Pro iDSD

“The Pro iDSD does so much so well, so afforably, that it offers a musical solution for just about anyone”

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“iFi Audio Pro iDSD is an incredibly musical, emotionally engaging, wondrously transparent, sound-staging champ with more options than Mad Max at Aunty’s weapons checkout station”

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“When I have it [Pro iDSD] set up with my 2 channel system I really enjoy the GTO filter the most. Much like the Grados with the Tube Setting, the GTO setting seemed to give my setup the most soul.”

“iFi’s Pro iDSD 4.4 offers the richest mix of audiophile-oriented features and functions of any DAC/headphone amp/preamp/streamer near its size or price. I have chosen it for use in my personal audio reference system partly because it’s a really useful and versatile tool, but mostly because I can count on it to help my favorite transducers sound their best.”

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ifi is a brand that we have come to know a little at a time and has brought us into the world of Hi-Fi with dedication and passion at every opportunity. We are therefore very happy to be able to review their flagship digital analog converter (DAC) , the ifi Pro iDSD today .

Defining it only as a DAC, however, would be extremely reductive, in fact in a single object, ifi has put together a series of really important functions and features.

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“The Pro iDSD is not *just* a DAC, but a capable all in one DAC/Headphone amp/Streaming solution. Similar to the Pro iCAN, it offers solid state, tube, and tube+ modes, as well as a fully balanced architecture. I was honestly worried that with all these features, the Pro iDSD may not have managed to sound great as well, but, for the most part, it absolutely does.”

“The iFi Pro iDSD is an extraordinary unit. It covers digital signals that are verging on inconceivable”

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Read more: Stereoplay Pro iDSD: Test

The Pro iDSD is a dream partner for active monitors, cuts a great figure on the desk and digitizes analog chains.

“First, we tested the iFi Audio iDSD Pro’s headphone amplifier by pairing it with the Audeze LCD-4z headphones. This over-ear open-back model has an impedance of 15 ohms, a sensitivity rating of 98 dB and a recommended power level of 250W. Connected to the iFi Audio iDSD Pro’s unbalanced 6.5mm jack and balanced 4.4mm outputs, it was effortlessly driven with the gain selector set to 0dB. With the Dire Straits’ Sultans of Swing in 24-bit/88kHz, the iFi Audio iDSD Pro was incredibly dynamic. The soundstage was wide and each tiny detail was perfectly reproduced. The voices were centered and it was almost as if the band was on stage in front of us.”

“With the iFi Audio iDSD Pro DAC, the British manufacturer provides an ultra-effective and very comprehensive solution that can be used as a USB DAC, a network streamer, a hi-fi preamplifier and a headphone amplifier.”

“Its high output power allows it to effortlessly drive any pair of hi-fi headphones or earphones.”

The iFi Audio iDSD Pro DAC is an ultra versatile audiophile model that acts as a USB DAC, headphone amplifier and network player. It is DLNA, AirPlay compatible and can access many online music services like Tidal, Spotify, Qobuz, etc. Hi-Res Audio certified, it implements four Burr Brown DACs to achieve precise conversion of PCM streams up to 32 bits / 768 kHz and DSD up to 49 MHz…

“Feature-Filled DAC, Impressive Sound!”

Judges’ Comment: “DAC, headphone amp, network streamer and preamplifier, all performed at impeccable quality. iFi is a company to watch.”

The iFi Audio iDSD is many tools in one. It is a top-of-the line DAC, preamp, headphone amp, and a network streamer. It brings out the most possible detail from all your digital music files.

At $2,749 the iFi Pro iDSD 4.4 is rather inexpensive for a reference DAC with many other offerings running between $10K and $15K, but in all other respects, it certainly fits the bill.

Being designed as a Pro-Audio piece, as well as consumer, it offers decoding of DSD 1024 as well as such exotic options as AES/EBU digital input and Atomic Clock external sync, but what truly sets it apart is the ability to choose between J-FET solid-state or triode tube analog stage…

This is my iFi Pro iDSD DAC review. The iFi Pro iDSD is iFi Audio’s flagship DAC that has an integrated solid-state and tube amplifier builtin. This DAC is perfect for listening to high-res DSD audio. This my best one of the best desktop dac amps out there.

