Reviews by joaojp1
Disclaimer: This unit as send to me by iFi UK however, all the thoughts shared in this review are my own and reflect my honest opinion about this product.
A special thanks to Karina for this review sample, as always iFi Audio and particularly Karina are always a joy to communicate with, bringing an incredibly open and charming communication which makes the whole review process so much easier and enjoyable.
I am new to the head-fi world and I have only recently started to appreciate the intricacies of the high-resolution audio, so do not expected this to be a technical review It will be a review that will address the major features of the product from the consumer point of view specifying its usefulness or not.
The iFi GO pod is the new addition to iFi’s GO series of ultraportable headphone enhancers. It is a pair of wearable Bluetooth DAC/headphone amps designed to make any pair of corded in-ear monitors (IEMs) wireless. The GO pod supports Bluetooth 5.2, with processing handled by Qualcomm’s top-tier 32-bit, QCC5144 module. It supports as well, Sony’s proprietary LDAC hi-res wireless solution to their maximum 32-bit/96kHz specifications, with LDAC’s highest 990kbps bitrate available to users of Android devices that support Snapdragon Sound (660kbps with other LDAC-enabled devices).
Its use is fair and simple, you just detach the cable from your favorite IEMs and connect the earpieces to the left and right pods using the appropriate adaptor, to start your listening experience just proceed with the simple pairing process to connect your GO pods to your source device. The adaptors come in three different flavors, MMCX, 2pin and Pentacone and it’s simply a brilliant idea to include them all in the package, since it future proofs this product for future IEM purchases.
Packaging and accessories
The product comes as per usual packaged in its traditional white box enclosed in a cardboard sheath, the device rests in a cut out and beneath it are the included accessories (USB-C charging cable, MMCX, 2pin and pentacone adapters, quick start guide, iFi sticker). Once again USB-C was the standard decided for the charging port, making it the de facto connector for all electronics. This unit instead of buttons has a touch surface across the whole GO pod, the touch surface is pretty responsive and enables you to do all the normal functions you expect from a media player, like play/pause, previous/next track, volume up and down, voice assistant between others. I still prefer physical buttons to interface with these functions, but the touch surface worked flawlessly.
Build Quality
Both GO pods are made from a tough and stiff plastic, that with the metal accents on the touch surface make the unit look premium. Unfortunately, the ear hooks are a bit too stiff and difficult to adapt to a different shape, this is my case made that I couldn’t use the GO pods for longer listening sessions, after the one-hour mark I would start to have pain in the back of my ears where the GO pods sit. This ended up being the only point in favor of the Fiio UTWS3, the rubber and plastic construction although less rigid makes it more comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Features
According to iFi, the GO pods are the first TWS solution to feature full 24 bit/96 kHz sound, this comes from a tight integration between the top tier amp, dac and Bluetooth receiver that are included making it a unbeatable experience in wireless sound. All this in a water and resistant enclosure, although I didn’t test this last part so you will have to take their word for it.
Both earpieces include a microphone, so you can make a voice call while wearing only one of them. The quality of the microphones is pretty good making voice calls a breeze.
The case that’s included to charge and carry the GO pods is pretty big and is not pocketable as the Fiio ones, its designed only for storage and transport. Beside this the case is pretty good for what it was designed to, it features two small led lights on the top lid that illuminate the inside of the case once you open it, giving it a very premium feel, like you were opening a jewel box. The lights do turn off automatically if you leave the lid open.
The GO pods have an estimated battery life of 7h playing content, according to my testing they don’t deviate a lot from this value, an advantage of the bigger case is that it elevates the total battery time to 43 hours of playback between charges. The case charges either via usb C or wireless charging.
Sound
iFi revolutionized this small market segment in audio, creating a truly high-end solution for TWS.
The audio quality from these adapters is almost comparable to wearing the IEM’s wired there’s absolutely no noise or hiss even with low impedance IEM’s like the Shure SE846, these IEM’s where used to test the GO pods during the making of this review.
The GO pods provide an amazing sound, neutral with great transparency and definition between the different instruments while providing a reasonably wide soundstage.
This neutral approach makes the GO pods especially good for style of music that emphasize the higher and middles frequencies like classical music and rock.
Once again iFi tried and reached higher ground with their sound signature, still managing to keep it sounding less analytical/digital while keeping all the detail.
Before updating this unit firmware, I used to have pretty recurrent disconnects when using aptx with my Onkyo DP-X1, fortunately that problem solved itself when updating the units to the last firmware.
