[iFi audio]

Hello, there are a couple of questions for the owners of Ifi black label:
1. Is there a constant background noise in the low impedance 16 ohm power hungry headphones? ("normal" mode, there is noise even without music, slightly increases with increasing volume. In turbo mode, the noise is very loud).
2. Are there any lucky ones who found original parts, namely a 3.7 volt 4800 mA battery and an iematch switch? (I have a switch rustling, it also introduces channel disbalance. I tried the contact cleaner - it doesn't help for long. I think the switch is the source of the noise ...)
P.S. Wrote in support of Ifi, they couldn’t help. To eliminate noise, the idefender and ipurifier devices were proposed, although I think it should not be in the black label without them. And they refused to say the model of the switch, apparently there is a mark "Top secret" (although this is not funny to me).

I'm sorry to hear about your issues with the product. Have you tried with various iEMatch settings on top of power mode? And what is the sensitivity of your headphones if I may ask?

 

[MrA1ex]

I'm sorry to hear about your issues with the product. Have you tried with various iEMatch settings on top of power mode? And what is the sensitivity of your headphones if I may ask?

Iematch reduces noise, but I cannot use it, since I have low-impedance 16 Ohm JVC sz2000 headphones, which require a lot of current, and iematch cannot work with high current (read on the forum from your employees). And it's true the bass suffers. Sensitivity 108 dB (it is not specified for which parameter, the data varies on different sites).

 

[DecentLevi]

Hello, there are a couple of questions for the owners of Ifi black label:
1. Is there a constant background noise in the low impedance 16 ohm power hungry headphones? ("normal" mode, there is noise even without music, slightly increases with increasing volume. In turbo mode, the noise is very loud).
2. Are there any lucky ones who found original parts, namely a 3.7 volt 4800 mA battery and an iematch switch? (I have a switch rustling, it also introduces channel disbalance. I tried the contact cleaner - it doesn't help for long. I think the switch is the source of the noise ...)
P.S. Wrote in support of Ifi, they couldn’t help. To eliminate noise, the idefender and ipurifier devices were proposed, although I think it should not be in the black label without them. And they refused to say the model of the switch, apparently there is a mark "Top secret" (although this is not funny to me).

Yes I've always experienced a definite background hiss with the iDSD Micro BL, modestly on medium but especially on turbo mode, which IMO is where this unit really shines, so I've had to learn to deal with it. It's audible on almost all headphones / IEMs and no, it would not make sense to use a power conditioner filter / purifier because those filter out external RFI/EMI but this is a sound that is generated within the iDSD BL.

Also the volume pot is cheap because I have a slight channel imbalance with low volumes. Speaking of channel imbalance I updated the firmware but still experiencing sound only from one channel when using as a DAC; peculiar because my source outputs stereo to my other DAC and I have normal stereo sound with the same headphones while using the BL as an amp. For me it's not worth trading / repairing because I'd rather upgrade to a newer model.

But do the newer models - iDSD Diablo and iDSD Signature - both have analog input for use as an amp? I heard there's a preference for the Signature version; does this have less hiss?

 

[MrA1ex]

Hmm, sad news. I thought it was a faulty switch or something that could be fixed. What kind of component is it that squeezes out such noise, because according to Ifi they use low noise op amps, precision resistors, oscon capacitors, chips with gold threads ... and then there is such noise. A fly in the ointment.

 

[iFi audio]

Iematch reduces noise, but I cannot use it, since I have low-impedance 16 Ohm JVC sz2000 headphones, which require a lot of current, and iematch cannot work with high current (read on the forum from your employees). And it's true the bass suffers. Sensitivity 108 dB (it is not specified for which parameter, the data varies on different sites).

108DB and 16 Ohms aren't what I'd consider a particularly tough load, but that's enough to pick up some background noise from a very powerful amplifier.

But do the newer models - iDSD Diablo and iDSD Signature - both have analog input for use as an amp? I heard there's a preference for the Signature version; does this have less hiss?

iDSD Diablo doesn't have our iEMatch built in, so it's not ideal for higly sensitive IEMs for example. iDSD Signature however is iDSD BL's direct successor that features all its functionalities.

experiencing sound only from one channel when using as a DAC

Just to clarify, you hear only one channel when iDSD BL's vol pot is bypassed, or whether it's engaged?

 

[alekc]

iDSD Diablo doesn't have our iEMatch built in, so it's not ideal for higly sensitive IEMs for example. iDSD Signature however is iDSD BL's direct successor that features all its functionalities.

