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Great googa mooga, this DAC/Amp is impressive! It’s beautiful on the outside, packed with features on the inside, and has several EQ presets to liven up the party when you want it to. iFi Audio is a great sound kit, but they’ve dealt with this one themselves and it will grow with you. It can be updated wirelessly with new Bluetooth codecs as they become available. This one sucks – almost.
iFi GO blu: Price and availability
You can pick up the iFi GO blu for $200 direct from ifi-audio.com or Amazon. I would also consider picking up the $29 blue GO case with clip from ifi-audio.com. The case makes it easy to use with the headphones by clipping them to your shirt so the microphone is closer to your mouth when taking calls.
iFi GO blu: Build and customize
Next to the Qudelix-5K, it is one of the smallest DAC/amplifiers on the market to offer this level of sophistication and functionality. It is the size of a 9V battery. The exterior of the unit is wrapped in soft polymer with a copper trim. On the right side of the GO Blu, you’ll find the luxurious infinitely scrolling ChronoDial, which gives you subtle analog volume control and controls playback and phone functions with a variety of clicks. Below that is a button that controls the EQ preset modes, Bluetooth pairing, voice alert function, digital filter mode and factory reset.
On the top, you’ll find an LED that tells you which EQ preset you’re using, Bluetooth connectivity, and digital filter status. In addition, there are balanced 4.4 mm and S-Balanced 3.5 mm headphone outputs. On the bottom, there is a LED battery indicator, a microphone, a factory reset hole, and a USB input that supports charging and audio playback up to 24bit/96kHz.
The power button is on the left side. Press it twice to hear which Bluetooth format you are currently receiving. You can also use this button in conjunction with the button below the selector to turn voice notifications on/off.
This powerful device is incredibly small and light, but feels nice in the hand thanks to the soft-touch plastic. All the buttons provide a satisfying click and the USB-C port has no play when you plug and unplug cables. A refined touch is the labels on the back etched next to all the buttons that tell you what they do so you don’t have to remember all the stuff. They do a lot!
iFi GO blu: Features
We touched on hardware features when we talked about build quality and customization, so let’s discuss what some of these features do in a little more detail. GO Blu comes with three presets: XBass, XSpace and XBass + XSpace. The first two strengthen the bass and expand the soundscape, or The third is a combination of both. As a bass lover, I’d like to have more control over how much the bass is boosted, but for most it gives a noticeable bump that doesn’t overpower the rest of the mix.
The 3.5mm output features balanced circuitry instead of the single-ended approach traditionally used by most products at this price point. This reduces noise and provides a cleaner sound.
The GO Blu uses a Qualcomm QCC5100 chip paired with a Cirrus Logic 43131 that supports aptX Adaptive/HD/LL, LDAC, LHDC, AAC and SBC with over-the-air upgradeability to add newer codecs. Because the GO blu is call-enabled and uses a QCC chip, you also get active noise cancellation with these mics, so you can use traditional IEMs or headphones while commuting or in the office and be able to receive and make calls with minimal listening interruption. Take the GO blu case with a clip to clip it to your shirt for easy hands-free calling.
I haven’t drained the battery yet, but it lasts me a full work day and is rated for ten hours. The high-performance charger (6.3 V) can recharge the GO blu in 40 minutes.
iFi GO blu: Sound quality
So how does it sound to have all this technology packed into such a small space? I’ve listened through both the 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports, using both Bluetooth and wired USB-C audio sources, and let me tell you, the output from this DAC/Amp is an extraordinary experience. I tested the sound quality with sensitive and difficult to control IEMs from 1MORE, Campfire Audio and IE900 from Sennheiser. I did the same for headphones, using Sennheiser and HiFiMan planar magnetic headphones.
Knowing that the iPhone only supports AAC, I wanted to hear what the GO blu could do with one of the Hi-Res codecs. In this case, LDAC joined the Pixel 7 Pro, and both codecs were a delight. The LDAC stream offers more dynamics, but iPhone owners won’t feel left out, as audio imaging is still quite nice over AAC.
The wired connection that gives you access to Apple Music lossless audio is transcendental. Paul Simon’s “Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes” and the main title track from the “Get Out” soundtrack, Michael Abels’ haunting “Sikiliza Kwa Wahenga,” were ethereal experiences for their large, open soundstage. When properly paired, the picture with iFi GO blu is highly analytical, allowing you to lose yourself in the nuances of the music you’re listening to. When paired with headphones or IEMs that aren’t very analytical on their own, you still get impressive clarity and subtle nuances.
The overall sound signature is very balanced and neutral, which is why I’m grateful for the XBass feature. When I connected Sennheiser’s IE900 4.4mm cables, which itself has a very neutral sound, getting that bump in the low end made hip-hop tracks much more enjoyable. Go blu really gives you a clear, sparkling upper mid and high frequency reproduction without being hissy or harsh. The entire listening experience is smooth without compromising on instrument or nuance, and I never had to turn up the phone volume above 75%. Most of the time I listened at very satisfactory levels with the slider up to around 50%.
iFi GO blu: Competition
Interestingly, iFi’s own Zen DAC 3 is the same price, but this DAC is larger and more desktop-friendly with an available 5V DC input. Then you’ll want to check out the FiiO BTR7. It has similar features, but no microphones for calls and slightly less battery life. However, it has a companion app with parametric EQ, which the GO blu doesn’t have.
The Quedelix 5k is $100 cheaper, and while it doesn’t have as expansive a soundstage, it’s certainly a very capable Bluetooth/USB-C DAC/Amp and has microphones for calls. Add to that an insanely impressive companion app with robust parametric EQ settings and it becomes a very tempting contender. I bought a Quedelix 5k for my personal use but will also buy a GO blu at some point.
iFi GO blu: Should you buy it?
You should buy the iFi GO blu if…
- You want a great multi-source DAC/Amp
- You want great sound at a reasonable price
- You want to have enough battery life to get you through the work day
You should not buy the iFi GO blu if…
- You want PEQ
- Money is tight
A highly versatile DAC/Amp
The iFi GO blu Bluetooth DAC/Amp has a soundstage and clarity that sounds like your music is emanating from the heavens. The best part? Audiophile quality at a fair price!