FOR Detailed, balanced sound; good battery life; versatile
AGAINST Lacks a little dynamic subtlety and timing
![Virtues For All Your Devices](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/1227/260748/5a56a097c3306/Virtues-For-All-Your-Devices.jpg)
iFi (pronounced as Eliza Doolittle might say “hi-fi”) isn’t alone on its mission to improve laptop sound for few pounds. The Cyrus soundKey (£100), Meridian Explorer 2 (£130), DragonFly Black (£90) and Red (£170), and a handful of others have already set out along this path.
But what’s less common is the tendency to extend that ambition to smartphone sound too. The Oppo HA-2 SE (£290) and Chord Mojo (£400) are designed to service both types of device, and iFi’s portable (battery-powered, pocket-sized) iPhone and Android-compatible nano iDSD BL (‘Black Label’) has followed suit.
Versatile DAC
The nano’s Burr-Brown True Native DAC can handle PCM files all the way up to 32-bit/384kHz (arguably more than you need), as well as DXD and DSD256 formats. It also supports MQA, extending playback to physical MQA files and Tidal Masters.
This story is from the February 2018 edition of What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2018 edition of What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![System of the month](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1227/1737145/9jYHSn9y21718806594587/SYSTEM-OF-THE-MONTH.jpg)
System of the month
A superb set-up that will bring you equal joy whether playing games or watching movies
![I SPENT 24 HOURS IMMERSED IN DOLBY ATMOS MUSIC - THESE ARE 8 KEY THINGS I LEARNED](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1227/1737145/2UpW-40Lp1718806286807/I-SPENT-24-HOURS-IMMERSED-IN-DOLBY-ATMOS-MUSIC-THESE-ARE-8-KEY-THINGS-I-LEARNED.jpg)
I SPENT 24 HOURS IMMERSED IN DOLBY ATMOS MUSIC - THESE ARE 8 KEY THINGS I LEARNED
What Hi-Fi? deputy editor Andy Madden gained some interesting insights from the world of immersive audio on a visit to a Dolby Atmos studio
![Philips Fidelio L4](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1227/1737145/4_wfwqMIt1718805990941/PHILIPS-FIDELIO-L4.jpg)
Philips Fidelio L4
Philips adds another good pair of headphones to its Fidelio line
![Sony HT-AX7](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1227/1737145/OSeRWoORf1718805790318/SONY-HTAX7.jpg)
Sony HT-AX7
Bird? Plane? No! It's Sony's... portable theatre/360-degree music thingy
![Final ZE8000 MK2](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1227/1737145/CtdEi8cPo1718805613671/FINAL-ZE8000-MK2.jpg)
Final ZE8000 MK2
Your Final destination for great sound - or a sonic dead end?
![BenQ X3100i](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1227/1737145/c2mCV25SI1718805189896/BENQ-X3100I.jpg)
BenQ X3100i
BenQ's latest gaming projector is surprisingly good with movies too
![MINI MARVELS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1227/1737145/nxKWz267j1718804222700/MINI-MARVELS.jpg)
MINI MARVELS
While positively tiny in today's TV world, these compact, 24in sets could be just what you need
![RAISING THE BAR](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1227/1737145/Y59L0vbB-1718802685880/RAISING-THE-BAR.jpg)
RAISING THE BAR
Elevate your home cinema sound with this trio of convenient soundbar packages
![INDOOR PLANTS IN FULL BOOM](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1227/1737145/lahZDoAJH1718801346861/INDOOR-PLANTS-IN-FULL-BOOM.jpg)
INDOOR PLANTS IN FULL BOOM
These premium wireless speakers are designed for use in the home - where they will raise the roof
![TAKE TO THE FLOOR](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1227/1737145/s41UnEEVO1718799779067/TAKE-TO-THE-FLOOR.jpg)
TAKE TO THE FLOOR
From pumping dance music to grand orchestral heft, these pillars of strength will deliver in spades