iFi iDSD Valkyrie DAC/Headphone Amp Review: Futureproof Powerhouse or Feature Fatigue?

Is the iFi iDSD Valkyrie the Swiss Army knife of headphone amps—or just an expensive multitool in search of a mission? iFi Audio, the UK-based hi-fi specialist known for its portable DACs and amps, has added the $1,699 iDSD Valkyrie to its lineup. Positioned above the GO series and even the Diablo 2, the Valkyrie is packed with features and serious power.

But with a price tag this steep and a very specific use case, the question is: who exactly is this for—and does it sound as good as the tech sheet claims?

Specifications & Technology

The iFi iDSD Valkyrie comes loaded with more specs than a Coruscant customs form, so let’s just break down the essentials before getting lost in the fancy marketing and specifications jargon.

It supports up to 768kHz PCM and DSD512 — formats that most people will never actually use, but hey, it’s nice to flex. Think of it as a high-end hovercar capable of Mach 3 in a school zone. The power output is quoted at 5.7 watts into 32 ohms, which sounds absurd on paper — and it probably is. iFi has its own unique way of measuring power, which tends to make their specs look like they’re juiced on something from Saw Gerrera’s medicine cabinet. Take it with a grain of salt… or maybe the whole shaker.

Where things get interesting is the xMEMS support. Most DAC/amps don’t even acknowledge this next-gen tech yet, but the Valkyrie is ready. It can crank out 28 volts peak-to-peak, which is more than enough voltage swing for any xMEMS earphones currently available — if you’re one of the early adopters brave enough to wade into that frontier.

Most gear still treats xMEMS like a myth or a side quest no one wants to finish. Not the Valkyrie. It’s all in — whether the rest of the market is ready or not.

Under the hood, the Valkyrie packs four DSD1793 Burr-Brown DACs. These chips sit on their own isolated board to keep crosstalk at bay, like they’re too good to mingle with the rest of the circuitry.

On paper, the numbers are… fine. Dynamic range and SNR come in at 116dBA, output impedance is a very low 0.3 ohms, and THD+N sits around 0.002%. Respectable, but nothing that screams “flagship” when you’re dropping serious cash. If you’re a spec chaser, you might feel a pang of disappointment.

But let’s be honest: if your buying decisions hinge entirely on numbers, you’re probably more into spreadsheets than sound. The Valkyrie doesn’t exist to win lab tests — it exists to make your ears forget the spec sheet ever mattered. The proof, as always, is in the listening. And this thing doesn’t flinch.

The Valkyrie isn’t just built for power — it’s built to last. With a monster 20,000mAh/74Wh quad-battery setup under the hood, this thing is basically a nuclear reactor for your headphones.

Depending on your volume, music format, and headphone choice, you’re looking at roughly 18 hours of runtime — long enough to outlast a short-haul flight, a long workday, or your patience for Bluetooth codec debates. And when it finally does tap out, it recharges in just 2.5 hours. Not bad for something this beefy.

As a modern all-in-one portable, the Valkyrie naturally includes Bluetooth, and it doesn’t mess around. It’s got every codec that matters, including aptX Lossless thanks to Qualcomm’s QCC518x flagship chip. Sure, support for aptX Lossless is still rare — and if you’re rocking an iPhone or a Samsung, you’re out of luck — but that’s kind of the point. This is future-proofing done right.

The Valkyrie is built for where things are going, not where they are right now. When the rest of the world catches up, you won’t need to upgrade — you’ll already be there.

The Valkyrie brings back iFi’s familiar trio of analog sound tweaks: XBass II, XPresence, and XSpace — tools that let you shape the sound to better match your headphones, music, or just your mood.

XBass II is for the low-end lovers. It boosts bass starting around 200Hz and gradually ramps up to about +10dB at 20Hz. That’s the kind of deep, sub-bass boost you’ll actually feel, especially with headphones that might sound a bit thin down low.

XPresence takes a different approach — it slightly rolls off the bass and lifts the upper mids around 1–2kHz. This helps bring vocals and guitars forward, making them sound clearer and more present without getting harsh.

XSpace dials in some extra width and air. It nudges the treble up slightly and adds crossfeed, which blends a bit of left and right channel info to mimic a speaker-like experience — wider soundstage, less of that “in your head” headphone feel.

