The big picture. Affordable Ifi Neo idsd DAC discussion.

[@jamesdwright]

That burr brown dac has always been my preferred chip set in a dac. More often than not you can guarantee a more musical sound than a MKS or ESS chip based dac. Naim uses the burr brown chip in many of its dac based components and I've always loved their sound. I now have a custom chip/board in my 2017 Chord 2Qute that gives me a similar sound characteristic.

[@Milano110565]

I appreciate your take and clarity on today's DACs, the industry and new technology have blurred the lines on high-end tech.

[@rainman3269]

Thomas ... You are becoming one of the best audio reviewers on KZbin or Written media ... Congrats ... 😎

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Appreciate that

[@Ryan-yi6su]

What you mean becoming ? He is already

[@austinharding]

So refreshing to hear this type of review, and how its a mistake to overanalyze something as subjective as sound - your ears, and no one else's - are the only test you need. Getting lost in the weeds of 1's and 0's is silly and very expensive.

[@RennieAsh]

You can just as easily get lost in the weeds of people's subjective opinions and taking pot shots at the thousands of options out there :) The real goal is finding something that's good enough, enjoyable enough and sticking with it.

[@waltsmith9583]

Thomas, You are a trusted resources to audiophiles, music lovers and those who pursue both.

[@frostycanada6404]

Hello Thomas, my current long term DAC has been a an Atoll DAC200. I bought the Topping D70 and tried the SMSL equivalent when I was chasing specs and being influenced by websites that believes in specs only. In the end I alway return back to my trusty and most likely poor measuring Atoll. Both the Topping and SMSL were forgettable in comparison. Take care, Brian

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Nice, I like the atoll sound, more on the musical side.

[@anthonymiriello5029]

Thomas, great video. For someone like myself that has the desire to hav can great sounding system, but more of a limited budget, this kind of equipment is a gift. There are so many people who would love ve to upgrade their systems performance, but can't afford a couple thousand dollars for DAC.

[@timleelim9930]

Thomas sure had his dacs in a row when tackling this semi-review.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

haha, I see what you did there.

[@markscott7583]

As Thomas described - I enjoyed my time with the IFI DAC - compared very favourably to the Denafrips Ares II - similar smooth presentation that I enjoy within my current setup.

[@stuartbrereton1604]

I own this dac, but I got the iPro Elite power supply at no extra cost. It was offered at a Show special. I believe this power supply is a big improvement over the base one that comes with the unit. I really like the sound of this dac, like he said it's warm and white analog sounding. One bit of advice if you buy this dac, make sure you give it at least 100 burn in, because that's when it really starts to shine...

[@TorToroPorco]

Good review. The question of detail is a good one because it’s a broad term and once you reach a certain level of detail you need to qualify the type of detail you are talking about. For me it’s about the weight, heft and dynamics of the music that one experiences. Micro dynamics like ambience, spatial cues and tonal timbre are also important.

[@mhortop1]

The iFi IDSD Neo is a great little unit and I would recommend it to anyone who wants high performance and value rolled into one unit. The Pro model ups this performance up a notch with tube mode too. iFi is an awesome brand! 👍

[@BastianUllr]

I have this with tube front. My 17yo old cousin came around for a visit and he's not into music really, but enjoyed his home theatre. You should've seen his face when he sat in the sweetspot. He was puzzled as to why sound was coming from "everywhere" and moving as if he had headphones or some thing. It's just as you said... Warmer, and with Tubes? Oh man. It sounds so good. Texture/timbre/tone... Lovely. With Tubes soundstage is fantastic.

[@JH-fl3vi]

