Headphone Amp/DAC Reviews

PRICE $79

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Flawless performance
Powerful
Affordable
Tiny
Includes USB and lightning adapters
Minus
Cord is slightly too short for use with iPad on stand

THE VERDICT
The iFi Go Link Max delivers impressive performance for its size and price, offering hi-res audio compatibility, powerful amplification, and excellent sound quality. A standout choice for audiophiles on the go.

You know, I've grown to really appreciate high-quality corded passive headphones. They're like the enlightened path to audio nirvana. Sure, wireless is convenient, and I do appreciate noise canceling and DSP processing. But there's something about a great pair of passive cans that gets you where you want to be with zero fuss, 100% reliability, and often at levels of fidelity that remain elusive for wireless models.

Recently, I got my hands on the iFi Go Link Max—a pocketable USB-C headphone DAC/amp that offers hi-res audio compatibility paired with a 4.4mm balanced output and a standard 3.5mm plug, all in a minuscule device that only costs $79.

Perfect Balance
Now, iFi says their proprietary S-Balanced technology brings the advantages of balanced audio to the 3.5mm port, providing a superior single-ended experience exclusive to them. So, every listener, regardless of their headphone choice, benefits from a balanced design. Sounds promising, right?

The DAC uses a pair of ESS Sabre ES9219 DAC chips, one per channel. One of the most notable features is a hardware volume control, which operates within the DAC, as opposed to digital attenuation. The benefit? Maximum detail retention at any volume level. With digital volume controls, lower volume is achieved by literally disposing of bits. Not ideal if you're after the best sound quality.

Hi-res support is extensive: Native playback of all music formats from MP3 to DSD256, PCM384, and DXD384. The power rating is 241mW into 32 ohms, which the company notes is five times that of a MacBook Pro's built-in headphone jack; it's a huge boost in output.

The LED color scheme on the iFi Go Link Max provides a quick way to identify the audio format of your music:

• Green: PCM 44.1/48/88.2/96kHz
• Yellow: PCM 176.4/192/352.8/384kHz
• Cyan: DSD 64/128
• Blue: DSD 256

It's a simple yet effective feature that keeps you informed about the source of your playback.

Plugging In
I tested the iFi Go Link Max on my iPhone, iPad, and PC, primarily streaming CD quality or hi-res from Qobuz. The headphones included Focal Hadenys (open-back) and Azurys (closed-back), as well as KZ ZS12 Pro X wired earbuds. Granted, these aren't the toughest headphones to drive, but the Go Link Max powered all of them to obscenely loud—yet perfectly clear—output levels. Way beyond what I get from the built-in jack on my laptop or the dongle Apple sells for the iPhone/iPad.

This dongle offers more headphone amplification than I ever need. I also can't hear any flaws in its performance. The 4.4mm plug opens up the possibility of using exotic headphones on the run, but I'm content knowing that my nice, non-exotic headphones have all the power they need, and then some.

One nitpick: when I use the Go Link Max with my iPad on its stand, the 6cm braided USB cable is about a centimeter too short for the DAC to rest flat on the table with an 11-inch ipad using the cover as a stand. Maybe this is a relatively rare usage scenario, but I wish it was a little longer because the iPad makes a wonderful music listening station when equipped with this DAC.

On the plus side, iFi is considerate in including a USB-C to USB-A adapter as well as a USB-C to Lightning adapter. So, kudos to them for thinking about compatibility.

Playing Music
So, you want to know what I listened to on headphones? Sure, here's some of the albums I checked out during this hands-on: the chillax minimalism of Strip To The Bone by Howie B and Sly & Robbie; the unexpected dub in Mixed Up by The Cure; the raw energy of The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste by Ministry; XTC's classic Sklylarking, and the latest rap album from Eminem, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce). Plus, the incredible-sounding (on headphones) Music Has the Right to Children by Boards of Canada. And dozens of other albums, but those were memorable for how well the Go Link Max performed when I cranked the volume.

The main thing I'd say is when a track deserves some "kick" and you turn it up, the iFi Go Link Max was never the weak link in the chain. It's a powerful little DAC that punches well above its weight class. Beyond that, it's up to the headphones how they render the music, but I felt nothing was left on the table performance-wise with the ones I used.

In Conclusion
If you're looking for a compact, affordable, and powerful DAC/amp that can handle hi-res audio and drive your headphones with ease, the iFi Go Link Max is worth considering. It's not perfect—nothing is—but for $79, it's a solid piece of gear that delivers where it counts. Just watch out for that slightly short USB cable if you're using an iPad on a stand.

Specs
Rather than list a few specs here, you can see them all on iFi's official site by clicking here.