We met in Munich and it was a pleasure to meet you at this audiophile event. The ideon is exceptional and in my opinion much better than many of its competitors. With the reclocker, it's a marvel. Your program on UA-cam is wonderful. thank you very much. Alain Thomas .
Hello, Alain. It was so good of you to introduce yourself to me while we were at High-End Munich! And, I think you'll like what I have to say about the entire suite of Ideon gear, because as you have suggested, I find the entire suite to easily best some much more pricey and higher profile suites... Finally, thank you so very much for taking the time to write, and for your very kind words on the channel. Stay safe, and hopefully I'll see you next year at Munich!
Listening to your video while on my drive home in Toronto from a long workday I just got into streaming adult entry-level, and I’m fascinated to see what can be offered down the road. Thanks for a great video and keeping me company on my drive home. Take care.☕️🍕👍
Wow Greg, what a fascinating journey. I was totally engrossed in watching E1: Who is the audio analyst. I had never seen it, so thanks for providing the link. I first discovered you as a subscriber to the print version of Positive Feedback, which was my favorite publication during those years. Having watched E1, I have an even greater respect and appreciation for you and your work!
Hey, Tony. Thanks so much for your kind words... I'm so glad that you can more clearly appreciate my journey after having watched my first episode. Honestly, that is exactly why I made it first! I felt folks should understand why I felt I'm qualified and have earned the right to espouse my thoughts on such matters. And you are a true long-timer if you remember my work from the printed version of Positive Feedback! Thanks so very much for your ongoing support, Tony! 😉
Best streamer review I have seen. I assert that people need to understand the digital stream in order to make a buying decision. I too am a career IT professional and also built my own SOTA streamer. Mine has many attributes in common with the Ideon. It uses a SBC running Linux, has a FIFO isolate / reclock, a SOTA SC cut Driscol clock and separate linear power supplies for every consumer. Super caps are also a hidden treasure in this domain. Based on your technical description of the Ideon, I can almost predict the sound from a Lampi DAC. I also use Fikus inspired DAC. The sound of the Ideon would depend on the clock. Glad to hear that can be upgraded over time. Great review. Would love to hear a sound demo on UA-cam playing on your exceptional system.
Howdy, W. It's great to acknowledge another IT Geek here at the channel! 😏 And just for the record - pun intended 🙂, I have recorded the system...once with E88: My System - Recorded! - ua-cam.com/video/KGm3afxUsU4/v-deo.html. Then again, but fronted with the new Borresen X3, their $11,000 loss-leader loudspeaker in E121: The Børresen X3 Loudspeakers in play... - ua-cam.com/video/XVu1WzqLNAw/v-deo.html. And, I will be doing more and more moving forward.
You are a master of quality within a review. This was a great review video. Its great the level of products you review are worthy of your attention. Each of us listens and learns from you. Your response comments are quite amazing and worthy of reading. Even better is a presentation when it hits on an issue being faced when deciding on a change in audio gear. Your historical archives would likely provide an answer and maybe not, assuming the topic could be found. How cool it would be too have a college course and you as professor lecturing your wisdom. My current challenge is deciding the purchase of a hybrid mono amplifier built for biamping, tubes for upper range drivers, and beefy solid state pwer of base drivers. Maybe there's a video that speaks to the benefits of using a tube solid-state combo. And finally, have you ever considered doing reviews of non-audio Products. Your gift no doubt would likely be of great value to new territory.