Hello Thomas, Good review. I was definitely suffering DAC fatigue. After long term use of Benchmark DAC1, 2 and 3 and PS Audio DSD and countless short term tests with other DACs that never stayed in my system more than a few hours, I had, until recently concluded that differences in DACs were simply no longer substantial and that 99% of DACs sounded great and more or less the same. Only 5 years ago, I had really hoped that the hoopla over the PS Audio true 1 bit bespoke DAC would give me something better than a chip based DAC. In the end, after having $6000+ of reasons to love the PS DSD DAC, I gave up and concluded that Benchmark DAC3 was better and more revealing at one third the cost. This experienced certainly coloured my attitude towards upsampling to DSD (which has only grown in popularity judging by forums) for the past 5 years. Today I have a T+A D200 DAC and with upsampled Tidal/Redbook sources to DSD256 going to the T+A D200, I am shocked because for the first time in 30 years the improvement in a DAC is NOT subtle but dramatic. Holographic deep and wide BUT ALSO supremely precise soundstage. It sounds just like my first vinyl system from 1983 but on nearly every redbook file (vinyl back then was notoriously variable according to the pressing). I finally feel that digital has achieved and surpassed vinyl. Honestly, T+A D200nwas my one last kick-at-the-can DAC purchase that was anticipated to simply prove again that my Benchmark DAC 3 was still unbeatable (after 20 years of Benchmark). Boy was I shocked. I now regret years lost of not having made the discovery earlier, as many have. If you have not done so already, I highly recommend you get your hands on a T+A D200 to review and feed it redbook upsampled to DSD256. I now believe that ALL modern chip based DACs have issues related to methodologies used to improve their specs and that a true single bit DAC converter (while having higher noise floor limitations) is nevertheless able to extract more from the source digital file than any of the current crop of chip based DACs.

[@adrianrorvik7488]

Love this Thomas! I bought the Neo- with an upgraded iFi Power X power supply- and love it for the reasons you put forward (also I wanted balanced out to my monoblocks). I like it enough to hold off on replacing my much missed Modwright LS100 preamp. It certainly trumps my old Cary Audio DAC100t and even the Lindemann Musicbook. Very easy listening for hours and hours. And, the detail is there. It just doesn't hold centre stage. It's not endgame stuff, but for my usage as a DAC/pre, money well spent.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Great to hear and thanks for sharing.

[@joemartin6439]

I can not say how much Thomas, a Canadian like me in Toronto, you are marvellously wonder to listen to your videos

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Wow, thank you!

[@stopthefomo]

I’m thinking the audiophile journey requires hardware variety that changes a little of the musical presentation in a randomly unpredictable manner to keep our interest.

[@DevBone42]

Very clear and articulate review. You have a great presentation style! Thank you for your time in putting this together....very much appreciated!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Glad it was helpful!

[@trevor7849]

I appreciate this video. I purchased the neo when it first came out. I really like it. Actually, I love it. Since then on forums people have been telling me it’s not that good and that it won’t power my Arya’s and that my ie900s will have background noise. Even though that has not been my experience, those comments had me second guess my purchase and were even affecting my enjoyment of the neo.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Well, if you really enjoy it,then seriously, that is all that matters. Forum tend to have know it all where they have an opinion on things they have never live with. Also, there is such a thing as synergy and some times, just because they can't get it to sound good does not mean it is not good in your system.

[@Rickzolla]

About three years ago I found a Multibit DAC that was "Good Enough" Three years later, and it's still "Good Enough".

[@yogiwp_]

Neo iDSD2 came out, would love to hear your thoughts on the new version!

[@EternallyNone]

I jumped ship from "good measuring dacs" to Neo iDsd just a couple days back. On contrary, I find this adequately detailed - Just that the details don't beg for attention. It's a kind of presentation that's effortlessly musical and I am completely sold on this direction. But can you characterize musicality with numbers, graphs and data?

[@RennieAsh]

I had a guitar amp that sounded musical. I'm sure you could see the distortion and other effects on a graph.

[@aussie8114]

Are you still happy with it? Is it giving you any problems?

[@EternallyNone]

@@aussie8114 1.) The display is OLED. Sometimes I forget to switch off the device after use and overtime I noticed it's burnt. Not by much but the brightness across the display is slightly uneven. There is an option to completely turn off the display. Everyone should use this. It will still light up for a while when you change controls. 2.) No way to select output. If you have headphones and speakers connected. Both will play. I heard that there would be a firmware that would address this, but couldn't find it. 3.) No Bluetooth Low Energy. Even though this has a modern Bluetooth version and codec support, no BLE means it's not remote programmable. This missing feature won't even matter to a lot of users. 4.) I wish it automatically turned off after X hours of inactivity. Even with these shortcomings I am happy to live with it. Overjoyed actually when playing music. While a lot of folks are sceptical, I replaced the power supply with iPower Elite and added iPurifier3 to the usb chain for a noticeable improvement (personal opinion).

