GO blu – Portable Bluetooth 5.1 DAC/Headphone Amplifier with aptX Adaptive, LDAC, and 4.4mm & 3.5mm Headphone Outputs - Hi-Res Audio

This thing sounds fantastic, it has a neutral/warm sound that is very pleasing. I am a big fan of this type of device, I've been using a BTR5 and ES100 for about a year and both are excellent gadgets but, the Go Blu is addictive, I've been listening to even more music than I usually do and I listen to a lot. It doesn't seem to be coloring the music it is doing something that sonehow makes it just a little more interesting and engaging. I have zero skill in describing sound so will leave that to others. I use this type of device heavily, I sometimes had to top up the BTR5 battery. I ordered the Go Blu as soon as I saw it, if it was a different manufacturer I probably would have waited but I like IFI gear and felt confident it would be decent. It is tiny, when I got my es100 I was amazed at the small size and light weight, the Go Blu is a little smaller, smaller than a Zippo and very light. It feels and looks light good quality, you have to bear in mind that these devices cannot be milled from a block of aluminum, they have to be plastic or they just won't work but, some effort has been made to make it attractive and pleasant to handle. I am impressed with the battery runtime, the specs say 10hrs which is perfectly reasonable yet, using LDAC I get 13 to 14 hours of near constant play. This is using pretty efficient IEMs but it is very good. This is not a Qudelix or ES100 type device, I don't think IFI is attempting to compete for the type of person who enjoys the extensive phone app and extra functionality that is a very big part of the appeal of those devices. There is no phone app. They did not forget one, as far as I know there isn't one under development and I can't blame them, if you're into making hardware, why would they want the hassle of maintaining an app for years? Also why do what another company is doing really well and has lots of content customers? Why not do something different for those who like bluetooth DAC/amps but aren't interested in tinkering with phone apps, for people who don't want to have to open an app to make use of their device. I never bother with the app for the BTR5, I used it exactly how I use the Go Blu. The Go Blu is very simple, you switch it on and it instantly connects to your phone, you set the volume, you start listening. There is a stepped digital volume knob, inset into it is a button you can use to pause/play/skip fwd/skip back. There is a button to activate the bass boost, the spacial effect and activate both together. There are some small led indicator lights. First time you use it, you get the hang of it, it is very easy to use. There is a power button too. IFI bass boost is great, it somehow seems to restore bass that should be in the music. Most of the time it sounds great, occasionally it isn't that subtle. I am not not sure about the spacial effect yet. It uses all the bluetooth codecs, with a spare phone I have for music it uses a codec I hadn't even heard of but is apparently very good. I use LDAC with my Sony phone. NB. This is a shorter range bluetooth device, what that means is that your phone or DAP needs to be within a few metres, the distance varies depending on the type of media you're playing but to keep it simple, have your phone on you or within 4 metres in the same room. There have been many devices of this type that have much longer range and it seems that extended range has become an expectation for many people. Some people like to put there phone down and go and do stuff in other parts of their home while they listen to music streamed from their phone. I have never had this expectation and when I first heard people complain about shorter range on the BTR5 I wondered if they had misunderstood what the device is for. I have no idea why the range is shorter though, I imagine that increased range uses more power. If that is the case I would prefer that battery runtime be prioritized so I can listen for longer, that seems more important for a DAC/amp. It is no hardship for me to have my phone on or near me when I use devices like this. I'm really happy with the Go Blu. I knocked a star off value for money because it is a bit of a luxury product. I didn't need it, I have three other devices that perform the same functions though, don't sound as good. Like many of the best things in life it is completely unnecessary and that is what makes it so appealing.

The ifi go blu portable Bluetooth 5.1 headphone dac good sound quality good battery life great functionality and Bluetooth connectivity and small and light thank you very much . Philip mutton.

Use this daily. Sounds great, battery life good considering how small it is. Very happy with it. If I had to be picky, bluetooth range isn't great. And the battery level reporting on my phone is erratic at best.

First things first, as others have mentioned this is small, very small, which may give you the first impression this isn’t going to pack much hi-tech punch, don’t be fooled. This is a fine DAC from iFi it takes the quality of portable Bluetooth connectivity to a new level, the soundstage is nicely separated with high, mid and low clearly defined and no audible harshness. I’ve been using a Hip DAC for a while and side by side there’s little difference apart from possibly the Go Blu being a little softer around the extremes, the Hip DAC can be a little treble heavy on some tracks but the Go Blu is more restrained. The bass isn’t booming but it can be enhanced at the push of a button and unlike the the Hip DAC it’s not overly harsh when enhanced and doesn’t force the mids into the background. I’ve had a bash at the XSpace option on a few tracks and the difference was modest but audible and when you combine it with XBass the XBass filter drowns it out a bit but it’s still there. It’s down to personal preference I guess and I must point out I’m listening to Metal so tracks with less going on may open up more. My IEM’s were KZ ZS10 Pro’s using the balanced 4.4mm output which although well rated aren’t top of the range by a long way so better IEM’s may give different results, unfortunately I don’t have better IEM’s at the moment having shelled out for three DAC’s recently. Connectivity wise I did have a bit of hassle paring with my Huawei Mate 20X but at the third attempt it connected and has done so automatically ever since, my iPhone connected no problem. I took a stroll around my flat leaving the phone in the corner of the living room and the Bluetooth connection was flawless throughout with no loss of quality, I don’t have a big flat though so if you’re in a four storey mansion don’t expect the same result. So far no hangs, drops or interference so all good on that front. Overall I’m really impressed with the Go Blu and can see my Hip DAC becoming a part time option now, my original intention was to only use the Go Blu on my travels and while out walking but it’s so damned good it’s certainly going to get used at home too. My only real gripe is the price of £199 but iFi have explained that because of it’s small size the component technology involved was expensive hence the price. Saying that as DAC’s go and their current prices this probably isn’t extortionate and on par with similar although the Go Blu has much better performance than it’s peers in my view. For a Bluetooth DAC this is an exceptional piece of kit and compares extremely well with wired options, I’m impressed.

