iFi iDSD Diablo 2 DSD Diablo 2 Headphone Amp User Manual

iFi iDSD Diablo 2 DSD Diablo 2 Headphone Amp

Product Information

The iDSD Diablo 2 is a balanced USB and Bluetooth Ultra-Res portable DAC + headphone amplifier from the Diablo series. It features multiple output connections, power modes, and LED indicators to enhance your audio experience.

Output Connections

1. UnBalanced 6.35mm output: Connect 6.35 single-ended headphones.
   Use a 3.5 to 6.35 mm adapter for 3.5 single-ended headphones.

2. Balanced 4.4mm and xMEMS analog output: Connect balanced 4.4mm headphones. Use xMEMS mode for xMEMS headphones.

Power Modes

Choose from three different power output levels to drive different types of headphones:

• Normal: For high-sensitivity IEMs, up to a maximum of 12 hours.
• Turbo: For medium-sensitivity headphones, up to a maximum of 9 hours.
• Nitro: For the most demanding headphones, up to a maximum of 6 hours.

LED Indicators

The LED indicators provide information about the audio format and sampling frequency received by the iDSD Diablo 2:

• Format (kHz) LED: Indicates the audio format and sampling frequency.
• Bluetooth Format LED: Indicates the Bluetooth audio format received.

Product Usage Instructions

UnBalanced 6.35mm Output

1. Connect your 6.35 single-ended headphones to the UnBalanced 6.35mm output.
2. If you have 3.5 single-ended headphones, use a 3.5 to 6.35 mm adapter to connect them.

Tip: Start with the volume no higher than 9 o’clock and set the Power Mode to ‘Normal’ when using the new IEMs/Headphones.

Balanced 4.4mm and xMEMS Analogue Output:

1. Connect your balanced 4.4mm headphones to the Balanced 4.4mm output.
2. To use xMEMS headphones, enable xMEMS mode.

• Tip: We recommend using the 4.4mm output when the iDSD Diablo 2 is in balanced mode.
• Warning: When xMEMS mode is on, only connect xMEMS IEMs to the balanced 4.4mm headphone output. To connect other types of headphones, turn off the xMEMS mode before connecting.

Power Mode Selection

1. Choose the appropriate Power Mode based on your headphones’ sensitivity.
2. General mode:

• Normal: Use for high-sensitivity IEMs, up to a maximum of 12 hours.
• Turbo: Use for medium-sensitivity headphones, up to a maximum of 9 hours.
• Nitro: Use for the most demanding headphones, up to a maximum of 6 hours.

Note: In xMEMS mode, select the appropriate Power Mode based on the DC bias level for different durations of use (8-10V for up to 8 hours, 12V for up to 7 hours, and 14V for up to 6 hours).

LED Indicators

The LED colors indicate the audio format and sampling frequency received by the iDSD Diablo 2:

• Yellow: PCM 48/44.1kHz
• White: PCM 768/705.6/384/352.8/192/176.4/96/88.2kHz
• Cyan: DSD 128/64
• Red: DSD 512/256
• Green: MQA
• Blue: MQA Studio
• Magenta: Original Sample Rate*
• Note: The LED color scheme may change if GTO-enabled firmware is installed.

Volume Lock and Analog Volume Control:

• Use the Volume Lock to prevent accidental changes in volume or powering on the iDSD Diablo 2.
• The analog volume control provides superior sound quality compared to digital volume control.

OVERVIEW

Thank you for purchasing the Diablo 2 from the Diablo series. The iDSD Diablo 2 is a balanced USB and Bluetooth Ultra-Res portable DAC + headphone amplifier

1. UnBalanced 6.35mm output
   • Connection for 6.35 single-ended headphones. Please use a 3.5 to 6.35 mm adaptor for 3.5 single-ended headphones.
   • Tip: With a new pair of IEMs/Headphones, ALWAYS start with the volume no higher than 9 o’clock and with the Power Mode (item 4) set to ‘Normal’.
2. Balanced 4.4mm and xMEMS analog output
   • Connect balanced 4.4mm headphones. See the next section for instructions on using the xMEMS headset.
   • Tip: As iDSD Diablo 2 is balanced, we recommend the 4.4mm output.
3. MXM Mode ON/OFF
   • This model is specifically designed for xMEMS headphones. To use xMEMS headphones, please enable xMEMS mode.
   • Tip: xMEMS transducers are a piezoelectric technology that has specific drive requirements, and can only be used when xMEMS mode is on.
   • Warning: With xMEMS mode on, please connect xMEMS IEMs to the balanced 4.4mm headphone output only (item 2). It is not recommended to connect other types of headphones while xMEMS mode is on. To connect those, please turn off the
   • MXM mode before connecting.
4. Power Mode
   • There are 3 different types of power output levels to drive different headphones from the ultra-sensitive in-ear monitors to the most demanding over-ear headphones.

