ifi Audio iPurifier 3 Review – Noise Candy
The superbly built ifi iPurifier 3 works as promised by cleaning up and therefore improving your audio signal. May not make a difference with DACs that feature reclocking technology.
PROS
- Works well
- Superb haptic
- Lots of adapters included
CONS
- Only works on DACs that don’t have their own clocks
- Relatively heavy, hard on your DAC’s socket
- High current draw from phone sources
In this Article
A Noisy Intro
Any digital audio signal is prone to deterioration owing to unwanted artifacts superimposed on it. We try to get this signal as clean as possible into our DAC for conversion into an analog signal. There is a common misconception that all digital information, which is carried as zeros and ones (which are actually small voltage fluctuations), cannot be altered. In reality, noise can couple to this signal.
A USB cable contains two lines, power and data. Any computer connected to a DAC delivers “dirty” power and a poorly timed data stream. These add undesired artifacts to the signal path which remove clarity and contribute to a rather flat, uninspired sound. This can be remedied if the receiving DAC “reclocks”, that is cleans the incoming signal. Interference between the USB cable’s audio and power lines add to the existing noise.
You can learn more about USB noise here.
If your DAC does not have its own clock, a device such as the iPurifier 3 comes to help. We have looked at the ifi iSilencer+ and the AudioQuest JitterBug Full Metal Jacket before. Both made an audible difference in our tests, the JitterBug (mostly) to the better, and the Silencer+ to the worse.
The JitterBug only handles the data line, the iSilencer+ only tackles the power line, whereas the iPurifier 3 deals with both. JitterBug and iSilencer+ sit at the computer, that is at the beginning of the USB line, and the iPurifier 3 is at the end, right by the DAC. All three are therefore complementary and you may combine them for optimal results.
Spoiler alert: trial and error are required.
How the iPurifier 3 works
In this chapter, I quickly try to synthesize ifi Audio’s claims and description of the iPurifier 3’s modus operandi. According to the company, the iPurifier reclocks/regenerates, and rebalances the digital signal.
What does that mean?
First it corrects and improves the USB signal by fixing its timing errors (jitter) and rebuffering the data stream. Second, it corrects impedance mismatches and corrects the USB balance. USB balance? This means it compensates for different zero levels between host and device.
In other words, the iPurifier restores the signal to its near-ideal state. In order to achieve this, ifi Audio deploy their “Upgraded Noise Cancellation” (ANC) military-grade circuit. They integrate quality capacitors for extra filtering and smoothing and fancy resistors for optimal stability and security. Gold-plated copper-alloy shielding is used to minimize electromagnetic interference.
One problem remains after all this cleaning: contamination from the mains, which need to be tackled by the power supplies, power cleaners, and/or power regenerators.
Specifications iPurifier 3
| Compatibility | USB3.0 + 2.0 compatible input port, USB2.0 High Speed output port |
| Connectors | ifi “final” USB solid-aluminium connectors |
| Impedance | 90 ohm |
| 2 LEDs | Power Supply (blue), Sound Signal (green) |
| Current Draw (from Audio Source) | 120 mA (ifi Audio); 132 mA (my measurement) |
| Dimensions | 66 x 19 x 20 mm |
| Weight | 33 g |
| Download Manual | ifi Audio |
| Tested At | £14900 |
| Product Page | Silent Power Tech |
Physical Things
In the box are the actual device, three adapters, the manual, and a sticker. The iPurifier 3 is attached to the USB (2.0) cable coming from the music source with its USB-B socket, and connected to the DAC with its USB-B plug. The adapters are necessary to connect to DACs with USB-C and USB-A ports.
An iPurifier 3 version with USB-B socket and a USB-A plug is also available.
The iPurifier 3 feels rather heavy and sturdy in my hands. I wished ifi Audio would have included a USB-B extension cable to take stress away from the DAC ‘s port it is connected to. These extensions are hard to find (I had to order one from abroad at an extraordinary price).
The iPurifier 3 draws current from the host, and quite a lot of (as much as a very thirsty dongle DAC). Hence be prepared when playing music from your phone. Other than that, you just plug it in and it works.
Testing and Results
I tested the iPurifier 3 with the SMSL DO200 MKII and EarMen Tradutto DACs, both into the EarMen CH-AMP. Sources were an iMac and a first gen. iPhone SE. I also tested it with the Tradutto into the Burson Funk amp as well as with the portable EarMen TR-amp, both sourced by the iPhone. I was aware that my DACs did not have any filtering or reclocking technologies built in.
The result was always the same: the iPurifier 3 adds depth and clarity/transparency, which improves spatial reconstruction. It also removes shrillness and sharpness from higher notes, which makes the sound thicker and richer. In the lower treble, it corrects the robotic character of the cymbals (when used with the Roseselsa Distant Mountain headphone).
What first seemed subtle became substantial. When removing the iPurifier 3, the stage sounded flatter, more cramped, and the overall sound was duller. I did my testing mainly with complex classical music: symphonies with tens of musicians on stage. Differences with pop and rock music were far less significant.
Any two juries may come to contrasting conclusions: such users who listen to EDM, pop etc. may scream “Snake Oil”, others who subscribe to jazz and orchestral music may experience a subtle improvement in sound quality which may lead to a substantial increase in listening pleasure.
I belong to the second group and personally don’t want to miss the iPurifier 3 in my setups (hehe, I need another two for my other listening stations). And then there is that 3rd group that never tests anything but claims it cannot work anyway, possibly based on some dodgy measurements.
Concluding Remarks
The iPurifier 3 certainly improves sound quality in “noisy” setups. In my tests, the device offers an improvement which some may consider being subtle and others significant. To me, the improved clarity, resolution, separation and spatial cues increase my enjoyment of well-recorded Mozart symphonies. Others may not care.
When listening to Dire Straits, Dua Lipa, and Motörhead, the difference was negligible. Despite what some opinionated reviewers said, the iPurifier 3 works (for my setups) by improving sound quality. You don’t need it if your DAC has similar cleaning components built in.
Until next time…keep on listening!
Disclaimer
Our generic standard disclaimer.
