(1) For the Stax SR-009 / SRM-007t2 Combo
(2) For the iPhone 4/5/6
iFi's DSD efforts come in two sizes: Nano ($189), Micro ($499). They are a bit clunky, one is longer than the other, and both include output at the top.
It's phenomenal that you can get a headphone amplifier for under $200.00 USD.
If we were to make a comparison, like ..., the Nano would be the RS3, and the Micro, the Quattroporte S.
You'll be spending $5000+/year on tires for the RS3, and likely with the Nano, you'll be tempted to pick up a companion like the SPL Phonitor ($2149.00 USD) right away. The Micro is more of the daily driver. It's comfortable driving the AKG Q701 ($299.00 USD) right away.
The Nano iDSD's format inclusion of 353/384KHz DXD should be able to handle the SRM-007tII ‘Kimik’'s frequency response of DC – 100kHz, +0dB, -1.5dB.
They should prove drool worthy.
At present, our stable of DAC's includes the Calyx Coffee, the FiiO Olympus, the AudioEngine D1, the AudioQuest Dragonfly, and the TEAC UD-H01.
Purposefully, we have schoolishly chosen lower-end DACs to begin our review. It began with the Behringer UCA-202, a purposefully poor DAC in order to review them.
Typically, we decide to audition the best in the category, and then make comparisons to that, but for DAC's, given the technical obsolescence in quinfinitute, we decided to go the other way.
Much like the FiiO goes the other way, by not providing a digital input. Or the iFi's nano and micro (the subject of our review), go the other way, by providing outputs at top.
Can the combination of tubes and leading-edge electronics (iFI) lead to a utopia of sound?
An output impedance of less than 1 ohm (Ω), is phenomenal. The THD+N of 0.005 is sufficient, but not ground-breaking.
http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/stax-sr-009-srm-007tii-kimik/
You're not getting a DAC included with Stax amplifiers, as you would with other similar sized devices, nor are you getting a digital out and RCA line out included with the iPhone 4/5/6.
Back in 1999, when we got our Stax 007 / 007t combo, purposefully going to Japan, we discovered that despite the lack of dynamics and base, the system was perfect for enjoying MP3 (AAC) streaming via Radio Paradise, when everyone else was complaining about the format.
http://www.stereophile.com/headphones/895/index.html
On a noisy HP with Intel Audio (24/192), the tube warmth and the detail of the electrostatic quality was enough to render MP3 via Radio Paradise (128K AAC) as quality music, when everyone else was whining about the lossy format.
How the iFI ups the ante with DSD, we'll let you know. We're already convinced of the value of the Korg MR-2000 (and MR-2000S) DAC/ADC amp, since it's introduction of the format to audio trade shows, and the format, since our dealings with Mark Levinson at Red Rose, and the Sony's introduction of the audio format, en mass.
We were close to buying a milk truck to provide reference recording when everyone else was sticking to 24/48.
Blatantly, everyone was slow to adopt the format.
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