[@aussie8114]

@@EternallyNone Thank you very very much for that information. It is good to know these things from people that own a product vs those that simply get it to do a review. For myself none of those issues would effect me. I would have the screen set to auto off. I don’t use headphones so that’s not an issue, but it something of an oversight. The Bluetooth thingy should not bother me. The auto off would be useful but I would be ok just to leave it on all the time. I don’t leave other devices on but a DAC I would be ok to leave on, some people leave them on all the time anyway so they’re warmed up when you want to use them. Amps and DACs sound best when warmed up, I don’t like the idea of leaving an amp on but a DAC should be ok. It’s difficult to know which DAC to try, I’m tossing up between the IFI and the SMSL M400. The Shiit Bifrost or a Denefrips Pontus ll are other options for myself but the Schiit I might have to wait over a month for and if I get a $2,500 Denefrips and it’s defective then I’m stuck with it. I’m not paying $300 to send it back to China. The better power supplies do make a difference, I’ve heard that with my own ears, but it’s a matter of whether the cost warrants that difference. You can for example modify the internal DAC of the current model Bluesound Node power supply but it will cost $700. Got to ask yourself if it’s worth spending $700 on a power supply for a $900 device to get maybe 5% improvement. 5% is worth trying to get but maybe not in that situation for $700.

[@EternallyNone]

@@aussie8114 Yes, admittedly, none of these are major concerns. I like to power down devices to reduce consumption, but Neo iDsd doesn't consume a lot anyways. And I agree that devices with analog circuitry may benefit from staying warm. I have heard only good things about R2R DACs. Was looking at pontus 2 myself. But got the Neo because it has an amp section too with line-level and variable outs on RCA and XLR. Amp section happily drives LCD- 2C, though it might be lacking power for demanding HP. Additionally, this was well within the budget. Pontus 2 might sound better, but that adventure is for another day. May be an excuse for future upgrade ;) . But ATM, more than satisfied with the Neo's sound. You may find stock with local resellers/distributors. And they might help you with warranty and claims for Denfrips line-up. Ifi audio did issue a firmware upgrade to Neo iDSD that added a few filters. I have it set to GTO. This was a pleasant addition after purchase. Glad this helped you :)

[@foupax]

Great video for somebody wanting to make decision before spending 💲💲💲. Thanks 👍

[@navinadv]

When I was looking for a DAC the IFi Neo and Topping D70s were both in my budget. I actually liked the unusual styling of the iFi Neo but it did not have i2S. And the AKM AK4497 Topping did not sound much different. So I got the D70s.

[@richarddevreede4336]

i like ifi, they make quality stuff for a good price and keep up with new technology when it's come to implement is

[@ronaldmcdonald2456]

Nice to be witnessing the evolution of digital through your great reviews. Nicer still to see things moving toward the benefit of the average consumer.

[@xyanide1986]

When it comes to DAC upgrading there really aren't many options in the mid-range offered in physical stores. Most of them just do not carry topping or smsl. Besides that, there aren't many (if any) other mid-range options for burr-brown DACs. I think the only other option is TEAC and in my experience their driver support is so-so. Being able to try the hardware is a must to me and I also get potential trade-in discount (which is exactly what I did, sounds great with their Xpower supply)

[@Ryan-yi6su]

I wish I had your money Most of these dacs are bought without hearing! I do like the idea of the burson And using different oppamps And I think this is the biggest problem, we should always hear before buying , but we cannot

[@robk5745]

Always enjoy audio university with Thomas!

[@MrPkimura]

Great video, Thomas. You should mention your Patreon on all of you videos - you deserve the patronage.

[@34332]

My first introduction to iFi was with the Zen Blue, for BT (and off the wall design). I believe they really make some nice gear. Thanks for this point of view (also off the wall). It makes it realistic and, to me, of more value vs 'audiophile percentages'. So, 👍 up!

[@MarkDavidMcCoskey]

After moving from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast, with only the small things that could fit in the car, I bought the iFi Zen DACamp V2 with a pair of Sennheiser HD 560S headphones, total under $400. This will hold me over and give me sonic enjoyment.

