iFi audio GO Bar - The Best Pocketable HiFi System, Bar None!

Discussion in 'Product Announcements' started by iFi audio, May 23, 2022.

  1. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,239
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    Yup sure thing. I’ll include the Shanling dongle since it got very little exposure past loaner tour.
     
  2. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

    Staff Member Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,145
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Exit stage left....
    is that the UA5? care to ship to me first if so?
    haven’t heard it, and can compare quickly to UP5 and Go Bars.
     
  3. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,239
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    Yeah UA5. Sure I can ship it to you. Then you can send them out together for the loaner.

    It doesn’t have much power I think it’s designed for BA iems. I couldn’t get enough volume on my ortho iems even on high gain.

    But I could be doing something stupid.
     
  4. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,284
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Many places.
    Home Page:
    We'll get this done ASAP, no worries :)
     
  5. brams

    brams New

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    31
    Trophy Points:
    13
    I picked up one of these last week (the blingy gold version) and just got around to trying it briefly last evening. Sources were my Samsung S10+ phone and also a Dell Laptop. Both were used with the GO(ld) bar to drive my T+A Solitaire P using the balanced turbo made and the standard filter. The cable used with the headphone was a silver cable from a local (Canadian) seller. I also tried it with my Utopias using the same cable (I have adapters that allow me to use Utopia cables on the SolP).

    The first thing that impresses is it has a nice solid heft to it with the look and feel of a premium product. Having said this I do wish ifi Audio had provided it with a snug fitting case in addition to the travel case they provided; it would be great to be able to use the device in a case to protect the finish. I'll just leave the plastic wrap on until such a case becomes available.

    As far as the sound is concerned, I must say I was seriously surprised by this thing. In a nutshell slightly warm, good bass extension, nicely detailed, (but not in a dry "detail above all" way) and very dynamic with a nice open sound that complements the Solitaire P quite nicely. To establish the context of my quick impressions, the SolP is tuned for long term listening so it has a classic Audeze style slightly depressed upper midrange and a depressed (relative to Harman) treble. It's definitely on the warmer/darker side of neutral, but stages in a really natural way (not too compact or overly wide). It's also very detailed with low distortion, but despite this, might not impress on a short listen especially after first listening to something like the Utopia. My first time hearing it with a Bartok actually left me a bit underwhelmed due to a perceived lack of dynamics.

    By comparison the ifi Audio appeared to really grab this headphone by the gonads and bring it to life in a manner that I just did not expect. This would imply that it's a bit brighter than neutral, but when I tried it with my Utopia using the same cable the results did not sound bright to me. There did appear to be some slight enhancement in the lower treble though. Presumably this can tweaked via a choice of filters.

    As I said, I was only able listen for a short time, but really liked what I heard in that short period. For sure it's the best dongle style dac/amp I have heard with the SolP, besting my previous favorite the Luxury and Precision W2-131. It's possible that this is simply a result of the extra power or even "new toy syndrome", but whatever the reason I like it.

    Looking forward to other impressions once the tour gets going.
     
  6. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,284
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Many places.
    Home Page:
    Thanks a lot for this feedback and I must say that it very much resonates with what we think about GOld Bar. It is very powerful for a dongle, so with many cans it gives that sensation of authority over them. And secondly, it leans towards warmth indeed. Again, thanks for spot on observations about what sort of a product it is :)
     
  7. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

    Staff Member Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,145
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Exit stage left....
    UA5 in hand now thanks to @rhythmdevils . it will be included with the two iFi GO Bars for loaner tour soon.
    just waiting on a bit of an update from iFi before a tad more listening and then sending them on.

    IIRC @zerodeefex wanted to jump into these GO loaners first.
    which will give me an excuse to drive to the ZD Mansion, have the butler answer the door to accept audio products but deny visitation rights due to not wearing bling bling sneakers upon entry.
     
