Ifi Neo IDSD Balanced DAC/Headphone Amp/Bluetooth Receiver - Worth $700... Maybe

[@kenrickhadley4499]

Randy you are a mad man. I want a new truck, one that wont make me sick. I know that decade that Randy was growing up in. I got two of the Wiim mini because of you, Thanks, man i love those things. When i got the first one set up in 10 minutes, i said wow and logged on and ordered a second.

[@phanatic23608]

Great review as always. I think I will get this for my living room setup. For my desk, I run the Ifi Zen Dac V2 and Zen Can fully balanced for headphones and preamping my active monitors, balanced. Pretty incredible for the fair price of each unit.

[@iowaudioreviews]

Huey Lewis and The News (I Want A New Drug) was originally the first Ghost Busters song BUT after some issues they went with Ray Parker Jr. instead. Huey Lewis went back changed the lyrics and the name of the song to I Want A New Drug instead of scrapping it. Glad he did its a great song.

[@madcrabber1113]

So I wasn't sure if you were joking about the bluetooth word origin so I looked it up. Fascinating story.

[@professorx6379]

I find it too - I have bought this ifi neo idsd and it sounds GREAT as a dac! With two burr brown true native.

[@isaidstream4547]

Is bass great? I like pure sound. but i have a musical fideliry v90 dac who lacks bass

[@cdelapaz5]

Very good video. Perfect amount of “ok”s

[@TheNickname911]

A small correction. Bluetooth wasn’t made in Sweden but in the Netherlands by a dutch man. He did work for Ericsson.

[@vanoverbay774]

Great review! I dig ifi’s products. I use the Zen Signature Dac for my system and love it.

[@mikegoddard7354]

Bought this when it first dropped, unfortunately I've had a few issues. 4.4 balanced connection has a channel imbalance, the plug is messed up and you can properly insert the headphone jack all the way in or sound will only come out of the left ear. On Tidal ive had no issues, but on Quboz I get distortion on certain tracks whether it be directly out the headphone jack or used strictly as a dac to another amp, so it has nothing to do with clipping or any issue like that. The workmanship on the unit is okay, there is a bit of extra machining on the headphone port cut out on the metal. Luckily it's all covered under warranty but I really do like Ifi and find it sad that they would for one charge this much and provide a product like that, guessing I may be the one who got a bad unit. But that should have never got past QC. Was going to return to the audio shop I purchased it from but I felt bad cause they already go through enough crap and it's not their dealings that went wrong

[@cheapaudioman]

Did you reach out to ifi?

[@mikegoddard7354]

@@cheapaudioman Yup, they wanted to send it in for warranty. But they are going to send me a refurbed unit. Kind of irritating. But I am going to at the end of the year prior to warranty expiration

[@mikegoddard7354]

@@greyhound9967 Yes, mine is still under warranty, I am going to send mine in and have it replaced or repaired. Whatever it may be. I would of typically returned mine, but I got it from a friend who owns an audio store and he sold it to me for a deep discount new. I didn't want to be rude and just give him back a dud, that's what ifi originally suggested since I immediately filed the claim with them within a week of owning it. That still isn't right, that unit was still expensive at it's original price which is a 100 dollars cheaper than what it is now.

[@rjzlwop3153]

Sweet, fantastic review!

[@iFiaudiochannel]

Thanks for doing a review of the Neo, Randy!

[@kosta27]

Please, please, please add coax/toslink to zen dac!

[@thatchinaboi1]

Waiting on his review of the iFi AC Purifier.

[@steps222]

Informative and enjoyable review, as usual. The Class B personality is a great antidote to my dot-every-I (four times) perfectionism. "I Want a New Truck," "...bad suspension." ROTFLMAO funny.

[@tomriddle2257]

This or the Jotunheim 2 + ESS dac module / modius? (assume it’s the same price)

[@robertkirkpatrick1826]

great review man. You are one of a few peopl ei watch before making purchases. Im interested in the IFI Neo iDSD, but your review has given me pause. Thinking of using it for gaming with Sennheiser HD 800s's But the 68mw at 600 ohm makes me nervous about its power rating at 300. And for that kind of money, i dont wanna be nervous about anything. I can get one of several stacks that are superior in almost every way for that price tag no?

[@1324390]

Hi Randy, I'm waiting for delivery of my Willsenton R8 tube amp, expected early next month. Would appreciate your recommendation of a budget DAC that's synergic with it. I have a pair each of Triangle Borea BR03 and vintage Technics SB C-350 speakers and listen to pop vocals and classical chambre music mostly. I already have an SMSL HO, AO and DO200 trio working with a pair of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 in my study so would prefer something different from the DO200. Thanks.

[@vittoriomartinidonati]

hello, please advise how much better this dac is compared to the dac inside BS node 2i, is it really easy to see the difference even without very detailed a/b test?

