ifi Audio iDSD Diablo 2
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
92/100
Build Quality
93/100
Features Usability
94/100
Value for Money
82/100
The iDSD Diablo 2 brings a jet-black noise floor, formidable drive and clean, textured detail to demanding headphones and sensitive IEMs alike. HiFi News praised its grip and control, while HomeTheaterHifi found excellent dynamics and silent backgrounds. Add aptX Lossless Bluetooth, flexible gain modes and premium build, and this transportable DAC/amp feels purpose-built for uncompromised personal listening.
Pros
Drives difficult full-size headphones with impressive control, dynamic range and authority.
Exceptionally quiet background, strong separation and precise imaging enhance detail retrieval.
Excellent connectivity, including Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless, USB-C, S/PDIF and balanced outputs.
Premium aluminum construction, useful volume lock and included case make it a polished transportable solution.
Cons
Its upper-mid/treble balance can sound slightly brighter than neutral with already-bright headphones.
Large, weighty chassis makes it better suited to a bag or desktop than a pocket.
Published peak-power messaging has been criticized as potentially confusing versus continuous RMS output.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 92/100
Reviewers consistently hear a clean, highly detailed and powerful portable DAC/amp with a notably silent background and unusually broad headphone-driving ability. Its presentation is generally described as smooth, musical and lightly warm, though a few listeners found it somewhat bright or relaxed dynamically compared with dedicated rivals.
Transparency Resolution
92/100
Future Audiophile found the Diablo 2 exceptionally resolving and musical, while Sound Advice praised its ordered detail and lack of clinical edge. HomeTheaterHifi also reported terrific separation, and Convince Me Audio heard richer texture and articulate vocals than from the original Diablo.
Tonal Balance Musicality
88/100
Several reviewers describe a smooth, warm-leaning and engaging sound, with natural treble and convincing vocal timbre. However, ecoustics and The Headphone Show found it slightly brighter than neutral, and SoundStage Solo heard some coloration and less convincing piano timbre on selected material.
Dynamics
90/100
HomeTheaterHifi praised its excellent dynamic range and effortless performance with both efficient and inefficient headphones, while HiFi News heard substantial grip and control through demanding crescendos. SoundStage Solo was less convinced, describing some explosive passages as slightly compressed and less quick than a Chord Qutest comparison.
Noise Floor
94/100
HomeTheaterHifi heard a completely silent background even at high playback levels, and HiFi News similarly reported decays free from background noise. The iEMatch setting was found useful with sensitive Meze in-ears, improving volume-control range and presentation.
Headphone Compatibility
94/100
Reviewers report confident results with sensitive IEMs, high-impedance Sennheisers, demanding Audeze planars, HiFiMAN HE560s and HD800s. Its Normal, Turbo and Nitro gain modes, IEMatch attenuation and very strong balanced output make it unusually adaptable for a portable unit.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
93/100
The machined aluminum chassis, smooth analog volume control and solid controls receive repeated praise. Reviewers also highlight the grooved heat-dissipating enclosure, robust portable feel, included carry case and useful physical volume lock.
Features Usability
94/100
This is an unusually full-featured portable DAC/amp, with USB-C and S/PDIF inputs, Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless and other major codecs, balanced and single-ended headphone outputs, and a balanced line output. Three gain modes, IEMatch, separate charging and data ports, MQA decoding, xMEMS support and the volume lock all add meaningful day-to-day flexibility.
