IFi Nano (and Micro)-GAME CHANGERS

Wow. Juicey! Will check it out.

 

P.S. Can you link the thread?

 

Sure.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/702376/ifi-audio-mini-desktop-line-discussion-thread

 

Thank you sir. Seriously if I was a DAC maker I would be worried.

 

Feature list off the charts.

 

I thought so too.

 

I'm subscribed to the head-fi thread. I hadn't paid attention to it in over a month. Get back to it now and it got interesting two weeks ago.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/702376/ifi-audio-mini-desktop-line-discussion-thread/270#post_11195226

The mini got turned into a pro version with some features to suit professional use. Interesting. Makes me wonder if they have an ADC in the plans?

 

Thanks!! With 23 pages you gave me a decent reference point...agree...it got REAL interesting...

 

Hey guys

Looking through the specs of the new iFi DAC, it seems that "DoP over S/PDIF" is supported. Does anyone know of any SACD players that will output DoP over S/PDIF?

 

None that I am aware of but there a bunch of streamers that do...basically any streamer that supports 176.4 Khz.

 

Thanks. Still looking for that mythical SACD transport.

 

Yeh i hear you..got 10 grand? A "pro" SACD transport will output DSD via special optical cable.

 

I would settle for something better than an AV receiver that can take DSD over HDMI. I thought the Bryston BDA-3 was it, but alas, it's not to be.

 

I would think it would be wiser to give up on the SACD transport and go the PS3 route for ripping stereo DSD. Once set up, it would be far cheaper in the long run and you have a much more reliable source ripped to HDD's. Being no longer held hostage for the need of a stand alone transport or HDMI AV receiver.

 

The BDA-3 has HDMI inputs, no?

 

In theory I agree. But the ripping process can be tedious and error prone.

 

Another option is to seek someone out that has it down pat and is willing to rip for you. This might be the better option if SACD or at least hard copy dies a slow death and online DSD downloads become the sole option. Guess it all depends on the size of your SACD collection and future needs. I think Ted has shown that this option of ripping SACD is very reliable.

 

Agree. But then again, in the end, spinning SACDs on a good SACD player is not the end of the world.

 

Agree, but it is nice to streamline your entire digital audio collection (even analog drops) into one accessible collection via HDD's, no longer being reliant on any stand alone transports for future playback. I find this simplicity very compelling.

 

I'm thinking there are less than 20 people on the planet who are successfully ripping SACDs. And that includes Ted. I don't have a large SACD collection, around 25 discs or so. The best DSD DAC I currently own is an iDSD Micro. And I sure would like to hear some of the most recent Audio Fidelity SACDs through it. That's apparently too much to hope for still.

 

There you go, get ahold of Ted. I'm sure he would rip em for you if not refer you to someone willing to do so. I think your far underestimating the number of folks ripping SACD out there. If your willing, it's a far cheaper/reliable route to go.
Another option, If you already own the material, is to use an unsavory DSD source out there, readily available, since you already own the material.

 

That would run foul of the SACD licensing rules. The DSD stream can only be passed via encrypted links, and the only general link authorized is HDMI.

The problem for the small companies producing DSD DACs is the high licensing costs involved with HDMI, which is why they are going USB.

So, the situation arises where there are cheap options for SACD transports, but no good options for high-quality DACs due to the HDMI limitation.

 

Running afoul or not, at least one company makes a device that will output DoP over SPDIF. And what looks even more interesting is that they started with an Oppo BDP-93.

 

The Micro looks less attractively priced for home users when you factor in the price of a power supply, which almost doubles the total.

 

Actually the iUSB supply is $199. So it adds about 25% to the cost.