iFi Audio - GO blu

Most portable Bluetooth DAC/Amps incorporate an all-in-one ‘system on a chip solution to deliver input signal processing, digital-to-analogue signal conversion and amplification. These are simple and cost-effective, but they cannot compare with expertly designed, individually optimised circuit stages when it comes to sound quality. The iFi Audio GO Blu showcases a clever design that packs in separate Bluetooth + DAC + Amp stages, each engineered in distinct blocks to deliver the ideal combination of cutting-edge specification and superb sound. The GO Blue utilises the latest Cirrus Logic CS43131 chip for all audio conversion.

The Bluetooth stage in the iFi Audio GO Blu makes use of Qualcomm’s latest four-core QCC5100 Bluetooth chip. This chip feeds the DAC stage with a Cirrus Logic 32-bit DAC chip at its heart and is coupled with a customized digital filter to minimize pre-echoes and ringing artefacts. A precision clock system is embedded to ensure ultra-low jitter, reducing errors and distortion in the digital audio signal. The Amplifier circuitry benefits from symmetrical twin-mono signal paths and utilizes iFi’s Direct Drive design to ensure a clean signal path without distortion-inducing output coupling capacitors. The amplifier stage delivers up to 5.6V, handling tough headphone loads with ease. To ensure signal strength is suitable for sensitive headphones and earphones, auto-gain adjusts output up or down by 6dB.

iFi Audio GO Blu utilises Qualcomm’s latest four-core QCC5100 chip with support for Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity. Bluetooth 5.1 technology ensures the best possible range, stability and performance. The latest four-core QCC5100 processing chip offers support for every high-definition Bluetooth audio format, including aptX Adaptive and aptX HD, LDAC and HWA/LHDC. Other codecs covered include regular aptX and aptX Low Latency, AAC and SBC. You can also use the USB-C connection and enjoy High-Res USB audio too, with PCM audio up to 24-bit/96kHz.

The iFi Audio GO Blu offers sonic tailoring options with two user-selectable features - XBass and XSpace. The first is XBass, a sophisticated form of ‘bass boost’ that enhances low frequencies without muddying the midrange, particularly useful with earphones and open-back headphones that may lack deep bass. The second is XSpace, a setting designed to compensate for the ‘in-head localisation’ effect that can occur when using headphones to listen to music that was mixed using a pair of speakers, effectively widening the headphone soundstage to deliver a more spacious and speaker-like experience. Both these settings operate entirely in the analogue domain rather than messing with the digital signal via DSP (Digital Signal Processing) and may be switched in or out of the signal path.

The iFi Audio GO Blu is designed to offer easy connectivity with dual headphone connectors. Whether you use balanced or unbalanced headphones, you get the low noise and best channel separation for the most enjoyable experience. The GO Blu boasts a Pentaconn 4.4mm output enabling headphones equipped with balanced connectivity to take full advantage of the GO Blu’s balanced amp design. In addition, the 3.5mm output benefits from iFi’s proprietary S-Balanced circuitry. 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.

iFi Audio GO Blu weighs only 26g and with its lightweight, soft-touch polymer enclosure, copper-coloured trim and ChronoDial watch crown-style control. iFi Audio 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. The ChronoDial on the GO Blu is a masterpiece of precision engineering, just like a chronograph watch. The ChronoDial offers precise, analogue volume control and you can also use it to play, pause and skip tracks forward and backwards. You can even activate the voice assistant on your Bluetooth connected smart devices.