[@DelmarToad]

Great video Thomas! I have the Korg and so far my experience is that it is good enough like you were saying about other DAC’s.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Good stuff!

[@Tom55data]

Thank you for your thoughts, I am looking at the HiFi rose rs250 because of the package at presentation is so different, with lots of apps, a warmer sound with lots of functions more than just a dac

[@tom_loves_audio_tech_gaming]

The IFI Neo has a problem if you want switching between headphone and a powerspeaker. A reason why i scrapped it out my option. I love IFI.... U have so much stuff from them ac/usb purifers. DC cleaners ect.. fun to try and tweak.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Oh I did not know they had that issue as I don't use headphone.

[@jimmytatro11]

Nice review Thomas. I have owned both ifi idac2 and idsd signature dac/amp for headphones. Ifi make some excellent sounding DAC's in my opinion. I think they hit the mark on a lot of things. Good tonality, not fatiguing, and great timing. I also like how they are not analytical sounding while at the same time very clear and not overly warm or colored.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks for sharing!

[@kwilj]

New for 2022, Thomas reviews DAC packaging! Can't wait!!! 🤣

[@billclark3404]

Very much appreciate the "what works" angle, over the "what's best" path. We sit out here, and unable for the most part (at least, beyond the US) to audition kit, which leads me to suspect many potential buyers may be over influenced by "the best" or "greatest" type of take on kit that is reviewed in rooms and on associated equipment that bares no relation to our own specific real world conditions. "Good enough" (for me) says 'you likely won't be buying a lemon (but hey...)' regardless of our set up and physical environment. No?

[@ThomasAndStereo]

A bit what I touched on 2 videos ago. Since you guys cannot listen before buying, hopefully advice like this can help narrow your decision better as opposed to chasing what people call the best.

[@ericsunbacon745]

Great video! I'm currently shopping DACs. My gear is the Willsenton R8 and the Node. I recently returned a Schiit DAC (too cold and bright/revealing) On order and due to get here in 1 week is the MHDT Orchid. If that fails to work for what I'm seeking, I will audition this one. Thank you kindly for the review!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Sounds great!

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Try a turntable, no conversion required

[@ericsunbacon745]

@@crazyprayingmantis5596 no thanks. I had one and it comes with a different set of problems....preamp, rumble/subsonic filter, TT placement, etc. Plus, they are inconvenient, expensive, a take up space. Streaming is way better for what I enjoy and easily conforms to my lifestyle needs. After I started streaming, I sold all of my vinyl and TT. Zero regrets!

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

@@ericsunbacon745 You'll buy it back again one day 🤣.

[@ryanb8487]

Thanks Thomas, Another great video and I think many of my questions answered

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Glad to help

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

Thanks Thomas I am Personally a huge fan of ifi audio , Sound quality 1st but I also look at build quality to me the build quality equals relability 😃 after 2 months of no video review post i finally got the Doge 46min video review done . Worklife has been crazy crazy but so is my bank account ! Well time for work 😥

[@riccitone]

Very interesting! And great points about how so many dacs deliver so well now. I know it’s such a ubiquitous brand, but I’ve had a Topping D70s for a few months now and it’s outstanding. I’m mentioning it, as it is also kind of looked over/shadowed by the D90, also that it’s an updated version of the D70 (but audibly much better) so many do not take the time to differentiate…many feel it sounds better due to its unique output stage, akm chipset, engaging, spacious, detailed, r2r-like yada yada. I guess it’s also a matter of living with it for a while? But wish more would spend time with it in reviews. Thanks again for your great insight and candid approach to this insane and wonderful hobby.🙏🏼👍🏼

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yeah, I heard many great things about the D70 too, just never got a chance to listen to it.

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

Another great discussion. Seems there are lot's of 'good enough' DACs to choose from sub $1k. I have to think a good linear power supply would take it even closer to analogue. I preferred the IFI sound clip to the McDAC. More information available and did not sound bad. Thanks Thomas

[@rolandlickert2904]

I will buy the brand new iFi DSD X Gryphon that will arrive this Saturday in Indonesia. Specification look very promising and including the latest Bluetooth system .After 5 years leaving with the Mojo at my desktop set up in my home office I want to explore a new DAC and as we all know technical advances is on the fast line. iFi comes out with interesting new products most of them reasonable priced .

