iFi audio NEO iDSD 2 Lossless Bluetooth DAC / Amplifier

iFi audio Neo IDSD 2 Overview

Enjoy lossless audio wirelessly with the iFi Audio NEO iDSD 2, a versatile 3-in-1 DAC/amp, designed specifically for CAS audiophiles. Effortlessly pair with your favorite headphones and use this Head-Fi DAC/Amp as a pure DAC with your integrated amplifier or serve as a DAC/Preamp for your active speakers and power amplifier.

The NEO iDSD 2 features the latest Bluetooth 5.4, supporting the new aptX Lossless, the only Bluetooth codec capable of streaming lossless CD-quality audio without sacrificing audio quality. Version 2 of the NEO iDSD has improved headphone and line outputs, providing ample juice for your power-hungry headphones, and power amplifiers.

At a Glance

• Versatile audio hub: DAC, preamp, and headphone amp
• Ultra-Res digital audio 32-bit / 784 kHz PCM, DSD512 and full MQA decoding
• Dual-core DAC design enables true-native DSD and PCM
• Advanced jitter reduction GMT femto-precision clock and smart storage cache
• Four user-selectable digital filters fine-tune sound to suit the source material
• State-of-the-art HD Bluetooth 5.4 fully optimized performance, whatever your source device
• Every Bluetooth format supported: aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, LDAC, LHDC/HWA and more
• Enhanced PureWave fully balanced dual-mono circuit design delivers ultra-low distortion
• Exceptional power drives the toughest headphone loads (5x the power of the first-gen NEO iDSD)
• XSpace and XBass II adjust soundstage and frequency response to match your headphones
• iPower 2 included audiophile AC/DC power supply with Active Noise Cancelation
• Position horizontally or vertically 2" color display rotates to suit orientation

Advanced Bluetooth Technology

• The NEO iDSD 2 features the latest Bluetooth 5.4 technology, supporting the new aptX Lossless codec, which provides a maximum bitrate of 1200 kb/s. In comparison, aptX Adaptive has a maximum bitrate of 420 kb/s, while LDAC offers a higher bitrate of 990 kb/s.
• However, aptX Lossless is the first and only Bluetooth codec capable of streaming CD-quality audio without using a compression method that degrades sound quality. While other Bluetooth codecs claim to support CD-quality and even hi-res audio, they employ lossy compression during transmission, which negatively affects sound quality.
• The NEO iDSD 2 uses Qualcomm s new QCC518x Bluetooth audio chip, which is qualified for Bluetooth 5.4 and supports all Bluetooth formats including aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX, LDAC, LHDC/HWA, AAC, and SBC.

More Powerful

• You heard me correctly the headphone output power of the NEO iDSD 2 is a whopping 5 times more powerful than that of the 1st-gen NEO iDSD. With a maximum headphone output power of 5551 mW (at 32 ohms), it outperforms some dedicated headphone amplifiers, making them sweat. The headphone section has seen significant improvement, as we ve essentially integrated a Diablo headphone circuit into it.
• It features Auto iEMatch to reduce annoying hiss from high-sensitivity headphones without losing any dynamic range, and four gain settings ranging from -12 to +16 dB, making it suitable for all IEMs and headphone types, from supersensitive to power-hungry.
• The NEO iDSD 2 is not only a powerhouse, but it s also tailored for your ears. The newly added analog processing modes, XSpace and XBass II, along with the four digital filters, allow you to fine-tune the sound. Both XSpace and XBass II have pure analog signal processing modes designed to adjust the soundstage and low-frequency response to match your headphones.

Flexible Placement

• Whether you re using the NEO iDSD 2 as a Desk-Fi or Hi-Fi, you can position it horizontally or vertically. The new 2" color display automatically rotates to suit the orientation.
• When using it as a Desk-Fi, you can position it vertically on your desk to save space. Set it to variable output, and with its powerful 19.5V maximum balanced output, it works well with your active speakers with volume control. The analog volume control is superior to any digital volume control.
• When using the NEO iDSD 2 as a Hi-Fi, you can place it horizontally. It can serve as a pure DAC, playing all Hi-Res music files from PCM 32-bit / 768 kHz to DSD512 and full MQA decoding. You can also connect it directly to your power amplifier as a preamplifier, utilizing its analog volume control.

GMT Femto-Precision Clock

• The internal GMT femto-precision clock, combined with a smart storage cache, forms an advanced jitter reduction system. It effectively reduces jitter in the digital signal, producing cleaner and more accurate sound.
• If you possess a more accurate external clock, or if you wish to synchronize with other devices such as CD players or network streamers that have an external clock input, you can connect both the NEO iDSD 2 and the other devices to the external clock via the 10 MHz External Sync Clock input for even greater clock signal accuracy.
• It s rare to find an External Sync Clock input in this price range. Even if you don t have an external clock, the internal GMT femto-precision clock still offers excellent performance in its class.

Enhanced Circuitry

• The NEO iDSD 2 s enhanced PureWave circuit design, with its balanced dual-mono topology and short signal paths, is known for outstanding linearity and minimal noise and distortion, offering you exceptional sonic purity.
• The results are an improved Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of > 120 dB(A), Dynamic Range (DNR) of -120 dB(A), and total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N) of < 0.0015%, bringing the NEO iDSD 2 s performance on par with DACs at a higher price point.

iFi Nexis App for iOS and Android

• Introducing the iFi Nexis App for your NEO iDSD 2. Simply search for NEO iDSD 2 in the app to access a suite of features and settings. Easily perform OTA upgrades, which automatically update your device over the network.
• The app offers a convenient way to control your NEO iDSD 2, allowing you to adjust functions and settings with ease. Download the iFi Nexis App now and experience the full potential of your NEO iDSD 2

Hi-Res Audio

• Hi-res audio support is state-of-the-art with True Native playback. It handles PCM data to 32-bit / 768 kHz, DSD up to DSD512 and single and double speed DXD.
• Thanks to the Burr-Brown DAC chip s four-channel True Native design, PCM and DSD take separate pathways this enables DSD, as well as PCM, to remain bit-perfect in native form right through to analog conversion. This is not the case with all DAC devices from other brands even if DSD compatibility is stated, many such DACs convert DSD signals to PCM.

XMOS 16-Core Processor

• The XMOS 16-Core chip processes the audio data received via the USB digital input.
• This new low-latency XMOS microcontroller has greatly enhanced processing power. Compared to the current generation of eight-core chips, this new 16-core IC delivers double the clock speed (2000 MIPS) and four times the memory (512kb), as well as the latest SuperSpeed USB standard.
• iFi s in-house digital development team has programmed the XMOS firmware to optimize sound quality and ensure a perfect partnership with the Burr-Brown DAC.

Master Quality Authenticated (MQA)

• MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is supported through the USB with full decoding of MQA files up to 384 kHz thanks to the processing power of the new 16-core XMOS chip.
• This means that the full three unfold decoding process is performed internally, as opposed to only the final unfold in the manner of an MQA renderer.
• Globally, MQA has become an important consideration for any comprehensively equipped DAC. It is available through for Tidal Masters, Audirvana, and Roon.

Burr-Brown True Native