My Comments on the Infigo Audio IS-1 Signature Streamer


A $5,000 SRP Infigo Audio IS-1 Signature streamer replaced my MAC Book Pro dedicated for music streaming only.   Both streamers have Audirvana Studio music player installed.  Audirvana Remote is installed on my Apple iPad.  

Audirvana Studio enhances audio quality on computers by optimizing the operating system for audio playback and disabling non-essential services. It functions as a third-party player, scanning local music libraries and integrating streaming services like Tidal and Qobuz, but not Spotify or Apple Music.  Audirvana offers both subscription and lifetime license models. 

My Ethernet source drives a netLINK Ethernet Media Converter model HTB-GS-03 with a fiber optic output driving a fiber optic cable to the streamer.  A 5V wall adapter powers the netLINK.  The streamer’s only digital output is USB to the DAC.  Infigo chose USB as the sole output format because done right it provides ultimate performance.  Any other format would increase cost while limiting bit rate, sample rate and ultimate performance.    

Fiber optic isolation in this case improves audio quality by eliminating network noise and jitter. This separation between the ‘dirty’ network and the clean audio chain ensures that RF and EMI interference, as well as high-impedance leakage currents from network devices, do not degrade the audio signal. As a result, digital music reproduction is cleaner, quieter, and more transparent, providing a more natural and lifelike sound experience. 

It also incorporates ultra-low jitter re-clocking of network audio packets, reducing the need for specialized network equipment. The device supports multiple modes of operation, including Audirvana, uPnP, Roon, and HQPlayer, making it compatible with most music players.  

IS-1 employs Intel’s best Quad Core CPU with one core fully dedicated to music processing. This music core runs at a moderately high fixed rate while the other 3 cores vary in speed depending on needs.  Intel primarily designed this as a state-of-the-art CPU with maximum speed and power for mobile devices. Infigo chose this CPU for its speed, power and low-current draw, allowing the use of a mandatory linear power supply to meet performance goals.

Onboard IS-1 is a toroidal transformer and 100W linear power supply, about 5x the maximum required for immense power supply headroom.  Infigo includes a built-in local webpage (http://infigostreamer.local) for easy control and customization, with dimmable front-panel LED with full-off option.

Each of 4 included footers employs 3 black “star” (synthetic) sapphire bearings.  Each footer has a lower half with plain stud and upper half with threaded stud.  To minimize cross-threading, and to make it easy, I placed my IS-1 on a small box to raise it.  Screw the 4 upper footer halves into the outrigger’s 4 threaded holes.  I then placed my IS-1 on its shelf.

Insert 3 sapphire bearings into 3 hemispherical cutouts in one lower footer half and slowly slide them (one at a time) under the footer half with rubber O-ring.  Rotate the lower footer half and sapphires till the latter fit fully into the upper footer’s hemispherical cutouts.  Now the 2 halves are properly “sandwiched,” the O-ring providing a friction press fit. Repeat for the remaining 3 lower footer halves and 9 sapphire bearings.

In the future, before picking up IS-1, remove all 4 lower footer halves and secure the 12 sapphires in a jar or elsewhere.  If not, the lower footer half can unexpectedly detach with risk of lost sapphires. 

The sapphire bearings act like a diode, channeling vibration from the streamer into the supporting panel.   

see link for more info on the INFIGO IS-1Streamer

FYI: Other operation modes are ‘uPnP’ endpoint, which will present the streamer as an endpoint in the network that can be reached via all music software that can play to a uPnP endpoint.  The streamer can also operate as a Roon endpoint; you will need another computer in the network to run the Roon core software, which can then play to the streamer as endpoint.  For those that use Roon with HQPlayer for better sound quality, the streamer can operate as an HQPlayer Network Audio Adapter.

This “Signature” version is the base model $5,000; the “Cryogen” version is $7,000.  Both versions offer the same audio and musical performance with extra features on the Cryogen version.

The Infigo Audio IS-1 streamer has substantially improved my sound quality.   I immediately noticed my system sounds much better.   The music is clearer, bass is more powerful, and imaging has improved.  My Signature model lists for $5,000 and the Cryogen model $7,000.  

The INFIGO IS-1 Streamer is highly recommended.

 

 

 

 

hgeifman
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The streamer is roon capable and you can use upnp as well as HQ player. For those that use that. It’s compatible.  For the cost of the streamer which is 5k. I have mated with my 35k Dac and it shines in my system. 

@lalitk 

“But there are some guys that will shoot it down without hearing it.”

There is a valid reason to do so, IS-1 is a half-baked product for ROON users. It appears to be designed targeted for audiences who prefers Audirvana. And that’s ok! Like most things in life, our audio choices are often driven by our preferences and price of admission.  

 

Your post tells readers more about yourself than the subject.  Labeling your opinion as valid is as "valid" as a mother's opinion about her baby's beauty, e.g. it's expected, it's common and it's virtually universal.  Everyone thinks all their opinions are more valid than all other contradictory opinions.  

A search for "Quit Roon, improved performance," especially at Audiophile Style will yield hundreds or more hits for person who quit Roon in their search for ideal performance.  AFAIK no streamer employing Roon provides ultimate audio and musical performance.  

As always, I have and shall happily continuously agree that Roon sets the standard for library function.  But as usual or always, ultimate ease or luxury and ultimate performance are mutually exclusive.  Being married to Roon as you apparently are and achieving ultimate audio/musical performance are incompatible AFIAK.  

If someone has what they think is a Roon streamer that provides state of the art audio and musical performance, I'm happy to learn otherwise and recant my statement.  

And I admit BTW that I do miss Roon's lyrics and commentary which Audirvana lacks.

IS-1 is a half-baked product for ROON users. It appears to be designed targeted for audiences who prefers Audirvana.

IS-1 is not half-baked in any way.  Roon users can enjoy Roon.  If they compare Roon to Audirvana (free trial,) they can use both and decide between Roon's convenience and Audirvana's audio/musical performance, they just can't get both simultaneously and that's caused by Roon, not and IS-1 "issue."  

If my hypothesis is correct that Roon degrades audio quality, then to blame that on the "messenger" (IS-1) is like criticizing a Porsche GT3 because of its performance with bias ply tires or 89 octane fuel.   

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@spkrplus 

Lot of assumptions being made in your post instead of understanding the gist of my original post to @calvinj. Given your limited understanding of ROON and your strong preference for Audirvana, any further dialogue with you would be a fool’s errand (no offense). 

@Roon users have a clear understanding on how to maximize ROON potential beyond the SOTA interface. I’m a minimalist, so I prefer a one box ROON system and IS-1 is clearly not a one box solution for ROON users. For most people, this may not be a deal breaker but in grand scheme of things, you’re introducing lot of variables in achieving optimal sound quality when you run ROON on two separate devices (roon end point + core).