IDEON Audio Absolute / ION / EOS / AYAZI

Sovrce Gear
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Some of you may have heard about this pretty amazing Greek company. They were quiet popular some time ago with their pretty neat USB-Reclocker.

Since 2y they also get some more attention in the higher-end DAC community, refer to Ideon Audio | What's Best Audio and Video Forum. The Best High End Audio Forum on the planet!

As I’m very happy owner of Grimm Audio MU2, 2 unique & outstanding Vintage-/Tube-DAC’s from Abbas Audio and recent purchased Antipodes K22 G4. I thought I go for a finale frontier HiRes-DAC based on ESS Sabre ES9028-PRO (was quiet happy with my Weiss 501 MKII some time ago).

I watched ION Audio since last year, but the targeted ION DAC for €16k was for my opinion too expensive for an ESS Sabre DAC. Once I saw several engineering talks and also how they have modified the firmware itself with ESS directly for their needs, that catches my attention. Also, their USB research and hardware is for sure one of the best industry (Taiko-level) :wink:

Long story short: unfortunately a Hifi friend got sick and had to resell also his 3-month-old ION DAC, I jumped in and got it for a good price. Also purchased their USB Siren cable and yesterday I received it and today first hearing sessions through my Antipodes K22.

  • Yes, for sure some high resolution DAC, but not so aggressive clinically as the latest WEISS 501. It is a bit more lay back, not like the usual R2R, but quite impressive! Interesting to see Ideon’s balance between “analogue-like-sounding” vs “high-resolution-detailed-sounding” DAC

  • I know why some review comment on his “bass” representation, yes ION produces a large soundstage and bass is nicely refined, but not over it.

  • I’d say it is a pretty damn good combination: IDEON Audio ION + USB Siren + Antipodes K22 (using it as roon bridge only)

Drawbacks: Settings in the menue are badly implemented/complete user-unfriendly, for some too dark display brightness, only having: 1x S/PDIF , 1x BNC, 1x USB - at least you can connect 2 amp/pre-amp (XLR or RCA)

For sure at one point I’ve to test it against my MU2, but I doubt it can beat it together with my Antipodes K22 - different sound. Also, in direct comparison with Abbas Audio HERMES Sig + K22, I don’t want to miss my Abbas!! His presentation of Jazz/Vocals in a full-range chain are so pure musical - if you love Tube-DACs, must hear!

Some impressions:

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Since we have a dedicated thread I’d like to jot down what the Ideon Absolute time brings to the table consistently in the various systems I have used it in to date.
Deeper soundstage, front to back. Thus far no matter the DAC and amp combo, HP or speaker use the depth of stage has been deep with added resolution to imaging, instruments, and vocals. Using excellent quality USB or even mediocre quality SPDIF the consistency in the depth perception and the added benefits that come w/ it have been repeatable. With HP use in particular and an R2R based DAC I have found a sweet spot that hits my own personal preferences in the spatial qualities presented that brings me extreme joy and listening pleasure despite the fiscal imbalance in every such combination I have put together.
The Ideon device reclocks and regenerates the streaming signal to the best of my understanding and well mastered recordings all seem to benefit w/ appreciable results via the transducers. Clean power, clean source, clean transmission of stream equates to a transparent source your DAC, amplifier and transducers can then color to their best abilities :man_shrugging:. That’s my uneducated but experienced opinion using my equipment, my ears and my perception of its performance.
Happy listening all, YMMV based on your own experiences :hugs:

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Some day, I will pry that Absolute Time from your clutches.

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I think you dont need to go up so high, ION is already pretty close :wink: of course everyone needs to decide to go for the last 2% :wink:

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Listening update, 1week intense listening:

  • I’m quite impressed, was not expecting those kind of signature from an AKM-based DAC
  • the combi with Antipodes K22 (Roon-bridge only) + the Ideon Siren USB are really an impressive good synergy
  • tonal balance is really good, bass is extraordinary refined (not overdone) and makes me smile on certain reference songs

Ideon have done a damn good job on their filter stages!

Is it better than my Grimm Audio MU2?

  • yes, if you are somone looking for bigger soundstage and forward-playing
  • MU2 still is a extrem enjoyable longplay-monster (but not so relaxed as some R2R) and Ideon for sure is adding a bit more to the sound and therefore more strenuous to listen in my case after some hours. Never happened with Abbas Audio or MU2!
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