First off, if we're judging on looks alone, these are a mile above anything else I've ever seen. Mine are the black variant, a bit more subtle than the blue, but that's what I wanted: not too flashy.
I actually said, "Wow..." when I opened the box and saw the outer case, way before I got to the IEMs themselves. But opening that case? Double wow. Absolutely spectacular!
I gave the case a full charge (four LEDs show charge status on the case, and a left and right solid LED shows the IEMs charging, pretty simple) and paired them with my AK DAC. Very cool. Instant pair, and great sound right from the go. Very nice low end, something almost always lacking in a wireless IEM. Good width and soundstage. Very nice mids/highs. Good balance.
I switched to my Samsung phone and paired again (A click of the reset button in the case helped. They may multi-pair, but I preferred the quick reset. ) Download the app for a good time like the hearing test which steps you through different levels of tones at different frequencies, then plots a custom EQ for your hearing. Nice!
They really do play for eight to ten hours depending on volume. I played them (not in my ears, but overnight) for about forty hours at moderate levels with mixed songs and they broke in nicely. The wooden body can't help but make the sound better. Think of violin, cello, clarinet, etc. All wooden bodied, right?
Negatives? Few. The nozzle ends are large so fitting different tips is a chore. I used the tiniest bit of chapstick as a bit of lube to help tips slide on. I wasn't a fan of the stock tips and went to my Spins. I found that larger than usual gave space for lows to propogate while securely locking them in. Don't try to cram these puppies in your ears! The controls (touching the flats) work well and are responsive and the ambient mode works well. The commands can be reconfigured using the app, but it's not "sticky" without the app on (not on my AK DAC) so learn it.
I have not taken a call yet, so can't comment there.
They're no quite on par with my wired IEMs, but close and very satisfying, and my wireds were 2x the cost.
Go for it. Highly recommended!
The iFi Audio iDSD Diablo 2 is an absolute masterpiece in the world of portable amps. It delivers an audio experience that redefines what’s possible in a compact, travel-friendly device.
To all the "haters" out there who mention that the 5180mw output is an overstatement and the "balanced" is not a true balanced output... I say whatever... it drives anything I throw at it with aplomb! FostexTH900mk2, ZMF Caldera Open and Closed, ANY IEM my friends and I have tried ...too many to list. If you need more power than this portable titan.... well you may have hearing loss. And it drives all I mentioned without using "beast mode" (they refer to it as Nitro (1 of 3 settings)). If anything, it could use a lower gain option / IEM match for some sensitive IEMs.
The implementation of BT 5.4 (supports all codecs) is a welcomed addition for quality, but in general, the distance it can be from the source is very small for consistency. That is not a Diablo issue, but a BT5.4 issue IMO.
As for the sound quality...simply unparalleled. I have compared this to desktop headphone amps in the same price range and I would put it toe to toe with them. It even ran close to my buddy's Burson Soloist 3x!!! and the Diablo 2 is portable :)
I run it using A&K SP3000T and it oozes warmth and richness in the lows and highs WITHOUT covering/smoothing anything up in the mids, which is my jam.
It is on the heavier side and will still fit in a pocket... barely. built like a brick. At the limit of what I would like to carry but totally worth it! I get about 6 hours of the 8 rated battery with constant listening, no Bluetooth on, hard wired, IEMs / Caldera tested on the battery life.
In conclusion, the iFi Audio iDSD Diablo 2 is nothing short of extraordinary. It’s the ultimate portable amp for those who refuse to compromise on sound quality, power, or versatility. If you’re serious about your audio and want the best experience on the go, the Diablo 2 is the perfect choice.
Shout out to Adam, a massive THANK YOU!!! for your absolutely OVER THE TOP customer service and shopping experience :) :) Seriously, your dedication and attention to detail have been nothing short of exceptional.
