To feel the rush as you step out on stage before thousands of adoring fans?
The nano iDSD Black Label, with its Hi-Res DNA and crystal-clear sound, brings that experience to your ears.
The nano iDSD Black Label is a powerful piece of kit.
It’s six times more powerful than an iPhone, drives almost any set of headphones and with up to ten hours of battery life, makes listening on the go stress-free.
Even if you’re listening through low-spec earphones in the gym or on large cans at home, the nano iDSD Black Label delivers rich, clean sound no matter what.
The nano iDSD Black Label has two other iFi products built in:
They take away hiss, buzz and distortion and provide studio-quality audio.
True Native® playback of all music formats from MP3 to DSD256, PCM384 and DXD384.
Listen to MQA straight out of the box.
For MQA tracks, simply connect to Tidal (on your computer) and check the options to stream MQA.
Hear music as the artist intended. The Burr-Brown True Native® chipset means file formats remain unchanged for the truest sound.
The iFi exclusive S-Balanced technology delivers the maximum performance from single-ended and balanced headphones alike.
Reap the benefits of balanced, enjoy lower distortion and reduced crosstalk.
Visible analogue volume control. Its smooth action and smooth sound deliver the sonic goods with precision.
Choose between the ‘Listen’ (Minimum Phase Bezier Filter) and ‘Measure’ (Linear Phase Transient Aligned Filter) options.
It’s the only portable DAC to give you so much control.
With up to ten hours of battery life, you can max out your on-the-go listening. Just switch it on and then plug in your device. Plus it boasts a USB Type A connector for a stable wired connection.
Just use an Apple CCK cable or Android OTG cable and away you go.
General |
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| Input(rear): | USB2.0 type A “OTG” Socket (with iPurifier® technology built-in) |
| Output(rear)； | 1 x Audio fixed line out L+R 3.5mm |
| Digital Filter: | 2 positions, 2 filters |
| Outputs(front): | 2 x Headphone Audio 3.5mm one direct and one with iFi iEMatch® integrated |
DAC |
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| DAC: | DSD, DXD, PCM DAC by Burr Brown Bit-Perfect DSD processing, Bit-Perfect DXD processing |
| Clock: | Low-jitter crystal clock |
| Audio Formats: | DSD 256/128/64/12.4/11.2/6.2/5.6/3.1/2.8 |
| DXD 384/352.8kHz | |
| PCM 384/352.8/192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1kHz | |
| MQA 88.2/96/176.4/192kHz filters | |
| Filter–PCM: | Listen(transient optimised minimum phase) |
| Measure(frequency response optmised) | |
| –DSD: | Listen(extended bandwidth transient optimised) |
| Measure (narrow bandwidth, low output band noise optimised) | |
| –DXD: | Fixed Bit-Perfect Processing |
| –MQA: | Fixed MQA Filter |
Headphone Amplifier |
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| Amplifier: | Dual Mono 2 x 285mW Direct Drive, coupling capacitor free circuit for highest fidelity |
| Volume Control: | 3.5mm TRRS with Balanced compatible wiring |
| Dynamic Range(including DAC): | > 109dB(A) @ 3v (Direct) |
| > 107dB(A) @ 0.5V (iEMatch®) | |
| THD &N (@ 125mW/30R): | < 0.005% |
| Max. Output (<10% THD): | > 3.5V @ 600Ω Load (Direct) (20mW/600Ω) |
| > 2.9V @ 30Ω Load (Direct) (285mW/30Ω) | |
| > 1.7V @ 15Ω Load (Direct) (200mW/15Ω) | |
| Output Impedance : | < = 1Ω (Direct) |
| < = 4Ω (iEMatchsup>®) | |
| Channel Separation: | > 79dB @ 600Ω Load (Direct) |
| > 79dB @ 15Ω Load (Direct) (1kHz, TRRS plug Balanced wiring) | |
Line Output |
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| Dynamic Range(Line): | > 109dB(A) |
| THD & N(0dBFS Line): | < 0.004% |
| Output Voltage(Line): : | 2.15V (+/-0.05V) |
| Output Impedance: | < 240Ω |
| Channel Separation: | > 99dB (@ 1kHz) |
| Jitter(correlated): | Below test set limit |
| Dimensions: | 96(l) x 64(w) x 25.5(h)mm |
| Weight: | 139g (0.31 Ibs) |
| Warranty period: | 12months |
The nano iDSD BL is a knock-out product that deserves a space in your stable of iFi gear and accessories. If you care about sound quality enough to purchase good headphones and run dedicated media player software (like Aiudirvana Plus, Roon, Amarra, or TIDAL desktop), you owe it to yourself to buy a dedicated DAC/Amp, and the nano iDSD BL is a great place to start.
