iFi iDSD Valkyrie DAC

Try Your Hand at Remastering and Explore K2 Technology with the Powerful iFi Valkyrie: Portable DAC and Headphone Amplifier Supports DSD512 and DSD1024 Remastering, Features Eight Digital Filters and Analog Processing Suite 

It’s one thing for a high-end audio product to claim that they’ll seat you in the engineer’s chair. It’s another to incorporate the actual technology used by recording engineers. That’s precisely what the iFi Valkyrie DAC does. Incorporating tools that were recently the exclusive domain of studios, the portable Valkyrie invites you to try your own hand at remastering by sculpting what you hear all the while enjoying incredibly emotional and musical sound. 

A flagship piece that specializes in absolute precision, warm tones, and clean power, the 1.94-pound Valkyrie supports up to 768kHz PCM and DSD512 with DSD1024 remastering. Based around four Burr-Brown DACs in a hybrid multi-bit configuration that delivers remarkable impact, low-level linearity, and astonishing dynamics, it features a bespoke DSD1024 remastering algorithm powered by a custom-coded FPGA. Akin to the technology in Sony mastering studios, the latter transforms any file by increasing resolution and reducing distortion. 

Two available modes — K2 and K2HD — let you decide how you want to hear. K2HD optionally upscales files to 24-bit/192kHz before applying K2 parameters for precise waveform shaping. It extends high frequencies to restore natural harmonics and deep inner detail. If you prefer restoration without changing the sample rate, K2 offers a similar effect while preserving the original resolution. Both options stem from Japan’s Victor Studios, where K2 was created to inject life and airiness back into clinical digital audio. Once exclusive to JVC Kenwood, it can now be used by you with the press of a button on Valkyrie. 

Valkyrie goes further with six more digital filters that further welcome you to fine-tune your listening experiences. As a complement to that customization suite, analog processing — XSpace, XBass II, and XPresence — that boosts your headphone sessions gives you another reason to bring Valkyrie into the fold. AptX Lossless, LDAC, LHDC, and Snapdragon codecs cover the bases when it comes to high-quality wireless audio. 

Housed in a CNC-machined aluminum chassis that takes inspiration from early sports cars and a front plate that echoes the majestic wings of the Valkyrie horse, this 1.18 x 6.30 x 6.77-inch (HWD) juggernaut touts solid aluminum buttons and an oversized, watch-crown-style control knob as well as a Gorilla glass display for scratch-resistant durability. Two analog inputs (3.5mm, 4.4mm), four line outputs (two 3.5mm, 4.4mm, RCA), and three digital inputs (USB-C, BT 5.4, S/PDIF) pair with two headphone outputs (balanced 4.4mm, S-balanced 3.5mm). 

Capable of supplying 2258mW of output power, Valkyrie can be powered by a mains power supply (such as the iFi iPowerX) or via its quadrant of lithium-ion batteries that combine to produce a colossal 20,000mAh — and last for up to 18 hours on a single charge. And you won’t need to wait long if you run out of juice. Valkyrie recharges in just 2.5 hours at 20V and supports the latest USB-C PD standards. 

Got questions? We’ve got answers. Ring us at 312-433-0200 and let’s chat.

"iFi Audio’s iDSD Valkyrie offers everything — and then some — for high-quality listening with just about any headphone just about anywhere. A rich sound together with the tuneability offered by its ‘XBass II’ and ‘XPresence’ modes and upsampling options makes it spectacularly versatile — a boon to headphone collectors who like to swap their cans or in-ears as the mood takes them."
—Hi-Fi News, Outstanding Product