iFi’s fantastically named iCan Phantom headphone amp has been unveiled and promises to be one of the most versatile and advanced models the high-end British manufacturer has ever released from what we’ve seen.
The new headphone amplifier will, says iFi, “deliver a truly exceptional headphone experience – exquisitely tailored to the listener’s requirements”. It can also act as a hi-fi pre-amplifier, allowing your headphones and speakers to be combined into a single audio system if desired.
Like the Pro iCAN, the iCan Phantom features two separate input stages – one tube/tube based and the other solid state – which can be switched in real time depending on your mood, the music playing and different types of headphones and speakers that are connected. According to iFi, the solid-state stage is best for speed and immediacy, while the Tube mode adds smoothness and a sense of dynamics. Finally, the Tube+ option emphasizes warmer tones for acoustic and vocal styles.
The Phantom’s PureWavePRO balanced circuit configuration, meanwhile, should provide a purer sound. iFi’s so-called “True Differential Balanced” design means that channels are split, with each channel containing two separate signals of the same level but opposite polarity and four separate amplifier circuits, a more complex arrangement that iFi says delivers significant sonic dividends.
There are plenty of headphone inputs available, with 4-pin balanced, 3-pin balanced, 4.4mm balanced, 6.33m positive phase, 6.3mm reversed phase and classic 3.5mm all available. Source inputs come courtesy of a balanced XLR input and three RCA inputs, with one balanced XLR output and one RCA output. Headphone outputs for electrostatics come via a single 5-pin normal bias and a 5-pin custom bias output.
Settings are customizable for the Phantom, so you can choose your preferences beyond the choice of solid-state or tube-based input stages. Adjustable gain has three settings of 0dB, 9dB and 18dB, while IEMatch is available for highly sensitive in-ear earbuds. XBass analog processing enhances low frequencies to add more bass, while XSpace analog processing provides a wider, deeper soundstage.
The most intriguing aspect of the Phantom is its handling of voltages for electrostatic devices. iFi’s iESL energizer technology should ensure that every type of headphone can be met, but what if you own electrostatic headphones? The The really smart feature of iCan Phantom is the implementation of color-coded boards that provide variable voltages between 500V and 640V, a smart solution that impressed us when we tried it on High end Munich 2023.
You cannot use just any conventional headphone amplifier with electrostatic headphones, as the voltages required to drive them are much higher, meaning a separate energizer is required with the correct voltage for your chosen model. The Phantom’s cards, all with different voltage settings, prevent you from accidentally choosing the wrong level and damaging your precious headphones, with values clearly marked on each card.
The iCan Phantom is the first iFi product to feature iFi’s Nexus module, which provides a connected control system in conjunction with an app. The Nexus app allows you to use your Android or iOS as a remote control, with more features to be added later. The app displays things like diagnostic information, performance monitoring, and downloading upload files, and once more devices are included in the system, you can control them through the built-in app as well.
We were able to see the Phantom’s brand new design in action, with iFi shaping the new amplifier to give the impression of two units in one two-level formation. The top of the Phantom features a rather nice smoked glass panel that reveals the amp’s internal circuitry and audio valves.
Measuring 256 x 120 x 185mm with a silver top layer and a black bottom, the housing is made of aluminium, with the bottom layer offering cable connections and the top layer a circular OLED display and smooth control buttons. It won’t be for everyone, but there’s no denying how striking that design is in real life.
The iCAN Phantom is available from select retailers for a suggested retail price of £3749 / $3749 (AU$ price TBC). Pre-orders are now available and iFi expects stock to arrive in late June 2023.
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