Nice googa mooga, this DAC/Amp is spectacular! It’s lovely on the surface, feature-packed on the within, and has some EQ presets that enliven the occasion while you need. iFi Audio makes nice audio equipment, however they’ve outdone themselves with this one, and it’ll develop with you. It may be up to date over the air with new Bluetooth codecs as they change into out there. This one’s a no brainer—virtually.
iFi GO blu: Worth and availability
You possibly can decide up the iFi GO blu for $200 direct from ifi-audio.com, or Amazon. I’d additionally contemplate choosing up the $29 GO blue case with a clip from ifi-audio.com. The case makes it simpler to make use of together with your headphones by clipping them to your shirt so the microphone is nearer to your mouth while you take calls.
iFi GO blu: Construct and match
Next to the Qudelix-5K, that is one of the smallest DAC/Amps on the market to pack this stage of sophistication and options. It’s the dimensions of a 9V battery. The unit’s exterior is wrapped in a soft-touch polymer with copper-colored trim. On the precise facet of the GO Blu is the place you’ll discover a luxurious infinitely scrolling ChronoDial, which supplies you advantageous analog quantity management and handles playback and telephone features with numerous clicks. Under that’s the button that controls EQ preset modes, Bluetooth pairing, voice alert features, digital filter mode, and manufacturing facility reset.
On the highest, you’ll discover an LED that tells you which ones EQ preset you’re utilizing, Bluetooth connection, and digital filter standing. Subsequent to which can be the balanced 4.4mm and S-Balanced 3.5mm headphone outputs. On the underside, there’s an LED for battery standing, a microphone, a manufacturing facility reset pinhole, and USB enter, which helps charging and audio playback as much as 24bit/96kHz.
The ability button is on the left facet. Press it twice to listen to which Bluetooth format you’re at present receiving. You’ll additionally use this button along with the button beneath the dial to activate/off voice bulletins.
This highly effective machine is extremely small and lightweight however has a pleasant in-hand really feel due to the soft-touch plastic. The buttons all give satisfying clicks, and the USB-C port has no play as you plug in and pull cables out. A refined contact is the labels on the rear etched subsequent to the entire buttons, telling you what they accomplish that you don’t have to recollect all of the issues. They do loads!
iFi GO blu: Options
We touched on {hardware} options as we talked about construct high quality and match, so let’s talk about what a few of these options do in a bit extra element. The GO Blu comes with three presets: XBass, XSpace, and XBass + XSpace. The primary two increase bass and develop the soundstage, respectively. The third is a combo of each. As a bass lover, I’d prefer to have extra management over how a lot the bass is boosted, however for many, it would give an considerable bump that doesn’t overpower the remainder of the combination
The three.5mm output options balanced circuits as a substitute of the single-ended circuit method historically utilized in most merchandise round this worth level. This reduces noise, supplying you with clearer sound.
The GO Blu makes use of Qualcomm’s QCC5100 chip, along with the Cirrus Logic 43131, supporting aptX Adaptive/HD/LL, LDAC, LHDC, AAC, and SBC with the power to be up to date over the air so as to add newer codecs. As a result of the GO blu is looking enabled and makes use of that QCC chip, you additionally get lively noise canceling with these mics so as to use conventional IEMs or headphones throughout your commute or within the workplace and have the power to take and make calls with minimal interruption to your listening circulation. Decide up the GO blu case with a clip so you’ll be able to clip it to your shirt and make hands-free calling even simpler.
I haven’t worn the battery down but, nevertheless it will get me by way of a complete workday and is rated for ten hours. A high-powered charger (6.3v) can recharge the GO blu in 40 minutes.
iFi GO blu: Sound high quality
So, with all of this know-how packed in such a small area, how does it sound? I’ve listened by way of each the three.5mm and 4.4mm ports, using each Bluetooth and wired USB-C audio sources, and I’ll inform you that the output from this DAC/Amp is an elevated expertise. I examined audio high quality with delicate and hard-to-drive IEMs from 1MORE, Campfire Audio, and Sennheiser’s IE900. For headphones, I did the identical, utilizing Sennheiser and HiFiMan planar magnetic over-ear headphones.
Understanding that the iPhone solely helps AAC, I wished to listen to what the GO blu might do with one of many Hi-Res codecs. On this case, LDAC linked to a Pixel 7 Professional, and each codecs have been a delight. The LDAC stream affords extra dynamics, however iPhone homeowners received’t really feel omitted, because the sonic imaging remains to be fairly good by way of AAC.
The wired connection, supplying you with entry to Apple Music lossless audio, is transcendent. Paul Simon’s “Diamonds on the Souls of Her Footwear,” and the primary title observe from the “Get Out” movie’s soundtrack, Michael Abels’ haunting “Sikiliza Kwa Wahenga” have been each ethereal experiences for his or her massive, open soundstage. With the precise pairing, the imaging with the iFi GO blu is extremely analytical, permitting you to lose your self within the nuances of the music you’re listening to. Paired to headphones or IEMs which aren’t very analytical themselves, you continue to get spectacular readability and nuance.
The general sound signature could be very balanced and impartial, which is why I’m grateful for the XBass characteristic. Getting that bump within the low finish made hip-hop tracks that rather more pleasant once I linked the 4.4mm cables of Sennheiser’s IE900, which itself has a really impartial sound. The Go blu actually offers you brilliant, sparkly higher mid, and high-frequency copy with out being sibilant or harsh. Your complete listening expertise is easy with out compromising instrument assault or nuance, and I by no means needed to crank my telephone’s quantity previous 75%. More often than not, I listened at extremely satisfying ranges with the slider as much as round 50%.
iFi GO blu: Competiton
Curiously, iFi’s personal Zen DAC 3 is on the similar worth level, however that DAC is bigger and extra tailor-made towards a desktop expertise with its out there 5V Dc enter. Then, you’ll wish to take a look at the FiiO BTR7. It has related options, however no mics for calling, and a bit much less battery life. It does, nonetheless have a companion app with parametric EQ, which the GO blu doesn’t.
Quedelix 5k is $100 cheaper and whereas it doesn’t fairly have as expansive a soundstage, it’s undoubtedly a really succesful Bluetooth/USB-C DAC/Amp and has microphones for calling. Add to that it’s insanely spectacular companion app with sturdy parametric EQ settings and it turns into a really tempting competitor. I’ve bought the Quedelix 5k for my private use, however I will likely be shopping for the GO blu in some unspecified time in the future as nicely.
iFi GO blu: Do you have to purchase it?
You can purchase the iFi GO blu if…
- You need an incredible multi-source DAC/Amp
- You need excellent sound at a good worth
- You need sufficient battery life to get by way of a workday
You should not purchase the iFi GO blu if…
- You need PEQ
- Cash is tight
A powerfully versatile DAC/Amp
The iFi GO blu Bluetooth DAC/Amp has a soundstage and readability that sound like your music is radiating from the heavens. Better part? Audiophile high quality at a good worth!
