ifi Audio GO blu
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
88/100
Build Quality
91/100
Features Usability
93/100
Value for Money
94/100
The GO blu makes portable listening feel spacious, refined and effortlessly musical, pairing gently warm clarity with crisp vocals, controlled bass and impressive separation. What Hi-Fi? highlights its expansive presentation, while its featherweight body packs Bluetooth 5.1, USB DAC capability, balanced output and adjustable XBass/XSpace. This is a remarkably complete pocket DAC/amp for extracting more life from wired headphones.
Pros
Wide, deep soundstage with strong separation and dynamic sensitivity.
Warm, clear and unfatiguing tuning with controlled bass, expressive vocals and natural detail.
Exceptional connectivity for its size, including broad Bluetooth codec support, USB DAC mode, and 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs.
Tiny, lightweight form factor with polished rotary controls and strong perceived build quality.
Cons
Treble can become slightly peaky with some IEM pairings.
Amplifier power is insufficient for demanding planar headphones.
No on-device indication of playback bitrate.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 88/100
Reviewers consistently find the GO blu clear, spacious and musically engaging, with a mildly warm balance that remains controlled rather than veiled. It earns particular praise for separation, vocal presence and a more expansive presentation than direct phone output, although its portable power ceiling and noise performance with very sensitive earphones are not explored in depth.
Transparency Resolution
91/100
Reviews describe strong clarity, separation and detail for such a small wireless DAC/amp. What Hi-Fi and Audiophilepure found it cleaner and less congested than the Audiolab M-DAC Nano, while Audio-In Reviews heard good treble air and detail retrieval across the range.
Tonal Balance Musicality
92/100
The presentation is repeatedly described as neutral-to-warm, rich, natural and unfatiguing rather than thick or woolly. StereoNET praised its evenhanded clarity and welcoming warmth, while other listeners highlighted natural instruments, expressive vocals, controlled treble and taut bass.
Dynamics
89/100
The GO blu is praised for dynamic sensitivity, convincing leading edges and lively rhythmic drive. StereoNET found it effortless with Noble IEMs and Ultrasone closed-backs, though The Honest Audiophile notes that ultimate amplifier power remains limited beside larger desktop-oriented equipment.
Noise Floor
78/100
The supplied reviews do not directly assess hiss, hum or background silence with sensitive IEMs, so there is limited real-world evidence on this aspect. StereoNET did report effortless use with Noble Savanna IEMs, but did not specifically comment on residual noise.
Headphone Compatibility
88/100
StereoNET reported effortless results with both balanced Noble Savanna IEMs and Ultrasone Edition 15 Veritas headphones, indicating useful flexibility across efficient in-ears and full-size headphones. The balanced and single-ended outputs, automatic gain behaviour and substantial voltage capability help, but one reviewer still characterises its amp power as limited compared with more capable desktop solutions.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
91/100
Multiple reviewers praise the unusually assured construction for a matchbox-sized device. Positive Feedback calls the build immaculate and highlights the solid, precise rotary control, while Audio-In Reviews and The Honest Audiophile say it feels substantial in hand without feeling cheap or cumbersome.
Features Usability
93/100
The GO blu combines broad Bluetooth codec support, USB-C DAC operation, 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs, a microphone and analogue XBass/XSpace processing in an exceptionally compact package. Reviewers also commend its uncomplicated controls and reliable wireless connection; USB playback is limited to 24-bit/96kHz, but that is a reasonable compromise for its portable brief.
