Today we’re talking about the Neo iDSD 2 from iFi, a mid-to-high-end DAC/headphone amplifier with an appealing design, considerable versatility (including lossless Bluetooth connectivity), and very respectable technical specifications. It was released in the latter part of 2023 at a price of around €900 in Italy. Over the years, we’ve tested a wide number of iFi devices, and we can say right away that the Neo iDSD 2 is one of the most impressive.
The device is sold in a box with a colored sleeve and several smaller boxes inside containing cables and accessories, including the remote control (battery included). The iDSD 2 comes with an iFi iPower power supply, an RCA cable, and a USB connection cable (rather short, to be honest), as well as a useful aluminum stand that allows vertical positioning. The stand is well made, rubberized inside, and once placed on it, the device doesn’t move at all. The Neo iDSD 2 can therefore be placed on a desk or audio rack either horizontally or vertically, and the display automatically adjusts orientation. The chassis is entirely made of machined aluminum, except for one corner covered in hard plastic, presumably to improve Bluetooth signal reception.
Prodotti consigliati
Overview
The device features a four-channel Burr-Brown DAC with native PCM and DSD decoding up to 768kHz and DSD512, with MQA decoding up to 384kHz.
To give an idea of the device’s versatility, the Neo iDSD 2 can be used as a mid/high-end headphone DAC/amp, as a standalone DAC connected to another amplifier, or as a DAC and preamp for a power amplifier or active speakers. In addition, there’s the aforementioned Bluetooth capability. iFi, without false modesty, presents it as “the world’s first lossless Bluetooth DAC/Amp,” a claim based on support for the new Bluetooth aptX Lossless codec. This is clearly a standout feature and a sign of the very high quality of Bluetooth streaming the device can achieve, thanks not only to codec support but also to the rest of its hardware.
This will obviously attract those interested in Bluetooth, but it would be a mistake to think of it as a device intended only for that use: as mentioned, it’s a versatile unit that also suits those who prefer wired connections.
Another key point is the massive increase in power compared to its predecessor: the Neo iDSD 2 delivers 5,551 mW at 32 ohms, effectively quintupling the output of the previous version, making it suitable for driving even very demanding headphones. Despite this, the device runs very cool.
As often with iFi products, the design is very refined: on the front panel there’s a responsive and pleasant volume knob (press it quickly to mute), an elegant look overall, and a clear, high-quality display with adjustable brightness. On the front, there are 6.35mm and 4.4mm balanced headphone outputs. Also present are cross-arranged buttons: power in the center, XSpace on the left, XBass II on the right, input selection (USB, BT, coaxial, optical, line, auto) and Bluetooth pairing on top, and gain control below. The gain switch is particularly well implemented, offering four settings that allow significant yet precise adjustments—excellent work by iFi.
The unit also includes IEMatch, used in several iFi models, here in automatic mode (no physical switch), designed to reduce hiss in high-sensitivity earphones.
This is a multifunction device capable of driving mid/high-end headphones while also serving as a DAC for speakers. It offers significant improvements over the previous version, so we strongly recommend stretching your budget if you’re considering it, as the iDSD 2 is noticeably better than the iDSD 1.
Before discussing sound quality, we should mention several additional features (we weren’t joking when we said it’s packed). iFi fans will recognize XSpace and XBass II: the former expands the soundstage, enhancing spatial perception, while the latter boosts low frequencies. Their use depends on taste and music; we mostly listened without filters, but sometimes activating them made listening more engaging and fun. XBass can be adjusted at different levels and combined with XSpace.
There are also four DAC filters: bit-perfect, normal, minimum phase, and GTO (Gibbs Transient Optimised). We preferred bit-perfect for faithful reproduction, though differences are subtle.
Additional features include external clock support, volume sync with connected devices, and remote control via the Nexis app.
For rear connections, refer to the included manual image.
Sound Performance
The Neo iDSD 2 has a familiar iFi sound: neutral, clean, accurate, slightly warm. Despite its versatility, sound quality is excellent.
It offers excellent detail retrieval, instrument separation, and soundstage placement. The sound is dynamic but especially well controlled: musical, smooth, and non-fatiguing, ideal for long sessions.
As a standalone DAC, it shines even more, making it a great addition to other systems.
With headphones (bit-perfect, no filters, balanced cable), the sound is slightly warm and very pleasant. Frequencies are well balanced: bass is present and detailed but not overwhelming; mids are rich and controlled; highs are clean without harshness.
The ideal experience involves interacting with the device: enabling XBass and XSpace adds depth and impact, transforming the listening experience depending on genre.
We tested it with various headphones, mainly Grado and HiFiMan, with excellent synergy—especially with Arya Stealth V3.
Power is sufficient for most headphones, though extremely demanding models like HE6se V2 may still benefit from even more powerful amps like the EF600.
Great pairing
Conclusions
The Neo iDSD 2 marks a major step forward. It’s versatile, beautifully built, offers top-tier Bluetooth performance, and most importantly, sounds excellent. It delivers the classic iFi sound—musical, detailed, and relaxing—while filters allow more aggressive tuning when needed. The price isn’t low and the USB cable could be longer, but overall this is an outstanding product: the Neo iDSD 2 gets top marks.
Voi cosa ne pensate?