[iFi audio]

Folks, just so you know:

https://ifi-audio.com/canjam_nyc_2023/

iFi to Release Diablo X, First DAC to Support xMEMS Technology, at CanJam NYC 2023

iFi will be presenting the Diablo X alongside Singularity Audio's In-Ear Monitors. These both feature xMEMs tech to push the boundaries of IEM and headphone performance.

Southport, England – iFi audio will be adding to its already extensive list of portable DAC audio products with the release of their Diablo X at CanJam NYC, February 25-26, 2023.

iFi have partnered with xMEMS as an official DAC/headphone amp technology partner. The Diablo X is being released to support the brand-new xMEMS' ground-breaking solid state monolithic speaker technology.

The Diablo X, when paired with In-Ear Monitors featuring the xMEMS' monolithic micro speaker, will provide audiophile-level resolution, creating lightning-fast transient response, near-zero phase shift, and +/-1° part-to-part phase consistency, resulting in the most natural sounding In-Ear Monitors with the most accurate time domain music reproduction. The result is a highly uniform and reliable driver that eliminates the need to match and calibrate.

Just like the original iDSD Diablo, the Diablo X delivers reference level sound by using two BurrBrown DAC chips and a 16-core XMOS chip to process the data received via the USB and S/PDIF digital inputs, meaning the Diablo X can handle up to PCM 768, DSD 512, 2xDXD. It also provides full MQA decoding, like its predecessor.

A Perfect Pairing

iFi audio will be showcasing the Diablo X alongside In-Ear Monitors from Singularity Audio at CanJam NYC 2023. Singularity Audio will be releasing their xMEMS In-Ear Monitors, the first IEMs to feature xMEMS solid state speaker technology. Paired with the iFi Diablo X, the two become a perfect bundle, because one cannot be properly utilized without the other.

“iFi audio is excited to be working with xMEMS as an official DAC/headphone amp technology partner,” said Victoria Pickles, Head of Partnerships for iFi audio. “xMEMS’ ground-breaking micro speakers offer great potential to push the boundaries of IEM and headphone performance. And our portable audio technologies are uniquely positioned to ensure this potential is fully realized. With specially optimized iFi DAC/headphone amps set for launch in 2023, it’s going to be an xCITING year!"

More on xMEMS, Singularity Audio and CanJam NYC 2023 below

xMEMs

Founded in January 2018, xMEMS Labs is reinventing sound with the world’s first solid-state True MEMS speakers for TWS and other personal audio devices. xMEMS has over 90 granted patents and over 100 patents pending for its technology. The monolithic architecture implements both actuation and diaphragm in silicon resulting in unmatched part-to-part frequency response consistency and reduced speaker matching or calibration time at manufacturing. This innovative transduction mechanism has also produced the worlds’ fastest and most precise µspeakers, eliminating spring and suspension recovery of coil speakers which improves audio quality and sound field reproduction.

For more information, visit https://xmems.com.

Singularity Audio

Incorporated in 2022, Singularity Audio’s mission is to create audiophile products Singular in design and purpose. From conception through design and fabrication, Singularity Audio products embody a purity in design, harmonizing advanced materials with an unwavering commitment to accurate sound reproduction.

Singularity Audio’s first product is a flagship IEM which utilizes the fastest and most phase accurate µSpeaker available, the xMEMS Labs Montara Piezo-MEMS transducer. Using reductive principles, an elegant industrial design using a minimal number of components was realized. The outer shells are machined from titanium, with each IEM weighing <5 grams and under 19mm in length, resulting in featherweight IEM that the user will forget they are wearing, allowing them to be fully immersed in music.

For more information, visit https://singularityaud.io

 

[iFi audio]

Folks, about our micro iDSD Diablo X and xMEMs, please see these:

 

[iFi audio]

...and our latest product, LAN iSilencer:

 

[chat7]

If I connect external PSU to zen dac 2, it will take power only from that PSU and cut the power from USB or it will take from both?

 

[iFi audio]

If I connect external PSU to zen dac 2, it will take power only from that PSU and cut the power from USB or it will take from both?

It will then use only power provided by an external PSU, thanks!

 

[chat7]

thanks for info.

 

[iFi audio]

thanks for info.

Sure, anytime!

 

[DropTekRoon]

Hopefully someone has an idea of what's going on here.

I have an iFi Zen Air Dac and I wanted to use it as a dac for a Helot 2x amp. When I plug the dac into the amp, I only get sound coming from one side of the headphones. I tried plugging the usb connection from the dac into a laptop and then also a phone using a usb to usb-c adapter. I also have the latest firmware and drivers installed.

I then tried to use the headphones on just the Zen Air Dac, and I got audio from both sides. I also tried using a dongle as a dac that plugged into my phone and used a 3.5mm to rca cable that plugged into the Helot and into the dongle. I was able to get audio from both sides doing that as well. So the problem with only having audio play on one side of the headphones seems to only happen when I try to use the Zen Air Dac as a dac for the Helot amp.

