ifi NEO iDSD 2 Lossless Bluetooth DAC Amp User Manual
- June 13, 2024
- ifi
Table of Contents
ifi NEO iDSD 2 Lossless Bluetooth DAC Amp
Thank you for purchasing the iDSD from Neo series. The NEO iDSD 2 is a balanced USB and Bluetooth Ultra-Res DAC + headphone amplifier
FEATURES
- Versatile audio hub: DAC, preamp and headphone amp
- Ultra-Res digital audio – 32-bit/784kHz PCM, DSD512 and full MQA decoding
- Dual-core DAC design enables true-native DSD and PCM
- Advanced jitter reduction – GMT femto-precision clock and smart storage cache
- Four user-selectable digital filters – fine-tune sound to suit the source material
- State-of-the-art HD Bluetooth 5.4 – fully optimised performance, whatever your source device
- Every Bluetooth format supported: aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, LDAC, LHDC/HWA and more
- Enhanced PureWave fully balanced dual-mono circuit design delivers ultra-low distortion
- Exceptional power drives the toughest headphone loads (5x the power of the first-gen NEO iDSD)
- XSpace and XBass II – adjust soundstage and frequency response to match your headphones
- iPower 2 included – audiophile AC/DC power supply with Active Noise Cancelation
- Position horizontally or vertically – 2-inch colour display rotates to suit orientation
Part List
- TFT display
- Multi-function knob
- XSpace matrix On/Off
- Power On/Off and Brightness
- Input channel selector/Bluetooth pairing button
- Gain selection
- XBass II selection
- Balanced 4.4mm headphone output
- Unbalanced 6.3mm headphone output
- Balanced XLR analogue line output
- Unbalanced RCA analogue line output
- Unbalanced 3.5mm analogue line input
- Clock sync input
- Coaxial digital input
- Optical digital input
- USB audio input
- DC power supply connection
Overview
TFT Display
The TFT display shows the current input channel, XBass, XSpace, format,
sample rate, and power mode.
Tip: TFT screen should be on the left-hand side when NEO iDSD 2 is
positioned horizontally, and at the top when positioned vertically.
Multi-function Knob
Controls:
- Analogue volume control (turn)
- Mute (short press)
- Menu settings (long press 3s)
Analogue volume control and Mute
Turn the dial to change the volume. The analogue volume control in the NEO
iDSD 2 is superior to any digital volume control.
Mute
Press the rotary dial to mute. To unmute, press it again or turn the rotary
dial.
Menu settings (long press 3s)
Controls:
- Digital Filters
- Gain
- Volume sync
- BT voice prompt
- External sync clock
- Line out volume ctrl
- Factory Reset
- About
Note: Rotate to select function, short press to confirm selection or toggle on/off mode. No operation within 10 seconds, the display will return to the home.
Digital Filters
The following 4 digital filters are available:
- ‘BP’ Bit-Perfect: no digital filtering, no pre or post ringing
- ‘STD’ Standard, modest filtering, modest pre and post ringing
- ‘MIN’ Minimum phase, slow roll-of, minimum pre and post ringing
- ‘GTO’ Gibbs Transient-Optimized: up-sampled to 352.8/384kHz, minimum filtering, no pre
ringing, minimum post ringing
Note: If the GTO filter is selected, the display indicates the sample rate as 352.8kHz or 384kHz, illustrating the upsampling operation of this filter.
Gain
Can be switched between these four gain modes (see item 6 for details):
Volume Sync
Turns the volume sync on/of. It is of by default.
BT voice prompt
Turns the bluetooth voice announcement on/of. It is of by default.
**External Sync Clock***
10MHz External Sync Clock input on/of. It is of by default.
If no 10MHz clock is detected or if there is an error in the external clock,
the display will indicate an error and the NEO iDSD 2 will automatically
switch back to the internal clock.
Line out volume ctrl
Turns the line volume ctrl on/of. It is of by default.
This mode will determine whether or not the NEO iDSD 2 analogue line output
section volume control is used.
Factory Reset
Select “Apply” to perform a factory reset. The iFi logo will appear on the
screen and the device will
reboot after a successful operation.
Warning: Factory reset will delete all stored Bluetooth pairings, digital
filtering will default to BP, Bluetooth voice announcement on, default screen
brightness high,
default input channel USB, default volume 68dB, default gain 0dB, default
XBass and XSpace of.
