Home Amps/DACS ifi micro iDSD Black Label Review – Gone, But Not Forgotten

ifi micro iDSD Black Label Review – Gone, But Not Forgotten

by Stuart Charles Black

Don't forget to share if you found it helpful!

Originally published 12/31/18.

Updates

  • 9/10/19.
  • 4/1/22. Article update.

Hey there friend, and Welcome aboard!!

Before we get into the iFi micro iDSD Micro Black Label Review, grab a snack, sit back and relax because…

You’ve come to the right place!

 

What I will bring you in this review


Table of Contents

Click any of these to navigate the page!


Introduction
Specifications
Features & Usage
Build Quality
Ergonomics
My Video Review
Photo Gallery
Sound
Final Grade

Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!


Introduction


The original Black Label has been discontinued, but I’d still like to run down what made it so great upon initial release. Do stick around for a couple of alternatives towards the end!

Let’s run it down:

  • It charged your phone via smart power charging (USB) on the back right of the unit.
  • It could be be plugged into your PC via the big blue USB cable that comes with the unit. You’re my boy blue!
  • It could be used as a gaming rig. Just plug the optical/toslink adapter into the SPDIF jack on the back of the unit and have yourself an afternoon delight. Related: The Best Headphones for Gaming!
  • It could be plugged into a receiver, preamp, studio monitor, etc. via the RCA outputs from the Black Label. What are Studio Monitors? For this, it’s got a switch towards the back for Direct mode or Preamp mode. 
  • It could be plugged into anything that outputs SPDIF. Great for any variety of home theater-type units.
  • It could be used with your phone via its 3.5mm line out on the front.
  • It had an XBass+ switch on the front and a Soundstage enhancer (which actually works beautifully). More on that later.
  • On the side, there was a power mode switch featuring Eco, Normal, and Turbo modes. This was one of its best features and allowed for extreme versatility based on the headphone you were using.
  • On the side, you had a Polarity switch and a Filter featuring Bit Perfect, Minimum Phase, and Standard.
  • But wait, there’s more. It had an IEMatch switch for High Sensitivity or Ultra Sensitivity IEMs and headphones. This came in handy with very low Impedance/High Sensitivity Headphones. I’m thinking 32 Ohm and lower, and over 100dB/mW Sensitivity.
  • It had enough juice to power a small country. Go ahead and plug anything (and I mean anything) into this bad boy and it will drive it to listenable levels with absolute ease. More on numbers later.
  • The best part is how it makes your headphones sound. Clarity, dimension, detail, accuracy, spacing, timbre, etc. are all on point. This may be the only Amp/DAC you’ll ever need.

iFi Micro iDSD Black Label DAC/Amp

Price

Specifications

Now for the good stuff…


Features

& Usage


 

iFi micro iDSD Black Label Review Goodness!

As mentioned at the start, the Black Label can do basically anything. If the HA-2 can brew you a cup of coffee, this thing will certainly make you breakfast in bed if you ask nicely enough. XD. I was going to go somewhere else with that but I resisted. Go me.

Yeah anyways, I’m certainly more than impressed with what it can do.

Gaming

If you’re a gamer, it’s got you covered with the small Toslink adapter. Pretty nifty and clicks right in. Then just run an optical cable from the back of your Playstation or Xbox into the back of the adapter.

Obviously, you can game/listen to music via the line out on the front or the USB slot on the back.

Just use that big Blue USB cable that it comes with. In all honesty, I found it a bit too big and bulky. You have to kind of position it just right or it tends to pull the unit around your desk. Still, once you get the mammoth-sized thing in the right place, it’s smooth sailing.

Charging

Use the slot on the back right of the unit to charge your phone.

SPDIF Jack

Use this for any device that outputs SPDIF. This could be a receiver, CD Player, or anything that you’d typically find in a home theater.

USB

On the back, use the USB slot with an OTG Cable to plug into your Android phone. If you’re using an Apple phone, this lightning-to USB will work.

Front of the unit

On the front, you’ve got a bass boost and a 3D+ switch. Plug your headphones in with the supplied 1/4″ adapter and turn the volume knob to power it on.