  8. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    14,051
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I'm leaving on Friday for a week and a half so it should prob go out to someone else first :)
     
  9. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,284
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Many places.
    Home Page:
    I trust that our Karina is in touch with you ;)
     
  10. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

    Staff Member Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,145
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Exit stage left....
    Ok, time for the writeup as the iFi GO Bars will be headed out to loaner tour soon.

    This isn’t going to be an exhaustive, sparkly writeup about every song played or that trying different USB-C cables adds majiks to the synergy formulae.
    We all shall benefit from the differing impressions and comments from folks on the loaner tour.

    Onward.
    a reminder that my IEM time in order of most to least =
    Solaris 2020
    Timeless 7Hz
    JVC FDX1 (hardly ever. put them in just because Ravi mentioned to try it)

    My overall scores for recent portable devices in hand:

    iFi xDSD Gryphon: 92 (nothing is perfect, might go higher if they rock with efficient planars in future?)
    iFi GOld Bar: 87
    IFi GO Bar: 84 (nearly as good as gold)
    RU6: 83
    Shanling UA5: 75
    Shanling UP5: 71

    iFi xDSD Gryphon reminders: This has so many great similarities to the clean and fast sound of Diablo, better pairings with IEMs and sensitive headphones. It could be the battery, compared to the GO Bars the Gryphon just delivers better blackground, instrument separation, detailing and distinct placement. While the tone between Gryphon and GO Bars are similar despite using different DAC chips, cymbals and metallic sounds ring more true here. Roon upsampling to DSD delivers a nice 2-steps-back from the sound stage and a bit more spatial presence, which doesn’t seem to occur within the GO Bars fed DSD.

    iFi GOld Bar:
    apparently it has a couple additional capacitors that help sonics, obviously didn’t open it. you shouldn’t either.
    Yes with Solaris, some slight air/hiss without enabling IEMatch especially from the 4.4 BAL. IEMatch is same here as Gryphon, an OI of 3.6 which I don’t feel freaks out the Solaris 2020 FR.
    But sensitive IEMs can instead try the 3.5 S-Balance jack which is lower in power and on par in quality! thus may NOT need IEMatch engaged.
    the heft of this over the regular GO Bar makes Gold feel truly upscale.
    Timeless 7Hz and JVC FDX1 both great here, blackground, power and nothing wonky.
    XBass and XSpace features are really subtle, i didn’t need / use them.
    many filters to choose from, I stick with BitPerfect even though can’t probably tell a difference in everyday listening.
    GO Bars best most other dongles in areas of realistic meat on the bone tonality without being thick or slow, and cohesiveness. detailed without being dry or clinical, musical in all regards.

    iFi GO Bar (regular): Major deltas from the GO Bar? I didn’t think so. minor ones: the aspects of precision, space, delineation all take a slight hit. something you would notice only when comparing back to back.
    Note: didn’t have headphones to try Turbo mode with the GO Bars.

    Cayin RU6: notes posted elsewhere, but this felt a softer with a bit less focus / clarity. Timeless 7Hz wakes up and jives more with the GO Bars. RU6 does deliver good layering and separation, feel it pairs well on Low gain with Solaris 2020 and a balanced cable. Interestingly I don’t detect much change in presentation with Roon upsampling DSD128 vs. high quality PCM lossless files. RU6 throws the most holographic and wide soundstage compared to the iFi products. This may not be noticeable on all IEMs but is evident with CA Solaris 2020.

    UA5: better than UP5, cleaner and better background. still lacking in body of notes and delivers a 2D musical plane compared to the 3D world of RU6 and iFi GO Bar deliveries.

    UP5: well, it’s ok for late night fall asleep listening but not for uber IEM quality. bluetooth is convenient but muddies the sonic waters. battery charging can be slow, and it has a less clean background, some air / hiss with Solaris 2020. a convenient portable piece, but not super. (No fly time with UA5 yet)


    iFi GOBar Firmware notes:
    1.70a is installed on BOTH GO Bars at this time.
    there is no “circuit muting” when music is not playing, easier to hear changes engaging IEMatch.

