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iFi Pro iESL Electrostatic Headphone Energizer Review

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Marvey, Jun 5, 2021.

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  1. Marvey

    Marvey Super Friend

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    This will be the last set of measurements. Earlier with a low-gain and low-power amp, my custom Eddie Current 45, we discovered that the iESL performed best on the 16-ohm x32 gain setting. Now what happens when we use a high-gain high-power speaker amp like the Vidar?

    We know that transformers saturate when the signal level gets higher. We also know that the sweet spot for power amps with respect to noise and maybe distortion is usually more than a few Vrms. Let's explore the different gain / impedance settings using the ESP950 - also keeping in mind the limitations of the ESP950.

    Vidar --> iESL --> ESP95X
    Distortion @ 16-ohm setting
    upload_2021-6-15_21-24-49.png

    Vidar --> iESL --> ESP95X
    Distortion @ 32-ohm setting
    upload_2021-6-15_21-25-27.png

    Vidar --> iESL --> ESP95X
    Distortion @ 64-ohm setting
    upload_2021-6-15_21-25-53.png

    Vidar --> iESL --> ESP95X
    Distortion @ 96-ohm setting
    upload_2021-6-15_21-28-27.png

    From this, it would appear that for high-gain high power amps, the setting for the lowest distortion would be the 96-ohm.
     
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    Marvey, Jun 15, 2021
    #41
  2. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    Great findings @Marv, thanks a ton!
     
    iFi audio, Jun 16, 2021
    #42
  3. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Armaegis, Nov 24, 2021
    #43
  4. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    iFi audio, Nov 25, 2021
    #44
  5. DrForBin

    DrForBin Friend

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    hello,
    discontinued by iFi?
     
    DrForBin, Jan 27, 2022
    #45
  6. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    Yes, we ran out and most likely won't make more, but some of our resellers might still have some left.
     
    iFi audio, Feb 3, 2022
    #46
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    :-(
     
    purr1n, Feb 3, 2022
    #47
  8. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Possible unpopular opinion but if a manufacturer has has no plans on making a specific product any longer, or derivatives thereof, wouldn't there be something gained from licencing the design just so people don't invariably have to deal with collectors and scalpers down the line, e.g. with (Mass)Drop or anyone particularly handy with a soldering kit and access to requisite ICs and the like?

    I know loads of outfits in Shenzhen don't even bother with the asking and just copy things all willy nilly, but something a bit more confidence inspiring wouldn't be remiss. Just think it's kinda a bummer that apparently good gear might vanish into the aether.

    And hey they might not even have to bother with the whole comes-with-a-cow-and-kitchen-sink approach to keep costs down :p
     
    Lyander, Feb 3, 2022
    #48
  9. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    I've always wanted to see someone do the triple pro stack. I think you only need one power supply and it all daisy chains from there.
     
    Armaegis, Feb 3, 2022
    #49
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The most crucial parts in the iESL are the step-up transformers. I'm sure one of those outfits in Shenzhen can copy it, but we know more likely than not they will take shortcuts and use something that sounds like shit that costs next to nothing so they can sell it for a fraction. The Chinese can make good iron, but the problem is that e-stats remain a niche.
     
    purr1n, Feb 3, 2022
    #50
  11. DrForBin

    DrForBin Friend

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    hello,

    so, @iFi audio. you ran out, which also means you sold out.
    sounds like a viable product to me.
    cheers!
     
    DrForBin, Feb 3, 2022
    #51
  12. Tachikoma

    Tachikoma Almost "Made"

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    There is nothing particularly unique about the iESL's design though, it just happens to put everything together in a neat package.

    Also, Sowter and Plitron still make dedicated ESL stepup transformers that work OK for headphones. You can also try P-P output transformers wired in reverse.
     
    Tachikoma, Feb 4, 2022
    #52
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I think that's cutting them short a little bit.
    1. x4 selectable ratios
    2. x6 selectable voltages for bias
    3. Bias voltage based on cap bank, which is topped off once every thirty seconds or something like that. No worries about
    4. The AC termination switch that does have an effect on headstage
    Maybe 1 and 2 are not unique per se, but they did it and I don't see this range of adjustment on other energizers. However, I think this counts as unique because it allows the consideration of the use of a wider variety of power amps with different gains and also to find the optimum bias voltage specific to personal tastes. 3 and 4 are unique.

    But yes, some Chinese outfit could copy everything since iFi already did the legwork. Remember, nothing is audio is new or cutting edge. Analog is over a hundred years old. Digital is near 50. It's just putting stuff together in different ways that sounds good. That last part is harder than most people think and is the reason all Topping DACs sound like shit.
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2022
    purr1n, Feb 4, 2022
    #53
  14. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    My knowledge of how things work could maybe fill a single square of single-ply toilet roll so I'm glad to hear that this may be needless; i just figured that with the reception the iESL got, it might warrant some sort of future permanence. I mostly have the like of Eddie Current amps in mind with this suggestion, mind, now that Mr. Uthus may have properly retired.

    EDIT:
    Huh. No idea about any of this but i'm bowing out now XD
     
    Lyander, Feb 4, 2022
    #54
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Think of it this way: all parts from EC amps are available from somewhere.
     
    purr1n, Feb 4, 2022
    #55
  16. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Pretty much off topic but:
    Oh yes certainly but what kind of amoral dumbface would just look at pics of a Super 7's internals, or heck maybe a Starlett's internals, and go full copy/paste (or have an amp maker they're acquainted with do so for a nominal fee)? I guess a lot of it really is just a certain hesitancy with respect to intellectual property and respect for how much work goes into component selection and implementation.
     
    Lyander, Feb 4, 2022
    #56
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    A lot of it is that. However, you have understand the trauma that generations of Chinese have had to go through with Mao's Great Leap Backward and Cultural Confusion. That makes a people amoral. Philosophically, Chinese tend toward amoral anyway especially toward the concept of IP which is more of a Western construct. Noting here there is a difference between immoral and amoral.

    I mean, the Genocide Games are a happen' right now. :(
     
    purr1n, Feb 4, 2022
    #57
  18. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    We manufacture products in rather large batches and naturally we make more as long as there's demand from our distributors and their customers. Also each product has a lifespan, so we won't keep them alive constantly and we do our best to up our own game. iESL is no more, but maybe one day we'll make its successor, who knows :)
     
    iFi audio, Feb 7, 2022
    #58
  19. DrForBin

    DrForBin Friend

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    hello,

    @iFi audio, fair enough.

    i just spied the date on the circuit board in this thread as 2016.

    i can now see this as end-of-life.

    bummer!

    cheers!
     
    DrForBin, Feb 7, 2022
    #59
  20. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    Yep, six years in the audio industry is ages. But then again, we always have multiple projects in various stages of development and there's always room for more. That said, making something for estats again would be great :)
     
    iFi audio, Feb 9, 2022
    #60
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