Become Your Own Remastering Engineer.
The iDSD Valkyrie is for those demanding more than pure power or precision; it’s for those who seek the power to sculpt the feel and emotion of their music. Fusing sonic customisation with cutting-edge technology, the Valkyrie hides thunderous amounts of sonic control, with K2HD Technology, DSD Remastering, six additional digital filters, and our signature analogue processing. Complete with quad-DAC architecture, 5,700mW* peak output, lossless Bluetooth, and 18hours of battery life, it is unmatched by any other portable.
Awards
Key Features
Remastering content to high resolution DSD has previously only been available to a select few, including the world's best mastering houses.. The Valkyrie brings this once exclusive processing to the hands of the consumer via a custom-coded FPGA, to transform any file and ultimately make music sound closer to a professionally remastered recording.
K2HD restores rich, natural harmonics to lifeless digital recordings. Its advanced high-frequency extension revives overtones beyond 22kHz, delivering audio quality close to the original master. We worked with JVCKENWOOD for 18 months to develop this product and bring their renowned K2HD Technology back to the forefront.
Powered by quad-stack of Burr Brown DACs, the Valkyrie achieves unmatched linearity and impeccable channel separation – a design legacy from our mastering-grade DAC, the Pro iDSD. Inspired by the legendary Phillips TDA1541A which is hailed as the ‘king of multi-bit DACs’, this quad-core DAC architecture echoes the magic and heritage of the Philips chipset used inside the AMR CD-77. The Valkyrie offers the dynamic punch and slam of the iconic Phillips chip, but with superior low-level linearity for breath-taking detail.
The iDSD Valkyrie boasts an extraordinarily powerful headphone amplifier, capable of delivering up to 5,700mW of maximum peak output, measured our way. For more information on how and why we measured the Valkyrie using our own standards, please refer to https://ifi-audio.com/faqs/how-maximum-power-is-measured/
Find Your Sonic Valhalla.
Inspired by the artistry of mastering engineers, the Valkyrie features our bespoke DSD Remastering algorithm, powered by a custom-coded FPGA. Like the technology used in Sony’s mastering studios, DSD Remastering transforms any file by increasing resolution and reducing distortion, with the aim of delivering sound that rivals a professionally remastered recording.
More Ways to Make It Yours.
These powerful technologies can be combined with six user-selectable digital filters, giving you more ways to experience your favourite music and discover the best for your ears.
Complementing its digital customisation suite are our all-analogue, renowned XBass II, XPresence, and XSpace processing modes:
- XBass II reinstates the missing bass for open-backed headphones, or recordings that crave a bass boost.
- XPresence adds midrange presence to your favourite recordings, making them sound more immediate and engaging.
- XSpace restores the expansive soundstage of recordings.
Mythical Name. Legendary Design.
The Valkyrie is built around four Burr-Brown DACs in a hybrid multi-bit configuration, drawing from our long-standing experience with the legendary multi-bit Philips TDA1541A.
This design enables the mixing of eight pairs of differential signals to capture the magic and impact of the iconic multi-bit chipset, but with superior low-level linearity for breathtaking detail.
To minimise crosstalk, the analogue path sits on its own dedicated board, isolated from digital components.
Cut the Cord. Keep the Quality.
We’ve equipped Valkyrie with the latest Bluetooth technology, courtesy of Qualcomm’s flagship QCC518x chipset and the aptX Lossless codec.
Offering a maximum bitrate of 1,200kbps, aptX Lossless is the first and only Bluetooth codec currently capable of wirelessly sending CD-quality audio without losing data.
For those wanting high-res Bluetooth playback, the Valkyrie also supports 96kHz/24-bit audio via LDAC and LHDC/HWA codecs.
The iDSD Valkyrie has other innovative, next-generation technologies up its sleeve – including full xMEMS support.
Colossal Capacity. Silent Stability.
To power all its advanced features, the Valkyrie requires a serious battery configuration. Under the chassis lie four 5,000mAh lithium-ion batteries, totalling a colossal 20,000mAh. Not only do batteries provide sound free from electrical interference and noise, but they do so with enough life to last up to 18 hours of playback on a single charge – lasting a flight from London to New York… and back.
Specifications
| ANALOGUE INPUTS | Balanced 4.4mm Single-Ended 3.5mm |
| ANALOGUE OUTPUTS |
Balanced 4.4mm 2x Single-Ended 3.5mm RCA |
| BATTERY | Lithium-Polymer 20,000mAh |
| BLUETOOTH FORMATS |
aptX Lossless aptX Adaptive aptX LDAC LHDC/HWA AAC SBC |
| CHARGING |
PD/QC3.0 @ 20V; QC2.0 @ 5-12V |
| DIGITAL FILTERS |
Bit Perfect Standard Minimum GTO Apodising Transient Aligned ‘K2’ mode ‘K2HD’ mode |
| DIGITAL INPUTS |
USB-C S/PDIF (Coaxial/Optical) Bluetooth 5.4 |
What Renowned Audio Engineers are saying
“Finally! …a portable DAC-HP-amp that ticks more than just boxes. It even works exceptionally well in my studio, next to some very heavy-weighted competition.”
Henkka Niemisto - Multi-award winning mastering engineer
Popular choice for renowned artists form all around the globe including Skepta, Stormzy, N-Dubz, Burna Boy, Professor Green & many more
“Bit Perfect mode is excellent for providing a true picture of the source material, and the K2 filter provides excellent additional high-frequency detail…the battery life is exceptional, and the small form factor means it easily fits in my bag as I move between studios”
Gareth Johnson – Music Producer
Written, produced & mixed for a range of artists including Noel Gallagher, The Who, Kasabian, Suede & many more
“The quality of the build is incredible, the audio spec is out of this world, and it allows me when I’m mixing to have such high resolution on the mix, I can hear detail that perhaps I wouldn’t notice before”
Steve Levine – multi-award-winning record producer
Known for his work with Culture Club, the Clash and the Beach Boys
Songs to Inspire Playlist
Critical Listening GuideReviews
"Top of the range headphone amp/DAC from the masters of tiny technology and declared an Exceptional product by Sound Advice"
"iFi iDSD Valkyrie DAC review: a headphone amp capable of staggeringly complete, informative sound"
"Ultimately, there’s really nothing the iFi iDSD Valkyrie can’t turn its hand to. In terms of absolute performance, it’s a thrillingly complete product."
"With the ability to tinker with the sound to meet your specific preferences, the Valkyrie earns MajorHifi Gold."
Proud of Your iDSD Valkyrie Setup? Share It!
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