I purchased the iDSD Signature, replacing my old but competent and reliable Sony PHA3. I wanted the 4.4mm balanced output and I was curious about the xBass and the 3d. I really, really enjoy the Signature very much. I use it to watch movies on my iPad Pro and of course for listening to music (di.fm, Apple Music, Spotify). I have a couple of tube amps and they don't play well with my planars. I also own the oh-so-popular Drop THX 789 solid state desktop amp. The Drop amp performs well enough with most headphones but not all. I mention all of this because I subsequently purchased the HifiMan HE-6 headphones, being notoriously inefficient and hard to drive. The tube amps, one of them being quite powerful, as stated do not do the job for planars. The Drop THX amp can drive the HE-6 on maximum gain but it doesn't sound very good. Plug the HE-6 balanced to the Signature and boom! You're on your way! The Signature sounds great. One must use turbo mode (maximum gain) when driving the HE-6 and the unit will get quite warm when pushing it with demanding music but it performs. By contrast, if I use the HE-6 and the Signature to watch a movie, the unit will not get nearly as warm compared to listening to music. It amazes me that this little portable DAC/amp blows away my desktop Topping D70 DAC/Drop THX amp. I tip my hat to ifi who have made a great little device, worth all the money I spent on it. I will not be upgrading anytime soon. Thanks for the review! I think I made the wise choice between the two. It gives me a nice, warm, fuzzy confirmation-bias feeling inside.
@@TheHypeCom there's a technique to see the thumbnail bigger. play the video on full screen, go to recent apps, go back again on youtube then you'll see the thumbnail but in lower resolution
I really wanted the 5watt Diablo but got the Signature instead due to the former's lack of the XBass feature. I listen to 80/90s mainstream pop and a bass boost is mandatory for recordings which are in need of a bass boost for the required oomph.
@@artyboy1377 listening to them now with ifi signature. Skullshaking. But still balanced i can hear everything. If bass is your thing or hip hop, this is it. But mest mk2 is good too.
@@Usernotknown21 Yes I enjoy my Signature too, the XBass does not overwhelm the mids/highs, it complements them with added heft and slam. There are a lot of bass-lite recordings which definitely need bass boost that's why I see it as an essential feature. That's why I stick to iFi/Fiio dac-amps.
Hi, I have a Sennheiser HD800s with a fiio Q5s, which I only use at home and without Bluetooth. Is it worth upgrading to the ifi idsd signature? After all, it now costs almost twice as much. If it's worth it: why is it worth it?
I think iFi signature is far way too expensive it is only 60Euros cheaper then Mojo 2 that is far superior (even mojo one was better sounding) and on top of that we talk about some chi-fi vs English made pure blood device, AND on top of that ifi doesn't have the best record for their products ether. Similar priced neo iDSD had problems with optical input, and now even USB doesn't work after 9 months or so. Signature needs to be 150 Euros cheaper to balance all the negatives.
I purchased the iDSD Signature, replacing my old but competent and reliable Sony PHA3. I wanted the 4.4mm balanced output and I was curious about the xBass and the 3d. I really, really enjoy the Signature very much. I use it to watch movies on my iPad Pro and of course for listening to music (di.fm, Apple Music, Spotify).
I have a couple of tube amps and they don't play well with my planars. I also own the oh-so-popular Drop THX 789 solid state desktop amp. The Drop amp performs well enough with most headphones but not all. I mention all of this because I subsequently purchased the HifiMan HE-6 headphones, being notoriously inefficient and hard to drive. The tube amps, one of them being quite powerful, as stated do not do the job for planars. The Drop THX amp can drive the HE-6 on maximum gain but it doesn't sound very good. Plug the HE-6 balanced to the Signature and boom! You're on your way!
The Signature sounds great. One must use turbo mode (maximum gain) when driving the HE-6 and the unit will get quite warm when pushing it with demanding music but it performs. By contrast, if I use the HE-6 and the Signature to watch a movie, the unit will not get nearly as warm compared to listening to music. It amazes me that this little portable DAC/amp blows away my desktop Topping D70 DAC/Drop THX amp. I tip my hat to ifi who have made a great little device, worth all the money I spent on it. I will not be upgrading anytime soon.
Thanks for the review! I think I made the wise choice between the two. It gives me a nice, warm, fuzzy confirmation-bias feeling inside.
I can’t read the little purple text in the lower right corner in the thumbnail on mobile and it drives me crazy ;_;
(No Relation)
@@goodnightmoon thank you^^
@@TheHypeCom there's a technique to see the thumbnail bigger.
play the video on full screen, go to recent apps, go back again on youtube then you'll see the thumbnail but in lower resolution
I’ve had problems with two different ifi Diablo units, no sound comes out while on battery but once plugged in sound comes out, had that problem twice
:(
Battery was low
I really wanted the 5watt Diablo but got the Signature instead due to the former's lack of the XBass feature. I listen to 80/90s mainstream pop and a bass boost is mandatory for recordings which are in need of a bass boost for the required oomph.
Or you could just buy legend x
@@Usernotknown21 Didn't realize there are IEMs with subwoofers lol. But that price...
@@artyboy1377 listening to them now with ifi signature. Skullshaking. But still balanced i can hear everything. If bass is your thing or hip hop, this is it. But mest mk2 is good too.
@@artyboy1377 legend x one of the only iem that has mid bass and sub bass slam. Most iems focus on one or the other. But mest a better all arounder
@@Usernotknown21 Yes I enjoy my Signature too, the XBass does not overwhelm the mids/highs, it complements them with added heft and slam. There are a lot of bass-lite recordings which definitely need bass boost that's why I see it as an essential feature. That's why I stick to iFi/Fiio dac-amps.
I had so many little functional (firmware, electronics,…?) issues with my Diablo that I sent it back.
Can you do a comparison between the signature and the xDSD gryphon please
I don't understand why no one is doing that review
What about the Signature vs Gryphon, sound quality?
Is it worth the upgrade?
IFI GRYPHON OR THIS SIGNATURE?
That's what everyone wants to know but no one answered
Hey, nice reviews! I have the Arya and am debating between the Sig and the Diablo. From your glowing review I am guessing you would recommend the Sig.
100%
@@chuckolatte600 giggity
I would really really love to have one of this honestly I really really want get the one
Thanks for the comparison, Chuck!
Thank you, I know which one should I get now
A purist indeed, that squashed red bull had to get to you hihihihi... Excellent comparison 👌
Hi, I have a Sennheiser HD800s with a fiio Q5s, which I only use at home and without Bluetooth. Is it worth upgrading to the ifi idsd signature? After all, it now costs almost twice as much. If it's worth it: why is it worth it?
Yes. Amazing sound and details
I'll take the blue one.
Giggity
I really like your opinion. I don't like your way. Un-subbed. Sorry, Man. Gl
I think iFi signature is far way too expensive it is only 60Euros cheaper then Mojo 2 that is far superior (even mojo one was better sounding) and on top of that we talk about some chi-fi vs English made pure blood device, AND on top of that ifi doesn't have the best record for their products ether. Similar priced neo iDSD had problems with optical input, and now even USB doesn't work after 9 months or so. Signature needs to be 150 Euros cheaper to balance all the negatives.
It's actually mojo2 that is super competitive compared to the entire market. Yet they have slitghly different features and sonic characteristics.
I have the Mojo 2 and the Ifi micro idsd signature. The signature is much better
first?