Conclusion
iFi outdone themselves once again, they managed to improve several characteristics of a niche market within audio giving a truly high-end product for anyone that wants to convert their wired IEM’s to wireless.
So, are they worth $400/400€?
In my opinion they are if you wish to have a no compromise experience between wireless and sound quality, and at the time of writing this review they simply don’t have a competitor at this or at a lower price range. For half the price you could buy one of Fiio’s units but the sound quality although good is not at the same level in my opinion.
A special thanks to Karina for this review sample, as always iFi Audio and particularly Karina are always a joy to communicate with, bringing an incredibly open and charming communication which makes the whole review process so much easier and enjoyable.
I am new to the head-fi world and I have only recently started to appreciate the intricacies of the high-resolution audio, so do not expected this to be a technical review It will be a review that will address the major features of the product from the consumer point of view specifying its usefulness or not.
The iFi GO pod is the new addition to iFi’s GO series of ultraportable headphone enhancers. It is a pair of wearable Bluetooth DAC/headphone amps designed to make any pair of corded in-ear monitors (IEMs) wireless. The GO pod supports Bluetooth 5.2, with processing handled by Qualcomm’s top-tier 32-bit, QCC5144 module. It supports as well, Sony’s proprietary LDAC hi-res wireless solution to their maximum 32-bit/96kHz specifications, with LDAC’s highest 990kbps bitrate available to users of Android devices that support Snapdragon Sound (660kbps with other LDAC-enabled devices).
Its use is fair and simple, you just detach the cable from your favorite IEMs and connect the earpieces to the left and right pods using the appropriate adaptor, to start your listening experience just proceed with the simple pairing process to connect your GO pods to your source device. The adaptors come in three different flavors, MMCX, 2pin and Pentacone and it’s simply a brilliant idea to include them all in the package, since it future proofs this product for future IEM purchases.
Packaging and accessories
The product comes as per usual packaged in its traditional white box enclosed in a cardboard sheath, the device rests in a cut out and beneath it are the included accessories (USB-C charging cable, MMCX, 2pin and pentacone adapters, quick start guide, iFi sticker). Once again USB-C was the standard decided for the charging port, making it the de facto connector for all electronics. This unit instead of buttons has a touch surface across the whole GO pod, the touch surface is pretty responsive and enables you to do all the normal functions you expect from a media player, like play/pause, previous/next track, volume up and down, voice assistant between others. I still prefer physical buttons to interface with these functions, but the touch surface worked flawlessly.
Build Quality
Both GO pods are made from a tough and stiff plastic, that with the metal accents on the touch surface make the unit look premium. Unfortunately, the ear hooks are a bit too stiff and difficult to adapt to a different shape, this is my case made that I couldn’t use the GO pods for longer listening sessions, after the one-hour mark I would start to have pain in the back of my ears where the GO pods sit. This ended up being the only point in favor of the Fiio UTWS3, the rubber and plastic construction although less rigid makes it more comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Features
According to iFi, the GO pods are the first TWS solution to feature full 24 bit/96 kHz sound, this comes from a tight integration between the top tier amp, dac and Bluetooth receiver that are included making it a unbeatable experience in wireless sound. All this in a water and resistant enclosure, although I didn’t test this last part so you will have to take their word for it.
Both earpieces include a microphone, so you can make a voice call while wearing only one of them. The quality of the microphones is pretty good making voice calls a breeze.
The case that’s included to charge and carry the GO pods is pretty big and is not pocketable as the Fiio ones, its designed only for storage and transport. Beside this the case is pretty good for what it was designed to, it features two small led lights on the top lid that illuminate the inside of the case once you open it, giving it a very premium feel, like you were opening a jewel box. The lights do turn off automatically if you leave the lid open.
The GO pods have an estimated battery life of 7h playing content, according to my testing they don’t deviate a lot from this value, an advantage of the bigger case is that it elevates the total battery time to 43 hours of playback between charges. The case charges either via usb C or wireless charging.
Sound
iFi revolutionized this small market segment in audio, creating a truly high-end solution for TWS.
The audio quality from these adapters is almost comparable to wearing the IEM’s wired there’s absolutely no noise or hiss even with low impedance IEM’s like the Shure SE846, these IEM’s where used to test the GO pods during the making of this review.
The GO pods provide an amazing sound, neutral with great transparency and definition between the different instruments while providing a reasonably wide soundstage.
