Position it horizontally or vertically to suit your environment. The OLED screen moves to adapt to the orientation. A rotary knob controls functionality. Sleek, sophisticated and versatile. All. Bases. Covers. Enjoy the NEO iDSD as a pure DAC. Connect it to a separate integrated amplifier or preamplifier using the fixed-level analogue output. Or treat it as a DAC/preamp with a variable output. The ideal companion for an amplifier or active loudspeakers.
Headphone users will love to use the excellent amplifier stage to create a fabulous head-fi system. All of them. Games. Gaming. Do you love music but also like to play games? The NEO iDSD2 will enhance your current or next generation gaming. Feel more immersed than ever, as the sound finally matches the picture in spectacular fashion. Pair it with the new PS5 or Xbox X Series for the ultimate gaming experience. Enhanced engine.
The Burr-Brown DAC chipset still powers the NEO's "digital engine". But we've enhanced it with a new 16-core XMOS microcontroller that processes data via USB and S/PDIF digital inputs. Double the clock speed. Four times the memory. Add jitter eradication, including our precision GMT clock, intelligent memory buffering and GTO filtering as standard, and you have a super DAC. High-resolution heaven. The NEO iDSD supports PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz, DSD up to 512 and DXDx2. All remain bit-perfect.
The NEO iDS2 provides full MQA decoding to ensure the best possible sound quality. Plus, with MQA over S/PDIF, take advantage of any MQA CD in your collection. Next generation Bluetooth. iFi uses Qualcomm's new QCC5100 Bluetooth processing IC. All current Bluetooth HD audio formats are supported: aptx, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, LDAC, HWA/LHDC, AAC and SBC.
The NEO iDSD2 "remembers" up to 7 devices and has an impressive Bluetooth range 5.0. Ride the 'PureWave'. The NEO iDSD not only has a purist design - no DSP, no digital filter selection and no analogue playback changes - but it is also designed around a balanced circuit design called 'PureWave'.
It uses audiophile-grade components and offers sonic "purity" thanks to extraordinarily low levels of noise and distortion. Power and balance. The headphone amplifier stage maintains a balance between sonic power and poise, no matter the task at hand. From high-sensitivity in-ear monitors to flat headphones, it drives them with aplomb. It has a continuous power output of over 1000mW at 32ohms available through the balanced headphone jack. Plenty of poise for the headphone user. Just more music.
The NEO iDSD2 contains premium audio components to support the outstanding balanced circuit design. Scroll down for more information. Even the SilentLine OLED display is designed to ensure there is no electrical noise to interfere with the audio signal, as it turns itself off when not in use. Quality components mean more clarity and texture, more attractive performance.
Just listen to more of the music. We use Qualcomm's new QCC5100 Bluetooth processing IC in combination with proprietary circuitry to create an audibly superior "Bluetooth engine". All current Bluetooth High Definition audio formats are supported: Qualcomm's aptX Adaptive and aptX HD, Qualcomm's LDAC from Sony and LHDC from HWA, aptX regular and aptX Low Latency, AAC (Apple iOS devices) and SBC (the 'plain vanilla' Bluetooth codec). Of the 24-bit capable codecs, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD support up to 48kHz, while LDAC and LHDC go up to 96kHz. IFi's 'Bluetooth engine' can also be upgraded over the air, so future codecs can be added.
The balanced, differential analogue circuit design reduces noise and interference in the signal path by completely separating the left and right channels. PureWave is a new symmetrical and balanced dual-mono topology with short, direct signal paths. The name refers to the sonic purity it achieves through exceptional linearity and infinitesimally low levels of noise and distortion. High-quality components are used throughout, including custom ultra-low distortion op amps, TDK C0G multilayer ceramic capacitors, MELF thin-film resistors and Murata and Taiyo Yuden inductors.
Class-leading qualities such as low ESR (equivalent series resistance), high linearity and low noise pay big dividends in terms of sound quality.
The headphone amplifier stage has a continuous power output of over 1000mW at 32ohms available through the balanced headphone socket. To maintain maximum resolution, the volume is adjusted in the analogue domain via a resistance ladder, under precise microprocessor control. MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is supported via the USB and S/PDIF inputs, with full decoding of MQA files up to 384kHz thanks to the processing power of the new 16-core XMOS chip. This means that the full "three-unfold" decoding process is performed internally, rather than just the final unfolding in the manner of an MQA "renderer". Globally, MQA has become an important consideration for any fully equipped DAC. It is available through Tidal Masters, Audirvana and Roon.
