It’s common knowledge to everyone that the “i” in iPhone stands for Internet which is perfect for its brand which allows its users to interact seamlessly with the Internet. I then found myself interacting and checking out iFi Audio, a UK-based electronics company launched in 2012 with a vision of improving sound quality and eradicating distortion, noise and hiss from different audio equipment.

iFi Audio has since been a staple in audio setups, thanks to their line of DACs, AMPs, AC and DC purifiers and a lot more, all designed to give an “improved” sound. I first got a taste of their tech when a friend of mine brought the iFi micro iDSD Black Label which made me a fan then and there of iFi Audio with how the micro iDSD Black Label tackled the trio of cans lying around that time, the Audeze EL-8, Hifiman 4xx and the ATH-M70x. Fast forward a year later and now, I finally get to be in bed with one of iFi Audio’s newer offerings, the iFi xDSD. iFi Audio via their exclusive Thailand distributor, ProPlugin, sent me the review unit. If you’re visiting Thailand, I highly recommend checking out ProPlugin since they not only carry iFi Audio’s products but also a vast collection of audio solutions.

The iFi xDSD is iFi Audio’s ultimate portable DAC/AMP solution for audiophiles and music lovers that just can’t live without their tunes. The iFi xDSD is spec’d out with the Burr Brown multibit DSD1793 DAC chip, XMOS-based USB circuitry, W990VST and quad J-Fet OV4627A op amps, zero-jitter operation via AMR (Abbingdon Music Research, iFi Audio’s sister company) Global Master Timing clock, re-clocking and data management, aptX and AAC BT support, S-Balanced technology, Cyberdrive headphone amplifier stage and their trusted and upgraded 3D-Matrix⁺ and XBass⁺ technologies. That’s typically the most feature packed DAC/AMP featured in my young but growing realview journey. I was already a fan of the 3D-Holographic⁺ tech and hearing this Matrix iteration is keeping me a fan, this just acts as an appetizer of yet to come from the iFi team.

The iFi xDSD is priced currently at $399 and ฿15,900 over at ProPlugin’s website. The iFi xDSD presents itself as a premium solution for both wired and wireless use as well as a portable and desktop use audio solution. It is smacked right in the middle with its notable peers around such price bracket like the Oriolus BA300S, Cozoy REI, Shozy Magic and the Fanmusic BL-2. Each boasting and parading its own set of features. Given that the xDSD is made by iFI Audio. Could it be that not only does it X’s out its competition but also give credit to my assumption that the “i” in iFi Audio stands for “improve” thus resulting in improved Fidelity? Let’s stop the assumptions here on out and check the out the xDSD.

Specifications and Packaging

iFi xDSD Spec sheet:

• USB Input:up to PCM768kHz & DSD51(24.6/22.6MHz)
• S/PDIF Coaxial and Optical Input:up to 192kHz/24Bit
• Dynamic Range:> 113dB (A)
• Volume Control:-101dB…0dB in 1dB steps
• Output power:> 2.82V/500 mW @ 16 Ohm
  • 3.7V/270mW @ 50 Ohm
  • 3.8V/48 mW @ 300 Ohm
  • 3.8V/24 mW @ 600 Ohm
• Line out Level:> 2.1V @ 0dBFS (& 0dB Volume)
• THD &N (1V/16R):< 0.005%
• Output Impedance:< 1 Ohm
• Battery:3.8V/2200mAh
• Dimensions:95 (l) x66.5 (w) x19 (h) mm
• Weight:127g (0.28 Ibs)

The iFi xDSD came enclosed in white rectangular box adorned with all the unique iFi Audio technologies that they have integrated into the xDSD. Opening the box will show the xDSD enclosed in a matte plastic sheet which I felt was treated as it doesn’t stick to the uber shiny chrome finish of the xDSD, my review unit was a demo one so it lacks some minor accessories notably the black velvet pouch and the USB data cable. The rest of the accessories included are as follows:

• USB-A to USB-B adapter
• USB-A to USB-B cable
• 3.5mm Optical adapter
• 2 sets of Velcro strips
• Warranty and Manual card

This particular accessory set is great and hits all the necessary cables needed for a connection to any source you’d need to pair the xDSD with, an OTG cable as a bonus would have been great. I would have loved to get to try the storage pouch since the xDSD’s chrome finish is a fingerprint magnet and see if the pouch is velvet-lined in the interior as well for those nagging fingerprints.