General mode

• Approximate listening time (in Battery mode with typical headphones):
• Normal for high-sensitivity IEMs, up to a maximum of 12 hours
• Turbo for medium-sensitivity headphones, up to a maximum of 9 hours
• Nitro for the most demanding headphones, up to a maximum of 6 hours

MEMS mode

• Normal DC bias level is 10V, up to a maximum of 8 hours
• Turbo DC bias level is 12V, up to a maximum of 7 hours
• Nitro DC bias level is 14V, up to a maximum of 6 hours

INPUT Mode/Audio Format (kHz) /Bluetooth Format LED

INPUT LED

LED Mode

• White (flashing) Wired (USB or S/PDIF or 4.4mm)
• Blue (flashing) Wireless Bluetooth (Awaiting connection)
• Blue/Red (flashing) Wireless Bluetooth (Pairing)

Audio Format (kHz) LED

• The LED color scheme indicates the audio format and sampling frequency received by the iDSD Diablo 2 from the music source.
• LED Format (kHz)
• Yellow PCM 48/44.1kHz
• White PCM 768/705.6/384/352.8/192/176.4/96/88.2kHz
• Cyan DSD 128/64
• Red DSD 512/256
• Green MQA
• Blue MQA Studio
• Magenta Original Sample Rate
• MQB
• Attention: Installing GTO-enabled firmware may result in the LEDs on this device no longer changing in accordance with the above table

Bluetooth Format LED

• The colors shown on the LEDs are based on the Bluetooth audio format received by the iDSD Diablo 2.
• LED Format
• Off SBC
• Yellow AAC
• Blue aptX
• Magenta aptX HD
• Green aptX Adaptive
• White AptX Lossless
• Red HWA/LHDC
• Cyan LDAC

Volume lock

• Used to lock the volume knob in position. This prevents it from turning if touched accidentally, resulting in a sudden increase or decrease in volume. It also prevents accidentally powering the iDSD Diablo 2.

ON/OFF and Analogue Volume Control

• The analog volume control in iDSD Diablo 2 is sonically superior to any digital volume control.
• Warning: Due to the high power of iDSD Diablo 2, always start off at a low volume level so that there is no risk of damage to your headphones or your hearing. iFi Audio is not responsible for any hearing or
  equipment damage from misuse.

Power ON

Power OFF

• The iDSD Diablo 2 is equipped with a memory function, after powering on, it will automatically restore the last mode used. If the last mode used when powering off was wireless Bluetooth mode, after powering on, the iDSD Diablo 2 will first enter into the
• Waiting for Connection mode (item 5, INPUT: blue light blinking), which is the mode in which it automatically searches for the pairing device from 15 seconds ago; if it does not find the stored pairing device is not found, it will automatically enter the waiting pairing mode (item 5,
• INPUT: blue/red light blinking alternately).
• Tip: iDSD Diablo 2 will continue to use battery power even if the USB cable is connected afterward.
• Tip: For connection to Apple devices, an Apple Lightning to a USB Camera Adapter is required. For connection to Android devices, a USB-C to USB-C cable and appropriate OS support are required.
• For more information, please refer to www.ifi-audio.com.

iEMatch switch

• iEMatch reduces the output level so that even the most sensitive In-Ear-Monitors (IEMs) can be matched to the iDSD Diablo 2.
• iEMatch can increase the dynamic range of sensitive IEMs by reducing background amplifier hiss.
• = 4.4mm headphones
• = off
• = 6.35mm headphone

iEMatch

• Tip: The iDSD Diablo 2 or the headphones will not be damaged if the iEMatch switch is adjusted incorrectly, but the attenuation level will not be correct.
• Tip: A balanced 6.35mm headphone output reduces the level by 12dB and a balanced 4.4mm headphone output lowers it by 12 dB.

Input mode selector/Bluetooth pairing

Input Mode selector

• Short press cycles between wired and wireless (Bluetooth) modes. The LED (item 5) flashes white for wired mode or flashes blue for
• Bluetooth mode after a short press.

Wired Mode (S/PDIF or USB or 4.4mm)

• This mode allows you to connect the iDSD Diablo 2 with a DAP, phone, laptop, or any other device via a Lightning to USB camera adapter (Apple) or a USB-C to USB-C cable (Android), S/PDIF, 4.4mm.
• The selection between S/PDIF and USB and 4.4mm is automatic. The S/PDIF signal has priority over USB (S/PDIF > USB > 4.4mm). To use the
• USB signal input, please make sure there is no signal going through the S/PDIF input.

