Product Description
Engineered for demanding audiophiles looking for a portable DAC and headphone amplifier with high-quality Bluetooth streaming, the GO blu from iFi audio offers a sophisticated feature set in a compact package that is ready for travel and weighs less than an AA battery. The GO blu's four-core Bluetooth processing chip supports many Bluetooth audio formats, allowing you to ditch the cable to your mobile device and stream every possible source at the highest Bluetooth specifications it allows, while 5.1 compliance ensures the best possible range, stability, and performance. Connect balanced headphones to the 4.4mm output or unbalanced headphones to the 3.5mm jack, which uses S-balanced circuitry to reduce crosstalk and distortion.
The GO blu will run for up to 10 hours on its built-in rechargeable battery. The battery is charged via the USB Type-C port, which can also be used as a digital input supporting audio resolutions up to 24-bit / 96 kHz. The elegant and soft polymer enclosure helps to optimize Bluetooth reception. A multifunction ChronoDial provides precise analog volume control and allows you to play, pause, and skip tracks forwards or backwards; you can even use it to activate the voice assistant on your mobile device. The built-in high-quality microphone enables hands-free calls, voice chat for gaming, and access to voice assistants such as Apple Siri and Google Assistant.
- Qualcomm’s QCC5100 Bluetooth IC in combination with the Cirrus Logic 43131 advanced, miniature digital-to-analog converter create an audibly superior Bluetooth engine
- A plethora of high-definition Bluetooth audio formats are supported—Qualcomm’s aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, and aptX LL; Sony’s LDAC; HWA’s LHDC; Apple's AAC; and the base SBC codec
- Of the 24-bit-capable codecs, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD support up to 48 kHz, while LDAC and LHDC reach 96 kHz
- Bluetooth implementation avoids typical 40% quality drop found with standard Bluetooth
- iFi’s Bluetooth engine can also be updated over-the-air, so future codecs may be added
- The Cirrus Logic 43131 DAC provides an advanced 32-bit oversampled multi-bit modulator with mismatch shaping technology, a dynamic range of 130 dB, and THD+N of -115 dB
- The GO blu's clever design packs in separate Bluetooth, DAC, and Amp stages, each engineered in distinct blocks to deliver the ideal combination of cutting-edge specification and superb sound
- Whether you use balanced or unbalanced headphones, the GO blu is designed to produce the least noise and best channel separation for an enjoyable music experience with outstanding fidelity
- The unit boasts a balanced 4.4mm output enabling headphones equipped with balanced connectivity to take full advantage of the balanced amp design
- In addition, the 3.5mm output benefits from iFi’s proprietary S-Balanced circuitry. This cuts crosstalk and related distortion in half when used with regular, single-ended headphone connections, which is especially beneficial with high-sensitivity in-ear monitors
- Both outputs are gold-plated to resist tarnishing and thereby maintain optimum contact quality
- DirectDrive provides a direct signal path with less signal degradation for a true, natural sound
- An important aspect of the circuit design is its direct-coupled nature (no coupling capacitor is present), achieved without a conventionally applied DC servo
- The amp stage delivers up to 5.6V, considerably more power than other similarly sized devices—handling even relatively tough headphone loads with ease
- To ensure signal strength suits the sensitivity of the connected headphones or earphones, auto-gain adjusts output up or down by 6 dB
- XSpace is iFi's analog signal improvement circuitry to get the music back outside of your head for much better headphone enjoyment
- XBass is an analog headphone spatializer. It opens up your music to give you the feeling of spaciousness experienced at a live concert
Key Features
- Wireless or Wired USB Connection
- Supports up to 24-Bit/96 kHz Sample Rate
- 3.5mm S-Balanced Headphone Output
- 4.4mm Balanced Headphone Output
- USB Type-C Port for Data & Charging
- Precision Rotary Control Knob
- XBass & XSpace Analog Processing Options
- Built-In Mic for Improved Phone Quality
- 10-Hour Rechargeable Battery
- Includes Carrying Pouch
Technical Specifications
- Specifications
- Number of Headphone Channels: Single Channel
- Recommended Headphone Impedance: Not Specified by Manufacturer
- Headphone Output Power:
- 4.4 mm Balanced: 245 mW into 32 Ohms
- 1/8" / 3.5 mm Unbalanced: 165 mW into 32 Ohms
- Digital Chipset:
- Bluetooth: 1 x Qualcomm QCC 5100
- DAC: 1 x Cirrus Logic CS43131
- EQ: Bass Boost
- Display: No
- Connectivity
- Analog Audio I/O:
- 1 x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS Unbalanced Stereo Headphone Output
- 1 x 4.4 mm TRRRS Balanced Stereo Headphone Output
- Digital Audio I/O: No
- USB: 1 x USB-C (Digital Input, Power/Charging Input)
- Wireless: Bluetooth 5.1
- Bluetooth: 5.1
- Supported Audio Codecs: AAC, LDAC, LHDC, SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX LL
- Analog Audio I/O:
- Performance
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 45 kHz
- Maximum Output Level
- 4.4 mm Balanced Headphone: 5.6 V (600-Ohm Load)
- 1/8" / 3.5 mm Headphone: 2.8 V (600-Ohm Load)
- Impedance: < 1 Ohm (Balanced or Unbalanced)
- THD+N
- 4.4 mm Balanced Headphone Outputs: < 0.009%
- 1/8" / 3.5 mm Headphone Outputs: < 0.03%
- SNR
- Balanced Headphone: 111 dBA
- Headphone: 106.5 dBA
- Digital Audio
- Sample Rates: 96 kHz
- Bit Depths: 24-Bit
- Compatibility
- Mobile Device Compatibility:
- Android Smartphone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- iPhone
- iPod
- iPod Touch
- Mobile Device Compatibility:
- Power
- Power Requirements: Built-In Rechargeable Battery
- DC Input Power: 6.3 VDC at 1000mA (USB Bus Power)
- Battery Type: 1 x Internal Rechargeable
- Internal Battery: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Polymer (LiPo), 450 mAh
- Approximate Battery Life: 10 Hours
