Review of the portable DAC / amplifier iFi micro idsd black label: the black mark of peusaect sound.

“We all rush after miracles…” and this eternal pursuit of dreams now and then becomes the meaning of life: behind one horizon a new one opens and the pursuit quickens the pace… And yet sometimes there are such moments when dreams come true! Believe it or not, it happened to me the other day when the sound of unheard-of beauty materialized in a small travel box. At home, in the middle of the American Black Earth, I suddenly found myself in a haven of quiet melomaniac: my hands are constantly warmed by a small device emitting magical sounds, as close as possible to a stationary Hi End system. How long I’ve been looking for you… Today in the quiet haven of the audiophile, we listen to a portable DAC from the brand iFi Audio – iFi micro idsd black label.

Thanks to the pult online store for providing a sample to listen to

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Technical specifications

Type: Digital to analogue converter + headphone amplifier

Produced by: iFi Audio, the brand country – UK

Series: Micro Series

Color: black

Power consumption: 4W

Output impedance: 240

Non-linear distortion coefficient: 0.003%

DAC: Burr Brown® True Native

The maximum USB input bit rate: 32 bit

Maximum USB Input Frequency: 768 kHz

Inputs: mini jack 3,5mm /line,USB,SPDIF-Coax/Optic RCA/3,5mm

Outputs: 2 x RCA line, 6.3 mm headphone 3.5 mm adapter

Dimensions: HxWxD – 28*67*177 mm

Weight: 0.31 kg

Warranty: 1 year.

Appearance and package

The manufacturer has positioned this device not as a slight upgrade of the silver iFi micro iDSD, but as a new device based on higher quality components, with improved power supply, circuitry and functionality. And you can hear it right away: the Black Label sounds even more neutral, precise and correct. The difference with the previous model may not seem so cosmic to some, but for me this difference is like a huge chasm which I suddenly managed to overcome on my way to my dream!

The device comes in a designer white packaging: a photo of the device, the brand logo and the most important information on top, out from under the packaging comes a white box with a silver “ifi” logo. Very stylish! Immediately visible. Dreams come true not only in Gazprom!

Inside the box we find a black satin-colored device, instructions-warranty, under it two more small boxes with accessories: a USB cable to connect to a PC and power adapter, two different USB type A and type B adapters, a pad/pad to separate the sub and digital source from direct contact , two rubber rings/straps to secure the smartphone/player to the DAC , a 2RCAx2RCA cable to output audio from the line output , 3.5mm/3.5mm jack cable for using the device as an amplifier from 3.5mm line input , 6.3/3.5mm adapter for headphone output , special 3.5mm adapter for optical cable , 4 silicone feet and soft black cloth case. All in all, the set is five-star, you don’t even know what else to want!

On the front panel of the device are: headphone output 6.3 mm, two switches – Xbass, and 3D, they work very correctly. Even for me, an opponent of all sorts of equalizers, found very interesting. The 3.5 mm line input is used as a headphone amplifier, and the volume control also “moonlights” as an on/off function.

On the back panel are combinedSPDIF input coaxial RCA optical 3.5mm , line output 2 xRCA, and digital USB input for connecting the device to a PC and smartphone for android requires OTG adapter for iOS Lightning Audio .

There are three switches on the left end of the device:

– Power mode is capable of three degrees of amplification for different kinds of headphones: Eco is aimed at IEMs with high sensitivity – the manufacturer promises 12 hours of work in this mode Normal is suitable for medium-sensitivity headphones, the runtime is about 9 hours Turbo is needed for the most demanding headphones, the runtime is about 6 hours.

– Polarity polarity is needed to correct the digital signal.

– Digital Filter digital filter allows you to choose three positions: Standard/ Minimum-Phase/ Bit-Perfect.

On the right side is the input USB “A” 5v/1A, needed to charge the device, as well as to use the black label as a powerbank to recharge your smartphone.

There are two switches on the bottom side of the unit:

– The RCA slider in Line Direct fixes the line output, and in Preamplifier Mode it allows you to use the iDSD DAC as a preamplifier with volume control.

– The iEMatch switch is designed for better consistency with sensitive IEM Off/High Sensitivity/Ultra Sensitivity

On the top of the device there is a tiny LED, which “semaphores” on different subjects: whether the device is on or off, whether the battery is running out of power, as well as here is displayed multicolored signals sampling rate playing format.

The device itself looks very serious and glamorous at the same time: a satin-black beauty! I’ve learned how to carry it in my bag with Hidizs AP100 and AAam5-lam on coaxial in the mornings. Very comfortable, no discomfort! Such music on the go – well, it’s just a fairy tale!

Of course, I don’t really understand how to fit the “black label” in a normal pocket gone are the days when they were not such sandwiches shoved in jackets . In general, in the summer, only a bag can save our brother, the American music lover…

So after B. g. “I’m starting to move away from…” dreams .

Sound

Here comes the fun part. Honestly, ifi micro idsd black label is such a device, it’s a case where there is nothing to complain about. you’re looking for a catch, but there is no catch!

