IFi Audio GO Link – Portable Hi-Res Headphone Amplifier & USB-C DAC – 3.5mm

The missing link

The GO link is the missing link in your listening experience. Firstly, it will enable corded headphones and earphones to connect to digital devices that don’t have a 3.5mm headphone output. Secondly, even if your device does have a headphone socket, the GO link delivers a big sonic upgrade. This is because its sophisticated DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Converter) and headphone amp circuitry are superior to the audio tech contained within smart devices and computers.

Flexible friend

At one end of the GO link is a USB-C connector, and at the other is the DAC and headphone amp circuitry, both housed in robust yet lightweight magnesium alloy enclosures. In between is a 6cm length of flexible cable – this aids practicality, allowing the DAC/amp section to be angled towards the listener and reducing stress on the USB port to which the GO link is connected.

DAC’s the ticket

At the heart of the GO link lies a power-efficient, high-performance DAC chip from ESS Technology’s Sabre HiFi series – the ES9219MQ/Q – benefiting from 32-bit HyperStream III architecture. This combines with Quad DAC+ and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator technologies, plus our dedicated clock circuitry utilising a specialised crystal oscillator, to deliver ultra-low distortion, excellent clarity and impressive dynamic range.

Highly Advanced DAC

Rarely implemented high-end features such as adjustable analogue gain with DRE (Dynamic Range Enhancement) plus technologies to minimise THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) and crosstalk are possible due to the DAC chip’s advanced specification.

Do the twist

The cable linking both sections together uses silver-plated copper conductors with individual polymer insulation in a ‘twisted pair’ configuration. This rotational twist helps to optimise inductance and capacitance and also aids noise rejection. The GO link’s sound isn’t affected by electromagnetic interference picked up from nearby electrical sources.

Move with the music

Unlike other headphone dongles, the GO link doesn’t rely on the software-based volume controls in connected digital devices. This can adversely affect audio resolution. Instead, adjusting the volume on the connected device controls the volume level in the GO link’s DAC, not in the phone, tablet or computer. This hardware-based volume control is another feature that helps to deliver the GO link’s superior sonic performance.

Hi-res in glorious colour

The GO link’s hi-res audio credentials are highly impressive given its diminutive size and price tag. An LED changes colour to indicate the incoming audio format – PCM, DSD or MQA – and the PCM/DSD sample rate (PCM to 32-bit/384kHz, DSD to 11.2MHz (DSD256) and MQA).

Headphone heaven

The GO link’s headphone amp feeds a gold-plated 3.5mm socket, incorporating our S-Balanced configuration to reduce noise and crosstalk. It delivers a power output of 70mW into 32 ohms, and a maximum voltage output of 2.05V into 600 ohms. This gives it plenty of oomph to drive the kind of headphones and earphones likely to be used with the GO link and easily outclasses the headphone outputs built into smart devices and computers.

Technical Specifications

• Input: USB-C
• Formats: DSD 256 / 11.3MHz, DXD 384kHz, PCM 384kHz, MQA
• DAC: Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC by ESS
• Headphone: 3.5mm
• Output Power: ≥1.5V/70mW @ 32Ω; 2V/14mW @ 300Ω
• Output Impedance: <0.4Ω
• SNR: ≥125dBA (2.05V)
• DNR: ≥122dB(A) @ 0dBFS
• THD+N: ≤0.004% (1.27V @ 32Ω)
• Frequency response: 10-80kHz(-0.5dB)
• Power consumption: No Signal ~0.2W, Max Signal: ~1W
• Dimensions: 135 x 12.6 x 7.6 mm (5.3″ x 0.5″ x 0.3”)
• Cable length: 60mm (2.8″)
• Net weight: 11g (0.4oz)

Package Includes

• iFi Audio GO link
• USB-A to USB-C adapter
• Quick Start card
• Instruction card

Features

• Hi-Res True Native playback from MP3 to DSD256, PCM384 and DXD384
• High-performance DAC chip from ESS Technology’s Sabre HiFi series
• Quad DAC+ and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator
• Delivers ultra-low distortion, excellent clarity and impressive dynamic range
• Cable uses silver-plated copper conductors in a ‘twisted pair’ configuration
• Adjusting the volume on connected device controls volume level in the GO link’s DAC
• PCM to 32-bit/384kHz, DSD to 11.2MHz (DSD256) and MQA
• Headphone amp feeds a gold-plated 3.5mm socket
• S-Balanced configuration reduces noise and crosstalk