IFI GO BAR KENSEI

The iFi GO Bar Kensei DAC (digital-to-analog converter) is a powerhouse of audio technology and craftsmanship, perfect for those who will not compromise on sound quality on the go.

Description

iFi GO Bar Kensei – Crafted for Audio Masters

Just as a Kensei (sword master) deserves an exceptional blade, an audiophile also demands a DAC of the highest caliber. Introducing the GO bar Kensei by iFi audio, a portable DAC that embodies perfection, meticulously crafted to deliver an unparalleled audio experience.

The GO bar Kensei by iFi Audio is like a legendary sword, meticulously crafted for a Kensei. This DAC embodies the dedication of a master, focusing on purity, balance and refinement to reveal the true essence of music.

Featuring the latest Japanese audio technology such as K2HD and significant improvements in power and clock circuitry, this Kensei Go bar represents the pinnacle of refinement in the GO bar range. Whether you commute, work remotely or travel for pleasure, the Kensei GO bar offers the perfect portable solution to elevate your headphone experience to sublime levels.

Crafted from Japanese stainless steel for maximum rigidity, the Kensei GO bar is the size of a USB stick (65 x 22 x 13.2 mm), making it the perfect travel companion for your smartphone, tablet or MacBook Pro. USB-C connectivity ensures immediate and hassle-free use.

Revive the Sound of Your Music

Digital recordings, no matter how crystal clear, can sometimes seem devoid of emotion and life. K2HD technology, developed by Victor Studio recording engineers, solves this problem, restoring rich, natural harmonics to digital sound, giving it a unique organic quality.

The Kensei GO bar lets you listen to music the way you want it, thanks to four custom digital filters and two analog processing modes, each designed to enhance the listening experience of different music genres:

Bit-Perfect: Natural tones, ideal for all genres.

GTO: Enhanced detail and density, perfect for vocals.

Minimum Phase: Warmer sound, ideal for Soul and Jazz.

Standard: Tight and controlled sound, perfect for Pop and film scores.

You can also enjoy powerful bass with XBass+ and immerse yourself in a wide sound field with XSpace.

Your Audio, sharp and precise

The Kensei GO bar DAC uses a powerful 16-core XMOS microcontroller to process audio data received from the USB input. The internally programmed firmware optimizes sound quality and ensures a perfect match with the 32-bit Cirrus Logic DAC chipset.

Supports premium audio formats:

PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz

DSD native up to DSD256

2x DXD

Full MQA decoding

The Kensei GO bar delivers a maximum output power of up to 477mW, with power adjustment technologies such as iEMatch for high-sensitivity earphones and Turbo mode for high-impedance headphones.

You can connect to the Kensei GO bar via the 3.5mm S-Balanced or 4.4mm Balanced headphone outputs. iFi's exclusive 3.5mm S-Balanced technology reduces crosstalk and noise by 50% with single-ended headphones.

iFi Technologies Built-in

K2HD technology revitalizes digital recordings, infusing them with natural harmonics that transform dull, lifeless sounds into emotional experiences.

The unparalleled originality of the K2HD lies in its advanced high-frequency extension, allowing the restitution of natural harmonics and nuances of sound beyond 22kHz, providing audio quality close to the original master.

The 16-core XMOS chip processes audio data received via the USB digital input.

This new XMOS low-latency microcontroller has significantly increased processing power. Compared to the current generation of 8-core chips, this new 16-core IC offers double the clock speed (2000 MIPS) and four times the memory (512KB), as well as supporting the latest SuperSpeed ​​USB standard.

The Go Link implements advanced jitter elimination technologies in the digital stage. These include the femto-precision GMT (Global Master Timing) clock and an intelligent memory buffer. This complete, ready-to-use digital solution permanently eliminates the problem of jitter, providing crystal-clear, interference-free sound.

True Native® Hi-Res playback of all music formats, from MP3 to DSD256, PCM384 and DXD384.

TDK C0G (Class 1) ceramic capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit applications.

TDK products are increasingly approaching the ideal of pure, constant-frequency capacitance, and with these capacitors they are able to reduce capacitor-induced distortion to virtually undetectable levels.

Panasonic OS-CON 5,410uF capacitors offer very low equivalent series resistance (ESR), excellent noise reduction and frequency response characteristics. In addition, OS-CONs have a long life and their ESR changes little even at low temperatures due to the solid electrolyte.

Tantalum capacitors are another example of the high-grade components that iFi uses. These polarized electrolytic capacitors have superior frequency characteristics and stability, while offering very high volumetric efficiency.

The iFi Go bar Kensei features muRata ESR-controlled multilayer capacitors that offer exceptional performance.

The analog circuitry of the GO bar features a balanced design with a symmetrical dual-channel output stage.

This topology, usually reserved for larger, more expensive amplifiers due to its cost and complexity, reduces noise and crosstalk in the signal path by completely separating the left and right channels.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Input: USB-C

Formats:

PCM 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192/352.8/384kHz

DSD 2.8/3.1/5.6/6.1/11.3/12.3MHz

DXD 352.8/384kHz

MQA Full Decoder

DAC: Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC by Cirrus Logic

Headphone: BAL 4.4mm/S-BAL 3.5mm

Output Power (RMS):

Balanced: 477mW@32Ω; 7.2V@600Ω

S-Bal: 300mW@32Ω; 3.8V@600Ω

Output Impedance: ≤1Ω (≤3.6 Ω with iEMatch engaged

SNR:

Intelligent muting activated: 132dB(A) / 121dB(A) (BAL/S-BAL)

114dB(A) / 114dB(A) (BAL/S-BAL)

DNR: 108dB(A) / 109dB(A) (BAL/S-BAL)

THD+N:

Balanced: ≤0.0025% (600Ω 2V) @ (20-20KHz)

S-Bal: ≤0.009% (16Ω 1.27V) @ (20-20KHz)

Frequency response: 20Hz – 70kHz (-3dB)

Power consumption: <4W max.

Dimensions: 65 x 22 x 13.2 mm

Weight: 65.5g