The Ideon Audio IΩN DAC combines cutting-edge digital conversion with advanced noise elimination technology. Offering modular upgrades and an optional integrated preamp, the IΩN delivers dynamic, transparent sound and future-proof performance for discerning audiophiles.
Ideon Audio IΩN/DAC PRE – High-Performance Digital and Analog Integration
The Ideon Audio IΩN DAC, with its optional integrated preamplifier (IΩN+), brings breakthrough technologies from the flagship Absolute series into a more accessible package. Designed with Ideon’s proprietary in-house technologies, the IΩN DAC is a handcrafted masterpiece, combining cutting-edge digital and analog stages with best-of-breed components, making it an exceptional choice for audiophiles seeking performance and value.
Advanced Digital and Analog Design
At its core, the IΩN DAC employs an ESS 9028PRO chip, supported by in-house developed firmware, and Ideon’s proprietary Triple Distillation USB input, which eliminates digital noise through a three-stage process. The DAC’s HyperStream 8-channel architecture and symmetrical ultra-low noise power supply deliver exceptional signal integrity, resulting in a dynamic, detailed, and transparent sound. The DAC offers quad current output and high output impedance, allowing it to drive any load with ease.
Precision Clocks and Noise Control
The IΩN DAC utilizes three femto ultra-low jitter clocks, each with dedicated power supplies, to ensure phase accuracy and reduce jitter, creating an expansive, lifelike soundstage. Noise elimination is further enhanced by the inclusion of zero-noise active bridges and advanced power regulators, delivering an exceptionally clean and detailed audio signal.
Modular and Future-Proof Construction
As with all Ideon products, the IΩN DAC is built with modular construction, allowing future upgrades as new technologies emerge. This future-proof design ensures that the IΩN will remain at the forefront of digital audio performance for years to come.
IΩN+ Preamplifier – A Transparent, Low-Noise Solution
For those seeking an integrated solution, the IΩN+ model includes an optional analog preamplifier. This in-house designed, fully balanced preamp utilizes software-controlled analog potentiometers, providing precise gain control with ultra-low noise and distortion. With a dynamic range of 121 dB and 0.0002% THD in balanced mono configuration, the IΩN+ delivers an exceptionally transparent and dynamic listening experience.
Conclusion: Digital and Analog Excellence Combined
The Ideon Audio IΩN/DAC PRE offers audiophiles a high-performance solution that integrates state-of-the-art digital conversion with optional preamplification. With its modular, future-proof design, proprietary noise elimination, and cutting-edge technology, the IΩN DAC delivers a breathtaking sense of naturalness and presence in music playback.
Additional information
Weight
13 kg
Dimensions
30 × 46 × 8 cm
IΩN DAC Specifications
SUPPORTED FORMATS (INPUT DEPENDENT): 44.1kHz to 384kHz PCM up to 32 bits , Native DSD (up to 8X DSD)
DIGITAL INPUTS: 3x Advanced isolated input module slots (USB, BNC, RCA)
XLR BALANCED OUTPUTS (high/med/low/variable selectable by the user): 8.8 Vrms at 0dB (at high output)
RCA OUTPUTS (adjustable as with XLR): 4.4 Vrms at 0dB (at high output)
THD (A WEIGHTED 20HZ-20KHZ): < – 110dB on all outputs
CHANNEL SEPARATION: >130dB on all outputs
SNR (A WEIGHTED 20HZ-20KHZ): >122dB on all outputs
DYNAMIC RANGE: 20HZ TO 20KHZ 135 dB (FS) . 132 dB (AFS)
DISPLAY: Custom LCD TFT display
IΩN+ Pre-Amp section
TOPOLOGY: Full Balanced Design
ANALOG INPUTS: 2x Balanced (XLR & RCA)
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE: 40 ohms
GAIN RANGE: -111.5dB to +15.5dB
DYNAMIC RANGE: 121 dB configuration
CHANNEL SEPARATION: >130dB on all outputs
ULTRA-LOW NOISE: 1.1 nV/√Hz at 1 kHz
ULTRA-LOW DISTORTION: 0.000015% at 1 kHz
About Ideon
Ideon Audio is a Greek-based high-end audio company known for its exceptional digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and digital sources. The company has gained a strong reputation for its innovative approach to digital audio, offering a range of products that cater to both audiophiles and professional users.
One of Ideon Audio’s most acclaimed products is the Absolute Epsilon DAC, which is the centerpiece of their Absolute Digital Suite that also includes the Absolute Stream and Absolute Time Master Clock. The Absolute DAC uses proprietary technology, including custom-designed USB inputs and power supplies, and features multiple low-noise power regulation stages, all of which work together to provide highly detailed and dynamic sound reproduction. With its focus on phase fidelity and jitter reduction, the Absolute DAC delivers lifelike detail, excellent transient response, and a punchy, dynamic soundstage.
The Absolute Stream and Absolute Time further enhance the DAC’s performance by isolating noise and reclocking the signal, ensuring a cleaner, more accurate digital signal transmission. This combination makes the Ideon system particularly adept at producing powerful bass and vivid, forward vocals, creating a sense of immediacy and presence in the music. Audiophiles have praised the system for its ability to reveal fine details, especially in complex and fast-paced tracks.
For those seeking a more accessible option, the Ideon EOS DAC offers a similar focus on clarity and speed, albeit at a lower price point. It has been noted for its ability to deliver high-resolution, energy-rich sound, making it suitable for listeners who appreciate both detail and dynamics across a variety of musical genres.
Ideon Audio’s products stand out for their craftsmanship and sonic transparency, appealing to enthusiasts who seek the very best in digital audio performance.
Reviews
Alan Sircom – Fair Audio Magazine (issue 234)
“Ideon Audio does not compromise component quality elsewhere, either. The IΩN and IΩN+ use the same high precision femto clocks as their big brother and give each a power supply, which is claimed to guarantee extremely low jitter.”
“I have already reported above on the extraordinary talent of the Greek guests to create a large, three-dimensional and precisely staggered space. This immediately reminds me of the CanEver ZeroUno, which is also outstanding in this respect. Compared to these “spatial wonders”, my TAD reproduces the stage in a noticeably more compact and two-dimensional way.”
