iFi Audio GO blu

A portable DAC that uses Bluetooth to connect wired headphones to a wireless audio source might seem like an odd idea. After all, if you want the convenience of wireless music the obvious solution is a set of Bluetooth headphones. There is, however, some method to the apparent madness behind iFi's GO blu.

The company argues conventional Bluetooth headphones tend to rely on a single, general-purpose audio chip that handles Bluetooth, conversion and amplification together. In contrast, the GO blu tackles each separately. Its Qualcomm QCC5100 Bluetooth chip supports every codec currently available. The DAC stage is powered by a 32-bit Cirrus Logic CS43131, there's a separate, low-distortion amp stage that provides 5.6v power and both 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm outputs for headphones.

The sturdy plastic-polymer case is ultra-portable, so you can easily slip it into a pocket. It has its own volume control and even a microphone so you can take calls from your phone if your wired headphones don’t have their own mic. Battery life is quoted at a more than reasonable eight hours.

The GO blu has one more ace up its sleeve in the form of a USB-C connector that can be used to both charge the device and to accept a wired USB-Audio input – iPhones with Lightning connectors will still need a suitable adapter.