iFi iDSD Diablo

By using sparing error correction, iDSD Diablo veers from the glare and harshness of cheaper solid-state designs caused by transient intermodulation distortion, with the signal from dual Burr-Brown DACs still being clean and precise throughout.

Purewave, the name coined for the direct-coupled analogue circuit developed for iFi by Hi-Fi and Parasound legend John Curl, ensures a fully balanced, differential signal path produces minimal distortion and up to 120 dB of signal-to-noise ratio. 

Such performance is possible also due a high 15 volt operating voltage – a number much more akin to desktop amplifiers – that expands headroom and circuit linearity in tandem with Diablo's local, carefully applied, negative feedback.

That precision gets backed by even more power: nearly five watts stands ready to drive any headphone load, including a HEDDphone®, HIFIMAN, MYSPHERE 3.2 and Rosson Audio Design.

Accessorisation fitting for the premium status of this red arrow is included, not least a carrying pouch that'll accomodate iFi's low-noise iPower DC charger and a 4.4mm balanced line-out cable to dual XLR cables, to feed a desktop amplifier.

Trusted Reviews awards it 5 ⭐, praise that is matched by Headfonics saying "sonically it's the best iFi DAC amplifier made up to date". Diablo is everything HIFI Trends expects a reference device to sound like, and this portable behemoth didn't shy away from being compared to desktop gear by Audiophilia.

Strap in for a wild ride with iDSD Diablo, before exploring iFi's other releases here, or our other DAC and amplifier options here.