iFi Audio Makes a Statement
Portable audio has changed dramatically over the last several years. What once required a desktop DAC, separate headphone amplifier, and a collection of cables can now fit comfortably into a device small enough to carry alongside a phone or laptop and which provides the type of performance previously reserved only from multiple pieces of dedicated equipment.
The newly released iFi Audio iDSD GR2 is designed to take DAC technology to the next level. As the successor to the popular xDSD Gryphon, released in 2021, the GR2 combines high-resolution digital conversion, powerful headphone amplification, lossless Bluetooth, analog processing, touchscreen control, and flexible system connectivity within a slim portable chassis.
This is not simply a minor update with a new display and refreshed exterior. The GR 2 introduces a different DAC architecture, a redesigned and balanced amplifier stage, greater overall power output, and expanded wireless support. The result is a portable DAC and headphone amplifier intended to function both as a travel companion and as the center of a compact home or desktop system.
A New Generation – Same Great Concept
The original xDSD Gryphon earned attention and critical acclaim because it occupied a useful middle ground between small dongle DACs and larger transportable headphone amplifiers. It offered substantially more connectivity and power than a basic adapter without reaching the size or weight of iFi’s highest-powered desktop models.
The iDSD GR 2 follows the same general philosophy but the internal design has been substantially revised. It is built for listeners who want more than a simple USB DAC and need something practical enough to use with a smartphone, laptop, digital transport, or portable music player.
At approximately 5.55" x 2.95" x 0.75" and weighing only about 1/2 a pound, the GR 2 remains compact enough for a backpack, briefcase, or desktop. It is not as small as a USB dongle, but its increased size makes room for a more capable amplifier, a larger battery, additional inputs and outputs, and a full touchscreen interface.
This places it in an appealing category for listeners who use demanding electrostatic or planar headphones but do not want to be tied to a permanent desktop system.
Burr-Brown PCM1795 Processing
One of the most significant changes is the adoption of the Burr-Brown PCM1795 DAC chipset. According to iFi Audio, this is the company’s first DAC built around this particular chip.
The PCM1795 is a current-output DAC, which gives iFi greater freedom when designing the analog stage that follows the digital conversion process. Rather than relying on a generic implementation, the company has developed a dedicated output section intended to complement the characteristics of the chipset.
The GR 2 supports PCM playback up to 768kHz and DSD512, providing compatibility with a wide range of high-resolution music libraries and playback software including Spotify, Tidal, and Quobuz. Although specifications alone do not determine sound quality, the overall implementation of each individual piece allows for lossless sound quality at high resolution.
The decision to use a Burr-Brown design also fits iFi Audio’s longstanding preference for a warm, natural, and engaging presentation rather than an overly sterile interpretation of digital audio.
A More Powerful Amplifier
A portable DAC is only as useful as the headphone amplifier connected to it. The GR 2 introduces a new fully balanced amplifier architecture designed to provide more output power while reducing distortion and lowering the noise floor. It results in a wider soundstage and additional imaging, while maintaining warmth and balance.
From its 4.4mm balanced headphone output, the GR 2 can deliver up to 1,513mW RMS into a 32-Ohm load. That represents a substantial increase over the previous Gryphon only rated at 1,000mW RMS and gives the unit enough headroom for many full-size dynamic, planar magnetic, and some electrostatic headphones.
Power should never be considered in isolation. Sensitive in-ear monitors may require very little output and can reveal noise that is inaudible with less efficient headphones. To address this, the GR 2 includes an updated iEMatch circuit that reduces distortion for overly-sensitive earphones while helping maintain a usable volume range.
This combination of high output and low-level control is important. It means the GR 2 is not limited to one specific kind of headphone. It can accommodate sensitive in-ear monitors, efficient portable headphones, and considerably more demanding full-size designs.
Balanced and Single-Ended Connectivity
The GR 2 provides both 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single-ended headphone outputs. It also includes matching balanced and single-ended analog connections that can operate as inputs or line outputs depending on the system configuration.
This gives the unit several possible roles allowing it to serve as a conventional portable DAC and headphone amplifier. It can connect to an existing analog source and operate primarily as a headphone amp. Alternatively, it can function as a DAC or preamp feeding powered speakers, an integrated amplifier, or another downstream component.
Digital inputs include USB-C and a shared optical/coaxial S/PDIF connection, while Bluetooth provides a wireless alternative. This range of connectivity makes the GR 2 more flexible than a typical portable dongle and allows it to remain useful when the listener moves from mobile use to a desktop or home audio system.
Bluetooth 5.4 and aptX Lossless
Wireless listening is one of the strongest areas of improvement of the GR 2 over the original Gryphon.
The GR 2 uses Bluetooth 5.4 and supports a broad range of codecs, including aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX, LDAC, LHDC/HWA, AAC, and SBC.
AptX Lossless is capable of delivering CD-quality 16-bit/44.1kHz resolution audio under suitable wireless conditions. LDAC offers bitrates of up to 990kbps for compatible devices, providing another high-quality option for listeners whose phones or players do not support aptX Lossless.
Bluetooth performance still depends on the transmitting device, codec negotiation, wireless environment, and source quality. However, the GR 2 gives users access to several of the strongest currently available Bluetooth formats rather than restricting them to basic SBC or AAC playback.
K2 and K2HD Processing
The GR 2 also incorporates JVCKENWOOD K2 and K2HD processing.
K2HD is designed to analyze digital audio and restore harmonic information that may have been lost during digital conversion or compression. It then upsamples the signal to provide a presentation intended to sound more natural, warm, and less mechanically processed. K2 mode offers a lighter version of the same concept without the added upsampling stage.
These modes will likely be a matter of personal preference. Some listeners prefer to keep digital processing to a minimum, while others appreciate options that can make older, compressed, or less refined recordings more enjoyable.