Positives :
-Quality Construction
-Knobs for various settings are crisp and well made ( found the motorisation a nice touch)
-OLED display works as they advertise and is a great addition
-Fantastic DAC / headphone amplifier whether it in or over ear
-MQA support
-Best of both worlds with a built in Solid State and Tube Amps , at the flick of a switch
-The amount of potential settings is astronomical , between gain / filters / DSD upscaling etc

Negatives:
-It is pricey but you are getting a lot of function
-There is no in-house app , so you have to set up streaming via other applications , however there is inbuilt support for the likes of Spotify or even Tidal for the higher quality music files.

I’m not an expert in any shape or form but this device is something else , DAC / Headphone amp / streamer ( even wireless) the amount of features and tech packed into this relatively small device is astounding.
I use mine mostly as a DAC for headphone use (whether that critical listening / gaming or even just relaxing to music ) , as I have mine in stack with their other product the iFi Pro Can ( which is another fabulous addition dare i digress ) .
I use the streaming function via ethernet cables , it works well with my speakers so I can sit back in room if i have guests over and use the IR remote to control the volume / app on phone to change the music.

Overall I am thoroughly pleased , was hesitant on paying it but it’s a flagship model , it delivers in my opinion in all the right places , this is my 3rd iFi product and not been disappointed yet., my only regret was not getting the 4.4 mm model heh

Although each iCAN and Pro iDSD are two standalone devices, in the end, they have a great deal in common and so this report will be very much in comparison with the Pro iCAN. 

Since I have already tested the Pro iCAN and it is basically my reference device, I actually use some formulations, if necessary slightly changed or reformulated directly as a comparison.

I received the Pro iDSD with the 2.5mm jack connection as a balanced output for the test. The newer Pro iDSD has instead a 4,4mm Pentacon connection.

The iFi Pro iDSD is serious business. It has very few flaws. The ones it does have can be worked around, but they are equally serious.

This DAC makes a handsome addition to your desk, no doubt about that. It’s doesn’t take up too much space, but has just enough presence to demand respect.

“The Pro iDSD is a ridiculously good DAC, and likely the last D/A converter you’ll ever need”

According to the manufacturer, the iFi Audio Pro iDSD is “a standalone unit, a streamer and a DAC/amp”. In fact, it has a pretty boggling set of features and applications that might seem daunting for the average audio punter, and perhaps even for the seasoned digital audio veteran. First and foremost, it’s bread and butter proposition or raison d’être is to perform as a high-end digital-to-analogue converter…

Six months ago I’ve initiated a pursue for a new DAC/Streamer. The existing one has served me very well until then but was the weakest link in my system and were outdated lacking some features needed to support new formats leaving some room for improvement.

Today the market is full of options and it is relatively easy to get a good product without compromising your retirement plan. But sometimes you get confused on the right way to go and if you are after a more suitable device to your present and future needs a desire/functions list is mandatory to help on the quest.

Flexibility, transparency, build quality, decoding capabilities, upgradability were some caracteristics on my list and ifi Pro iDSD fulfilled all of them and surpassed a lot all my spectations…

Received this DAC yesterday and pleased with the sound on my Sennheiser HD800s using gain of 18. These are power hungry headphone and had zero issues with this DAC. Everything from Jazz, blues, rock and rap were great.

You really need to use a balanced connector. This model uses a 2.5mm connector for balanced.

Ordered a Silver Dragon via balanced 2.5mm connector from moon-audio. Cable arrived and I’m now simply blown away with the difference.

Highly recommend when you receive this DAC you download the USB Windows 10 driver and the latest firmware. The unit supports MQA, but needs the firmware to work.

Streaming to wireless is ok. You won’t receive the same quality. Use a computer and USB 3.

I stream via Tidal and Spotify. If you want to support MQA with this device and windows 10, make sure in Tidal you tell it under settings not to use software compression of MQA and do a pass through.

For hifi, I run all Martin Logan electrostatics in dolby atmos in my media room. Preamp has 3d for atmos music. With my setup running three amps and about 4000 watts of prestine class A amps. Not bragging here, but it sounds freaking amazing for movies and music. What I’m getting at is with this media room setup, Im now relaxing in our master bedroom using my headset and this DAC.

Will this also power planar headsets? The answer is simply yes. Also have Audeze LCD-X with Black Dragon cable. No issues.

If you are looking at a separate DAC and amp, don’t. This is powerful enough.

Just buy it. It has been comparable to 14k DACs from hifi reviews.

Yes, it’s just this good

“I don’t think that there is a feature that it doesn’t have.” 