You can use these filters individually or combine them, and they work in the analog domain, so there’s no digital processing or added noise. Bloom Audio has graphs showing exactly how each setting shapes the frequency curve, but if you don’t feel like squinting at waveforms, just know this: these aren’t gimmicks. They’re genuinely useful tools that help tailor the Valkyrie’s output to your headphones — or your personal taste — without getting in the way.

The Valkyrie also gives you six digital filter options to fine-tune how your music sounds. These won’t change the character of your headphones like the analog filters, but they do affect the finer details — things like clarity, attack, and ringing (those tiny echoes that can follow sharp sounds).

Here’s a quick breakdown of what each one does:

• Bit-Perfect – Pure and untouched. No filtering at all. No pre-ringing, no post-ringing. Just the raw digital signal.
• GTO (Gibbs Transient-Optimised) – Upsamples everything to 352.8/384kHz with minimal filtering. No pre-ringing, very little post-ringing. Clean and quick.
• Apodising – Gentle touch. Removes pre-ringing, has a bit of post-ringing. Uses 128 filter taps (a middle-ground option).
• Transient Aligned – Full-on surgical mode. Heavy filtering with lots of pre and post-ringing. 16,384 taps — maximum precision, but maybe too much for casual listening.
• Standard – Balanced and modest. Some pre-ringing, some post-ringing. Your typical safe default.
• Minimum Phase – Slower roll-off with very little ringing. Keeps the timing natural, especially on transients like drums and strings.

If you’re not sure where to start, GTO or Bit-Perfect are great for a more natural sound. But if you like to tinker, switching filters is easy — and part of the fun.

The iFi iDSD Valkyrie brings back K2HD tech from the GO bar Kensei — which, unless you’re deep in the weeds of digital audio sorcery, basically means it’s trying to resurrect those ultrasonic frequencies above 20kHz that got sacrificed somewhere along the way to MP3 hell. Does it make music sound more natural and lifelike? That depends on your ears — and whether your gear and dog can hear that high. But the intent is noble.

What’s more intriguing is the Valkyrie’s DSD1024 “Remastering” feature. Let’s be clear: this isn’t a remaster in the Abbey Road Studios sense. It’s upsampling. Glorified format conversion. But here’s the kicker — it’s done via a custom-coded FPGA, not some off-the-shelf chip running 2005 firmware.

That means it can take your run-of-the-mill PCM files and up-convert them into something that makes hardcore DSD fans swoon. Few DACs do this. Even fewer do it without setting your wallet on fire.

Why does this all matter? Because digital audio’s often more about how you handle the signal than the numbers on the spec sheet. And the Valkyrie doesn’t just handle it — it manhandles it with finesse. It’s not reinventing the wheel, but it’s bolting on some damn good tires.

Now whether all this digital voodoo makes a difference? That’s where your ears come in. But first, let’s talk about how this beast looks and feels — because even rebellion-grade gear needs to look the part.

Design & Build

Let’s start by looking at what comes in the box alongside the Valkyrie. First off, everything is housed in a meticulously engraved wooden display box that probably weighs more than your entire Class D stereo setup. To say it’s a luxurious unboxing experience would be an understatement.

Aside from the mountain of documentation you’ll probably never read, you also get a selection of useful accessories, including:

• USB-C to mains adapter
• Female USB-C to male USB-A adapter
• USB-C to Apple Lightning adapter
• Short USB-C cable
• SPDIF adapter

iFi didn’t hold back, tossing in the SilentPower iPower X for mains power and charging—normally a £119 standalone item. It’s got ultra-low noise, meaning your Valkyrie sounds as clean as your conscience after a good day’s work.

All of this, plus the device itself, fits neatly into a plastic pouch with Velcro straps to keep the Valkyrie securely tucked in while you’re on the move. Yes, you can actually use it while it’s still in the pouch, thanks to a cut-out on one side for routing cables. A thoughtful little touch from iFi, because who doesn’t like a little convenience with their luxury?

Now, let’s talk about the build. On the front left, you’ve got two headphone outputs: a 4.4mm balanced socket and a 3.5mm “S-balanced” jack, because why not give your headphones more options than your ex ever did? On the right, two multifunction buttons: one for toggling digital filters and DSD1024 Remastering, and the other for switching inputs and toggling K2HD technology on or off. Simple, elegant, and functional—just like you wish your last relationship had been.

At the back, iFi has slapped a handful of inputs and outputs on the Valkyrie, because why settle for a few when you can overwhelm yourself with options? For outputs, you’ve got a pair of RCA outs and a 3.5mm out—because apparently, the world hasn’t agreed on a single standard yet.

