High-fidelity audio brand iFi has introduced its most impressive portable DAC and headphones amplifier to date with the launch of the iDSD Valkyrie – an all-new flagship device that the brand is promoting not just on its merits as a powerful on-the-go alternative to a full studio set up, but as one that can help its users to “shape their own sonic signature”.
The British brand has become known for its meticulously designed high-end audio gear – like the Japanese steel-crafted GO Bar Kensei we previously covered – that push the limits of what music fans expect on-the-go. And its new Valkyrie captures this combination perfectly, with a sound profile developed in house by iFi’s master engineers. The Valkyrie features iFi’s “bespoke” DSD Remastering algorithm, which it compares to “the technology used in Sony’s mastering studios” and says “improves the audio quality of any file by increasing resolution, reducing distortion, and delivering a richer, more detailed sound”. Additionally, all of this is powered by a “custom-coded FPGA” that remasters audio on device, resulting in incredibly precise and clear sound.
With its gold-colored chassis and futuristic form, the iDSD Valkyrie packs a huge 5,700mW of peak output, enough power to drive even the most-demanding headphones. This allows everybody from music producers and audio editors working on the go, to audiophiles who just want the very best sound possible wherever they are, to enjoy their sonic endeavours uninterruptedly – the kind of experience that may have previously required being tethered to a larger, desk-bound set up. And, to extend its users enjoyment, iFi has included a large 20,000mAh built-in battery within the Valkyrie, one that provides around 18 hours of continuous playtime and can be fast-charged to full in just 2.5-hours.
The Valkyrie also comes ready and equipped with some of the most innovative technology found in high-resolution audio solutions, including K2HD, a technology developed by the Japanese brand JVCKENWOOD, that iFi says “hides thunderous amounts of sonic control” within device. If this sounds familiar, it’s because iFi has used K2HD is some of its other devices – it’s a high-fidelity information processing technology that can uncompress audio files and return then back to their full quality by adding back some of the lost frequencies and depth. Another reason iFi opted to use K2HD in the Valkyrie is because it helps to play music as closely to the originally intended sound, saying that it “restores the warmth and emotion of analogue recordings, ensuring your digital audio never sounds cold or clinical.”
However, unlike some of its other devices, what sets iFi’s iDSD Valkyrie apart from the rest of its line up is not just its power, but its personality. According to iFi, the Valkyrie is “designed for those who crave musicality and emotional depth”, and the brand has combined various technological advancements in sound within its new device to deliver “tools once reserved for the world’s top mastering houses […] directly to your fingertips.”
As well as powering wired headphones, the Valkyrie can be used wirelessly over Bluetooth. To help ensure the sound quality is as good as can possible be over a non-wired connection, iFi has included aptX Lossless codec and xMEMS support, giving your Bluetooth headphones the best chance at achieving “CD-quality” sound.
So, if it’s the very best sound you seek – and your pockets are equally deep – the iFi iDSD Valkyrie can be purchased now through the brand’s website priced at £1,699 GBP / $1,699 USD.
The post iFi’s New iDSD Valkyrie Marries Beautiful Design and Exceptional Sound Prowess appeared first on Hypebeast.