This neutral approach makes the GO pods especially good for style of music that emphasize the higher and middles frequencies like classical music and rock.
Once again iFi tried and reached higher ground with their sound signature, still managing to keep it sounding less analytical/digital while keeping all the detail.
Before updating this unit firmware, I used to have pretty recurrent disconnects when using aptx with my Onkyo DP-X1, fortunately that problem solved itself when updating the units to the last firmware.
Conclusion
iFi outdone themselves once again, they managed to improve several characteristics of a niche market within audio giving a truly high-end product for anyone that wants to convert their wired IEM’s to wireless.
So, are they worth $400/400€?
In my opinion they are if you wish to have a no compromise experience between wireless and sound quality, and at the time of writing this review they simply don’t have a competitor at this or at a lower price range. For half the price you could buy one of Fiio’s units but the sound quality although good is not at the same level in my opinion.
Attachments
Mr BubbaHyde
Thanks so much for your review, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your thoughts! Much appreciated!
Cheers!!
Cheers!!
Disclaimer: This unit as send to me by iFi UK however, all the thoughts shared in this review are my own and reflect my honest opinion about this product.
A special thanks to Karina for this review sample, as always iFi Audio and particularly Karina are always a joy to communicate with, bringing an incredibly open and charming communication which makes the whole review process so much easier and enjoyable.
I am new to the head-fi world and I have only recently started to appreciate the intricacies of the high-resolution audio, so do not expected this to be a technical review It will be a review that will address the major features of the product from the consumer point of view specifying its usefulness or not.
The iFi audio hip-dac is a portable DAC/Amp mostly to be used by users on the go, it supports high-res audio up to PCM 384kHz/DSD256 as well as MQA rendering used by services like Tidal.
This device includes the usual set of features we are all quite acquainted with iFi products, like XBass and a gain switch dubbed as “power match”, it also comes equipped with a 4.4mm balanced output which is slowly becoming the new standard for balanced audio, replacing the old and flimsy 2.5mm one, it includes as well a classic 3.5mm jack.
Packaging and accessories
The product comes as per usual packaged in its traditional white box enclosed in a cardboard sheath, the device rests in a cut out and beneath it are the included accessories (USB-A male-to-female cable, USB-A to USB-C cable, USB-C female to USB-A, user guide), this time iFi finally decided to include an OTG cable making it finally easy to use their DAC/Amps out of the box with modern smartphones. Once again USB-C was the standard decided for the charging port, we are finally moving away from USB micro b. This unit still does not have any buttons, like next track or pause to use while connected, however the lack of Bluetooth in this case makes this a nonissue.
Build Quality
iFi finally said goodbye to the horrible surface finish of the xCAN and XDSD and this time around chose a sleek blue aluminum contouring the whole device, the front and back are adorned with black plastic panels giving the whole DAC/Amp a very modern, sexy, and convenient to use design. The amazingly smooth and gold volume pot gives that last premium feel to the whole design while improving on those included on the xDSD and xCAN.
Features
On the volume wheel side, from left to right, you are greeted with iFi power match, which is basically a gain switch, the still amazing XBass toggle button, the volume wheel, the 4.4mm balanced output as well as iFi traditional 3.5mm S-Balanced jack, making it possible to use TRRS 3.5mm cables.
On the other side it features only the recessed USB socket as an usb input, this type of input in my opinion is still the benchmark to beat in terms of rigidity and overall durability, and an usb c port for charging.
From my use scenario the battery life was fairly good and although I never accurately measured it would last at least for two listening sessions so around 8 to 10 hours.
Sound
Once again iFi refined the sound signature of their DAC/Amps, this time they managed to turn the sound less analytical/digital while keeping all the detail.
The hip-dac provides an amazing sound, slightly warm with great transparency and definition between the different instruments while providing a reasonably wide soundstage.
The whole device sound signature was simply perfect for rock music, which is what I mostly listen to.
The only drawback sound wise in this unit happens when you try to pair it with low impedance iems, there is a channel imbalance at very low volume levels that makes you rise the volume to levels higher that what I usually like listening to, especially for extended periods.
Unfortunately, I still do not possess the equipment to test its balanced circuit.
Conclusion
This time iFi outdone themselves, they managed to improve several characteristics of their previous series of portables units while significantly decreasing its price point.
So, for just $149/165€ you get a device capable of improving the sound quality of your output devices with an amazingly natural and defined sound.
