iFi Audio Uno, the young DAC

It is well known that iFi Audio is the current trademark of Abbingdon Global Limited, which in turn is the front for AMR (Abbingdon Music Research). But at this particular point, I have my doubts, as Abbingdon Global's accounts are too low to be consistent with its sales volume. Therefore, and this is just a guess on my part, it must follow the list of companies behind it. This is nothing new in a world where it is practically impossible to know who is really in charge of any company, as the multiple linked companies and continuous sales make it almost detective work to follow the capital. So let's keep it simple and follow the performance of the iFi Audio Uno.

But first, I want to take another trip down memory lane and recall the founding idea behind iFi Audio to understand our guest a little better. When the first product prototypes were conceived, DACs with headphone amplification, the mental image they had was Apple and its product aesthetics and functionality, i.e., small size, minimalist components, and extremely high performance. And they wanted this to be accessible not only to Apple owners but also to PC users. That is where the company originated.

Interestingly, the arrival of two very different products, including in terms of size, coincided at my home: the iFi UNO and the Legacy Audio Focus SE speakers. The first is the smallest DAC I have ever held in my hand that is not a dongle; and the speakers are the largest and heaviest. 86 grams versus 120 kilos. It's so crazy that I couldn't help myself and in one of the tests, I made them work together. Keep reading, this promises to be interesting.

Highlights:

A button to switch between four equalization modes: flat, music, movies, and games. To achieve this, it does not use a DSP, but rather analog processing, which is the closest thing to applying a passive filter such as speakers, but designed to enhance the most prominent aspect of each of the different types of configuration, from greater clarity in movie dialogue to enhanced bass, but without a booster in game mode. A blue LED lights up when each type is selected (and identifies it) at the top, and turns off when there is no signal.

A button to increase the headphone output by 6 dB (Power Match) to adjust the gain to each specific type. When activated, a white micro-LED lights up.

A potentiometer that acts as an on/off switch, with a light ring around it that changes color according to the sound coding. This is analog, and its travel is smooth, with a smooth increase in music volume. The only drawback I have found in this regard is that because it is so small and lightweight, it is almost necessary to use both hands, one to hold the DAC/preamp/headphone amp to the table in order to make fine adjustments. Nothing major, but it is worth mentioning.

At the rear, we have the USB Type-C input for data and power supply and the RCA output.

Equipment used in testing

Sound source:
  » EMT 948
  » iFi Audio UNO
  » Cairn Swan
  » Roon Labs on dedicated PC
Power amplification:
  » Bow Technologies WAZOO XL
Speakers:
  » Legacy AudioFocus SE
Cables:
» Wires4Music for wiring:
    » Horus Hybrid RCA interconnect
    » Evolution in speakers and mains
» AKG K-701
» Custom rack

This time the list is long, as I have tested the iFi UNO in two different situations: one normal, as a sound enhancement for laptops or game consoles, and the other as another component in a home hi-fi system. I plan to write an article later on how to build a really inexpensive system, and this device will be part of it. In the meantime, let's just enjoy the anecdote of having connected it to a demanding system.

I should mention that there are some features that I want to highlight to avoid any confusion. I have a Lenovo laptop that is about four years old. It is one of the ultra-slim models with Windows 10 installed and a standard player for testing.

The first thing to note is that it far exceeds the standard output of the laptop by a long shot. The ability to drive my AKG-K-701 headphones (which, incidentally, are not the best choice in these cases) is clear, although it lacks some electrical power to really let the music shine. The music is clear, but it lacks volume to bring it to life. I press the Power Match button and things improve considerably. We raise the audio output and now we can consider it adequate, without more. I insist on the fact that I used headphones that are not portable like the rest of the components, and this is a clear drawback. But I don't have an endless supply of headphones, nor do I have speakers, DACs, amplifiers, etc. So sometimes we have to make do with strange bedfellows.

My work tool. With Fedora 38 installed on it. The player used is Qobuz in browser version and Clementine in station version. In terms of sound quality, there is little variation from the previous version, although with an electrical capacity to drive the headphones that is incomparable to the previous test (the laptop was running on battery power). It's so exaggerated that I had to disable the Power Match function to get more control and range from the UNO's analog potentiometer. At this point, I was able to appreciate for the first time, and irrefutably, the sound I was getting from this component. I'll tell you later which album I chose for this test.

It is physically impossible for a DAC of this size, powered by a USB port that can suffer variations in intensity due to the different power consumption of its components, to deliver a stable current. In addition, the environment is highly polluting for the signal, so there is no good news for the sound.

But with a tower PC with a power supply that is superior (significantly superior) to the energy demands of hard drives, fans, CPUs, etc., we can achieve a reasonably stable delivery that is in line with its standard.

The iFi UNO gave me the impression that it completely gave up on the most complicated parts of the sound if they couldn't be controlled well, i.e., the bass, and focused on where it could give its best. For potential buyers of this DAC, it may be a risky bet, but I applaud it with my ears. At a price that competes directly with Aliexpress, they have put out a product that really works. To understand this a little better, cutting frequencies below 40 Hz gives you all the bass feel, but without the problems that can arise when reproducing them. If we activate the Games filter, it becomes clear what I mean when listening to music that is clearly muddled.

This is where my first problem arose. I couldn't really test it and I don't know what the real problem was that prevented me from doing the necessary sound tests. I'll explain the context and you can draw your own conclusions.

First of all, I should mention that I have tried countless iFi Audio products on this system and my list of devices is long. Secondly, I have never experienced anything like this before. To begin with, instead of identifying the iFi UNO correctly, it identifies it as iFi Audio SE. I rename it and carry on. When I select the first track, it disappears from the DAC list. Shortly afterwards, it reappears. The music starts playing and after a few minutes it disappears again. I have to admit that I was running out of time and had to finish this article, so I couldn't pursue the matter further. As I mentioned earlier, I'm looking forward to writing an article about setting up a basic hi-fi system, as I'll have more time to investigate the possible problems, since I don't know whether to blame iFi Audio or Roon Server. Neither of them had failed me before.

I've only recently discovered this lady's music, and I'm already a fan. I discovered her through this article by Xavier Lozano, and her songs and lyrics are now part of my daily life. Difficult lives don't make for better songs or better performances, but the grooves in the singers' souls are there for all to see and hear. Like the great ladies of soul and blues, she fills the soundscape before us with her rich, nuanced voice. The Cost of Freedom is simply brilliant, wonderful, and you should listen to it calmly, at the right moment, to enjoy it and not let it slip by because you're in a hurry. Stop running outside and do it inside. Marla awaits you with love and delicacy.

Not pretending to be something you're not and giving your all in your strong points is smart. Ifi Audio is a smart product for smart people. It has staked everything on sound clarity, sharpness, and detail, leaving aside the damn Booster found in budget DACs and other similar devices. Its working range is appropriate for its physical and circuitry characteristics, and it is capable of filling your ears with music, leaving aside sound pressure that it cannot deliver or bass that it could not control properly.

I started testing the iFi Audio ONE reluctantly, but I ended up very satisfied, thinking that I have one of the best products available at this price in my hands. To live is to discover new things. I didn't think it was possible that such a small device could give me such great moments within its capabilities.

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