Let me first express my appreciation to Ifi Audio for the opportunity to test out the NEO iDSD DAC/Amp. I come at this as a consumer not a professional or part time reviewer. I’m just a guy who finds enjoyment from listening to music. My system has been evolving over several years chasing that amazing system at a dealer that I couldn’t afford. That system was sourced by a Naim CDX2 CD Player ($7,500 USD) which to me epitomizes enjoyment in music. I was testing out amps that day at the dealer and I now own (2) of those integrated amplifiers because I am nuts. My listening preference would be squarely in the camp of Pace, Rhythym And Timing (PRAT) as my primary, with detail retrieval as a secondary concern. I want to feel the emotion, the fun, the sadness.



Enough about me, lets talk about the Ifi NEO iDSD. Everyone talks in detail about Specs and Unboxing experience. Got to be honest here and tell you that if once I’ve researched a product those sections of subsequent reviews get skipped. This is a full featured product with multiple connection options including balanced connections. You have multiple input options including bluetooth. The outputs are both single ended and balanced for both the headphone and line level outputs. The volume is independent and separates the Headphone out and Line Level Out (which can also be variable). So you can have fixed line level out while utililizing the volume for headphone listening. The product is professionally packaged and looks stunning. One simple thing stood out to me was a little sticker inside the box which says “Thank You!”. As a consumer I appreciate this simple gesture inside the box. It shows appreciation to the buyer for supporting the company and acquiring the product. I’ll jump way ahead in the review and say no, Thank You Ifi for producing this product which sounds amazing for a reasonable price.




The NEO iDSD was put into my main system. The NEO was attached to my Raspsberry Pi4 with a USB cable and attached to my Roon music system. This same Rpi also feeds a Schiit Gungnir Multibit Dac which has their Unison USB. The primary speakers used were my Sonus Faber Venere 1.5 although I did also use a pair of Totem Mites. Amplification was a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum tube amp and also a Naim Nait 5si (then a Naim UnitiQute). The DAC was evaluated in general listening sessions and also listed to critically on several test tracks that I like to use and listen for specific sections or details.

Lets talk about general listening impressions. The NEO iDSD is a little PRAT machine. Simply put it is the closest sound to that Naim CD player that I have had in my system. For music that has drive, punch, articulation, detail the NEO brings it in spades. If you are a fan of the band Rush and Neal Peart specifically listen to the “O Baterista” drum solo from Rush in Rio Live. The drums were dancing all over the soundstage. It was like Mr. Peart (may he rest in peace) was giving a private solo in my listening room. Pearl Jam was a revolution to me when I first heard them on the radio in college. They immediately made almost all the music I listened to in the 80s irrelevant. NEO iDSD nails Pearl Jam. You can feel the gravel, the grunge. Now you are asking if the NEO iDSD is a blunt hammer right? Not at all. I listen to many Genres of music and NEO iDSD is adept. In fact the above prog rock and grunge are the least of my listening these days. There are many genre’s that fall where NEO iDSD’s ability for detail, transient response and just the ability to make music come through in spades. I also enjoy listening to what I would call world music. A DAC must be able to be subtle bringing life to natural instruments, vocal tones and rhythms that are not typical in the kind of music I grew up with. Examples of this would be Baka Beyond, Toronto based guitarist Ray Montford, and a lot of Peter Gabriel’s solo music definitely delved into this. NEO’s ability to faithfully reproduce natural instruments comes through. Bass lines are delineated. The reverb is there, the bite of a trumpet.

Well while I appreciate the PRAT and drive of music the reality is the majority of my listening is to calmer music. Music that is delicate, subtle, relaxing and fun. Life is busy, hectic and stressful. Music is my escape, its my calming waters. The saying goes music soothes the savage beast. NEO iDSD is also delicate and nuanced.

Much has been said in other reviews about the headphone amp section. So I approached this carefully because I really like this product. I just recently started into the headphone world so I’m not experienced in this segment of audio reproduction. That being said I have a pair of Drop Sennheiser HD6xx and LH Mera IEMs. The amp by itself sounds good. I think that taken in context of a single box that NEO iDSD is very competent. It carries over the characteristics that I heard when just using as a DAC. Can the internal amp be bettered by an external one? I am going to say yes. I felt that my Schiit Asgard 2 has the edge in sound with a little bit more of that something there. Also my Schiit Magni Heresy although the Magni Heresy was more about power than sound.

That all being said I decided that I would not be happy going back to my other DAC for my main system. The day after I sent off NEO iDSD my new one was delivered.