A special thanks to Karina for this review sample, as always iFi Audio and particularly Karina are always a joy to communicate with, bringing an incredibly open and charming communication which makes the whole review process so much easier and enjoyable.
I am new to the head-fi world and I have only recently started to appreciate the intricacies of the high-resolution audio, so do not expected this to be a technical review It will be a review that will address the major features of the product from the consumer point of view specifying its usefulness or not.
The iFi audio hip-dac is a portable DAC/Amp mostly to be used by users on the go, it supports high-res audio up to PCM 384kHz/DSD256 as well as MQA rendering used by services like Tidal.
This device includes the usual set of features we are all quite acquainted with iFi products, like XBass and a gain switch dubbed as “power match”, it also comes equipped with a 4.4mm balanced output which is slowly becoming the new standard for balanced audio, replacing the old and flimsy 2.5mm one, it includes as well a classic 3.5mm jack.
Packaging and accessories
The product comes as per usual packaged in its traditional white box enclosed in a cardboard sheath, the device rests in a cut out and beneath it are the included accessories (USB-A male-to-female cable, USB-A to USB-C cable, USB-C female to USB-A, user guide), this time iFi finally decided to include an OTG cable making it finally easy to use their DAC/Amps out of the box with modern smartphones. Once again USB-C was the standard decided for the charging port, we are finally moving away from USB micro b. This unit still does not have any buttons, like next track or pause to use while connected, however the lack of Bluetooth in this case makes this a nonissue.
Build Quality
iFi finally said goodbye to the horrible surface finish of the xCAN and XDSD and this time around chose a sleek blue aluminum contouring the whole device, the front and back are adorned with black plastic panels giving the whole DAC/Amp a very modern, sexy, and convenient to use design. The amazingly smooth and gold volume pot gives that last premium feel to the whole design while improving on those included on the xDSD and xCAN.
Features
On the volume wheel side, from left to right, you are greeted with iFi power match, which is basically a gain switch, the still amazing XBass toggle button, the volume wheel, the 4.4mm balanced output as well as iFi traditional 3.5mm S-Balanced jack, making it possible to use TRRS 3.5mm cables.
On the other side it features only the recessed USB socket as an usb input, this type of input in my opinion is still the benchmark to beat in terms of rigidity and overall durability, and an usb c port for charging.
From my use scenario the battery life was fairly good and although I never accurately measured it would last at least for two listening sessions so around 8 to 10 hours.
Sound
Once again iFi refined the sound signature of their DAC/Amps, this time they managed to turn the sound less analytical/digital while keeping all the detail.
The hip-dac provides an amazing sound, slightly warm with great transparency and definition between the different instruments while providing a reasonably wide soundstage.
The whole device sound signature was simply perfect for rock music, which is what I mostly listen to.
The only drawback sound wise in this unit happens when you try to pair it with low impedance iems, there is a channel imbalance at very low volume levels that makes you rise the volume to levels higher that what I usually like listening to, especially for extended periods.
Unfortunately, I still do not possess the equipment to test its balanced circuit.
Conclusion
This time iFi outdone themselves, they managed to improve several characteristics of their previous series of portables units while significantly decreasing its price point.
So, for just $149/165€ you get a device capable of improving the sound quality of your output devices with an amazingly natural and defined sound.
Attachments
iFi audio
Very nice, thanks! 
Disclaimer: This unit as send to me by iFi UK however, all the thoughts shared in this review are my own and reflect my honest opinion about this product.
A special thanks to Karina and Alberto from Smart Audio (Lisbon, Portugal) for this review sample.
I am new to the head-fi world and I have only recently started to appreciate the intricacies of the high-resolution audio, so don’t expected this to be a technical review It will be a review that will address the major features of the product from the consumer point of view specifying its usefulness or not.
I already reviewed two iFi products before this review, which are the the Nano iDSD Black Label and the xDSD.
While remarkably similar in design the use case scenarios behind the xDSD and the xCAN are different. The xDSD is supposed to work as an DAC/Amp solution fo people on the go or as a standalone dac/amp. Connecting to your devices wired or wireless with the same amazing sound quality.
The iFi xCAN on the other hand is simply a portable headphone amplifier. If you have a DAP with a good chip but you need more juice to drive your headphone, the iFi xCAN was made for you.
