flexible structure
The GO link is a stick-type USB-DAC amplifier with an integrated cable. Both the main unit with the DAC and headphone amplifier circuit and the USB-C plug are housed in a robust and lightweight magnesium alloy housing.
The main unit and the USB plug are connected with a 6 cm flexible cable. This highly practical cable allows the DAC/amplifier section to face the listener and reduces the load on the USB port to which GO link is connected.
What a DAC should be
At the heart of GO link is ESS Technology's Saber HiFi series ES9219MQ/Q power efficient high performance DAC chip, GO link benefits from ESS 32bit HyperStream III architecture.
The combination of this DAC chip with Quad DAC+, Time Domain Jitter Eliminator technology, plus iFi's proprietary clock circuit and special crystal oscillator, provides ultra-low distortion, excellent clarity, and excellent dynamic range. iFi has taken full advantage of the advanced specifications of this DAC chip, including analog gain adjustment with DRE (Dynamic Range Enhancement), optimized functions to minimize THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) and crosstalk, and much more. It releases high-end features that weren't implemented.
Also, by downloading the firmware, you can select a digital filter and create sounds that suit your taste.
let's twist
iFi doesn't skimp on cable quality either. It uses silver-plated copper conductors and polymer-insulated wire in a "twisted pair" configuration. This twisted strand optimizes the inductance and capacitance, together with noise rejection.
This ensures that the GO link's output is immune to electromagnetic interference picked up from nearby electronic devices. No distortion means you can dance freely.
move with the music
Unlike other headphone dongles, GO link does not rely on software-based volume controls on your connected digital device, which can adversely affect audio resolution. This can adversely affect audio resolution.
Instead, adjusting the volume on the connected device will control the GO link volume level accordingly. This hardware-based volume control is also a feature for the GO link's excellent sound performance.
The vividly colored Hi-Res
GO link's Hi-Res audio support is excellent at this price point. The color of the LED changes to indicate the input audio format (PCM, DSD, MQA) and PCM/DSD sampling rate.
●Input: USB-C
●Output: 3.5mm headphones
●Supported formats: DSD256, PCM32/384, MQA renderer
●DAC: Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC by ESS
●Output power: ≧1.5V/70mW@32Ω, ≧2V /14mW@300Ω
Output impedance: ≤0.4Ω
SN ratio: ≥125dBA (2.05V)
Dynamic range: ≥122dBA@0dBFS
THD+N: ≤0.004% (1.27V@16Ω)
Frequency response: 10-80kHz (- 0.5dB)
●Power consumption: 0.2W or less when no signal, 1W or less at maximum
●Size: 135×12.6×7.6mm (including cable)
●Cable length: 6cm
●Weight: 11g