iFi Micro iUSB3.0 reclocker and power cleaner
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- As a follow up on the iFi Nano iUSB3.0 here the review of its bigger brother, the Micro iUSB3.0. It’s twice the price, twice the size but does it also offer twice the quality?
Revelant links:
iFi Nano iUSB3.0: • Review: iFi Nano iUSB3...
Connecting your DAC #2,how digital can go wrong: • 016 Connecting your DA...
iFi iPower 5V: • Power Supplies 2: 3 P...
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Thank you for reminding me I had one of these in storage. It is inline now and getting a good 8 hour run to get ready for this evening's critical listen. I removed it from my system once I updated my DAC and added some good quality interconnects from computer to speaker terminal.
I am not foreseeing any major shift in sound, but I will give a good listen this evening with both speakers and headphones (along with my standard reference tracks) to decide if it stays in the chain or not. To be honest, as long as it doesn't degrade the sound I will leave it in place.
To all my fellow audio junkies have a very Happy and Prosperous New Year...
notice a difference?
@@Canadian_Eh_I - it longs long since been sold and as it really didn't provide anything i could detect
I like the way you said "bigger brother"
Good to see that a divice that is twice as expensive allso performs twice as good. Unfortunately that isn't allways the case in audio world.
I was even afraid telling you all, since it it is not a very credible statement - but in this case true anyway.
OK, Hans - so the SMS-200 Ultra is twice the price BUT given the benefits of (properly implemented) networked audio over any USB combination I've tried, from here it looks like a no brainer. I've owned a lot of iFi products, including the Gemini cable and the first iUSB, but whatever marketing claims iFi can come up with, none of their micro line will ever be a Roon endpoint (happy to hear otherwise). I take your point re the differences depending on the resolution one's current rig is capable of but I'm willing to bet that the majority of your regular viewers are at the aspirational end of the market, even if some of us have no desire to spend as much as you have on your 'Set 1'. The reality is that we inevitably spend the money several times over on 'ratchet' gear, trying to ratchet our way to the point you describe in your Ultra review - I've certainly done that with my Pi+i2S combinations - and I have to ask if we're better served just biting the bullet up front and spending the rest of our kid's inheritances (!) on the stuff that REALLY matters - transducers and room treatment ;)
Thanks for the vid - its good to have choices. Happy New Year, btw :D
In a more recent interesting video Hans proposes that if the time smearing problem is better solved, there is less room resonance and the need for room treatment becomes less.
This box alongside a great USB cable is a no Brainer investment for the discerning listener, alongside fixing jitter and timing issues from latency and fundamental system errors in the OS. Looking at you, win 10...
🙏🏻
given your admitted sensitivity to jitter, have you tried to acquire a PS Audio DirectStream DAC (normal or Jr. ) for review? I'd be interested to hear your opinions.
I have requested it for review but it was not granted.
I have the Micro with the Gemini and mercury running my audio interface to iMac. The sound is excellent for printing audio and playback. However, I do get clicks and pops which from what I understand is a buffer issue. I have read other people have had this issue with the Gemini cable.
I managed to find one but am not sure if it provides galvanic isolation as well. Some people are using the igalvanic by ifi and this one together. Do you think that’s needed or the micro already provides USB noise isolation? Thanks again.
it provides a certain amount of 'cleaning' but not 100% since that is rather difficult. Using the iGalvanic might give further improvement bu I haven't tried.
hi Hans, I owe this iUSB3.0. I open the housing and found the clock spec is 25mhz, is that better than 10mhz?
Not per se
May I ask whether one can use a USB 2.0 type-B plug to its USB input port or it only accepts that new-type taller USB 3.0 powered connector? All of my audiophile usb cables are USB type-B 2.0.
You can use USB2 cable. I even prefer them.
@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Many thanks, sir! The only obstacle now is to find one as they seem to be very scarce on the market and iFi does not quite clarify whether any of these products (nano iGalvanic3.0, Micro iUSB3.0) are still in production. My alternative would be other DDC products but there are very few reviews on them. Thanks again.
Please consider reviewing the Oehlbach USB XXL Masterclock.
Hans, which one would you recommended using with a Hugo 2? The micro or the nano? Any thoughts on cables ? Many thanks.
HI Hans,
Great review as always.
I have a few questions;
I'm currently using the output 1 on my Micro iUSB using Gemini cable to my Dac 1, I wanted to add another Gemini Cable connecting to the Output 2. Will it work for both? No negative impact or sound degradation?
Dac 1 is Burson Conductor 3XR
Dac 2 is Chord Qutest
Thanks
I have no idea. I never tried.
