iFi Audio iDSD Diablo 2 Portable DAC Amp Instructions

June 17, 2024
iFi Audio

iFi Audio iDSD Diablo 2 Portable DAC Amp

iFi Audio iDSD Diablo 2 Portable DAC Amp

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Thank you

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

Single-Ended 6.35mm output

Connection for 6.35 single ended headphones . Please use 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’.

Balanced 4.4mm and mums analogue output

Connect balanced 4.4mm headphones. See the next section for instructions on using the mums headset.
Tip: As did Diablo 2 is balanced, we recommend the 4.4mm output.

mums Mode ON/OFF

This mode is specifically designed for mums headphones. To use mums headphones, please enable mums mode.
Tip: mums transducers are a piezoelectric technology that has specific drive requirements, and can only be used when mums mode is on.

Warning: With mums mode on, please connect mums IEMs to the balanced 4.4mm headphone output only (item 2). It is not recommended to connect other types of headphones while mums mode is on. To connect those, please turn off the mums mode before connecting.

Tip: If the mode is used incorrectly, such as plugging mums headphones into the balanced 4.4mm headphone port when xMEMS mode is not turned on, or plugging regular balanced 4.4mm headphones into the balanced 4.4mm headphone port when xMEMS mode is turned on, please don’t worry about damage to your headphones or your hearing, but it will result in distorted sound.

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.

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 6 hours
xMEMS 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 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 colour scheme indicates the audio format and sampling frequency received by the did Diablo 2 from the music source

LED Format (kHz)
Yellow PCM 48/44.1kHz
White PCM 768/705.6/384/352.8/192/176.4/96/88.2k
Cyan DSD 128/6
Red DSD 512/256
Green MQA
Blue MQA Studio
Magenta Original Sample Rate*
MQB

Attention: Installing GTO enabled firmware may result in the LED’s on this device no longer changing in accordance with th

Bluetooth Format LED

The colors shown on the LEDs are based on the Bluetooth audio format received by the did Diablo 2.

LED Format
Off SBC
Yellow AAC
Blue apt*
Magenta apt H
Green apt Adaptive*
White Apt 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 did Diablo 2 on.

ON/OFF and Analogue Volume Control

The analogue volume control in did Diablo 2 is sonically superior to any digital volume control.

Warning: Due to the high power of did Diablo 2, always start off at a low volume level so that there is no risk of damage to your headphones or your hearing. if audio is not responsible for any hearing or equipment damage from misuse.

Power ON.

Power OFF.

The did 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 did Diablo 2 will firstly 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: did Diablo 2 will continue to use battery power even if the USB cable is connected afterwards.
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

On/off And Analogue Volume Control

iWatch switch

iWatch reduces the output level, so that even the most sensitive In-Ear- Monitors (IEMs) can be matched to the iDSD Diablo 2.
iWatch can increase the dynamic range of sensitive IEMs by reducing background amplifier hiss.

| 4.4| = 4.4mm headphones
---|---|---
Off| = off
6.35| = 6.3mm headphones

Tip: The did Diablo 2 or the headphone will not be damaged if the iWatch switch is adjusted incorrectly, but the attenuation level will not be correct.
Tip: When using the 4.4mm headphone output, the 4.4 iWatch position reduces the level by -12dB, and the 6.35 position reduces it by -6dB. Similarly, when using the 6.35mm headphone output, the 6.35 iWatch position reduces the level by -12dB, and the 4.4 position reduces it by -6dB.
Note: The iWatch function is not available when the driver mode is “Nitro”, or when mums mode is turned on.

Iematch Switch

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 (USB or S/PDIF or 4.4mm)
This mode allows you to connect the did 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 USB signal has priority over S/PDIF (USB > S/PDIF > 4.4mm) . To use the S/PDIF signal input, please make sure there is no signal going through the USB input.
Wireless Mode (Bluetooth)
This mode allows you to connect the did 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 ‘iFi Lossless Audio’
Bluetooth device on your audio source device such as a mobile phone.
The did Diablo 2 can store up to 8 paired Bluetooth devices.

Tip: The did Diablo 2 receives Bluetooth signals via apt, apt Lossless, apt Adaptive*, LDAC , LHDC/HWA, AAC and SBC

Balanced 4.4mm line output/SE line input

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 (Single-Ended only).

