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| Model: | iPhono |
| Category: | Phono Preamp |
| Suggested Retail Price: | $400 |
| Description: | 6 x stereo EQ curves, adjustable MC load, dedicated ultra-low noise MC stage, adjustable MM load, adjustable gain, exemplary Class A circuitry with an ultra-wide dynamic range |
| Manufacturer URL: | iFi-audio |
| Model Picture: | View |
| Review by davehg on August 24, 2016 at 21:25:11 IP Address: 71.231.184.239 | Add Your Review for the iPhono |
This is a review of the first generation iPhone - the newest version has several upgrades. I bought this used from a fellow inmate after eyeing other "budget" options including Schiit Mani, Hagerman Labs Bugle 2, and the usual commercial brands (Musical Fidelity, Project).
The iFi is oddly shaped and configured - it is a long rectangular shaped box with two RCA inputs and ground at one end (one each for MM and MC) and a single RCA output on the other end. On the bottom side are three banks of DIP switches to enable MM and MC gain, cartridge loading, and setting of equalization. There is also a toggle switch at one end that enables switching b/t RIIA, Columbia, and Decca curves - a neat feature I didn't use.
The standard power supply is a small walwart, but for an extra $49 you can upgrade to a better regulated power supply. I did, but my unit is still on order, so the review is with the standard supply.
Included setup instructions are not as helpful, I went online and found a great iFi setup manual that walked through the various steps and really should be included with the unit, as it explained all the settings.
Gripes were few = the unit is light and stiff cables will tend to lift or flex it from its resting position. Also, the RCA plugs are really close together, which can present a problem for thicker interconnect ends such as those on my AZ Silver Reference II RCAs. Finally, having the RCA connections on both sides of the unit can make it hard to set up on a smaller rack, as you have cables entering and exiting on both ends.
I started with the Ortofon 2m Red that comes with the Pro-Ject Carbon Début, and played with various loading settings, finally settling on 200 pf. The other settings made a noticeable difference in siblence, so it was nice to have the option to dial it in. Later on, I switched to an Ortofon 2m Blue, one model up from the Red, and since it uses essentially the same body (just different stylus), no additional setting changes were needed.
I'll admit - when I first fired up a couple of records, I was a bit let down. My last turntable, which I sold in the mid 90's, was a VPI HW19 Jr, and it blew away my various digital systems. Returning to vinyl 20+ years later, I still expected vinyl to dominate my digital systems, with smaller margins. But the initial sound, while good, lacked energy, bounce, and rhythm. There was excess silence and surface noise, even after vacuum cleaning the records. Wasn't sure what the focus should be on, so I played around a bit.
I altered the loading on the iFi, which helped the silence, and played with the VTF a bit until many of the ills were addressed. I also switched from enhanced RIAA to regular RIAA, a nice feature on the iFi. But... the real trick was upgrading the Ortofon Red to the Blue. The surface noise dropped considerably, the bass.... wow! It had energy and slam like I remembered vinyl to have. And the mids and highs, just sailed with great detail.
Where the iFi shines IMHO is that it adds no color of its own - it is very neutral, very fast and detailed BUT NOT clinical. The Blue is noted for having a brighter top end than the Red, and it did, but the iPhono never added or subtracted anything. Ok, maybe it has a slight midrange warmth, but I mean slight. I heard it using the more neutral HD650's, and I barely noted it with the darker but warmer LCD 3's. It really lets the rhythm and flow and bounce of good vinyl shine through
My impression of the Ifi IPhono is that it punches way way above its price point, and is probably the strongest component of my new vinyl system. I'll live with the Pro=Ject for a year before making any changes, but I can already predict a VPI Scout may be the next leap. Best thing is, I don't see the need to replace the iFi if I go that route - I can potentially upgrade to a better cartridge (like the Ortofon Black) or try a dynamic high output MC, as I have no doubt the iFi can keep up with a better table.
