xCAN – iFi’s New Analogue Headphone Amplifier – with Bluetooth
iFi expands their portable ‘x series’ with the xCAN – an analogue headphone amplifier with the added convenience of Bluetooth
ANALOGUE headphone amp
At the xCAN’s heart is a high-spec, low-noise, dual-mono headphone amplifier of proprietary design, capable of delivering 1000mW per channel to make the most of any headphone type, from sensitive in-ear monitors to high-impedance on- or over-ear designs.
iFi’s Cyberdrive amp stage combines the sonic purity of analogue operation with the convenience and precision of digital control. Volume attenuation occurs entirely in the analogue domain, for maximum resolution at all volume levels.
Balanced (2.5mm) and single-ended (3.5mm) analogue inputs and outputs are provided. The single-ended output benefits from iFi’s S-Balanced circuitry, cutting crosstalk and related distortion in half when used with regular, single-ended headphone designs.
The xCAN can be connected via cable to any analogue audio component, or any digital device that already incorporates high-quality digital-to-analogue conversion – for example, a DAP (Digital Audio Player). It greatly enhances the sonic performance of any device with an integrated headphone output, and adds high-quality headphone amplification to audio products that don’t offer that facility. It can even be used to vastly improve the sound quality of in-flight entertainment systems.
BLUETOOTH digital streaming
In addition to its analogue cable connections, digital devices like smartphones, tablets, computers and TVs can connect to the xCAN wirelessly via Bluetooth, with the ability to store up to eight paired devices in its memory.
iFi engineers its Bluetooth circuitry differently to other manufacturers. Instead of simply using a system-on-a-chip Bluetooth module to handle the digital audio signal, the xCAN incorporates a chip from ESS Technology’s renowned Sabre DAC family, making full use of its HyperStream architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, supported by iFi’s Global Master Timing clock system. This, coupled to support for the sonically superior aptX, aptX LL and AAC codecs over Bluetooth, enables enhanced-quality streaming from all manner of digital devices.
The convenience of Bluetooth reception combined with high-performance analogue amplification in a perfectly pocketable form makes the xCAN ideal to boost headphone sound quality whilst on the go. And while it eschews the USB audio connectivity and standalone DAC capability offered by iFi’s xDSD – the xCAN is strictly a headphone amp – it costs £100 less than its multi-award-winning sibling.
UNIQUE sonic tailoring options
Proprietary circuits to tailor performance to suit the music and connected headphones are a signature iFi touch. The xCAN is the first device to sport a new version of iFi’s XBass circuit, designed to enhance low-frequency performance – particularly useful with some open-back headphones that lack low bass. XBass II expands the proposition with three separate options: ‘Bass’ (which targets low frequencies), ‘Presence’ (which focuses on the lower midrange) and ‘Bass + Presence’ (which implements both together).
Another setting called 3D+ tackles a common headphone problem. Most recordings are made for (and mastered on) loudspeakers, which can result in an effect known as ‘in-head localisation’ when listening through headphones. 3D+ counters this by delivering a more expansive soundstage, more akin to listening to a pair of speakers or a live musical performance.
These circuits use high-quality discrete components and operate entirely in the analogue domain rather than messing with the digital signal via DSP. Their effect is subtle and can be switched in or out of the signal path, as the listener prefers.
SMALL yet perfectly formed
Like the xDSD, iFi’s new xCAN is encased in strong yet lightweight magnesium-aluminium alloy, ion-plated with a dark titanium finish. Measuring 95x67x19mm and weighing 129g, its form, features and performance combine to make a fantastically flexible headphone amp for use at home or on the move. The xCAN’s built-in battery charges via a USB-C port and offers eight hours playing time per charge.
The iFi xCAN portable headphone amp is available from mid-November at an RRP of £299 inc. VAT.
- Web: www.ifi-audio.com
- Tel. for consumer enquiries: 01900 601954 (Select Audio – iFi’s UK distributor)
- Tel. for trade enquiries: 01704 227204
ABOUT iFi
iFi is the sister-brand of Abbingdon Music Research (AMR) and is headquartered in Southport, UK. The two brands respectively design and manufacture portable and desktop audio products and high-end hi-fi components. The combined in-house hardware and software development team and ‘music first’ approach enable iFi and AMR to bring to manufacture advanced audio products that deliver new levels of design, functionality and performance and their respective price points.