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Product: iFi Audio GO link Max - headphone amp & DAC
Manufacturer: iFi Audio - USA/UK
Approx. price: ± €80
Reviewer: Lucio Cadeddu - TNT-Audio Italy
Reviewed: February, 2025

Foreword

Some time ago we discussed the possibility of transforming any mobile device (or PC) into an audiophile source for listening with headphones. As we know, the quality of the DAC and headphone output of a telephone, a PC or a tablet/notebook always leaves something to be desired. The ideal would be to be able to reach the digital signal in transit on the phone or notebook/tablet, in order to convert and then amplify it in a more serious way. This can be done, as already explained in the first episode of our crash course on OTG connection, in most modern devices that allow you to activate the OTG (On The Go) output from the USB socket. All modern smartphones have this ability among their options. In practice, the digital stream is taken from the USB output and then sent to an external DAC and headphone amp.

iFi Audio, which has always been sensitive to the problem of listening with headphones and portability, has created this GO link Max, which is a DAC and a headphone amplifier the size of a USB stick. Don't be fooled by the size and price, because inside this tiny device there is everything you need for full audiophile listening.

A closer look

The GO link Max is a tiny (150x15x10mm) and light pen (just 15 grams, thanks to its magnesium body) equipped with a cable that ends in a mini male USB-C plug, which will plug into the USB-C of your phone or, via the supplied adapter, into a standard USB-C or Lightning socket for Apple devices. On the other side there are two female outputs for headphones, one unbalanced with the usual 3.5mm minijack and the other an S-Balanced 4.4mm, just to make clear the serious intentions of this device.

Let's talk about power output first. The 4.4mm balanced output will provide 4V to a 300Ω load and deliver 241mW into a 32Ω load, and the unbalanced 3.5mm mini-jack will provide 2V to a 300Ω load and deliver 100mW into a 32Ω load; Let's talk about its power ouput first: 241mW @ 32Ω; 4V @ 300Ω via 4.4mm; much higher than that of the standard headphone outputs of the devices to which it will be connected. iFi claims the power is 5x that of a MacBook Pro (on balanced output). Inside there is a dual ESS Sabre ES9219 DAC (one per channel) with DRE (Dynamic Range Enhancement) technology which allows for an increase in dynamics of +6dB. It can handle high resolution digital streams (up to PCM 384kHz and DSD 256 and even MQA!), has a signal-to-noise ratio of 130dB on the balanced output and 125dB on the standard one, while the output impedance is just 0.35Ω via 4.4mm; 0.7Ω via 3.5mm. The LED on the body of the device changes colour depending on the incoming digital stream: green if PCM up to 96 kHz, cyan if DSD 64/128, yellow if PCM up to 384kHz and blue if DSD 256. The connection cable is also made following audiophile standards, braided in twisted pairs of silver-plated copper, to guarantee maximum flexibility, resistance and protection from interference.

There is also a less pretentious version, without balanced output and with slightly less power, for 20 euros less. Given the cost of the device, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase this Max version instead.

OTG for dummies

To begin with, the device is very easy to use: once the OTG connection is activated on the phone it is ready to work. Plug&Play, as they say. The same goes for other devices, even on my Linux Notebook, an operating system typically less compatible than Windows or Apple iOS. The volume is adjusted directly from the volume control of the device you are using.

It is clear that the true potential of this DAC and headphone amp emerges when using good quality headphones: with low-quality in-ear phones the difference, compared to the standard headphone output, is not huge but when the headphones allow it, you immediately understand that the sound is of a completely different signature: you get deeper and more controlled bass, open and defined highs, and excellent dynamics. Not only that, but the sensation of “sound inside the head” is also reduced. I would say the sound signature is very similar to that of the small iFi ZEN Air Can headphone amp that I tested with extreme satisfaction some time ago. A mature sound that doesn't tire you, even at high volume.

With respect to power output, I didn't notice any big differences compared to the output of my OnePlus smartphone, but it must be said that I didn't use headphones with S-Balanced input. In this case, in fact, the GO link Max would have more than doubled the power. In other words, if you want to listen much louder than your phone can, you're better off using the S-Balanced output (and headphones with the same technology, of course). Although the output power, in my case, was not much higher (but absolutely sufficient for listening at high level) the difference in dynamic terms, between pianissimo and fortissimo, was evident. The drums, for example, sound more lively and realistic while with complex musical signals the sound still remains well defined. On voices, as one might expect, the difference is even more evident: a very good presence and nice articulation, even with big choirs. Guitars, brass instruments and drum cymbals regain body, harmonic content and clarity.

The general sensation is that of a polished but not artificial sound, tense but not tiring, wide-ranging as I would not have expected from such a small and overall inexpensive device.

Remarks & Complaints

Manufacturing & finish.
The iFi GO link Pro is a well-made device, robust despite being very small and light, as any portable device should be. It's difficult to criticize, the only thing I would have improved is the shape of the edges: since it is a small object that will typically be kept in the pocket, something more rounded would perhaps have been more suitable. Technically, I would have preferred a slightly higher output on the unbalanced connection. 100mW on 32Ω are sufficient if the headphones have low impedance and high sensitivity, but otherwise it may be a bit underpowered. Better suited, of course, is the 240mW output on S-Balanced jack.
Sound.
It does what it promises: it improves the sound of any headphone output of a device such as a smartphone or tablet/notebook. And it does so on two fronts: by completely skipping the internal DAC and the internal amplification section at the same time. The sound is similar to that of other iFi headphone amps: natural, dynamic, precise, and never fatiguing.

Conclusions

A nice little toy to significantly improve portable audio on devices such as smartphones, tablets and notebooks. Well made, sturdy, good sounding. iFi Audio continues to excel!

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© Copyright 2025 Lucio Cadeddu - direttore@tnt-audio.com - www.tnt-audio.com

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