iFi Audio has already made the iDSD GR 2 one of its more ambitious portable DAC/headphone amplifiers, combining a Burr-Brown PCM1795 DAC, balanced amplification, K2HD processing, Bluetooth 5.4, a color touchscreen, and enough power to drive considerably more than a pair of sensitive IEMs.
Apparently, leaving it alone was never part of the plan.
The new iFi iDSD GR 2 MT — short for Master Tuned — takes the $529 iFi iDSD GR 2 and hands part of the sonic decision-making to Grammy and Brit Award-winning producer Steve Levine, whose production credits include Culture Club, the Beach Boys, Gary Moore, Ziggy Marley, Motörhead, and Deniece Williams. More importantly, this is not merely a signature on the chassis followed by a $170 price increase.
iFi has changed the circuit board, DAC I/V stage, amplifier capacitors, and digital filtering. That makes the GR 2 MT considerably more interesting than the usual “special edition” treatment involving a new finish and some heroic marketing copy.
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Steve Levine Gets More Than an EQ Preset
Levine worked with iFi’s engineering team to develop two exclusive digital filters, one optimized for PCM playback and the other for DSD. According to iFi, every sonic decision surrounding the Master Tuned version was guided by Levine, with the goal of emphasizing the balance and emotional qualities he looks for in studio playback.
“The goal of any producer is to document the authenticity and emotion behind the artist’s performance,” says Levine. “I have voiced the iDSD GR2 MT with this same goal in mind, and I hope you feel that when you listen.”
Whether listeners prefer Levine’s choices to the standard GR 2 is obviously something that requires actual listening. Digital filters are also not magic seasoning; their audible impact can range from noticeable to extremely subtle depending on the headphones, music, and listener.
The bigger story is that iFi did not stop there.
The Hardware Actually Changed
The standard iDSD GR 2 uses an FR-4 circuit board. The GR 2 MT substitutes what iFi describes as an aerospace-grade hydrocarbon ceramic PCB, which the company claims provides near-zero signal loss.
The DAC’s I/V stage also changes from the standard model’s OVA2637 with surface-mount resistors to an OV4627A stage using tantalum resistors. The amplifier section swaps its standard electrolytic capacitors for Audio Note Kaisei capacitors. Even the 2.3-inch touchscreen receives an illuminated silkscreen logo.
Will a ceramic PCB and boutique capacitors automatically transform your headphones into an emotional support animal? No. But these are genuine circuit-level changes rather than decorative ones, and that distinction makes the GR 2 MT an unusually thorough producer collaboration.
The GR 2 Foundation Remains
The underlying architecture remains centered around the Burr-Brown PCM1795, a current-output DAC that gave iFi considerably more control over the analogue I/V and output stages when it developed the original GR 2.
As we reported when the standard model debuted in June, the GR 2 supports PCM up to 768kHz and DSD512, with 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm S-Balanced headphone outputs, USB Type-C, optical/coaxial S/PDIF, Bluetooth, and both balanced and single-ended analogue connectivity.
Output remains substantial for a portable unit. The GR 2 MT is rated at 1,513mW RMS into 32 ohms, and iFi continues to include JVCKENWOOD K2 and K2HD processing, the 2.3-inch OLED capacitive touchscreen, Hybrid Power functionality, desktop operation, and support for the iFi Nexis app.
Bluetooth 5.4 includes aptX Lossless and LDAC. One clarification is worth making: aptX Lossless can provide lossless 16-bit/44.1kHz playback when the source device and wireless conditions support it. LDAC is not a lossless codec, despite some rather loose language that occasionally gets attached to high-resolution Bluetooth.
The original GR 2 also supports aptX Adaptive, aptX, LHDC/HWA, AAC, and SBC, which are also included in the MT version.
Portable or Desktop?
One of the smarter aspects of the GR 2 platform remains its ability to live in both environments.
The Desktop Mode can bypass the internal battery during stationary use, while iFi’s hybrid power management is designed to reduce unnecessary battery cycling. That matters if the GR 2 MT spends eight hours connected to a computer before being tossed into a bag for the train ride home.
The standard GR 2 uses a 4,900mAh battery, weighs 268 grams, and measures 141 x 75 x 19mm (5.55 x 2.95 x 0.75 inches). iFi rates battery life at approximately seven hours, although actual endurance will depend on output level, headphones, processing, and wireless use.
iFi iDSD GR 2 MT Specifications:
- DAC: Burr-Brown PCM1795
- Digital Filters: Two Steve Levine-tuned filters, one for PCM and one for DSD
- Power Output: 1,513mW RMS at 32 ohms
- PCB: Aerospace-grade hydrocarbon ceramic
- DAC I/V Stage: OV4627A with tantalum resistors
- Amplifier Stage: Audio Note Kaisei capacitors
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless and LDAC
- Processing: JVCKENWOOD K2 and K2HD Technology
- Display: 2.3-inch high-resolution color touchscreen with illuminated silkscreen logo
- Power Modes: Hybrid power management and Desktop Mode with battery bypass
- App Support: iFi Nexis
- Battery: 4,900mAh
- Battery Life: Approximately 7 hours
- Dimensions: 141 x 75 x 19mm (5.55 x 2.95 x 0.75 inches)
- Weight: 268 grams (9.45 oz.)
Comparison
| iDSD GR 2 MT | iDSD GR 2 | |
| MSRP | $699 | $529 |
| Display | High-resolution 2.3″ touch color display with illuminated silkscreen logo | High-resolution 2.3″ touch color display |
| PCB Material | Aerospace-grade hydrocarbon ceramic PCB with near-zero signal loss | Standard FR-4 |
| DAC I/V Stage | OV4627A with audiophile-grade tantalum resistors | OVA2637 with standard surface-mount resistors |
| Amp Stage | Audio Note Kaisei capacitors | Standard electrolytic capacitors |
| Sonic Tuning | Steve Levine with two signature filters, one optimized for PCM and one for DSD | Colin Farch & Yehven Sobolevskyi of iFi |
The Bottom Line
The most interesting thing about the iFi iDSD GR 2 MT is that Steve Levine’s involvement extends beyond lending his name to a DSP preset.
Two exclusive PCM and DSD filters are part of the package, but iFi has also changed the PCB material, DAC I/V stage, resistors, and amplifier capacitors. The core PCM1795 architecture, K2HD processing, 1,513mW output, Bluetooth 5.4, touchscreen interface, extensive connectivity, and desktop functionality remain intact.
The Master Tuned edition costs $170 more than the standard $529 GR 2. That premium will ultimately live or die on whether Levine’s filters and the revised analogue circuitry produce a meaningful sonic improvement rather than merely a different flavor.
At least iFi changed enough hardware to make that question worth asking. Signature editions have gotten away with considerably less.
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ORT
October 4, 2026 at 4:22 pm
So cool looking…And no MQA!!!
This might be a worthy albeit far more expensive, upgrade from my Xduoo XD05 Basic which to be honest doesn’t get much use since my retirement. It certainly looks cooler!
Thanks!
ORT