iFi Audio - iDSD Diablo 2

IFI AUDIO IS BACK WITH THE ALL-NEW AND UPGRADED DAC & AMP - THE DIABLO 2

iFi Audio, an acclaimed audio technology company dedicated to enhancing music enjoyment, consistently develops products that elevate sound quality while eliminating noise, distortion, and hiss from various audio devices. Their latest offering, the Diablo 2, succeeding the Diablo-X and adorned in Devilish Red, introduces several enhancements. These include increased headphone output power, support for lossless Bluetooth codecs, xMEMS technology, iEMatch, a USB-C input, enhanced circuitry, and more. Designed for audiophiles using different systems in both home and mobile setups, the Diablo 2 delivers a remarkable 5,180mW output and features balanced dual-mono circuitry, establishing itself as the most potent headphone amplifier in its compact size.

FEATURING DUAL CORE BURR-BROWN DAC CHIPS ALONG WITH A NEW 16-CORE XMOS CHIP

Employing dual core Burr-Brown DAC chips and a new 16-core XMOS chip for USB and S/PDIF digital inputs, the iDSD Diablo supports PCM 768, DSD 512, and 2xDXD, ensuring 'bit-perfect' fidelity. The Burr-Brown True Native® chipset maintains the original file formats, delivering a natural and musical sound. iFi consistently opts for Burr Brown due to its renowned natural sound quality. The XMOS 16-core chip, with double the speed and four times the memory of eight-core chips, processes USB audio data and adheres to the latest SuperSpeed USB standard. iFi's in-house digital development team has fine-tuned the XMOS firmware for optimal sound quality, seamlessly integrating it with the Burr-Brown DAC. The iDSD Diablo provides full MQA decoding for platforms like Tidal, Roon, and Audirvana, supporting MQA over S/PDIF for CDs.

POWERFUL AND CLEAN AMPLIFICATION WITH THREE POWER MODES AND IEMATCH TECH

Tackle the challenge of efficiently powering your headphones with the iFi Audio Diablo 2. Activate the NOS button, and witness the Diablo 2 transform into a powerhouse, featuring three distinct power modes: Normal for IEMs, Turbo for mid-sensitivity headphones, and Nitro for demanding headphones, providing an impressive 19.2V maximum output. Engage the switch below to harness iFi’s iEMatch technology, meticulously designed for high-sensitivity headphones and earphones, enhancing the performance of your in-ear monitors (IEMs) by eliminating background noise and expanding the usable volume range. True to iFi's commitment to quality, the Diablo 2 incorporates a custom OV Series operational amplifier, ensuring extremely low noise, minimal distortion (0.0001%), and a wide bandwidth. This versatile device accommodates a wide array of headphones, from IEMs to power-hungry over-ears, equipped with a 6.3mm single-ended headphone socket, a 4.4mm balanced output, and a 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter for flexible connectivity.

EMBEDDED WITH VARIOUS TECHNOLOGIES TO ELEVATE THE AUDIO PERFORMANCE

The iFi Audio Diablo 2 incorporates cutting-edge technologies such as PureWave, Servoless DirectDrive, OptimaLoop, and Advanced Jitter Reduction to deliver an exceptionally pure, detailed, and emotionally engaging sound, rivalling even desktop DAC and Amps. The fully balanced dual-mono circuitry of PureWave enhances clarity by separating channels and minimising noise. DirectDrive eliminates the need for coupling capacitors, ensuring a purer audio signal. OptimaLoop utilises tailored feedback paths in amplifiers, refining gain control and reducing distortion. The enhanced GMT femto-precision clock, coupled with a Smart storage cache, minimises phase noise for a cleaner sound. The Diablo 2 stands as the most formidable DAC/Amp globally, making your headphones quiver in awe.

INTEGRATING XMEMS TECHNOLOGY ALONG WITH BLUETOOTH 5.4 CONNECTIVITY

The predecessor of Diablo 2 pioneered the integration of xMEMS solid-state micro-speaker technology, revolutionising IEM and headphone performance with distinctive advantages. Recognising the high voltage demands of xMEMS, iFi has collaborated with them to incorporate this technology into the new Diablo 2. Leveraging the piezoelectric effect, xMEMS creates ultra-thin solid-state speakers by transforming electrical energy into mechanical energy, activating an integrated silicon membrane to produce robust acoustic sound waves, elevating the overall audio output. Diablo 2 adopts the latest Bluetooth 5.4 technology, endorsing the new aptX Lossless codec with a maximum bitrate of 1,200kbps. Powered by Qualcomm’s advanced QCC518x Bluetooth audio chip, certified for Bluetooth 5.4, it supports a comprehensive range of Bluetooth formats, including aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX, LDAC, LHDC/HWA, AAC, and SBC.

CAREFULLY ENGINEERED CIRCUITRY WITH QUALITY COMPONENTS FOR CLEAN SOUND

The iFi Audio Diablo 2 is meticulously designed with premium components for an optimised music-listening experience. Advanced trench technology MOSFET serves as a muting switch, controlled by a micro-controller, ensuring seamless transitions between settings without sonic interference. TDK C0G capacitors minimise distortion, approaching the theoretical ideal of pure capacitance. Vishay MELF resistors offer exceptional accuracy and stability with low noise. Panasonic OS-CON capacitors (5,410uF) provide low ESR, excellent noise reduction, and consistent frequency response, even in low temperatures. Texas Instruments low-noise ICs contribute to unity-gain bandwidth and minimal distortion. muRata control-type capacitors offer effective noise suppression with notable 'ESR control'.

VERSATILE OPERATION WITH THE CHOICE TO RUN BATTERY-POWERED OR ON MAINS

The iFi Audio Diablo 2 offers versatile power options, allowing it to be powered by either a battery or mains. While battery power ensures clean and stable DC, avoiding issues associated with mains electricity, it can introduce sonic downsides such as low output voltage and inconsistent impedance as the battery discharges. To address this, the included iPower2 power supply features Active Noise Cancellation II, effectively eliminating EMI and RFI noise, making it more than 10 times quieter than typical audiophile power supplies. Additionally, for less efficient headphones like planar magnetics, a step-up converter is used to increase the voltage from 3.7V to +/- 15V, operating at a frequency beyond audibility and ensuring high linearity with ultra-low noise.

DESIGNED WITH A WELL-THOUGHT-OUT I/O AND COMES BUNDLED WITH FOUR WINGS

The iFi Audio Diablo 2 features a 6.3mm single-ended headphone socket and a 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced output at the front. At the rear, it includes USB-A and S/PDIF inputs for both electrical and optical signals, a USB-C charging port, and a 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced output for an external amp connection. The front panel introduces a Volume Lock switch to prevent accidental adjustments during transport. The back panel has a mode selection and Bluetooth pairing switch on the left, and two USB-C ports for audio and charging on the right. The Diablo 2 offers customisable positioning with four wings and improved cooling with twenty-two rails, eight of which are compatible with the wings for desktop stand use.