Ifi Spdif purifier


Picked one of these up on a whim. Haven't had a chance to listen to much music yet but watching 2 channel tv through the Fire TV is much improved. Voices are so much more easy to understand and I dont have to turn it up near as much. Anyone have experience with this guy. 
mofojo

Showing 4 responses by lowrider57

I added an iPurifier to my transport and DAC combo after it was recommended to me by a forum member. I was told for optimal performance it would need an LPS.
With that said, I was not impressed using it in my 2-channel system with the stock wall-wart.

After allowing 200 hours run-in time, music was still sounding anaemic, lacking low-end extension, a narrow soundstage. But it did improve detail.
I suspected that I had a jitter issue and needed a reclocker (the trial period for the iFi had expired) so I ordered a LPS with a large torroidal transformer and high quality caps. The improvement in SQ was astonishing with XL dynamics, wide and deep soundstaging, and music that had real weight to it. I finally had a system that was non-fatiguing.

I already had decent components; Audio Note Dac and PS Audio PWT. The iFi was a low cost solution to improve my digital.

Sorry, I didn't see your questions until the @ notification was used.

I'm using a Swagman Labs Signature LPS, recommend by a couple of members. $280 for all premium parts built to order and a major upgrade in sound. I had good contact with them throughout the order and delivery process.

What the review doesn't mention is how the S/PDIF coax cable can affect jitter and the overall SQ. 
In my system using a PS Audio PWT and Audio Note NOS dac, the iFi plus LPS made a noticeable improvement. Music's more organic, spacious, has more weight, lower noise floor. I was using a variety of coax cables, always searching for one that would help achieve that analogue-like presentation.
I'm now using a High Fidelity CT-2 SPDIF and the improvement is astonishing. With this cable the sonic effect of the iFi is negligible. 

As a reminder, in the review the iFi was tested using a SMPS wall-wart. Not really a fair test for use in a high-end system. Even the designer of the Synchromesh recommends the use of a LPS.




@kalali

http://www.swagmanlab.com/Product_PSU?product_id=631
This is the stock 5V unit. You have to special order the 5V Signature Edition.

http://www.swagmanlab.com/SE

It comes with the standard cable. The iFi comes with a USB adapter and plugs into the LPS cable. It's simple.