Pro iDSD User Manual
Thank you for purchasing this Pro series iDSD Signature. The Pro iDSD Signature is a 'state of the art' reference digital to analogue converter. lt is able to excel in many scenarios - as a wireless hi-res network player or the central DAC in an expensive high-end home system, to quote just two examples. The on-board balanced headphone section means high-end headphones can also be directly connected to it.
1 2 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 2 6 4 3 9 5 LED indicator Power Input selector (incl. Brightness/Polarity) Filter selector (incl. DSD Remastering/WPS) Output mode: Solid-State/Tube/Tube+ OLED display 7 8 10 P.4 P.4 P.4 P.5-6 P.7 P.8 11 12 Single-Ended 3.5mm headphone socket Headphone gain selection: 0dB/9dB/18dB Headphone 6.3mm socket Balanced 4.4mm headphone socket Analogue volume control (Line and Headphone outputs) 12. IR remote control sensor 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. P.8 P.8 P.8 P.8 P.8 P.
13 18 20 22 16 14 Host 26 27 Device DC Loop -Out R DC 15V/4A L L Sync Mode R Pro (Var) Pro (Fixed) HiFi (Var) HiFi (Fixed) Output Mode Outputs COAXIAL OPTICAL Stand Alone XLR Digital Inputs BNC Sync In (USB) DARS Sync Out Pro 15 13. XLR Balanced signal outputs 14. Single-Ended signal outputs 15. Output selector: HiFi Fixed/HiFi Variable/Pro Fixed/Pro Variable 16. Ethernet 17. Host USB 18. Device USB P.9 P.9 P.9 P.10 P.10 P.10 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.
1. LED Green: Warming Up White: Solid-State Mode Orange: Tube Mode Red: Protection Mode 2. Standby/Power 3.
4. Digital filter selection The Pro iDSD Signature offers the following three choices of digital processing: i) Direct – Bit-Perfect Both PCM and DSD signals are not processed in any way. For PCM this is effectively what is sometimes called "non-oversampling" or "zero-oversampling." For DSD it means the file is retained in the original DSD format and directly converted to analogue without any digital processing. ii) PCM - Upsampling In this case PCM is up-converted to 16 x PCM (705.
Each filter affects a different time-domain and frequency-domain performance. DSD remains completely unprocessed. iii) DSD - Remastering In this case incoming audio (except DSD512) is converted to either DSD512 or DSD1024 as selected, using the filter selected (including Bit-Perfect, meaning no digital filtering is applied). All these digital processing options apply to ALL sources, including the network audio bridge and AES-EBU & S/PDIF inputs.
5. Output section mode: Solid-State / Tube / Tube+ The Pro iDSD Signature is a one-of-a-kind product that is able to switch between: 'Solid-State' - a purely solid-state J-FET based circuit of fully-discrete Class A topology. 'Tube' - the J-FET circuitry is switched to the valve Class A section based on 2 x GE5670. 'Tube+' reduces available negative feedback to a minimum. As a result, a greater amount of the tubes natural harmonic distortion is produced (even order harmonics dominate).
6. OLED display 7. Headphone 3.5mm single-ended socket 3.5mm with TRRS iFi S-Balanced. 8. Headphone gain selection: 0dB/9dB/18dB Always start from 0dB and then increase the gain level to attain an enjoyable and comfortable level of volume from the headphones. Warning: at the outset do not use excessive gain, otherwise damage to hearing or connected headphones may ensue. AMR/iFi audio is not responsible for any damage/injury from misuse. 9. Headphone 6.3mm socket 10. Balanced 4.4mm headphone socket 4.
Rear of Pro iDSD Signature Analogue Outputs 13. XLR Balanced signal outputs Balanced signal output to an amplifier. 14. Single-Ended signal outputs Single-Ended signal output to an amplifier. 15. Output selector: HiFi Fixed/HiFi Variable/Pro Fixed/Pro Variable It is possible to set the signal output to different levels for home or studio use. Industry standard signal output levels apply; balanced output is ~4.6V (HiFi Fixed mode) and ~11.2V (Pro Fixed mode).
Digital Inputs 16. Ethernet For a wired connection directly from a router or Network Attached Storage (NAS) source. Using the MUZO Player app stream Spotify (incl. Connect), TIDAL, Napster, QQ Music and many more. 17. Source Host USB 'Type A’ For connecting an external hard disk drive (HDD, FAT32*), USB memory stick or similar to play music: 1) Drive must not draw large amounts of power (meaning mechanical HDD should be self powered). 2) Drive must be formatted as FAT32(*) 18.
21. AES/EBU (XLR) digital input For connecting an XLR single link source such as a high-end CD transport or a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). 22. Wi-Fi antenna Using the MUZO Player app, connect the Pro iDSD Signature to the local WiFi system to stream Spotify, TIDAL, Napster, QQ Music and many more. It is also possible to enjoy Airplay network audio playback from iPhone, iPad and Mac computers.
Clock 24. Clock Synch mode: Atomic/DARS/Word/Standalone If the Clock Synch mode* is used, please select the correct clock device. Atomic Clock: DARS: Word Clock: Standalone: Connect to an external atomic clock source (10MHz). Digital Audio Reference Signal, connect to an external DARS clock reference (it is a S/PDIF signal without any actual audio data). LRCLK / WCLK of I2S Signal. No external clock source is used. 25.
Design Notes from the AMR/iFi Research & Development department The Pro iDSD Signature is an all-out assault on the state-of-the-art and its ground breaking digital engine will be used across the next generation of iFi products. 1) DAC section The Pro iDSD Signature uses a quad 'core' of iFi audio's bit-perfect DSD & DXD DAC by Burr-Brown in a custom 'interleaved' configuration. A total of eight pairs (four for each channel) of differential signals are used and mixed.