“This sound signature is mirrored through the headphone output, with a wide soundstage, excellent layering and natural yet tightly balanced sound.”

“Turning on Tube mode does what you would expect, and I really love this option. It adds a little bit of warmth and body without taking away detail.”

“As with most iFi Gear, the Pro iDSD just gets the job done, and does it very well. It is a neutral and detailed DAC with excellent soundstaging, layering and resolution. Turn on tube mode and you get a little hint of tube magic without masking the finer detail. The Pro iDSD is versatile and flexible, allowing you to stream and play files from a harddrive/SD card along with accepting most of the current digital inputs.”

“iFi Pro iDSD presents itself as such a balanced sounding, noise free, and power-ready multi-function standalone unit”

“The implementation of a dynamic sounding balanced protocol has paid off in spades as far as noise-free operation is considered.”

I bought this for several reasons. I wanted a DAC and Headphone Amp for my desk. I also wanted a Tube and Solid State Headphone Amp. This also allows for network connection for several uses. It has balanced and unbalanced (single ended) connections for headphones, and a plethora of inputs/outputs.

What I got is a stunningly beautiful unit that plays music just as well as it looks. This checked all my requirements and I got a whole lot more. With some formats of music, I can get 45 permutations of how I want the music played. I can use this for solid state, tube or both combined. It has a variety of filter methods, and plays all of my files just fine. I can connect a CD player and bypass the built in CD DAC and sounds fantastic.

The other benefits, it supports upsampling, DSD and DXD, MQA (For Tidal Streaming and offline.)

Speaking of Streaming, this can be run independently with no other sources, other than network and stream Tidal or play right out of the microSD or USB connections via USB key or disk. I can also connect my iPhone through AirPlay or just connect it to the USB 3 port using the Apple CCK cable.

Did I say the sound is incredible? Makes my DSD songs come alive, and even regular CD quality audio sounds nicer and clearer.

I have been listening to music for decades, and this unit allows me to enjoy music again, old or new.

Hands down, one of the best investment in audio gear for playing music. If you’re purely focused on listening to MP3 and AAC, this may not be for you. But if you’re listening to CD quality and better (HiRes, DSD, MQA), then this unit is a must in any home or work environment.

Make sure you pair this with a nice pair of headphones as that is critical to hear the difference. I usually pair this with Planar or very large dynamic driver based headphones.

An added touch and coolness factor, take a look at the iFi Pro iRack to set this on. Makes it look even better.

Hope this helps.

“I kick off with a 24/192 FLAC recording of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.5 – The Emperor by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. The clarity of the piece is outstanding and the orchestra is superbly balanced with excellent spatial imaging. The top end is very clear and open, and the piano has a very real presence in the soundstage, even though I am listening on headphones.”

“With the output mode set to Solid-State, it produces an extremely clear and bright sound through the Sennheiser headphones, while selecting Tube rounds off the corners of this very bright rendition and produces a sound that is far more realistic and refined, without any loss of clarity or openness”

“The Pro iDSD is a phenomenally flexible component that delivers authoritative performances.”

“The Pro iDSD’s Solid State output stage captured everything gorgeously, and Tube+ certainly added a frisson that any fans of single-ended-triode amplifiers should love.”

“Every section in the Pro iDSD has received massive attention to detail. Classic, very low-noise design techniques found in tube equipment have been combined with 21st century tech to deliver extreme performance.”

BLUF: This is a great DAC/Amp for those who like a more musical sound and a LOT of options to vary their music. If you like to tinker with sound this may be the endgame DAC/DAC-Amp for you.

Build: The build is rock solid and has the quality feel one would expect at this price point. The design follows in line with the other “Pro” series products from iFi with a brushed metal frame. The power knob is motorized and will adjust to zero when powered off and to the last volume state when initially powered on… nice touch.

Sound: It’s hard to completely nail down the sound into a particular category because there are so many options, filters, etc that will modify the sound. Similar to the Pro-iCAN is has the ability to switch to between solid state and tube-hybrid that adds a touch of warmth and has several digital filtering options. These along with the ability to upscale the audio coming in gives a significant number of combinations that I’ve admittedly haven’t gotten to the end of. This is the Pro-iDSD’s biggest plus and what puts it in a high category; I don’t know of many, if any, other products with this many options to tweak sound. As a person who likes to tinker, I love it.

