yet
@@ConvinceMeAudio Great. So if I don't want to spend the money on this unit, then a gryphon could be a littlebrother option, you think? Is the synergy similar, you'd say?
I think it would be very punchy, but I’m a little worried it might be a little treble leaning maybe engage in the tube mode might soften it a little bit there’s a possibility could be a little bright But it all depends what flavour you like, unfortunately both of them are no longer here to test side-by-side
