In the experiment with the iFi Audio GO blu headphone amplifier: A great companion for headphones

Many smartphones no longer have the traditional headphone jack, but with the iFi Audio GO BLUN it’s not a problem. It’s a small but very versatile device for all kinds of headphones.

Text: Heikki Kivelä
Photos: Manufacturer

There are portable and portable headphones amplifiers. While, for example, iFi Audio itself also offers options in the mobile product category, mainly for on-ear headphones or pocket-sized headphones, the British brand has recently also brought to the market a really compact solution for mobile listening. The little guy called GO blu has many good features for headphone listening, including a very recent and powerful 5.1 version with Bluetooth on the most important codecs, a high-quality headphone amplifier with a power output of 5.6 volts, a da converter with a resolution of 96 kilohertz and 24 bits, a bass enhancer and a kind of crossover feature – all this in a case weighing 27 grams, the size of a matchbox.
Despite its small size, the GO blu is a high-quality and tidy device in every way. It features a few buttons, a fairly rigid rotary control, and a balanced 3.5 and 4.4 mm headphone output, a USB-C port for charging and USB-DAC functionality, and a status LED to indicate operating status. Neat and handy!

Technically healthy

Although there are other similar, pocket-sized headphone amplifiers on the market with da converters and Bluetooth capabilities, the GO blu has taken the technical implementation a step further in the style typical of its manufacturer.
GO blu is iFin's first portable Bluetooth speaker amplifier, but at the same time it is also the first device in its product category to utilize Qualcomm's new quad-core QCC 5100 system chip and Cirrus Logic's CS 43131 Master HIFI DAC. Together, these components ensure the GO BLU's high-quality compatibility.
Similarly, the amplifier's power stage is balanced with a dual mono design, which in turn guarantees 165 milliwatts for non-balanced headphones and 245 milliwatts for balanced headphones with extremely low distortion.

For travel use
The GO blu is easy to take with you on a run, as the small device doesn’t take up much space in your pocket. On the other hand, it does require some kind of pocket to stay in place, as the compact design doesn’t include any type of clip or other attachment. The retail package includes a simple cloth pouch that mainly protects the device from surface scratches.
Although the GO blu works as a handy hi-res audio amplifier connected to the USB port of a laptop, the device also includes a built-in 450 mAh lithium-polymer battery that the manufacturer promises a battery life of about 10 hours on a full charge, depending on the volume level and the headphones connected.

Undoubtedly, the GO blu is an interesting product in its own time, in that it enables the use of a wide range of headphones with any device equipped with a Bluetooth transmitter.

This way, the user can enjoy high-quality Bluetooth audio with any wired headphones, even if there is no 3.5 mm connection on the smartphone, for example.
The GO blu can also be wired to a smart device using the so-called OTG cable, but the user will have to purchase it separately. For example, iFi Audio’s own simple OTG cable costs a modest 19 euros. The device comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable for charging and USB-DAC functionality.
Yes, and what's more, the GO blu is equipped with a built-in microphone, which means it can also handle hands-free calls.

GO blu is a cigar-sized device weighing 27 grams, which has a lot of appeal and utility with various headphones. It works both as a desktop DAC and as a portable headphone amplifier thanks to its built-in battery.