Portable DAC/amps have become a must-have for audiophiles who want high-quality sound on the go, and iFi Audio has been leading the charge with its Go Blu series. The new iFi Go Blu Air takes the beloved original design and reimagines it with a lightweight build, modern Bluetooth support, and the same impressive three-stage audio architecture that separates receiver, DAC, and amplifier stages. Let’s break down its design, features, and sound performance to see if the Go Blu Air holds up as one of the best budget-friendly portable DAC/amps available today.
What You Get
- GO blu Air
- USB-A to USB-C Charging Cable
- Soft-Touch Microfibre Pouch
- Quick Start Guide
Build
The biggest change the iFi Go Blu Air makes is its design. I was expecting a scaled back build compared to the original model, but the appearence of the Go Blu Air is actually something I’m endeered by. I’ve always appriciated the Go Blu’s small size, which the Air keeps down to every dimension. In terms of mterials though, the Air is definitly a step down, using mostly plastic parts. There’s a toy-like feel to the Go Blu Air, to the point where the product could be mistaken for something that came out in the early 2000s. Its grey, transparent casing reminds me of the slightly seethrough Nintendo 64. Although it’s a cheaper design compared to the original Go Blu, it’s actually ends up being one that I’m quite fond of.
Design
The iFi Audio GO blu Air is designed with a unique three-stage architecture that separates the Bluetooth receiver, DAC, and amplifier stages for optimal performance. At its core, the device features the Qualcomm QCC5144 chipset, which is dedicated solely to wireless reception. a Cirrus Logic MasterHiFi DAC takes over to convert the digital stream into high-resolution analog audio. Known for its natural tonality and efficiency, this DAC delivers smooth, detailed playback with low power consumption, making it ideal for portable use. From there, the audio is passed through a twin-mono analog amplifier stage built with high-grade discrete components like TDK C0G and muRata capacitors, as well as OV Series op-amps that minimize distortion. The amplifier provides up to 256 mW of output power through the balanced 4.4mm jack, while the 3.5mm S-Balanced output helps reduce crosstalk and distortion when paired with sensitive IEMs.
Bluetooth
In terms of connectivity, the Go Blu Air uses Bluetooth version 5.2 with support for high-resolution codecs such as LDAC, aptX Adaptive, LHDC/HWA, AAC, and SBC, providing a more stable and reliable streaming experience.
Battery Life
The iFi Go Blu Air has the same battery life as its predecessor, coming in at roughly ten hours of playtime from a complete charge. This is more than suitable enough for a couple days worth of comutes, or any long trip before needing to put back on the charger.
Sound Impressions
For its small size, the original iFi Go Blu was sneakily powerful. It had no problem running Sennheiser’s 300 Ohm HD 600 models efficiently. I was impressed with what it was capable of, even though chances are that you’d be using these portable Bluetooth DAC/Amps for your IEMs. I was expecting the Go Blu Air to be a slightly scaled-back version of the original, but its sound is just as rich, with XBass and XSpace adding a lot to heighten the performance of your headphones/IEMs without sounding artificial.
I began testing the Go Blu Air with the Meze 105 Silva. In its natural state, the sound signature of the headphones was spacious and detailed, similar to that of a wired DAC, albeit with slightly less precision. Activating XBass and XSpace pushed the sound outward, allowing for a stronger low-end body and extended height. Spatial imaging still wasn’t as precise, but the soundstage gained width and wrapped around your head more.
Moving over to the Noble Audio Van Gogh, the bass was even more pronounced, even taking on a boomy timbre in some instances. It’s less like a muffled boom and more like an enlarged thickness that makes the bass frequencies sit more forward over the rest of the sound signature. This gives the tone a satisfying, bloomy rumble that is super gratifying but doesn’t add the most depth to the frequency response. The fun factor definitely outweighed the clarity factor in this instance.
Summary
The iFi Go Blu Air proves that great sound doesn’t have to come in a premium package. While its plastic build may divide opinions, the device makes up for it with excellent Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, support for LDAC and aptX Adaptive, and a powerful twin-mono amplifier stage that drives everything from sensitive IEMs to high-impedance headphones. The addition of XBass and XSpace gives listeners the option to tailor their sound, adding warmth, depth, and immersion without overdoing it. With solid battery life, portability, and engaging performance, the Go Blu Air is an affordable gateway into high-resolution wireless audio and a worthy successor to the original Go Blu.
The iFi Go Blu Air is available at Audio46.
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