iFi
GO Bar Headphone Amp DAC
$219.00 USDFeatures
Powerful Headphone Amplifier
True balanced circuit design with symmetrical twin-channel output stage
Four digital filter options
iEMatch and Turbo power tuning
Two ultra-low-noise headphone outputs: 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm s-balanced
What's in the Box?
Warranty
Whether you're commuting, working remotely, or simply traveling for pleasure, the iFi Audio GO Bar Headphone Amplifier DAC is the perfect portable audio accessory to make your headphones sound heavenly. The GO Bar is iFi Audio's top-of-the-line ultraportable USB DAC/headphone amp that offers impressive features and performance in a compact, travel-friendly design. Connect to your laptop, Macbook, Tablet, smartphone, or any other digital device with a USB port for sensational sound at home, in the office, or on the move. The small yet mighty GO Bar delivers high-quality sound for audiophiles and music enthusiasts craving an on-the-go hi-fi listening experience.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: We recommend pairing the iFi Audio GO Bar Headphone Amp/DAC with the Black Dragon USB Cable. The USB-C port on the top of the GO Bar makes it perfect for a high-quality cable designed for signal transmission. Our Black Dragon USB Cable utilizes a single-crystal UP-OCC copper construction to provide the best possible digital transmission. We have optimized our USB cables for audio transmission of large high-resolution audio files so you can easily transfer files from your digital library to the GO Bar.
Features
- Ultra-res PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz via USB
- Powerful Headphone Amplifier
- True balanced circuit design with symmetrical twin-channel output stage
- Four digital filter options
- iEMatch and Turbo power tuning
- Two ultra-low-noise headphone outputs: 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm s-balanced
Small. But mighty Build Quality.
Throw it in your bag or tote it around in your back pocket, the iFi Audio GO Bar DAC & Headphone Amp is designed for every portable scenario imaginable. Weighing just over one ounce (28.5g), the GO Bar has a robust yet lightweight alloy enclosure that measures 65x22x13mm and can be carried in one hand. The GO Bar connects to source devices via the USB-C port on the top of the device for a stable, wired connection.
The GO Bar features physical buttons that can be synchronized with the volume controls on your source devices for precise volume adjustment. Next to the volume buttons on the side of the GO Bar is iFi's iEMatch switch which reduces the output level depending on the headphones plugged into the GO Bar. A column of colored LED lights on the back of the GO Bar provides a handy guide to the format and sample rate of the digital audio currently playing.
On the bottom of the GO Bar you'll find two headphone outputs, a s-bal 3.5mm headphone output and a 4.4mm balanced output. Headphones with a balanced cable connector will benefit from the fully balanced circuitry of the GO Bar, and the S-balanced technology cuts crosstalk and noise by 50% with regular single-ended headphones.
Balanced Circuit Design
Despite its diminutive size, the GO bar’s analog circuitry sports a balanced circuit design with a symmetrical twin-channel output stage. This reduces noise and crosstalk in the signal path by fully separating the left and right channels.The circuitry is packed full of high-quality discrete components such as TDK C0G ceramic capacitors, Panasonic OS-CON aluminum polymer capacitors, and high-density tantalum capacitors, plus Taiyo Yuden and Murata inductors, all with excellent frequency response characteristics for high-quality applications.Special attention has been paid to power supply filtering too, dramatically reducing signal noise introduced through the USB input.
The DAC section of the GO Bar uses a powerful 16-core XMOS microcontroller to process the audio data received at the USB input. This firmware is programmed to optimize sound quality and ensure a perfect partnership with the GO Bar's 32-bit Cirrus Logic DAC chipset. A customized digital filter minimizes pre-echoes and ringing artifacts. iFi's GMT (Global Master Timing) precision clock system ensures ultra-low jitter.
- Ultra-res PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz via USB
- Native DSD playback up to DSD256
- 2x DXD
- Full MQA decoding
Incredible Sound and Power
The iFi GO Bar Headphone Amp DAC delivers the best possible sound quality to your favorite wired headphones, In-Ear Monitors (IEMs), and earphones. The GO Bar's amp design combines sonic purity with power to drive tricky headphone loads and work with a wider variety of cans. With an output of 475mW into 32 ohms and 7.5V into 600 ohms, there's enough current to drive 16-ohm headphones and sufficient voltage drive for 600-ohm headphones.
