| | |  | DAC & Headphone Amp | Home » » NuForce Icon iDo (Black Color. Audiophile-Grade DAC & Headphone Amp for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch) | | | | | | | Description: | | The Icon iDo delivers audiophile-grade CD quality sound to digital music files stored on Apple® mobile digital devices. iDo is ideal for music enthusiasts and musicians alike who primarily listen to-and have their digital music libraries stored on-these devices.
Apple products are becoming the hub of a person's entire music and audio collection, so improving the audio quality produced by these devices is key. The Icon iDo delivers on that at very affordable price point.
A fast and easy connection.
Using the Icon iDo is simple. Users can connect any Apple mobile device to the Icon iDo with the Apple® approved and included 30-pin sync/charging cable, attach the power supply, and then plug the Icon iDo into a home stereo system using RCA cables or a single coaxial. Users can also plug in headphones directly into the Icon iDo for personal high quality sound playback in a manner the artist intended it to be heard.
How iDo makes music stored on Apple devices sound even better?
Apple uses its own audio codec, Apple Lossless Encoder (ALE), to compress and store music files on its devices in original CD quality without loss. However, even ALE files only sound as good as the default DAC (digital-to-analog converter) found within the mobile digital device. Icon iDo bypasses the built-in DAC and extracts the audio data stored on the device in its original digital form in USB Host Mode. It then converts the high-quality files for bit-perfect and low-jitter music playback.
A portable power station for the ultimate headphone listening experience.
Icon iDo also offers a built-in headphone amplifier capable of powering power-hungry headsets, giving users a total audio experience. By properly powering headphones, Icon iDo enhances the auditory performance of the headphones because optimal amperage is being delivered to them, allowing for greater audio clarity. | | | Features: | |
• Bit-perfect, low jitter USB Host Mode operation
• Digitally controlled analog volume control provides precise control, accurate channel tracking and superior resolution.
• 3.5mm headphone output jack
• 24-bit DAC
• No sample rate conversion
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 11.81 inches | | Product Width:
| 1.97 inches | | Product Height:
| 7.87 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.22 pounds | | Package Length:
| 14.0 inches | | Package Width:
| 12.0 inches | | Package Height:
| 4.0 inches | | Package Weight:
| 2.43 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 8 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 8 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
BreathtakingNov 19, 2011
By Tony Dellow
Seriously, if you haven't got one of these, get one. It turns any ipod into a really credible audio device. I expected a lot and it has exceeded my expectations. Contrary to what is said in some reviews, you don't have to have all lossless encoded tracks to appreciate this. I don't consider myself an audiophile, but I listen to a lot a classical music and, without this, an i-device cannot play the music to a quality that is even bearable for me. I have the iDo and a pair of Sennheiser HD595 headphones. For me that adds up to a serious setup to listen to a bit of music when I get home from work. Very highly recommended.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
For People That Are Serious About Sound QualityDec 31, 2011
By D. Solomon
"Film Buff"
This is an Audiophile product. I don't mean that to sound like a snob, but this is an item that will appeal to people that really care about the sound of their music files. Those would be people that transfer their music in a lossless format. This will not upconvert lossy files and make them sound better, even though you might hear more clarity. I was lucky enough to receive this as a gift, and I have been rediscovering my music collection ever since. The internal DAC in the iPod is good, but is no match for the iCon iDo which also incorporates a high quality Headphone Amplifier.
