iFi's new portable headphone DAC looks even more like a hip flask, and it'll serve a swift a dram of hi-res audio but take a shot before you see the price

Date:
Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:26:58 +0000

Description:
The iFi iDSD GR 2 brings some upgrades on the company's xDSD Gryphon, including an improved power output.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter iFi unveils the iDSD GR2 at
High End Vienna New portable DAC, following on from xDSD Gryphon Improvements in some departments, including amplification We're seeing swathes of aspirational new hi-fi kit at High End Vienna 2026, and one such item comes from iFi with the follow-up to its five-star xDSD Gryphon portable DAC. No, that's not a hip flask, but a new er portable DAC.

Meet the iFi iDSD GR2, a name possibly the result of someone having a tot and trying to type something else (struggling to spell 'Gryphon' in full,
maybe?). It's a new piece offering that's set to sell for 529 (about $710, AU$1,060) exact release date TBC. So it's not cheap, but it does undercut
the Gryphon by a couple of pennies. We listed the iFi xDSD Gryphon in our
best portable DACs round-up, but as the "best premium portable DAC" (italics my own). So you'll have to forgive the price: this isn't for the faint of heart or light of funds. Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

Appearance-wise, this is pretty similar to the Gryphon, with a big OLED
screen and undulating body. But under the hood, it's seen some upgrades.
iFi's Gryphon will snatch you up in its talons (sonically speaking) (Image credit: iFi) The iDSD GR 2 offers some of the same connection options as its predecessor, including Bluetooth, USB-C, S/PDIF and line, but with new tools. You may like iFi GO Link 2 review: this little DAC delivers an enormous audio upgrade at a great price This innovative DAC offers super-clean sound using a unique processing tech Burson's Stellar headphone amps promise head-fi heaven in spacecraft-inspired Star Wars style

For example, its power output is up 50%, up to 1.5W at 32 ohms, and the DAC
is improved to PCM1795 for more balanced audio. There's also K2HD tech built in, designed for rich harmonics (and beloved of iFi's audio engineers for
some time now, just see the flagship iFi iDSD Phantom , built on iFi's
ongoing love affair with K2 and K2HD technology and priced at an
eye-watering $4,499 [before tax] / 4,499 / around AU$8,997).

Some iFi fan-fave modes are back too, such as XSpace and XBass+, which respectively boost the breadth of the soundstage and low-end frequencies, so you get some versatility in your sound. There's also a "hybrid power mode" to extent the device's battery life. Extend it by how much from how much? I can't tell you, as iFi didn't specify the stamina ahead of time. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The touchscreen is back, and in our largely glowing review of the original Gryphon, we did knock the DAC/amp for how unintuitive it was last time.
Images make it seem like it's improved, however, and you're getting color now at least, so hopefully iFi has fixed that gripe.

Another upgrade for those wireless audiophiles out there concerns Bluetooth; the GR2 supports Bluetooth 5.4, which allows for aptX Lossless and LDAC. There's also a phone app called the iFi Nexis for controlling your unit.

When the iFi iDSD GR2 officially hits shelves whenever that is, this is purely the official unveiling we'll bring you a full review, to see how it stacks up against its premium bretheren. We do like how it looks though. We like it a lot . The best headphone DACs for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best headphone DACs 1. Best budget USB-C portable DAC: iFi GO Link Max 2. Best budget desktop DAC: iFi Uno 3. Best premium portable DAC: iFi xDSD Gryphon 4. Best wireless DAC: Fiio BTR17 Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/ifis-new-portable-headphone-dac-looks-even-mor e-like-a-hip-flask-and-itll-serve-a-swift-a-dram-of-hi-res-audio-but-take-a-sh ot-before-you-see-the-price


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