XBass+

I find that the XBass+ adds just the right amount of bass. It doesn’t overpower the headphone but instead provides a little more fidelity and thump. There’s a nice low rumble here that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. With bass heavier headphones you won’t need it, but if you fancy a go at some extra oomph, the Black Label’s got you covered regardless.

3D+

The 3D+ switch basically improves Soundstage and oh my what a wonderful job it does. What is Soundstage? I was shocked to discover that it actually helped to enhance the image on my HD600, giving it some added width! This was simply incredible to me considering the HD600’s image has always been very narrow.

iFi micro iDSD Black Label Review

Line out

If you want, you can use the line out to another amplifier and just use the Black Label as a DAC. For me, that’s a bit counterintuitive. You can also use the line out to your phone or PC for an easy source of power.

  • If using Direct mode with a line out, the unit stops power coming from the RCA Output.
  • If using Preamp mode, the sound will come from anything connected to the RCA outs as well as any headphones plugged in.

Power Modes

One of the best features is the power mode switch on the side featuring Eco, Normal, and Turbo modes.

If you’re using High Impedance headphones (250 Ohm and up) use the Normal or Turbo mode. What’s funny is that you may not even need those modes.

I’m finding the HD600 at 97dB Sensitivity and 300 Ohm Impedance will run on Eco. Normal is more than enough though. What is Headphone Impedance?

Even better is the fact that even with a headphone like the venerable AKG K240 600 Ohm, with a ridiculously low 91dB/mW Sensitivity, the Black Label will still power it without breaking a sweat.

Right now I’m listening to the wonderful Audeze LCD-2 on Eco setting, @ 70 Ohm and 101dB Sensitivity. Plenty of power, as the LCD-2 is pretty efficient.

This may be the most valuable DAC on the planet. Forget about checking specs ever again.

Buy all the headphones!

iFi micro iDSD Black Label Review

iFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewiFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewPolarity

This switch did nothing for me. I emailed my new friend Lawrance at iFi and will update this as I get more info about the feature.

Filter

You’ve also got Bit Perfect, Minimum Phase, and Standard. I messed with this a little and could discern small differences in the sound. I Will update as I get more time in deciphering changes in the signature.

IEMatch

This is a great feature for very High Sensitivity IEMs and Headphones, as well as very low Impedance ones as well. With great power comes great responsibility. This feature ensures you won’t blow out your headphones or earbuds! Related: What is Sensitivity in Headphones?

Sleepy Time?

Riccardo Robecchi over at Soundphile made a great point in his article: iFi micro iDSD Black Label review: black power. Because the unit sleeps after 3 minutes of inactivity, it will start to charge. If it’s plugged into a phone or something similar when this happens and you walk away, you could end up with a dead phone and a charged DAC. Definitely, something to be aware of.

He also mentioned something that I’ve noticed as well: Whenever the unit wakes up you may hear a pop sound which doesn’t really bother me but I suppose it would if the volume was left on very loud.

Other than that, battery life is very good and I’ve found it keeps a charge almost indefinitely. I’ve never had to consciously make an effort to charge it. It’s always ready to go!

Whew!

That was intimidating, to say the least. Did I leave anything out? I sure hope not!


FEATURES SCORE: A++

Wait, the review isn’t over? Lol, not even CLOSE bud. let’s move on to build…

Back To Top


Build Quality


 

iFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewThe iFi micro iDSD Black Label takes form in a black (wow, what a surprise) trapezoidal prism that’s made of aluminum.

This material lends it a solid feel, and the device seems well-made overall. The orange accents complement its pure black body really well – further adding some much-appreciated premium appeal into the package.

From a practical standpoint, you’re able to read the small text fairly easily which is important considering how much this puppy is capable of.

It honestly seems like iFi didn’t hold back in investing time into its design. But to be frank, for a DAC that costs as much as it does, there’s no reason to expect anything less.

All of the knobs and switches feel durable and solid, and the various input jacks are also very rugged.

The unit itself is pretty heavy for a portable DAC but is still light enough for transport. I think ifi did a fantastic job here. Related: What is a USB DAC?

BUILD SCORE: A+

Is it efficient?

Back To Top


Ergonomics


 

ifi micro iDSD Black Label

Leonardo wants to see what all the fuss is about.

Efficiency is an understatement with the Black Label.