Packaging and accessories
The product once again comes well packaged in his traditional white box enclosed in a cardboard sheath, the device rests in a cut out and in front of it is a little white box containing the included accessories (iFi bag to carry the device, a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable for SE, and a 2.5mm to 2.5mm cable for balanced connection and an usb c cable for charging). Thank god usb c it’s starting to appear in everything it’s so much better than micro b. This unit still doesn’t have any buttons, like next track or pause to use while connected to your phone or smart tv over Bluetooth.
Build Quality
The device as the same build quality as the xDSD so it feels as robust, unfortunately the surface finish is the same also, so it still smudges very easily and 5 minutes after you take it out of the box its already full of fingerprints and looking like you didn’t clean it for an entire year.
In the bottom it was the same four silicone feet that prevent it from sliding or scratching your smartphone.
Features
On the volume wheel the functions remain unchanged, it changes colors while you rise the volume, acts as the power on/off switch and is responsible for selecting the input type. The wheel still does not sit flush with the chassis, but this time i was prepared and I managed to not scratch any device of mine
. On the right side of the volume wheel, you have your settings/Bluetooth button which configures the Bluetooth functionality now with aptx low latency (AAC and aptx, still lacking LDAC support) (Pairs up to 8 devices), and changes between the 3d or xbass filters when pressed. On the left you have your 2.5mm for balanced and 3.5mm for single ended connections, it can deliver a maximum of 1000mW of power per channel, which is no joke.
On the back side from left to right you have your 5v power input via usb c, the XBass II switch with 3 mods, Bass, Presence and Bass+Presence and the two inputs 3.5mm SE and 2.5mm BAL respectively.
When working wireless, the xCAN uses its own Bluetooth dac (not available to wired connections) not the devices signal which is especially important in order to maintain its sound quality.
Sound
iFi usually does not disappoint in the sound department and this product was no exception.
The sound prowess is remarkably similar to that of the xDSD, the sound quality is amazing, and the sound is not colored in any way.
Thanks to the amazing Bluetooth chip included the sound quality over Bluetooth is as good as that achieved via wire.
Unfortunately, I do not possess the headphones/equipment to put this amplifier to its limits or to test its balanced circuit, but the listening that I realized with my Mr. Speakers AEON was pretty pleasant and the xbass filter still provides excellent results in order to get that extra punch in the bass.
Conclusion
Completely feature packed and portable, the iFi xCAN is a fantastic addition to your kit either by its amazing Bluetooth functionalities or by its amazing 1000mW of power per channel.
iFi once again repeated the same recipe for success and created a very flexible device with an amazing price to quality ratio.
A special thanks to Karina and Alberto from Smart Audio (Lisbon, Portugal) for this review sample.
I am new to the head-fi world and I have only recently started to appreciate the intricacies of the high-resolution audio, so don’t expected this to be a technical review It will be a review that will address the major features of the product from the consumer point of view specifying its usefulness or not.
I already reviewed two iFi products before this review, which are the the Nano iDSD Black Label and the xDSD.
While remarkably similar in design the use case scenarios behind the xDSD and the xCAN are different. The xDSD is supposed to work as an DAC/Amp solution fo people on the go or as a standalone dac/amp. Connecting to your devices wired or wireless with the same amazing sound quality.
The iFi xCAN on the other hand is simply a portable headphone amplifier. If you have a DAP with a good chip but you need more juice to drive your headphone, the iFi xCAN was made for you.
Packaging and accessories
The product once again comes well packaged in his traditional white box enclosed in a cardboard sheath, the device rests in a cut out and in front of it is a little white box containing the included accessories (iFi bag to carry the device, a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable for SE, and a 2.5mm to 2.5mm cable for balanced connection and an usb c cable for charging). Thank god usb c it’s starting to appear in everything it’s so much better than micro b. This unit still doesn’t have any buttons, like next track or pause to use while connected to your phone or smart tv over Bluetooth.
Build Quality
The device as the same build quality as the xDSD so it feels as robust, unfortunately the surface finish is the same also, so it still smudges very easily and 5 minutes after you take it out of the box its already full of fingerprints and looking like you didn’t clean it for an entire year.
In the bottom it was the same four silicone feet that prevent it from sliding or scratching your smartphone.