The sound plays well between more transparent and more warm/musical. This is not a measurement lover’s device, however. It’s not going to win a battle for transparency or cleanness with several other DACs in it’s price range but for pure sound enjoyment it nails a range of sound that will match any track, genre or sound goal. There are those that want DAC & amp should be as transparent as possible, this is probably not the product for you.

Features: Haven’t had a chance to use them all but my favorites so far are the upscaling (has an effect of widening the music tracks a bit) and the filter choices (Transient Aligned is my goto). The various outputs and settings for those outputs allow this device to be versatile enough for just about any setup and is only missing an 4 pin XLR headphone output. It also can process MQA though having it decode the MQA will negate the other filtering/upscaling settings you have and defaults to a bit-perfect processing, I believe (Not iFi’s fault…). I tend to let my PC do the decoding so I can still utilize the other features.

Value: So, there’s probably no such thing as “value” in this price range. That being said, compared to it’s peers, the iFi product offers way more features for the money. That was the deciding point for me as some of the other products either didn’t pull me in with their sound characteristics or were lacking features I wanted at the price point.

I’m still playing/experimenting with the Pro-iDSD and will update more, if I find/discover something compelling. This is a fun DAC with many options to find the best sound for the music and other equipment you are using. It competes extremely well in a field of high end DACs by the likes of Chord, Benchmark, SMSL and others. Several of those may measure better but will come nowhere near the feature set.

This is a spacious sound, one that is pleasantly free of clutter and hard edges. The music’s varied dynamics are rendered with fluidity and a good degree of finesse, though without quite the forcefulness that the piece demands

Moving on to OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below double album allows the iFi to show off its organic midrange delivery. Big Boi’s rapid-fire delivery is rendered with skill, every word easy to understand and punched out with emotion intact. The Pro iDSD captures the shifting momentum of GhettoMusickwell, delivering all the excitement and energy of the track. The track’s distinctive bassline is deep, nicely textured and packed with a decent amount of authority

The Pro iDSD is absolutely bursting with smart tech. There’s a quartet of Texas Instruments PCM1793 DAC chips combined with potent FPGA processing to create what iFi call an “interleaved” design.

It’s safe to say that with the Pro iDSD the iFi people outdid themselves. I’m not aware of any other product as packed with options and complete as this one. Usually multi-purpose goods priced reasonably sport one prominent feature, whereas every other is of additive yet not equal value. The Pro iDSD felt very even on this count and also complex. A good long look under its hood, even longer at the user’s manual and a lot of free time all seem necessary to fully grasp what this full-fledged multi-tasker is and what it’s capable of.

Of course, the main attraction point of the Pro iDSD is how it sounds. I’m gonna be frank and upfront about it…HOLY DAAAAAAAAAMN.

I absolutely love my Micro iDSD BL, and I still consider it to be one of the best value options out there, but there’s no getting around it, the Pro iDSD truly is something quite special.

Using the Micro iDSD BL as my personal benchmark, it was exceptionally interesting for me to see what kind of improvements and refinements in sound can still be had.

The Pro iDSD just renders music with such a wonderfully effortless and natural fluidity that it can make you wonder, “is there any other way to listen to music?”. OK, end of hyperboles.

The Pro iDSD sounds so good that I think just breaking down its SQ based on highs, lows, vocals doesn’t do it justice. Music is emotional, and how the Pro iDSD evokes your emotions is difficult to convey with words. Right off the gate without any burn-in, the Pro iDSD sounds very dynamic while maintaining excellent detail. Every track sounds more punchy with excellent layering. The most popular DACs have something special about them, and if you have to name one special trait about the iDSD is that it is one of the most dynamic sounding DACs on the market.

I purchased the ifi iDSD, it came in a beautiful package and well built, I connected the iDSD to my iMac and clicked on play on the iTunes App, a glimpse of what I have had in the past for a fraction of the price, for me it was it, the holy grail in price paid and return that I was receiving, so I started a new journey, maybe a never ending one certainly full of new product discoveries, but at every step taken up is a more engaging and pleasant one.

The Pro iDSD sounds so good that I think just breaking down its SQ based on highs, lows, vocals doesn’t do it justice. Music is emotional, and how the Pro iDSD evokes your emotions is difficult to convey with words…

Pro iDSD – It is able to excel in a multitude of situations– from wireless Airplay source to being the central DAC in an expensive high-end home system.

Every section of the Pro iDSD has received massive attention to detail. Classic design techniques for very low-noise design found in tube equipment have been combined with cutting-edge, 21st Century technology to deliver a superlative performance.