Review of the iFI Pro iCAN headphone amplifier: "three tenors" in one device!

“I want a woman, I want…!”Remember this scene from the Fellini film? My brother was taken for a picnic from the nuthouse, and my brother jumped on top of a tree and blew his horn to the whole neighborhood… By the way, I would now this vivid phrase

translated so that it’s clear to everyone

: “Spring is coming! Road to spring!”. At least with the beginning of spring two devices from the British brand iFI arrived for review – this is a stationary headphone amplifier iFI Pro iCAN and a small DAC with decent value, iFi Nano iOne. Today let’s hear and talk about the iFI Pro iCAN amplifier.

Specifications:

Number of channels – 2

Headphone power – 4/4.8 mW, XLR/RCA , 16 Ohms

Frequency range, Hz – kHz – 0,5 – 500

H/N ratio, dB – 147/137 XLR/RCA

Harmonic coefficient, % – 0.0015/0.005 XLR/RCA

Gain, dB – 0/9/18 selectable

Output voltage is 23/11.5 V XLR/RCA

Lamp set – 2 x General Electric 5670

Connectors are in: Composite 3 x RCA, 1 x XLR

Connecting jacks output: Analog audio 1 x RCA, 1 x XLR Headphones 2 x 6.3 mm, 2 x 3.5 mm, 1 x XLR 4-pin

Other Fi Electrostatic Add-On Module

Dimensions: 213 x 192.5 x 63.3 mm

Weight: 1.93 kg

Appearance and Package

The unit comes in high key packaging: white background, photo of the unit, brand logo and the most important information. Another white box with silver “ifi” logo comes out from under the package. Strict and stylish, no fuss.

Inside the box is the silver colored amplifier itself, a power adapter to connect the unit to the mains, an interconnect cable 2 RCA/2 RCA , a small control panel with volume control, and various warranty papers.

On the front panel there are all the main controls:

• power button,
• Logo-indicator, which displays the process of the amplifier,
• Large analog input switch it allows you to switch between three RCA analog inputs and a dual three-position XLR balanced input ,
• XBass switch settings range from off to on . /(12dB at 10 Hz/20 Hz/ up to 40 Hz .

Just below is a small three position lever switch transistor mode/amp/amp+ .

There are also inputs for headphones: two inputs for 6.3 mm can be used as a single, normal connection, and paired balanced , between them one 4-pin XLR balanced, and two single-ended inputs of 3.5 mm normal with IEMatch and balanced

Then comes the switch for 3D Holographic sound modes, and under it you find another three-position switch, responsible for amplification modes 0, + 9dB, + 18dB , and a volume knob with oh-so-smooth stroke.

Several inputs and outputs climbed onto the rear panel: left and right, three-position XLR balanced inputs, three paired RCA inputs, left and right three-position XLR balanced outputs, and one RCA. On the back side is also the input for the power adapter, DC output and ESL channel for connecting to additional iFI equipment .

If you turn the amplifier upside down, you’ll see the silicone pads: so you can move it around on a lacquered table with no problem.

In general, there is everything that the doctor prescribed, and even more!

The amplifier itself looks solid, brutal – the real thing! It is made of metal and is decorated with stylish rounded slots on the sides and top – through them the device is cooled. With its compact size the amplifier is still pretty bulky – almost 2 kg. Build quality, of course, is top notch. The device is available in three modes: transistor, tube and tube + more balanced , which allows you to use one amplifier instead of at least two. And I like this approach of the manufacturer.

And the main advantage of this amplifier is, of course, the sound!

Sound

The digital sources used were:

MyST 1866 OCU v.2

iFI micro iDSD BL

iFI Pro iCAN

Lotoo paw Gold

For listening we used the following headphones:

In-channel:

64 AUDIO A18 Tzar, 64 AUDIO U12t, 64 AUDIO U12t, Ambient Acoustics AM5 LAM, Etymotic ER-4S/SR, Custom ART FIBAE 2, Jomo audio HAKA

Overhead:

Hifiman HE-4, Fostex T50 RP MK-3, Beyerdynamic dt 250/250 Ohm, Beyerdynamic dt 1350, Phonon SMB-02, Meze 99 Neo Classics, Audio-Technica ATH-SX1a

I couldn’t use the balanced listener, so I listened in single mode.