Features
On the volume wheel the functions remain unchanged, it changes colors while you rise the volume, acts as the power on/off switch and is responsible for selecting the input type. The wheel still does not sit flush with the chassis, but this time i was prepared and I managed to not scratch any device of mine
. On the right side of the volume wheel, you have your settings/Bluetooth button which configures the Bluetooth functionality now with aptx low latency (AAC and aptx, still lacking LDAC support) (Pairs up to 8 devices), and changes between the 3d or xbass filters when pressed. On the left you have your 2.5mm for balanced and 3.5mm for single ended connections, it can deliver a maximum of 1000mW of power per channel, which is no joke.On the back side from left to right you have your 5v power input via usb c, the XBass II switch with 3 mods, Bass, Presence and Bass+Presence and the two inputs 3.5mm SE and 2.5mm BAL respectively.
When working wireless, the xCAN uses its own Bluetooth dac (not available to wired connections) not the devices signal which is especially important in order to maintain its sound quality.
Sound
iFi usually does not disappoint in the sound department and this product was no exception.
The sound prowess is remarkably similar to that of the xDSD, the sound quality is amazing, and the sound is not colored in any way.
Thanks to the amazing Bluetooth chip included the sound quality over Bluetooth is as good as that achieved via wire.
Unfortunately, I do not possess the headphones/equipment to put this amplifier to its limits or to test its balanced circuit, but the listening that I realized with my Mr. Speakers AEON was pretty pleasant and the xbass filter still provides excellent results in order to get that extra punch in the bass.
Conclusion
Completely feature packed and portable, the iFi xCAN is a fantastic addition to your kit either by its amazing Bluetooth functionalities or by its amazing 1000mW of power per channel.
iFi once again repeated the same recipe for success and created a very flexible device with an amazing price to quality ratio.
aptquark
Nice review. I can tell you that the 2.5 balanced connection is incredible. I find that my HD650 and T50RP's need that to get the most power to them as possible. I use it with my Cayin N5II DAP and it sounds awesome.
Disclaimer: This unit as send to me by iFi UK however, all the thoughts shared in this review are my own and reflect my honest opinion about this product.
I am new to the head-fi world and I have only recently started to appreciate the intricacies of the high resolution audio, so don’t expected this to be a technical review It will be a review that will address the major features of the product from the consumer point of view specifying its usefulness or not.
Packaging and accessories
The product Is well package in a white box enclosed in a cardboard sheath, the device rests in a cut out and in front of it is a little white box containing the included accessories (iFi bag to carry the device, an 3m dual lock in order to create an stack, a USB-to-USB Type B dongle, a USB3.0 A Male to A Female cable as well as an optical-to-3.5mm adapter that fits into the rear combined coax/optical input.) Although the box contains all the necessary cables to connect it to the computer it lacks an OTG Cable to able to connect It to your android or an equivalent solution for an Apple device. Which it’s kind of a bummer since one of its use cases it’s the possibility to connect it to your smartphone and up your audio quality while on the go. Another minor annoyance is the fact that the unit itself doesn’t have any buttons, like next track or pause to use while connected to the phone over Bluetooth.
Build Quality
The device feels robust and overall has a very nice build quality, unfortunately the surface finish doesn’t do this product justice, it smudges very easily and 5 minutes after you take it out of the box its already full of fingerprints and looking like you didn’t clean it for a whole year.
In the bottom it was four silicone feet that prevent it from sliding or scratching your smartphone when it's attached via the 3m dual lock in.
Features
On one side you have the volume wheel which changes colors while you rise the volume, acts as the power on/off switch and is resposible for selecting the input type. The wheel does not sit flush with the chassis, which unfortunately led to scratches on my dap and the xDSD volume wheel when carrying then booth in the same pocket. On the right side of the volume wheel you have your settings/bluetooth button which configures the Bluetooth functionality (Bluetooth 4.0, AAC and aptx, lacking LDAC support) (Pairs up to 8 devices), activates the line out mode when long pressed changing the volume wheel light to white and changes between the 3d or xbass filters when pressed. On the left you have your 3.5mm TRSS output.
On the back side from left to right you have your SPDIF socket to connect standard TS or TRS, the standard iFi usb input (full usb female), two filters measure and listen and the 5v power input via micro usb.
Sound
The iFi xDSD performs extremely well sound quality wise, it has very good detail retrieval and doesn't color the sound in any way, providing much better sound than your standard smartphone. It’s a league above the previously reviewed iFi Nano iDSD BL and its comparable to my Onkyo DP-X1 DAP in terms of general detail retrieval.
This unit gets compared with both Chord Mojo and Hugo 2, unfortunately I never listened to the Chord Mojo so I cannot make any commentaries in regards to that but in comparison to the Chord Hugo 2, the Hugo 2 its still on a league of its own in terms of general detail retrieval and micro detail.
