iFi audio iDSD Diablo Impressions

I could buy one from Forza for the loaner tour.

edit: I just bought a Forza Audioworks 4 pin XLR -> 4.4mm pigtail adapter for the loaner

 

4.4mm has become nearly ubiquitous on portable gear in the last few years, seems silly to rag on ifi for using it on a portable device.

 

For balanced IEMs sure. But the Diablo puts out 5 watts of power and lacks IEM centric features, which would imply that full sized headphones are the priority. Maybe it isn't, but for my personal use-case it is.

How many people have their full sized headphones terminated to 4.4mm? Who wants to have to use a bulky balanced adapter everyday? It just creates a barrier.

I would guess that most people using it with full size headphones are using it as a transportable rather than for mobile use. If that were the case then conforming to widely accepted standards for its target niche would be acceptable even if it made it a little bigger.

6.35mm SE w/o the balanced stuff would be even better, assuming similar power and performance were achievable single-ended.

 

They can't fit an XLR plug on this I don't understand what you expect them to do.

 

Well, we're aware that 4.4mm isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it's becoming more and more popular so we had to include it. That aside, adapters are a no-go. Upon including one specific type as per your suggestion we'd hear from other folks why other such accessories weren't in the box. So as much as I understand your dislike towards 4.4mm, users have to take care of adapters they need, sorry!

That's true, there's no space for XLR on Diablo.

 

In an ideal world, improve the usability of the product for mk2.

In order of preference:

1. If similar results achieveable make it an SE design, skip balanced entirely.
2. Include the most commonly used balanced connector for full sized HPs, guessing 4-PIN XLR, on the device as seen in the attached example photos. Even if it means a larger or differently proportioned product.
3. If the size cannot be increased include a more robust connector and/or port that is mounted to the faceplate to reduce the chance of failure when using heavy adapters and bulky cables due to solder joints cracking. Then either:

A. Include an adapter with changeable heads.
B. Sell adapters separately at affordable prices to remove the barrier of entry to fully enjoying the product.

Examples

Spoiler

 

I dislike TRS/TRRS connectors because they provide lousy contact points, though tactility is nice. XLR on the other hand is huge and bulky. Mini-xlr is hard to source and their tolerances are unsatisfying from a plugging/sliding perspective. Lemo is wonderful but crazy expensive.

BUT... can we all be thankful that no one uses that awful RSA/square camera connector anymore?

Spoiler

p/spoiler]

 

If these topologies were identical, manufacturer wouldn't have bothered with going balanced

Although we like 4-pin XLR, it's not the most commonly used balanced connector. 4.4mm on the other hand is getting there.

This route is rather complex versus just one connection type that's already widely accepted within the industry.

The bottom line is that I understand your point and it's only natural that not everyone has to like 4.4mm. But then again, this connection type is small, balanced and far more robust than 2.5mm TRRS. It effectively has more pros than cons and that's why it's here to stay. Also, as a manufacturer we have to think how to please as many people as we possibly can. Thanks!

 

Completely agree on the Swiss army knife and value nature of the discontinued micro BL. I was very close to purchasing a Signature, however beyond the separation of data/power I was also slightly miffed by the lack of analog input on the Signature (the micro BL had a 3.5mm analog input to be able to use it as a fairly competent standalone amplifier). Realistically it's a feature I'd never use, and I'm sure the S-Balanced / 4.4mm output might be worthwhile tradeoffs -- but it just felt like a feature trim to me.

The micro BL is routinely available second-hand for the ~$300 range which I think is a small threat for the Signature's value proposition specifically, especially if the latter's performance benefits are subtle.

 

Ifi has the XDSD Gryphon now, which is the new Swiss army knife taking over the mantle from the old idsd black - it can probably make you breakfast in bed too if you want it to. I haven't heard it though, not sure if the sound quality is competitive for the price. The price puts me off a bit however - their topology doesn't really offer a lot more versus their significantly cheaper offering, apart from additional features like line in. I want my socks blown of with class A discrete amplification, dsp eq, advance (re)clocking etc for that kind of money -their amplification still has issues with hiss with sensitive eaprhones like Andromeda, and they still include the IE match which kills dynamics - things have moved past this nowadays, you can find very powerful amplification now that's extremely quiet too. Woo WA8, Fiio M11 Plus, Hiby RS6, Cayin RU6, all are noise free pretty much and don't need any buffers

 

Just for the record, I tried using the micro BL 3.5mm input and it sounded pretty bad. Apparently, it was meant for iPods or small portables in mind with low Vrms output, when using RCA>3.5mm and a 2V single ended DAC you apparently overloaded it making it sound.. well, bad. So since this was more of an afterthought feature I'm not surprised it's gone.

 

It was our attempt to please as many people as we could, but in reality a DAC/amp product such as micro iDSD BL wasn't used as just an amp by many customers. At least that's the feedback we got.

 

https://www.stereophile.com/content/lemay-audio-room

Some great story-telling about the Diablo by a Stereophile writer.

 

Heh, so I'm not the only one who spotted these

 

I'm pretty sure those are fancy isolation feet as he has them under almost every device, but maybe magnetic ones in which case I'm truly baffled. Those were probably just the feet reserved for that slot in his rack /console.... the man has isolation feet for his isolation platforms...

 

He uses the Diablo to stabilize the stones! There’s no DAC in the chain.

 

Without El Diablo those stones keep on rolling...

 

J.Darko uses IKEA's door stoppers