iFi Audio
iCAN PHANTOM 1.5
iFi Audio updates flagship amp with iCAN PHANTOM 1.5
The iCAN PHANTOM 1.5 is a hardware revision of iFi Audio’s flagship headphone amplifier in its Elite Audio Range. It uses a single dual-level aluminium chassis and adds an anti-fingerprint coating to the top glass and screen.
Georg S. Kuklick
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iFi Audio has introduced a hardware revision of its flagship headphone amplifier. The iFi Audio iCAN PHANTOM 1.5 offers selectable gain settings of 0dB, 12dB and 24dB and is available now through the company’s UK online store at £3,749.
The revision increases IEMatch attenuation to up to 12dB for single-ended connections and 24dB for balanced connections. Its revised volume control uses buffered pads for smoother rotation. A redesigned user interface and VU metering for real-time level monitoring accompany the colour OLED display. The amplifier also provides three-level XBass Pro bass adjustment and three-level XSpace Pro spatial processing.
Smartphone remote control is available through the Nexis app, which also supports over-the-air firmware updates. Nexis provides real-time tube health monitoring and diagnostics for the amplifier. Its controls include a reset function and the ability to rename the unit.
The amplifier retains the original model’s True Differential Balanced PureWavePRO circuit architecture and has separate, switchable Class A solid-state and valve input stages. The discrete solid-state stage uses J-FETs, while the valve stage employs a matched pair of General Electric 5670 tubes. Tube+ mode reduces overall loop gain and negative feedback relative to Tube mode.
The iCAN PHANTOM 1.5 supports in-ear monitors, dynamic headphones, planar magnetic headphones and electrostatic headphones, with an integrated iESL energiser for the latter. Individually calibrated SD cards select custom electrostatic bias voltages from 500V to 640V. Adjustable AC termination and impedance controls provide further settings for electrostatic headphones. The package includes an RCA cable, an iPower Elite 15V power supply and an infrared remote control.
Key specifications
Amplification modes | Solid-State, Tube and Tube+; separate Class A solid-state and valve input stages |
|---|---|
Valves | Matched pair of General Electric 5670 tubes |
Gain | 0dB, 12dB or 24dB, user-selectable |
IEMatch attenuation | Up to 12dB single-ended; up to 24dB balanced |
Frequency response | 0.5Hz–500kHz (-3dB) |
Maximum output power | Balanced: >15,000mW into 16Ω; single-ended: >5,760mW into 16Ω |
Single-ended RMS output power | >4,500mW into 16Ω |
Output voltage | Balanced: >27V into 600Ω; single-ended: >14V into 600Ω |
Electrostatic output voltage | Custom/Pro: 500–640V RMS; Normal: 230V RMS |
Signal-to-noise ratio | Balanced: >145dB(A), referenced to 25V; single-ended: >130dB(A), referenced to 13V |
Solid-state THD+N | Balanced: ≤0.0015%; unbalanced: ≤0.007% |
Tube THD+N | Balanced: ≤0.002%; unbalanced: ≤0.006% |
Predecessor: iCAN PHANTOM — £3,749
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