iFi has always been a trusted name for listeners looking for high-quality sound in a portable package. The iDSD GR 2 continues that vision with a compact DAC/amp designed for both wired and wireless listening. It retains the flexible design that made the original Gryphon popular while adding a few modern updates for today’s headphone users. For those looking for a portable DAC/amp that works with IEMs, full-sized headphones, and multiple source devices, the iDSD GR 2 offers a lot.
What You Get
- 1x DSD GR 2
- 1x Type A to C Cable
- 1x Type C to Type C cable
- 1x Microfibre protective bag
- 1x User Manual
Build it
The GR2 offers a fresh update to iFi’s original Gryphon design, refining the chassis for a more streamlined look. It’s similar to the Gryphon in height, and it has a bit more weight to it, but that doesn’t make the GR 2 an unusable device. The front panel keeps the design clean and functional, but the biggest addition to this design is the new OLED touchscreen display. With it you can change various settings, such as XBass/XSpace activation, resolution modes, high/low gain, and other playback information. For the listening section of this review, I mostly used the GR 2’s 4.4mm headphone jack, but it also has a 3.5mm socket.
Design
The IDSD GR 2 is built around the new Burr-Brown PCM1795 DAC chipset, giving it support for PCM up to 768kHz and DSD512 while preserving iFi’s analog-style signature conversion. Its fully balanced amplifier stage includes Class A op-amps, an advanced iEMatch circuit, and up to 1,513mW RMS power to drive everything from sensitive IEMs to demanding headphones.
Bluetooth
iFi iDSD GR 2 expands its portability with Bluetooth 5.4, giving users a wireless option alongside its USB-C, S/PDIF, and analog inputs. Its codec support is extensive, including aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX, LDAC, LHDC/HWA, AAC, and SBC, allowing it to be compatible with a variety of phones, tablets, and computers. aptX Lossless enables CD-quality wireless playback at 44.1kHz/16-bit, while LDAC offers high bitrate streaming up to 990kbps to compatible devices.
Battery Life
iFi rates the GR 2 for up to seven hours of playback, making it perfect for travel, travel, or desktop use away from a constant power source. Its battery-powered design also helps keep it versatile as a portable DAC/amp and integrated hi-fi component, allowing users to move between wired and wireless setups without always needing to stay connected.
The appearance of sound
I tested the IDSD GR 2 with a few different headphones and IEMs, both hard-wired to my PC and in Bluetooth mode, listening to aptX Lossless. Starting with the Dan Clark Audio E3, I tried to get a sense of how powerful this new amplifier could be with its advertised 50% headphone drive. The original Gryphon had a strong sound, but it was not good enough for high-end headphones. With the GR 2, the amp is given a huge boost, and I found that immediately when pairing it with the E3. You get a high, comfortable gain with a good amount of headroom, but where it impresses is its dead silence. Everything about the signal seems clean and natural, allowing a headphone like the E3 to shine with its deeper warmth and more noticeable separation.
This led me to use the Abyss Diana TC Signature as my next pairing. Another headphone that needs power, but has impeccable separation. The low distortion does its thing, using the empty space, but instead of the sound stage being wide, it’s more focused and affected. The bass is also shortened, and the XBass pushes it forward for more body. Between the two premium headphones I tested, the sound was the smoothest with the GR 2, delivering a clear transient attack with a smooth high-end response.
For IEMs, the GR 2 is a little different. I used the Kiwi Ears Orchestra II, and was met with a great image of mid-budget IEMs. It was compact but open, even without using XSpace. I think if you want to have more fun with the GR 2, using IEMs increases its potential. Obviously they don’t need that much power, so the GR 2’s DAC gets to do most of the work for changing the Orchestra II’s sound signature. Everything feels very big, still keeping the natural structures, but giving the instruments more weight and scale.
Summary
The iFi iDSD GR 2 succeeds as a logical evolution of the original Gryphon, offering more power, cleaner performance, and an intuitive user experience without losing the portability that made the series so appealing in the first place. Its balanced output provides headphones that need better headroom and control, while its quiet background and accurate imaging make it particularly rewarding with IEMs. Add in Bluetooth 5.4, aptX Lossless, LDAC, extensive wired input options, and iFi’s XBass and XSpace features, and the GR 2 becomes the most versatile DAC/amp for listeners who want one device to handle multiple setups. For anyone looking for a portable DAC amp that can travel between desktop listening, travel, and high-quality wireless playback, the iFi iDSD GR 2 is an interesting and well-rounded upgrade.
The iFi IDSD GR 2 is available from Audio46.