iFi's New iDSD Valkyrie Unites Aesthetic Design with Outstanding Acoustic Performance

The next optimal alternative to have a fully equipped recording studio in your pocket.

iFi

The high-fidelity audio brand iFi has unveiled its most remarkable portable DAC and headphone amplifier to date, the iDSD Valkyrie. This new flagship device is marketed not only as a potent portable substitute for a complete studio setup but also as a means for users to "shape their own sonic signature."

The British company is recognized for its precisely produced high-end audio equipment, such as the Japanese steel-manufactured GO Bar Kensei already discussed, which exceeds the expectations of music enthusiasts seeking portability. The new Valkyrie exemplifies this mix flawlessly, including a sound profile crafted internally by iFi’s expert engineers. The Valkyrie incorporates iFi’s proprietary DSD Remastering algorithm, likened to the technology employed in Sony’s mastering studios, which purportedly enhances audio quality by elevating resolution, minimizing distortion, and providing a more nuanced and detailed sound. Furthermore, all of this is facilitated by a “custom-coded FPGA” that remasters music on the device, yielding exceptionally precise and clear sound.

The iDSD Valkyrie features a gold-colored chassis and a futuristic design, delivering an impressive peak output of 5,700mW, sufficient to power the most demanding headphones. This enables music producers, audio editors, and audiophiles to relish their auditory pursuits without interruption, a level of experience that previously necessitated being connected to a larger, stationary setup. To enhance user enjoyment, iFi has incorporated a substantial 20,000mAh built-in battery within the Valkyrie, offering about 18 hours of continuous gameplay and capable of being fully charged in merely 2.5 hours.

iFi

The Valkyrie is equipped with cutting-edge technology in high-resolution audio solutions, including K2HD, a technique developed by the Japanese business JVCKENWOOD, which iFi claims conceals substantial sonic control within the device. If this seems recognizable, it is due to iFi's utilization of K2HD in several of its other devices; it is a high-fidelity information processing technique that decompresses audio files and restores them to their original quality by reintroducing certain missing frequencies and depth. iFi chose to use K2HD in the Valkyrie to reproduce music that closely aligns with the original sound, asserting that it “restores the warmth and emotion of analogue recordings, ensuring your digital audio never sounds cold or clinical.”

What distinguishes iFi’s iDSD Valkyrie from its other devices is not merely its power, but its distinctive character. iFi states that the Valkyrie is “engineered for individuals who desire musicality and emotional profundity,” and the firm has integrated multiple technological innovations in sound within its latest product to provide “instruments previously exclusive to the foremost mastering studios [...] directly at your fingertips.”

The Valkyrie can power wired headphones and also function wirelessly via Bluetooth. To optimize sound quality via a wireless connection, iFi has incorporated the aptX Lossless codec and xMEMS compatibility, providing Bluetooth headphones with the optimal opportunity to get "CD-quality" audio.

If you desire the utmost sound quality and possess substantial financial resources, the iFi iDSD Valkyrie is available for purchase on the brand's website  for £1,699 GBP / $1,699 USD.