Never say never in this hobby especially if you’re trying to make a living in this business. There are no absolutes in audio just choices based on our own unique circumstances.
My Comments on the Infigo Audio IS-1 Signature Streamer
A $5,000 SRP Infigo Audio IS-1 Signature streamer replaced my MAC Book Pro dedicated for music streaming only. Both streamers have Audirvana Studio music player installed. Audirvana Remote is installed on my Apple iPad.
Audirvana Studio enhances audio quality on computers by optimizing the operating system for audio playback and disabling non-essential services. It functions as a third-party player, scanning local music libraries and integrating streaming services like Tidal and Qobuz, but not Spotify or Apple Music. Audirvana offers both subscription and lifetime license models.
My Ethernet source drives a netLINK Ethernet Media Converter model HTB-GS-03 with a fiber optic output driving a fiber optic cable to the streamer. A 5V wall adapter powers the netLINK. The streamer’s only digital output is USB to the DAC. Infigo chose USB as the sole output format because done right it provides ultimate performance. Any other format would increase cost while limiting bit rate, sample rate and ultimate performance.
Fiber optic isolation in this case improves audio quality by eliminating network noise and jitter. This separation between the ‘dirty’ network and the clean audio chain ensures that RF and EMI interference, as well as high-impedance leakage currents from network devices, do not degrade the audio signal. As a result, digital music reproduction is cleaner, quieter, and more transparent, providing a more natural and lifelike sound experience.
It also incorporates ultra-low jitter re-clocking of network audio packets, reducing the need for specialized network equipment. The device supports multiple modes of operation, including Audirvana, uPnP, Roon, and HQPlayer, making it compatible with most music players.
IS-1 employs Intel’s best Quad Core CPU with one core fully dedicated to music processing. This music core runs at a moderately high fixed rate while the other 3 cores vary in speed depending on needs. Intel primarily designed this as a state-of-the-art CPU with maximum speed and power for mobile devices. Infigo chose this CPU for its speed, power and low-current draw, allowing the use of a mandatory linear power supply to meet performance goals.
Onboard IS-1 is a toroidal transformer and 100W linear power supply, about 5x the maximum required for immense power supply headroom. Infigo includes a built-in local webpage (http://infigostreamer.local) for easy control and customization, with dimmable front-panel LED with full-off option.
Each of 4 included footers employs 3 black “star” (synthetic) sapphire bearings. Each footer has a lower half with plain stud and upper half with threaded stud. To minimize cross-threading, and to make it easy, I placed my IS-1 on a small box to raise it. Screw the 4 upper footer halves into the outrigger’s 4 threaded holes. I then placed my IS-1 on its shelf.
Insert 3 sapphire bearings into 3 hemispherical cutouts in one lower footer half and slowly slide them (one at a time) under the footer half with rubber O-ring. Rotate the lower footer half and sapphires till the latter fit fully into the upper footer’s hemispherical cutouts. Now the 2 halves are properly “sandwiched,” the O-ring providing a friction press fit. Repeat for the remaining 3 lower footer halves and 9 sapphire bearings.
In the future, before picking up IS-1, remove all 4 lower footer halves and secure the 12 sapphires in a jar or elsewhere. If not, the lower footer half can unexpectedly detach with risk of lost sapphires.
The sapphire bearings act like a diode, channeling vibration from the streamer into the supporting panel.
see link for more info on the INFIGO IS-1Streamer
FYI: Other operation modes are ‘uPnP’ endpoint, which will present the streamer as an endpoint in the network that can be reached via all music software that can play to a uPnP endpoint. The streamer can also operate as a Roon endpoint; you will need another computer in the network to run the Roon core software, which can then play to the streamer as endpoint. For those that use Roon with HQPlayer for better sound quality, the streamer can operate as an HQPlayer Network Audio Adapter.
This “Signature” version is the base model $5,000; the “Cryogen” version is $7,000. Both versions offer the same audio and musical performance with extra features on the Cryogen version.
The Infigo Audio IS-1 streamer has substantially improved my sound quality. I immediately noticed my system sounds much better. The music is clearer, bass is more powerful, and imaging has improved. My Signature model lists for $5,000 and the Cryogen model $7,000.
The INFIGO IS-1 Streamer is highly recommended.
