Усилители для наушников — iFi Audio iCan Phantom 1.5

The iCAN Phantom 1.5 is the updated version of the iCAN Phantom headphone amplifier from the British company iFi audio. It keeps the architecture of its predecessor, a choice between a discrete solid-state path and a full valve path, and adds outputs for electrostatic headphones as well as dynamic and planar models. The UK price is GBP 3,749.

Key specs that matter

From the balanced output the amplifier produces more than 6,250 mW RMS into 16 ohm, with more than 15,000 mW available as a maximum figure, and more than 27 V into 600 ohm. The single-ended output gives more than 4,500 mW RMS into 16 ohm and over 14 V into 600 ohm. The electrostatic outputs reach 230 V RMS in Normal mode and 500 to 640 V RMS for Custom and Pro bias. Frequency response spans 0.5 Hz to 500 kHz at minus 3 dB, THD plus noise from the balanced solid-state path is no more than 0.0015 %, and the balanced signal to noise ratio exceeds 145 dB A-weighted. Gain can be set to 0, 12 or 24 dB. The chassis measures 256 x 185 x 120 mm and weighs 4.2 kg.

Engineering and use context

Both amplification paths run in Class A and are fully separate. The solid-state stage is a discrete J-FET design, while the valve stage uses a hand-selected, computer-matched pair of General Electric 5670, a higher-grade variant of the 6922. A third mode, Tube+, alters the valve circuit to lower loop gain and the depth of negative feedback. The circuit is fully differential throughout. Volume is set by a custom motorised six-deck ALPS potentiometer, and a colour OLED display sits behind anti-fingerprint glass. XBass Pro and XSpace Pro offer switchable bass and spatial processing, and electrostatic users can adjust AC termination and impedance. The iFi Nexis app provides remote control and receives firmware updates over the air. Power comes from an external 12 V at 4 A or 15 V at 3 A supply, and an iPower Elite unit accepts mains from 85 to 265 V. Consumption is under 27 W at idle and 75 W at most. The warranty lasts 12 months in the UK and US and 24 months in the EU.

Pairing

The three gain steps let the same unit serve sensitive IEMs on the minimum step and hard-to-drive planar models on the maximum one. Owners of Stax-compatible electrostatic headphones can use it without a separate energiser. A DAC with balanced outputs matches the fully differential input stage best.

Alternatives

The original iFi iCAN Phantom preceded the 1.5 as the brand's valve and solid-state headphone amplifier.