iFi Audio has announced the next generation of its award-winning USB dongle DAC – the GO link 2. This latest version is described as “smaller and lighter than ever.” The GO link 2 is being marketed as a solution to the low-quality audio produced by many budget laptops and as an upgrade to smartphones that may use less-than-sparkling digital-to-analog converter chips.
Devices like laptops and smartphones often have a DAC that’s “just good enough” for basic music playback. With so much lossless and hi-res music readily available from streaming services like Qobuz and TIDAL, there’s a growing demand for better quality audio from phones and laptops.
The new GO link 2 bypasses the internal DAC circuitry of its source device and then transforms it into a high-resolution music player. The dongle is plug-and-play and provides an instant audio upgrade when listening to high-quality streams on phones, laptops or tablets.
Smaller And Lighter
This latest version of the GO link 2 is the most compact model DAC to date. It’s 8% smaller and 29% lighter than the original GO link. Inside the dongle there is an ESS Sabre DAC that can handle PCM digital music files up to 32-bit/384kHz as well as native DSD256 audio.
The dynamic range of the GO link 2 has been boosted to expand the gap between the quietest details in music and its loudest peaks for greater contrast and more impact. THD compensation now lowers distortion by up to 62% compared to the original GO link.
With iFi Nexis app support, Android, users can select from a range of digital filters and apply over-the-air firmware updates with their smartphone. Other new features include an S-balanced output, which reduces channel crosstalk by 50% for cleaner audio separation and a better stereo soundstage.
Hi-Res Music Unlocked
The GO link 2 uses the same ESS Sabre DAC chipset as its predecessor. This chipset was designed for superior performance in a compact and power-efficient package. With Spotify finally bringing Lossless audio to their listeners and services like Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz bringing more 192kHz tracks to a wider audience, the GO link 2 can handle all these high-quality audio streams.
The GO link 2 is also the first model in the iFi GO link range to include full compatibility with the iFi Nexis app. Firmware updates can now be completed over-the-air in moments, without the need to download files or use a desktop computer to apply the upgrade.
Pricing & Availability
The new iFi GO link 2 is available from ifi-audio.com and authorized dealers, priced at $59 / £59 / €59.
Tech Specs:
- Model: GO link 2.
- Hi-Res support: PCM 384kHz, DSD256.
- DAC chipset: Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC by ESS
- Headphone output: S-Balanced 3.5mm.
- Output power (RMS): ≥1.59V/79mW @ 32Ω; ≥2.0V/14mW @ 300Ω
- Output impedance: <0.4Ω.
- Signal-to-Noise ratio: ≥125dBA (@2.05V).
- Dynamic range: ≥125dBA (@ 0dBFS).
- THD+N: ≤0.0015% (1.27V @ 32Ω).
- Frequency response: 10Hz-80kHz (-0.5dB).
- Power consumption: No signal ~0.2W; Max signal ~1W.
- Dimensions: 137 x 12 x 7.6mm.
- Net Weight: 7.8g.
- Limited warranty: 12 months; 24 months in E.U.