iFi Audio iCan Phantom Headphone Amplifier Review

The Rolls-Royce of Headphone Amps?

After over a decade of innovating with niche audio-enhancing hi-fi products, including a myriad of portable headphone devices, iFi Audio has channelled its technology into the iCan Phantom. A reference-class hi-fi component they proclaim ‘The Rolls-Royce of Headphone Amplifiers’; although, to tell you the truth, it’s more akin to a Toyota Landcruiser – it’ll go anywhere. Well, anywhere within your headphones’ territory . . . furthermore – it’s also an accomplished hi-fi preamplifier with three RCA inputs, a balanced XLR input and both balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs at the rear.

While some of us may sport a single set of high-end headphones, others among us enjoy hoarding an assortment of headphones in our quivers, including over-ear headphones, in-ear monitors, balanced, unbalanced portables and even the specialist’s choice of electrostatic headphones. The iFi iCan Phantom does a fine job of all headphone types with an abundance of features that deliver the very best audio from your favourite set of cans.

Features

Well Connected
Headphones are inconsistent accessories – one model varies hugely from another. Ingeniously, iFi equips the iCan Phantom with a multitude of features to pair this amplifier with almost any set of headphones. All connections are covered: 1 x 3-pin balanced XLR (L/R), 1 x 4-pin balanced XLR, 1 x 4.4mm balanced, 1 x 6.3mm (positive phase), 1 x 6.3mm (inverted phase) and 1x 3.5mm (includes S-Balanced technology to cut distortion by 50 per cent).

All Gain and No Pain
On top of all that are the gain settings 0dB, 9dB and 18dB – 0dB for low noise using sensitive headphones and IEMs; 9 and 18dB for high loads for more dynamic headroom. Moreover, the IEM match adjustment attenuates the output level from the 3.5 and 4.4mm outputs for sensitive in-ear monitors, decreasing amplifier hiss and increasing dynamics. It’s also equipped to adjust impedance from 16Ω to 96Ω – a must for matching amps to headphones.

Electrostatics Made Simple
The most innovative of the Phantom’s features are the supplied bias voltage cards for driving electrostatic headphones. The model guide printed on the six cards, ranging from 500V-640V, makes it extremely safe to set up your iCan Phantom headphone amp with your delicate electrostatics – effectively a built-in electrostatic energiser.

Sonically Enhanced
You can switch it from solid-state to tube mode in real-time, allowing you to enjoy the punchy, direct sound of transistors and the dynamic fluidity of its GE5670 valves.

Additional sonic controls include XBass and XSpace. XBass is engaged to enhance low frequencies, keeping bass definition and midrange clarity; useful on bass-light open-back cans when pumping out
music you should be dancing to. XSpace compensates for ‘in-head localisation’ giving headphone users a spacious, speaker-like experience. This switches to your speakers when using the Phantom as a preamp, widening the perceived soundstage even further than your speaker’s placement.

Test

Any Sound for and Song
Since the Phantom appears capable of dancing to any tune, we put it through its paces with a medley of music. For our Hifiman electrostatics, Rimsky-Korsakov: ‘Scheherazade’ (The Kalandar Prince’) told us the story we needed to hear – just to keep us interested. The violin motif and delicate harp strings float into the resonance and vibrancy of the bassoon, and the oboe’s melodic lines are then dropped politely into the orchestra’s drama. The handling of the Hifiman electrostatic headphones sounded open and spacious – the X-Bass and X-Space adjustments are nice touches.

To test its mettle with less delicate music, Mahalia’s ‘Sober’ was, well, sobering. Using unbalanced Austrian Audio engaging the various levels of XBass in solid-state mode gave us back the punch and assertiveness, albeit with the iCan Phantom’s characteristic lush, rich warmth.

Tube mode smoothes the highs and warms the mids, while Tube+ satisfyingly thickens the sound, adding musicality.

Conclusion

If you’re going to make the top see-through, then the internals need to be something special. And the impressive layout and those glowing tubes remind you this is a headphone amp full of life.

Getting absolutely everything from one hi-fi is almost unheard of, but, as a preamp, the Phantom does come eerily close. Like a Landcruiser, the iCan.