𝙄𝙁𝙄 𝘼𝙐𝘿𝙄𝙊 𝙉𝙀𝙊 𝙎𝙏𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙈 𝘿𝘼𝘾

I must admit that writing a DAC review in 2023 is not easy . There is lots of competition out there , the market is full of products with various features and in various price categories .

So what's so special about the IFI audio company???? Well IFI audio actually listens to its clients and builds audio gear we as customers want to see in the market .
Enter Ifi audio Neo streamer , Dac and streamer rold in one . And mind you what you get is an equally good design dac and very good streamer. The ifi team made sure that none of its elements are afterthought. This is a well executed product .

Just look at the back of the unit and you will know that you got a solid product in your hands.

absolutely everything you will ever need and more in the way of SC optical input and m12 type connection if required. Of course there is RJ45 to complete the array of ethernet connections .
Well you will see above that there is no usb B connection it is because you connect to Neo stream via network and this is the best way to do it anyway.

2 usb connections are to connect your music on hdd or use other usb A as digital output to another dac if you wish to use that way.( USB output is marked for audio use and uses ANC technology)

Although space on the back is limited, IFI still provides balanced connection on the 4.4 mm connector for greater flexibility. One thing is missing is espresso maker hahahahaha

It's worth mentioning that Ifi audio includes an OPTI box which attaches to your router via rj45 and sends signal to NEO Streamer via optical cable so you are fully covered .

I personally used Neo Stream with my Elac active studio monitors and custom tube preamplifier which prove to be a great company for each other .

I played my music from HDD straight from NEO STREAM without a computer but of course i tested AUDIRVANA also. Listen to Qubuz from my android phone using the Mconnect app. The truth is it does not matter how you use it just works and quickly you can enjoy your favorite tunes .
I had it set to various ethernet protocols so I could easily switch between Qubuz ,Apple music and Spotify without problem. You can access all settings from a web browser on a MAC easily and adjust settings accordingly to your needs . I use an old mac air so it was nice to see that you can adjust buffer size and percentage of track to be preloaded which allowed me to stream upsampled tracks to dsd 128 or 256 without problem. Normally my old MAC can struggle with that task .

On the technical side you have here various configurations to choose from you can even use NEO as dedicated streamer if you wish ( i did just that and works as intended)

Well how NEO actually sounds it might depend on your amplifier and speakers ( synergy is a key here ) so my impressions refer to my own setup .

As it was with its brother Neo Stream sounds fantastic. It is a clean resolving dac without being analytical or overly aggressive . In fact it has a very involving and inviting type of sound signature . It allows you to just sit down and relax and get lost in music . It just works well with my system even without a tube preamplifier that sound signature is very apparent.
The Soundstage is well defined with great separation. All instruments have their own place but they are all connected at the same time into one coherent piece .

As I said before, reviewing DAC is quite daunting since there are lots of other elements that can influence the sound you hear . So when I listened to NEO , it's presentation was well balanced, nothing aggressive, no part of the spectrum jumps at you, it is all presented in a beautiful cohesive way which draws you into the music in a very addictive manner . This is the best way I can describe music I can hear through NEO. Music is an emotion which sometimes is difficult to describe in simple words. There are plenty of emotions while listening to Neo stream and that is what counts. If a piece of equipment connects you to music ,makes you want to listen more, allows you to relax and not to analyse music all the time , it is a trait of a great piece of equipment .

Nothing is perfect and Neo stream is no different. Application provided by Ifia audio (more accurately web browser ) which controle DAC is ok but it's not going to replace ROON OR AUDIRVANA anytime soon . A Lot of my albums were missing artwork and the general appearance of the software is crude for 2023. Obviously all this can be addressed by an update and I hope ifi will work on that. This is the only thing I can think of that detracts from otherwise fantastic products with sound quality which can go against big boys on the market.

I would like to say thank you to the IFi audio team, especially Ricardo Anton for continuously allowing me to spend some time with Ifi products.

thank you until next time

A Game-Changer for Clean Power: iFi Audio iPower Station Review

The iFi Audio iPower Station is an absolute game-changer when it comes to delivering clean power to your audio devices. As an avid audiophile, I've always been on the lookout for ways to improve the performance of my audio setup, and this device has exceeded my expectations in every way.

First and foremost, the build quality of the iPower Station is exceptional. The sleek and compact design is complemented by its solid construction, making it feel like a premium product. It seamlessly integrates into any setup, be it a desktop audio system or a dedicated listening room.

What truly sets the iPower Station apart is its ability to provide clean and stable power to your audio equipment. The device features four individual outlets, each with dedicated Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology. This effectively eliminates any electrical noise and interference, resulting in a significantly cleaner and more transparent audio signal.
Non power limiting naturevif the design will not strangle your ampmifier and will allow to perfirm at optimum levels .

I was amazed at the level of improvement I experienced in my audio system after connecting it to the iPower Station. The background noise was noticeably reduced, allowing me to hear finer details and nuances in my music that were previously masked. The soundstage also expanded, providing a more immersive and realistic listening experience.



While the iPower Station comes with a premium price tag, the performance and benefits it delivers are well worth the investment. It revolutionizes the way you power your audio devices, providing a solid foundation for exceptional audio reproduction.

In conclusion, the iFi Audio iPower Station is a remarkable power solution for audiophiles and music enthusiasts. Its ability to deliver clean power, eliminate electrical noise, and enhance the overall audio quality make it an essential addition to any high-fidelity audio setup. If you're looking to take your listening experience to the next level, the iPower Station is undoubtedly a worthy investment.