I’d agree with what
@Mr BubbaHyde said.. just ’happy using it’ (initially). The sound difference 100+ hours of break in (burn in) will bring to the amp is worth more than the time/+effort to play with firmwares..
Whats involved isn’t much -if you use the Diablo you’ve already likely installed Drivers from the iFi webpage, and that is nearly half the work load.
What you could get:
two things primarily;
Console USB support (doesn’t seem to be your interest),
GTO firmware (vs the vanilla NOS flavour).
So basically you have two sound profiles to choose from, out of box variant, and an alternate ’roll’, GTO
GTO only works on the USB input, as does MQA
GTO doesn’t work on DSD streams/MQA, nor the Toslink input
GTO is brilliant for taking lowly Audio CD streams and giving them the finesse of the higher res formats, that if involved in a very tight chain with a system synergy than hits transparency, will bring very nice audible improvements to the sound.
Much of its voodoo might require an aspect of ear training to appreciate, and really performs like the kit is tiers above where it really is..
The difference can also be noticed rooms away from the hifi system - today I experienced guitars on Moby and Franti that sounded properly lifelike/realisitic. Nine Inch Nails -into the void CD single had my heart properly racing from an experienctial trip (like it should).
GTO seems to get the time domain of music ‘right’ and hence everything can be ‘very lifelike’.
The Diablo sans GTO is still a brilliant piece of kit. definitely the king of the budget pile for DAC conversion if clinical precision / neutrality is the intent. It‘s a science tool!
With GTO; it is a value prospect towards a killer value ‘budget fi’ system killer system. (said to be a tongue twister and highlight key words)
GTO might reveal weaknesses of upstream being able to pass 0s and 1s quick enough (a few have started getting subtle ‘clicks/pops’ after trialing the GTO firmware.
It takes a minute to change between firmware versions, once done previously.