I have spent a month comparing this to my music players, AK70m2, fiio x7 and my fiio BTR5(2021) and finally came to the conclusion, the ifi is not that great! The ifi sounds fun when it first arrives and does have an addictive quality, however after a while, using my shure ionic5's and sennheiser hd560s's feel the ifi lacks insight. It has a warm feel, especially when bass boost is on, but with standard setting (the best setting as the surround sound and bass options sound artificial) on standard the sound has very recessed mids, even compared to the btr5(2021) The sound is also quite narrow as the treble is rolled off a little. I won't mention my daps as they simply destroy the ifi, but when directly compared to the fiio btr5 (2021) the fiio has significantly more depth and resolution, it is also more neutral then the V-Shaped ifi go blu. I really wanted to like the ifi, but the sound just feels to be missing something and I find it warm and dull. Even with shure ionic5's, which are bass light and neutral. In terms of construction. The volume knob is a very nice aesthetic addition, but it does rattle and feel loose. Luckily it does seem pretty strong, but I question it's longevity. Battery is great with the ifi and allows for very impressive volumn to be achieved. My sennheiser hd560s's only require around 75%, where as the btr5 requires nearly full volumn and high gain to be satisfactory. The battery out lasts the btr5 with hd560s by a good 2hours (4hrs Vs 6hrs) Would I recommend? No The sound is not clear or detailed enough and is tuned to be entertaining and warm, which after a while becomes quite boring. The price is way too high compared to the competition, especially as the competition btr5 (2021) using eq can emulate the ifi's sound almost exactly, yet with more detail and reality. Also the ifi does not offer mqa and will not work wired with my mobile phone. The floor noise via 4.4 balanced out when using my iem's is also very high, with a constant hiss. This is the only player I have had in the last half decade with noticeable floor noise. It it very loud and distracting when listening to acoustic of quieter music. However, I personally would not class this as a deal breaker, but it is something to be aware of if you want to use this portable device with 'portable' earphones.

This little player is amazing! The sound is of course very good, dynamic and musical. Exactly what I want on the go. But where the Go Blu excels is in the way some things have been implemented. First of all the volume control is PERFECT. You can make very finite adjustments on the wheel but it is still tied to the device volume control (on IOS anyway). This means you can also use the device to step up and down in larger chucks but as you use the volume on the Go Blu to change volume the device volume will still step up/down accordingly. I hate it when the 2 volume controls are totally independent or where a device is tied to the 16 steps of the device volume. This is the best of both worlds. The usability of the Go Blue is great too. Very fast to turn on and off. The long press is only a second or so. Controls are very intuitive (unlike the BTR5 which is pretty fiddly). I was surprised how small it is. It’s a lot smaller than it looks in the pictures. Device battery status is also shown on the iPhone which is a big bonus too. I’ve yet to do in-depth listening and compassions but love what I hear so far. I will share an update once I have done.

With phones nowadays not including a headphone jack I needed something small and portable that I could plug my headphones in and connect to my phone. This device hasn't disappointed and is tiny to slip into my pocket along with whatever else happens to be in there. The battery life is great and lasts multiple days without needing a charge and the connection and sound quality is great. It did cost a pretty penny but I'm very satisfied with it

Pros: - Tiny - Looks cool in a quirky, retro sort of a way - Sounds OK - Supports a wide impedance range - Wired (lossless) connection works with a desktop PC - Bluetooth seems to work reliably Cons: - Weird fiddly UI. Controls are overloaded (various long presses and double button holds). It's basically impossible to remember which button or combination does what without checking the manual. - Oddly positioned buttons that are easy to press by accident. Two buttons are placed on opposite sides, so when you grip it to press one, you will almost alway press the other one accidentally. The actuation force and travel are both extremely low. Volume is easily nudged by accident as well. - Sound is just OK. Barely any noticeable difference compared to built-in DAC & amp on an iPhone 6S when tested with 32-ohm Beyerdynamic DT 880s or AKG K550s. I noticed certain frequencies being accentuated a bit differently, but nothing I could point to as better. It's like paying £200 for a slightly altered EQ that you can't set yourself. - With an iOS device, it only works over Bluetooth, which means you are stuck with AAC compression, largely defeating the point of having an external DAC/amp. I didn't try it on Android but suspect the results would be the same. - Technical support from the manufacturer may as well not exist. - Definitely not worth £200 There is an FAQ on their support pages, which I checked before purchase. It says and I quote: "Alternatively you can connect the GO blu directly to your device with a USB-to-Lightning cable for up to 96kHz capability." This is not mentioned in the manual though. When connected, the device either appears to be off, or is constantly seeking a bluetooth connection. If you don't disable bluetooth on the device, it will connect to that and ignore the wired connection. iFi technical support are useless. They never provided any details about how this is expected to work. They simply wasted my time for 2 weeks without ever providing a single helpful answer. They first refused to answer any questions until I supplied proof of purchase, which I did. Then they complained because I hadn't bought from their own storefront: apparently not understanding the concept of retail. Despite multiple attempts to reiterate the question and clarify that I only needed some basic instructions not covered in the manual, they kept closing my ticket, telling me to send it back for a refund. So in the end, I did.