CanJam London 2016 Show Report
CanJam London 2016 Show Report By Maurice Washington

Digital-to-Analog Converter/Amplifiers (DAC/Amps)

iFi Audio micro iCAN SE Amp

  The micro iCAN SE is an amp that is very versatile in a few ways, but mainly it is in the as-listening versatility that makes it a very good amp for those that have a great sounding source, but wants to tweak the sound and power whatever is connected to the amp with sheer ease. The micro iCAN SE is the only amp out of the three mentioned today that has the most "XBass" and "3D HolographicSound" settings.

The micro iCAN SE doesn't have all of the inputs/outputs of the later mentioned iDAC2 and iDSD, but for the money, the amp performs at a high level, especially when paired with your favorite source. The sheer available power (4000 mW) coupled with the varying degrees of "XBass" and "3D HolographicSound" makes for an amp that can be cherished for many years to come.

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iFi Audio micro iDAC2 DAC/Amp

The iDAC2 is a literal technological powerhouse. It is able to handle many formats such as up to 12.4 MHz DSD, 353/384KHzDXD and uses a Burr Brown DAC that is 2-Channel with 4-Signals. It offers "Bit-Perfect/Minimum Phase/Standard" selectable digital filters. There are Extreme / Extended / Standard, Analogue filters selectable for DSD and PCM, Bit-Perfect Processing, Fixed Analogue filter selectable for DXD. There is one input and four outputs, as I feel this DAC/amp is mostly made to be used in conjunction with an only DAC such as the iCAN SE, but can be used completely on its own. The iDAC2, unlike the micro iCAN SE and iDSD doesn't utilize the flexible "XBass" and "3D HolographicSound" settings. Sound is just as good as the iDSD to my ears listening through TIDAL HiFi, but the sound signature is largely set as there aren't any sound signature changes except possibly the "Bit-Perfect/Minimum Phase/Standard" selectable digital filters that may or may not change the sound based on at least differing sample rates and if we are able to discern them.

The iDAC2 is a DAC/amp that has ample power (see what I did there) in a streamlined design that is very much plug and play. If you want more overall customization and a uptick in power, the iDSD is the way to go.

iFi Audio micro iDSD DAC/Amp

I will go ahead and say it: the iDSD DAC/amp is a beast. Not only the 4000mW of power, but the different selectable options and the sound signature customization with the implementation of the "XBass" and "3D HolographicSound" settings. The amount this DAC/Amp can do is literally a mile long. Let's talk about the most important aspects (in my opinion) for a moment:

USB input, S/PDIF Coaxial and S/PDIF Optical input, with RCA, S/PDIF Coaxial and SmartPower (charge all portable devices) outputs.

Power modes – Turbo, Normal, Eco.
Polarity, which is normal or inverted.

Some of the most extended audio formats available from any DAC/amp in the entire world:
Up to DSD 512 sample rate
Up to 24.6kHz resolution
Up DXD 2x sample rate
Up to 768 kHz resolution　　　　　　　　　　　　
Up to PCM 768/705.6/384/352.8/192/176.4/96/88.2/
Up to 48kHz resolution

All native decoding, which also features "no internal hardware conversion".

The iDSD is the (insert favorite travel location) of DAC/amps, regardless of size. It will play currently anything in the world thrown at it. At the time of its release, it was claimed to be the only DAC/amp in the entire world that could play every format natively.

The technical ability of the iDSD is very nice, and am happy to say that the iDSD sounds fantastic as well. Even though a signal, or the interpretation of the signal from a DAC/amp may be as clean as possible, it may sound sterile based on what you pair with the DAC/amp. What I adore is that the iDSD offers the sound signature customization with the implementation of the "XBass" and "3D HolographicSound" settings – meaning I can just with a flip of a switch add more mid and subbass to my headphone and/or add a 3D sound, which sounds to me a bit like a slight treble boost, and not having to resort to an equalizer. You can of course use an EQ if you'd like, but it's great to have a package that already houses features like those in from the get-go. Speaking of going somewhere, the iDSD has an internal battery which means you can continue to listen to your desktop quality sound-in-a-small-package most wherever you go! You can listen on a plane, on a train, on a car when not driving or even when walking around if you put it in a bag or backpack while moving around.

This is the ultimate DAC/amp – the question of if it sounds very good to your ears is up to you, but there is no denying that the iFi Audio crew have been able to come up with a product that transcends the present and looks towards the future while bringing smiles to listeners faces every day.

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