iFi GO blu HD Portable HD DAC & Headphone Amplifier

Lighter Than a AA Battery

The iFi GO blu weighs less than a AA battery and fits in the watch pocket of a pair of jeans. It is a converter and a headphone amplifier, and its job is to sit between your phone and your wired headphones so that neither has to compromise.

It pairs over Bluetooth, so there is no cable running to your pocket and no worrying about whether you have the right one for an Android or an Apple device. Plug in headphones, pair once, and it is ready every time after that.

Wired When You Want It

Bluetooth is the convenience, but the GO blu also takes a wired connection for the best it can do. That matters when you are sitting still rather than moving about, and it means one small device covers both ways of listening.

Two Outputs, and the Codecs to Feed Them

There is a 4.4mm balanced output and a 3.5mm output using iFi's S-Balanced circuit, which halves crosstalk and distortion on unbalanced cables. Between them they cover most headphones and in-ear monitors you are likely to own.

Every Codec That Matters

Reception covers aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive and aptX Low Latency, along with LDAC, HWA and LHDC, plus AAC and SBC. Whatever your phone speaks, the GO blu will meet it at the best quality that phone supports.

iFi's XBass and XSpace tone controls are on board as well, working in the analog domain rather than as digital equalization. They are there when a recording needs a hand and out of the way when it does not.

What Reviewers Are Saying

What Hi-Fi? gave the GO blu five stars for sound and features in November 2021. Its verdict: "When portability is paramount, the iFi Go Blu is every millimetre the convenient sonic upgrade your phone needs."

In the review itself the magazine went further, writing that "when portability is paramount and convenience is key, you cannot currently better the iFi Go Blu." It "levels up your phone's sound with very little effort or added weight in your pocket or strain on your wallet."

One small thing they wanted and did not get: "No notification for bitrate." The GO blu will not tell you which codec it has negotiated, so you take the connection on trust.

Who Is This DAC/Amp Best For?

• Your phone has no headphone jack — the wired pair you already own goes back into use, driven properly, with nothing hanging off the bottom of the phone.
• You want wired quality when you are still — it takes a cable as well as Bluetooth, so the same device covers the commute and the desk.
• You own both kinds of cable — a 4.4mm balanced output and a 3.5mm S-Balanced output means neither pair of headphones needs an adapter.
• You want to shape the sound by ear — XBass and XSpace are analog circuits on a button, so a thin recording gains weight without opening an app.
• You listen on headphones, on the move — that is what the GO blu is for — see our headphones

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Pair it with a phone, tablet or laptop over Bluetooth and it will use the best codec both ends support. For the best it can do, connect it by cable instead when you are somewhere you can.

Headphones with a balanced cable use the 4.4mm socket. Anything with an ordinary cable uses the 3.5mm output, where the S-Balanced circuit still cuts crosstalk and distortion.

Pairs Well With

Building your system? Here are some great companions:

• Headphones: Both jack sizes are covered — see our Headphones.
• Headphone Cables: A 4.4mm balanced cable unlocks the balanced output — browse our Headphone Cables.
• Desktop DAC: For the times you are at a desk instead — see our DACs.
• Headphone Amplifier: When a harder-to-drive pair joins the collection — see our Headphone Amplifiers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Bluetooth codecs does it support?

aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive and aptX Low Latency, plus LDAC, HWA and LHDC, AAC and SBC.

Can I use it with a cable?

Yes. It takes a wired connection as well as Bluetooth, which is how to get the best out of it.

Which outputs does it have?

A 4.4mm balanced output and a 3.5mm output using iFi's S-Balanced circuit.

What do XBass and XSpace do?

XBass adds weight at the bottom and XSpace opens out the stereo image. Both are analog rather than digital equalization.

Will it tell me which codec is connected?

It does not display the bitrate, which was the one thing What Hi-Fi? wanted from it.

How big is it?

Small enough for a watch pocket, and lighter than a AA battery.

See It in Action

Z Reviews takes the GO blu apart and puts it back:

And the Honest Audiophile asks whether Bluetooth can sound good:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about portable DACs, headphone amplifiers, or getting better sound from a phone? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.