iFi iDSD Valkyrie DAC and Headphone Amp Review

iFi has become a fan favorite over the years for providing excellent sound quality at an exceptional value. We’ve loved products like the Zen DAC 3 and Zen Can 3, as well as portable devices like iDSD Diablo 2. Now, iFi has introduced a brand new high end headphone amp and DAC that builds on all of those models and looks to provide a one-stop shop for all of your digital audio needs. With a slew of features and settings, the iDSD Valkyrie, a portable headphone amp and DAC, priced at $1,999, is an advanced and fascinating device. But how does it sound? We’ll talk about all that and more in this review.

What’s in the Box:

• iFi Audio iDSD Valkyrie
• USB-C OTG cable
• Toslink optical adapter
• iPower Power Supply
• USB-C to USB-A adapter
• Custom-made travel case 
• Nordic engraved presentation box
• USB-C to USB-C cable
• DC to USB-Cable
• Quick Start Guide

Build:

The iDSD Valkyrie’s aesthetic that looks somewhat similar to the Zen line’s appearance, though iFi has taken steps to distinguish it as a higher end model. This starts with a gold color and “winged” design. Its screen shares important information like volume levels, input and upsampling sample rates, battery levels, filter information, and input selection, and helps keep you aware of your listening parameters when you’re not near the screen.

Starting from the left on the front panel are a balanced 4.4mm and S-balanced 3.5mm input. The goal with the S-balanced output is to reduce noise on TRRS headphones, though it supports both TRRS and TRS. Towards the center are your input and sample rate LED’s. Then you get the volume knob which, when pushed down, works as a mute button. When held down, it acts as a power button. It’s equipped with an LED that changes color as volume increases and decreases.

To the near right of the knob are LEDs to indicate xSpace, xBass II, and xPresence. All the way to the right are your filter selection button and your input selector button (the input selector also acts as the activator for K2 filtering). On the bottom you also get an IEMatch control switch.

On the far left of the back panel, you get two USB-C inputs – one for a charger or power source and the other for a digital input. To the right is an S/PDIF (Optical/Coaxial) 3.5mm input. Then you get a group of analog outputs as well as a single ended and balanced line in/output. I love the way iFi manages to provide extended I/O options while keeping things minimal with their multi-purposed functionality. 

Battery Life

Finally, the iDSD Valkyrie is battery operated, featuring four 5,000 mAh lithium ion batteries. These provide up to 18 hours of playtime. Of course, you can keep it powered at all times as well, and iFi provides an iPower Power Supply with their own noise-cancelling technology for this purpose. All told, the Valkyrie is essentially a portable DAC and headphone amplifier that can also be used in a desktop setup. Its build makes it an outstanding choice for someone who needs desktop quality in a versatile package. 

Design:

iFi has packed a ton of functionality into the iDSD Valkyrie, but it all starts with four interleaved Burr Brown DACs and a high-performance FPGA that includes pro DSD remastering algorithms. On top of that, the Valkyrie offers 8 digital filters: Bit Perfect, Standard, Minimum, GTO, Apodising, Transient Aligned, and two from JVCKenwood (K2HD and K2). K2HD and K2 first appeared on the Go bar Kensei, and looks to restore natural harmonics found in more vintage devices. Then there are xSpace, xPresence, and xBass, which offer added soundstage, more midrange presence, and low end heft respectively. The Valkyrie is also Bluetooth compatible, offering flagship wireless technology, specifically aptX Lossless and LDAC at 96kHz/24-bit. 

As far as processing capabilities, this is both a USB and Bluetooth DAC which also supports optical and coaxial inputs. As a portable DAC, it offers 32-bit/768kHz PCM support and up to DSD512 playback. With its remastering engine, it can convert files to DSD512 or even DSD1024. Adding DSD upsampling here is a bold move, making the Valkyrie a powerhouse of a DAC and amplifier.

As far as the amp goes, the iDSD Valkyrie provides heaps of clean power. It can do up to 5,700 mW maximum output, and in my testing, it powered everything I threw at it with ease. That said, it also includes IEMatch so you can use it with just about any IEM without introducing noise to more sensitive earbuds. And in case that isn’t enough, it also works with xMEMS, making it future proof for just about any type of driver you want to use with it. 

Between its build and its design, the iDSD Valkyrie is an advanced device that is highly flexible and customizable. It really should work in just about any setup and use case. 

Sound Impressions:

The Valkyrie takes a clear and smooth approach to its sound. Using lossless tracks from Tidal, I tried the Valkyrie out with a range of headphones including the Abyss JOAL and Diana DZ, Meze Empyrean II, and Final Audio D8000 DC Pro. The results were a clean and delicate presentation that was amenable to many of my tweaks to its sound. 

Low End:

In its base tuning, the bass response is subtle but well-defined. It’s highly detailed with precise transients, but I preferred it with xBass activated. This helped add a bit more weight to the naturally delicate sound and made for a sublime listening experience. When called for on tracks by The Weeknd and Daft Punk, the Valkyrie was capable of delivering meaty low end without sacrificing its speed and definition. I surmise this flexible and delicious bass response is due to the transparency in its DAC section, as filters like xBass and K2Pro gave it a lush and warm feeling while retaining its overall transparency. 

I was able to add bass to the more laid back Diana DZ, but it also played well with warmer headphones like the Empyrean II. For the JOAL and D8000 DC Pro, I chose to refrain from using xBass, though I still liked the K2 sound created by JVCKenwood. 

Midrange:

Like the low end, the midrange benefits from iFi’s bevvy of filters. In its stock tuning, vocals are detailed and limber, if a little dry and analytical. Thankfully with the help of the K2 filters, things warmed up, following the bass into a smooth but detailed presentation. Again, one has to think the overall resolution of the DAC and amp sections helps maintain its detailed nature while adding some character to the sound. I found the midrange overall was where the different filters felt most distinct. You can hone in on transparency and resolution, or carefully craft a flavorful sound personalized to your taste. With the Empyrean II, it also became clear to me that the K2 filter’s added warmth comes from its timbre rather than coloration in its frequency response. This helps the Valkyrie play well with all sorts of headphones. 

Top End:

Following in the footsteps of the lower frequencies, the treble is smooth but clear. It never feels harsh, but also never loses any tactility. With ample headroom, cymbals crash and flutter with ease and comfort. Again, you can tinker with the sound here to your heart’s content. However, I think it stays close to home base even with many of them applied. Brighter headphones like the Diana DZ sounded delightful, while warmer headphones like the Empyrean II were refined and delicate.

Soundstage:

Far and away, my favorite part of the Valkyrie’s sound is its soundstage. It is expansive, holographic, and natural. No matter which headphones I used, I was enveloped in sound. The Abyss headphones were naturally wide, but they also presented height and depth that felt advanced and highly entrancing. The Empyrean II, with its gargantuan sound felt like listening to speakers, with a clear center channel and well-imaged instrumentals. Finally, with a top of the line headphone like the D8000 DC Pro, all of its advanced layering capabilities came to light. It’s an impressive sound on its own, and I never felt myself clamoring to use xSpace. I preferred to keep its natural sound with its engulfing presentation.

Final Verdict:

I’m a big fan of the iFi audio iDSD Valkyrie portable DAC and headphone amplifier. It’s got a whole slew of advanced features to help assist an overall natural base sound. I think its versatility and transportability make it an excellent choice for audiophiles who need a small and nimble device that can provide desktop quality sound in any scenario. With the ability to tinker with the sound to meet your specific preferences, the Valkyrie earns MajorHifi Gold. 

The iFi iDSD Valkyrie is available at audio46.