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popular Posted by iconian | Staff • Aug 14, 2023
popular Posted by iconian | Staff • Aug 14, 2023

iFi micro iDSD Signature Finale Portable Headphone Amp & DAC $399 + Free Shipping

$399

$749

46% off
Adorama
13 Comments 10,612 Views
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deal [adorama.com]

$399 + free s/h

according to the product page, this has a few upgraded parts (listed below)
  • MQA Decoder (old versions had renderer, decoder is better)
  • Extra warranty (24 months instead of 12 months)
  • Custom color
Also includes 4.4mm balanced input and plenty of power for any headphones (4,100 mW @ 16 Ohm Load). This works on a batter (old version for me, was good for 8-12hrs) and plugged in. This unit has battery on board, so it's on the go (wireless)
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deal [adorama.com]

$399 + free s/h

according to the product page, this has a few upgraded parts (listed below)
  • MQA Decoder (old versions had renderer, decoder is better)
  • Extra warranty (24 months instead of 12 months)
  • Custom color
Also includes 4.4mm balanced input and plenty of power for any headphones (4,100 mW @ 16 Ohm Load). This works on a batter (old version for me, was good for 8-12hrs) and plugged in. This unit has battery on board, so it's on the go (wireless)

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Price Intelligence

Model: iFi AUDIO iFi Audio Micro iDSD Signature Finale Portable Headphone Amp and DAC

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Sort: Lowest to Highest | Last Updated 6/6/2025, 02:05 PM
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13 Comments

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Pro
Aug 14, 2023
209 Posts
Joined Jul 2019
Aug 14, 2023
schow66
Pro
Aug 14, 2023
209 Posts
Does it have an in-built battery or is OP talking about running off a phone or laptop or something like that?
1
Original Poster
Pro
Sr. Deal Editor
Aug 14, 2023
73,804 Posts
Joined Feb 2006
Aug 14, 2023
iconian
Aug 14, 2023
Original Poster
Pro
Sr. Deal Editor
73,804 Posts
Quote from schow66 :
Does it have an in-built battery or is OP talking about running off a phone or laptop or something like that?
yes it does... i think it's good 6 or 8 hrs or something (depending on power settings)
Aug 14, 2023
580 Posts
Joined Aug 2006
Aug 14, 2023
fastfxr
Aug 14, 2023
580 Posts
So what is this for? Obviously an amplifier, but I don't see much in the way of inputs, and can't figure out why it'd need to be portable.
2
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Pro
Sr. Deal Editor
Aug 14, 2023
73,804 Posts
Joined Feb 2006
Aug 14, 2023
iconian
Aug 14, 2023
Original Poster
Pro
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73,804 Posts
Quote from fastfxr :
So what is this for? Obviously an amplifier, but I don't see much in the way of inputs, and can't figure out why it'd need to be portable.

it connects to phone directly vis usb cablefor example. or connect to pc directly via usb . it's both dac and an amp.


bunch of nice youtube videos out there showing how it works as well
Aug 15, 2023
482 Posts
Joined Jan 2008
Aug 15, 2023
blueis300
Aug 15, 2023
482 Posts
Is this any better than my ifi xdsd Gryphon? It looks like this Finale is still connected via the weirdest OTG USB connector. I wonder how the Xbass sounds like on this though.
Last edited by blueis300 August 14, 2023 at 06:55 PM.
1
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Pro
Sr. Deal Editor
Aug 15, 2023
73,804 Posts
Joined Feb 2006
Aug 15, 2023
iconian
Aug 15, 2023
Original Poster
Pro
Sr. Deal Editor
73,804 Posts
Quote from blueis300 :
Is this any better than my ifi xdsd Gryphon? It looks like this Finale is still connected via the weirdest OTG USB connector. I wonder how the Xbass sounds like on this though.

this is a higher end model (more power, settings) but other 1 does have BT, but IMO, if you're doing these, (portbles) then BT is useless.... kinda like driving your ferrari across the street to get milk
Aug 15, 2023
684 Posts
Joined Nov 2006
Aug 15, 2023
d3a1z
Aug 15, 2023
684 Posts
Quote from blueis300 :
Is this any better than my ifi xdsd Gryphon? It looks like this Finale is still connected via the weirdest OTG USB connector. I wonder how the Xbass sounds like on this though.
I think this is pretty redundant to the Gryphon. A bit more power, but unless you can't drive something I would stick with what you have.

