Here's the back end of the Singxer SU-6 USB bridge. Note its quite sizable Meanwell AC/DC adapter strapped to the rack's top cross bar. Unlike the router's, that switcher had no issue with the iFi whose power-on LED lit up red in confirmation, not its red polarity warning. By using US-style power distributors, I can't get power polarity wrong unless a wall socket miswires. This photo might serve as reminder for the DC iPurifier2's raison d'être. Rather than invest in a linear power supply of the correct voltage/amperage values whose classic power transformer might still hum, we get to keep our mechanically quiet switcher yet prevent its HF switching noise from flooding the component it powers. Sourcing a quality linear power supply for iFi's coin should be one very long day at the office. That's not to imply that a 'dastardly' switcher couldn't be sonically trounced by a 'white knight' linear job. But not all switchers are throwaways; and quality components might actually use galvanic isolators on their DC input to play down any ill effects.

Use mouse-over loupe function; or right-click to open in new tab for full size.

For a telling track I cued up the first album from the Ayoub Sisters then the surprising instrumental cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean". Enlarge the next screen shot with the mouse-over loupe. Check out what proper recorded dynamic range looks like in the purple track progress bar at the very bottom. If you set your volume relative to how quiet the track begins, you'll jump for the remote once it gets past the halfway mark. That's what properly mastered music looks like. If instead you see one big solid bar, it's been dynamically compressed to death; unfortunately today's norm. I deliberately set my starting SPL slightly high then focussed on bowed string tone during the now rather loud bits. Because on massed strings is where noise pollution really shows its teeth.

Color me impressed when the iFi played super-frosty secretary who shields her boss from all pushy visitors sans appointment to become the Dragon Lady. By apparently refusing enough noise to modulate the signal path, I heard more pristineness and greater tonal gloss. That was unexpected but repeatable on the brasses of "Uptown Funk". By dispatching a still digital signal to the following DAC/pre, the Singxer squats at virtually the beginning of my chain. Whatever one improves there at the source so most upstream gets literally amplified on its way down to the speakers. For €129, I had more sophisticated sonics clearly observable on a well-produced 24/96 recording. If I could use just one word for the effect, I'd call it juicier. Could I repeat this small but welcome win in the smaller upstairs speaker system? There I had another component with a DC input.

This one is a fixed 80Hz/4th-order analog Linkwitz-Riley filter which Pál Nagy of icOn preamp fame built for me. It segregates the signal path into +80Hz to an Enleum AMP-23R driving puny 4" 2-ways with hidden isobaric 4-incher; and -80Hz to a dual 9½" Dynaudio force-cancelling active subwoofer. As such it's an influential point of passage for the entire bandwidth. Preceding it is a Vinnie Rossi L2 Signature preamp with Elrog ER50 direct-heated/coupled triodes; a Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe resampling all to DSD1'024; a Soundaware D300Ref USB bridge; and at the very start so right next to my Ikea rocker a Shanling M3 Ultra serving as microSD USB-C digital transport on battery power.

If downstairs had been a 1 out of 10 on the meaningful magnitude meter, this was an easy 3 by contrast. What the iFi eliminated here was a certain splashiness or sizzle. The latter is quite similar to hot oil welcoming drops of water. That type reaction embeds very insidiously inside sounds so is impossible to separate out at will. It's a built-in sonic grit whose texture reminds me of reddish iron rust. We might call it dirt that doesn't just sit there but spits a bit. I played an Antonio Rey bulerías well recorded and even better played. After all, he is my favorite flamenco guitarist. Particularly at higher SPL the before/after difference was unmistakable. No way this tiny gizmo which fit nice 'n' tight into the filter box would ever leave again. Done and dusted. Need invoice.

As my 'evening' rather than 'daytime' system, here I listen to more intimate stuff and at lower volumes. It's why I've deliberately tuned this system for extra directness. I want it fully alert at low SPL. As such it errs on the side on incisiveness and jumpiness when playback material gets of ever more questionable quality. Such blemishes also compound with high SPL which here I simply don't imbibe a lot. For high levels I have big speakers in a bigger room. The DC iPurifier2 didn't bleed out any air pressure of my virtual tyres to change my tuning. It simply made for a calmer ride as though I'd gone from pebbly dirt road to smooth tarmac. No matter how fast one goes or loud one listens, that always equals greater pleasure. This already was fully relevant on 16/44.1 Redbook files which make up the vast majority of my library. A mistake of wrong model shipped had turned into a bona fide iWantz in 2023's era of self worship and instant gratification. What a lovely May day surprise. More mistakes, please!