The important point is that the processing can be selected rather than permanently applied. Users can compare the available modes and choose the presentation that works best for a particular recording or headphone.
XBass+ and XSpace
iFi Audio has integrated two of its most recognizable analog processing features to personalize the listening experience: XBass+ and XSpace.
XBass+ is intended to restore low-frequency depth without overwhelming the rest of the presentation. It can be useful with open-back headphones, smaller portable models, or recordings that lack bass impact. Select this option for an immediate boost in bass response.
XSpace is designed to create a more speaker-like sense of openness and presence when listening through headphones. It attempts to reduce the confined feeling that can occur when sound is presented directly at each ear leading to a wider and more inviting soundstage.
Because these are analog processing circuits, they work differently from software equalization or digital spatial effects. They provide quick physical decibel adjustments without requiring an app, operating-system setting, or custom EQ profile.
These features will not be necessary or applicable with every headphone, but they give the GR 2 additional flexibility when moving between models with different tonal characteristics.
Touchscreen OLED Control
Portable DACs often rely on combinations of small buttons, flashing LEDs, or deeply nested menus. The GR 2 places all of the core settings on an intuitive touchscreen, allowing users to access playback information, filter settings, power modes, wireless options, and other controls more directly.
This dedicated interface becomes increasingly important as a product gains more features. Bluetooth codecs, digital filters, gain settings, K2/K2HD processing, analog enhancements, and battery options can become frustrating when they are represented only by colored lights or button combinations.
The full-color display helps make the GR 2’s expanded functionality easier to understand and use. Physical controls remain available on the side of the unit for essential operation, while the screen provides clearer feedback about the current configuration.
Nexis App Support and Updates
The GR 2 is compatible with the iFi Audio Nexis app on Google Play, which extends control beyond the device itself.
Advanced settings can be adjusted through the application, and updates allow iFi to provide firmware refinements and additional features after purchase. Some USB-based Nexis functions are limited to Android devices, so users should confirm platform compatibility when evaluating app-based control.
Firmware support is particularly valuable for a product with advanced Bluetooth implementation and a touchscreen interface. It gives the manufacturer an opportunity to refine operation and maintain compatibility as source devices and wireless standards continue to evolve.
Battery Life and Hybrid Power
The GR 2 contains a 4,900mAh lithium-polymer battery rated for approximately seven hours of continuous operation. Charging takes about three and a half hours with a suitable USB-C power source, cables included with purchase in several different configurations including USB C to C, USB A to C, and Lightning to C.
The more interesting feature is the new Hybrid Power mode. When external power is connected, the GR 2 prioritizes that supply. If additional power is required, it can draw support from the internal battery before returning to external power when operational demand decreases.
This allows the device to remain connected during longer desktop sessions without continually relying on or cycling the battery in the same way as a conventional portable design.
For users who divide their time between portable and desktop listening, this may be one of the GR 2’s most practical improvements.
Everyday Use and System Flexibility
The GR 2 is best understood as a portable audio hub rather than a simple headphone accessory.
Connected to a smartphone through USB-C, it can provide high-resolution wired playback and substantially more amplification than most phones. With Bluetooth, the mobile device can remain untethered while the GR 2 stays near the listener and powers the headphones.
At a desk, the device can connect to a computer through USB and operate as a DAC, headphone amplifier, or preamp. Its line outputs can feed powered speakers or another audio system.
The optical and coaxial input also makes it compatible with digital transports, televisions, CD players, and other sources that may not offer USB audio. That flexibility helps justify the GR 2’s somewhat larger size (for a portable DAC) and higher price tag compared with a basic dongle. It is designed to replace several smaller devices rather than perform only one function.
Potential Limitations
The GR 2 is portable, but it is not pocket-sized in the same way as a small dongle DAC. Users who want the lightest possible phone attachment may find it unnecessarily large.
The seven-hour battery rating may also require more frequent charging than simpler, low-powered devices. Actual runtime will vary depending on volume, headphone load, wireless use, screen activity, and selected processing modes.
The number of available features may be more than some listeners need. Someone who only uses efficient earphones with a smartphone may be better served by a smaller and less expensive DAC.
The GR 2 makes the strongest case for itself when its power, balanced connection, analog inputs and outputs, advanced Bluetooth, processing modes, and desktop flexibility will actually be used. The GR 2 is versatile and highly customizable to unique listening situations and diverse headphone requirements.
Who Is the iDSD GR 2 Best For?
The GR 2 is particularly well suited to listeners who:
- Use both portable and desktop headphone systems
- Own several headphones or in-ear monitors with different power requirements
- Need balanced and unbalanced connectivity
- Stream wirelessly but value high-quality resolution
- Need USB, optical, coaxial, and analog input options
- Want enough power for demanding headphones or in-ear monitors
- Prefer physical sound adjustments such as XBass+ and XSpace
- Want one device that can function as a DAC, headphone amp, preamp, and wireless receiver
It may be excessive for casual listening, but it offers meaningful flexibility for enthusiasts who regularly change sources, headphones, or listening environments.
Final Review
The iFi Audio iDSD GR 2 is a very comprehensive evolution of the portable Gryphon platform that provides significant upgrades and new features that deliver in every respect.
The Burr-Brown PCM1795 conversion stage, fully balanced amplifier, increased power output, aptX Lossless support, K2HD processing, touchscreen interface, and Hybrid Power system address nearly every limitation of the previous version.
More importantly, these features work together to provide an exceptional experience. The GR 2 is designed to reduce the compromise between portability and serious headphone performance. It is powerful enough for many demanding headphones, quiet and adjustable enough for sensitive earphones, flexible enough for desktop systems, and compact enough to remain fully portable.