As promised, let’s take a look at the power output into various Impedance loads:

In Turbo Mode:

  • 1,560 mW @ 64 Ohm
  • 166 mW @ 600 Ohm

Food for thought: The K240 600 Ohm needs roughly 80mW to perform optimally. The Black Label provides more than enough for even the most demanding headphones.

In Normal Mode:

  • 950 mW @ 32 Ohm
  • 100 mW @ 300 Ohm

In Eco Mode:

  • 250 mW @ 16 Ohm

Food for Thought: The HD600s at 300 Ohm Impedance and 97dB Sensitivity only require 20mW from an amp. Normal mode on the Black Label provides 100 into this same Impedance load. This is why even Eco works with the 600s!

Not only is it more powerful than explosive diarrhea, but it’s also got a low output impedance. This ensures consistent output across all types of headphones and spec ranges. What is Output Impedance?

ERGONOMICS SCORE: A+

Back To Top


Let’s take a break and watch a video!

My Video Review

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to my growing channel. Any support is much appreciated! 🙂

How about some pictures?

Photo Gallery

Click to see the Black Label!

iFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewiFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewiFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewiFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewiFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewiFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewiFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewiFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewiFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewiFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewiFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewiFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewiFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewiFi micro iDSD Black Label Review

The best part?

Back To Top


Sound


 

iFi micro iDSD Black Label ReviewThe sound is most certainly incredible with the Black Label.

The musical fidelity you’re getting here reminds me a lot of a Chord Mojo, and may in fact be better.

Being close competitors, I just may recommend this over the Mojo because of everything it can do.

Aside from that, the Black Label makes your headphones sound incredible. Instrument Timbre, spacing, dynamics, clarity, and detail all emerge to form pure musical bliss in most circumstances. What is Timbre?

Source

Do be aware that the amp will reveal bad source files with eyebrow-raising precision. A song could sound amazing or awful depending on what you’re listening to at any given moment.

For instance: I was listening to a lossless version of U2’s “Still haven’t found what I’m looking for” earlier today with the Philips SHP9500 + Black Label on Eco. It was so incredible sounding that it made me bawl my eyes out. No joke. I could hear the subtlest of details going on but it didn’t feel like a chore to listen to. There’s a moment in the song where you can hear Bono let out some sort of sound in the midst of all the instrumentation and chaos of the song. We’ve all heard this song a thousand times and I’ve never once caught it. It was astonishing.

The transparency and neutrality that this amp provides are near second to none.

While I don’t need the Soundstage enhancement feature, I find myself using it specifically with genres like Jazz + The HD600. It makes the 600’s narrow image really open up and turns them into a sort of Jazz/Classical powerhouse.

Okay maybe not that good but I never thought Soundstage would open up on these headphones. It’s simply remarkable and becomes an invaluable feature to have with other headphones as well.

SOUND SCORE: A++

What’s my final grade?

Back To Top


Final Grade


There are a couple of very minor things that I didn’t like about it; namely the bulky blue cable and the fact that it takes a second for music to play. This basically means that you’ll miss the first bit of whatever song is on which is kind of annoying. This same issue is present in the Oppo HA-2 and really steams my beans. Lol.

Also, in Tidal it was acting squirrely. The music periodically just cuts out with no explanation and takes a reboot of the program to get it fired up again. Related: Tidal vs. Spotify [Definitive Guide] I’ve tested other Amps like the Oppo HA-2 and FiiO Q1 and didn’t have the same issue. This leads me to believe it’s the Black Label acting a fool. Not entirely sure why that’s happening, but I do have to dock a few points for it.

Other than that, the Black Label is a perfect Amp/DAC as far as sound, build, ergonomics, features, and accessories.

2022 Update

The Black Label has been discontinued, so what are your options?

Well, you could go for the iFi micro iDSD Signature, which I believe is the successor to this one.

For something more portable and affordable, I like the Gryphon.

 

My top overall Amp/DAC recommendation is the K9 Pro.

 


Well, that’s about it for today my friend. I do hope you’ve enjoyed this iFi micro iDSD Black Label Review.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

If you love what I do here and want to support the blog and channel in a more personal way, check me out on Patreon and discover all the value I have to offer you.