Build quality, Interfaces and Handling

The 1^st time that I held the xDSD was a joy, its zen inspired contours allows for a well-managed grip not to mention that the back panel is a matte black plastic which transitions well with the glossy chrome finish. The 4 built-in corner rubber feets on the underside was also great since I wouldn’t want myself to be the one to install such and have the adhesives coming loose in time and not to mention that it’s black, perfectly matching the back panel and all the other body connections which are all black. The 4 visible allen screws are tempting to open (care to suggest if this needs any internal upgrades or so?) as well.

Front Panel

The xDSD’s front panel houses its signature round volume control knob/button which also doubles as the power switch. A long press on the translucent round button which also shows the iFi logo will turn on the xDSD and can cycle between wired (green illumination) and wireless (blue illumination)  connection, the cycle can last at around 20 seconds before it turns off again.

This same power switch which also acts as the volume knob which is pure analogue and would light up in various colors depending on the volume level. A mute function is also embedded on this same button once playback is present on the xDSD and is indicated by a blinking red and the current volume light indicator.

There is also an input indicator LED besides the volume/power knob. The usual red/blue cycle is indicating a wireless BT connection pairing is in progress which stays blue when wireless BT connection is established. This same indicator stays on green when wired connection is established, be it S/PDIF or USB input. An Audio Format LED is also present above the input indicator LED. The other 2 indicator LEDs are for the iFi Audio 3D-Matrix⁺ and XBass⁺ tech, basic operations here, a white LED appears when this 2 functions are used.

Also in the front panel is the trademark S-Balanced headphone 3.5mm/Line Output port which utilizes and maximizes 3.5mm TRRS/TRS connection while also being able to work with the standard non-balanced 3.5mm connection. The xCAN features the 2.5mm balanced out which is far more common as a balanced port, I guess the 4.4mm pentaconn balanced port will be saved for the xDSD’s upcoming big brother.

Back Panel

The xDSD’s back panel is as feature rich as its front panel, safe to say the xDSD could take you front or back and you’d have fun. The 1^st port is the S/PDIF input followed by a USB-A input, this is where we will be missing the OTG cable which wasn’t supplied in the accessory set like what the Audirect Beam and Zorloo ZuperDAC-S did, I guess a missing OTG cable is the thing.

Another iFi Audio proprietary tech is its digital filter between “Measure” and “Listen”. By the naming scheme itself, the “Measure” filter is a frequency optimized filter for critical listening and for those graph-guys which I am not. I’m a “Listen” type of a guy and so are my realviews, I’d be leaving the measurements towards my fellow exceptional technical reviewer peers.

The final port on the xDSD’s back panel is the micro USB charging port which is purely made for charging and avoids further power draw by allowing their new Cyberdrive tech have full control over this port yet I would still prefer that they integrate and opt for a type C port because right now, only my main camera isn’t under type C so the xDSD isn’t thinking ahead in this aspect.

Connectivity and Stability

The xDSD’s S-Balanced/Lineout port is a versatile port which I would have personally liked how all balanced out ports should have been all along and not by going through the 2.5mm connection sysetm which although has its perks (sound-wise but not build-wise), I’m personally not a fan of. The 4.4mm pentaconn balanced connection is another story though. The S-Balanced/Lineout port works great and as advertised.

Speaking of DAPs and DACs, the xDSD ergonomically stacks well with most of my portable DAPs when the DAC/AMP function is used. The xDSD’s silhouette is great for this due to its almost phone-like width as well as its 4 installed rubber feets, this is where the included Velcro strips comes to play as well. The xDSD’s Burr-Brown PCM1793 Multibit DAC chip supports PCM768kHz & DSD512 at 24.6/22.6MHz, xDSD also got the TIDAL users back with its support for MQA tracks (88.2/96/176.4/192kHz). Its DAC function via my MSI GF62 8RE via Foobar2000 v1.4 performs great too with no hiccups as advertised.

Bluetooth connectivity is stuck at the almost ancient BT4.0, ancient in iFi Audio standards since basically, the tech that they have incorporated on the xDSD warrants that this should then and there support BT5.0. One thing is notable though about how iFi Audio implemented the BT4.0 output pathway for the xDSD, instead of the usual cookie cutter route used by the majority of BT output functionality, iFi Audio decided to route the forthcoming BT output signal towards the Burr-Brown DAC chip to ensure that you get that iFi Audio quality sound.