[@jaakanshorter]

I love these thought provoking videos. Sound demo videos to me are kinda pointless without explaining why there is a difference between A and B ( not just this X cable was replaced with cable Y )

[@seejayfrujay]

Even on my cheapie desktop system, I can hear my old iFi Nano "out subtle" my Modi 3, presenting a more relaxed and accessible soundscape.

[@theodore_papacostas_1967]

Great Review. Thank you.

[@vlax12]

I've both Topping d70s for 500$ and successfully finished pursuit for "good" DAC. It sounds really good (especially when I2S is source), has all modern features, has MQA support ( I don't need it) and it does not break my wallet. Since that is out of my way I can move my focus to power amp since they are more important part of system. As Thomas said, DACs today are really good and it is only question of taste and integration with the rest of the system.

[@ferdi9554]

Ifi products are just top notch for the price! Even the dac in the Ifi go blue streamer is super good!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yes they are!

[@bmwguy2009]

as always great video Thomas!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@pongyang8705]

Great video, Thomas! Thanks!

[@musicman8270]

I love my Neo, use it mainly with my Blu Os streamer. Very nice, and is also a decent headphone amp. Only problem, when you turn it on you had better have the device it's connected to set to the Neos input, it kinda freaks out if you don't. Otherwise a very nice all around performer, great sound, this and a decent set of phones and you're good to go.

[@HD-su9sq]

Thomas, I would give two likes if I could. I’m still using the DAC built into my disc player, but I’ll need a dedicated unit when I get a server/streamer. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by the myriad of choices, and lose sight of “good enough”. Thanks for reminding us.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yes, as long as you are enjoying your system, there is no need to upgrade.

[@toddhupp]

It is true the chip dacs do have an elevated upper mid range usually.This is really noticeable with speakers that also have a boost in the same area.Can be harsh.Are resistor dacs the solution?eg Pontus. Providing both detail and a smother, more natural sound.

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

WE ALSO HAVE APPRECIATION FOR THESE LITTLE DETAILS AND YOUR SUTTLE HINTS 😂😉 TO THIS END WE HOPE IFI APPRECIATES YOUR HARD WORK 😅 AS MUCH AS WE DO 🤗😍😍😍

[@JimmieJohn]

Thomas, I couldn't smash the like button, but I did tap it softly! (didn't want to break the glass on my S8) lol!

[@aceofspades6667]

Thomas bringing the heat on this review! We all have Dac fatigue. For me once I found my Holo spring KTE and that R2R NOS was for me I can just stop shopping for dacs. I can then focus on all other items in the chain like streamers and DDCs. Ifi zen stream is on the short list going into a singxer su6. Btw I always stay until the end and give a like!

[@cablebrain9691]

I'd love to hear a comparison (SQ and features/limitations) between the Holo Audio Spring (level 2 or KTE) and the Exasound E62. Thomas got me interested in Exasound, and I've heard a little about the E62, but not yet enough to spend that sort of cash on it. And my understanding is that the Holo Spring KTE (possibly the L1 & L2, also) has an outstanding USB input which is galvanically isolated and also drastically reduces jitter from upstream components. All else being equal, I'd prefer to buy a Canadian product, rather than one from Asia, considering that I live in North America.

[@stevenbeau6268]

Another great video. I am still using my old Rega dac due to it’s overall musically…s

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@kurt120032002]

I have this dac for 8 months and between SMSL m7, ProJect s2 pre and Chord Qtest, it gets the least usage. Yes it is smooth, but not liquid smooth, more like mushed potatoes smooth. It is not offensive in any way but not good in any way. It's best feature is it can run on a phone power bank while driving HD600 making it a perfect device to take on your porch for a coffee and a pipe or cigar.

[@JosefTreiber]

Thomas, you sure earn a like for the considerations given. It might be that dacs that are found to be airy / detailled are so because they are bright sounding, and therefore less present the music as a whole thing. It doesn't sound like a compliment to say "the dac was so good because it did not distract me from the music itself". BR, Joe

[@Staybrown11]

It’s interesting that there is a sound DAC out there for us. I have a Gustard A22, because I “thought” I’d like it more then the Ares 2…all I think about is going back the Ares 2…maybe this DAC will compete…?