The Burr-Brown True Native® chipset means that file formats remain unaltered or "bit-perfect". This means you are listening to the music as the artist intended in the format in which it was recorded. At iFi we use Burr Brown extensively in our products, having selected it for its natural sounding 'musicality' and True Native architecture. Our experience with this IC means we know how to get the most out of it. The 16-core XMOS chip processes audio data received via the USB and S/PDIF digital inputs. This new low-latency XMOS microcontroller has greatly improved processing power. Compared to the current generation of eight-core chips, this new 16-core IC offers twice the clock speed (2000MIPS) and four times the memory (512KB), as well as the latest SuperSpeed USB standard. IFi's in-house digital development team has programmed the XMOS firmware to optimise sound quality and ensure a seamless partnership with the Burr-Brown DAC.
High-resolution audio support is state-of-the-art with True Native playback. It handles PCM data up to 32-bit/768kHz, DSD up to DSD512 and single- and dual-rate DXD. Thanks to the four-channel True Native design of the Burr-Brown DAC chip, PCM and DSD take separate paths, allowing DSD, as well as PCM, to remain "bit-perfect" in their native form until analogue conversion. This is not the case for all other brands of DAC devices - even if DSD support is declared, many of these DACs convert DSD signals to PCM. Extensive jitter eradication technologies are applied in the digital stage, including our femto-precision GMT (Global Master Timing) clock and intelligent memory buffering. This represents a systematic and complete digital solution that solves jitter once and for all.
As with many other iFi audio products, we have incorporated a custom OV series operational amplifier. This world-class component contributes to extremely low noise, low distortion (0.0001%) and wide bandwidth. Texas Instruments low noise integrated circuits offer high unity gain bandwidth, very low noise and distortion, high output drive capability, common mode and power supply rejection ratios of over 100 dB, wide maximum output bandwidths and high slew rates. TDK C0G (Class 1 ceramic) capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit applications. They are expensive but are a perfect addition to our products. Multi-layer capacitors with low ERS and high Q muRata control. The "ESR control" aspect of the Murata is something special. Their noise suppression capabilities are impressive. The switching configuration has been designed to ensure sonic transparency with advanced MOSFET trench technology is used as a muting switch. This FET-based switching is handled by a microcontroller, which only 'wakes up' when the user changes a setting, thus eradicating any harmful sonic interference.
Characteristics:
- Inputs: Digital USB3.0 B (compatible with USB2.0)/S-PDIF (coaxial/optical) and stereo analogue via 3.5mm mini-jack
- Bluetooth: 5.0™ (AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, LDAC, LHDC/HWA Codec).
- Formats: DSD512/256/128/64, Octa/Quad/Double/Single-Speed DSD
- DXD: (768/705.6/384/352.8kHz), single/double speed DXD
- PCM: (768/705.6/384/352.8/192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1kHz)
- MQA.
- Bluetooth: 96kHz.
- Outputs: XLR balanced 6.3V / 7.7V max. (variable) 4.4V fixed.
- UnBAL RCA 3.2V / 3.9V max. (variable) 2.2V fixed.
- Zout.
- Balanced
- UnBAL
- SNR -112dB(A) @ 0dBFS (UnBAL/BAL).
- DNR >116dB(A) @ -60dBFS (UnBAL/BAL).
- THD + N
- Headphones section.
- Balanced Output: >6.4V/68.6 mW (@ 600O).>5.77V/1040 mW (@ 32O).
- UnBAL: >3.25V/17.6 mW (@ 600O).>3V/295 mW (@ 32O).
- Output impedance: SNR -112dBA (3.3V UnBAL/6.2V BAL).
- THD: + N
- Power consumption without signal: ~0.5W.
- Maximum signal: ~2.5W.
- Dynamic range: -120dB(A).
- Input voltage: DC 5V/2.5A, AC 100 -240V, 50/60Hz (with iPower).
- Dimensions: 214 x 146 x 41 mm.
- Weight: 970 grams.