    1.70 could be installed on GO Bars, but it mutes the outputs without source signal making it harder to detect background silence.

    Loaner tour should reveal moar better pairings from discerning bat ears.
     
    • Like Like x 11
    • Epic Epic x 2
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
  11. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,284
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Many places.
    Home Page:
    Thank you very much @jexby for this feedback and also, thanks for positioning our GOld Bar above its regular sibling :)
     
  12. spoony

    spoony Spooky

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    651
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Thanks! In your scoring did you consider other aspects like battery drain or misc impracticalities?
     
  13. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

    Staff Member Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,145
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Exit stage left....
    no. scores were based on sound quality. everybody has different ideas about what feature is necessary or "good" in their use case.
     
  14. spoony

    spoony Spooky

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    651
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Thanks.
     
  15. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,284
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Many places.
    Home Page:
    Yup, that makes sense. We all need different things, but sound quality is something we all can relate to I think. Thanks and sorry for a late reply, holiday season and all that :)
     
  16. ufospls2

    ufospls2 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2017
    Likes Received:
    2,010
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Canada
    [​IMG]

    Hi Guys,

    Today we are taking a look at what is probably the smallest piece of gear I have ever reviewed, the iFi Audio GObar. The GObar is what typically gets called a USB Dongle DAC/Amp nowadays. I’ve spent time with a few of these types of devices over the years, but it seems that in the last two years or so the availability of options on the market has absolutely exploded. It seems to be the case nowadays, especially from so called “Chi-Fi” companies, that they all have at least one product of this type in their line up. This type of product and its form factor does seem to have advanced rapidly in its capabilities, the GObar being one example of this. iFi is a fairly consistent example of pushing the amount of features available in a device in its given market space and form factor, and the GObar does seem to continue this trend.

    I remember back in a 2015 I bought an LH Labs Geek Out V2, which was a disaster in terms of usability and design, but sounded great for its size and the market at that time. I never would have expected devices of this type to have come so far in such a short period of time, but compared to that GOV2, and the original AudioQuest Dragonfly, the GOBar is a revelation. However, it has very stiff competition from the vast array of similar devices on the market, so let’s check out how it sounds and performs.

    [​IMG]
    In terms of overall tonal balance, the GObar reminds me of the time I spent with the HipDacV2 from iFi. Its has that slight warmth to its mid range, but does seem slightly different from the traditional iFi “house sound” I have come to know very well. It’s a bit brighter and sharper than I am used to from iFi. This does work well with some headphones, but if you are perhaps using a bright pair of IEM’s for example, it may not be the best choice. The bass seems mostly neutral to me, not being bloated and sluggish in any way, but also not lean or cold. The mids, especially the lower mids, are again slightly warmer than neutral. The highs are slightly tipped up as I mentioned, but this does help things sound a bit lively and helps details in the top end come across easily.

    In terms of things like detail and technical performance, it’s pretty remarkable compared to the dongle market in 2015. The GObar is genuinely an engaging device to listen with. Is it comparable to the Pro iDSD from iFi? No, not really, and yet, you have to keep in mind the size and MSRP of this little device whilst you are using it. I was listening with my T+A Solitaire P at one point, and really didn’t find myself wanting for much. I was just enjoying my tunes, and wasn’t thinking I was missing out on anything or being annoyed by something in particular. The overall detail levels for the price range are totally in line with what they should be, and the sound staging etc…are slightly wider than neutral.

    [​IMG]
    In terms of filter options, the GObar has 4. Bit perfect, Standard, Minimum Phase, and the same GTO filter that is featured on the Pro iDSD. I ended up preferring the GTO filter, similar to my time with the Pro iDSD. My second favourite was the “Standard” filter. Also in keeping with iFi’s other equipment, the GObar includes the XBass+ and XSpace options. I really enjoy the XBass+ with most headphones, but do find the Xspace works better with some recordings than others. Thankfully, both options are easily switched on and off with a single button on the side of the unit, so you can try them out and see what works best for you and your ears.

