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Hi-Res enjoyment
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Purest signal path
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Music on-the-go
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Burr-Brown is best
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| MP3 up to DSD with aplomb |
Direct-Coupled closest
to ‘no capacitor’ |
Battery or USB powered |
DSD/PCM remains
True Native® |
The nano iDSD Light Edition (LE) is newest entry-level DAC from iFi
audio. The iDSD LE has the same DNA as the multi-award winning nano iDSD
but without the SPDIF output, digital filter selection and runs on
DSD128/PCM384. This ‘pocket rocket’ comes in at the entry level with a
pedigree that offers the same sonic performance as its sibling. Its
scares the living daylights out of other entry level DACs and many other
more expensive DACs too.
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The High-Res Heart |
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The nano iDSD LE is able to play True
Native® meaning there is no conversion; PCM stays PCM and DSD stays DSD.
This means no signal loss as it ensures the music file is
‘Bit-Perfect.’ This is important because it ensures the highest sound
quality as there is no loss from file conversion.
The nano iDSD LE supports Hi-Resolution formats up to 384kHz and DSD128.
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Burr-Brown is best |
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At iFi, we care little for ‘which format is best.’ Rather, we are obsessed with replaying each format at their optimum.
What does this mean? Selection of the most advanced chipset and exemplary implementation.
The Burr-Brown DAC chip used was developed by BB Japan and BB
themselves (as opposed to BB/TI). Though the product introduction was
post-merger, this chipset represents Burr-Brown’s “swan song” for the
best of their converter technology and remains to this day, held in very
high-regard.
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On-the-go enjoyment of music |
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The latest advancements in Smart Devices
such as iPhone/iPad/Android has transformed them from a mobile phone to a
portable, high-end Computer Audio Source*. These Smart Devices are able
to natively encode and transmit high-res PCM/DSD/DXD audio. As the iDSD
LE is able to natively decode the same, this high-end ‘Transport+DAC’
combination offers astounding sonics yet is all just palm-sized for
great tunes on the move as well as at home.
Below are some screenshots taken with iPhone with Onkyo HF Player
> Camera Connection Kit > iDSD LE. As you can see, each
high-resolution format is being replayed, even DSD.
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Precise clock for exceptional jitter rejection |
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Timing is everything and in audio playback,
this is so true. The nano iDSD LE has received fastidious attention to
the signal path and the clock crystals or ‘clocks’ beat with
Swiss-precision to ensure the utmost in sound quality.
Any products worth its salt should have clock crystals in the digital
circuitry. However, there are clock crystals and there are the clock
crystals in the iDSD LE.
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The ‘clocks’ used in the iDSD LE which have
been supplied by AMR, are military-grade temperature compensated master
clock modules which avoid the creation of unwanted beat frequencies.
Such crystals reduce overall digital noise and push jitter to the
vanishing point. These clocks have been specifically-sourced from the
telecommunications industry where standards are far more exacting than
those in the industrial sector (which normally supplies to the audio
industry).
Just like other products in the range, the iDSD LE benefits from AMR
trickle-down technology to lock out jitter, the iDSD LE does not settle
for Asynchronous USB transfer alone. To truly cancel jitter, it also
employs AMR’s Zero Jitter® Lite technology from the famous AMR DP-777
which has Asynchronous as the starting, not finishing point.
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Battery for on-the-go and sound quality |
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The nano iDSD LE boasts a Lithium Polymer battery which ensures 8 hours of music enjoyment on-the-go.
To connect a Smartphone/Table, just use the requisite Apple:
Lightning to USB/Android: On-the-Go cable to extract the digital signal
and let the iDSD LE do the rest.
Even at home, to run on battery should ensure a higher sound quality
than normal USB power. For the LE, flexibility is just as strong as the
sound quality.
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Analogue volume control for full dynamics |
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The iDSD LE very visibly features a
built-in precision analogue volume control which is more than a match
for anything found at twice, even thrice its price point. Its smooth
action reflects its smooth sound. It sure delivers the sonic goods.
This fastidious attention to detail and consideration for the user is standard for iFi.
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DirectDrive® means output signal remains pure |
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A key factor behind why the nano iDSD LE
sounds so ‘true’ is DirectDrive® which means there are no output
coupling capacitors. This ‘direct signal’ path is without peer and is a
mainstay of the iFi DAC range including the iDSD LE. The sonic
transparency is there for all to hear and is second-to-none. |