[@billfife6569]

Great video and explanation

[@rolandlickert2904]

Great Video spot on.Refreshing and honest.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Glad you think so!

[@NosTubes58]

It’s probably because they don’t offer upscaled linear power supplies, hence the reviews over on Audio Bacon ( as per Daily Audiophile ) discussing ones multiple options.

[@slotracing.digital]

You're videos are so great ! I do vids on my own so I know how much work it is to make it look that effortless. Great work.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks for watching

[@myuw91]

I'm new to the DACs and this helps give me a better perspective. On a side note, you sound uncannily similar to my voice O.O

[@richardbartch9514]

I bought the RME ADI-2 earlier this year...once I make a choice I will avoid videos on similar devices for awhile as to not put myself through the whole did I buy the right thing thing.

[@ryanhostudio]

just found your videos and i really like them :D

[@BastianUllr]

Haha. I own it and no one gives a damn about it on forums. Thanks, you just made a piece of my gear hold its value forever, lol.

[@khoi83]

I use this one =) really like it! no more dac changes or upgrades for some times!

[@khoi83]

The only thing I dislike about this dac is its remote without a on off button... as I use it mostly as a preamp.

[@khoi83]

YES! I use it with their upgrade power supply! very good upgrade.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Darn, now I feel like trying it with a better powersupply.

[@khoi83]

Without entering the "audiophile" separate, microscopic evaluation of "how does it sound", I can say why I really like it: I feel that I listen more to the music and voices and not to a DAC, like the impressions I had with other DACs I had tried before (SMSL, Topping, etc.)

[@joemartin6439]

Match your setup is the most important

[@randomtube8226]

Thank you for your review. Been waiting on your thoughts on this for some time now. I bought and kept the ifi back when Z reviewed it. He hyped it up pretty good. I did end up upgrading the power supply to their elite and the power cable feeding it. I did notice improvements in overall performance. Mainly got the ifi for the compact desktop solution. Wanted an upgrade over the Cambrage DAC Magic Plus. I like the look and build quality of the ifi and the volume knob feels nice and clicky lol Still not sure about the built-in pre amp though. Maybe that could be the thing that makes the ifi "good enough" 🤔 I dont like how the signal isn't turned off to your amp/powered speakers when using headphones. One of the biggest things about this DAC is the simplicity. You dont have any filters or anything complicated to worry about. Its basically plug and play. I like how its balanced for headphones and XLR. I enjoyed listening to DSD tracks through the ifi. All and all im satisfied with the ifi. Saprised that more people arent interested. Definitely worthy of having in your collection. Thats some of my thoughts and experience with the ifi idsd neo.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks for sharing, yeah it is a good DAC.

[@pennfootball71]

my taste is Lampizator great with drumbs similar to the tube version of a dac that is awesome

[@charleskatz2606]

Thomas the Musician Friend Draco looks like a winner with R2R balanced out and I2S input for less than $800

[@nikosidis]

Great video Thomas. I always thought to much detail equal to bright and to therefore fatiguing in the long run. Not the case in my room and system with D90SE. I have a feeling it will be my last DAC. Detail lost in the source will never recover. Sure, D90SE is very clear in the top end but never bright unless the recording is over the top. Other reviewer on KZbin review a DAC where all voices in all recordings sounded fantastic. That is to much colouring for my taste. Recordings sound different and I like to hear that. When a system get to dark, warm I get tired of it in the long run. Sure, the same can be said the other way around "to bright". I'm after neutrality. Sure, a warm system can make a bright recording sound more neutral but it is not hard to find reference recordings. I tend to use good or great recordings for my high-end system and listen to not so good recordings in my car or other systems. I'm pretty sure you would agree that if the system, recording sound smooth and you hear little more detail you would prefer it. The best high-end systems I heard always have a lot of air and detail. I hear the best like Audio Research, Accuphase, Mark Levinson etc. I have floor standing speakers but to reach the life like dynamics and air I heard at its best I would need something bigger like AERIS from Legacy Audio. Than would require a bigger room than what I have and a lot money :)

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Nice, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Yeah love air myself.