The GO Bar supports hi-res audio playback of all music formats from MP3 to DSD356, PCM384, and DXD384. The DAC/Amp also incorporates two power tuning technologies, iEMatch and Turbo. iEMatch attenuates power to suit high-sensitivity headphones and IEMs, removing background noise and increasing usable volume range. Turbo ramps up the gain by 6dB to satisfy more power-hungry headphones.
*Please note that the GO bar may not work with iPhones up to and including 6S when the phone battery is low (<30%).
Listeners can further adjust their listening experience with four bespoke digital filtering options—Standard, Bit-Perfect, Minimum Phase, and GTO (Gibbs Transient Optimized)—and two analog processing modes, XBass+ and XSpace. Useful for earphones and open-back headphones, XBass+ enhances low frequencies without muddying the midrange. XSpace is designed to compensate for the 'in-head localization' effect that some headphones can deliver, effectively widening the soundstage to deliver a more spacious and speaker-like experience.
Four bespoke digital filtering options:
- Bit Perfect – no digital filtering, no pre or post ringing
- Standard – modest filtering, modest pre and posting ringing
- Minimum Phase – slow roll-off, minimum pre and post ringing
- Gibbs Transient Optimised – minimum filtering, no pre-ringing and minimum post ringing
Two analog processing modes:
- XBass+ – an analog bass boost to ‘add back’ lost bass response for more accurate reproduction of the original
- XSpace – a holographic sound field to open up your music to give you the spaciousness of a live concert
What's In the Box?
- iFi Audio GO Bar Headphone Amp DAC
- 1x USB-C to USB-A Adapter
- 1x Lightning to USB-C Cable
- 1x Leather Travel Case
- 1x Instruction Card
- User Manual
FAQ
Does the iFi GO Bar have a battery?
No, the iFi Audio GO Bar Headphone Amp DAC does not have a battery. It is powered by your phone battery and will remain powered as long as your phone or other source device is connected and has a charge.
How does the iFi GO Bar compare to the iFi GO Blu?
The iFi Audio GO Blu and iFi GO Bar are both portable DAC/Amps designed for mobile use, but the GO Bar has a more neutral sound signature with a higher level of detail. The GO Blu sports more connectivity options as a Bluetooth DAC with Bluetooth 5.1.
Can the iFi GO Bar be used as a USB DAC?
Yes, the iFi Audio GO Bar Headphone Amp DAC is a portable USB DAC and headphone amplifier that can be used to connect to a digital device with a USB port. It's a good choice for beginners who want a USB DAC and the flexibility to add headphones.
What's the difference between the iFi GO Blu and iFi GO Bar?
The iFi GO Blu and iFi GO Bar are both portable DAC/Amps designed for mobile use, but the GO Blu features a more compact design but with a shorter battery life than the GO Bar. The GO Bar has a higher Bluetooth codec than the GO Blu with some improvements in power efficiency and audio quality. Both units have the same output impedance and can be used with a dongle. While both the iFi Audio GO Blu and iFi GO Bar offer excellent audio quality and features for portable use, the GO Bar is the newer and more advanced model than the GO Blu.
| Input | USB C |
|---|---|
| Formats | PCM - 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192/352.8/384kHz |
| DSD - 2.8/3.1/5.6/6.1/11.3/12.3MHz | |
| DXD - 352.8/384kHz | |
| MQA - Full Decoder | |
| DAC | Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC by Cirrus Logic |
| Headphone Output | BAL 4.4mm/UnBAL 3.5mm |
| Power Output | Balanced - 475mW@32Ω; 7.2V@600Ω |
| UnBAL - 300mW@32Ω; 3.8V@600Ω | |
| Output Impedance | <1Ω (BAL/UnBAL)* |
| SNR | 132dBA / 108dBA (BAL/UnBAL) |
| DNR | 109dB(A) / 108dB(A) (BAL/UnBAL |
| THD + N | Balanced - <0.002% (6.5mW/2.0V @ 600Ω) |
| UnBAL - <0.09% (100mW/1.27V @ 16Ω) | |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 45kHz (-3dB) |
| Power Consumption | <4W max. |
| Dimensions | 65 x 22 x 13.2 mm (2.6" x 0.9" x 0.5”) |
| Weight | 28.5g (1.0 oz) |
| Warranty period | 12 months |