I'm not sure what the problem is. I'm thinking it could be the rca cables that I'm using that is connecting the dac to the amp? However, I wouldn't think that would be the problem because they are new and that was my first time using them. I made sure that the connection is secure. The connection isn't as tight as what the 3.5mm to rca cable is, but it should still be fine. I guess they could be broken still. Another possibility could be that the dac just isn't compatible with the Helot amp for whatever reason. These are the only two ideas that I can think of.

Anyone have any ideas as to what the problem is and how to fix it?

 

[iFi audio]

Hopefully someone has an idea of what's going on here.

I have an iFi Zen Air Dac and I wanted to use it as a dac for a Helot 2x amp. When I plug the dac into the amp, I only get sound coming from one side of the headphones. I tried plugging the usb connection from the dac into a laptop and then also a phone using a usb to usb-c adapter. I also have the latest firmware and drivers installed.

I then tried to use the headphones on just the Zen Air Dac, and I got audio from both sides. I also tried using a dongle as a dac that plugged into my phone and used a 3.5mm to rca cable that plugged into the Helot and into the dongle. I was able to get audio from both sides doing that as well. So the problem with only having audio play on one side of the headphones seems to only happen when I try to use the Zen Air Dac as a dac for the Helot amp.

I'm not sure what the problem is. I'm thinking it could be the rca cables that I'm using that is connecting the dac to the amp? However, I wouldn't think that would be the problem because they are new and that was my first time using them. I made sure that the connection is secure. The connection isn't as tight as what the 3.5mm to rca cable is, but it should still be fine. I guess they could be broken still. Another possibility could be that the dac just isn't compatible with the Helot amp for whatever reason. These are the only two ideas that I can think of.

Anyone have any ideas as to what the problem is and how to fix it?

OK, just to confirm:

- your ZEN Air DAC works fine (two channels audible) as a DAC and headphone amp
- your Helot amp works fine (two channels audible) with a different DAC
- your ZEN Air DAC into Helot amp have only one channel audible

If that's correct, I suspect that your ZEN Air DAC has an issue with one of its line outputs. If upon using a different headphone amp than your Helot there's only one channel, that would confirm this.

 

[DropTekRoon]

OK, just to confirm:

- your ZEN Air DAC works fine (two channels audible) as a DAC and headphone amp
- your Helot amp works fine (two channels audible) with a different DAC
- your ZEN Air DAC into Helot amp have only one channel audible

If that's correct, I suspect that your ZEN Air DAC has an issue with one of its line outputs. If upon using a different headphone amp than your Helot there's only one channel, that would confirm this.

Yeah, so if I were to use the Zen Air Dac just by itself, I get audio from two channels. When using the Helot amp with a dongle and 3.5mm to rca cable, I also get audio from two channels. But when I try to use the Zen Air Dac as purely a dac plugged into the Helot, I only get audio from one channel on headphones.

When I tried using the Zen Air Dac as a dac with the Helot, I even tried different usb cables and I tried plugging in the usb to a laptop and even a phone (with an adapter) and I'm still only getting audio from one channel.

It seems like I've tried everything besides new rca cables but idk if that's the problem or not. Maybe there is something wrong with the rca output on the dac. It's just weird because when I use just the Zen Air Dac by itself and then also try using the Helot with the 3.5mm to rca cable with a dongle, I get no problems like I mentioned. Audio on one channel only happens when I plug the Zen Air Dac into the Helot amp.

 

[marekm]

Switch RCA cable (left vs right):

1. If the same channel on the amp is dead - the RCA socket on iFi DAC is faulty;
2. If the other channel on the amp is dead - RCA cable is faulty.

 

[DropTekRoon]

Switch RCA cable (left vs right):

1. If the same channel on the amp is dead - the RCA socket on iFi DAC is faulty;
2. If the other channel on the amp is dead - RCA cable is faulty.

Ok, so I just tried plugging the white into red and red into white, I get audio from the left side. When I plug the red into red and white into white, I get audio from the right side. Still no audio from both sides of headphones though. So basically I just received a bad rca cable then and a new one should solve the problem?

 

[MisterMudd]

Ok, so I just tried plugging the white into red and red into white, I get audio from the left side. When I plug the red into red and white into white, I get audio from the right side. Still no audio from both sides of headphones though. So basically I just received a bad rca cable then and a new one should solve the problem?

Seems logical and likely. Certainly an inexpensive guess. Good luck.

 

[vladtm]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to share my recent purchase of the Zen DAC V2 and my excitement about it. I have been using the V1 for a while now and while I have loved its performance, I have always had issues with gapless playback of Tidal's MQA files. After doing some research, I decided to upgrade to the V2 in the hopes that it would resolve this issue.

Waiting for the delivery now (usually takes 24 hours for orders to arrive)

 

[eeagle]

Ok, so I just tried plugging the white into red and red into white, I get audio from the left side. When I plug the red into red and white into white, I get audio from the right side. Still no audio from both sides of headphones though. So basically I just received a bad rca cable then and a new one should solve the problem?

I've had this problem with RCA cables before, sometimes it is the center pin alignment and bending it slightly and twisting to make sure the plug is fully seated corrects the problem.