Ifi Nano Ican Headphone Amp

I thought it was about the ifi nano iDSD DAC...

The Nano has a pretty much 'similar' sound to the Ifi Micro via analogue input tbh. However, I much prefer the Micro.

Not just because of sound.

By comparison, the Nano Ican is slightly noisier than the Micro.

The other thing that I noticed was the vol pot sends noise as you turn it. No smoothing capacitors perhaps? Similar to the Ember with the smoothing capacitors removed from the circuit. Not a big problem though as long as you don't fiddle around with the volume.

I really don't like noisy amps a lot so that is slightly off putting for me.

Power of course, is lower than the Micro so it feels comparatively 'sluggish' on the volpot.

The positives ....

Basically a very good, clean sound.
Two inputs.
Terrific build quality.
Bass boost is same as Micro.
3d is same as micro, except that it introduces more noise.

So. It gives a 'flavour' of the better Ifi but my preference, even as a standard analogue amp is the Micro, which has less noise and more power.

I'd say that the Nano is ok, but I think the O2 is a better buy actually.

Funny you mention that Jeremy.

The Micro is extremely powerful in comparison to any other portable amp I've seen but I also found the information a bit hard to work out.

I'm not as impressed with the Nano as I am the Micro, which I love actually. The Micro is versatile with inputs and powerful but the Nano has some things I really dont like.

I don't like noise coming from an amp but the Nano does have a low level hiss, which doesn't alter with low power. Normally, low power will reduce the noise floor as well, but this doesn't happen, so iems will hiss like a snake. Also, the 3d implementation brings the noise level up. This doesn't happen on the Micro. So there is something different going on in the Nano.

The other thing I found strange is the Nano seems to 'react' with the input. The hiss can alter in level depending on where you put the volume knob. Without a dap connected this isn't so, so there is some kind of interaction going on. In fact, with an IPod connected, I get a 'hiss hump'!!!!

The other thing the Nano does that the Micro doesn't is the volpot is noisy as though there are no capacitors to smooth it out.

The build is superb and it has two inputs and all that but for me, the noise levels make it a lesser amp to me. Not so the Micro, which I think is superb. Then again Micro retails at over £400 so it ought to sound good really.

Tbh, I think the O2 does a better job. Absolutely no noise and pretty powerful too. Not as pretty and no full sized jacks on the output and only mini jack input but it has a less noise ridden output.

That's why I feel that the Ican Nano is ok. It has a good sound with 3d and bass boost and all that, but I'm afraid the levels of hiss for me make it a no no. It's going back since I feel a little let down by it; certainly in comparison to the Micro IDSD which is absolutely top notch by comparison. To me, the Nano feels badly designed in terms of noise.

I think it retails at about £145 and at that price, I'd rather have an O2.

How about a mini Ember on lithium batteries? Instead of an Ember, it could be a Spark.

I'll put out a wish list ......

Solid body, not plastic that doesn't scratch too easily.
3 levels of power.
Inputs on back and front so we have a choice.
High power.
Low noise imperative.
Even better with this 3d kind of thing if it were possible to nick it legally.
Smooth vol pot that doesn't scratch on the up and down.
Big battery to supply real power and longer life. I don't care if it takes a dayto charge. Overnight suits me.
Some indicator to show battery level.

The Neco is close. It's just not powerful enough. The Micro is the best I've seen so far in portable amps. Why? Lots of power. Good sound. Low (ish) noise. 3d effect is actually good. The worst thing is lower battery life but no biggie.

I think that there is a market for a quality portable amp, with real power. The O2 design wasn't the attraction imo. It was the power. However, it does have its limitations with regards to input and plugs. I must admit, the Micro has freed me up with quality listening. For instance outside, on my bench in the garden is no longer a compromise. It just sounds good and has the power to drive the Senns with absolute ease.

There are too many low power compromises being sold and the Micro really deals with that, but at one helluva price which makes it a bit niche market for many people unless they're bonkers like me!!

Then again ..... You're too busy!!! Oh well, back to O2.

The Kameleon as it is won't take a line out though Frans. That's the only thing I'm not keen on. For instance, I have a very nice portable dab radio which unfortunately sends hiss out through the headphone out. Fine for high impedance, but iems and low impedance headphones are not so good. The hiss is fixed and remains constant at all volumes, so the louder your radio is, the noise is relatively less. So going to an amp at say, 80% volume and then reducing at the amp takes the hiss completely away. It also supplies a beefier sound too. Going into an amp without a volume control won't lose that hiss at lower volume.

The Ifi 3d trick seems to work very well, although in the case of the Nano, noise is increased. It's not crossfeed but does improve headphone listening in a lot of cases. It slightly alters the timbre too though. Sometimes, I prefer it off.

I know that going from the Ican to the O2 makes the O2 seem lacklustre in spite of the added noise from the Ican. As far as the noise goes, it is low level but nonetheless, modern amps shouldn't hiss. The Ican Nano lacks real power so that, plus the noise makes it not worth the while for me.

The Micro is way better. Way less hiss. There are 5 levels of output power with the iem matching underneath. It's powerful, has multi inputs and volpot, although with that power and I guess,the DAC, power consumption is high so battery life is not massive in spite of it having a big 'un in there. Build quality on both is fantastic though.

In spite of the Micro being larger, because it sounds so good, I don't mind using it mobile either.