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 if 3.5mm to 4.4mm adapter (This adapter does not convert an single ended connector into a balanced one – the connection remains single ended).
Tip: The input impedance as a line input is very low when in mums mode. Please use an analogue source with low impedance output <10 ohms when in mums mode. During playback from a digital source using USB, S/PDIF or Bluetooth (i.e.. when in line output mode), please unplug your analogue 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 to 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 3.5mm Mini-Plug.

Tip: a 3.5mm optical mini-plug to Toslink adaptor is included for connecting a Toslink optical cable.
Tip: MQA can be decoded from the S/PDIF input as well as the USB input.
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 did Diablo 2, it will take ~12 hours and ~5 hours for a standard and high-powered charger, respectively, to fully recharge.

Tip: did Diablo 2 will continue to use battery power even if the USB-C (5V) cable is connected afterwards. Tip: When the did 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: When the did 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 did 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 did 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.

Tip: The did Diablo 2 will run from battery power whilst charging.

LED for Battery Status

LED Status
White* > 75%
Green* > 25%
Red* > 10%
Red (flashing) ≤ 10%

*Battery LED will flash when it is charging

USB-C data input port

Connect your phone to the did 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: For firmware optimized to run PCM768/DSD512(non-MQA) please install corresponding firmware.
Tip: For all latest firmware updates please refer to our website here: www.ifi-audio.com/download-hub/

Specifications

Digital Inputs:| USB-C S-PDIF (3.5mm coaxial/optical) TM Bluetooth 5.4 (apt Lossless, apt Adaptive, apt, LDAC, HWA/LHDC, AAC and SBC)
---|---
Analogue Input:| Single-Ended 4.4mm, 2Vrms max. positive phase connection only
Formats supported| DSD 512 /22.6MHz PCM 768kHz MQA Full Decoder TM Bluetooth 5.4 Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC by Burr Brown Qualcomm QCC 518x Series
Frequency Response:|
DAC mode| 1.5Hz-114kHz (-3dB)
Line mode| 1.5Hz-400kHz (-3dB)
Line Output Section|
Line Output:| Balanced 4.4mm
Output Level:| 4.1Vrms @ 0dBFS (Bal)
Output Impedance:| ≤210Ω
SNR:| ≥114dB(A)
DNR:| ≥114dB(A)
THD + N:| 0.002% @ 0dBFS (200kΩ load
Headphone Output Section|
Headphone Output:| Balanced 4.4mm; Single-Ended 6.35mm
Headphone Max Output power:|
Balanced (Max.)| >19.2V/611mW (@ 600Ω); >12.87V/5,180mW (@ 32Ω)
Single-Ended (Max.)| >9.6V/153mW (@ 600Ω); >8.85V/2,450mW (@ 32Ω)
Balanced (RMS)| >11.5V/2066mW (@ 64Ω)
Single-Ended (RMS)| >8.1V/2050mW (@ 32Ω)
mums| >28Vpp (Balanced 4.4mm), 22Ω, 10-14V DC bias
Output impedance:|
Balanced| < 1Ω(≤5.7Ω with iWatch engaged)
Single-Ended| <1Ω(≤5.7Ω with iWatch engaged)
SNR:|
Balanced| ≥113dB(A)
Single-End| ≥113dB(A
DNR:|
Balanced| ≥113dB(A)
Single-Ended| ≥113dB(A)
THD + N:|
Balance| 0.003% (16Ω @ 2.4V
Single-Ended| 0.003% (16Ω @ 2.4
Power consumption:|
Nitro| 12W
Turbo| 5W
Norma| 2W
mums Mode:|
Nitro| 4.1W
Turbo| 4.0W
Normal| 3.5W
Battery:| Lithium-polymer 4800mAh
Power System:| Charging via USB-C BC V1.2 compliant up to 1900mA charging current
Dimensions:| 166 x 85 x 28.5 mm (6.5″ x 3.3″ x 1.1″)
Net Weight:| 455 g (1.0 lbs)
Limited Warranty:| 12 months*

  • Qualcomm apt and Snapdragon Sound are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.
  • Qualcomm, Snapdragon and Snapdragon Sound are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. apt is a trademark of Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd.
  • 12 months typical or as permitted/required by local reseller laws.
    Specifications are subject to change without notice.

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References

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