iFi iDSD GR2 MT Brings Studio Tuning To A Portable DAC Amp
iFi Audio has launched the iDSD GR2 MT, a Master Tuned version of its portable DAC and headphone amplifier. The new edition was developed with British record producer Steve Levine and adds upgraded internal parts plus two digital filters created for PCM and DSD music.
This is not the cheapest way to improve headphone listening. At £699, $699, €729 or CA$799.99, it is a step-up product for someone who already owns good wired headphones and wants one device for a desk, a laptop and listening away from home.
Quick Reference
- Product: iFi iDSD GR2 MT portable DAC and headphone amplifier
- Price: £699, $699, €729 or CA$799.99
- Headphone outputs: 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm
- Wireless: Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless and LDAC
- Maximum quoted power: more than 1,500mW RMS into 32 ohms
- Availability: now
What The Master Tuned Version Changes
The GR2 MT keeps the Burr-Brown PCM1795 digital-to-analogue converter used in the standard GR2, but changes parts around it. iFi replaces the normal circuit board with a hydrocarbon ceramic board and uses selected components in the analogue stages.
The most obvious software change is a pair of filters voiced with Steve Levine: one for PCM files and one for DSD. A digital filter changes how a DAC reconstructs the music signal. It is a subtle tuning choice, not an equaliser that transforms one pair of headphones into another.
Connections For Portable And Desktop Use
Wired digital inputs include USB-C plus optical and coaxial connections. Bluetooth 5.4 supports codecs including aptX Lossless and LDAC for compatible source devices. The 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm headphone sockets cover most modern wired headphones and earphones.
A 2.3-inch OLED colour touchscreen shows settings and playback information. The unit also works with iFi’s Nexis app for control and wireless updates.
Enough Power For Serious Headphones
iFi quotes more than 1,500mW RMS into a 32-ohm load. That gives the GR2 MT much more output than a typical phone or laptop headphone socket and should suit a wide range of full-size headphones.
More power is not automatically better, especially with sensitive earphones. Start with the volume low, use the suitable gain setting and remember that hearing damage can happen before music sounds obviously distorted.
A Battery Device That Can Live On A Desk
Portable use is powered by the internal battery. In desktop mode, the GR2 MT can bypass that battery while connected to power, reducing unnecessary charging cycles when it spends most of its time beside a computer.
It can also feed powered speakers or a separate amplifier through its analogue outputs, so it is not limited to headphones. It does not contain speakers, music storage or a streaming subscription; a source and listening equipment are still required.
Price And Availability
The iFi iDSD GR2 MT is available now at £699, $699, €729 or CA$799.99. For comparison, it sits above the standard GR2, so buyers should decide whether the Master Tuned filters and component changes justify the extra cost for their system.
For a first HiFi purchase, the money may make a bigger difference when spent on headphones or speakers. The GR2 MT makes more sense as a later upgrade once those basics are already sorted.
What The Terms Mean
DAC: a digital-to-analogue converter, which turns digital music data into the electrical signal used by headphones or an amplifier. Headphone amplifier: the circuit that supplies enough voltage and current to drive headphones. PCM and DSD: two ways of storing digital audio. Balanced: a connection method used here through the 4.4mm socket; it requires a compatible headphone cable.
For more from Starting Out click here
