iFi GO bar

Power and precision in a pocket-size design

iFi Audio has developed a keen reputation for packing lots of power into a small package — and this might be their most impressive trick yet. The iFi GO bar headphone amp/DAC combo is just a bit larger than a typical thumb drive, but it can deliver up to 7.2 volts of output. I auditioned it for a few weeks, and it delivered top-notch sound to everything from professional in-ear monitors to extra-large over-ear headphones.

Plus, it comes with the cables needed to connect to most newer laptops, iPhones, and Android devices. The GO bar draws the power to operate from your computer or smartphone, and its built-in digital-to-analog converter bypasses the connected device's inferior audio circuitry. I could pull this ultralight device from my pocket or laptop bag anywhere and enjoy the sound quality and performance of a beefy, bona fide desktop component.

Travel-friendly with straightforward controls

iFi built this portable USB DAC to handle life on the go — and I've certainly put it to the test. I've adopted a hybrid work schedule, splitting time between the office and home, and I flew to Chicago recently for the AXPONA audio show. The GO bar's lightweight alloy frame and sturdy buttons and control switch have weathered the travel well.

It's also one of the most unfussy DACs I've used. I could connect to either my Samsung Galaxy phone or PC, and in both cases the GO bar was immediately recognized and audio went through the DAC. I controlled volume on the side of the GO bar and could toggle through sound filter options to extend the soundstage, strengthen the bass, or do both.

High-performance DAC chip

An advanced Cirrus Logic 43131 DAC chip handles the tricky switch from digital to analog. iFi paired the chip with a custom digital filter to fine-tune the sound to their high standards.

The GO bar supports MQA, DSD, and DXD, as well as PCM files up to 32-bit/384kHz. I primarily used Qobuz to stream high-res and CD-quality music. When I flipped the GO bar over, the LED lights lining the bottom showed the current sample rate on whichever track I was playing.

Clean, powerful amp

The amplifier uses iFi's "True Balanced" circuit design that boasts an output of 475mW at 32 ohms — nearly 15 times the power of most portable DACs this size. The left and right channels run symmetrically in a dual-mono configuration, meaning each has its own respective signal pathway. That helps to drastically reduce crosstalk and noise in the signal. It also has iFi's iEMatch technology, which helps to keeps hiss out of high-sensitivity IEMs.

Plenty of connections

The front panel has the unbalanced 3.5mm output and a balanced 4.4mm output for connecting headphones. You'll find a USB-C port. For those with a older-gen iPhone, iFi includes a cable with a USB-C cable on one end and an Apple Lightning cable on the other. There's also a USB-C to USB-C cable, along with a USB-C to USB-A adapter. That should cover most computers and newer Android phones.