Did I make you blush? That sounded rather wrong to even type but the marketing department at iFi Audio must have been working overtime on that one. The iFi Audio GO bar becomes the flagship model in their portable lineup and definitely looks the part.
iFi has focused a lot of attention on the portable side of the business and with great success over the past few years; the GO blu and Go bar are very capable devices.
iFi’s acclaimed DAC/headphone amps have formed a cornerstone of the company’s product range since its formation in 2012, delivering brilliant sound from smartphones, tablets, PCs, Macs and more.
Last year, iFi introduced the GO blu, first in a new line of ultraportable, pocketsize DAC/amps called the GO Series; now it’s joined by the GO bar, taking the ‘big sound in a small package’ concept to a whole new level.
Just like the iFi GO blu, the GO bar is eminently pocketable, with a robust yet lightweight alloy enclosure that measures 65 x 22 x13mm and weighs 28.5g.
But, while the GO blu majors on the convenience of Bluetooth connectivity to devices like smartphones when you’re on the go, the GO bar connects to source devices via USB and focuses on pure performance.
Whether you’re commuting, working remotely or at your desk, or simply travelling for pleasure, the GO bar is a portable way to drive headphones when connected to desktop PCs, laptops, phones, tablets or any other digital source device with a USB port.
The iFi GO bar is not the first USB DAC/headphone amp of such diminutive size, but its specifications are unique. Its hi-res format compatibility and sonic tuning facilities are second to none, and its amp stage is the most powerful in the world for a headphone amp of this size.
What’s up DAC?
The GO bar’s digital audio circuitry is based around a 32-bit Cirrus Logic DAC chipset with advanced multi-bit modulation.
This is coupled with a customised digital filter to minimise pre-echoes and ringing artefacts, and iFi’s GMT (Global Master Timing) precision clock system to ensure ultra-low jitter, thus reducing errors and distortion in the digital audio signal.
The DAC is fed by a powerful 16-core XMOS microcontroller, which processes the audio data received at the USB input. iFi’s in-house digital development team has programmed the XMOS firmware to optimise sound quality and ensure a perfect partnership with the Cirrus Logic DAC.
Hi-res PCM is supported to 32-bit/384kHz, alongside DSD64, 128 and 256, and single- and double-speed DXD. The DAC’s architecture maintains DSD data in true native form, unlike other DACs that convert DSD to PCM.
The GO bar also delivers full decoding of MQA, which means that the complete ‘three unfold’ decoding process is performed internally, as opposed to just the final unfold in the manner of an MQA ‘renderer’, which makes the GO bar an excellent choice for subscribers to Tidal’s ‘HiFi Plus’ tier where Tidal Masters (MQA) content can be found.
Balance of Power
The amp’s design combines sonic purity with exceptional power. In fact, with an output of 550mW (into 64 ohms) and 7.5V (into 600 ohms), no headphone amp of such diminutive size can match its impressive ability to drive even tricky headphone loads – that’s enough current drive for 16-ohm headphones and sufficient voltage drive for 600-ohm headphones.
Combining serious muscle with beguiling finesse, the GO bar sounds wonderful with a wider range of headphone and earphone types than any other ultraportable USB DAC/amplifier. Adding to this versatility, the GO bar incorporates two power-tuning technologies, enabling adjustment of its output to suit specific requirements.
IEMatch attenuates power to suit high-sensitivity headphones and in-ear monitors, removing potential background noise and increasing the usable volume range. Conversely, Turbo mode ramps up the gain by 6dB to satisfy more power hungry headphone types.
External affairs
Most ultraportable USB DAC/headphone amps offer little or no control via the device itself, with volume adjustable only via software running on the connected source device.
The GO bar is different, its smart alloy case sporting physical buttons for precise volume adjustment – which can be synchronised with the volume controls on the source device – together with controls to select between the various sonic tuning options.
A column of coloured LEDs provides a handy guide to the format and sample rate of the digital audio currently playing, and whether XBass+ and/or XSpace are engaged.
At one end of the GO bar is an asynchronous USB-C input, at the other resides a pair of headphone outputs. One of these is a fully balanced 4.4mm output, enabling headphones equipped with a balanced cable/connector to make the most of the GO bar’s balanced audio circuitry.
