We purchased the iFi iUSB Power ($199.00 USD), and also the iFi Gemini Dual-Headed USB Cable. ($179.00 USD). We'll get to the iFi Gemini, later.
Regarding the unit, they should also offer the iFi iPower USB. Alternatively, they could re-arrange the unit, and insert the power-supply.
Presently, we have a conversation with Roger Sanders there, regarding his 10C speaker system, which includes active processing, cross-over and some amplification for $14,000 CDN. While we have not had a chance to review the 10C, it may very well be the non-imaging fidelity reference in loudspeakers. What it is, however, there is no doubt, is a heck of a steal, and this brings us to today's article.
The iGemini is a nice unit. It's a nice cable.
We are rightly convinced that the best way of upgrading our reference Rotel-driving Calyx Coffee and Sony TA-N55ES bashing and QUAD 405-breaking (Thanks, Commercial Electronics, for the fix.) FiiO D3 DAC's would be with the addition of a iFi Audio iUSB Power Supply. www.ifi-audio.com
It produces USB power on one output, useful to the D3, to replace it's dangerous wall-plug USB power adapter. We tried it with the D3, and it worked fine.
On the other output, it passes through USB data, which would be useful to powering and further removing the under-driven and under-powered Calynx Coffee from our PC's power supply. Noise pass-through should be removed, and perhaps we might anticipate more pep in the resultant quality of sound (QOS). We tried it with the Calynx Coffee DAC, and it improved the subjective bass response.
For this review, we also tried it with our FiiO Olympus. The Olympus is an excellent unit, and while the sound quality was not improved (much like our experience with the Devialet and various expensive power cables and filters), the noise floor was improved, remarkably. Typically, the Olympus isn't noisy at all, but we were likely having some power-line issues, and iFi's iUSBPower worked wonders.
Presently, we are using it as a charging stand for our iPod Nano. We occasionally use the Nano for walking (once or twice a month), and it filters and protects the Nano, just fine.
iFi Audio iUSB
Power Supply Upgrade
$199.00 USD
www.ifi-audio.com
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