- iFi has released new trio of DACs, including a flagship iDSD model
- The model names are NEO Stream 3, Zen Stream 3, iDSD 3
- Range of releases for different users, with prices starting at $399 / £399
Apparently iFi isn’t content with its near-total domination of our best headphone DAC round-up, because it’s just released three brand-new options aimed at different kind of buyers.
Unveiled on February 19, this new trio of third-gen DACs is headlined by the iFi NEO iDSD 3, which fills the brand’s slot as its flagship model, though it’s not as spec-heavy as the incredible iDSD Phantom we recently tested.
Selling for $999 / £999 (no Aussie availability for now, folks, but that converts to around AU$1,900), this is a combination DAC and amplifier that offers both at a price that’s reasonable to buyers who can’t spend thousands on kit.
The iDSD 3 supports PM at 769kHz and DSD512, with a headphone stage hitting a peak of 5,551mW. The model also outputs at Bluetooth 5.4 with support for aptX Lossless. It also has support for K2HD restoring and analogue sound-shaping, pulling lower-res tracks up by their bootstraps.
Meet the streamers
The iDSD isn’t iFi’s only $999/£999 new release; there’s also the NEO Stream 3.
The NEO has some of the specs of the iDSD, like 768kHz support and DSD512, but only upsamples to K2HD and misses the Bluetooth codecs. It’s also a bit smaller, great for listeners who don’t have that much space.
For buyers on a less malleable budget, there’s also the NEO Stream 3, which costs $399 / £399 (around $540, AU$760), making it a more tempting entry-level buy.
This looks ripped from a UFO console. It’s a streaming-only model — that means wire-free — designed for audiophiles who rely on Bluetooth. The Stream 3 supports PCM at 384kHz and DSD256, with K2 processing.
iFi are pretty prolific for new releases — I haven’t even found an opportunity to name-drop the iFi Go Link Max or iDSD Valkyrie DACs which also came out relatively recently. The three new models are on sale right away.
The best headphone DACs for all budgets
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tom.bedford@hotmail.co.uk (Tom Bedford)
