iFi audio iDSD Diablo - A portable reference done our way!

[Giraku]

You can save US$260.00 not US$5,260.00!
BTW, Roon is 3 times the price of HQPlayer and its sounds is only fair, even Audirvana sounds better than Roon, at least with my HD800s also!
Anyway, if only you can't listen the huge difference, good to you, I like Roon only for the another features, not sound quality.

How did you test the sound quality between Noon and Audirvana. I use both on my MacBook Pro and always go through Diablo or other DAPs in USB DAC mode. I don't hear any noticeable difference between them as music track server. Just for clarification, I use mostly my HiRes music file library not much of streaming (TIDAL, Quobuz, etc.).

 

[justanut]

You can save US$260.00 not US$5,260.00!
BTW, Roon is 3 times the price of HQPlayer and its sounds is only fair, even Audirvana sounds better than Roon, at least with my HD800s also!
Anyway, if only you can't listen the huge difference, good to you, I like Roon only for the another features, not sound quality.

Well... u know this hobby... once I spend $260 I won't be able to stop thinking about the next step... and that $5000 would be spent eventually lol~ That's where my math came from ^ ^;

I used Roon for the DSP. But since Diablo 7.0C I've not wanted to EQ for whatever reason... or my ears have gotten burnt in. Who knows. I use native Tidal on the desktop and Amarra on the iPhone most of the time now.

 

[Bob Parish]

How did you test the sound quality between Noon and Audirvana. I use both on my MacBook Pro and always go through Diablo or other DAPs in USB DAC mode. I don't hear any noticeable difference between them as music track server. Just for clarification, I use mostly my HiRes music file library not much of streaming (TIDAL, Quobuz, etc.).

I don't test sound quality, I only listen to music, but I trust in my ears, not in numbers and measurements.
I also use only my HiRes music file library and nothing about streaming (TIDAL, Quobuz, etc.).

 

[Whitigir]

The Diablo is using Class AB Opamp rights ?

 

[Bob Parish]

You can save US$260.00 not US$5,260.00!
BTW, Roon is 3 times the price of HQPlayer and its sounds is only fair, even Audirvana sounds better than Roon, at least with my HD800S also!
Anyway, if only you can't listen the huge difference, good to you, I like Roon only for the another features, not sound quality.
Before use equalization with my HD800S, I listened much more the HD650 and Oppo PM-1, because was so easy get fadigue with HD800S...


P.S.: I'm not a HQPlayer seller, only a very satisfied customer!
Its US$260.00 ticket was the best cost/performance ratio for me in 4 decades!

To be honest, I’ve always found the HD800S to be a little boring (before equalization with HQPlayer), due to its flatter more neutral sound, but colorless and with weak amount of bass. It’s also too clean sounding to be engaging, but it is a great headphone to measure how articulate and precise a sound could be. Real-life music just doesn’t sound that clean.

 

[Giraku]

I don't test sound quality, I only listen to music, but I trust in my ears, not in numbers and measurements.
I also use only my HiRes music file library and nothing about streaming (TIDAL, Quobuz, etc.).

So do you hear difference in musicality through Diablo using between Roon and Audirvana?

 

[Bob Parish]

So do you hear difference in musicality through Diablo using between Roon and Audirvana?

I don't use Roon anymore, but Audirvana sounds better than Roon, at least for my ears...
My Diablo will arrive next week, after that I let you know!

 

[Whitigir]

To be honest, I’ve always found the HD800S to be a little boring (before equalization with HQPlayer), due to its flatter more neutral sound, but colorless and with weak amount of bass. It’s also too clean sounding to be engaging, but it is a great headphone to measure how articulate and precise a sound could be. Real-life music just doesn’t sound that clean.

I disagreed, but we can agree to disagree. To me HD800S is super accurate. It needs to have a good supportive system that is built around it though.... starting with DAC, Interconnect, Amp, Cables.... given that you have good recordings. The HD800S is not only accurate but also realistic when you systems are capable

 

[Giraku]

I disagreed, but we can agree to disagree. To me HD800S is super accurate. It needs to have a good supportive system that is built around it though.... starting with DAC, Interconnect, Amp, Cables.... given that you have good recordings. The HD800S is not only accurate but also realistic when you systems are capable

I second to this.

 

[Bob Parish]

I disagreed, but we can agree to disagree. To me HD800S is super accurate. It needs to have a good supportive system that is built around it though.... starting with DAC, Interconnect, Amp, Cables.... given that you have good recordings. The HD800S is not only accurate but also realistic when you systems are capable

As always, evaluate with your ears and form your own opinions.
Let me see if with Diablo I will listen more to my HD800S than to my Oppo PM-1!

 

[KaOs492]

Anybody who knows, is it ok to change the firmware on my device. I want to try the different firmware, is it safe for the unit?

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

Can you please PM me your serial number? Thanks!

 

[469615]

From what I gather from this picture, the Diablo can be used in pure amp mode. Can we get confirmation for this configuration?

Photo by Edy Wijaya in the Head-Fi FB group. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1854418791399078&set=pcb.10159294377314736

 

[deanbone]

From what I gather from this picture, the Diablo can be used in pure amp mode. Can we get confirmation for this configuration?

Photo by Edy Wijaya in the Head-Fi FB group. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1854418791399078&set=pcb.10159294377314736

That DAP is connected to the Diablo via coax so the Diablo is still working as a DAC, the Diablo cannot be used as an amp only as it has no analogue inputs.

 

[utdeep]

When we read about output power, is that irregardless of whether amp is in eco, normal, or turbo?

Balanced S-E

>19.2V/611 mW (@ 600 Ohnn) >12.6V/4,980 mW (@ 32 Ohm) >9.6V/153 mW (@ 600 Ohm) >8.8V/2,417 mW (@ 32 Ohm)