iFi micro iDSD Black Label

The brand new iFi micro iDSD Black Label headphones amp and DAC sounds even better than it looks. At the heart, beats the Burr-Brown DSD512/PCM768/2xDXD True Native® DAC with headphone amplifier.

 

The High-Res heart remains – DSD512/PCM768/DXD2x

The iFi micro iDSD Black Label retains the unrivalled technical capabilities of its predecessor. This means it is capable of true native playback of all music formats from MP3 all the way up to 512DSD/768PCM/2xDXD.

 

Burr-Brown Chipset x 2

The Burr-Brown DAC chip used was one of the last chipsets from BB Japan (though it was introduced post-merger). This chipset was Burr-Brown’s ‘swansong’ and embodied all their converter technology. It is unrivalled in terms of subjective musicality and is a mainstay of the iFi line including the iFi micro iDSD Black Label and is used in the upcoming showstopper, the Pro iDSD.

 

3D+ ® and XBass+® 3dxbass

The latest iterations of 3D+ and XBass+ are appreciated technologies that further enhance the enjoyment of music. With a larger soundstage and deeper, tighter bass respectively, both are even more engaging and satisfying than ever.

 

OperationsverstärkeriFi/AMR

‘OV’ series stands for ‘Operationsverstärker’ (German for Operational Amplifier). The ‘OV’ range IC’s use HCOFC copper lead-frames and 4N Gold bond-wire which are streets ahead of mainstream commercial chips that use inexpensive aluminum bond-wire, low-grade/low-cost copper in the lead-frames.It is seldom found because it requires the custom packaging of chips from wafers and has a very high MOQ (30,000 pcs per part and purchase) to do – a small insight into the parts used in the micro iDSD BL which are ‘above and beyond.’

 

Sanyo OSCONs are go

Os-Cons, originally from Sanyo (now taken over by Panasonic), have been around for a good while. Among the larger value capacitors useful in power supplies, they hold a special place. They have been used in AMR components up to the revered CD-77 Reference Class CD Processor.So, despite their steep cost (around 10x that of common electrolytic capacitors), the iFi micro iDSD Black Label headphones amp is one of the first <US$1,000 products to feature them.

 

Turbo-charge headphones

There are three power output modes, Eco, Normal and Turbo. If used in conjunction with the built-in iEMatch, the iFi micro iDSD Black Label headamp is able to have the power and gain dialed-in to perfectly suit all headphones from the super-sensitive Sennheiser IE-800 up to the hyper-hungry HiFiMan HE-6.

 

Intelligent In/Out SPDIF Digital Optical/Coax

Digital Audio Players (DAP) and home SPDIF sources are abound. Flexibility remains key and the micro iDSD BL retains the intelligent SPDIF in/out socket for optical/coax signals. So for those who wish to upgrade their DAP, simple use it as a transport and feed the micro iFi micro iDSD Black Label headphones amp.

 

Battery for music on-the-go

From the very hungry HiFi Man HE-6 down to the Sennheiser IE-800, the micro iFi micro iDSD Black Label is able to play hi-res out and about for 6 to 12 hours respectively. Even when not in use, it is able to charge an iPhone from 0% to 100% two times through its side USB charging port.

 

Features

DAC digital signal and digital power sections upgraded

AMR Global Master Timing® femto-precision clock system upgraded for ‘super low’ phase-noise/jitter

Analogue signal and power sections revised

3D+® performance-tuned / XBass+® performance-tuned

Latest Output stabilisation network offers less distortion