For inputs, there are two USB-C ports: one for charging and powering the Valkyrie, and the other for data. Finally, there are two options for line in/out (3.5mm and 4.4mm), in case you’re feeling picky.

The top of the device features a large glass panel with a smaller screen embedded in it—because nothing screams “premium” like a display you’ll need a magnifying glass to interpret. The screen shows everything: volume, gain, input, bitrate, battery, selected filters, and whether K2HD and DSD Remastering are active. Sure, it’s all there, but with so much info crammed into a tiny space, it’s basically a game of Where’s Waldo to figure out what’s what.

Now, the gold-colored metal finish? I’ll admit, it looks sharp. The sleek, modern design gives off serious futuristic vibes—kind of like something that belongs in a sci-fi movie where all the bad guys use DACs. Overall, it’s a premium-looking piece of gear, if you can stomach the tech overload.

But small it certainly is not. The Valkyrie comes in at a hefty 172 x 160 x 30mm—over an inch thick. Add to that the fact it weighs nearly a kilogram (882 grams to be precise, or just under two pounds), and calling it “portable” feels like a bit of a stretch. Sure, you won’t be casually tossing it in your bag for a run to the store, but throw it in your backpack and pull it out once you’re seated on the plane—that’s more like it. “Transportable” seems like the more accurate label here.

Performance & Synergy

I tested the sonic performance of the iFi iDSD Valkyrie across multiple setups. It was connected to both my laptop and phone via USB and Bluetooth, and I also ran it as a standalone DAC using RCA outputs into several dedicated amplifiers to get a broader sense of its capabilities.

I’ll start by saying the iFi iDSD Valkyrie brings serious power to the table—enough to handle just about any headphone you throw at it, with a few edge-case exceptions. One of those is the notoriously power-hungry HiFiMAN HE6se V2. While I was able to reach a comfortable listening level at a volume setting of 70 on the highest gain mode, it’s worth noting that I typically listen at around 65dB.

If you prefer louder playback, the Valkyrie may not offer quite enough headroom for this particular planar beast. That said, its advanced gain staging and robust output architecture make it more than capable for the vast majority of headphones.

Unlike some of iFi’s other gear—like the NEO iDSD 2, which I’ve reviewed before—the Valkyrie doesn’t lean into warmth or syrupy coloration. Instead, it comes through with a surprisingly neutral sound signature. That’s not what you’d expect from something built around Burr-Brown chips, which usually lean warm like a cozy fireplace on a rainy day.

So no, the Valkyrie isn’t your go-to if you’re chasing that thick, sweet, tube-like magic. When I paired it with the Beyerdynamic DT880 Edition 600 Ohm—famous for its sparkling highs—the Valkyrie didn’t soften the treble or round off the edges. It told those upper frequencies to come as they are, no sugarcoating.

But if you think “neutral” means boring, think again. The Valkyrie’s flat response doesn’t come at the cost of soul. The sound is uncannily lifelike, dynamically punchy, and engaging in all the right ways. It may look like a supersized dongle, but it hits like a heavyweight.

The Valkyrie is a detail, imaging, and layering monster—without venturing into the harsh, clinical, “I’ve just entered a sound lab” territory. Somehow, iFi has walked that razor-thin line of neutrality without making your ears feel like they’re getting dissected. It’s a fine balance, and the Valkyrie pulls it off like a seasoned tightrope walker.

The K2HD tech? Oh yeah, that’s a big reason why the Valkyrie sounds so true to life. I almost always left it on, because when it was off, vocals and instruments lost their natural decay. It was subtle, but noticeable, like a slight blur on an otherwise sharp photo.

Same goes for the DSD Remastering tech, which I kept running for nearly the whole testing period. DSD, in my book, always has a warmer, more analog-like vibe than PCM, and the Valkyrie sealed that deal. With DSD on, I occasionally got that “I’m listening to a live performance” sensation, something that just didn’t happen when it was off. If you’re into that kind of thing, it’s a definite win.

As for the digital filters? Well, I couldn’t really tell a difference between the six options, so I’m guessing the only thing changing was my imagination. I stuck with Transient Aligned because—don’t ask me why—it just sounded the best. Probably placebo, but hey, if it works…

The analogue filters, now that was fun. Unlike the digital ones, which seemed to be more about placebo than actual change, these filters unquestionably shook up the Valkyrie’s sound signature.