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@lalitk im not trying to make a living in this hobby. I have ran a successful business that has nothing to do with audio for 22 years. I do this on the side to help Hans because I think he is an amazing designer who builds amazing sounding equipment. I never said that anything was absolute. I just don’t use roon. I don’t have a need for it. I just enjoy what I have. Glad you are happy what you have enjoy and happy listening my friend. |
No I haven’t heard this streamer, I don’t need to. Even in 2024, usb is still flawed. Here are a couple of snippets from a 2024 paper so my standards have not changed; “let's first discuss the role of a USB connection in your audio system. In modern high-end audio setups, digital audio signals are often transmitted from a source (like a computer or a digital streamer) to a Digital-to-Analogue Converter (DAC) via a USB cable. While USB is convenient and capable of transmitting high-resolution audio, it’s not without its flaws. One of the most significant issues is jitter. In the quest for audio perfection, audiophiles leave no stone unturned, from speakers to amplifiers to DACs. However, a critical and often overlooked element can significantly diminish the potential of even the most high-end audio system: digital signal integrity. USB connections, a standard in music streaming and digital audio, are particularly prone to jitter and timing errors, which can severely impact sound quality by introducing noise and distortion. Imagine investing in the finest audio components, expecting to uncover every layer and nuance in your favourite recordings, only to be met with a sound that lacks clarity, depth, and precision. This frustration is not just disappointing; it's an all-too-common issue that undermines the substantial investments made by serious audiophiles. Standard USB connections, while convenient, simply aren't built with the high-fidelity transfer of audio signals in mind, leading to these detrimental timing errors.” Every review of a component that has usb, and 1 of the following:i2s, or Ethernet, have preferred the sound quality of i2s/ethernet over usb. Every streamer is a computer and most use the same usb hardware, even usb audio 2.0, which still didn’t resolve any of the issues above, it was mostly a speed increase.
My question to you and most audiophiles, when was the last time you judged for yourself if usb was better than Ethernet or i2s? 99% of you will never be able to run these tests because your setups don’t furnish these interfaces. I’ve been able to do this for many years and that’s why I got rid of my auraluc Aries streamer with my attached usb dac 7 or 8 years ago along with my reclocker devices, usb cable that splits the data from power, femto clock devices, and whatever usb tweak I had. Before I recently sold my AQ Diamond usb cable, I did do a couple of sessions comparing usb to Ethernet and i2s. The AQ cable is gone now, no need to ever use usb again. |
Let me add this info. Quite a few high end companies have created their own proprietary links between components to get the best possible sound. What did a lot of these companies use as this interface? I2s. Here is a description from Esoteric on their es-link: ES-Link |
@spkrplus i try to be careful in saying what I say. I’m glad you said what you said. I can buy anything I want. I choose the Method 4 Dac and Ls1 streaming combination because I get all the detail, soundstage and musicality without degrading sound quality. Most that I know that use roon say it’s a slight even though small loss in sound quality to gain functionality. So for me it is a non starter. I have had people and clients get rid of bigger name equipment and cables to purchase the Infigo stuff. I’m glad you are sharing your observations with us. Hans knows how the use the ess Sabre 9038 dac chip like no other because he used to work with the guy who invented the chipset . He believes that any loss of sound quality while building equipment is a non starter. So if it degrades sound quality it’s a no! He built this dac and streamer with that in mind. I been in this hobby 20 years and have never been happier. Anyone who tells you that they don’t need to hear something before they have an opinion on it is someone I wouldn’t listen to. There are some amazing guys in high end audio. Technology is being pushed to the limit in our hobby. There are guys that figure out how to get the best out of already existing platforms and methods. I think Hans has just pushed us to a new limit. I’m proud of the Method 4 and Ls1 and would put it up against anything. The method 4 dac faired well against all of the super dacs in a shootout on the Whatsbestforum Dac shootout last year. I offered to loan my streamer out simply because I’m that confident in its performance. But there are some guys that will shoot it down without hearing it. I don’t worry about that crowd because in this hobby there will be those but most audiophiles enjoy hearing something new. They understand that in each technology method new highs will be reached and there is a sense of curiosity and possible wow factor in each thing you put your ear on. If you already have you mind made up you have a right to. But some are more interested in showing us that they are right and how smart they are over actually listening and trying equipment with an open mind. Whatever you do try as much as you can. Audio is a journey. It’s YOUR OWN JOURNEY NOT THEIRS! @rbstehno i just had the 20k esoteric No1xd in my system 2 months ago while I loaned my dac out and I preferred the sound of the Infigo method 4 with the ls1. I was actually one of the first to get the ls1. Just my opinion. |
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