    Also included is iFi’s “IEMatch” technology for use with sensitive IEM’s. This is a very handy option if you are experiencing a bit hiss with your easy to drive IEMs. I ended up not needing it personally (my IEMs are not sensitive at all,) but it is there should you have a sensitive pair.

    There is only one input into the GObar and that is done via USB-C. I am so happy iFi went with USB-C and not with Micro-USB. USB-C is a better, more reliable, and overall better connector type with better longevity. In terms of output there is a 4.4mm Pentaconn fully balanced output, and right beside it iFi 3.5mm “S-Balanced” connector, which aims to bring the benefits of a balanced circuit to single ended devices. The GObar does a rock solid 475mw into 32 ohms from the balanced output, and 300mw from the SE output. This is somewhat higher than the power output of similar “Chi-Fi” devices on the market. One thing I would have liked to see on the GOBar is slightly easier to read lettering on its rear. I found myself having to hold it in the light at a certain angle to read what options I had on or off. It’s not a big thing, and I suppose it would spoil the “clean” look of the GObar, but it would make it slightly easier to use.

    [​IMG]
    Now, this is the difficult question. The GObar retails at $329USD. This is higher than the other aforementioned “Chi-Fi” dongle options on the market. If you are in the market for a USB Dongle DAC/Amp and it is simply going to be for totally casual listening, or maybe to serve as a backup for your backup of your desktop setup, then I would seek out one of the cheaper “Chi-Fi” options. A lot of those will do a decent enough job and have enough power for IEMs and easier to drive headphones etc….BUT, the GObar from iFi would 100% be my recommendation for other uses. Perhaps this is going to be your only DAC/Amp, if you are a beginner or need something small and transportable. Maybe you have decently difficult headphones to power as well as IEMs, for those people, I would unquestionably recommend the GOBar. The extra $100 or so USD is worth it in those cases. As with everything in this life, it all depends on you and your own personal use case.

    The iFi GOBar, whilst being slightly more expensive than its competition, does bring some new features to the USB Dongle DAC/Amp market, as well as higher power output. It seems to have a lot of the features I have enjoyed about iFi Audio gear, yet it is this tiny little portable dongle. The amount of sound quality, and features in such a tiny package is pretty remarkable. If the GOBar fits your use case, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. If you happen to just need a back up of your backup gear, there are other cheaper options on the market that might suit you better, but if you need a USB Dongle that is more “all out” in its capabilities, then the GOBar is the way to go.
     
    • Like Like x 8
    • Epic Epic x 1
    • List
    Last edited: Sep 10, 2022
  17. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,284
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Many places.
    Home Page:
    Awesomesauce, much appreciated sir!

    That sums up what we wanted to do with GO Bar, so thanks again :)
     
  18. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,284
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Many places.
    Home Page:
    A sneaky peak inside iFi HQ and what makes us tick.

    Back in the middle of the heatwave here in the UK, we invited the guys from Soundstage! Canada across to see the UK HQ in action (and for fish and chips too, of course).

    It’s pretty much the first time we’ve done anything like this so we so weren’t sure what to expect or how it would turn out! All in all, it was great fun and a pleasure to do. Vince and Miles have become YouTube stars and we couldn’t have had a better time with Doug and his team. A huge thank you to them for spending the time with us.

    We loved it. And we hope you do too.

     
  19. ductrung3993

    ductrung3993 Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2017
    Likes Received:
    228
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Montreal
    Any chance of fitting Go Blu and Diablo into your comparison as well? Thanks!
     
  20. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,284
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Many places.
    Home Page:
    That would be sweet ;)
     

Share This Page