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Aug 15, 2023
107 Posts
Joined Jan 2007
Aug 15, 2023
JonnyIce
Aug 15, 2023
107 Posts
I've been in the market since recently getting new CIEMs (JH Audio). I had a Ray Samuels Tomahawk for years, but things have changed. You still need to buy a stupid like camera connector to connect an iPhone to this?
Aug 15, 2023
482 Posts
Joined Jan 2008
Aug 15, 2023
blueis300
Aug 15, 2023
482 Posts
Quote from d3a1z :
I think this is pretty redundant to the Gryphon. A bit more power, but unless you can't drive something I would stick with what you have.
I've been researching and comparing these two.
ifi xdsd gryphon vs ifi audio micro idsd signature (FINALE name is dedicated for ADORAMA)
Found that, the GRYPHON is less powerful AMP output than the Signature but definitely enough for most IEMs and Headphones unless your headphone is high impedance headphones like Planar Magnetic headphones (HiFiman HE6SE).
The GRYPHON has better sounding execution on the iFi's well known XBass+ which I love so much. It is not muddy but fuller sounding in my ears.
The GRYPHON doesn't use very finicky iFi's USB connection that requires various OTG dongles to connect to your audio source.
And the GRYPHON has the mighty convenience BT connection with LDAC and plethora of other Codecs.
The SIGNATURE has 4.4mm and 6.3mm analog output, providing exactly the same power levels either on its out ports. Which means you don't need to worry about blowing out your cans at high output without you knowing about it. So in daily practice the user will expoit Micro iDSD Signature's balanced-ended and single-ended phone outputs "the old way", "as if" they were a single-ended-only port (6.3) and a balanced-ended-only port (4.4).

I am still considering buying this at this price. Let me know what you think about this. and correct me if I am wrong about the things I wrote above.
Aug 15, 2023
684 Posts
Joined Nov 2006
Aug 15, 2023
d3a1z
Aug 15, 2023
684 Posts
Quote from blueis300 :
I've been researching and comparing these two.
ifi xdsd gryphon vs ifi audio micro idsd signature (FINALE name is dedicated for ADORAMA)
Found that, the GRYPHON is less powerful AMP output than the Signature but definitely enough for most IEMs and Headphones unless your headphone is high impedance headphones like Planar Magnetic headphones (HiFiman HE6SE).
The GRYPHON has better sounding execution on the iFi's well known XBass+ which I love so much. It is not muddy but fuller sounding in my ears.
The GRYPHON doesn't use very finicky iFi's USB connection that requires various OTG dongles to connect to your audio source.
And the GRYPHON has the mighty convenience BT connection with LDAC and plethora of other Codecs.
The SIGNATURE has 4.4mm and 6.3mm analog output, providing exactly the same power levels either on its out ports. Which means you don't need to worry about blowing out your cans at high output without you knowing about it. So in daily practice the user will expoit Micro iDSD Signature's balanced-ended and single-ended phone outputs "the old way", "as if" they were a single-ended-only port (6.3) and a balanced-ended-only port (4.4).

I am still considering buying this at this price. Let me know what you think about this. and correct me if I am wrong about the things I wrote above.
I do agree the micro is more powerful. I think it would largely depend on your use case. The Gryphon is not as powerful, but I am a fan of LDAC and the size. I actually use LDAC way more that I initially thought. It is nice to sit on the couch and listen without being tethered to something. I would not consider the micro truly portable. It can be moved around easy enough, but you don't want to lug that thing around in your pocked. I you want something at your desk that you can take somewhere else then the micro is fine. If you want a truly portable setup then I would probably go for the Gryphon.
Aug 17, 2023
2,053 Posts
Joined May 2008
Aug 17, 2023
Gambit16
Aug 17, 2023
2,053 Posts
Quote from blueis300 :
Is this any better than my ifi xdsd Gryphon? It looks like this Finale is still connected via the weirdest OTG USB connector. I wonder how the Xbass sounds like on this though.
Gryphon is a lot better and more portable. I haven't heard about many issues with the Gryphon. This Finale model is just a recycled model that had a channel imbalance problem which iFi did not fix.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ifi-audio-idsd-signature-the-saga-continues.944241/page-138#post-176... [head-fi.org]
Aug 19, 2023
993 Posts
Joined Jul 2007
Aug 19, 2023
zachary80
Aug 19, 2023
993 Posts
MQA is a scam, most people are going to be better served by something like the Qudelix 5k which has a built-in parametric equalizer for a lot less money unless they need more power
Sep 15, 2023
732 Posts
Joined May 2009
Sep 15, 2023
ripplinghurst
Sep 15, 2023
732 Posts
My use case for this is to get my hard to drive full cans to the backyard or to the living room, when I'm tired of listening in my office chair.

Outside the house, no, it's a brick. IEMs only.

Still, I hate cheap potentiometers. I remember Jason from Schitt posting out that even Schiits cheapest headphone amp, uses 27mm potentiometers (and brand name connectors) instead of the cheap 9mm potentiometers used on headphone amps by everybody else below 2k.

I think that's the case with iFi
Last edited by ripplinghurst September 15, 2023 at 10:48 AM.

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