The sound performance thought bluetooth is on par with the amazing quality via its wired outputs which is astonishing to say the least.
When using it with my Mr. Speakers AEON I found out the xbass filter to be quite useful to give the bass more life and punch and the amp power turned out to be quite enough ending up being a great match for this little device.
Conclusion
Completly feature packed and portable, the iFi xDSD is a great addition to your phone due to its bluetooth capabilities or as an standalone dac/amp on your desk due to it sounding so good.
iFi once again created a very flexible device with an amazing price to quality ratio.
I am new to the head-fi world and I have only recently started to appreciate the intricacies of the high resolution audio, so don’t expected this to be a technical review It will be a review that will address the major features of the product from the consumer point of view specifying its usefulness or not.
Packaging and accessories
The product Is well package in a white box enclosed in a cardboard sheath, the device rests in a cut out and in front of it is a little white box containing the included accessories (iFi bag to carry the device, an 3m dual lock in order to create an stack, a USB-to-USB Type B dongle, a USB3.0 A Male to A Female cable as well as an optical-to-3.5mm adapter that fits into the rear combined coax/optical input.) Although the box contains all the necessary cables to connect it to the computer it lacks an OTG Cable to able to connect It to your android or an equivalent solution for an Apple device. Which it’s kind of a bummer since one of its use cases it’s the possibility to connect it to your smartphone and up your audio quality while on the go. Another minor annoyance is the fact that the unit itself doesn’t have any buttons, like next track or pause to use while connected to the phone over Bluetooth.
Build Quality
The device feels robust and overall has a very nice build quality, unfortunately the surface finish doesn’t do this product justice, it smudges very easily and 5 minutes after you take it out of the box its already full of fingerprints and looking like you didn’t clean it for a whole year.
In the bottom it was four silicone feet that prevent it from sliding or scratching your smartphone when it's attached via the 3m dual lock in.
Features
On one side you have the volume wheel which changes colors while you rise the volume, acts as the power on/off switch and is resposible for selecting the input type. The wheel does not sit flush with the chassis, which unfortunately led to scratches on my dap and the xDSD volume wheel when carrying then booth in the same pocket. On the right side of the volume wheel you have your settings/bluetooth button which configures the Bluetooth functionality (Bluetooth 4.0, AAC and aptx, lacking LDAC support) (Pairs up to 8 devices), activates the line out mode when long pressed changing the volume wheel light to white and changes between the 3d or xbass filters when pressed. On the left you have your 3.5mm TRSS output.
On the back side from left to right you have your SPDIF socket to connect standard TS or TRS, the standard iFi usb input (full usb female), two filters measure and listen and the 5v power input via micro usb.
Sound
The iFi xDSD performs extremely well sound quality wise, it has very good detail retrieval and doesn't color the sound in any way, providing much better sound than your standard smartphone. It’s a league above the previously reviewed iFi Nano iDSD BL and its comparable to my Onkyo DP-X1 DAP in terms of general detail retrieval.
This unit gets compared with both Chord Mojo and Hugo 2, unfortunately I never listened to the Chord Mojo so I cannot make any commentaries in regards to that but in comparison to the Chord Hugo 2, the Hugo 2 its still on a league of its own in terms of general detail retrieval and micro detail.
The sound performance thought bluetooth is on par with the amazing quality via its wired outputs which is astonishing to say the least.
When using it with my Mr. Speakers AEON I found out the xbass filter to be quite useful to give the bass more life and punch and the amp power turned out to be quite enough ending up being a great match for this little device.
Conclusion
Completly feature packed and portable, the iFi xDSD is a great addition to your phone due to its bluetooth capabilities or as an standalone dac/amp on your desk due to it sounding so good.
iFi once again created a very flexible device with an amazing price to quality ratio.
RockStar2005
Nice review!! I agree with all of it as I've owned the xDSD for around 2 1/2 years now!
ajlolo
Nice review
I am posting this review due to being part of the iFi nano iDSD Black Label tour, all the thoughts shared in this review are my own and reflect my honest opinion about this product.