With all headphones, in all three modes, the device played properly, I did not notice any genre deviations. It perfectly controls low impedance IEMs, works without the slightest problem with dynamic high-impedance ears and even very decently copes with my planar models: Hifiman HE-4 and Fostex T50 RPMK-3.

I must say that regardless of switching between the three modes transistor tube tube + , the device produces a neutral, smooth and well-balanced sound, without false colors or any calls for distortion.

After playing with all the switches, XBass and 3D Holographic sound, I realized that such “enhancers” are cool, of course, but my credo is zero values, although I admit that all these features of the unit work quite correctly..

From the first notes the device shows the quality of sound, excellent tonal balance and absence of any obvious distortions.

In transistor mode, the iFI Pro iCAN delivers clean, powerful, well-drawn detail, balanced sound. It doesn’t slip any gibberish into the sound, but delivers the material honestly and quite melodically.

The unit perfectly draws virtual space – both in width and depth. I can feel the volume of the scene, reverberations and instruments echelon is excellent. Every pluck of the strings, vocal parts, transmitted as accurately and authentically as possible. No falsity, no synthetics, no distortion.

Low frequencies are delivered smoothly, smoothly, with good power. Every hit hits the target precisely, without the slightest hint of hum and microsmudges. The bass is quite fast, has good texture drawing without any artificial pumping of the imaginary space. In the zero position of the control it sounds flat, without overlapping the rest of the frequency range, in some places somewhat floppy, but at the same time quite clear and well put together.

The mids are surprisingly smooth and textured, with no peaks or dips. Everything is very harmonious and honest, monitor-like and emotional at the same time. Nice details that do not fall apart into separate components, coupled with the smooth flow of musical material makes the sound of the amplifier as comfortable and musical as possible. Just a buzz and wish fulfillment!

The high frequencies are also very clean, crisp and smooth. They are few and far between, exactly as much as you need, they are extremely accurate and well put together.

Example

The Pretenders “Never Be Together”

Bass sounds smoothly, without strain, just transferring its floppy affectation over the frets. The drum kit, like a metronome, with its knocks sharpens the rhythm of the whole composition. The drumsticks are a little cool, dotting the hi-hat and covering the “square” makes its clear “ssssssss”.

Guitars vibrate neatly, doling out a background pattern, later complemented by keyboards.

And Krissy Hynde’s vocals, singsongy, a little rough, raw and sexy, standing out from the general musical mass, very natural:

“Oh no, we’ll never

We’ll never be together

Never, never

We’ll never be together..”

The overall canvas is drawn in a neutral and warm tones with a kind of studio-vintage flavor. The character of the musical theme is beautifully conveyed! Bravo, iFI!

When you switch to the tube, the sound acquires an enveloping, singing manner, becomes more relaxed, intimate, acquiring even more musicality.

Well, and my favorite switch position is the tube+.

It’s something between transistor precision, analytical and tube-like warm musicality.

In this mode, the composition sounds more clear and detailed, like in the transistor mode, while adding the refinement and tune of a tube. Fascinating!

However, I wouldn’t say there’s any global difference between the three modes, they differ more in some nuances. In short, the tonal balance in all modes does not change and the overall manner is also very similar.

Bottom line

The woofers are smooth, tight, with good pop and clear percussion work. Bass is fast and timbre-rich.

Mids are smooth, detailed, without peaks and valleys. Each instrument is transmitted accurately and authentically. Very pleasant working off of pinches and aftershocks.

The tweeter is smooth, precise, a little cool in places, and vice versa in places. Their quantity and quality is not a criticism. Everything is clear and coherent.

Conclusion

I was very pleased with the device. The design, the build quality, the triple-mode operation, the enviable power and, most importantly, the absolute neutrality of the sound, all worthy of the highest praise. The only thing that is a little frustrating is its impressive price.

The price of the iFI Pro iCAN in the pult online store is 134 402 Dollars. Though, considering today’s pricing, the merits of the brand and the device’s ability to sing “for three,” I think its purchase would be well worth it.

Pros of

Sound, functionality, design, size.

Cons

Not if finances allow.