I've had the iFi iDSD Pro for a couple of weeks and just can't recommend it to anyone. The users manual is completely worthless. I can figure out what the connections are for. What I need is something other than "use Muzo" for playback. Literally the *only* thing I've been able to get working is WiFi streaming of MP3 from my iPhone via Airplay (and even that was tricky without any instructions at all). I can't get anything else to work. I have DLNA server running with a ton of music. I've did a direct connection of lossless FLAC on a USB drive that I can't play. Perhaps iFi has only bothered to make Ethernet connected streaming easy to use, but I can't do that as I am in the country and have limited (satellite) network connection. Bottom line it's possible this is a great piece of audio equipment, but I have no idea as I'm stuck playing LoFi MP3 through it. For the price of this unit, they should have a decent users manual that explains how to connect it to WiFi and play music from various sources. Or at least some instructions on their website. I can't recommend the iFi iDSD Pro until they get their act together.
IFI iDSD Pro
I've been trying out this DAC/streamer in my home. The first unit completely crashed in the first few seconds and had to be replaced (it went into "protected mode" and never came out). The second one works.
Here's the lowdown - it sounds really good, particularly in certain filter modes (I prefer Gibbs-Transient, and sometimes DSD upsampling, interestingly, the tube modes don't do much for me). However, the streaming functionality is not at all ready for prime time. You can occasionally get bursts of white noise when switching program material via DLNA, or using chromecast to the optical input, and this morning it just crashed altogether in the middle of streaming. I had to reboot.
This is *after* updating the firmware as requested by IFI support. Prior to that it would switch off between tracks while streaming.
Also, the remote is absolute crap, just a sticker over two volume switches (one of them NA), and the "Muzo" app is just the worst piece of S**t I've seen. Fortunately, one doesn't have to use it.
The manual doesn't cover basics, such as how to set up wifi (Which is necessary for Muzo, even if you are wired for streaming, which I certainly am).
So it seems a bit dangerous to keep. I know it is a somewhat new product, but does anyone know if IFI firmware updates eventually even out the features in other products?
Here's the lowdown - it sounds really good, particularly in certain filter modes (I prefer Gibbs-Transient, and sometimes DSD upsampling, interestingly, the tube modes don't do much for me). However, the streaming functionality is not at all ready for prime time. You can occasionally get bursts of white noise when switching program material via DLNA, or using chromecast to the optical input, and this morning it just crashed altogether in the middle of streaming. I had to reboot.
This is *after* updating the firmware as requested by IFI support. Prior to that it would switch off between tracks while streaming.
Also, the remote is absolute crap, just a sticker over two volume switches (one of them NA), and the "Muzo" app is just the worst piece of S**t I've seen. Fortunately, one doesn't have to use it.
The manual doesn't cover basics, such as how to set up wifi (Which is necessary for Muzo, even if you are wired for streaming, which I certainly am).
So it seems a bit dangerous to keep. I know it is a somewhat new product, but does anyone know if IFI firmware updates eventually even out the features in other products?