iFi Audio Neo iDSD 2 - Going Back to the Roots - Honest Audiophile Impressions
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- Опубліковано 17 лип 2024
- Purchase/More Info:
ifi-audio.com/products/neo-id...
A BIG thanks to iFi Audio for providing the Neo iDSD for review, much appreciated.
The iFi Audio Neo iDSD 2 is an upgrade from the original Neo iDSD but is it worth the bigger pricetag?
iFI Audio Neo iDSD review:
• iFi Audio Neo iDSD -Sm...
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction/Box/Hi-Res Sticker/Contents
01:55 Design/Build/Layout
03:50 Bluetooth/APTX Lossless/Other Inputs
05:10 Filters/XBass/XSpace
07:10 Headphone Output Oddities
09:55 PreAmp Experience
10:30 Burr Brown DAC/Sonic Impressions
11:35 Bass
12:05 Mids
12:55 Treble
13:42 Technical Abilities
16:00 vs iFi Audio Neo iDSD
16:47 vs Aune S9C Pro
17:40 vs Mytek Liberty DAC ii
16;12 Conclusion
19:44 Exiting Slowly
I am not a professional sound engineer, producer, musician, or vocalist, etc. I have not done any scientific research, measurements, or in-depth testing of any kind; just my own listening, comparing and internet reading/research. I have limited, real-life experience with recording, mixing and mastering gear. I have been involved since my teenage years with various churches as an amateur sound booth technician.
Please take these thoughts, opinions and reasonings as just that, my honest audiophile thoughts, opinions and reasonings. How does it compare to the Mytek Liberty DAC ii and Aune S9C Pro?
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thanks for the review, as professional as always !
My pleasure, you're welcome.
Great review!!! I have one and like it. I do enjoy the ability to mount it on the stand for saving space on the desktop!
Awesomeness 😎
Nice review. The Fiio takes it on this round thoiugh.
Good morning listening on my drive into work this foggy and cold Friday. Take care and I’m enjoying the video. Have a great weekend.
Have a great weekend.
Pop quiz; how many times did Dave say "overpriced" in the conclusion? 😝
3
i wondered why no reviews about Sabaj D5. now has been discontinued. nevertheless some of the stuff are worthy and great units, your reviews are great.
Glad you enjoy the channel content. Thanks for the kind words, much appreciated.
Do they have a black version? This looks like a nice upgrade for my SMSL AO300.
I don't believe so
Interesting, other reviewers have found the original to be warmer and this newer version to be closer to neutral, I guess I will have to wait to demo it.
Look forward to hearing your impressions.
@@TheHonestAudiophile I am also concerned this unit does not have the power advertised.
Very possible.
@@chungang7037 I find myself turning the volume up to around 90 give or take for loud listening with my Hifiman he6se v2. It powers them but I wonder how the phantom or something would power them.
@@Dr.Dan_K I see, does it sound neutral or warmish [ifi's typical house sound]?
thinking about getting this as an all in one desktop with arya stealth. thoughts?
If memory serves me correctly, the Arya Stealth paired well. I think I covered how well planars ran on the Neo 2 in the video under source pairing section.
Thank you for this review. I have always respected your opinions on the gear you review. It is funny that my personal sound differs from yours. And that is an invaluable source of information in my purchase decisions. I am a huge fan of Sony ES products, as they use a Texas Instruments DAC(Burr Brown) which provides an intimate warmth in the sound signature. So. I think the iFi neo sounds like it would be something that would work perfectly for me. I have tried DAC's implementing a large range of ESS DAC's and they always sound so cold and analytical. I am still interested on how iFi would compare to an R2R DAC like the Denafrips ARES II for that intimate warmth. What is your opinion of that comparison?
I'm glad you find the channel content helpful. No matter if we agree or disagree there is valuable information to be exchanged and learned.
Burr Brown MultiBit is similar to R2R that I've heard from the likes of Soekris and Schiit but I've not heard a Denafrips. Tonality is where there similar but the stage isn't as immersive as a Soekris.
BTW I enjoy Sony DAP a lot, I own two of them.
should i changed from the neo 1 for the 2 , driving a meze 109 pro i dont need more power ?
If you're content then I'd with the original.
thanx, yes iam very happy with the neo & Meze ,dont need all the bluetooth options
I'm a bit of a dac nut . I have the original neo ifi dac but always found that it fell a bit short in comparison to my Loxjie d50. I also have the Chord Qutest which is basic but has superb sound quality. I was wondering whether buying the improved version of the ifi neo dac was worth it?
I've not heard the D50 or Qutest. But in comparison to the og Neo iDSD the Neo 2 is a significant upgrade in my opinion.
@TheHonestAudiophile One thing I find annoying is not having trigger outputs on these dacs if they are being used as digital preamps. I have a Roksan K3 power amp which is still waiting to be repaired after packing in during the pandemic so I bought a Marantz 7025 power amp temporarily but I got lazy in the repair of the Roksan so I am still using the Marantz. It does mean though that I have to manually switch it on. I do also have a Audiolab Mdac+ with a trigger output but that has issues with the optical output on my Samsung Neo TV. Sometimes having to switch the Audiolab on and off before it recognises the connection.
My wife says that if these are the only problems I have, then I am not doing badly.
@stephenmiller9791 Totally understand. Trigger is something that is not often included but should be.
How does this compare to the Cambridge Audio CXA61 which cost he same?
Sorry haven't heard the CXA61
does it sound better than Ifi Zen dac v2?
I haven't heard either since I revi6them but I'd memory serves me correctly the Neo 2 is more refined, detailed and resolving.
(me who doesn't need new gear)
"hey look, new gear."
I know you have plenty of "new gear" at the moment 😉
Dang this thing looks so sexy
Yeah it's a looker for sure.
👍
Go Bills!!
Go Bills!
I think iFi's headline power output uses a non-standard test procedure to measure the output power For the Diablo 2 they apparently 'cooked' the figures by using 1ms burst measurements instead of RMS. They now state RMS separately on the spec sheet and that is 2530 mW (@ 64Ω)
Ohhh interesting. Thanks for the information.
usd900 😮
This one or Aune S9c Pro?
16:47 comparison vs Aune S9C Pro
What i dont like is the branding nonce they pull + the how they count mW value which is just so wrong.
No matter how good the product someone shouldn't be doing that. I mean i am ok to pay more if the quality is good and specially british (as i am biased there)
Few things about ifi products i like is the xbass filter and xspace filter they have.
Also great review dave.
Totally understand. XBass and XSpace do add some flavor and uniqueness to the sound.
best units are never mainstream. remember that. and some of the chi fi are really HQ