I couldn't be happier with the quality of the sound. This is the kind of audio playback that would cost many thousands of dollars to recreate in a home setup. Therefor, I consider this to be a real bargain. Most of the Headphone Amplifiers I had been shopping for cost more than the iCon iDo without the added benefit of a high quality DAC. If you are serious about sound quality, but cannot afford a $10,000,00+ home setup, this is the product for you. Coupled with a good set of earphones, the iCon iDo will put you inside the music.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Nuforce Icon iDo works well with speakersMar 21, 2012
By Consumer--
I purchased the Nuforce Icon Ido because I wanted an energy efficient high quality way to play music from my Ipod nano through my stereo system (with either an NAD integrated amp or usually with the Nuforce Icon Amp) - the whole system even at loud volumes only uses a few watts of power as seen from a power meter it is plugged into when using the Nuforce Icon amp - even with large speakers. It is amazing that with only a few watts of power this convenient system played though speakers in any of three locations with a speaker selector, can create such breathtaking sound. The Nuforce Ido as you know could also be connected to headphones or powered speakers, but I prefer the setup using my own stereo (just an integrated amp, and speakers, using Niles speaker and source selectors). The DAC in the Ido is better than most CD players and similar to the Nuforce udac-ii I have with my computer/video, but has the convenience of playing from an Ipod, Iphone or Ipad. I use it with the apple remote control, and the Apple Ipod Nano 5th generation works fine though the remote has some lost functionality since the nuforce ido remote sensor was designed for the Ipod nano 6th gen and higher or other players listed here or on Nuforce's site - it still works with volume, and track scan and skip which is all I need for now. The remote, which I also just purchased, is the Apple Music System Remote Control for iPhone, iPod, DVD PlayerMusic System, which is only $19. I listened to most of the Steve Jobs biography this way, and to classical, jazz, etc. I also listen to bbc and npr news podcasts downloaded through the computer to the ipod in the morning. I will likely get an ipod touch with a larger drive to hold more of my music as a next purchase. This is one of the best electronic purchases I have made in a while. The case is very solid and high quality like Nuforce's other products (and like Apple's products). I've used it for about 2 months. I was hoping Nuforce would design and sell something like the Nuforce Ido for a year - the other alternatives that extract the music files and have their own digital to analog circuitry are more expensive or less convenient (Wadia, or and Ipad used with camera output kit). The Nuforce Ido works really well with the apple remote or just sitting on your desktop or table.
 Discernible DifferenceMay 10, 2012
By M. Alberto
"Mr. Mac"
I read quite a few reviews; some good, some bad, but decided to give it a go and see for myself.
I needed a DAC/headphone amp that I could use at work with my idevice (preferably my ipod since it holds all of my music. more on that later) as I wasn't satisfied with the sound I was getting directly from my ipod (though it's not necessarily bad). There is a very limited amount of products out there that meet this narrow market. There are plenty of DAC/headphone amps that work with a computer but not very many that work directly with an idevice.
I chose the iDo as it was marketed specifically for this. I planned on using it with my Ultimate Ears triple fi 10 in ear monitors. The specs stated that the iDo is compatible with the iPod classic, iPhone, and iPad. I tried it and it worked great with my original iPad and iPhone 4. I have an iPod that is the previous generation before it was called iPod classic.
The iDo does work with my older iPod but with caveats. First, it doesn't play the first song once you press play for some reason. Skipping to the next song 'fixes' the issue. Also, on rare occasions, the ipod will just freeze. Rebooting the ipod fixes that issue. Again, the specs state that it's compatible with classic but I hoped it would work seamlessly with my older iPod, unfortunately, it didn't. On the bright side, the iDo works great with apple remote. One came with my apple TV, and since I don't use it for that, I started using it with the iDo.
As far as the sound, I had read a few reviews stating that they cannot hear the difference. I can, without a doubt, state that there is a definite improvement in the sound. The best way to describe it is like comparing DVD with Blu-Ray quality. A lot of people always tell me that a Blu-ray copy of an older movie doesn't blow them away but then putting a DVD copy of the same movie, the difference is apparent to them. One might not be blown away when listening through the iDo but switching directly to the idevice, you will know the difference. There is just more vibrancy and punch listening through the iDo. So much so, that after over 6 months of listening, I felt compelled to write this review. You just 'feel' the music so much more. It sounds silly, but if you're into music, you'll know what I mean. It even made my lower res files from questionable origins sound better.
Quick overview:
Pros -
Outstanding audio improvement
Great integration with apple remote
Compatibility with iPad/iPhone/newer iPods
Cons -
Not meant for portable use.
Will probably need some sort of stand for most iDevices.
Limited compatibility with older iPods
Excellent product for the priceApr 28, 2012
By J. Matthew
When I moved to an iPhone after my iPod Classic died, I was very unhappy with the sound quality from my iPhone to my Monster Turbine Copper earbuds. The sound quality from the iDo is excellent at all volume levels. I listen a variety of music from hard rock to new age instrumental, and I'm pleased with the sound on everything. It even improved the sound I get from Pandora streaming (which still sounds very compressed). With the iDo making my lower bit rate MP3s sound terrible, I've been re-ripping my CDs to lossless, and it really makes a difference.
Another nice feature is the simple looks and small footprint. My lives on my desk at work, and isn't eye catching and is never in the way. Highly recommended.
See all 8 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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