[Sebastien Chiu]

Any news on this red Diablo unit?

Can't confirm or deny anything yet!

Anyway, I'm glad I grabbed a BL before they are gone and it think it's an awesome portable amp or dac/amp however you want to use it.

Thanks for picking one up! Indeed it is.

 

[iFi audio]

Any news on this red Diablo unit?

Nope, but this is about to change soon.

 

[Charlie Norwood]

I saw the Signature just before I ordered my BL.
Quickly snatched up a BL since I needed both optical and analog input, the Signature doesn't have the latter but provides a balanced output instead.
But from what I can see from the specs the max output is the same so if that is the max oputput for balanced it could mean half the power for SE which would be anther reason for me to prefer the BL.
Just guessing here ...

Anyway, I'm glad I grabbed a BL before they are gone and it think it's an awesome portable amp or dac/amp however you want to use it.

On the signature both outputs have the same power output because it's ifi's s-balanced tech, which isn't a true balanced wiring, though it is still quite good. Regardless, I think you made the right choice for your needs.

 

[iFi audio]

On the signature both outputs have the same power output because it's ifi's s-balanced tech, which isn't a true balanced wiring, though it is still quite good.

That's correct

 

[AppleheadMay]

On the signature both outputs have the same power output because it's ifi's s-balanced tech, which isn't a true balanced wiring, though it is still quite good. Regardless, I think you made the right choice for your needs.

That's correct

Sounds great then. Maybe a second device to look into ...

 

[Charlie Norwood]

Sounds great then. Maybe a second device to look into ...

If 4.4 balanced output is what you're looking for, the signature might be overkill if you already have the BL. For portable, I would go for a hip-dac. For desktop, I would go with the zen can, and use the BL as a DAC.

 

[iFi audio]

If 4.4 balanced output is what you're looking for, the signature might be overkill if you already have the BL. For portable, I would go for a hip-dac. For desktop, I would go with the zen can, and use the BL as a DAC.

Yes, what you wrote makes sense. All of it

 

[superuser1]

If 4.4 balanced output is what you're looking for, the signature might be overkill if you already have the BL. For portable, I would go for a hip-dac. For desktop, I would go with the zen can, and use the BL as a DAC.

In a scenario where I don't have HPs and only use fairly easy to drive iems, would you suggest the zen can or the zen dac, I already have the BL.

 

[iFi audio]

would you suggest the zen can or the zen dac

Do you need an amp? Or a DAC? Or just something desktop to pair with your BL used as a DAC?

 

[superuser1]

Do you need an amp? Or a DAC? Or just something desktop to pair with your BL used as a DAC?

I am just pondering about making a small desktop setup with BL in the chain. I think I can still opt for the Zen DAC and use my BL with my smartphone.

 

[iFi audio]

I think I can still opt for the Zen DAC

If I were you, I'd probably go for ZEN DAC.

Although it's not important, I like to have my portable and desktop stuff separated

 

[Sunstealer]

I am just pondering about making a small desktop setup with BL in the chain. I think I can still opt for the Zen DAC and use my BL with my smartphone.

I have just picked up a second hand BL and was wondering about this too. I would be using the BL as the DAC. I use mainly IEMs (Solaris, TRI I3) but also a couple of <100Ohm headphones. I do prefer a balanced output as all of my cables are natively balanced. The power rating out of the ZEN DAC balanced is the same as my Fiio BTR5 - 240mW. I would prefer to have more headroom for future higher resistance headphones. Would the CAN be better for me over the DAC?

I presume I would connect the BL via the unbalanced RCA. I could make a 2.5mm-4.4mm balanced interconnect for the Fiio - that would be a fun project.

 

[AppleheadMay]

I have just picked up a second hand BL and was wondering about this too. I would be using the BL as the DAC. I use mainly IEMs (Solaris, TRI I3) but also a couple of <100Ohm headphones. I do prefer a balanced output as all of my cables are natively balanced. The power rating out of the ZEN DAC balanced is the same as my Fiio BTR5 - 240mW. I would prefer to have more headroom for future higher resistance headphones. Would the CAN be better for me over the DAC?

I presume I would connect the BL via the unbalanced RCA. I could make a 2.5mm-4.4mm balanced interconnect for the Fiio - that would be a fun project.

I understand the need for balanced output for your IEMs but I think it's a shame to use the BL as a DAC only, it's one of the best portable amps out there.
From FiiO I only know the K3 which I bought and sent back, I never had an amp with that weak power.
I'd say use an xCan connected to the output (fixed) of your BL for your IEMs and use your headphones straight out of the BL.

 

[Sunstealer]

I understand the need for balanced output for your IEMs but I think it's a shame to use the BL as a DAC only, it's one of the best portable amps out there.
From FiiO I only know the K3 which I bought and sent back, I never had an amp with that weak power.
I'd say use an xCan connected to the output (fixed) of your BL for your IEMs and use your headphones straight out of the BL.

I could sell the BL and buy a Signature, I suppose. I'll keep listening to the BL and maybe rollback the firmware to 5.2 before making any further decisions.
I would be using this as a desktop system; it does not need to be portable at all.

 

[iFi audio]

I could sell the BL and buy a Signature, I suppose. I'll keep listening to the BL and maybe rollback the firmware to 5.2 before making any further decisions.
I would be using this as a desktop system; it does not need to be portable at all.

I don't know if this info is of any use to you, but several people here on this forum told us that micro iDSD Signature sounds a bit better than the BL.