Hello, I am puzzleman. Wow… I’ve no idea what to say. You are so very gracious with your complements on my work that I am beside myself with humility! Thank you so very much… As to your suggestions about the “benefits” of biamplifying a system using a combination of both tubed and solid-state amplification, I thought that I had clearly addressed that with your comment under E28: Biwire or Biamplify several months back. Let me take another stab at this… So, it would appear that you believe and are implying that there would be some inherent advantage to using tubed amplification on the midrange/tweeter complement of a biamplifiable speaker, and solid-state amplification on the woofers. Firstly, you could use just about any pairs of amplifiers (two stereo amps or two pair of mono amps) that you like, but you will run a high risk of output imbalances, and ones that may greatly vary with volume changes. There is a strong likelihood that at lower or higher volumes, one amp (or set of monos) will play louder or softer than the other. This will impact tonality, especially on any instruments that are primarily recreated by one amp (or set of monos) or the other, or especially with any whose bandwidths are split across both! Next, you would ideally want to select a pair of stereo or monoblock amps that share very similar characteristics, especially output power - or to have the louder one/s offer variable output or volume controls. You should also try to match things like their distortion ratings and damping factors if possible. Now, I further would like to point out that I know of very few tubed amplifiers - certainly ones that most people would find “affordable” - that regenerate the uppermost frequency region with that final degree of effortlessness, air, and shimmer more commonly available from the solid-state world. In essence, most (not all, obviously) tubed entrants will likely be unable to match the delicacy, detail, and sparkle that would otherwise be produced via solid-state amplification in those uppermost registers. Further, the majority of affordable valve amplifiers editorialize, or color, thereby distorting, much of their output bandwidth, especially from the upper midbass, through the midrange, and on into the lower treble, by way of trying to offer more “bloom” or “body.” As I replied to your original query, you are most certainly feel free to experiment, but you are more than likely to find that you are just “seasoning” to taste rather than achieving some level of enhanced fidelity or greater musical truth! Lastly, while I very much appreciate your belief and suggestion that I might just as capably apply my evaluation skills to other subject matter, I doubt that I would feel qualified or confident in doing so in too many other fields. Other than photography (I was apprenticed into a photo studio at 10 and worked for daily newspapers, the United Press, and taught photography at the high school level), and computing (I started programming computers in 1971 while still in high school and just recently retired from my position as an IT Engineer/analyst), audio is the field and profession I know best. You must understand that I have developed the breadth and depth of my expertise, understanding, and knowledge of the audio industry over the fifty-plus years I have been involved with, in and around, it. I’ve just about done it all here, from hobbyist, to electronics degree, to sales, to management, to consulting designer, to reviewer and journalist. Regardless, thanks for your kind comments, for taking the time to write, and for watching. Enjoy!
Exciting times ahead for streaming... SOTA currently.. But in due course important performance benefits will trickle toward to the more affordable arena... I hope you get to enjoy those electronics within your own system for some time to come Greg. 👍🏻
Hello Russell. Thanks for your kind words on this episode. AAndonly one person has written to say they prefered the look of the ULTRA 9s WITH the skirts. Odd, no? As to how the speakers are sounding now after the footer installation, I'm guessing that you didn't catch last week's episode. That was its entire focus. See it here... ua-cam.com/video/y1iMSsHbZdM/v-deo.html. The short answer is - the improvements were STAGGERINGLY GOOD! 🙂 Thanks for writing... Enjoy!
Hello Freddy. You may see my entire system set up at any time at my website www.theaudioanalyst.com. This is the direct link to my Reference System page - www.theaudioanalyst.com/reference-system/. If you watched the episode, then you are aware that the Stream offers USB output connectivity only, with either USB or networking input. The short answer is that it was connected to the DACs I used with the new Stealth Audio Cables USB-T-SELECT, a tunable USB cable. You may see it here - www.stealthaudiocables.com/products/usb-cables/usb/. I'm currently working on a review of the latest iterations of Stealth cables, which are simply staggeringly good. More to come on that front...
Hello Jaakan. As I did not mention the use of any DDC, it should have been fairly clear that I ran the pure USB output (not the 5V Bus line) to the DAC. As I mention in response to Freddy Goldszmidt question above, I used the Stealth Audio Cables USB-T-SELECT, a tunable USB cable. You may see it here - www.stealthaudiocables.com/products/usb-cables/usb/. I'm currently working on a review of the latest iterations of Stealth cables, which are simply staggeringly good. With this streamer, if for some reason you do not want to use a USB input to your chosen DAC, you would need to use a DDC interface, as the Stream only has the USB outputs.
@@theaudioanalyst This triggered a few questions. I've heard CD/DVD/BR/SACD players at a wild range of prices being used as a transport all sound the same going to the same DAC. While the internal DACs of each noticeably sounded different. My custom built streamer sounds it's best ( only has USB output) when I turn all extra DSP, upsampling, filtering, etc off ( ie working as a true transport ) including bypassing volume control of the streamer. Why don't most streamers have a true transport mode? Could the differences in streamers sound be less about "USB noise" and more about what the streamer is doing to the data or a combination of both? Less CPU work = less noise leaking on the USB = less stuff the DAC has to deal with.
Greg, I'd like to see you wear a black Phil Collins No Jacket Required t shirt for an episode. Available online, it would be stunning! That stated, Ideon is an ideal idea for an audiophile's audio files.
We met in Munich and it was a pleasure to meet you at this audiophile event. The ideon is exceptional and in my opinion much better than many of its competitors. With the reclocker, it's a marvel.
Your program on UA-cam is wonderful. thank you very much.
Alain Thomas .
Hello, Alain. It was so good of you to introduce yourself to me while we were at High-End Munich!
