Source: Press Release, Last Accessed: 2021/09/30

iFi’s most diminutive DAC/headphone amp yet, similar in size to a matchbox or Zippo lighter and with a weight of just 26g (less than an AA battery), endeavors to deliver a performance that is remarkably mighty.
To maximize mobile convenience, the GO blu pairs wirelessly with the user’s source device via Bluetooth. Uniquely for a device of this type and size, the GO blu’s clever design packs in separate Bluetooth, DAC and amp stages, each engineered in distinct blocks, the company says.
The way iFi implements Bluetooth is anything but "run of the mill" and by making full use of Qualcomm’s latest four-core QCC5100 Bluetooth processing chip, every current high definition Bluetooth audio format is supported, including aptX Adaptive and aptX HD, LDAC and HWA/LHDC. The Bluetooth stage feeds the DAC stage, with a Cirrus Logic 32-bit DAC chip at its heart. This is coupled with a customized digital filter to minimize pre-echo and ringing artifacts, and a precision clock system to ensure ultra-low jitter.
The amp circuitry benefits from symmetrical twin-mono signal paths and utilizes iFi’s Direct Drive design concept – direct coupled and featuring high quality circuit components, including TDK C0G multi-layer ceramic capacitors and inductors from Taiyo Yuden and Murata. The amp stage delivers up to 5.6V, handling even relatively tough headphone loads with ease. An auto-gain circuit adjusts output up or down by 6dB. Further sonic tailoring is provided by two user-selectable features, XBass, a sophisticated form of bass boost and XSpace, a setting designed to compensate for the in-head localization effect that can occur when using headphones. Both these optional settings operate entirely in the analogue domain.
A pair of headphone outputs are provided – a 3.5mm socket for headphones with a single- ended cable/connector, and a gold-plated 4.4mm Pentaconn output.
iFi has incorporated a high-quality chip-based (CMOS- EMS) microphone, enabling hands-free calls, voice chat for gaming and access to voice assistants such as Apple Siri and Google Assistant. Further flexibility is provided by the USB-C charging port, which doubles as an audio input enabling USB connection from source devices that don’t offer Bluetooth connectivity. Hi-res PCM audio data up to 24-bit/96kHz is supported when the GO blu is connected in this way.
iFi GO blu is already available from selected retailers at an RRP of €199, $199.

For more information: https://ifi-audio.com/

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