[@ufarkingicehole]

The node 2 dac isn't that good at all. I can almost GURENTEE this will be steps above. I have several dacs and the bluenode 2i. I can honestly say that my cheapest dac (loxjie 30d) using qobuz via Bluetooth using my Samsung note 9 is superior to the bluenode. If you want to spend $700 - get a loxjie d50 dac

[@vittoriomartinidonati]

@@ufarkingicehole tks for info, I am curious to hear if it is really easy to see the difference between loxjie d50 and Node2i even without very detailed a/b test

[@ufarkingicehole]

@@vittoriomartinidonati the answer is yes. When you reach a certain point with dacs, the results for spending more are minimal. I just sent back a pegasus dac (superior to the Ares 2) due to the sound just not being an improvement over a $700 dac.

[@vittoriomartinidonati]

@@ufarkingicehole ok, as you mentioned the Ares2, can you please advise how it compares to loxjie d50

[@ufarkingicehole]

@@vittoriomartinidonati my issue with the Pegasus is it was not as clear and coherent as it should have been. It created a decent sound stage and in some ways gave texture to the low end but the upper mids and highs were not correct. I tried it with multiple amps with same results. The build quality was impressive but I bought it for the expectation of amazing sound quality.

[@rajendrabiswas]

How does this compare to bifrost ?

[@odwatchguy]

Thanks for the great review Randy. So is the Neo the chosen one sent to get all the digital music in line for the users to control music for themselves.

[@cheapaudioman]

Maybe. Hold off for a bit

[@seejayfrujay]

Sometimes, differences are obvious. Seriously regret getting a Modi 3 instead of the Zen. The Modi 3 sounds good, but its USB input is awful. With the volume turned way up and nothing playing, the Modi is noisy, while, with the same USB device connected, my old Nano is completely silent.

[@IamVintage72]

More Cowbell 🐄🔔🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@cheapaudioman]

Finally. Thank you for noticing.

[@vittoriomartinidonati]

hello cheapaudioman, please advise how much better this dac is compared to the dac inside BS node 2i, is it really easy to see the difference even without very detailed a/b test?

[@mannyf5570]

So what's the best DAC you ever heard?

[@NeilBlanchard]

I think it is the Orchard Audio Pecan Pi that he is referring to.

[@cheapaudioman]

@@NeilBlanchard yeah. And then there’s another one too...

[@NeilBlanchard]

@@cheapaudioman Looking forward to hearing about it!

[@naastradamus]

Is it just me, or is Amazon HD streaming kind of a disappointment in quality? They say it's supposed to be "CD quality" but when comparing it to an actual CD, I'm finding it has a dramatically reduced soundstage. Seems to have less bass as well, or less "body." Anyone else?

[@CTRNCC1701A]

Amazon HD isn't bit perfect unfortunately

[@ginom407]

The firestick didn't work....? I'm crushed!

[@johnnixon2504]

Oh the irony of the DMS analog shirt while reviewing a DAC

[@LaGataNegra3073]

Yeup. Cuz its converting digital. To prrrrrrr drumroll ANALOG

[@johnnixon2504]

Haha. Yeah yeah, I don’t think Randy likes to plan that much 😆

[@LaGataNegra3073]

@@johnnixon2504 somehow. I think youre right about that. Lol. No offense ranndy.

[@cheapaudioman]

@@LaGataNegra3073 hurts my feelings. But you’re right. I don’t coordinate my wardrobe for the videos.

[@BillyKueekSG]

Randy, I love the Burr Brown sounds, already have the iFi zen DAC V2 and bought the Gryphon to use as DAC. The Pro iDSD is pricey, will the Neo be an upgrade? Unlike others in iFi, the Neo has no TruBass, Xbass and xspace or 3Dspace right?

[@professorx6379]

You are right, for some cheaper headphones the ifi zen with xbass and 3dspace is better. It has more bass. I have both devices.

[@BillyKueekSG]

@@professorx6379 I like my iFi Pro iCAN Signature though, works very well with every headphone in my small collection except the Susvara. It can make it loud but lacks the ability to bring out the best in the Susie.

[@professorx6379]

@@BillyKueekSG WOW!!! You have this expensive Ifi Pro iCan?? WOW!! I have only the ifi neo idsd. And the ifi zen one signature.

[@BillyKueekSG]

@@professorx6379 no wow please, unless you’re being sarcastic (I hope not) 🙏🏻. I just thought the Pro iCAN Signature is worth its asking price with many features - lots of power, additional 2 x RCA input on top of pretty standard 1 x XLR & RCA input, has 3 selections for XBass, 3 selections for Holographic, SS or Tube & Tube+ and all kinds of headphone outs and came with the iPower Elite. I got it used at USD$1.3k

[@moonabhinav]

No where mentioned it have 2 burr brown chip ?