Awaiting expectantly for your review of SOtM tX-USBUltra as it got a praised from other audiophiles, your review and opinions will be highly appreciated, thx
it's due somewhere in January. perhaps begin February.
Would this improve the sound quality of Chord Qutest used with the stock adaptor? Plus, would this be superior to a decent LPS? Do you think it would be worth the investment? Many thanks!
It is impossible to predict whether you would appreciate the update. That depends on your personal situation. Furthermore I have not reviewed the Qutest. But if I had to make that decision, I would buy one at a shop where I can return the product when it doesn't bring improvement. Most on-line shops have such rules as do the large electronic shops in the USA.
多謝！
🙏🏻
I am having popping/crackling issues with my USB DAC will this solve my problem?
That's a OS latency issue most probably. If you have windows 10. Complicated but fixable matter. Check RUclips videos on the matter. Try Latency Mon for analyzing, and check out the Fidelizer system optimizer software. Also QuickCPU on windows with the maximum performance profile. Jplay is another paywall option that also can work wonders. But the major problems are with the windows versions, bugs with the graphic card drivers and settings, registry setup, driver errors and incompatibilities in general and the horrible standard windows default state.
how does this compare to something like the Schiit USB decrapifier?
I don't know, I haven't reviewed the Schiit.
Could you review the UptoneAudio ISO Regen?
Thanks for a great video, Hans. Is a product like this necessary when connecting a Mac to a Hugo TT.
This product cleans up the USB signal and is beneficiary to all that use a computer as source (unless the computer itself it optimized for audio, which isn't the case for a 'normal' Mac).
Thanks Sir and a follow-up question. If I'm using a iPad Pro as a Roon endpoint and then going out to the TT, I'm assuming the same answer applies, because it's USB-C out from the iPad to the TT, correct?
Happy New Year to you!! Looking forward to more great content in 2019.
Thanks for the review. There are reports on one of the forums that the performance of the iFi Micro iUSB3.0 can be improved by the use of a good LPS. Have you tried that?
see below the answer to 2P
I like that you only wear one color of shirt.
That is very stylish.
Pure necessity, any other color looks boring in this setting😉. But please don't tell anyone😁
I'm just happy that Hans does us the courtesy of *wearing* a shirt - Steve Guttenberg was down to a singlet the last time I checked his channel ......
I saw that video.
Not a good look.
Gentlemen, it's not a fashion channel😁
Bang on, Jeffrey, but lets give Hans his due - he clearly puts function before form. Check out assorted rants from John Darko and Srdan Ivkovic for those more attuned to fashion and hanging with the cool kids. Srdan, whatever his critics may say, takes a nice photo even if his room looks like the worst environment for speaker listening from a purist POV.
Hans. I have been recommended this device from many holds.
My setup is: KEF LS50 Wireless with REL S3 SHO subwoofer. All cables from Nordost. Power cord from wall is Nordost Frey 2 to Quantum QB8 power line. I stream Tidal HiFi from My iMac which is connected with a Nordost Heimdall 2 USB to KEF LS50 Wireless.
I will continue to use My iMac as a source, because I think the sound quality is better compared to ”wireless” streaming directly to the speakers. When I replaced the Factory USB (that was included with My KEFs,) to the Nordost Heimdall 2 USB, the sound quality got even better!
I am very satisfied with my system, but do You think that this IFi box will make my sound even better? Cheers from Sweden.
I didn't review the KEF's so I can't say.
Hello Hans.
I´m curious to know how much improvement you got connecting Ifi MicroUSB to SMS200Ultra. I know you´ve listened. Tell me. :)
Another, did you tried in Micro the Sbooster or only the Ipower?
That would have been silly
You mean a worst clock cannot make improvement to a better clock. Right?
I mean that there is no point in cleaning/reshaping a signal twice.
And I now have to admit I was wrong. See ruclips.net/video/U4RYineYsF0/видео.html
Hi Hans - thank you for your very informative reviews. To the extent the above question relates to connecting a iFi micro usb to a SOtM sms 200 ultra network adaptor, I was wondering how is that different to connecting in series a SOtM sms 200 ultra and a SOtM usb ultra? Isn’t it the same logic? Thank you.
Have you tried it powered with sbooster?
No, the iFi power supply is already an audiophile psu and the iUSB further cleans the power. I don't think it will be a good investment.
Can you compare this to the tX-USB ultra
As said, I will review the tX-USB Ultra soon.
Thank you Hans. I'm greatly enjoying your channel and find it very informative. Keep up the great work