About
View the device name and the current firmware version number.
XSpace Matrix On/Of
The XSpace Matrix on/of recreates a holographic sound field.
It is a purely analogue signal processing circuit designed for listening to
headphones as if one was listening to speakers. This addresses the ‘music
inside the head’ sensation, which can make for uneasy listening.
Power On/Of and Brightness
Power ON/OFF
Long press the power switch to power on/of.
Screen Brightness (Short press)
Input selector/Bluetooth pairing
This cycles between the following inputs:
Note: Please select the input channel according to your audio source
input mode. For example, when using USB input, you need to switch the input
channel to “USB”.
Note: When “Auto” mode is selected, the input signal is detected and the
input channel is automatically switched.
The NEO iDSD 2 receives Bluetooth signals via aptX, aptX Lossless, aptX
Adaptive, LDAC, LHDC/HWA, AAC and SBC.
Bluetooth pairing
When the Bluetooth input is selected, the Bluetooth icon in the display will
flash and search for a previously paired device. If a stored device is not
found, it will automatically enter pairing mode and flash.
Press and hold the button (1s) to enter pairing mode until the Bluetooth icon
flashes. To pair, find the ‘iFi Lossless Audio’ Bluetooth device on your audio
source device such as a mobile phone.
The NEO iDSD 2 can store up to 8 paired Bluetooth devices. To delete all
previously stored devices, please perform a factory reset (item 2 – VII).
Gain selection
Short press cycles through these four gain modes:
Note: Always start from 0dB and then increase the gain level to attain an
enjoyable and comfortable level of volume from the headphones.
Warning: At the outset do not use excessive gain, otherwise damage to
hearing or connected headphones may ensue. AMR/iFi audio is not
XBass II selection
Cycle through the three bass modes to select:
XBass II is an analogue circuit designed to ‘add back’ the lost bass response for more accurate reproduction of the original music.
Note: Research into headphone frequency response showed that apurely flat
response may not be correct. Our long present XBass fits the profile of the
low-frequency correction required. However, it was also shown that a certain
amount of upper midrange boost is needed to give many headphones a more
‘natural’ sound.
This upper midrange region is usually called the ‘presence’ region; we have
used this term to indicate the upper midrange correction. In the NEO iDSD2,
XBass II (or perhaps better HPEQ) can be selected to have either Bass +
Presence correction,only Bass or only Presence correction.
Note: Sonically-hindering DSP is NOT used for XBass II nor XSpace matrix
systems. They use the highest-quality discrete components and operate
purely in the analogue domain. Hence all the clarity and resolution of the
original music is retained.
Balanced 4.4mm headphone output
Connect balanced 4.4mm headphones.
Unbalanced 6.3mm headphone output
Connection for 6.3 single ended headphones . Please use 3.5 to 6.3 mm adaptor
for 3.5 single ended headphones.
Balanced XLR analogue line output
Connection of 4.4mm to XLR or similarly balanced interconnects.
Unbalanced RCA analogue line Output
Single-ended unbalanced signal output to an amplifier.
Unbalanced 3.5mm analogue line input
Connect to an analogue line level audio source with stereo 3.5mm connector.
Clock sync input
Connect to an external clock source (10MHz) (Optional)
Tip:The menu setting External Sync Clock needs to be on in order to use
this input. If no 10MHz clock is detected or if there is an error in the
external clock, the screen will indicate an error and the NEO iDSD 2 will
automatically switch back to the internal clock.
A sine or square wave signal may be used, 1Vpp nominal, 75Ω.
Coaxial Digital input
Connect an S/PDIF source such as Apple TV, Google Chromecast, PS5, a high-end
CD transport, etc.
Optical Digital input
Connect an S/PDIF source such as Apple TV, Google Chromecast, PS5, Xbox, a
high-end CD transport, etc.
USB audio input
This is a USB3.0 B input (USB2.0 compatible). For a superior connection to a
computer, use the enclosed USB3.0 cable. It connects the NEO iDSD 2 to the
computer audio source
DC Power Supply Connection
DC 9V/1.5A – 15V/0.9A* power input. Please connect NEO iDSD 2 to the enclosed
power supply.