[@Lockk9]

I wonder how the $250 Signature-Zen-Dac which is a featureless Dac only unit compares to the Neo, for people who just wan that iFi burr-brown Dac sound at the a much lower cost. F.Y.I. the Signature-Zen-Dac has a different sound compared to the regular Zen-Dac which is a entry level Dac/Amp combo.

[@WelkySchullin]

Thx for the video! I´m seeking super real detailed smooth analog natural sound...

[@dindipanesar]

Thanks, Thomas.

[@user-eh3qz4zv1o]

Hi Thomas, Always enjoyed your reviews with no non sense and right to the point! Have you ever heard the Holo Audio May KTE DAC? Almost ready to buy, any thoughts? Thanks

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Not yet, sorry.

[@dougg1075]

Thanks Thomas

[@jimanderson2134]

Hi Thomas - can you share the product name for the white sound boards on either side of your TV please. Love your show and even after 70 years and lots of stereo's having passed I still learn something everytime I listen to your presentations. Current system is very clean mid level (Devialet Pro 1000, Kef Blade II's, VPI Avenger TT), which I like alot but you've triggered a tube future in my audio adventures. Thank you for that. Jim

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks Jim, those are vicoustic panel, I think Darko made a video on their product recently.

[@foblivio]

Nice review as always! But your mention of a new Soncoz caught my attention. New as in “not yet announced”?

[@ThomasAndStereo]

No, there are many reviews online already. It will be a few months before I review it.

[@foblivio]

@@ThomasAndStereo thanks Thomas! SGD1 I suspect. :-)

[@jeffinnh76]

Looking forward to someone's review of the Signature Pro

[@orborbea9844]

Now this is a Review :D subbed :D

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Thanks for the sub!

[@tothemax324]

Dac fatigue lol, still using my North Star Design Essensio Dac released 2010. I find it musical and relaxing, simply stereo. Overdue for upgrade?? Good one Thomas

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

My favourite DAC is my turntable, no conversion required

[@ThomasAndStereo]

haha, can't beat that.

[@willmac5642]

My humble pecanpi is great. More analogue. Now want a MHDT dac.. but which one.

[@NemoPropaganda]

Oooo I like the case work!

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yes, it looks really good.

[@stephenassante4405]

The iDSD DACs are also pretty also pretty similar to the Questyle DACs for the Fact they are not using the ESS DAC chips. I can't decide btw the iDSD Neo or the Questyle cma i400 which of the 2 appeals to me more. I guess it comes down to which has the better price when I pull the trigger on getting one. My Musical Fidelity M1 has served me pretty well, But DSD encodes brings a different flavor to a number of Classical Music CDs I listen to

[@latheofheaven]

Yep... excellent subject. Despite your well earned 'Fatigue', I'm still hoping that maybe you'll try the SMSL DO200 since it is only about $415 now on Amazon (I paid $485 a month ago) I know it's my very first DAC, but for someone who has ALWAYS absolutely *loathed* digital and the shocking fact that it sounds so good for that price, I would be very curious to hear how you think it compares, because that is a pretty DANG good price for how it is sounding! 😁 And remember, it has 2 of the newest chips which I find unusual since I believe most have only one (I'm still very curious as to why...) BTW, there is only ONE other review of this DAC that I could find. His review was pretty good. He really liked it, mentioning the usual things. One thing he did say that I thought was interesting was that he like it better than the SMSL 400 which you have reviewed and liked. I was only part way through your video when I commented, so I needed to come back to add that YES! the point you made was very good. 'Do you enjoy listening to it?' And, the answer is a strong 'YES!' I really do enjoy, amazingly so on my primary system, listening to this lovely DAC! 👍 (Okay, back to your video... I'm in such suspense!) I think I am going to become a 'Patreon', even though I don't have much. But, I enjoy your clearly well thought out and genuinely involving and thought provoking 'Discussions' that I honestly find a LOT of value in what you have to say 😊

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Nice, I would expect it to be sharper and brighter than the M400 so he prefers it? Have to listen to know.

