IFi GO link 2 Max - Dongle DAC & Amplifier - USB-C to 3.5mm

Two DACs on a Cable You Can Forget in a Pocket

The iFi GO link 2 Max is a dongle with a proper audio circuit inside. Two ESS converters share the work, one to each channel, instead of a single chip juggling both. Plug it into a USB-C phone or laptop and your headphones stop running off whatever the device had built in.

Both jacks are on board. The 4.4mm balanced output gives 241mW into 32 ohms and 4 volts into 300 ohms. The 3.5mm S-Balanced output manages 100mW and 2 volts into the same loads. Hardware volume buttons sit on the cable, so the phone's own control is not the only one.

It Weighs Less Than Four Coins

The whole thing is 143mm long and 11.5 grams, joined by a silver-plated copper twisted-pair cable. There is nothing to charge and nothing to remember. It draws what it needs from the device it is plugged into and goes back in the bag afterwards.

Formats run to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and native DSD256. Hi-res downloads and the top streaming tiers play as they were made, rather than being downsampled on the way to your ears by a phone that was never built for the job.

Where the Extra Engineering Shows Up

Signal-to-noise measures 130dBA balanced and 125dBA on the 3.5mm output at 600 ohms. Distortion sits at or below 0.0007% balanced. Output impedance stays under 0.7 ohms and 0.35 ohms respectively, low enough that sensitive earphones are not reshaped by the source.

Dynamic Range Enhancement, in Plain Terms

iFi's Dynamic Range Enhancement widens the gap between the loudest and quietest moments by up to 6dB. Frequency response reaches from 10Hz to 80kHz within 3dB. The iFi Nexis app adds firmware updates and a choice of digital filters on Android devices.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Ryan Gannon of Major HiFi, writing on July 28, 2026, concluded: "With dedicated channel DACs, seamless controls, and a tiny build, the DAC/Amp achieves a new standard of portability."

He flagged one thing worth knowing about the Nexis app before you count on it, noting that its "exclusivity to Android might be disappointing for Apple users" who would like the filter options.

Who Is This DAC Best For?

• You listen on your phone and want it to sound better — a real converter and amplifier take over from the phone's own, and nothing needs charging.
• You own balanced earphones — the 4.4mm output is fitted alongside the 3.5mm, so both of your cables work without an adapter.
• You travel light — 11.5 grams on a flexible cable means it lives in the bag rather than getting left at home.
• You use sensitive IEMs — output impedance under 0.35 ohms on the 3.5mm jack keeps them sounding the way they were voiced.
• Your phone or laptop has USB-C — plug straight in — a Lightning iPhone just needs the right lead

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Plug the USB-C end into your phone, tablet or laptop and your headphones into the other. The included USB-A adapter covers older computers. Volume is on the cable or on the device, whichever you reach for first, and there is no driver to install on a phone.

Nothing to set up. Just press play.

Pairs Well With

Building a portable rig around the GO link 2 Max? These are the natural companions:

• Headphones: The reason to carry a dongle at all — see our Headphones.
• Cable Adapters: For older phones and laptops — see our Cable Adapters.
• Desktop DAC: For when you are home and want more — see our DACs.
• Headphone Amplifier: The next step for demanding full-size cans — see our Headphone Amplifiers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which devices does it work with?

Anything with a USB-C port that supports audio: Android phones, USB-C iPhones and iPads, Windows PCs and Macs. The supplied adapter covers USB-A computers.

Which headphone connections does it have?

A 4.4mm balanced output and a 3.5mm S-Balanced output, both live at the same time you need them.

What resolution does it handle?

PCM to 32-bit/384kHz and native DSD256.

What comes in the box?

The GO link 2 Max, a USB A-to-C adapter, the user manual and a warranty card.

What warranty does it carry?

iFi covers it for one year in the US. Register the product on iFi's website within 30 days of purchase to activate the cover.

See It in Action

Watch this product-focused video:

Yuri Brus examines this model:

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Learn More

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