- A power supply unit must be able to deliver minimum rated repetitive current.
Tip: It is preferable to use a USB 3.0 over using a USB 2.0 port on the PC.
Note: For use with PC it is necessary to download drivers.
Tip: For all latest firmware updates please refer to our website here: www.ifi-audio.com/download-hub/
MQA
NEO iDSD 2 includes MQA technology, which enables you to play back MQA audio
files and streams, delivering the sound of the original master recording.
‘MQA’ or ‘MQA.’ indicates that the product is decoding and playing an MQA
stream or file, and denotes provenance to ensure that the sound is identical
to that of the source material. ‘MQA.’ indicates it is playing an MQA Studio
file, which has either been approved in the studio by the artist/producer or
has been verified by the copyright owner. ‘OFS’ confirms that the product is
receiving an MQA stream or file. This delivers the final unfold of the MQA
file and displays the original sample rate.
MQA and the Sound Wave Device are registered trade marks of MQA Limited © 2016
MQA
- Listen to MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) files straight out of the box.
- For MQA tracks, simply connect to Tidal and check the options to stream MQA.
- Visit mqa.co.uk for more information.
Set up your NEO iDSD 2 using our iFi Nexis App
Please search for “NEO iDSD 2” within the iFi Nexis app.
The iFi Nexis app helps you to use all the features and settings of the NEO
iDSD 2, such as OTA upgrades*, remote control* and more.
OTA (Over the Air Technology), or Over the Air download technology, automatically downloads firmware upgrade packages and upgrades automatically over the network.
**Provides users with a convenient and easy-to-use way to control their device
as an alternative to the traditional remote control, for adjusting all the
functions and settings of the NEO iDSD 2 more easily, conveniently and freely.
Scan the QR code to view the official iFi audio NEO iDSD 2 video on YouTube.
Cautions
- Avoid extreme heat, cold and humidity.
- Avoid dropping or crushing the NEO iDSD 2.
- If you experience discomfort or pain, try lowering the volume or discontinuing use temporarily.
- Always check the actual output volume on your earphone, headphone, or loudspeakers before playing audio, as many music player software and operating systems do not appropriately apply industrial standards governing volume control (e.g., USB Device Class Denition for Human Interface Devices). If in doubt, before playing any music, turn o CyberSync or any other volume synchronization feature on the iFi Product and bring the volume down to the lowest setting.
Prolonged Heat Exposure
Your iFi Product may become very warm during normal use. It is important to
keep your iFi Product on a hard, stable, and well-ventilated work surface when
in use or charging.
Warning: To prevent possible hearing damage, do not listen at high volume
levels for long periods.
SPECIFICATIONS
Digital stage
- Hi-res support
- DSD 512 / 22.6MHz
- PCM 768kHz
- full MQA Decoder
- Bluetooth formats
- aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX, LDAC, LHDC/HWA,AAC, SBC
Line stage
- Line output – XLR 19.5V max. (variable); 4.4V (fixed)
- Line output – RCA 10.5V max. (variable); 2.2V (fixed)
- Output impedance XLR 100; RCA 50
- SNR 120dB(A) @ 0dBFS
- DNR 120dB(A) @ -60dBFS
- THD+N <0.0015% @ 0dBFS
Outputs:
- Headphone output – 4.4mm 3.5V/19.5V max. (12 – 600 headphones)
- Headphone output – 6.3mm 4.5V/9.5V max. (12 – 300 headphones)
- Output power – 4.4mm >19.5V/650mW (@ 600); >13.3V/5551mW (@ 32)
- Output power – 6.3mm >10.5V/184mW (@ 600); >9.5V/2832mW (@ 32)
- Output impedance <1
- SNR >120dB(A) (3.3V 6.3mm/6.2V 4.4mm)
- DNR >120dB(A)
- THD+N <0.0015% (125mW @ 32>)
General
- Power supply requirement DC 9V/1.5A – 15V/0.9A (centre +ve)
- Power consumption No signal ~5W; Max signal ~13.5W
- Dimensions 214x158x41mm (8.4″x6.2″x1.6″)
- Net weight 916g (2.0Ibs)
- Limited warranty 12 months
A power supply unit must be able to deliver minimum rated repetitive current
12 months typical or as permitted/required by local reseller laws.
Specifications are subject to change without notice
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