iFi Audio iDSD Diablo

Two Burr-Brown DAC chips and the new 16-core XMOS chip process data received via USB and S/PDIF digital inputs. This means the iDSD Diablo can handle up to PCM 768, DSD 512, 2xDXD. PCM and DSD remain bit-perfect.

It also provides full MQA decoding! Check out our MQA setup tutorial (using the highly acclaimed NEO) for Tidal, Roon, and Audirvana here. And with MQA now available via S/PDIF, you can enjoy all the MQA CDs in your collection.

Diabolically Dynamic

Capable of easily driving all kinds of headphones, the iDSD Diablo delivers up to 5000mW of prodigious power, propulsive energy, and engaging dynamics, coupled with a remarkable ability to resolve fine textures and details.

With 3 settings, you can adjust the power and gain to suit your daily driver or your track-day supercar!

• Turbo increases the drive level for current-hungry headphones
• Normal for most on- or over-ear headphones
• Eco reduces power to suit high-sensitivity in-ear monitors

Formula 1, iFi Style

The wideband power supply circuitry is dedicated to each critical part of the iDSD Diablo’s design, with independent linear regulation offering superb PSRR (Power Supply Rejection Ratio) performance.

The headphone amp stage eschews IC regulators in favor of Panasonic OS-CON capacitors, delivering 2320uF between them. The DAC section benefits from an ultra-low-noise regulator with additional passive filtering, reducing high-order harmonic distortion and, in turn, jitter.

Even the USB input stage benefits from dedicated regulation and multi-stage filtering, and the microprocessor control circuits (often a local source of digital noise) also have separate regulation.

Battery-powered DAC/headphone amp

• Dual Burr Brown DACs
• Panasonic OS-CON aluminum-polymer capacitors
• MOSFET transistors

Supported formats

• DSD512 / 256/128/64
• Octa / Quad / Double / Single-Speed DSD
• DXD (768 / 705.6 / 384 / 352.8kHz)
• Double / Single-Speed DXD
• PCM (768 / 705.6 / 384 / 352.8 / 192 / 176.4 /
• 96 / 88.2 / 48 / 44.1 kHz)
• MQA (Decoder)

Measurements

• Frequency response 10 Hz to 80 kHz (-3 dB)
• SNR
  • Balanced -120dB
  • SE -114dB
• Dynamic range
  • Balanced: 120 dB
  • SE: 114 dB
• THD + N
  • Balanced: 0.002%
  • SE: 0.001%
• Max headphone output
• Balanced:

  • 19.2 V / 611 mW (at 600 Ohm)

  • 12.6 V / 4,980 mW (at 32 Ohm)

• SE

  • 9.6 V / 153 mW (at 600 Ohm)

  • 8.8 V / 2,417 mW (at 32 Ohm)

Power

• 4800mAh lithium-polymer battery
• Charging via USB-C (iFi iPower included) Compatible
• BC V1.2 up to 1900 mA charging current

Connectivity

• 1x S/PDIF mini-jack (3.5 mm coaxial / optical)
• 1x USB 3.0 type ‘A’ port (USB2.0 compatible)
• 1x 6.35 mm unbalanced jack output
• 1x 4.4 mm balanced mini-jack output

General

• Dimensions (W x H x D): 72 x 25 x 166 mm
• Weight: 330 g