And, I think you'll like what I have to say about the entire suite of Ideon gear, because as you have suggested, I find the entire suite to easily best some much more pricey and higher profile suites...
Finally, thank you so very much for taking the time to write, and for your very kind words on the channel. Stay safe, and hopefully I'll see you next year at Munich!
Listening to your video while on my drive home in Toronto from a long workday I just got into streaming adult entry-level, and I’m fascinated to see what can be offered down the road. Thanks for a great video and keeping me company on my drive home. Take care.☕️🍕👍
Thanks for tuning in! 😁
Wow Greg, what a fascinating journey. I was totally engrossed in watching E1: Who is the audio analyst. I had never seen it, so thanks for providing the link. I first discovered you as a subscriber to the print version of Positive Feedback, which was my favorite publication during those years. Having watched E1, I have an even greater respect and appreciation for you and your work!
Hey, Tony. Thanks so much for your kind words... I'm so glad that you can more clearly appreciate my journey after having watched my first episode. Honestly, that is exactly why I made it first! I felt folks should understand why I felt I'm qualified and have earned the right to espouse my thoughts on such matters.
And you are a true long-timer if you remember my work from the printed version of Positive Feedback! Thanks so very much for your ongoing support, Tony! 😉
Best streamer review I have seen. I assert that people need to understand the digital stream in order to make a buying decision. I too am a career IT professional and also built my own SOTA streamer.
Mine has many attributes in common with the Ideon. It uses a SBC running Linux, has a FIFO isolate / reclock, a SOTA SC cut Driscol clock and separate linear power supplies for every consumer. Super caps are also a hidden treasure in this domain.
Based on your technical description of the Ideon, I can almost predict the sound from a Lampi DAC. I also use Fikus inspired DAC. The sound of the Ideon would depend on the clock. Glad to hear that can be upgraded over time.
Great review. Would love to hear a sound demo on UA-cam playing on your exceptional system.
Howdy, W. It's great to acknowledge another IT Geek here at the channel! 😏
And just for the record - pun intended 🙂, I have recorded the system...once with E88: My System - Recorded! - ua-cam.com/video/KGm3afxUsU4/v-deo.html. Then again, but fronted with the new Borresen X3, their $11,000 loss-leader loudspeaker in E121: The Børresen X3 Loudspeakers in play... - ua-cam.com/video/XVu1WzqLNAw/v-deo.html. And, I will be doing more and more moving forward.
@@theaudioanalyst Outstanding! Thank you
You are a master of quality within a review. This was a great review video. Its great the level of products you review are worthy of your attention. Each of us listens and learns from you. Your response comments are quite amazing and worthy of reading. Even better is a presentation when it hits on an issue being faced when deciding on a change in audio gear. Your historical archives would likely provide an answer and maybe not, assuming the topic could be found. How cool it would be too have a college course and you as professor lecturing your wisdom.
My current challenge is deciding the purchase of a hybrid mono amplifier built for biamping, tubes for upper range drivers, and beefy solid state pwer of base drivers. Maybe there's a video that speaks to the benefits of using a tube solid-state combo.
And finally, have you ever considered doing reviews of non-audio Products. Your gift no doubt would likely be of great value to new territory.
Hello, I am puzzleman. Wow… I’ve no idea what to say. You are so very gracious with your complements on my work that I am beside myself with humility! Thank you so very much…
As to your suggestions about the “benefits” of biamplifying a system using a combination of both tubed and solid-state amplification, I thought that I had clearly addressed that with your comment under E28: Biwire or Biamplify several months back.
Let me take another stab at this… So, it would appear that you believe and are implying that there would be some inherent advantage to using tubed amplification on the midrange/tweeter complement of a biamplifiable speaker, and solid-state amplification on the woofers.
Firstly, you could use just about any pairs of amplifiers (two stereo amps or two pair of mono amps) that you like, but you will run a high risk of output imbalances, and ones that may greatly vary with volume changes. There is a strong likelihood that at lower or higher volumes, one amp (or set of monos) will play louder or softer than the other. This will impact tonality, especially on any instruments that are primarily recreated by one amp (or set of monos) or the other, or especially with any whose bandwidths are split across both!
Next, you would ideally want to select a pair of stereo or monoblock amps that share very similar characteristics, especially output power - or to have the louder one/s offer variable output or volume controls. You should also try to match things like their distortion ratings and damping factors if possible.