Absolutely the best portable DAC – w/ MQA! Listened to this vs Dragonfly Black 1.5, Red, Ifi micro iDSD Black label, ifi iDSD nano Black, Meridian – hands down winner the Ifi nano iDSD back Label.
So how big of a difference is MQA on a great DAC? Here’s my story; I had been critical listening for about 2 days with the micro swapping between the Hifiman X, 800, & Clear with several HIRES Flacs. Then I swapped with the Dragonfly Red / Black and listened on Tidal master – Great music the MQA unfolding was good. Critical listening for a few hours. The next day I dropped in the Ifi iDSD Nano BL …. OMG – Seriously. OMG.. that has got to be the most incredible audio experience I’ve had in a while.. Chills .. goose bumps. Yeah the unfolding was fantastic better – sounded like the artists were sitting in your living room playing. That was awesome.
A compact unit, ideal for mobile use, the nano iDSD proved to offer superb sound for its diminutive size. Covering a range of resolutions and connectivity options, the iFi Nano iDSD BL provides excellent value for money too.
The iFi nano iDSD Black Label is the heir to the global best–seller; nano iDSD. It has the same MultiBit Burr-Brown DAC with True Native DSD256/PCM384/DXD as the rest of the iFi range.
I received the Nano iDSD Black from dukkanhifi, the official distributor of iFi Audio in Turkey. Special thanks to them for sending out the device. It goes for 200$ on the market. I’m not affiliated with the iFi brand and this review reflects my own, unbiased thoughts like always.
Rarely, if ever, have I classified a piece of gear, in this case a transportable rechargeable battery powered headphone amp/DAC as a no brainer. Sure, the unit has some flaws, nobody’s prefect, but at the price £199 you cannot fault it for what it is able to do in such a small package. I’m well aware of the gravity of that opening statement, but I stand by it.
| micro iDSD BL | xDSD | nano iDSD BL | nano iDSD LE | |
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| Primary use | Transportable | Portable | Portable | Portable |
| Headphone Output | 6.3mm | 3.5mm | 3.5mm | 3.5mm |
| iEMatch | Yes | Yes / Auto | Yes | - |
| 3D Matrix | On / Off | On / Off | - | - |
| XBass | On / Off | On / Off | - | - |
| Max. power | 4,000mW @ 16 Ohm | 500mW @ 16 Ohm | 285mW @ 30 Ohm | 150mW @ 30 Ohm |
| Output Impedance | <1 Ohm (Direct) | <1 Ohm (Direct) | <1 Ohm (Direct) | <1 Ohm (Direct) |
| <4 Ohm (iEmatch) | <4 Ohm (iEmatch) | <4 Ohm (iEmatch) | ||
| Battery playback | 6-10 hours | 6-8 hours | 6-8 hours | 6-8 hours |
| Inputs | ||||
| Bluetooth (aptX / AAC) | - | Yes | - | - |
| USB | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SPDIF | In / Out | In | - | - |
| Line Out | RCA | - | 3.5mm | - |
| DAC | Burr-Brown (Dual) | Burr-Brown | Burr-Brown | Burr-Brown |
| Formats | PCM768 / DSD512 / 2xDXD | PCM768 / DSD512 / 2xDXD | PCM384 / DSD256 / DXD | PCM384 / DSD128 / DXD |
| Filter switch | Bit-Perfect / Min Phase / Standard | Listen / Measure | Listen / Measure | - |
| MQA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Clock | Low-jitter crystal clock | Low-jitter crystal clock | Low-jitter crystal clock | Low-jitter crystal clock |