Just want to make a one-time donation? Click here. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps keep this site running!

So would you consider investing in a unit like this? What are your thoughts on my recommendations? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…

All the best and God bless,

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

Can’t decide which headphones to purchase? Interested in a complete buyers guide outlining over 40 of the best options on the market? Click on over to the best audiophile headphones to learn more!!

Be sure to also check out our Reviews and Resources page for more helpful and informative articles!

Back To Top

ifi micro iDSD Black Label

4.9

Value

5.0/5

Sound

5.0/5

Build Quality

5.0/5

Ease of use

4.5/5

Power Output

5.0/5

Pros

  • Incredibly Powerful
  • Fantastic Sound
  • Loads of Features
  • Built like a Tank

Cons

  • Bulky Blue Cable
  • Occasionally cuts out in Tidal

Don't forget to share if you found it helpful!

You may also like

7 comments

Daniel McMillan January 28, 2019 - 3:13 pm

Hi again Stuart!

Thought I’d check out this review since you mentioned it in a reply to a comment on another review and I got to say. I’m amazed at how good this amp/DAC seems to be. My only problem is paying £600 on it. While it may be a great piece of audio hardware I’m just not sure I could justify paying that sort of money just now on something like that. Have you had a chance to review some of ifi’s other stuff? If they are about as good as this then there is one amp/DAC I could get, I believe it is the younger brother to the model you reviewed here, the nano.

Great review again though. I like how much detail you go into with your reviews in general. Very easy to understand for an audiophile novice like myself.

Thanks again,
Daniel.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black January 29, 2019 - 2:43 am

Hey Daniel!

Thanks so much for the kind words 🙂

I’m not sure which one iFi is sending me next lol. It may be that nano actually.

I definitely understand your hesitation in dropping money on a unit like this. It is sort of an end game for people who are looking for that long term squeeze 😛

Did you check out the Dragonfly Red that I mentioned? That could be a great compromise.

I will def keep you posted when I receive another iFi unit.

Another fantastic entry level unit that has no business being so cheap is JDS Labs’ Objective 2. Perhaps my favorite desktop budget. Pairs extremely well with the Sennheiser HD600/650.

Let me know what you think! Would love to discuss this further until we can find something perfect for you.

Reply
Daniel January 29, 2019 - 9:57 pm

I have checked out the Dragonfly Red and something stands out that concerened me about it a little. Apparently it only does half of the MQA decoding (something to do with MQA requiring a full fold to be optimal and the Dragonfly Red only managing half of it) I probably described it wrong.
As for the JDS Labs Objective 2 I have been recommended it before from other people but it isn’t much use if I want to make the most out of Tidal Master tracks so for now, unless I change my mind I’ll have to put that to one side.
One other brand that seem to do MQA compatible DACs is Pro-Ject and I tried reaching out to them on Twitter but it would appear their social media isn’t all that responsive which gives me a bad feeling about them. Tried to ask them if their Pre Box S2 Digital was both an amp and DAC or strictly a DAC.
Thanks,
Daniel.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black January 30, 2019 - 12:59 am

Ah rats, sorry I forgot we’re strictly MQA. What about the xDSD? I just received it today for demo and I know it’s going to be good. It’s MQA supported, more compact, and still has Gaming capabilities if you want. It’s also around $200 less than a Black Label.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black January 30, 2019 - 2:39 am

I just got it fired up. It had to charge. It’s also aptX compatible so you can use it wireless with your phone. So far micro detail is incredible, as this uses the same Burr Brown DAC chip as the Black Label. Build is excellent, though it does gather finger prints. You’ve got a Soundstage enhancer (3D plus), and a bass boost. Will keep you updated. Listening right now via Tidal and master tracks.

Reply
Robin August 3, 2022 - 8:51 am

Hey Stuart, wanted to ask your thoughts on the Black Label in comparison to the FiiO K9 Pro? I am currently on the Black Label and have been looking at potential options for an replacement when my unit clunks out.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black August 5, 2022 - 10:14 pm

Hey man the only reason I would upgrade to the K9 Pro is for features and versatility as it’s more flexible than the Black Label. Did you happen to see my review?

Reply

Leave a Comment