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iFi Audio GO link Headphone Dongle - For Smartphones, Tablets and Notebooks

The new iFi Audio GO link is presented in the form of a USB dongle and thus a solution that is primarily designed for interaction with a smartphone or tablet, but also with a notebook, in any case as a personal audio device for use on the move.

Story Highlights
  • The new iFi Audio GO link is designed primarily for use with smartphones and tablets, but also with notebooks.

With the new iFi Audio GO link, iFi Audio presents for the first time a solution in the form of a UBS stick, i.e. a particularly compact product. Once again, it is a D/A converter in combination with a headphone amplifier, whereby iFi Audio refers to it as the iFi Audio GO link Headphone Dongle and recommends it especially for use with a smartphone or tablet.

This should make it possible to enjoy music in the best quality anywhere and at any time, even supporting signals up to 32 bit and 384 kHz or DSD256 as well as MQA.

iFi Audio GO link Headphone Dongle – Like a USB stick

The new iFi Audio GO link Headphone Dongle itself has a USB-C connection, but according to the manufacturer, adapters for USB-A and Apple Lightning are also included in the scope of delivery, so this solution can be used extremely flexibly with the most diverse systems, whereby of course no separate power supply is required, as this is done via USB, to explicitly emphasise this,

It should also be emphasised that the plug and the actual DAC are connected via a cable that is around 6 cm long, which also facilitates use in conjunction with smartphones, tablets and notebooks. Since the manufacturer uses a particularly high-quality twisted pair cable, no negative external influences should have a negative impact on the quality.

Converter from ESS Technology Inc. and an output stage with high performance

The new iFi Audio GO link headphone dongle uses a converter from the specialist ESS Technology Inc., namely the ESS Sabre Hyperstream DAC chipset ESS ES9219MQ, a converter from the ESS Sabre DAC Series, which, as already mentioned, can process audio data in Linear PCM format with up to 32 bits and 384 kHz, as well as DSD up to DSD256, and also MQA. By the way, an LED indicates the resolution and format of the signal.

Extensive technologies for jitter avoidance, including the so-called GMT or Global Master Timing, a femto-precision clock and Intelligent Memory Buffer are, according to the manufacturer, to ensure flawless signal processing at all times.

According to the manufacturer, the output stage of the iFi Audio GO link Headphone Dongle delivers 70 mW to headphones with an impedance of 32 ohms, thanks to an IFi Audio S-Balanced Circuit.

It should also be mentioned that the iFi Audio GO link Headphone Dongle controls the volume itself and does not leave this difficult task to the source device.

Prices and availability

The new iFi Audio GO link Headphone Dongle should be available in specialist shops within the next few days, whereby the quite attractive price is surprising. The manufacturer states a recommended retail price of € 59,- for the new iFi Audio GO link Headphone Dongle.

Getting to the point

With the new iFi Audio GO link Headphone Dongle, iFi Audio presents for the first time a D/A converter and headphone amplifier in the form of a USB stick, which is particularly suitable for use with smartphones and tablets, but can of course also perform well on a notebook, as it processes signals in Linear PCM with up to 32 bits and 384 kHz, DSD up to DSD256 and also MQA, and provides a powerful output stage for headphones.

PRODUCTIFI AUDIO GO LINK HEADPHONE DONGLE
Price€ 59,-
BrandIFI
ManufacturerIFI AUDIO
DistributionWOD Audio
More about this manufacturer at HiFi BLOG
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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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