I never found any of the various sound options (X BASS and 3D, etc) on the Black Label useful. I think it was a great idea for iFi to create the iFi iDSD Diablo to focus on improving the sound quality. Hopefully iFi will do the same thing with the iCAN and IDSD Pro, creating a dedicated headphone amp and a dedicated DAC where the focus is on sound quality without all the extra audio settings that get in the way. Great review. I just subbed.
I have many questions: 1) So did you listen with single-ended only or did you try the 4.4 Balanced output? What where the differences if any? 2) Can Diablo give a relaxing listen or are you on the edge of your seat all the time listening? Focal headphones for instance are just too damn dynamic and jarring for me. 3) Some have said they were on the fence with whether they preferred the Signature's smooth delivery and options ......or the Diablo's brute force, sound staging, and clarity? Where do you stand when comparing the Signature to the Diablo? Which one would you personally choose considering your headphone collection? 4) Do you feel more engaged where the music is more emotional and inspiring than say other desktop units or portables you've listened to? Do you yearn to listen through Diablo....or is it just really clear and dynamic and neutral? 5) Did you try the Diablo with AND without the iPurifier3....and could you detect a difference? And thank you for doing this review Gavin! Loved your Signature review. I have the iDSD Black Label with the iPurifier3 + iGalvanic now.
Used both options. Balanced is excellent but single ended is fantastic too. I would pick thr Diablo over the signature. I find the Diablo so musically engaged . The purifier3 is great in that it improves upon the sound. In my case it was about an extra 10% better.
@@GavinsGadgetsFirst, greetings from Fort Wayne, IN, USA! Wow, so surprised about the iPurifier3. I use it on my iDSD BL and it makes a difference sure but it's the iGalvanic that really shines. So wow. So "musically engaged" is a very good sign indeed! So glad that single-ended sounded great too. Could you live without a desktop DAC/AMP then if you had Diablo? Is it that good? Oh, and Gavin, I want to personally thank you for your reviews and your efforts. Your reviews bring me great joy. Stay well my friend.
Thanks gavin for an excellent review sounds like a great product. Would love to buy one if I had that much spare cash but I am very happy with my ifi hip dac
Hi can I ask you a favour please? Which one would you prefer for Sundara between this one and the Gryphon? Is this a good device for Hifiman Sundara or I will miss Xspace and Xbass features? Is this device "too much" for Sundara headphone? Will I miss some bass coming from Hifi zen bundle HFM and hip dac 2 (both with Xbass and Xspace). Is there too much difference between the Sundara level and Diablo level or I will benefit anyway from upgrading to Diablo? (I can have it at good price). Please help me in the choice. Thanks. Alessandro
Gavin, excellent review again. For 900i can get a Schitt Jot2 and half a bifrost or maybe a topping d30 pro so I have adjustable dac and not quite such a romantic sound as with bifrost. Is the disable sound wise as good, as you know like you I am a wandering type and don't often get to just t at a desk/ listening room for hrs
The Diablo for me was all about the sound quality. And being portable. In the UK, getting the Schitt gear is difficult, but I hear lots of good stuff about it. Topping can be more selective on the sound quality from the few times I have heard from them.
Hey,do you think the Diablo would need to be connected for charging for it to perform the best in turbo mode or do you think it would still perform the same in turbo mode just by the power supplied by it’s USB port when it’s running just by it’s internal battery?.
External power does help improve the sound but I always use just via its battery as it’s more convenient. It still sounds epic just using it by battery.
@@GavinsGadgets Do you currently own a Diablo?.If so,would recommend you to pair it with an Astell&kern Kann DAP.The UA-camr Hifi insider said in one of his video (ifi Diablo video to be specific) that he was able to get almost the same audio quality as a $8500 Sony DMP-Z1 DAC/Amp with that combo.
Hi Gavin, after your last suggestion, the pass few days I've went to audit a few latest dongles, portable dac like Gryphon, Micro Signature, Mojo2. All of them didn't win my heart much as their improvement wasn't that much compare to Mojo 1. And then I've started talking some Audiophilists, they were shocked that I audited dongles with my headphones, as the last they know Z7M2 will never sing well with any dongle. Some of them suggested, without breaking my bank with stuff like Sony DMP-Z1, why don't i try iFi iDSD Diablo? And Viola, I was sold by it with it musicality, airiness, soundstage, decay, transient, dynamic, transparency and so on... This was the second time in last 4 years my Z7M2 really sing again, the first time was audit it with DMP-Z1. Without any further hesitation, I've bought the iFi iDSD Diablo :)
Hey man, would need your advise. I'll not be using high impedance headphones. Probably jsut 150ohms and lower dynamics. Would this be better than the gryphon in sound quality? Mostly the hd660s and the z1r.
Hi :), can u compare this to the some big desktop units? Does it sound like 1000 usd desktop amp/DAC... or not even close? For example can it match something like schiit jotunheim?.
