British audio brand iFi has revealed a brand-new Bluetooth headphone amplifier for music lovers who want to listen to hi-fi quality sound on the move. The GO blu Air is a lighter version of iFi Audio’s popular GO blu and is designed to bring high-quality sound to the daily commute at an affordable price.
Measuring just 5cm long and weighing a paltry 30g, the iFi GO blu Air combines the convenience of Bluetooth with the kind of audio performance you could expect from a hi-fi setup.
iFi has managed to pack a lot into the new GO blu Air. The compact casing features a detachable magnetic clip that can be used to attach it to a bag or jacket, making it easy to listen to music streamed from a smartphone, over Bluetooth, to a pair of wired headphones or earbuds.
iFi is determined to change the perception of Bluetooth audio, which is often looked down on by audio purists. By using its signature triple-stage wireless architecture built around Bluetooth 5.2, it brings improved signal stability and lower power consumption.
Whereas most Bluetooth streaming devices use a single chipset for everything, including receiving Bluetooth, converting digital files into analog signals, which are then amplified. The GO blu Air doesn’t use a single chip but separates Bluetooth, DAC and amplification into three separate stages, just like a regular hi-fi system.
Separate Circuits And Lower Distortion
Inside the GO blu Air is a Qualcomm QCC5144 chipset, but it’s only used for receiving the Bluetooth signal from the user’s smartphone. The Bluetooth chipset then sends the received signal to a Cirrus Logic MasterHIFI DAC, which iFi selected for its natural tone, low power consumption and high-resolution output.
Finally, a twin-mono amplifier completes the task of turning the analog signal from the DAC into 256mW of distortion-free output that’s powerful enough to drive a high-end pair of headphones or In-Ear Monitors. The GO blu Air has single-ended 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm outputs, which include iFi’s S-Balanced technology to reduce crosstalk when driving a pair of IEMs.
Like the rest of iFi Audio products, this latest device has stage-by-stage circuitry that uses discrete and high-grade electrical components to ensure the best sound quality possible. The components used include TDK C0G and μRata multilayer capacitors alongside custom OV Series operational amplifiers, which have distortion levels as low as just 0.0001%.
Made For Use On The Go
The iFi GO blu Air has been designed for music lovers on the move and its detachable magnetic clip is integrated directly into the case, so the GO blu Air can be securely attached to a bag, jacket or belt without the need for bulky accessories.
A built-in MEMS microphone with noise cancellation and echo suppression means the GO blu Air can be used to make hands-free phone calls, join a video meeting or issue commands to a voice assistant.
The precision-engineered ChronoDial on the GO blu Air provides tactile volume control as well as being used for playback navigation, enabling users to control the tracks they are playing without having to reach for their smartphone.
Sound That Fits
As well as delivering high-quality audio, the GO blu Air enables users to match their mood, music or headphones directly. For example, the XBass function can be turned on to reinforce the music’s low-end frequencies, which is useful when using open-back headphones that can sometimes lack sub-bass.
XBass can also be used to add warmth and punch to music. However, for those people who want a wider soundstage and a live sound, there is the Activate XSpace setting that can open the sound up and recreate the atmosphere of a live performance. Both XBass and Activate XSpace are the result of iFi’s innovative circuit design and they can be activated with a single button press.
Thanks to carefully selected components and efficient circuitry, the new GO blu Air’s 450mAh lithium-polymer battery can play continuously for up to 10 hours on a single charge—that’s more than enough for a transatlantic flight.
Pricing & Availability:
The new iFi GO blu Air is available now from ifi-audio.com as well as selected retailers. The price is $129 / £129 / €149.
Tech Specs:
- Bluetooth chipset: Qualcomm QCC5144.
- DAC: Cirrus Logic MasterHIFI.
- Input: Bluetooth 5.2.
- Supported codecs: LDAC, LHDC/HWA, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC.
- Headphone outputs 4.4mm Bal, 3.5mm S-Bal.
- Output Impedance: <1Ω (both outputs).
- SNR: ≥110dBA (both outputs).
- DNR: ≥110dBA (both outputs).
- THD+N: ≤0.009% Bal (600Ω, 2V); ≤0.03% S-Bal (16Ω, 1.27V).
- Battery: Lithium-Polymer 450mAh
- Battery life: 10 hours per charge.
- Power input: 5V/≥1A USB-C.
- Dimensions: 53.5 x 33.7 x 19.5mm.
- Weight: 31g.
- Warranty: 12 months.
