you do lose nearly half the range before the channel imbalance goes away, so I can't agree on better accuracy with you there...
This is a double exageration.
losing some of the range to the half way position ISN’T ‘losing NEARLY HALF the range..’
We lose some of the usable space on the dial due to the channel imbalance ‘down low’, forcing us to use the Mode selector and dial in a ‘range’ that works best for whatever given over ears we choose to use.
Then there are (super) sensitive IEMs that are nearly overpowered on ECO at the lowest setting (which we kinda just need acknowledge that the Diablo was not designed for ‘them’; not a ‘jack of all trades device’).
Sure I have some IEMs (all of my sets actually) work wonderfully on the Diablo but two pairs are at the lowest point on the volume dial (that the left channel finally joins the power level of the right) and playing as loud as I would want them.. (no ‘headroom’ to turn them down).
IEMs and the one amp built for power in iFis lineup might not be a perfect fit, sure...
but the usable range?
I couldn’t believe that my (admittedly sensitive) go to ‘over ears’ could be driven in Turbo mode (which I assumed was purely for ‘hard to drive headphones’). I figured based on them being designed to run from portable kit, they would be happiest in Eco or Normal drive modes... (Normal around 2pm, Turbo around 12o’clock on the dial).
I do agree with other views given (like CH23 may have said!?) about the range for Eco could have been set lower and we wouldn’t have any issues...
But for full sized over ears, I find all three ranges USEFUL.
Some AKG612s actually like to sit at 3pm on Turbo (which made me wonder if the Diablo actually had any power at all/ I went to check that the source was outputting at full ‘line level’ etc).
iFi have stated in a few places that the ideal driving range is between 12 and 2 on the dial.. (and suggest we use the mode selector to vary the driving range to suit..)
Now my example (Diablo unit) is ‘one of the worse’ samples for where the initial channel imbalance corrects itself.
Many have described around 1015-1030 seems to be the place where it comes good. I have played with Diablos where it was solid before 1030, and the outlying units don’t balance until around 11o’clock (my present unit).
As someone in the ‘11o’clock club’ it doesn’t bother me.
As stated two sets of my (fairly) sensitive IEMs are at happy driving volume right when the (im)balance issue goes away (volume dial at 11o’clock), and don’t have any leeway to be tuned lower in volume output (except maybe at a source level if I (really) NEEDED to).
On one occasion I was listening I might have dropped the volume lower, I believe I was ‘going to sleep’ and wanted a more ambiant level of sound, and the recording was fairly compressed/‘loud’.. in over a year of use, it has been the only time I felt ‘hmm (my old product didn’t have ’this issue’).
True I didn’t buy the Diablo for sensitive IEM use, but I question how many really are... (It would be like buying a corvette to use as a golf buggy, and then complaining that the paths are not big enough for the ‘wide wheel base’).
IEMMatch IS a solution for anyone who wants to force a round peg into a square hole. (so ‘not a problem for any who wish it to
not be a problem).
on topic- I prefer analogue pots, and bought iFi for their volume pot implementation (among other reasons).
we can think the ‘grass is greener’ elsewhere (heck it may even actually be so..), but for the few issues I have with the Diablo (not coming with the 3.5mm to COAX adapter?), iFi have delivered a consistently great piece of hardware..
I DO ACKNOWLEDGE there IS a volume pot channel imbalance (down ’low’ on the dial)
It would be a stretch to label the issue as ‘stealing HALF THE USABLE RANGE’. (unless statement was qualified regarding when trying to use the product with a few handfuls of the worlds‘ most sensitive IEMs or without the requisite adaptor that makes the ‘round peg actually fit in the square hole’ (IEMMatch)).
Written from the lofty ideal of living in a time and space when the 4.4mm IEMMatch product might actually exist too....
-=edited=-
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