Nice DAC! I use Bricasti M3 and really like it. Sounds great with my Aurender N200. I used to use the inbuilt network card as Roon endpoint but adding the N200 was a game changer. I don’t use Roon anymore. I’m planning to step up to either M1S2 or the M21 in the future. So far I’m happy with the way my system sounds though.
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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Nothing wrong with USB if done right. Look at Schitt on their USB after many years of saying it was bad. They rolled their own so to speak. ARM processor or INTEL processors have 0 effect on the sonics of a streamer. Get a monkey to process the 1's and 0's fast enough and they would be good enough too. The sonics are related to other factors not the monkey or ARM's ability to process. |
@ everyone. I think you have to sometimes try stuff in your system or trust when another audiophile that you trust tells you he likes a new item over a more expensive thing he owns then that’s a sign that you might wanna try it. I tried the ls1 against the esoteric player as well as a Melco that retailed at 10k and the ls1 sounded wayyy better. I then ran it up against a MacBook using the soulutions 540 and it beat that too. I use the Infigo method 4 dac with the ls1 streamer and I have yet to run into a combination that rivals it. At 5k it’s worth every penny. But then again I’m careful because I speak as an audiophile. If you are in the DC AREA this weekend come hear it for yourself at the Capitol Audiofest nov 8-10. Room 823. Ask for me and I will give you a demo. |
Funny stuff @rbstehno most ever sota DAC and streamer/server uses USB. 2 issues with this streamer: * uses Intel which is the worst/out of date processor * uses usb. My dedicated streamer doesn’t even provide isb because the manufacturer knows that usb is terrible. How many demo to clocks/reclockers/cables that separate the usb data and power and the other 100 tweaks/gimmicks on how to make usb presentable, not even in the same ballpark as i2s or Ethernet. The best cpus for the last few years are arm based, which Intel has old technology that can’t compete with the arm procs. |
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