[@NeilBlanchard]

Have you tried any multibit / ladder DACs? In general, they are considered to sound "more analog"; which seems to be similar to what is good about Burr Brown chips?

[@cheapaudioman]

I’ve got the Denafrips Ares 2 up and running today. And you are correct.

[@NeilBlanchard]

@@cheapaudioman How much does the Denafrips Ares 2 sell for? Along with the Schiit Bifrost 2 (which is the DAC I use), it is good to have choices of multibit / R2R / ladder DACs, with good USB inputs.

[@adrianrorvik7488]

@@cheapaudioman What would be your pick between the Neo and Ares II- output to Hypex NCore amps and Altec Lansing speakers>

[@cheapaudioman]

@@adrianrorvik7488 Ares everyday Of the week and twice on Sunday and 3 times on Friday

[@tg6373]

Anyone know how to update the firmware using a Mac? IFI has not been helpful, which is quite off putting. The .dmg won't open on my Mac. Anyone know how to troubleshoot?

[@greengadget4687]

Supposedly the 2nd gen FireTV Cube is Amazon Music HD capable. On sale now for $100. I'll split the signal to spdif and see if that's for real.

[@cheapaudioman]

I was hoping to do Something similar with a fire stick which is also Amazon hd capable.

[@tanny944]

On the back it looks like Fostex HP-A4BL Which has BurrBrown chip and Balanced headphones out as well but no bluetooth. Fostex is a very good DAC/Amp it sounds great and cost 120 bucks less I wonder the electronics inside are the same minus bluetooth?

[@cheapaudioman]

What!!!! I didn’t know that existed. I’m looking it up now. Thank you!

[@tanny944]

@@cheapaudioman Fostex also made in Japan :)

[@cheapaudioman]

@@tanny944 I looked it up. No balanced outputs unfortunately. Looks like a nice unit though.

[@tanny944]

@@cheapaudioman You're right! I got Fostex mixed up with my other amp which has a similar back like the one on your review... Sorry about that

[@cheapaudioman]

@@tanny944 no apology necessary at all. I just appreciate you chiming in.

[@freeradical431]

Best cheap stereo system for the shop-garage? Any thoughts? Ideas?

[@jsmith6108]

Find a receiver off Craigslist that does what you need it too. I’m talking the black ones. Bet you could find a strong Marantz or pioneer pretty easily.

[@Thomas-us4wq]

Is One Eyed Petes brush audiophile? If not, I don't want it. :)

[@olimphus26]

Ifi please send this man a ifi pro iDSD to review.

[@tjellis1479]

Won-Eyed-Pete...approves this message

[@valkyrieorion7200]

Does the Neo mute the XLR and RCA outputs when you connect a headphone if your using it as a pre amp to active speakers?

[@professorx6379]

YES!

[@MrDabulls73]

@cheapaudioman are you sure that’s coffee in your cup ?? lol

[@ericjohnson829]

Yet, many supposedly smart people say the chip itself has less to with the sound of the dac than the output stage, power supply and overall architecture of how the dac was built.

[@cheapaudioman]

Yeah. There’s only one AKM DAC I’ve liked and I had to change settings to get it there. They all seem edgy and very similar to me regardless of the company that “implemented” it.

[@cabronesse386]

Gustard product pweease, you won't regret it!

[@edduffy9366]

LOL. How is over $700 cheap? Come on Cheap Audio Man 🙄. Still a good video.

[@teddybonkers337]

Plz I need for someone to recommend a good pre amp with at least 3 pairs of outputs under 500dollars to run 2 pairs of powered speakers plus a svs sub 1000pro sub.also active or powered. Thx in advance 😊

[@cheapaudioman]

Split the RCA’s to the speakers and then get One with a sub out. Emotiva TA100 has two sub outs and an rca out. Do you want the two sets of rcas to be on simultaneously?

[@teddybonkers337]

That sounds perfect sir. Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.

[@teddybonkers337]

@@cheapaudioman yes sir. I want my two pair of active speakers and the sub to play at the same time.

[@teddybonkers337]

@@cheapaudioman apparently Emotiva discontinued the Ta 100. Just my luck.

[@iowaudioreviews]

On the other hand I won't buy ANY gear that has a MQA licensed logo on it.

[@CTRNCC1701A]

Own it

[@JonathanGerardDias]

Anything above $300 is too much for a headphone amp. MQA is more foldback harmonics that are tricking you.

[@palazzolojoe]

$700 for a DAC is not cheap.

[@Ivan-bg1jp]

Man....your eyes are full of sadness. Hope you're doing well..

[@damjanmozetic]

MQA? Just make it go away.