iFi iDefender+ External USB Ground Loop Eliminator

Beat the buzz

Is your audio still plagued by hum and buzz?

Using multiple plugs within your audio chain means separate earth/ground points. These multiple earth or ground points cause a ground loop problem. This creates an unwanted chain of noise, buzz and distortion.

Struggle no more. iFi’s iDefender+ provides the simple, effective solution you need. 

Break the loop

When plugged into the source device’s USB socket, the iDefender+ detects whether there is a ground loop problem.

It breaks the ground loop by ‘intelligently’ disconnecting the computer’s earth and, as well as eradicating audible ground-loop hum, it lowers the system noise floor, improving resolution and dynamic contrast.

Using a USB DAC?

Are you using the iDefender+ with a DAC that relies on USB power from a computer rather than power from the mains or a built-in battery?

Good news. The iDefender+ offers an additional benefit. If an external power supply is plugged into the USB-C socket on its side, it blocks power from the computer and instead feeds the DAC with ‘clean’ power from the external supply.

If a high-quality, low-noise power adapter such as iFi’s iPower X is used, the performance of the USB DAC will be significantly improved.

New and improved.

We’ve upgraded the circuitry; low-ESR tantalum capacitors have been added for improved input and output filtering. Filtering capacitance has been increased 10-fold.

The iDefender+ now comes in 3 versions and includes the newer USB-C connector.

• USB-A to USB-A  —  When plugged into the source device’s USB socket, the iDefender+ detects whether there is a ground loop problem, caused by the presence of multiple earths that add noise. It breaks the ground loop by ‘intelligently’ disconnecting the computer’s earth; as well as eradicating audible ground-loop hum it lowers the system noise floor, improving resolution and dynamic contrast.
  
  
• USB-C to USB-A  —  When used with a DAC that relies on USB power from a computer, rather than power from the mains or a built-in battery, the iDefender+ offers an additional benefit. If an external power supply is plugged into the USB-C socket on its side, it blocks power from the computer and instead feeds the DAC with power from the external supply; if a high-quality, low-noise power adapter such as iFi’s iPower is used, the performance of the USB DAC will be significantly improved.
  
  
• USB-C to USB-C  —  In the audiophile realm, we aim to reach as pure a digital stream from the PC to the speakers as possible. Given the issues and limitations designed into USB audio, it should come as no surprise that USB devices may be created that are found to improve the sound quality.

Beat the buzz with the iDefender+.

Kills USB power noise by ‘breaking’ the earth/ground loops in the correct way.

It significantly reduces the system noise floor and makes for better dynamic contrast, warmth and resolution.

Inject 5 volts of clean power clean via the ‘separate’ micro port. This disconnects the USB power from the PC and replaces it with clean external power. For ultra-low noise, use our 5-volt iPower X.

Adding the separate 5 volts to the unit is necessary to ‘break’ the earth/ground on USB-powered DACs. This is not required for DACs with an internally-powered USB section.

‘SuperSpeed’ USB 3.0 has a more exhaustive wiring specification which allows for a greater amount of audio transfer while still being backwards compatible. The units incorporate high-quality gold-plated connectors for optimal signal transfer.