Value for Money
82/100
At $1,299, several reviewers feel the sound, power and feature set can justify the asking price; SoundStage Solo even found it capable of outperforming its price class as a two-channel source. The consensus is not unequivocal: reviewers also note the substantial price rise over the original Diablo, limited sonic change for existing owners, strong cheaper alternatives, and potentially confusing peak-power marketing.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- BATTERY
- Lithium-polymer 4800mAh
- BLUETOOTH FORMATS
- aptX Lossless aptX Adaptive aptX LDAC LHDC/HWA AAC SBC
- CHARGING
- Via USB-C – BC v1.2 compliant up to 1900mA
- DIGITAL INPUTS
- 1x USB-C; 1x S/PDIF (optical/coaxial) Bluetooth 5.4
- DIMENSIONS
- 166x85x28.5mm
- DNR
- ≥114dB(A)
- HEADPHONE OUTPUT
- 1x balanced 4.4mm 1x 6.3mm
- HI-RES SUPPORT
- 768kHz DSD512 full MQA
- MAXIMUM OUTPUT POWER
- Output: 4.4mm 6.3mm 4.4mm: >19.2V/611mW (@600Ω); >12.87V/5180mW (@32Ω) 6.3mm: >9.6V/153mW (@600Ω); >8.85V/2450mW (@32Ω) xMEMS: >28Vpp (4.4mm output)
- NET WEIGHT
- 455g (1.0Ibs)
- OUTPUT
- 4.4mm 6.3mm
- OUTPUT IMPEDANCE
- ≤200Ω
- POWER CONSUMPTION
- Nitro 12W | Turbo 5W | Normal 2W | xMEMS 8W
- RMS OUTPUT POWER
- 4.4mm: >19.2V/611mW (@600Ω); >7.4/1710mW (@32Ω); >11.5/2060mW (@64Ω) 6.3mm: >9.6V/150mW (@600Ω); >8.1V/2050mW (@32Ω); >9.3V/1360mW (@64Ω)
- SNR
- ≥114dB(A)
- THD+N
- 0.002% @ 0dBFS 200kΩ
Manufacturer's Description — ifi Audio
Surging with infernal power.
Sporting cutting edge xMEMS and Lossless Bluetooth technology, the flagship iDSD Diablo leads the charge with future-proof features and raw power - take your most demanding headphones wherever you go, we dare you.
Available from our Elite Dealers
“It’s got a NOS fogger system and a T4 Turbo, Dominic.”
Struggling with your power-hungry headphones? Press the NOS button, and our Diablo goes into beast mode. The Diablo 2 offers three power modes: Normal for IEMs, Turbo for mid-sensitivity headphones,and Nitro for demanding headphones, boasting a 19.2V maximum output. A switch underneath activates iFi’s iEMatch technology. This feature is tailored for high-sensitivity headphones and earphones, greatly benefiting your in-ear monitors (IEMs). It removes background noise and increases the usable volume range.
Wings of Inferno.
The Diablo 2 comes with four wings that you can customise to position it horizontally, like a desktop DAC/amp, or vertically to save space. Additionally, it features twenty-two rails for improved cooling performance, with eight of these rails being compatible with the Diablo wings, enabling desktop stand use.
Limited Edition
iDSD Diablo 2 Auric
To celebrate the inaugural CanJam Hong Kong, we draped our flagship DAC in Gold; to bring you the iDSD Diablo 2 Auric.
With a refined circuitry design to deliver crystal clear clarity, this golden treasure takes the Diablo 2 to new heights of prestige.
With just 20 individually numbered pieces available, don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to own a piece of audio history.
Shattering Boundaries
Due to the high voltage requirements of xMEMSiFi has partnered with them to integrate this technology into the new Diablo 2. It utilises the piezoelectric effect to create paper-thin solid-state speakers by converting electrical energy into mechanical energy, exciting an integrated silicon membrane to generate powerful acoustic sound waves for enhanced audio output.
Click here to read more about the xMEMS earphones application.
Sound So Moving. Even the Devil May Cry.
Diablo 2 features PureWave, Servoless DirectDrive, OptimaLoop, and Advanced Jitter Reduction Technology, delivering exceptionally pure, detailed, and emotionally touching sound, these technologies elevate performance to unparalleled heights, even challenging desktop DAC/amps.
PureWave’s full balanced dual-mono circuitry elevates clarity by separating channels and reducing noise. DirectDrive removes the need for coupling capacitors, ensuring purer audio. OptimaLoop employs tailored multiple feedback paths in amplifiers, refining gain control and reducing distortion.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for ifi Audio iDSD Diablo 2
- Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
- Acoustipower — online and in-store — Markham, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Adorama — in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Advanced MP3 Players — online and in-store — Musselburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Apos Audio — online and in-store — Oakland, California, United States (website)
- ARK Audio — online and in-store — Borensberg, Östergötlands län, Sweden (website)
and 133 more verified dealers