Ideon Absolute epsilon In The House

[bonzo75]

If the guy has typical audiophile box speakers, it will be like comparing a SET amp and CH Precision - polar opposites. Now if the guys says, say a horn driven by Kondo Ongaku, this comparison will be much more interesting

Your analogy is incorrect. As for what the guy has, he introduced me to my first horn speakers ever. They were his DIYed, many years ago, and I wondered how a horn and a midrange as transparent and as agaile as my electrostats. I later would make the connection that horn beryllium drivers like TAD and Radian have that electrostat similarity. His were TADs. I heard them with very low watt SETs, and loved the Lampi.

As he is a dealer/distributor he also has now horn, panels, and cones, and things like audionec. So the compare can be done on any or more than one.

 

[caesar]

As he is a dealer/distributor he also has now horn, panels, and cones, and things like audionec. So the compare can be done on any or more than one.

excellent. Please share the results. will be interesting data points

 

[Alrainbow]

We’re any preamps used in direct compares of sel 2 to ideon ?

 

[thomask]

I am doing comparison of Ideon Absolute and Chord and HMS with Erik who is also active member of WBF.

Let me summarize his opinion later.

But he is also impressed with Ideon.

 

[Jeffy]

I agree the MSB Select II can sound lacking a little in the top and bottom when I first heard it 2 years ago, using USB input. That's why I liked my Bricasti M21 better which used ethernet. My MSB Select II is not lacking at either extreme with ethernet as the input. No comparison. You have to know how to use the right cords and isolation and when done I think this DAC can't be beat. I have not had the Wadax in my system so no comment.

 

[thomask]

Erik nicknamed "Solypsa" here is of the opinion that Ideon sounds neutral with natural soundstage, nice bass and dynamics with less noise than Dave.

On the other hand, Dave and HMS sounds warmer with slightly deeper soundstage and sparkle.

He said Dave will be good for hosting party, but Ideon will be good for long term listing.

Overall, Erick had been mightly impressed with Ideon, but he did also like the sound using Dave too.

Dave sounds also musical enough in my system of Altec A7.



We are in the middle of asemblying Scaena 3.2 right now.

After assembly of Scaena done, we will do also brief comparrison between Ideon and Dave HMS using Scaena 3.2.

 

[Al M.]

I agree the MSB Select II can sound lacking a little in the top in bottom when I first heard it 2 years ago, using USB input. That's why I liked my Bricasti M21 better which used ethernet. My MSB Select II is not lacking at either extreme with ethernet as the input. No comparison. You have to know how to use the right cords and isolation and when done I think this DAC can't be beat. I have not had the Wadax in my system so no comment.

It's always the system context. That's why I don't trust most comparative reports, on WBF and elsewhere. I need to hear things for myself.

And yes, USB is mostly suboptimal. There are some negative early reports on my DAC using USB. You can throw those all in the trash can. I have never used USB.

 

[matthias]

And yes, USB is mostly suboptimal. There are some negative early reports on my DAC using USB. You can throw those all in the trash can. I have never used USB.

BTW, Schiit is in the final stage of development of USB output for their CD player. Both Mike and Jason mentioned in the last video that it sounds much better that AES

Matt

 

[Al M.]

BTW, Schiit is in the final stage of development of USB output for their CD player. Both Mike and Jason mentioned in the last video that it sounds much better that AES

Matt

If that’s the case, then their USB has come a long way. Mike thought of the USB in the first generation Yggdrasil that compared to AES/EBU it sounded like, well, shiit .

 

[matthias]

If that’s the case, then their USB has come a long way. Mike thought of the USB in the first generation Yggdrasil that compared to AES/EBU it sounded like, well, shiit .

The times they are a changin'

Matt

 

[matthias]

To come back on topic:
Ideon Audio seems to prefer USB as well (as do Taiko Audio)

Matt

 

[Jeffy]

Interesting as the Ideon does not even offer ehternet.

 

[matthias]

Interesting as the Ideon does not even offer ehternet.

The Absolute Stream offers ethernet input and USB output

Matt

 

[Jeffy]

I'm talking about the DAC not the streamer.

 

[matthias]

I'm talking about the DAC not the streamer.

It doesn't seem to make sense for Ideon to offer ethernet for the DAC when they offer a dedicated streamer.

Matt

 

[Jeffy]

I don’t use a streamer as I just play local files stored on my computer

 

[Al M.]

It doesn't seem to make sense for Ideon to offer ethernet for the DAC when they offer a dedicated streamer.

Matt

Sounds like a deal breaker to me.

 

[matthias]

Sounds like a deal breaker to me.

For comparison Yggdrasil will never get an ethernet input.

Matt

 

[Al M.]

For comparison Yggdrasil will never get an ethernet input.

Matt

You're right, forgot about that. I don't use ethernet either, and a friend uses ethernet for streaming, but with a network bridge into the Yggy via AES/EBU.

 

[thomask]

Erik and I had set up Scaena 3.2 yesterday.

I appreciate his help a lot.

After assembly of Scaena, we had done brief comparison between Ideon and Dave.

Now the difference is substantial.

Scaena 3.2 give very wide and deep holographic images.

Ideon give more stable images and dynamics than Dave and Hms.

I usually upload the video.
But since Scaena had not been used for 3 years, I notice slight hard edges which may need break in.


Now I have to change my opinion on Ideon Absolute.

It is at least as good as MSB Select II.

Ideon give better dynamics than Select II but Select II give some analog like ease.