To listen the following headphones were used: MySTNail2, oBravoeamt-4a, Ambient Acoustics am5-lam, Audio-Technica ATHSX1a, Meze 99 neo, Beyerdynamic DT1350, Beyerdynamic DT250/250, Phonon SMB-02, HifimanHE-4, Fostex T50 RPMK III.

The device played properly with all headphones, I didn’t notice any genre deviations. The first thing that immediately graces your ears is the absolute smoothness and neutrality of the sound delivery. So the device is extremely versatile in terms of genre. It doesn’t care which style of music you listen to: violent heavy metal or classical music, post-punk, New Wave, Progressive or electronics, Jazz, classic Rock, Soul… – it plays everything by ear, it plays everything very well and authentically.

The iDSD Black Label produces sound that is as close to true as it can get. On the contrary, with each passing second it pulls you deeper and deeper into the epicenter of the event, and as if it pushes you onto the stage as a performer… You never know!

The low frequencies are amazing in their intensity and speed. A clear snap going all the way to the bottom, a powerful kick without a hint of rumble or smeared stratification. The bass is nicely delineated, crisp and fast, well textured, no pumping. Each beat is delivered with great fidelity and timbre. I’ve probably only encountered this kind of thing on stationary devices intelligently built on multibit DAC chips.

The middle is melodic, intoxicating, smooth and textured like velvet, clean, without the slightest hint of distortion with peaks and troughs. With all its neutrality and impeccability the middle part is very musical and wonderfully conveys the emotional side of the track. There’s layering and contrast of micro and macro details, integrity and naturalness of the musical material, in general, everything is in assortment.

And the guitar, listen to how the guitar sounds! Every pluck, every slip on a string, every overdub! And then there’s the piano, the violins…and the great aftershocks. The middle is really good!

While writing all about the “black mark” here, I’m naturally hooked on the new Texas “can’t control” thing. It’s amazing how the idsd black label captures the musical image! As if a wave casts you into the very center of music web, and whirls, whirls, not letting you go..

“Why do we always bicker? This is affecting me, Darkness is coming down And I can clearly see…”. It’s impossible to convey the emotion, the buzz that pulls everything out of the daily routine of moving, diapering, working..

High frequencies are clear, precise, full-bodied and flush with the entire treble. At last I have heard the quantity and the manner of register I have been searching for… There is no harshness, no crumbliness, everything is clear and precise, following the perfect pattern. I don’t like what they call “nice and ringing mid-range with air” – all falseness, synthetics and distortion. You listen to all this “airy beauty” and there’s nothing but harshness, distorted sounds and pseudo-detail. In “Black Mark” everything is great, “in line.”. It’s just a celebration!

Another trip as an example, iFi micro iDSD Black Label + ETY MOTICER-4S:

Morrissey “One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell”

The drum rolls are amazing with their timbres, the crackling is like, “daba-daba, tsaba-daba..”and the cymbals give out a clear “dzzs..”, the bass is like a frantic walk all over your body, causing goosebumps and heart palpitations. The guitar riffs clearly outline the fusional overdubs in the right channel…and then the brass, trumpet, “tu tu,du,du…” comes in, which raises your breath and blood pressure. It sounds so alive, so clear and natural, that you start to look closely, if it is not the man on the right puts in my ears?! Why don’t you ask him, just in case: “Didn’t you study at Gnesinka at the end of the last century??”. However, it’s clearly not him who has made it out… All in all, the feeling of augmented reality is amazing!

And of course the vocals of the maestro, “Moz”/Morrissey:

“..Well, just look at me

A savage Beast with nothing to sell

And when I die, I want to go to Hell..”

Every breath of his voice, every lip-clench and intonation, it’s all there in the palm of your hand. I rise up, hold my breath with it, and like in “SLOW-MO”, slowly like a feather go down…

Ugh, no words! A black label for Hans Barbarossa!

Absolute neutrality, honesty and musicality in everything, in every transferred note, in every breath and exhalation of this device! It’s both transparent, detailed, and powerful! This is the first portable device with such capabilities, capable of rocking most of the most demanding headphones, so that the living breath of pervasive sounds grows to the size of the universe…

Bottom line

The tweeters are clean, smooth, quantitatively they are exactly as much as necessary, the quality of their work-off is at a high level.

The mids are smooth, very smooth, detailed, timbre-rich, musical with a good transfer of the emotional component. The sonic and aftershock work is amazing.

The woofers are tight, clear, dense, with a precise and powerful kick, good texture work, fast, without any hint of smear, coloration and rumble. All very well.

Conclusion

iFi micro idsd black label – a peerless device. For me, at least, it’s perfect – from the package, design and functionality to the most important thing – the SOUND!

You won’t find anything like this in the portable segment, I can tell you that. I suppose, someone may not agree with my personal opinion and prefer something else, more compact, with a different sound. And I’m going to rank the Black Label as my best, hotly beloved, and give it a medal!

The price of idsd black label in the online store pult is about 46 500 Dollars. Considering today’s prices and sound level I have no doubts about recommending iFi micro idsd black label for purchase.

Discussion, questions and opinions on iFi micro idsd black label DAC – at VKontakte link, moderator – Alexey Kashirsky.

SOUND, kit, appearance, functionality, price

NO. Perhaps the size will be a bit much for some