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The iFi iCAN Phantom is a fully-balanced analogue headphone amplifier, stereo preamplifier, and electrostatic headphone energiser built to accommodate everything from sensitive IEMs to demanding planar magnetic and electrostatic headphones. Its switchable solid-state and GE5670 tube input stages, up to 15,000mW of balanced output power, integrated iESL technology, adjustable gain, iEMatch, XBass, and XSpace give you exceptionally broad control over how the amplifier works with a particular headphone or speaker system.
The iCAN Phantom gives you three selectable operating modes without relying on a digital effect. Solid-State uses a fully discrete Class A J-FET input stage. Tube switches to a pair of NOS General Electric 5670 tubes operating in Class A, while Tube+ reduces negative feedback to bring more of the tubes’ natural harmonic character into the signal. The two input stages are discrete designs, allowing you to switch between transistor and tube operation from the front panel.
iFi’s PureWave PRO circuit is fully differential from input to output, with separate positive and negative signal paths for the left and right channels. A six-way motorized ALPS volume control uses four tracks for the balanced audio signal and two for monitoring volume operation. The amplifier is DC-coupled and uses a discrete architecture with J-FET or tube input stages, a bipolar transistor second stage, and a MOSFET-buffered bipolar Class A power stage.
Balanced operation can deliver short-term sustained output of approximately 15,000mW, with more than 27V available in balanced mode and more than 14V in unbalanced mode. Three gain settings of 0dB, 9dB, and 18dB let you match the amplifier to a wide range of headphone sensitivities. iFi recommends using the lowest gain that provides the listening level you need.
The iCAN Phantom integrates iFi’s iESL energiser technology rather than requiring a separate electrostatic amplifier. A normal-bias output provides 230V bias, while the Pro/Custom output supports selectable 500V, 540V, 580V, 600V, 620V, and 640V bias settings. Six supplied bias cards make the selected voltage explicit and help you match the output to the headphone manufacturer’s specification. Adjustable load impedance from 16Ω to 96Ω and selectable AC termination provide further control over the electrostatic section.
High amplifier power can make volume adjustment difficult with sensitive IEMs. iEMatch attenuates the 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs to expand the usable volume range and reduce audible background hiss. The 3.5mm output applies 6dB of attenuation, while the balanced 4.4mm output applies 12dB.
XBass uses analogue signal processing to address low-frequency roll-off in headphones or speakers. Selectable 10Hz, 20Hz, and 40Hz settings provide progressively broader bass correction, with up to 12dB of boost. XBass can also be switched completely out of the signal path.
XSpace uses dedicated analogue matrix circuits for headphone and loudspeaker playback. With headphones, selectable 30°, 60°, and 90° settings alter spatial presentation to compensate for the in-head localization that can occur with recordings mixed for speakers. When the RCA or XLR line outputs are used, the amplifier automatically switches to its loudspeaker XSpace matrix, which is designed to adjust apparent soundstage width. XSpace can be bypassed entirely.
The electrostatic section uses a capacitive power supply derived from iFi’s Pro iESL design. A bank of custom film capacitors rated at 1,000V DC stores energy and is periodically replenished by the external supply, separating the high-voltage audio circuitry from mains and switching noise. The iCAN Phantom accepts 9V to 18V DC and is supplied with iFi’s iPower Elite power supply.
Front-panel headphone connections include balanced 4-pin XLR, dual 3-pin XLR, balanced 4.4mm, 3.5mm, and dual 6.35mm outputs, alongside dedicated normal-bias and Pro/Custom electrostatic sockets. Rear-panel source connections include three pairs of RCA inputs and one pair of balanced 3-pin XLR inputs. Balanced XLR and RCA line outputs let the iCAN Phantom serve as a stereo preamplifier for a power amplifier or active speakers.
The front TFT display shows input, operating mode, bias voltage, iEMatch status, AC termination, volume, impedance, XBass, XSpace, and gain settings. The iFi Nexis app adds remote control, device information, and over-the-air firmware updates through a network connection.
The iCAN Phantom measures 10.08 x 4.72 x 7.28 in (256 x 120 x 185 mm) and uses a dual-level aluminum enclosure that separates its controls and display from its extensive front and rear connectivity. A smoked-glass upper panel provides a view of the internal circuitry and tubes, while a removable magnetic panel can cover the connections and store the electrostatic bias cards.
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