Sound Quality and Battery Life

The xDSD packs a 3.8V/2200mAh battery devoid of quick charge capability. I’ve used the xDSD mainly connected via USB off my laptop with a mix of 16/44 and 14/96 FLAC files and it easily lasts approximately 8-9 hours with a little noticeable warming on its aluminum body. BT use via my OnePlus3T device lasted roughly the same time (8-9 hours) as well with no dropouts of connection and with a great reliability and stability be it when inside my backpack or my jeans, stationary or mobile. The choice of having a dedicated charging port was also convenient especially in relation to my lifestyle which I have grouped my electronic devices which needs charging at a specific time and have them all charged unused as well as when used. I would however refrain from using the xDSD when charging as it gets way warmer than it should be which isn’t the best circumstances especially if you want to extend the xDSD’s lifespan. I would however doubt that since we audiophiles are mostly going to upgrade our stuff every once in a while.

That’s it, it’s the end of this realview. Oh yeah, almost forgot that we are here to talk about sound! It’s easy to be caught astray in checking all the cool stuff packed inside the xDSD that some would focus on the specifications more rather than giving this miniscule beast an actual listen. The iFI xDSD is damn dead silent and hiss absent on all my entry level IEMs (BGVP DM6, Magaosi K5 v2 and Whizzer Kylin) and some mid-tier IEMs (Custom Art FIBAE Black, Hisenior T4 and UFOEAR UFO-112) as well mid-tier full-sized cans (ATH AD900x and Sony MDR-CD900st)

The xDSD wired sound was tested with the Hisenior T4 which showcases an overall warm tonal ability along with MJ’s Thriller album in 16/44 FLAC(S/PDIF, xDuoo X10Tii) and via my MSI GF628RE laptop (USB, Foobar2000 v1.4). The xDSD gave out an overall engaging and lively tonal ability which rendered the Hisenior T4 more enjoyable with the low-end gaining a much controlled impact. The complimentary effect of the already dark sounding background of the T4 with the xDSD’s dead silent background allowed the midrange and upper midrange tones to transition with authority. The upper frequencies is where the xDSD likes to retain the IEM’s inherent ability while it cleans the low-end and enhances the midrange.

I’ve been pampered with LDAC use via my Sony CAS-1 and with the xDSD’s BT4.2 specification, my hopes weren’t high although the xDSD’s portability is taken into consideration. The BT sound of the xDSD sounded way better than what my other music players (xDuoo X3ii and xDuoo x10Tii) was able to offer, the better being defined as giving the overall sound more full-bodied and resolving with respective frequencies being right on timbre. The LDAC’s function on the Sony CAS-1 still trumps the iFi xDSD with how dark the background was yet it’s safe to say that the mid-level expectation I had with the xDSD’s BT sound was exceeded. The “Measure and Listen” filters exhibited miniscule sound signature changes with only a touch of micro detail clarity and retrieval as its main observable effects, I personally preferred the “Listen” filter.

Conclusion

With a name that already screams DSD in your face paired with a $399 price tag, iFi Audio’s xDSD needed to not only needs to meet high expectations but also surpass them at a high degree. Packed with a multitude of features which are completely absent in competing brands such as their 3D-Matrix⁺ and XBass⁺ tech as well as parading Cyberdrive power management platforms and S-Balanced tech made the xDSD’s $199 in its price tag justifiable, the rest of the price tag can be attributed to the clean and balanced sound with ample power to make some headphones sing along with the premium aluminum aesthetic silhouette of the xDSD. The single key point of interest that tickles a potential xDSD buyer is the lack of LDAC and BT5.0/5.1 support which would have made the xDSD an almost complete portable DAC/AMP (2.5mm and 4.4mm balanced outputs says Hi).

Yet even with a lack of LDAC/ BT5.0/5.1 support, the xDSD was able to trounce my other portable BT devices and with great stability to boot  which made that key point almost just a technical and numbers issue rather an actual real life complaint.

For the all the times that I used the iFi xDSD, it clearly made sense that the “i” in iFi Audio means improved. It’s safe to say that I love the iFi xDSD while only liking its price.