iFi Audio has introduced the iDSD GR2 MT, a Master Tuned version of its acclaimed iDSD GR2 portable DAC and headphone amplifier. The iFi iDSD GR2 MT has been reimagined through the ears of Grammy and Brit Award-winning producer Steve Levine, who contributes two exclusive, Levine-voiced digital filters built to recreate the balance and emotional weight of his studio work.
iFi iDSD GR2 MT: Voiced by a Grammy-Winning Producer
Steve Levine’s production credits span Culture Club, the Beach Boys, Gary Moore, Ziggy Marley and Motorhead, earning him a Brit Award, a Musicweek Award and a Grammy for his work with Deniece Williams. “The goal of any producer is to document the authenticity and emotion behind the artist’s performance,” Levine says of the project. “I have voiced the iDSD GR2 MT with this same goal in mind, and I hope you feel that when you listen.” Every tuning decision on the iFi iDSD GR2 MT was guided by Levine directly, built on his own critical-listening standards from decades in the studio.
iFi will unveil the iDSD GR2 MT at a jazz-themed listening event at World Heart Beat Studios in London on 1 October, where Levine will discuss the development of the device and its exclusive filters in an interactive Q&A, followed by a multitrack DAW demonstration. The event will also be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.
Component-Level Upgrades Throughout
Beyond its new voicing, the iFi iDSD GR2 MT builds on the standard GR2 with a series of hardware upgrades. The standard FR-4 circuit board is replaced with an aerospace-grade hydrocarbon ceramic PCB for near-zero signal loss, while the high-resolution touch colour display gains an illuminated silkscreen logo. The DAC I/V stage moves from the OVA2637 with standard surface-mount resistors to an OV4627A fitted with audiophile-grade tantalum resistors, and the amp stage swaps standard electrolytic capacitors for Audio Note Kaisei capacitors.
At the core of the iFi iDSD GR2 MT sits the same Burr-Brown PCM1795 DAC as the standard model, now fitted with Levine’s two exclusive filters alongside JVCKENWOOD’s K2HD Technology for recovering detail from master recordings. The device outputs over 1,500mW RMS at 32 ohms through an OLED display with capacitive touch control, pairs Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless and LDAC for lossless wireless listening, and supports a desktop mode that bypasses the internal battery for stationary use. The GR2 MT is fully compatible with the iFi Nexis app for over-the-air updates and advanced control.
Pricing and availability
The iFi iDSD GR2 MT is available now at ifi-audio.com and through authorised dealers, priced at £699 / $699 / €729 / CA$799.99.
Key specifications
- iFi iDSD GR2 MT: Master Tuned edition of the iDSD GR2, voiced by producer Steve Levine
- Two exclusive Levine-voiced digital filters; Burr-Brown PCM1795 DAC; JVCKENWOOD K2HD Technology
- Aerospace-grade hydrocarbon ceramic PCB; Audio Note Kaisei capacitors; tantalum-resistor DAC I/V stage
- Over 1,500mW RMS output at 32 ohms; 2.3-inch touch colour display with illuminated logo
- Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless and LDAC; desktop mode; iFi Nexis app support
- Price: £699 / $699 / €729 / CA$799.99; available now
Best of High End previously reviewed the standard iFi iDSD GR 2 portable DAC/headphone amp that the GR2 MT builds on. For full specifications, visit iFi Audio.