The Schiit gear isn’t available with ease in the UK. However versus some other full size desktop amps it does well so long as you use the power supply. Obviously you can put a desktop amp in your pocket 😀
@@GavinsGadgets whats the difference with power supply and without it? It has an internal battery right? So whats the reason for using power supply? Maybe i just didnt get u 😄.
With the external power supply it enables the amp to sound even better. There’s a bit more technical side to it, but that’s the end benefit. I personally enjoy using a lot without the power supply. Means I can move about the house with ease etc.
@@GavinsGadgets one more question - about the depth and width of soundstage. On xdsd i don't have it enough for my taste. Does Diablo deliver on that front?
@@GavinsGadgets Yeah but £899? I’ve got the senheiser 599 headphones would I actually hear a massive difference? Thanks for your reply much appreciated 👍
@@GavinsGadgets Cheers for the quick reply gavin, I’m using Qobuz hi res which sounds great through the hip dac but not sure if I can justify the cost against the increased sound quality?
Thank you for taking the time to review the Diablo, Gavin! We are so glad you enjoy it!
Thanks for your feedback, appreciated 😀
Can this and your other amps be connected to Sony Daps/Walkman's?
I never found any of the various sound options (X BASS and 3D, etc) on the Black Label useful. I think it was a great idea for iFi to create the iFi iDSD Diablo to focus on improving the sound quality. Hopefully iFi will do the same thing with the iCAN and IDSD Pro, creating a dedicated headphone amp and a dedicated DAC where the focus is on sound quality without all the extra audio settings that get in the way. Great review. I just subbed.
Thanks for your feedback and subbing. Appreciated.
got mine diablo the sound is great !!! Thank you for advising me to buy it.
Glad you’re enjoying it too 😀😀
@@GavinsGadgets 😁
Thank you for the video. Very helpful!
You’re welcome Brad
Excellent review! Thank you so much!
Thanks Draco for your feedback, appreciated 👍
I have many questions: 1) So did you listen with single-ended only or did you try the 4.4 Balanced output? What where the differences if any? 2) Can Diablo give a relaxing listen or are you on the edge of your seat all the time listening? Focal headphones for instance are just too damn dynamic and jarring for me. 3) Some have said they were on the fence with whether they preferred the Signature's smooth delivery and options ......or the Diablo's brute force, sound staging, and clarity? Where do you stand when comparing the Signature to the Diablo? Which one would you personally choose considering your headphone collection? 4) Do you feel more engaged where the music is more emotional and inspiring than say other desktop units or portables you've listened to? Do you yearn to listen through Diablo....or is it just really clear and dynamic and neutral? 5) Did you try the Diablo with AND without the iPurifier3....and could you detect a difference? And thank you for doing this review Gavin! Loved your Signature review. I have the iDSD Black Label with the iPurifier3 + iGalvanic now.
Used both options. Balanced is excellent but single ended is fantastic too. I would pick thr Diablo over the signature. I find the Diablo so musically engaged . The purifier3 is great in that it improves upon the sound. In my case it was about an extra 10% better.
@@GavinsGadgetsFirst, greetings from Fort Wayne, IN, USA!
Wow, so surprised about the iPurifier3. I use it on my iDSD BL and it makes a difference sure but it's the iGalvanic that really shines. So wow. So "musically engaged" is a very good sign indeed! So glad that single-ended sounded great too. Could you live without a desktop DAC/AMP then if you had Diablo? Is it that good?
Oh, and Gavin, I want to personally thank you for your reviews and your efforts. Your reviews bring me great joy. Stay well my friend.
The Diablo is that good. So yes.
And thanks for your kind words.
Gavin do you think this is strong enough to drive the hifiman he6?
Thanks gavin for an excellent review sounds like a great product. Would love to buy one if I had that much spare cash but I am very happy with my ifi hip dac
If you have the hip dac, no need to buy this.
Hi can I ask you a favour please? Which one would you prefer for Sundara between this one and the Gryphon? Is this a good device for Hifiman Sundara or I will miss Xspace and Xbass features? Is this device "too much" for Sundara headphone? Will I miss some bass coming from Hifi zen bundle HFM and hip dac 2 (both with Xbass and Xspace). Is there too much difference between the Sundara level and Diablo level or I will benefit anyway from upgrading to Diablo? (I can have it at good price). Please help me in the choice. Thanks. Alessandro
Can't wait!
Not long :)
Gavin, excellent review again. For 900i can get a Schitt Jot2 and half a bifrost or maybe a topping d30 pro so I have adjustable dac and not quite such a romantic sound as with bifrost. Is the disable sound wise as good, as you know like you I am a wandering type and don't often get to just t at a desk/ listening room for hrs
The Diablo for me was all about the sound quality. And being portable. In the UK, getting the Schitt gear is difficult, but I hear lots of good stuff about it. Topping can be more selective on the sound quality from the few times I have heard from them.
