A super-small DAC/headphone amp that can do big things with your music
What Hi-Fi?
Product Description
GO blu. Go beyond.
With its lightweight, soft-touch polymer enclosure (great for Bluetooth reception, unlike signal-blocking metal), copper-coloured trim and ChronoDial watch crown-style control, theGO bluis a pleasure to use wherever you go. iFi has even incorporated a high-quality chip-based (CMOS-MEMS) microphone, enabling hands-free calls, voice chat for gaming and access to voice assistants such as Apple Siri and Google Assistant. Further flexibility is provided by the USB-C charging port, which doubles as an audio input enabling USB connection from source devices that don’t offer Bluetooth connectivity. Hi-res PCM audio data up to24-bit/96kHz is supported when theGO bluis connected in this way.
HDBluetooth 5.1
The way iFi implements Bluetooth is anything but ‘run of the mill’ and despite its diminutive size theGO bluis no exception.
The use of Qualcomm’s latest four-core QCC5100 Bluetooth processing chip ensures that every current high-definition Bluetooth audio format is supported.
aptX Adaptive and aptX HD
LDAC and HWA/LHDC
regular aptX and aptX Low Latency
AAC
SBC (plain vanilla Bluetooth)
This means that every possible source device is handled at the highest audio resolution its Bluetooth specification allows – no other pocket-size DAC/amp delivers such comprehensive codec support, or such high-quality sound over Bluetooth.
TheGO bluis Bluetooth v5.1-compliant, ensuring the best possible range, stability and performance, and its ‘Bluetooth engine’ can be updated over the air.
Three. Unique. Stages.
Uniquely for a device of this type and size, theGO blu’s clever design packs in separate Bluetooth + DAC + Amp stages, each engineered in distinct blocks to deliver the ideal combination of cutting-edge specification and superb sound. Others just don’t this level of execution.
The Bluetooth stage makes full use of Qualcomm’s latest four-core QCC5100 Bluetooth chip and supports every current high definition format.
This then feeds the DAC stage with a Cirrus Logic 32-bit DAC chip at its heart. This is coupled with a customised digital filter to minimise pre-echoes and ringing artefacts, and a precision clock system to ensure ultra-low jitter, thus reducing errors and distortion in the digital audio signal.
The amp circuitry benefits from symmetrical twin-mono signal paths and utilises iFi’sDirect Drivedesign concept – direct-coupled to ensure a clean signal path without distortion-inducing output coupling capacitors. The amp stage delivers up to 5.6V (twice the voltage of others) – considerably more power than other similarly sized devices – handling even relatively tough headphone loads with ease. To ensure signal strength suits the sensitivity of the connected headphones or earphones, auto-gain adjusts output up or down by 6dB.
SwissChronographdesign & implementation
GO blu‘sChronoDialis a masterpiece of precision engineering and, just like a Chronograph, it gives you precise, analogue volume control. You can use it to play, pause, and skip tracks forward and backwards and even activate the voice assistant on your Bluetooth-connected smart device. Here’s how it’s constructed:
Brass supporting column with anti-corrosion
Brass locking nut with anti-corrosion
Precision 304 stainless steel bearing
304 stainless steel main dial with beryllium cobalt copper coating
Whether you use balanced or non-balanced headphones, you get the least noise and best channel separation for the most enjoyable music.
TheGO bluboasts a Pentaconn 4.4mm output enabling headphones equipped with balanced connectivity to take full advantage of theGO blu’s balanced amp design. In addition, the 3.5mm output benefits from iFi’s proprietaryS-Balancedcircuitry. This cuts crosstalk and related distortion in half when used with regular, single-ended headphone connections, this is especially beneficial with high-sensitivity in-ear monitors. Both outputs are gold-plated to resist tarnishing and thereby maintain optimum contact quality.
X-factor. Inside and out.
WithXBassto add back lost low-end grunt andXSpace to widen the soundstage, theGO bluis small on the outside but mighty on the inside. You will be immersed in its majestic musicality. Even phone calls are ‘clear Voice capture’ using Qualcomm’s ANC technology. Clear, crisp and no annoying echo. The X-factor doesn’t stop with the sound. TheGO bluhas a watch crown-style control and is made with hi-tech components. It weighs in at a super featherlight 26grams or 0.06lbs. It will be your ‘go-to’ music device.
