Price: 149€
Where to buy: https://www.amazon.com/IFI-iPurifier-Digital-Optimizer-Purifier/dp/B01KKFTM5S
Specifications (from iFi website):
Supported Signals: 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192kHz; 16 to 24 Bit, DSD/DoP, Dolby Digital, DTS
Input: Combo optical mini-jack & gold-plated co-axial connector (impedance 75 Ohms)
Outputs: gold-plated co-axial connector (impedance 75 Ohms) & optical mini-jack
Power Supply: micro USB, 5V/500mA (iPower 5V included)
Dimensions: 71(l) x 19(w) x 20(h)mm/2.8” x 0.74” x 0.79”
Weight: 29g (1.02oz)
Warranty period: 12 months
Many thanks to iFi Audio for this loan unit.
Unboxing and first impressions
Have you ever opened an iFi box? This is like the other ones: a white monolith with pictures and information on every face. The product itself is small but there are a lot of accessories. The iPurifier in S/PDIF version comes with a wall adapter (with different plugs) called iPower 5V, a microUSB adapter for powering the dongle through the power supply, as well as some adapters (for optical and RCA connections).
The design of the iPurifier is really nice and industrial, much better for me than the chromed xDSD that we reviewed some time ago (here). I mention the xDSD because it has been used for these tests, too.
The iPurifier is able to tell the sample rate it is re-clocking by showing different colors. I personally don’t mind at all, because I’m colorblind and I can control via software – when I use liquid music – all these settings. You can read all those information on the official web page of the product.
How we tested it
We did various sessions for testing this re-clocker. While not expecting a lot of differences sound-wise, we encountered some. We’ll mention every test and then leave some conclusions at the end of the article.
1: Mac Pro 2008 > Fireface 800 > SPDIF > cavo 75 Ohm RCA > S/PDIF iPurifier > optical out > xDSD > AudioSense T800
In our first test we stacked the Apple Mac Pro 2008 (maxed out) as a source, with mainly FLAC files 24bit, to decode via FireWire our music through the award-winning Fireface 800 by RME, one of the world’s best audio interfaces for music production. We connected it via S/PDIF to the iFi iPurifier through a 75 Ω RCA adapter (thanks to one of the included dongles). We then connected the xDSD by iFi itself optically, finally outputting the analog signal to a pair of AudioSense T800 In Ear Monitor.
2: Mac Pro 2008 > Fireface 800 > SPDIF > cavo 75 Ohm RCA > S/PDIF iPurifier > optical out > Yamaha HTR-5030 (Amp)
The second test was similar to the previous one, but we didn’t output through the iFi xDSD but through an amplifier: the HTR-5030 by Yamaha. By doing like that, we used the digital to analog converter of the Fireface 800 and the amplification of the 5030.
3: control test, Mac Pro > Fireface 800 > T800
The third test was avoiding the iPurifier by only using the aux output of the aforementioned audio interface.
4: CD coax (JVC XL-Z331) > iPurifier > xDSD > T800
The fourth test was conducted through solid music: we tested the system with a Japanese version of “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson in CD, read by a XL-Z331 by JVC which outputted the signal to the iPurifier, that in line carried it to the xDSD, to the same AudioSense T800 as before. We used both the single and the album version – no audible differences between the two CD, though.
5: CD coax (JVC XL-Z331) > iPurifier > optical out > Yamaha HTR-5030 (Amp)
Hybrid test between two of the previous ones: solid music, this time the XL-331 served as DAC and the HTR-5030 as amplifier.
6: straight through JVC XL-Z331
7: Mac Pro 2008 > Fireface 800 > Yamaha NS-10M
Last test to compare our standard set-up to all the previous ones. This one was to set an “absolute”, but the most important tests were the ones with the same final tool – the IEMs. However, we have to mention the absolute perfection of the NS-10M with Michael Jackson’s recordings. These are not good speakers. But they are great monitors, as tools: you can be sure that mixing and mastering through them would make your sound golden.
Conclusions
These will be the longest conclusions ever for us. Some important things to notice: even though this iPurifier is a tool meant to avoid jitter and static noise, we think it also levels out some upper frequencies. It’s true, no data loss and no stutter have presented during our tests. However, especially when compared to the straight signal of our CD reader, the signal was mitigated when it came to sibilance and high peaks when using the iFi tool. It absolutely does what it promises, you can notice that it works because the sound when you play and stop doesn’t immediately come. That’s to avoid some losses during the reproduction. That’s the key point. This is a tool that come in help when you reproduce music, not when you produce it. Not hearing the peaks when you are working on a song is a risk to avoid, because the others (not owning a signal purifier) will catch them. But it actually made my listening tests more enjoyable, especially with the gear I’ve used – the T800 are in ear monitors on the bright side. I did enjoy more the xDSD, too, which I have been critical about in my dedicated review. If you need to enjoy your music at its best, they both are useful tools. The xDSD has also a “listen” toggle which I didn’t really use when it came to review it, but it actually slightly modifies the tuning of it, turning it to a more reference DAC/Amp. Just to integrate that review. What’s the point? The iPurifier works, but I don’t feel it is a necessary investment for your set-up if you are just starting. Why? Because the S/PDIF standard is not so common, for instance – in my home set-up I haven’t got any gear with it. But I’d love to have a USB purifier, for example, because my MacBook Pro suffer of static noise and would have a lot of advantages from it. Yes, iFi does a USB type B one and a USB type A, too. You’re welcome.
In the end, this is an interesting tool for an interesting price. A re-clocker for this price is a bargain and if you want the best from your system – or even for the audio coming from your console or TV – you can rely on this one.