Value for Money
94/100
At $199/£199, reviewers repeatedly call the GO blu a strong buy for its capability and portability. Positive Feedback describes it as a good value and a must-have for portable-minded audiophiles, while StereoNET considers it ahead of peers such as the M-DAC Nano and What Hi-Fi says it improves phone audio without straining the wallet.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- BATTERY
- Lithium-polymer 450mAh approx. ~8 hours (depending upon volume and headphones)
- DIMENSIONS
- 54 x 34 x 13 mm 2.1' x 1.3' x 0.5'
- DNR
- Balanced/SE: >120dB(A)
- FREQUENCY RESPONSE
- 20Hz - 45kHz (-3dB)
- HEADPHONE OUTPUT
- Balanced: 4.4mm SE: 3.5mm
- INPUT
- Wireless: Bluetooth 5.1 (AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, LDAC, LHDC/HWA Codec) Wired: USB-C (24/96)
- LIMITED WARRANTY
- 12 months
- NET WEIGHT
- 27g (0.95 oz)
- OUTPUT IMPEDANCE
- Balanced: <1Ω SE: <1Ω
- POWER SYSTEM
- Charging via USB-C, BC V1.2 compliant up to 1000mA charging current and 6.3 volts
- RMS OUTPUT POWER
- Balanced: 245mW @ 32Ω; 5.6v @ 600Ω SE: 165mW @ 32Ω; 2.8v @ 600Ω
- SNR
- Balanced: 111dB(A) @ 0dBFS SE: 106.5dB(A) @ 0dBFS
- THD+N
- Balanced: <0.009% @ (6.5mW/2.0v@600Ω) SE: <0.03% @ (100mW/1.27v@16Ω)
Manufacturer's Description — ifi Audio
Bluetooth, but better.
With Hi-Fi inspired architecture featuring dedicated Bluetooth, DAC, and Amp stages, the ultra-portable GO blu offers the best of both worlds – wireless freedom, paired with the clarity of wired sound.
Superior sound. Unbound.
Pair your favorite corded headphones with the GO blu portable DAC/amp for superior audio that outclasses any wireless option. Compact and stylish, the GO blu easily connects to your device and fits in your pocket, whether you’re on a run or at a coffee shop.
GO blu. Go beyond.
The GO blu features a lightweight, Bluetooth-friendly polymer body with copper-colored trim and a ChronoDial-style control, blending style and functionality. A built-in CMOS-MEMS microphone enables hands-free calls, gaming chat, and voice assistant access. Its USB-C port adds flexibility, serving as both a charging and audio input, supporting hi-res PCM up to 24-bit/96kHz for non-Bluetooth devices.
HD Bluetooth 5.1
The GO blu redefines Bluetooth audio with Qualcomm's QCC5100 chip, supporting all major high-definition codecs: aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, LDAC, HWA/LHDC,AAC, and SBC. It ensures the highest audio resolution for any source device, setting a new standard for pocket-sized DAC/amps.
The GO blu is Bluetooth v5.1-compliant, ensuring the best possible range, stability and performance, and its ‘Bluetooth engine’ can be updated over the air. ensuring peak performance.
Swiss Chronograph design & implementation
GO blu‘s ChronoDial is 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.
Its premium construction includes anti-corrosion brass components, a stainless steel bearing and main dial with beryllium cobalt copper coating, a high-purity nickel spring, and a CNC-machined aluminium button for durability and elegance.
GO Balanced
The GO blu delivers exceptional audio clarity, whether using balanced or non-balanced headphones. Its 4.4mm balanced output fully utilizes its balanced amp design, while the 3.5mm output features iFi’s S-Balanced circuitry to minimize crosstalk and distortion, ideal for high-sensitivity IEMs.
Both outputs are gold-plated, ensuring long-lasting, high-quality connections.
10 hours battery
Three. Unique. Stages.
The GO blu uniquely integrates separate Bluetooth, DAC, and amp stages, each expertly engineered for cutting-edge performance and exceptional sound quality. Its Bluetooth stage features Qualcomm's advanced QCC5100 chip, while the DAC stage employs a Cirrus Logic 32-bit chip with precision filtering and clocking for ultra-low distortion.The amp stage, with symmetrical twin-mono signal paths and up to 5.6V output, delivers powerful, clean audio, automatically adjusting gain to suit connected headphones or earphones.
X-factor. Inside and out.
The GO blu packs a punch with XBass for enhanced low-end and XSpace for an expansive soundstage, delivering immersive audio in a compact, 26g design.
Enjoy crystal-clear calls with Qualcomm's ANC technology and intuitive watch crown-style control, making it your ultimate, lightweight music companion.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for ifi Audio GO blu
- Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
- Acoustipower — online and in-store — Markham, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Adorama — in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Advanced MP3 Players — online and in-store — Musselburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Apos Audio — online and in-store — Oakland, California, United States (website)
- ARK Audio — online and in-store — Borensberg, Östergötlands län, Sweden (website)
and 133 more verified dealers