@iFi audio Isn't SPDIF Output: Coaxial missing from Signature in comparison to Black Label?

 

[iFi audio]

@iFi audio Isn't SPDIF Output: Coaxial missing from Signature in comparison to Black Label?

Yes, micro iDSD Signature features only a S/PDIF input.

 

[MrA1ex]

108DB and 16 Ohms aren't what I'd consider a particularly tough load, but that's enough to pick up some background noise from a very powerful amplifier

These headphones are two-way and have a total of 4 speakers; the exact parameters of the subwoofer are also unknown. In addition, these headphones must be "activated" with the equalizer by about +20 dB of the lower register, which greatly increases the gluttony of the subwoofer. In total, it turns out that, according to the power calculator, they need a little bit of energy, but in fact they need a lot and it is not even known exactly how much.
One more thing: when I try to set the volume to a little over 15 hours, hoarseness appears when playing the subbass, which, according to my data, indicates a lack of power (normal mode, xbass on, iematch off, minimum phase).
P.S. I still hope to ask someone about the battery and iematch switch models, as I want to replace them (battery in the future)

 

[iFi audio]

One more thing: when I try to set the volume to a little over 15 hours, hoarseness appears when playing the subbass, which, according to my data, indicates a lack of power (normal mode, xbass on, iematch off, minimum phase).

micro iDSD BL in its normal mode outputs nearly 2 watts (!!!) into 16 ohms, so I wouldn't say it lacks power

If anything, I'd rather investigate that 20dB boost. I understand what you wanted to achieve, but perhaps these JVC cans don't respond to it well.

 

[MrA1ex]

I understand what you wanted to achieve, but perhaps these JVC cans don't respond to it well.

Here the person connected them to a 6 watt amplifier at 16 ohms and they felt fine.
And why do you say that in normal mode the black label gives off about 2 watts into 16 ohms? Indeed, in normal mode, the voltage is 5 volts, and the current limiting is 700 mA with an operational amplifier, total 5 * 700 = 3500 mW. Or is there something wrong here?

 

[iFi audio]

Or is there something wrong here?

5.5V/1,900 mW @ 16 Ohms are the official specs.

 

[MrA1ex]

Some pictures of the black panther)
It is difficult to disassemble, the switches on the side seem to deliberately rest directly on the guides and you have to bend them carefully. The collector even sanded a piece of plastic on one connector. I measured the dimensions of the battery - 55x75x10 mm (the thickness can be 12 mm if you remove a piece of foam rubber there, everything is back to back in width and length). I removed the black sticky plug from the iematch switch and understood the essence of the problem: you can see there that the track has scuffs, black stripes from wear. This is what causes the channel imbalance and rustling, I sometimes have to click on it to get the imbalance going.
Another interesting feature: the marking of a couple of chips has been erased. Either this is a game of secrets, or the vague origin of the chips or their concealment due to something bad in their characteristics.
Ifi, wash the flux well from the board and its components, after all, you do not collect in Uncle Liao's basement.

 

[DecentLevi]

108DB and 16 Ohms aren't what I'd consider a particularly tough load, but that's enough to pick up some background noise from a very powerful amplifier.



iDSD Diablo doesn't have our iEMatch built in, so it's not ideal for higly sensitive IEMs for example. iDSD Signature however is iDSD BL's direct successor that features all its functionalities.



Just to clarify, you hear only one channel when iDSD BL's vol pot is bypassed, or whether it's engaged?

It's my understanding that the Signature and Diablo don't have an analog input, correct me if I'm mistaken? For me this is critical for half of the use case, connecting it to my DAP and synthesizer.

One channel for use as a DAC, with the volume pot engaged of course. How would I use it without the volume turned on - perhaps with RCA output in the RCA inputs?

@MrA1ex does a black panther refer to a homemade device or a brand of some sort? Your post doesn't seem to have any correlation to anything.

 

[MrA1ex]

does a black panther refer to a homemade device or a brand of some sort? Your post doesn't seem to have any correlation to anything.

This is a black label, I just called it my own way - black panther. In the photo you can even see the sticker "micro idsd BL main"

 

[iFi audio]

Either this is a game of secrets

As a manufacturer we naturally don't say everything, but at the same time I think that we say a lot about tech things general public is interested in.

don't have an analog input,

They don't feature these, yes. Is your DAP capable of sending digital signal out btw.? That would work with both iDSD Signature and Diablo.

One channel for use as a DAC, with the volume pot engaged of course. How would I use it without the volume turned on - perhaps with RCA output in the RCA inputs?

Can you please clarify what you want to achieve?