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iFi Audio iDSD GR 2
Portable listening is no longer just a matter of convenience. For a long time, taking better headphones and high-resolution files outside the home meant accepting a stack of compromises - weak headphone outputs, awkward adapters, short battery life, and small devices that often felt more like emergency solutions than serious audio components. That has changed. Portable DACs and headphone amplifiers have become a mature category of their own, designed not simply to make a phone or laptop usable with wired headphones, but to create a compact listening system that can travel from a desk to a hotel room, from a train seat to a vacation apartment, and still retain a meaningful degree of audio quality. iFi Audio has been one of the companies most closely associated with this shift, and the iDSD GR 2 is one of the most important new products in its portable lineup.
The new model takes over from the xDSD Gryphon, a device that became one of iFi's most recognizable portable DAC/amps. The Gryphon was popular because it combined several functions in one compact enclosure - DAC, headphone amplifier, Bluetooth receiver, digital and analog inputs, and iFi's familiar sound-shaping features. The iDSD GR 2 continues that idea, but it is not being presented as a mild refresh. According to the manufacturer, it has been redesigned inside and out and is the most advanced portable DAC/amp iFi Audio has ever made. In iFi's case, 'portable' does not simply mean small. It means a device that can be carried and used away from a traditional hi-fi system, while still being capable of driving serious headphones and handling demanding audio material.
iFi Audio is a British brand operating under the Abbingdon Music Research group. Over the years, it has built a broad catalog of products for headphone users, computer audio systems, compact hi-fi setups, and portable listening. Its range includes small USB dongles, DACs, headphone amplifiers, streamers, power supplies, and more advanced components from the Zen, NEO, Diablo, and Gryphon families. Many of these products share the same basic idea - to bring technologies usually associated with larger audio components into enclosures that do not require a full rack, a dedicated shelf, or a complicated cable setup. The iDSD GR 2 fits that philosophy clearly. It remains a portable device, but its feature set and specifications place it much closer to a compact listening hub than to a simple phone accessory.
At the heart of the iDSD GR 2 is the Burr-Brown PCM1795 DAC chip. According to iFi, this is the first product in its catalog to use this specific converter. The choice is not accidental, as the company has long used Burr-Brown DAC technology in its products, valuing its conversion behavior and sonic character. In the iDSD GR 2, the PCM1795 works with a balanced analog circuit and supports PCM up to 768 kHz and DSD512. iFi highlights its 32-bit architecture, lower distortion, and greater dynamic range. In practical terms, the goal is not only higher precision, but also a more natural and less clinical musical presentation.
Another notable feature is K2HD technology, developed by JVC Kenwood. iFi describes it as a system designed to restore natural harmonic content and subtle musical information that may have been lost during digital recording, compression, or later processing. It is not a conventional equalizer or a simple spatial effect, but a digital processing technology intended to increase the sense of harmonic density and realism. Alongside iFi's familiar XBass+ and XSpace modes, it gives the user several ways to adapt the sound to different headphones, recordings, and listening preferences. XBass+ is intended to add low-frequency weight when needed, while XSpace is designed to create a wider and more open spatial presentation.
In terms of output power, the iDSD GR 2 moves well beyond the world of small pocket dongles. It delivers up to 1513 mW RMS into 32 ohms, which is 50% more headphone drive than the xDSD Gryphon. In balanced mode, it can deliver 6.94 V into 32 ohms and 8.60 V into 600 ohms, while the 3.5 mm S-Balanced output provides 4.26 V into 32 ohms and 4.27 V into 600 ohms. That means the new iFi should be suitable not only for sensitive in-ear monitors, but also for many full-size headphones that require more voltage and current than a typical laptop or phone output can provide. For highly sensitive IEMs, iFi includes its iEMatch circuit, designed to reduce background noise and provide a more usable volume range.
The input and output options show how flexible the iDSD GR 2 is meant to be. Users get 4.4 mm and 3.5 mm headphone outputs, 4.4 mm and 3.5 mm analog inputs, USB-C, S/PDIF, and Bluetooth connectivity. The new model uses Bluetooth 5.4 and supports aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX, LDAC, LHDC/HWA, AAC, and SBC. As a result, it can function as a wired USB DAC, a headphone amplifier, or an advanced wireless receiver for a phone, tablet, or portable player. aptX Lossless is particularly important because, under the right conditions, it can transmit CD-quality audio without loss, while LDAC and LHDC/HWA remain relevant for users whose devices support hi-res Bluetooth streaming.
The user interface has also been significantly updated. The iDSD GR 2 features a color OLED display with capacitive touch controls. In a device with this many functions, that matters. Users no longer have to rely only on button combinations, status LEDs, and memory. The screen should make it easier to control inputs, filters, levels, and settings. The GR 2 also works with the iFi Nexis app, enabling over-the-air updates and deeper configuration. This is becoming increasingly important in modern portable DAC/amps, as manufacturers can refine behavior, add functions, or improve compatibility after launch.
Power management is another important part of the design. iFi has introduced a hybrid power mode that manages energy depending on the situation. When the device is connected to an external power supply, it prioritizes that source, but it can draw additional support from the internal battery when required. Once demand stabilizes, it returns to external power. The aim is to improve usability and reduce the chances of the device running out of charge at the wrong moment. The built-in lithium-polymer battery has a capacity of 4900 mAh, with a claimed runtime of 7 hours. A full charge takes 3.5 hours.
The enclosure measures 141 x 75 x 19 mm and the device weighs 268 g. This is not an ultra-light dongle that disappears next to a phone. It is a deliberate portable listening component - something to place on a desk, pair with a phone, use with a laptop, or take on a trip when better headphone playback matters. iFi has also prepared a dedicated iDSD GR 2 Case, finished in faux suede and compatible with MagSafe, which suggests that the company sees the GR 2 not only as a desktop companion, but also as a genuine partner for mobile devices. The iFi Audio iDSD GR 2 is expected to reach stores in the coming days, with a suggested retail price of €549/£529/$529. Info and photos by iFi Audio.
