What Hi-Fi? Gives iFi iDSD GR 2 4 Stars as £395 Mojo 2 Outshines It

Q: Is a chunky 268g device still a true portable DAC, or has the industry shifted entirely to transportable desktop hybrids?

A 268g device can still be called portable, but in today’s market it is more accurately described as transportable. The iFi iDSD GR 2 sits in a category that has clearly expanded beyond the old idea of a pocket DAC. It has its own battery, Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C, balanced and single-ended I/O, and enough power to drive full-size demanding headphones. That makes it portable in the literal sense: you can carry it between a desk, hotel room, train seat or café and use it without mains power. But reviewers also consistently note that it is chunky, not especially pocket-friendly, and better suited to a bag than a jeans pocket. What has changed is not that portability has disappeared, but that the category has split. At one end are ultra-portable dongles such as iFi’s GO Link series, Moondrop’s Dawn Pro or Questyle-style USB DACs that are genuinely phone-sized. At the other are products like the GR 2, Chord Mojo 2 and FiiO Q7, which offer far more power, screens, balanced outputs and desktop-style flexibility, but at the cost of bulk. Many reviewers now explicitly call these devices “transportable.” So the industry has not shifted entirely to desktop hybrids. Rather, it now serves two different uses: true pocket portability for convenience, and transportable DAC/amps for listeners who want near-desktop performance away from home. By that standard, the GR 2 is still portable, just no longer in the smallest, most casual sense of the word.

3 articles · Updated · What Hi-Fi? · Aug 24

What Hi-Fi? rated the iFi iDSD GR 2 DAC/headphone amp 4 stars, praising its clear, detailed and even-handed sound but saying it lacks the dynamic drama of top rivals.
£595/$599/AU$999 iDSD GR 2 succeeds the 2021 xDSD Gryphon with a new Burr-Brown PCM1795 chip, touchscreen, fully balanced circuitry and claimed 1,513mW output—50% above the older model.
Bluetooth 5.4, 32-bit/768kHz PCM, DSD512 support and multiple 4.4mm, 3.5mm, USB-C and optical/coaxial connections helped earn a 5/5 features score, though reviewers flagged unclear port labels and awkward controls.
Chord’s Mojo 2, priced at £395/$725/AU$899, was cited as the stronger benchmark because it delivered more bite, rhythm and orchestral impact in both headphone and hi-fi system tests.
The review concludes the GR 2 is a sturdy, versatile premium alternative for listeners prioritizing connectivity and refinement over outright excitement.