With all the online ordering over the years, HifiSoundGear provides the best service I have encountered. It was as though they were good friends. They responded so nicely to all my questions about the product and shipment. As it works out, while I liked the IEM's, I concluded they were not sufficiently different from the ones i had been using. Again, for the process of returning and getting a refund, they could not have been nicer. Buying from them was a first rate experience.
The quality of service, level of help provided, and overall customer satisfaction is beyond anything I have experienced. I cannot say enough good things about the people who belong to this company!
As for the U4S, these are my first foray into 64 Audio but I am SO thankful that I got to experience them! My goodness the soundstage, bass response from the m15 module, and overall quality is just great!
Please, buy from these wonderful people! And if you can swing it, get a set of U4S! You will not regret it!
Only complaint is the cable. For the price, I expected better, but it works well and is just fine.
Thank you HiFi Sound Gear! I look forward to purchasing more from you in the future!
Great bass & concert like sound when paired with Ifi gopod. Adam @ Hifi sound gear provided me with above & beyond customer service.
I am in love with these IEM’s. Could not be happier with the purchase.
As mentioned in description, this IEM is really made for people who love their music with a bit of extra kick, unlike those super sci-fi ones like Etymotic. It gives your songs a fun twist with a bit more bass and crispier treble, but nothing too crazy. Coming from using an Etymotic ERX, the first thing I noticed was how the bass felt beefed up and everything sounded clearer, especially with songs that have a lot going on, like lots of different instruments playing at once. This IEM nails it without missing a beat. The only heads-up is about the extra bass – if you’re not really into that, it might take a little while to get used to how these sound. But all in all, it's about enjoying your tunes without getting too technical.
These are the closest TWS gets to pure IEM listening. You get the wide soundstage. They scale quickly. They have that satisfying bass slam often missing in TWS. The layering is just right and resolution is mesmerizing. Oh yes, you get the convenience of taking them on the go and they are truly comfortable. Noble has achieved a superior status in my eyes with the FoKus Prestige. I look forward to listening to them on my walks when I don’t have to take my DAP. Adam is one of the greats in this business. His commitment to customer service is exceptional. You aren’t a customer, but a client. He helped me after losing my first pair and just went above and beyond to ensure that I was shipped a new pair in less than two days. I am completely satisfied and impressed. You will be too. Thank you and looking forward to my future purchases from your establishment.
I own two flagships from Thieaudio - V16 divinity has the most detailed and richest sound I have ever heard from a pure BA iem. On the other hand, prestige ltd has the wide and deep sound stage that can imaging all different sound of music clearly. Two different premium taste from Thieaudio, good job 👍
So, my journey has been a progressive one indeed. I’ve gone from the ultimate ears, Westones, Sennheiser’s, moondrop kato,final audio b3 and blessing 2 dusk throughout my life for IEMs. This is my first Thieaudio brand though. My moondrop dusk was suppose to my last stop for the next couple of years but the driver just failed out the blue after being babied for for a year and 1/2. And so walking into Audio46 in New York introduced me to the Thieaudio world. I finally got a chance to hear earphones live before deciding which to buy and when I heard the Oracle MK2, it captured my interest and stood out faster than any of the others, especially after hearing the EST drivers kick in on my tracks. It was like treble was finally done right and timbre was finally more real than all others before. Loved the sub bass and mids with the richness I crave. And so I picked them and am very thankful for the ability and the blessings in my life to be able to. The quality of the build all the way down to the cable itself and the different connection ability it gives you to use is so welcoming. I also really appreciate the box having the picture of the earphone on them instead of the all black box on the original Oracle. Taking the time out to do this right means more to me.
I'm sure there are other great iem's out there, but I have never heard anything better so far. The instrument separation and vocals sounding so smooth and never harsh is what I love. But they sure are big, which can be uncomfortable for some people. 10/10
A clean-sounding monitor with a bass boost near-exclusively in the sub-frequencies.
If you want something that looks and sounds awesome i can just recommend it! Very high definition! Be careful to not use bad recordings/files that will make sound those headphones terrible