iFi
GO Blu Headphone Amp DAC
$199.00 USDFeatures
10-hour battery life
Built-in microphone for voice functionality
Balanced 4.4mm and single-ended 3.5mm headphone outputs
Power headphone amplifier drives IEMs and headphones
Support for iFi XBass and XSpace sound enhancements
What's in the Box?
Warranty
Enjoy your favorite music anywhere on the go with the GO Blu Headphone Amp DAC, an effortlessly portable hi-fi DAC Amp that delivers exceptional audio quality and versatility in a compact, travel-friendly format. With its advanced Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity and support for a wide range of high-resolution audio formats, including aptX, aptX HD, LDAC, SBC, and AAC, the GO Blu ensures you can enjoy your music wirelessly without compromising sound quality.
Although tiny, the GO Blu is packed with features like XBass and XSpace taking this little player's sound quality to new heights. A Cirrus Logic 32-bit DAC Chip accurately reproduces the sound so you can enjoy a detailed listening experience full of clarity. With balanced 4.4mm and single-ended 3.5mm headphone outputs and a powerful headphone amplifier, the GO Blu is compatible with highly sensitive In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) and high-impedance headphones. If you're looking for a portable DAC Headphone Amplifier that can elevate your portable listening experience, the iFi Audio GO Blu is an excellent choice. Its exceptional sound quality, advanced features, and portable design make it a must-have accessory for audiophiles and music enthusiasts.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: We recommend pairing the iFi Audio GO Blu Headphone Amp DAC with the Black Dragon USB Cable. The USB-C port on the bottom of the GO Blu 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 Blu.
Features:
- Bluetooth 5.1 Connectivity with support for hi-res audio codecs
- 10-hour battery life
- Built-in microphone for voice functionality
- Balanced 4.4mm and single-ended 3.5mm headphone outputs
- Power headphone amplifier drives IEMs and headphones
- Support for iFi XBass and XSpace sound enhancements
Mobile Convenience
There are very few audio devices on the market that are as effortlessly portable as the iFi GO Blu Headphone Amp DAC. Weighing only 26 grams—that's less than an AA battery— the GO Blu is incredibly lightweight and smaller than a Zippo lighter. You know what that means—it fits perfectly in your back pocket. Whether you're exercising at the gym with wireless headphones or catching up on your daily fitness steps, the GO Blu is the perfect portable audio companion. Choose between a wired or wireless listening experience, switch between headphones, IEMs, and earphones with two headphone outputs, and enjoy 10 hours of playback on a single charge. The choice is yours! The balanced 4.4mm output enables headphones to take full advantage of the GO Blu's amp design and the 3.5mm output benefits from iFi Audio's proprietary S-Balanced circuitry. This cuts crosstalk and related distortion in half when used with regular, single-ended headphones. Both outputs are gold-plated to resist tarnishing and maintain optimum contact quality.
On the bottom of the iFi GO Blu you'll find a USB-C input that can be used for digital transmission and the built-in microphone for voice calls. Hi-res PCM audio data up to 24-bit/96kHz is supported when the GO Blu is connected via a USB cable. A LED status button, also on the bottom, indicates the device's battery life (Green >60%, Yellow >10%, Red <10%). On the top of the GO Blu are the two headphone outputs and an LED status button indicating Bluetooth mode, digital filters, and XBass and XSpace mode.
The iFi GO Blu features the ChronoDial, a rotary analog volume control that can be used to play, pause, skip tracks, and 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
- High-purity nickel push-button spring
- Precision CNC machined AL6063 aluminium push button
Aesthetically, the iFi GO Blu Headphone Amp DAC is beautifully crafted with a lightweight, soft-touch polymer enclosure, copper-colored trim, and ChronoDial rotary volume control. Small, convenient, uniquely specified and great-sounding, the iFi GO Blu is the ultimate portable upgrade to elevate your headphone listening experience.
Superior Sound. Unbound.
With a clever circuit design, the iFi GO Blu Portable Bluetooth DAC/Amp packs in separate Bluetooth DAC and amp stages to deliver the ideal combination of cutting-edge specifications and superior sound. The GO Blu is equipped with a Qualcomm QCC four-core QCC5100 Bluetooth processing chip that supports every Bluetooth audio format including aptX Adaptive and aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, LDAC, and HWA/LHDC. 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. Of the 24-bit-capable codecs, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD support up to 48kHz, while LDAC and LHDC reach 96kHz.