XBass II was my personal favorite—it actually did something useful. It added some much-needed bass punch to open-back headphones like the Audio-Technica ATH-R70x, which tend to have bass that’s as present as a ghost in a haunted house. No more. XBass II made them sound like they had a little more life in them.

XSpace? Yeah, it definitely widened the soundstage—sometimes to impressive levels, even on closed-backs like the Denon AH-D5200. But, as with most things in life, there’s a catch: it came at the cost of imaging precision, depending on the track. It’s like throwing a party in a bigger room but losing track of where the DJ is. Not ideal if you care about that sort of thing.

Now, XPresence? Eh, didn’t really move the needle for me. Sure, it boosted vocals, especially female ones, by fiddling with the 1-2kHz range, but at the same time, it sucked the life out of the bass a little. So you get clearer vocals, but your bass goes on a diet—nice tradeoff, right?

But here’s the kicker: you can mix and match these filters, and sometimes they work like magic. XBass II and XSpace together? That combo made my HiFiMAN HE1000 Unveiled sound like it was auditioning for the Harman target sound signature—midrange a little more laid back, bass pumped up a bit. The result? A fun, actual shift in tonality that felt like a solid upgrade.

The iDSD Valkyrie completely outclassed all the portable devices I had on hand when it came to sound quality, so I decided to pit it against my desktop stack: the Aune S17 Pro amplifier and SMSL DO400 DAC. The comparison got interesting. Neither setup was outright better; it came down to personal taste.

The desktop stack delivered a wider, smoother sound with an organic richness that gave it an edge in terms of warmth and depth. Meanwhile, the iFi Valkyrie “dongle” excelled in precision, offering more defined imaging and superior dynamics and transients. The trade-off? A slightly narrower soundstage and a less natural timbre compared to the desktop setup. Both setups had their strengths, but the Valkyrie’s clarity and punch made it stand out in its own right.

Connecting the Valkyrie to the S17 Pro via RCA gave me the best of both worlds: the power and warmth of the Aune amp combined with the customizability and DSD upsampling tech of the iFi. The result was a killer combo that sounded exceptionally spacious and lifelike, with each sound precisely placed within the stage. The synergy between the two components brought out a depth and clarity that made the music feel more immersive, without sacrificing accuracy or dynamics.

The Bottom Line

Despite the iFi iDSD Valkyrie’s impressive technical performance and outstanding sound quality, I found myself wondering exactly who this device is for.

Those who prefer the comfort of home listening will likely stick with a dedicated desktop DAC and amplifier stack, while those who want portability tend to opt for a compact dongle DAC or a small wireless DAC/Amp. The Valkyrie doesn’t fit neatly into either of those categories.

However, after some thought, it became clear: the Valkyrie is designed for a specific group of users—those who want the best-sounding, most customizable, and feature-rich DAC/Amp they can take anywhere.

It offers high-end sound quality, advanced features like DSD upsampling, and an impressive power output, making it ideal for audiophiles who refuse to compromise on performance, whether at home or on the go. If you’re someone who demands top-tier sound in any setting, the Valkyrie nails that niche perfectly.

One of the standout features of the Valkyrie that really struck me was just how convenient it is. It’s packed with filters and technologies that let you tailor the sound to your preferences, plus Bluetooth capability, and it can run off its own battery.

All of this is packed into a compact design that you can easily take anywhere. There’s no need to worry about cables, source synergy, or being tethered to a desk to enjoy high-end performance—something most dongle DACs simply can’t match. The Valkyrie lets you enjoy music without fuss or compromise, whether you’re at home or on the move.

Convenience often gets overlooked in audiophile gear, but the Valkyrie’s convenience factor is genuinely unparalleled. It’s a perfect blend of portability, power, and performance, letting you focus on the music, not the logistics.

Pros:

• Robust build quality with premium materials and sleek design
• Exceptional sound quality with precise imaging, dynamic range, and detailed resolution, surpassing most portable devices
• Advanced customization options with a range of filters, including XBass II, XSpace, and DSD Remastering, allowing for fine-tuned sound preferences
• Bluetooth connectivity for wireless convenience, with aptX and LDAC support for high-quality streaming
• Long battery life for portable use, capable of powering demanding headphones without needing a dedicated power source

Cons:

• Relatively heavy and bulky, less portable than smaller dongle DACs
• Display screen can feel crowded and difficult to read, especially when navigating through multiple settings and filters
• Expensive

Where to buy:

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