The other is a 3.5mm output utilising iFi’s ‘S-Balanced’ technology – this cuts noise and crosstalk by 50 per cent with regular single-ended headphone connectors. Both outputs are gold plated to maintain contact quality over time.
GOld bar
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, iFi has also created an eye-catching special edition of the GO bar. Limited to 1000 pieces, the GO bar Anniversary Edition – or ‘GOld bar’, if you will – replaces the standard version’s alloy enclosure with a copper chassis, further enhancing build quality and electrical shielding, and smothers it in 18ct gold plate. Power supply filtering is also further enhanced, ensuring the Anniversary Edition – which, at 64g, is more than twice the weight of the standard GO bar – is truly the ‘gold standard’ among ultraportable USB DAC/headphone amps.
Both the standard GO bar and the Anniversary Edition come with a generous accessories pack to get the tunes flowing right off the bat. Apple users will love the bespoke Lightning to USB-C cable, engineered by iFi so you don’t need to add Apple’s Camera Adapter dongle to use the GO bar with iOS devices, as you do with other USB DACs – thus reducing bulk and cost. Android users, meanwhile, will appreciate the USB-C OTG cable, which can also be used with USB-C-equipped PCs and Macs; a USB-C to USB-A adapter is also included, thus covering most bases straight out of the box. And there’s a leather travel case too, ensuring your GO bar is well protected wherever you choose to take it.
Price & Availability
The iFi GO bar is available from selected retailers from May 20, 2022, at an RRP of $329 (£329). The GO bar Anniversary Edition follows in June, at an RRP of $499 (£499). Both will debut at the HIGH END 2022 show in Munich, 19th-22nd May.
ORT
May 21, 2022 at 3:27 am
Hmmmmmm…”Frisky”, eh? “Is that a Go Bar in your pocket or are you just fappy to see me?”
“Is it twue what dey say about you toads”? Can I get warts from picking you up?”
Not twue. “Sigh”…I digress.
I have tried to like using these devices but can not stand carrying them around rubber banded to my DAP or phone. Exempli gratia: The iFi GO Blu is pretty durn dinky but I still can not come up with a reason to tote one around.
If I could discern a definite difference and if said difference was more than just “different” but rather, dramatically different, then mayhap I could. My Motorola phone has a genuine headphone jaque (note the cool faux European spelling!) or Blootoof, which ever one I choose and the same holds true for my two Echobox Explorers.
Why would I NEED one of these? I know why many would WANT one. They look cool. I had an early FiiO headphone amp and connected it to my Android phone via an OTG cable. I could not hear any difference at all.
Now given that when it comes to audio I am considered a Philistine by many in the CoC (Coven of Cretins) of Audio, perhaps ’tis my lot in life to listen listlessly to smellivator music via a $5.00 pair of ear buds?
Perhaps. Like most out there, toads just wanna have fun. I do not require one of these to do that but it is my personal premise or silly supposition that devices such as this one are there to augment our audio experience. You know. To make that which is enjoyable, more so. I think that pride of owner ship of equipment like this does just that and there is NOTHING wrong in that. NOTHING.
So if what your ego desires is a relatively inexpensive way to lift your self above the (Play-On-Words ALERT!) Fadding Crowd, i.e., those use less individuals who purport to be “influencers” and whom I now dub “sinfluencers”.
I say get what makes you fap fap fappy and give not a farthing for what a non-opposable thumbed toad precariously and pretentiously postulates on. The iFi Audio Go Bar looks cool butt never forget (there is that BIG BUTT of mine again!) that MQA does more than render a false sense of musical-snob-job superiority, it also turns a blue light on and in doing so, turns on the frAudiophile Fappening. At least the Go Bar looks cool.
I will pass. Even sans (for the kiddies that means, it does not posses/have/use) MQA I would pass on this. Like I said, it looks cool but in my case, not cool enough to part with money. It has to make me look cooler than early Elvis.
Not gonna fappen, LOL!
All errors, spelling or other wise belong to me. Sorry ’bout them!
ORT