iFi iDSD Phantom Streaming DAC/Amplifier System

Experience the World Premiere of DSD2048, Switch Between Tube and Solid-State Circuits, Enjoy Ultra-Res, and Drive Any Headphones with the Flagship iFi iDSD Phantom Streaming DAC/Amplifier System

Hear the world premiere of DSD2048, select from three distinct sonic characters, and get a reference-class three-in-one DAC, high-res streamer, and headphone amplifier in the iFi iDSD Phantom system. With real-time tube and solid-state circuit switching, JVCKenwood K2HD technology, and a beguiling 7,747mW maximum output for the most demanding ‘phones, iDSD Phantom offers you detailed, dynamic, and transparent musical experiences that most folks can only dream about.

Designed to disappear any boundaries between you and your favorite tunes, the 7.93-pound iDSD Phantom prides itself on studio-quality fidelity and an abundance of customization settings that put you in complete control. Inside, four interleaved Burr-Brown DACs, a Crysopeia FPGA remastering engine, and discrete Class A amplification help make everything happen. An ultra-resolution DSD512/768kHz streaming engine based around a brand-new operating system broadens native support and includes Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, AirPlay 2, Roon, NAA, DLNA, UPnP, and more.

As for DSD2048? It’s now possible via iDSD Phantom’s remastering engine and upconversion. In “Normal” mode, native DSD signals pass directly to the DAC and PCM signals go through a user-selected filter. Switch to “Remastered” mode for upconversion to DSD512, DSD1024, or, yes, DSD2048 — all of which deepen resolution and minimize distortion. What’s more, K2HD restores depth, nuance, and musicality by introducing harmonic content lost during the production process. Want the benefits without changing the sample rate? Dial up K2 mode. 

When it comes to pushing headphones to their limit, iDSD Phantom has you covered. In addition to its prodigious power output, iDSD Phantom has XBass Pro that boosts low frequencies and is an ideal match for open-back ‘phones. Three XBass settings as well as bypass mode give you a plethora of options. In addition, XSpace Pro simulates the spaciousness of speaker playback and also has three selectable levels for fine-tuning. Last but not least, an array of digital filters subtly shape the time-domain response to best suit your preferences. 

Leaving no proverbial stone unturned, iDSD Phantom touts galvanically isolated S/PDIF, AES/EBU, and Ethernet inputs — eliminating electrical noise and digital nasties without impacting the signal integrity. Speaking of inputs: iDSD Phantom counts one USB-B 3.0, two USB-A, one USB-C, three XLR, one RJ45, one M12, one optical, one BNC, and one coaxial in its arsenal. One pair of balanced XLR line outputs complement one pair of RCA outputs. For your headphones, you’ll find one 3.5mm S-balanced, one 4.4mm balanced, one 4-pin XLR, one 3-pin CLR, one 6.3mm (positive phase), and one 6.3mm (inverted phase) output — all of which are located on the front panel. 

Need more information about this flagship piece? Give us a ring at 312-433-0200 and let’s chat! 

Notes from the Chief Engineer and Senior Design Engineer
"From the earliest prototypes, we refined iDSD Phantom step by step. Each stage of development involved re-examining the circuit, measuring performance, and making improvements to cement it as the most accomplished iFi listening experience to date. We tuned the output stage to sustain a 67% higher current rating, supported by optimized voltage and current settings. This gave us greater drive with reduced distortion, resulting in power that feels effortless and sound that is more dynamic. We then carefully adjusted the GE5670 tubes, tuning their supply voltage so that the grid operates further from its contact potential current — a subtle shift that enhances linearity and overall clarity in the audio output. At the system’s core, we implemented a new constant impedance negative feedback system. This ensures XBass Pro, XSpace Pro, and DSD Remastering work in perfect harmony. Within this design, we added a dedicated common-mode servo to the XBass section, smoothing voltage levels for seamless on/off transitions and maintaining bass consistency at higher gain levels. Finally, we applied RF shielding to critical components, improving their resilience to external interference and preserving signal purity throughout the circuit."