Wow. I actually didn't know it comes with a lot of accessories to get you started.
Yep 👍
Hi Gavin, I would like to know your opinion regarding the sound quality between ifi diablo and mojo 2
Both good. I prefer the Diablo overall. Just more control on the dynamics and better sound quality
Hey,do you think the Diablo would need to be connected for charging for it to perform the best in turbo mode or do you think it would still perform the same in turbo mode just by the power supplied by it’s USB port when it’s running just by it’s internal battery?.
External power does help improve the sound but I always use just via its battery as it’s more convenient. It still sounds epic just using it by battery.
@@GavinsGadgets Do you currently own a Diablo?.If so,would recommend you to pair it with an Astell&kern Kann DAP.The UA-camr Hifi insider said in one of his video (ifi Diablo video to be specific) that he was able to get almost the same audio quality as a $8500 Sony DMP-Z1 DAC/Amp with that combo.
Not heard the AK. But the Diablo is so so good.
@@GavinsGadgets Which DAP did you pair the Diablo with?.Let me know cause I might consider purchasing it if it’s cheap.
I used several smartphones & my mac.
Excited
I hope you enjoy it!
@@GavinsGadgets I did!
That’s good to hear. 😀
Hi Gavin, after your last suggestion, the pass few days I've went to audit a few latest dongles, portable dac like Gryphon, Micro Signature, Mojo2. All of them didn't win my heart much as their improvement wasn't that much compare to Mojo 1. And then I've started talking some Audiophilists, they were shocked that I audited dongles with my headphones, as the last they know Z7M2 will never sing well with any dongle. Some of them suggested, without breaking my bank with stuff like Sony DMP-Z1, why don't i try iFi iDSD Diablo? And Viola, I was sold by it with it musicality, airiness, soundstage, decay, transient, dynamic, transparency and so on... This was the second time in last 4 years my Z7M2 really sing again, the first time was audit it with DMP-Z1. Without any further hesitation, I've bought the iFi iDSD Diablo :)
The Diablo is one of my favourite. A beast. 😀
@@GavinsGadgets It look like all Audiophiles think alike. 👍
😀😀😀
do you recommend
zen dac v2 + zen can or diablo?
Diablo for sound quality
Hey man, would need your advise. I'll not be using high impedance headphones. Probably jsut 150ohms and lower dynamics. Would this be better than the gryphon in sound quality? Mostly the hd660s and the z1r.
The Diablo sounds better.
@@GavinsGadgets thanks dude.
Hi :), can u compare this to the some big desktop units? Does it sound like 1000 usd desktop amp/DAC... or not even close? For example can it match something like schiit jotunheim?.
The Schiit gear isn’t available with ease in the UK. However versus some other full size desktop amps it does well so long as you use the power supply. Obviously you can put a desktop amp in your pocket 😀
@@GavinsGadgets whats the difference with power supply and without it? It has an internal battery right? So whats the reason for using power supply? Maybe i just didnt get u 😄.
With the external power supply it enables the amp to sound even better. There’s a bit more technical side to it, but that’s the end benefit. I personally enjoy using a lot without the power supply. Means I can move about the house with ease etc.
I Own a ifi idsd , consider upgrade diablo because it can drive My susvara. Just no sure Sound better then idsd or no when Using IEM
The Diablo is one of my favourite sounding.
hi, tell me when I turn the volume knob I hear a rustle of clicks, is this normal? Ifi diablo.
Not sure what you mean by rustle.
@@GavinsGadgets when there is no sound signal, and turn the volume control I hear the rustle of clicking.
Sounds ok
@@GavinsGadgets 🤝
is this the norm?
Is Diablo worth the upgrade compared to ifi xdsd? Thank you👍
Yes IMO but you lose Bluetooth
@@GavinsGadgets one more question - about the depth and width of soundstage. On xdsd i don't have it enough for my taste. Does Diablo deliver on that front?
Diablo is a different league.
@@GavinsGadgets thanks for your time👏
No problem
Is it that much different to the hip dac in sound quality?
Yeah huge. It’s my fav dac.
@@GavinsGadgets Yeah but £899? I’ve got the senheiser 599 headphones would I actually hear a massive difference? Thanks for your reply much appreciated 👍
If the source was good , then yes. But it’s a bit mis matched on the price vs headphone cost 😀
@@GavinsGadgets Cheers for the quick reply gavin, I’m using Qobuz hi res which sounds great through the hip dac but not sure if I can justify the cost against the increased sound quality?
Keep what you have for now.
is this better than Honey H1 ?
I’ve not heard that one.
I had to return ifi diablo as it does not have IEM match switch which is a deal breaker for me, will keep ifi Signature....
Interesting. Thanks for the feed back.