The Pro iDSD Signature uses the second generation XMOS XU216 X-Core 200 Series 16-core processor with a maximum of 2,000 MIPS (two billion instructions per second) calculation power in dual-issue mode as USB interface. The X-Core 200 handles decoding of signals from all Inputs, be it USB (up to 768kHz/DSD512), AES/EBU or S/PDIF (up to 192kHz/24Bit) and WiFi/network/mass-storage (up to 192kHz/32Bit).
Zero Jitter Memory Buffer for all inputs Data for all inputs is sent to a large 'dynamic' memory buffer, where it is de-jittered to eliminate any transmission of source jitter to the DAC output. The memory buffer data is then re-clocked by the low-jitter Global Master Timing® clock, which also drives the X-Core 200 & FPGA engine. Studio Grade DSD1024 Remastering While the X-Core 200 is optimal for USB audio, AES/EBU/S/PDIF, MQA, DSD etc.
There are five filters available: 'Bit-Perfect' 'Bit-Perfect+' 'Gibbs Transient Optimised' 'Apodising' 'Transient Aligned' No digital filtering is applied, one tap No digital filtering is applied, one tap, SINC roll-off is corrected Minimum filtering, no pre-ringing, minimum post ringing, 32 taps Modest filtering, no pre-ringing, modest post ringing, 128 taps Max filtering, max pre-ringing, maximum post-ringing, 16,384 taps Full Galvanic Isolation All inputs are galvanically-isolated (including USB).
3) Passive Filtering and Discrete Analogue stage Each d/a converter operates in the 'voltage output mode', giving >119dB dynamic range. All filtering is passive. A fully-balanced 3rd order capacitor/inductor/capacitor filter is used to remove ultrasonic noise directly after the d/a conversion rather than active, feedback-based circuits.
4) Power Supplies All incoming DC is converted to a high-frequency waveform and then rectified and filtered by a choke input capacitor filter (that is straight out of classic tube design, brought up to the latest 21st century technology). This produces a first-level DC bus from which all further voltages are derived. This circuit also generates a galvanically-isolated power supply voltage for the USB input circuitry. The digital section is powered by a bank of ELNA Dynacap DZ (TM) super capacitors of 6.
Every section in the Pro iDSD Signature has received massive attention to detail. Classic, very low-noise design techniques found in tube equipment have been combined with 21st century tech to deliver extreme performance. Specifications Sample rates: Inputs: Outputs: Volume control: Other Functions: PCM up to 768kHz DSD up to 49.152MHz (DSD 1024) MQA up to 384/352.
PCM Filters: Bitperfect 44.1 - 192kHz, always used for 352.8 - 768kHz Bitperfect + 44.1 - 96kHz Gibbs Transient Optimised 44.1 - 384kHz Apodising 44.1 - 384kHz Transient Aligned 44.1 - 384kHz DSD filters: fixed 3rd order analogue filter @ 80kHz with correction for DSD's -6dB gain Gain (headphone section): user-selectable: 0dB, 9dB and 18dB Dynamic range: 119dBA (solid-state, PCM, -60dBFS) Output power: >4,200mW / >1,575mW (16Ω, balanced/single-ended) Output voltage: >11.7V / >5.
Tech Lowdown
Reference-Class DAC/Preamp, Network Streamer & Headphone Amplifier The Pro iDSD Signature is the new flagship reference-class DAC. The Signature edition builds on the strengths of the original, multi-award winning Pro iDSD Even more ultra-grade audiophile components designed to take your listening experience to a higher plane than ever before.
Reference-Class DAC/Preamp, Network Streamer & Headphone Amplifier ▪ Sonically-darker background and more punchy bass ▪ Upgraded power-supply components to lower overall system noise 300% ▪ Precisely matched NOS GE5670s tubes ▪ Added support for USB1.
Cutting-Edge Playback ▪ Airplay network audio playback – iPhone, iPad or Mac ▪ DLNA network audio playback – smartphones, tablets, Windows/Linux computers ▪ Hard disc drive (HDD) ▪ USB memory stick ▪ SDHC memory card ▪ Streaming – Spotify, TIDAL, Napster, QQ Music and more
Front Connections
Rear Connections
Input Selector Use the selector to cycle through the following input options: ▪ Wi-Fi | Ethernet | Hard Disk | Micro SDHC ▪ Device USB (connect to a computer) ▪ XLR Digital Input ▪ BNC Digital Input Also available via the input selector are: ▪ Brightness (press to adjust) ▪ Polarity (hold to adjust)
Reference Class ▪ Quad-stack DAC – 4 x DACs in interleaved configuration enables exceptional resolution ▪ Crysopeia FPGA Digital Engine delivers bespoke digital filtering and up-sampling ▪ Powerful XMOS XU216 X-Core 200-Series chipset processes incoming digital data ▪ Discrete, fully-balanced Class A amplifier stage with adjustable gain
More Than Whisper Quiet Improved low-jitter clock with > 20dB better performance Zero-jitter memory buffer and galvanically-isolated inputs eradicate digital distortion
PCB
Solid State | Tube | Tube+ Solid –State A purely solid-state J-FET based circuit of fullydiscrete Class-A topology Tube The J-FET circuitry is switched to the valve Class-A section based on two GE5670 Tube+ Negative feedback to a minimum. Greater amount of the tubes’ natural harmonics is produced (even order harmonics dominate).
Specifications Sample rates PCM 768kHz / DSD 49.152MHz (DSD 1024) / MQA 352.8KHz/DXD (2xDXD) Input voltage (Pro iDSD) DC 9V/6.7A – 18V/3.