Using the GO Blu means no compromise on sound quality. At the heart of this pocket-size DAC/Amp sits the Cirrus Logic CS43131 32-bit DAC chipset, a miniature DAC with a dynamic range of 130dB and THD+n of -115dB. This is coupled with a customized digital filter to minimize pre-echoes and ringing artifacts, and a precision clock system to ensure ultralow jitter, reducing errors and distortion in the digital audio signal. In true iFi Audio fashion, the GO Blu incorporates circuit components including TDK C0G multilayer ceramic capacitors and inductors from Taiyo Yuden and Murata. The result is ultra-low distortion across the entire signal bandwidth, delivering sound that is purer, clearer, and more naturally expressive.
The GO Blu's amp circuitry benefits from symmetrical twin-mono signal paths and utilizes iFi’s Direct Drive design concept – direct-coupled to ensure a clean signal path without distortion-inducing output coupling capacitors. The amplification stage delivers up to 5.6V—twice the voltage of others—handling even the most demanding headphones with ease.
Listeners can enhance their listening experience with two user-selectable features, XBass and XSpace. XBass, a sophisticated form of 'bass boost' enhances low frequencies without muddying the midrange. XSpace compensates for the 'in-head localization' 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 open, spacious and speaker-like experience. With XBass to add back lost low-end bass and XSpace to widen the soundstage, the GO Blu delivers an incredibly musical sound with different frequency responses.
iFi Audio: Make Your Music Better
Manufacturer of the award-winning xDSD Gryphon DAC and iDSD Diablo 2 DAC & Headphone amp, iFi Audio creates hi-fi audio solutions for the passionate audiophile who never compromises sound quality. From streamers to USB DACs, Hip-DACs, adapters, headphone amplifiers, and more, iFi Audio produces home audio and portable audiophile-grade gear at affordable prices, ranging from entry-level to mid-tiered music lovers and discerning audiophiles. Check out our entire collection of iFi Audio products and dedicated reviews for more.
What's In the Box?
- iFi Audio GO Blu
- 1x USB-A to USB-C Cable
- 1x Microfiber protective bag
FAQ
Can you use the iFi go blu wired?
Yes, the iFi GO Blu DAC/Amp can be used in a wired connection with headphones that have a 4.4mm balanced or 3.5mm single-ended termination.
What Bluetooth codecs does the GO blu support?
The iFi Audio GO Blu DAC/Amp supports a wide range of Bluetooth codecs, including aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, LDAC, HWA, and AAC (Apple iphones).
Is the GO blu compatible with both Android and iOS devices?
Yes, the iFi Audio GO Blu DAC/Amp is compatible with both Android and iOS devices, as well as computers and other devices that support Bluetooth or USB audio output.
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.
| Chipset | DAC Cirrus Logic CS43131 |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Qualcomm QCC 5100 | |
| Inputs | Wireless Bluetooth 5.1 ( AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX HD, |
| aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, LDAC, LHDC/HWA Codec) | |
| Wired USB-C (24/96) | |
| Headphone Outputs | Balanced 4.4mm |
| SE 3.5mm | |
| Power Output | Balanced 245mW @ 32Ω; 5.6v @ 600Ω |
| SE 165mW @ 32Ω; 2.8v @ 600Ω | |
| Output Impedance | Balanced <1Ω |
| SE <1Ω | |
| SNR | Balanced 111dB(A) @ 0dBFS |
| SE 116.5dB(A) @ 0dBFS | |
| DNR | Balanced/SE >120dB(A) |
| THD + N | Balanced <0.009% @ (6.5mW/2.0v@600Ω) |
| SE <0.03% @ (100mW/1.27v@16Ω) | |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 45kHz (-3dB) |
| Battery | Lithium-polymer 450mAh approx. ~8 hours (depending upon volume and headphones) |
| Power System | Charging via USB-C, BC V1.2 compliant up to |
| 1000mA charging current and 6.3 volts | |
| Dimensions | 54 x 34 x 13 mm |
| 2.1' x 1.3' x 0.5' | |
| Weight | 27g (0.95 oz) |
| Warranty period | 12 months |