iFi iDSD GR 2 MT from the top, black ribbed body with the colour touchscreen showing volume 89 and PCM 96 kHz

iFi iDSD GR 2 MT from the back, black ribbed body with Steve Levine's signature engraved

iFi iDSD GR 2 MT front edge with the volume knob between the 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm headphone outputs

iFi iDSD GR 2 MT rear edge with two USB-C ports and 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm line connections

iFi iDSD GR 2 MT compared with the standard iDSD GR 2: display, circuit board, DAC stage, amp parts and tuning

iFi iDSD GR 2 MT

Name: iFi iDSD GR 2 MT
Brand: iFi
SKU: IFI-GR2-MT
Price: 729.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

€729,00

The iFi iDSD GR 2 MT is iFi's portable DAC and amp re-voiced with producer Steve Levine, with upgraded parts and two filters of his own, tuned for a warm, rich midrange. It puts out 1,513 mW from the balanced output, takes Bluetooth up to aptX Lossless, and doubles as a desk DAC that runs from mains power without wearing out its battery. It is a 268 g box rather than a pocket dongle, and the battery lasts around seven hours, so think of it as a source you carry in a bag.

Product variants

In stock · Free shipping

Delivery between Oct 28 and Oct 29

VAT and all taxes included · 2-year EU warranty

Auditioned and curated selection · Listen yourself

Shipping Returns policy

Our take

The iFi iDSD GR 2 MT is iFi's portable DAC and amp re-voiced with producer Steve Levine, with upgraded parts and two filters of his own, tuned for a warm, rich midrange. It puts out 1,513 mW from the balanced output, takes Bluetooth up to aptX Lossless, and doubles as a desk DAC that runs from mains power without wearing out its battery. It is a 268 g box rather than a pocket dongle, and the battery lasts around seven hours, so think of it as a source you carry in a bag.

What it'll drive :

Every earphone in the shop and most full-size headphones. With sensitive IEMs, switch on iEMatch: it lowers the output so you get more usable volume range and a quieter background.

Streaming & compatibility

Connect over USB-C for the best quality from a phone or computer, or stream over Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless, LDAC and the other common codecs, so every app works. On an iPhone, Bluetooth is limited to AAC; that's Apple's limit, not the GR 2 MT's, and the USB connection gets around it.

Optical and coaxial inputs, analogue inputs and line outputs let it sit in a desk or hi-fi setup, and the iFi Nexis app handles settings and firmware updates.

Power & Battery

Lots of power: 1,513 mW at 32 Ω from the balanced output and 567 mW from the 3.5 mm, enough for most full-size headphones, planars included.

The 4,900 mAh battery lasts about seven hours and takes about 3.5 hours to charge. Leave it plugged in at a desk and its hybrid power mode runs from the wall first and only dips into the battery when it needs extra, so the battery isn't cycled all day.

Specs

Type: portable DAC & headphone amp with Bluetooth
DAC: Burr-Brown PCM1795, two Steve Levine filters (PCM and DSD), K2HD processing
Inputs: USB-C, S/PDIF (optical/coaxial), Bluetooth 5.4, analogue 4.4 mm balanced + 3.5 mm
Headphone outputs: 4.4 mm balanced + 3.5 mm S-Balanced
Line outputs: 4.4 mm balanced + 3.5 mm
Output power: 1,513 mW at 32 Ω (4.4 mm) / 567 mW at 32 Ω (3.5 mm)
Output impedance: ≤0.4 Ω, ≤4.5 Ω with iEMatch (4.4 mm); ≤0.2 Ω, ≤4.4 Ω with iEMatch (3.5 mm)
SNR: 115 dBA
Bluetooth codecs: aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX, LDAC, LHDC/HWA, AAC, SBC
Formats: PCM up to 768 kHz, DSD512
Display: OLED colour touchscreen
Battery: 4,900 mAh, about 7 h; charging about 3.5 h (USB-C, 5 V / 1.8 A); hybrid power mode for desk use
Dimensions: 141 × 75 × 19 mm
Weight: 268 g

What others ask

Is the iFi iDSD GR 2 MT powerful enough for planar headphones?

Yes, it's built for exactly that. The iFi iDSD GR 2 MT delivers 1,513 mW into 32 ohms from the balanced 4.4 mm output and 567 mW from the 3.5 mm, enough for most full-size headphones, planars included. For IEMs that's far more than they need, which is why the iEMatch setting exists.

Will the iFi iDSD GR 2 MT hiss with sensitive IEMs?

Not if you turn on iEMatch. The iFi iDSD GR 2 MT has so much power that very sensitive multi-driver IEMs can pick up background noise, and iEMatch lowers the output so the background goes quiet and you get more usable range on the volume knob. Leave it off for headphones and switch it on for earphones.

What does the Steve Levine tuning of the iFi iDSD GR 2 MT sound like?

Warm and full-bodied, with the emphasis on the midrange. iFi reworked the iDSD GR 2 MT with Grammy-winning producer Steve Levine, swapping in Audio Note capacitors and better resistors, and he voiced two digital filters of his own, one for PCM and one for DSD. The result leans towards rich voices and instruments rather than a cool, analytical sound, so it suits vocal, jazz and rock records more than anyone chasing the last bit of sparkle.

Can I use the iFi iDSD GR 2 MT with my phone over Bluetooth and at my desk?

Yes, that's the point of it. The iFi iDSD GR 2 MT takes Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless and LDAC from your phone, USB-C from a phone or computer, optical and coaxial from a TV or CD transport, plus analogue inputs, and it has line outputs to feed a bigger amp. On an iPhone, Bluetooth is limited to AAC, which is Apple's limit, so plug in over USB for the best quality.

How long does the iFi iDSD GR 2 MT battery last, and can I leave it plugged in?

About seven hours from the 4,900 mAh battery, and a full charge takes around three and a half hours. You can leave it plugged in at a desk: the iFi iDSD GR 2 MT's hybrid power mode runs from the wall first and only dips into the battery when it needs extra, so it isn't cycling the battery all day.

Do I need something as big as the iFi iDSD GR 2 MT, or is a USB dongle enough?

If you only listen to IEMs from your phone, a good dongle is smaller, cheaper and honestly enough. The iFi iDSD GR 2 MT makes sense when you also own full-size or planar headphones, want Bluetooth without giving up much quality, and like one source that moves from your bag to your desk. At 268 g it lives in a bag or on a desk, not in a jeans pocket.