[@steveaustin7306]

For a power source have you compared using a 5v power bank? I use a 20,000 mah, 2 amp one to power other equipment but not a dac. As my Cary is 110v.

[@dhamchak9477]

Thanks for your review😊 Is it well match with Denon ah-d9200? Many Thanks

[@gzubeck3]

The real question here is...will the ifi challenge better DACS with an improved power supply? I can definitely tell a difference with MAC...the decay is much better and will show itself in a better system. So for me it would be an interesting follow up sometime in the future to find out if it makes a difference or not. Just a thought.

[@davidpetersen7091]

Thomas, Another great review. Mr. Pete-----------> aging hippie

[@991carreras3]

I went thru 6 dacs under 500 the only one I kept was the Bluesound Node.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Yeah, gear streamer.

[@mikecees2230]

Hi Thomas, DACs are sometimes difficult to evaluate (especially over headphones). In most cases it's nuance over clear cut differences. After owning/trying a dozen or so I settled on a Loxjie D50. To me it doesn't offend in that I can listen to music for hours without anal-izing the sound. For the price I might be able to pick up another Chinese DAC that would sound different or marginally better but there's just too many to choose from. For 2-3 times the amount I paid for it I could find a more exclusive US or European DAC that would sound different or marginally better but that would give me more ''pride of ownership'' than the dime-a-dozen Chinese DACs. I could go for that but I just don't want to risk paying more to obtain inferior sound quality. Case in point the Merason Frerot DAC. I was tempted but the dealer wouldn't let me take one home for a demo so I decided to play it safe and be ''happy'' with my dime-a-dozen Loxjie D50. PS - unfortunately, financially I'm no longer playing in the same ball park as some of you guys and can't afford costly purchases to satisfy my curiosity. Peace

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

You nailed it, DACs sound "different" Not better, just different It all comes down to preference, I prefer cheap DACs because they never disappoint me

[@billfarrell4387]

Hi Thomas Yes so many dac options I happen to have a dac dac 2 from Tommy O’Brian from Digital amplifier company, but The reason I bought it was to support a small company. That being said it does sound wonderful so I got the best of both worlds. Thomas do you have a turntable? I watch you Jay Steve and Sean, I know Sean does not have a turn table, but no one seems to review turntables I see amplifiers preamplifiers dacs and even CD players, why do you think it is nobody reviews turn tables? Take Care

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

You're on the right road to experience and connection to what music is all about..............I never go to listen to real music to analyze it ..............For more than half a century i finally ended up to what's connecting me to the music.........when some audiophile qualities draw attention , something is wrong.and out of balance or timing............listening fatigue tells you the real story of many but not all HIGH END AUDIO ! When you can forget daily life and enjoy the music for hours without that ( brain decoding /error correction ) ..............listening fatigue , something is right ! In real life you are not always in the best seat of the musical performance, but the music captivates you soul. Sure more people are following the same path you do ............have a great day .

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Great comment!

[@tomriddle2257]

This or the Jotunheim 2 + ESS dac module or modius? (~same price in Europe)

[@JingoLoBa57]

I tried the ifi Neo black. It was thin sounded like mp3. Destroying my belief in the ifi brand and reviews. I sold the unit within a month. Never consider again. Oddly I felt the same about the Lampizator Amber III DAC. It was forward sounding and rather average, no better just different to my upgraded PS Audio PerfectWave DAC that decodes MQA with its network bridge. I can’t be bothered buying LAMPI again. First experience of a new to me product is critical. I take that experience as reflective of the brand. Of course that’s probably false, yet a powerful bias created. Today I’ve sold both these products. And my best DAC experience remains by a mile, the DAC inside my upgraded ARC Ref CD9. This unit is way beyond any previous DAC’s. Widest range deepest bass amazing sound stage depth and breadth. Really. I am constantly thrilled. Even my Hi-Fi upgrade guy says wow and he’s super critical… listening to that classic Hi-Fi show track by Nils Lofgren Keith Don’t Go.

[@ThomasAndStereo]

I guess it did not work for you. I did have the PS audio wave perfectwave DAC at one point too so I have an idea how it sounds. Not sure why the IFI sounded thin in your system, perhaps matching. I had the Audio research REF DAC 7 too or was it 8 and yeah it is great.