iFi audio has officially unveiled the iDSD PHANTOM, its new flagship home audio component, which combines a reference-grade DAC, an ultra-high-resolution network streamer, and a powerful Class A headphone amplifier into a single, statement product. Designed as the spiritual successor to the Pro iDSD, the PHANTOM represents more than a decade of iFi’s digital and analogue innovation, delivering unprecedented control, flexibility, and sonic performance in one all-in-one centerpiece.
According to iFi Chief Engineer Colin Farch, every stage of the PHANTOM’s design was re-examined and rebuilt to create the company’s most accomplished listening experience to date.
An All-In-One Flagship Audio Centerpiece
At its core, the iDSD PHANTOM is built to function as the heart of a modern high-end audio system. The new ultra-resolution streaming engine supports Qobuz Connect, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, and more, with native playback capabilities up to 768kHz PCM and DSD 512. Users can stream directly from NAS drives, external storage, or online services while managing their entire library across the home.
To preserve signal purity, iFi integrates galvanic isolation across Ethernet, S/PDIF, and AES/EBU inputs, blocking electrical noise at the circuit level. The system also includes iFi’s Exclusive Modes, which shut down unused processing to reduce interference and improve overall sound quality. Control is handled through the updated iFi Nexis companion app, now enhanced with Wi-Fi linking for seamless whole-home playback.
World Premiere DSD2048 Remastering Technology
One of the PHANTOM’s defining innovations is the world’s first home implementation of DSD2048 remastering. Powered by iFi’s proprietary Chrysopoeia FPGA remastering engine, the system converts audio to an ultra-high-rate 1-bit DSD stream sampled nearly 90 million times per second.
This extreme oversampling pushes quantization noise far beyond the audible range, resulting in exceptionally low distortion and extraordinary low-level resolution. In Remastered mode, each DAC chipset processes up to DSD1024, while the interleaved configuration unlocks full decoding at DSD512, DSD1024, and DSD2048.
Importantly, DSD playback bypasses digital filtering and volume control, with level adjustment handled purely in the analogue domain to preserve maximum signal purity.
Quad Burr-Brown DAC Architecture for Reference Conversion
At the heart of the PHANTOM sits a quad-DAC architecture built around four interleaved Burr-Brown DSD1793 DACs. Inspired by legendary multi-bit designs like the Philips TDA1541A, this configuration improves low-level linearity while retaining the musical warmth that Burr-Brown chipsets are known for.
In Normal mode, PCM signals pass through user-selectable digital filters, while DSD streams are routed directly to the DAC. In Remastered mode, the system engages its full FPGA pipeline for the highest-resolution playback currently available in consumer audio.
Three Output Voices: Solid-State, Tube, and Tube+
The iDSD PHANTOM offers three distinct sonic personalities through its real-time user-selectable output stages. Listeners can choose between:
- Solid-State Mode, using discrete J-FETs for ultra-low distortion and lightning-fast transient response.
- Tube Mode, powered by hand-matched NOS GE5670 valves for warmth and liquid smoothness.
- Tube+ Mode, which reduces loop-gain and enhances second-harmonic content by +6dB for a richer, vintage-inspired presentation.
These modes are paired with a formidable 7,747mW peak Class A headphone amplifier, delivering effortless power across a wide range of headphone impedances and sensitivities.
Studio-Inspired K2HD Restoration Technology
In collaboration with JVCKENWOOD, iFi integrates K2HD Technology into the PHANTOM to restore harmonic content lost during digital production and encoding. The system offers two modes: standard K2, which preserves the original resolution, and K2HD, which optionally upsamples to 192kHz / 24-bit.
Unlike conventional processing, K2HD emphasizes time-domain restoration rather than frequency manipulation, reconstructing overtones beyond 22kHz and delivering a more natural, emotionally engaging presentation that closely resembles the original analogue master.
Advanced Analog Shaping with XBass Pro and XSpace Pro
To further personalize the listening experience, the PHANTOM includes iFi’s most advanced analogue processing tools to date.
XBass Pro offers three shelving EQ options at 10, 20, and 40Hz, restoring low-end weight without clouding the midrange—ideal for open-back headphones or bass-light recordings.
XSpace Pro recreates speaker-like spatial depth with selectable 30°, 60°, and 90° soundstage settings, delivering a more natural and immersive presentation than traditional crossfeed systems.
A newly designed constant-impedance negative feedback system ensures that all processing features operate seamlessly without compromising clarity or noise performance.
Digital Filters for Precision Time-Domain Sculpting
For further refinement, users can select from multiple digital filters, including:
- Bit-Perfect / Bit-Perfect+ for untouched playback
- GTO Filter for enhanced density and detail
- Transient Aligned for smoother, more controlled sound
- Apodising for high-rate upsampling with a softer character
Each option allows fine control over timing behavior and tonal balance.
The iFi iDSD Phantom will be available for $4,499 and can be found soon at Audio46.
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