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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
spkrplus's avatar
spkrplus
64 posts
 

@lalitk

@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).

 

IS-1 can function as Roon End Point but requires an outboard computer for Roon Core function. So IS-1 fails for anyone wanting a 1-box Roon solution. Your "halff-baked" descriptor is hyperbole but it’s fair to say IS-1 is less convenient than a 1-box Roon solution. But IMO your opinion that a 1-box Roon solution can equal the performance of a properly engineered 2-box Roon solution is wrong.

Several times I AB tested the following. The person who built and engineered the entire streamer system is a highly skilled full time professional 30 year experienced college degreed network and security systems professional and audiophile/music lover.

A) Roon Core and End Point in one big custom dedicated computer

vs.

B) Roon Core in the big computer w/Roon End Point in a NUC

B always and without exception outperformed A. You appear to deny this solely because it’s outside your experience.

Small Green Computer has sold thousands of "renderers" solely and exactly for 1 reason, to separate the streamer’s "Core" and "End Point" functions. Your position appears to be that every such purchase of an outboard renderer was in error.

And finally, the fact that you apparently never heard a non-Roon based streamer outperform the best Roon-based streamer proves nothing. Hundreds (possibly thousands) of others and I have heard such a demonstration.

I, like others can list many MS Copilot errors. But I have to agree 1000% with Copilot’s brief descriptions of Roon, HQ Player and Audirvana, 3 of the most commonly used apps in the Antipodes and Extreme streamers. Roon is convenient, HQ Player and Audirvana are refined in performance. As I stated earlier, with rare exception simultaneous maximum convenience and performance is oxymoronic, including for music playing apps.

Antipodes K50

The Antipodes K50 is known for its flexibility and supports several popular music playing applications, including1:

  • Roon: A comprehensive music management and playback software.
  • Squeeze: Often used with Squeeze Server for streaming.
  • HQPlayer: Known for its high-quality upsampling and playback capabilities.
  • MPD (Music Player Daemon): Can be used with MinimServer or MiniDLNA for library management.
  • Shairport: For AirPlay streaming.

Taiko Extreme

The Taiko Extreme also supports a range of music playing applications, such as1:

  • Roon: Widely used for its robust library management and playback features.
  • HQPlayer: For high-quality audio processing and playback.
  • Audirvana: Known for its high-resolution audio playback and library management.

I don’t mean anyone to be unsatisfied with their current streamer. If someone is satisfied with their streamer, avoid this forum! Duh! I would rather invite persons desiring the performance of the $20k Antipodes K50 and/or $30k Taiko Extreme to audition the IS-1. IMO the IS-1 performs as close as you’ll get to those 2 streamers at a small fraction of the price.

I agree with you if your position is that persons satisfied with Roon performance are not the ideal potential IS-1 client.

calvinj
2,317 posts
 

@ricred1 you have an antipodes k50. I’m going to give you my ls1 to demo and take back to San Antonio the next time you are in the Dallas area.  We would love to hear your observations. 

ricred1
2,005 posts
 

Calvin,

I have a Antipodes Oladra.

calvinj
2,317 posts
 

@ricred1 That’s right. But I’m gonna get you the demo. 

spkrplus's avatar
spkrplus
64 posts
 

Dr. Patrick Gleeson personally tutored me in analog synthesizer programming at Different Fur Trading Company in San Francisco, the studio Patrick co-owned with Chief Engineer John Vieira. John upgraded their Studer half-track half-inch 15 ips mastering deck to 30 ips.  By good margin that Studer deck was the best analog source I ever heard before or since.  Admittedly, I've heard only about a half-dozen  analog mastering decks so my sample source is not great. I wish had heard Dave Wilson's Ampex deck with Curl's electronics. I love the best vinyl as much as anyone else but frankly that Studer outperformed the best cost-no-object vinyl source I've heard.  

How much difference does the source make?  That Studer deck playing 1G master tape > (amps unknown, if anyone knows what amps DF used around the time Herbie recorded Headhunters, please disclose it) > JBL 4311 was surely one of my all-time audio highlights and I've heard many of the world's best cost-no-object systems.  (The 4311 was JBL's best compact studio monitor, a 10" or 11" cone/dome 3-way.  Speakers have obviously improved since the 70s but Lynn's Ivor Tiefenbrun's "audio hierarchy" was and is valid: the source is king.)

This is by aural memory; to readers it's worth less than what you paid for it.  Infigo's IS-1 streamer > Infigo Signature Cryo USB cable > Infigo Method 4 gets closer to my listening experience of that Studer deck than anything I experienced prior.  One gets the sense that the music program quality contributes about 99% of the listening experience while the streamer and DAC contribute the remaining infinitesimal balance.

Less than a year ago someone I know in Europe AB tested the Infigo Method 4 DAC vs. the $80k MSB DAC and purchased the former.  His source was the $30k Taiko Extreme streamer.    

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