It’s a compact little device, as well, easily small enough to throw in a laptop bag - even if it is not quite as small as some other USB DACs.Īs is typical with iFi products, the package includes all of the items you are likely to need to make the unit work. The inset-USB-A OTG connector on the back is an especially nice touch, as it helps keep cables/connectors out of harms way and reduces the overall foot-print of the unit when in use. The all-metal chassis is a nice touch, connectors seem solid and well supported, recesses for connectors are wide enough to accommodate any plug/connector you’re likely to use. The Nano iDSD Black Label is a solidly built little unit. Where appropriate/referenced I utilize a number of high-quality, high-resolution, albums, needle-drops, and also some native DSD content. The majority of the music I use in my evaluations is in “Red Book” CD format (16 bit, 44.1 kHz), most of which comes from CD rips an initial playlist for my audition listening can be found here. To focus on the performance of the Nano iDSD Black Label, without regard to output power etc., I also fed it through my SPL Phonitor x amplifier (single-ended, using an AudioQuest “Golden Gate” 3.5mm (1/8”) TRS to RCA cable). Other DACs and DAC/amps used in this review include the AudioQuest Dragonfly Black and Dragonfly Red and the Schiit Audio Modi Multi-Bit. Headphones used for this evaluation include: Etymotic ER4-XR, Empire Ears Zeus XR (Adel), Focal Clear Sennheiser HD650, HD660S, Massdrop x AKG K7XX, Fostex TR-X00 and Elex. Otherwise, the unit will draw power from USB to operate and charge it’s battery. This is done simply by powering the unit on before connecting it to your source.
A particularly interesting feature here is that you can use the battery to power the unit WITHOUT taking power via USB, thus further reducing the potential for noise on the USB power-lines to affect the unit’s performance. In PCM mode they are a “minimum phase” and “linear phase, transient aligned”, respectively.Īnd finally the unit incorporates it’s own battery, good for about 10 hours of on-the-go listening. Depending on the format of the material being played, these swap between filters specific to those formats. There are two selectable filters, labeled “Listen” and “Measure”.
The USB 2.0 input features built-in iPurifier technology, which filters the USB power and data lines to reduce source-induced noise. One of these is a direct output, the other features iFi’s iEMatch feature, which reduces/eliminates hiss with very sensitive, low-impedance, IEMs and can improve their available dynamic range. The headphone outputs are in dual-mono configuration which, combined with balanced-compatible TRRS headphone/IEM connections, keep the grounds for each channel separate (you don’t get more power this way, but it helps with channel separation/crosstalk).īoth 3.5mm headphone outputs can be used with either single-ended (TRS) or balanced (TRRS) connections, and will operate correctly for either configuration. The Nano iDSD Black Label is rather feature rich for such a diminutive unit, supporting high-bit rate PCM (up to 24 bit/384kHz), DXD, quad-rate DSD (DSD256) and MQA rendering. There is no analog input, so the headphone output can only be used with the unit’s DAC as the source. The DAC section can be used via the built-in headphone outputs, making it an all-in-one solution, or via a dedicated line-out connection to feed other amplifiers. This is a $200 combined DAC/amp that’ll work with laptop or mobile devices. The unit I am reviewing is on kind loan from “ The HEADPHONE Community” and their “ Community Preview Program”. It’s a full-function DAC/amp, with support for high-resolution audio formats, usefully powerful headphone outputs, in a compact, battery/USB powered, form-factor - useable both on the go and at a desk.
#Meridian direct dac vs meridian explorer dac portable#
The iFi Audio Nano iDSD Black Label is an updated version of the original Nano iDSD portable DAC/amp, and the latest unit to get the “Black Label” treatment (improved parts/specs - and a new black/orange color scheme). Review written by Ian Dunmore Introduction
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