If you are looking at budget preempt for this popular table setup, I highly recommend seeking out a used Ifi or just bite the bullet and buy the new one.
I'll update when I add the upgraded power supply to note if anything changed.
| Product Weakness: | Light, RCA inputs and outputs on each end which can make placement a challenge on certain racks, dip switch settings a bit hard to read with older eyes. |
| Product Strengths: | Neutral, imparts the rhythm and bounce, super configurable for a wide variety of cartridges, reasonably priced for the solid performance |
| Amplifier: | Woo Audio 6 SE |
| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | none |
| Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Pro-Ject Debut Carbon upgrades |
| Speakers: | Audeze LCD 3, Sennheiser HD650 |
| Cables/Interconnects: | Acoustic Zen Silver Reference |
| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Blues, Acoustic, Rock |
| Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | Foundation Performance PC, Cardas Golden Ref AC |
| Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
Well that was odd - the rest of the review was cut off. Here goes:
I started with the Ortofon 2m Red that comes with the Pro-Ject Carbon Debut. Out of the box, the sound was - well... average. Not the equal nor the better of my more expensive Sony HAP1ZES player or the Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista/Bolder Squeezebox combo. I really expected the vinyl system, even if budget, to be as good or better. Something was amiss.
I played with the VTF, adjusted the load capacitance, and while it helped bring the sound closer to what I was expecting, it wasn't where it should be. I still heard some top end haze, bass was just "ok", and depth and soundstage felt somewhat compressed. Not the vinyl sound I remembered, and I was surprised at the surface noise too - even after a good scrubbing on a vacuum cleaning machine.
Reading up, I suspected the 2m Red was the culprit - it's a starter phono cartridge that sells for $100 and while it gets good reviews, those who have gone up the Ortofon 2m range reported much better sound. The Blue 2M was $230 - seemed odd to spend almost half the table's cost (and the same as I paid for the used iFi) to upgrade the stylus, but I did it and was rewarded handsomely. Surface noise dropped considerably. Bass was significantly increased, much more impact, slam and heft. Everywhere else was noticeably improved - soundstage, rhythm, bounce, top end... the Red felt like it was smothering so much of what the Blue was revealing. I know you can go much higher in the Ortofon range than the Blue, but for me, that will await another table upgrade.
Here's the thing - the iFi was absolutely neutral throughout. It didn't impart any signature of its own, ok - maybe just a bit of midrange warmth. But I heard clearly the impact of loading the cartridge just right, and the differences I heard between the Red and the Blue were clear as day. I loved being able to dial in the capacitance easily, and once I had it right, what I heard sounded natural and relaxed.
With the Blue came Muddy Waters' Folk Singer album, what a treat! Great music and amazing sound. It was the equal of any high rez audio I had on hand.
I wished I had access to one of the other stages to compare, but for me, the iFi was key to extracting all the sound I could out of the budget table and cartridge. Clearly the iFi is more capable than the Pro-Ject - a great entry level table to be sure, and it was the strongest aspect of this vinyl setup.
I won't be surprised if I soon upgrade to a better table, likely a VPI Scout. But I'll be keeping the iFi, and in the interim, I may just experiment with a high output moving coil to see what that sounds like.
I listened to all of this this on my Woo Audio 6SE (tube upgrades), powering either the Audeze LCD3 or Sennheiser HD650, and some rather spendy cables (Cardas headphone cables, Acoustic Zen Ref II Silver interconnects, Cards Golden Ref AC cables, and Foundation Research AC filters - probably $3k in cables - these were holdovers from a much more exotic hifi system sold off after converting to headphone only - your mileage may vary based on your own cables and filters).
Which one are you talking about? The new one is "iPhono2", I think. Fremer recently gave it a very favorable review in his blog and among other things said that v2 is far superior sonically to the original iPhono. The features and adjustability are quite amazing for the price ($499) and small size. I guess this is my review of Fremer's actual review.
He loved it.
n/t
nt
"Gripes were few"??? Reader's Digest version???
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