Hi everyone,
I have recently purchased an IFI Micro iDSD Black Label and I would like to know if my settings are correct and also maybe to understand a bit what it’s showing to me in the below screenshots.
First, to explain a bit my setup:
Roon server is located on a big gaming desktop which I am using at the moment only for Plex and Roon (because I don’t play games anymore ) Here I stored all my FLAC files and also I have connected it to Tidal.
I listen to music through my laptop where the IFI DAC is connected.
If you want, the iDSD BL can support PCM768 and DSD512, at least my non-BL iDSD can.
I’ve had nothing but trouble with my iDSD, in that the battery will not stay charged. The pisser is that even when plugged in, which mine is all the time, if the battery is down the DAC won’t play.
If you find you have battery troubles there are some settings, all of which I can’t remember, which will help somewhat. At the least, lowering the res will help.
Have you tried to run device setup and select your device? It would set what is supported automatically. I believe I read to use Native you need device drivers installed on your laptop. There is also a firmware update for your device have you done it? Just some stuff to try no experience if you are a gamer might be stuff you are used doing. Pretty sure if you go over to iFi website the is further details on how to setup. They have manuals and tech notes I think they call them. Hear good things about that dac.
Not with the MQA firmware loaded. You have to choose whether you want MQA firmware (supports PCM384 and DSD256) or the separate firmware for PCM768/DSD512.
The iDSD can only function as an MQA ‘Renderer’ - it can’t do the full MQA decode. So you can select ‘Renderer only’ in the Roon MQA settings but it’s working fine as a Renderer already with your current settings anyway, so it’s fine.
I assume you’ve deliberately applied -9.5dB Headroom Management and deliberately applied 10 band EQ for your own reasons. If that’s all deliberate, then I’ll leave that alone.
I haven’t put that on and probably won’t. Although I updated with the firmware prior to the newest (didn’t change anything) the whole process on $2500 worth of DAC, creeps me out.
Really, the only problem is that the tube mode doesn’t seem to work, but I just read where iFi recommends waiting a half on hour before trying to use in tube mode. Haven’t gotten around to testing that.
Just re-realized that there is a BNC for an external clock.
This is the first public downloadable firmware for Pro iDSD they’ve released and it has some quite significant changes. I trust that it’s reliable… but funnily it’s still ‘beta’
Yeh I saw that. Unless I need to sync multiple DACs I’m really not interested in using external clock input with any DAC.
His system chain is epic. There’s just too much happening for me.
You are right, those settings were done by me based on the tests performed by the guys from InnerFidelity.
To be honest, after I applied that EQ the Sennheiser HD660S headphones sounded much much better.
And also, from what I understand, the -9.5dB Headroom Management was done to prevent clipping or something like that. The only thing that can be considered a very small inconvenient is that now I have to rotate the volume dial a bit more but the sound is angelic (especially when listening to Tidal Master quality).
I have the iDSD black and I think I found the solution
( LED in IDSD changes accordingly )
I Turned the Rate convention option on .
( Headroon and filters don’t affect , set them as you like )
Hello David ,
Yes … I noticed that is a very old thread … afterwards
I was looking for MGA settings too.
Enabling DSD upsampling, is the only way to see that MQA works with iFi micro BL
) Here I stored all my FLAC files and also I have connected it to Tidal.
, later.
but the sound is angelic (especially when listening to Tidal Master quality).