Now, I further would like to point out that I know of very few tubed amplifiers - certainly ones that most people would find “affordable” - that regenerate the uppermost frequency region with that final degree of effortlessness, air, and shimmer more commonly available from the solid-state world. In essence, most (not all, obviously) tubed entrants will likely be unable to match the delicacy, detail, and sparkle that would otherwise be produced via solid-state amplification in those uppermost registers.
Further, the majority of affordable valve amplifiers editorialize, or color, thereby distorting, much of their output bandwidth, especially from the upper midbass, through the midrange, and on into the lower treble, by way of trying to offer more “bloom” or “body.”
As I replied to your original query, you are most certainly feel free to experiment, but you are more than likely to find that you are just “seasoning” to taste rather than achieving some level of enhanced fidelity or greater musical truth!
Lastly, while I very much appreciate your belief and suggestion that I might just as capably apply my evaluation skills to other subject matter, I doubt that I would feel qualified or confident in doing so in too many other fields. Other than photography (I was apprenticed into a photo studio at 10 and worked for daily newspapers, the United Press, and taught photography at the high school level), and computing (I started programming computers in 1971 while still in high school and just recently retired from my position as an IT Engineer/analyst), audio is the field and profession I know best.
You must understand that I have developed the breadth and depth of my expertise, understanding, and knowledge of the audio industry over the fifty-plus years I have been involved with, in and around, it. I’ve just about done it all here, from hobbyist, to electronics degree, to sales, to management, to consulting designer, to reviewer and journalist.
Regardless, thanks for your kind comments, for taking the time to write, and for watching. Enjoy!
Exciting times ahead for streaming... SOTA currently.. But in due course important performance benefits will trickle toward to the more affordable arena...
I hope you get to enjoy those electronics within your own system for some time to come Greg.
👍🏻
Thank you, my friend!
Hi Greg enjoyed the video. I have ti say I like the look of the Ultra 9's with the Centerstage footers. How R the speakers sounding ?
Hello Russell. Thanks for your kind words on this episode. AAndonly one person has written to say they prefered the look of the ULTRA 9s WITH the skirts. Odd, no?
As to how the speakers are sounding now after the footer installation, I'm guessing that you didn't catch last week's episode. That was its entire focus. See it here... ua-cam.com/video/y1iMSsHbZdM/v-deo.html. The short answer is - the improvements were STAGGERINGLY GOOD! 🙂 Thanks for writing... Enjoy!
Hi, wanted to ask which brand/type cable you used to connect the unit to your lampizator dac. Thank you
Hello Freddy. You may see my entire system set up at any time at my website www.theaudioanalyst.com. This is the direct link to my Reference System page - www.theaudioanalyst.com/reference-system/. If you watched the episode, then you are aware that the Stream offers USB output connectivity only, with either USB or networking input. The short answer is that it was connected to the DACs I used with the new Stealth Audio Cables USB-T-SELECT, a tunable USB cable. You may see it here - www.stealthaudiocables.com/products/usb-cables/usb/. I'm currently working on a review of the latest iterations of Stealth cables, which are simply staggeringly good. More to come on that front...
How is this connected? Did you use a USB to DDC to DAC or run the USB straight to a DAC?
Hello Jaakan. As I did not mention the use of any DDC, it should have been fairly clear that I ran the pure USB output (not the 5V Bus line) to the DAC. As I mention in response to Freddy Goldszmidt question above, I used the Stealth Audio Cables USB-T-SELECT, a tunable USB cable. You may see it here - www.stealthaudiocables.com/products/usb-cables/usb/. I'm currently working on a review of the latest iterations of Stealth cables, which are simply staggeringly good. With this streamer, if for some reason you do not want to use a USB input to your chosen DAC, you would need to use a DDC interface, as the Stream only has the USB outputs.
@@theaudioanalyst This triggered a few questions. I've heard CD/DVD/BR/SACD players at a wild range of prices being used as a transport all sound the same going to the same DAC. While the internal DACs of each noticeably sounded different. My custom built streamer sounds it's best ( only has USB output) when I turn all extra DSP, upsampling, filtering, etc off ( ie working as a true transport ) including bypassing volume control of the streamer.
Why don't most streamers have a true transport mode?
Could the differences in streamers sound be less about "USB noise" and more about what the streamer is doing to the data or a combination of both? Less CPU work = less noise leaking on the USB = less stuff the DAC has to deal with.
Greg, I'd like to see you wear a black Phil Collins No Jacket Required t shirt for an episode.
Available online, it would be stunning!
That stated, Ideon is an ideal idea for an audiophile's audio files.
Khu NoPie - Interesting idea. Send me one (XL), and I'll wear it in an episode...
@@theaudioanalyst There may be secret Santa in your future...