[LuciR]

How does the output power in ECO mode/ SE out compare to the Signature, without IEMatch?

I guess it would be useful to get the Diablo added to the DAC list in Headphone Calculator. Splitting the Headphone Max Output section in the specs by Turbo/ Normal/ Eco and Bal/ SE would be also helpful. The power consumption numbers give a rough idea, but they are not enough to tell which of Diablo and Signature extends further into the "quiet" region, IEMatch aside. Anectotically, the Signature is quieter, but what are the numbers?

 

[iFi audio]

A little clarification would be helpful. I’m just trying to determine that if I buy the Diablo if I will be able to install a firmware that supports DSD512 and not have the GTO filter like I can with the Signature.

I would have expected this 2-firmware-solution to be a thing of the past with the Diablo, but seems not given what @Gus141 has found out, @iFi audio ?

Let me just confirm what @Sebastien Chiu already wrote on the subject. In short, our NEO iDSD and iDSD Diablo rely on XMOS chips powerful enough to handle both MQA and DSD512. NEO iDSD's in-built wireless functionality led to a separate firmware, but iDSD Diablo can use our regular FW 5.30.

the Diablo's pre-installed firmware supports both full MQA decoding and up to DSD512 and PCM 768 kHz: awesome!

It sure is

I’m probably going to buy the Diablo no matter what anyway. Thank you and @iFi audio: some companies don’t answer any questions here.

You're welcome, @Sebastien Chiu and I are here for you and everyone else

I guess it would be useful to get the Diablo added to the DAC list in Headphone Calculator.

It should arrive shortly.

 

[ianjturner]

Let me just confirm what @Sebastien Chiu already wrote on the subject. In short, our NEO iDSD and iDSD Diablo rely on XMOS chips powerful enough to handle both MQA and DSD512. NEO iDSD's in-built wireless functionality led to a separate firmware, but iDSD Diablo can use our regular FW 5.30.

So by the same token, we could use GTO by switching to 5.3c if we so wished? I am a bit of a GTO nerd, I like the sound a lot and is one of the things that had me staying with iFi this time around.

Also - TEAM MAGENTA wooo!

 

[jburks725]

Listening to some Bach organ music on my Andro Golds tonight, connected through my iEMatch (on Ultra) to the SE output. Eco mode, at around 10:30 or 11:00 on the volume pot. Channel imbalance sorted, no hiss at all, and I’m loving the way this sounds. Still very neutral and crisp, with a good soundstage (I almost feel like I’m in a cathedral). Still impressed by this little red devil.

 

[Baten]

Let me just confirm what @Sebastien Chiu already wrote on the subject. In short, our NEO iDSD and iDSD Diablo rely on XMOS chips powerful enough to handle both MQA and DSD512. NEO iDSD's in-built wireless functionality led to a separate firmware, but iDSD Diablo can use our regular FW 5.30.



It sure is



You're welcome, @Sebastien Chiu and I are here for you and everyone else



It should arrive shortly.

On iFi's Diablo product page it says PCM and DSD stays BitPerfect. So is the filter also BitPerfect?

 

[ianjturner]

On iFi's Diablo product page it says PCM and DSD stays BitPerfect. So is the filter also BitPerfect?

The Burr-Brown IC can directly process all those formats, I think that's what they mean. My understanding is that the BitPerfect filter is one of three filters on the Micro product line and which applies only to PCM, to shape wave edges a particular way to better represent the original sound prior to entry into the BB IC. Can someone confirm?

 

[Baten]

My understanding is that the BitPerfect filter is one of three filters on the Micro product line and which applies only to PCM, to shape wave edges a particular way to better represent the original sound prior to entry into the BB IC. Can someone confirm?

Yeah on the BL it's a 'NOS' - like filter.

 

[iFi audio]

So by the same token, we could use GTO by switching to 5.3c if we so wished? I am a bit of a GTO nerd, I like the sound a lot and is one of the things that had me staying with iFi this time around.

To clarify, just as it was the case with our NEO iDSD, iDSD Diablo also requires a separate firmware, which we should release at our site shortly. This means that 5.2/5.3/5.3c firmware versions shouldn't be used with iDSD Diablo.

Also, at this time I have no info whether our GTO filter will be available for iDSD Diablo.

On iFi's Diablo product page it says PCM and DSD stays BitPerfect. So is the filter also BitPerfect?

If something is bit-perfect, it's not subject to any filter.

My understanding is that the BitPerfect filter is one of three filters on the Micro product line and which applies only to PCM, to shape wave edges a particular way to better represent the original sound prior to entry into the BB IC. Can someone confirm?

Bit-perfect is not a filter. It's a method of sending audio data without any processing.

 

[Baten]

Also, at this time I have no info whether our GTO filter will be available for iDSD Diablo.



If something is bit-perfect, it's not subject to any filter.

Excellent. I like your BitPerfect stuff the most, so seeing it returned to BL Signature and now also Diablo is cool to see.

I think BitPerfect > GTO

 

[ianjturner]

Bit-perfect is not a filter. It's a method of sending audio data without any processing.

Well now I'm double confused because it's written as a filter option on the Micro product line.

 

[Baten]

Well now I'm double confused because it's written as a filter option on the Micro product line.

There you simply swap between 'BitPerfect', and on the other hand MP/Standard filters.

 

[ianjturner]

There you simply swap between 'BitPerfect', and on the other hand MP/Standard filters.

I’m not confused about that, I’m confused because iFi said Bit-Perfect isn’t a filter and my brain has broken because I thought in the filter context they had defined that it was.

 

[iFi audio]

Well now I'm double confused because it's written as a filter option on the Micro product line.

It made sense to put the Bit-Perfect mode in there in the context of functionality and understanding what it engages.

There you simply swap between 'BitPerfect', and on the other hand MP/Standard filters.

Exactly.

 

[ianjturner]

It made sense to put the Bit-Perfect mode in there in the context of functionality and understanding what it engages.

So my modified understanding is that bit-perfect means no digital filter before entering the dac chip, and no matter what way we look at it that chip can handle everything we throw at it natively. Diablo = unadulterated data input to the dac and perfect powerful output. Awesome. And hence no option for GTO at least yet because that would water down the product intent of keeping everything unaltered. That sucks as I would love to GTO-ify if I could. But such is life.
Thank you iFi for your patience in the explanation there.
So the advantage vs eg RME, which I gather is similar sounding, is that the Diablo is more power (if it matters), is super MQA friendly (if you’re a believer), is portable (awesome!) and is red (double awesome since there isn’t a magenta option ).

 

[iFi audio]

So my modified understanding is that bit-perfect means no digital filter before entering the dac chip, and no matter what way we look at it that chip can handle everything we throw at it natively. Diablo = unadulterated data input to the dac and perfect powerful output. Awesome.

Exactly.

And hence no option for GTO at least yet because that would water down the product intent of keeping everything unaltered. That sucks as I would love to GTO-ify if I could. But such is life.

Our GTO is a filter and as such it prevents bit-perfect data transfer, yes. But it remains to be seen whether we'll introduce a GTO firmware version for iDSD Diablo, as an alternative to the bit-perfect firmware version now installed in this product.