I am new to the head-fi world, I only started to appreciate the intricacies of the high resolution audio last year so don’t expected this to be a technical review It will be a review that will address the major features of the product from the consumer point of view specifying it’s usefulness or not
Packaging and accessories
The product Is well package in a white box enclosed in a cardboard sheath, the device rests in a cut out and in front of it is a little white box containing the included accessories (iFi bag to carry the device, 2 silicone bracelets, a USB A Female to B Female Adapter, a USB3.0 A Male to A Female cable and a USB A Female to USB B Female Cable). Although the box contains all the necessary cables to connect it to the computer it lacks a OTG Cable to able to connect It to your android or an equivalent solution for an Apple device, which in my opinion is a bit of a major flaw, since one of it’s bigger selling points is it’s portability and the possibility to connect it to your smartphone.
Build quality
The device features an all metal chassis that feels premium and should be pretty durable, in the bottom it was four silicone feet that prevent it from sliding or scratching your smartphone when it's attached via the included silicone bands
Features
On one side you have the in my opinion excellent volume knob and the two 3.5mm headphone output, one labeled IEMatch that works better with sensitive IEM's by providing better volume control and no audible hiss with my Shure SE846, basically it works as advertised, the other one is labeled direct and works as an ordinary headphone output. On the otherwise you have the only input, one of the few weak points of this unit, and a 3.5 mm line out if you want to connect it to a pair of powered speakers.
Sound
The nano BL performs extremely well for it's price and small size I can't give you any detailed comparisons with any other dac's since the only other one that I have tried is the Chord Hugo 2 which is in a league of it's own in terms off general detail retrieval and micro detail but the nano BL is no slouch either it has good detail retrieval and doesn't color the sound in any way, providing definitely better sound than your standard smartphone
When using my Shure SE846 I found it performed as good as my Onkyo DP-X1 DAP which is three times it's price however when paired to my Mr. Speakers AEON I found the Onkyo to have better detail retrieval and a more laid back sound which suits better my preferences.
Conclusion
The iFi Nano iDSD BL is the perfect portable DAC for it’s price range, it definitely offers a lot for the price and for the budget conscious audiophile I definitely think it’s one of the best solutions on the market right now. The only downside I can think off is the lack of inputs otherwise this a pretty good and well rounded product that extends iFi excellent line of products.
I am new to the head-fi world, I only started to appreciate the intricacies of the high resolution audio last year so don’t expected this to be a technical review It will be a review that will address the major features of the product from the consumer point of view specifying it’s usefulness or not
Packaging and accessories
The product Is well package in a white box enclosed in a cardboard sheath, the device rests in a cut out and in front of it is a little white box containing the included accessories (iFi bag to carry the device, 2 silicone bracelets, a USB A Female to B Female Adapter, a USB3.0 A Male to A Female cable and a USB A Female to USB B Female Cable). Although the box contains all the necessary cables to connect it to the computer it lacks a OTG Cable to able to connect It to your android or an equivalent solution for an Apple device, which in my opinion is a bit of a major flaw, since one of it’s bigger selling points is it’s portability and the possibility to connect it to your smartphone.
Build quality
The device features an all metal chassis that feels premium and should be pretty durable, in the bottom it was four silicone feet that prevent it from sliding or scratching your smartphone when it's attached via the included silicone bands
Features
On one side you have the in my opinion excellent volume knob and the two 3.5mm headphone output, one labeled IEMatch that works better with sensitive IEM's by providing better volume control and no audible hiss with my Shure SE846, basically it works as advertised, the other one is labeled direct and works as an ordinary headphone output. On the otherwise you have the only input, one of the few weak points of this unit, and a 3.5 mm line out if you want to connect it to a pair of powered speakers.
Sound
The nano BL performs extremely well for it's price and small size I can't give you any detailed comparisons with any other dac's since the only other one that I have tried is the Chord Hugo 2 which is in a league of it's own in terms off general detail retrieval and micro detail but the nano BL is no slouch either it has good detail retrieval and doesn't color the sound in any way, providing definitely better sound than your standard smartphone
When using my Shure SE846 I found it performed as good as my Onkyo DP-X1 DAP which is three times it's price however when paired to my Mr. Speakers AEON I found the Onkyo to have better detail retrieval and a more laid back sound which suits better my preferences.
Conclusion
The iFi Nano iDSD BL is the perfect portable DAC for it’s price range, it definitely offers a lot for the price and for the budget conscious audiophile I definitely think it’s one of the best solutions on the market right now. The only downside I can think off is the lack of inputs otherwise this a pretty good and well rounded product that extends iFi excellent line of products.
They are such an expensive product, but looks like something I would use the heck out of