Wireless Mode (Bluetooth)

• This mode allows you to connect the iDSD Diablo 2 to a DAP, phone, or any other music source with Bluetooth wirelessly.

Bluetooth Pairing

• When Bluetooth input is selected, the INPUT LED (item 5) will blink blue and search for previously paired devices. If a stored device is not found, it will automatically enter pairing mode and flash blue/red.

• Press and hold the button (3 s) to enter pairing mode until the INPUT LED (item 5) flashes blue/red. To pair, find the ‘HiFi Lossless Audio’

• Bluetooth device on your audio source device such as a mobile phone.

• The iDSD Diablo 2 can store up to 8 paired Bluetooth devices.

• Tip: The iDSD Diablo 2 receives Bluetooth signals via aptX, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, LDAC, LHDC/HWA, AAC, and SBC.

• Balanced 4.4mm line input/output

• a) Output – when input mode is S/PDIF, USB or Bluetooth, etc.

• b) Input – when there is no S/PDIF, USB, or Bluetooth input, the 4.4mm line input is available.

• Tip: Analogue output via 4.4mm > XLR or other balanced interconnects may be used when in fixed-line output mode. You can use this to connect to active speakers or amplifiers that have a volume control. To use this
  balanced output with a single-ended connection, please use the iFi 3.5mm to 4.4mm adapter（This adapter does not convert an unbalanced connector into a balanced one – the connection remains unbalanced.

• Tip: The input impedance as a line input is very low when in xMEMS mode. Please use an analog source with a low impedance output of <10 ohms when in xMEMS mode. During playback from a digital source using

• USB, S/PDIF, or Bluetooth (ie. when in line output mode), please unplug your analog source.
  Warning: The volume level is fixed from this 4.4mm connector in line-out mode. The volume control and headphone amp settings have no influence on it. Do not insert 4.4mm headphones into this source as the full volume is likely to damage your headphones or your hearing.

S/PDIF 3.5mm Coaxial/Optical input

• When USB is not used, connect to a coaxial cable (3.5mm TS), or an optical cable through a Toslink to a 3.5mm Mini-Plug.
• ip: a 3.5mm optical mini-plug to the Toslink adaptor is included for connecting a Toslink optical cable.
• Tip: The S/PDIF standard supports PCM only up to 192kHz.

USB-C (5V) battery charge input

• For charging only. Due to the very high-power nature of iDSD Diablo 2, it will take ~12 hours and ~5 hours for a standard and high-powered charger, respectively, to fully recharge.
• Tip: iDSD Diablo 2 will continue to use battery power even if the USB-C (5V) cable is connected afterward.
• Tip: When the iDSD Diablo 2 is off and a 5V USB power supply is detected, the LED (item 13) will change colour to show the various states of charge (see next section).
• Tip: We recommend charging the iDSD Diablo 2 while the machine is off, otherwise the following two situations will occur:

1. Can listen to music while charging, but it may take longer to be fully charged, depending on the volume level and the headphones used.
2. The iDSD Diablo 2 may be slightly warm to the touch when it is simultaneously in use and being charged. This is normal, and there is no cause for concern

LED for Battery Status

• LED Status

• **White*** > 75%

• **Green*** > 25%

• **Red*** > 10%

• Red (flashing) ≤ 10%

  ---

• The battery LED will flash when it is charging.

USB-C data input port

• Connect your phone to the iDSD Diablo 2 with a Lightning to USB Camera Adapter (Apple) or USB-C to USB-C cable (Android). When using other audio sources, please connect with a USB cable.
• This USB-C port is intended for data transfer only.
• Tip: For use with PC it is necessary to download drivers.
• Tip: The iDSD Diablo 2 comes with pre-installed firmware optimized for MQA. This version also handles up to PCM384/DSD256.
• Tip: For firmware optimized to run PCM768/DSD5 12(non-MQA) please install the corresponding firmware.

Specifications

• 12 months typical or as permitted/required by local reseller laws.
• Specifications are subject to change without notice.
• ifi-audio.com

Documents / Resources

| iFi iDSD Diablo 2 DSD Diablo 2 Headphone Amp [pdf] User Manual
iDSD Diablo 2 DSD Diablo 2 Headphone Amp, iDSD Diablo 2, DSD Diablo 2 Headphone Amp, 2 Headphone Amp, Headphone Amp
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References

• iFi audio | the Award-Winning Audio Technology Company

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