iFi audio GO bar Kensei

Ifi Audio GO bar Kensei, the Sword Saint

Disclaimer

I got the Kensei for free in return for a review, I am free to say whatever I want.

All impressions are my own subjective thoughts after having used them for a good time. These are my thoughts at this moment, and as time moves I might change my opinion.
This is also a very subjective hobby where everything from experience, anatomy or age will affect what we hear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to use bold words when talking about differences, while it may be perceived as a small change for you.
While I can perceive something as natural sounding, I do believe we can never get a perfect performance similar to what is achieved live.

Ranking System:
1 Very bad or unlistenable
2 Listenable but not good
3 Average
4 Very good
5 Exceptional or having a special sauce

My rating system highly values what is musical for me, so my rating will always be a subjective opinion.






So what is iFi Audio GO bar Kensei

iFi Audio is an audio manufacturer from the UK, they were founded in 2012 and has since then evolved to be one of the better audio brands for DACs and AMPs be it portable or for desktop setups.

Today I am going to write about their flagship portable DAC/AMP Kensei, this name is from Japanese and means Sword Saint. A Sword Saint was a master of the blade, and is a suiting name for this premium stainless steel dongle.

Kensei is packed with many features and is very versatile, from their famous xBass and xSpace to something more exciting like K2HD that enhances digital music. I recommend reading the user manual for some of this, as the device has a LED layout instead of screen. For example you can toggle the sound to be synchronized with the plugged device, or being independent. This is accessed by pressing the menu button for 6 seconds making some leds flash, while pressing both volume buttons for 2 seconds adds turbo mode for more power.

Instead of mentioning everything about the dongle, you can read from their website:

https://ifi-audio.com/products/go-bar-kensei



Specifications

DAC Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC by Cirrus Logic
DIMENSIONS 65 x 22 x 13.2 mm (2.6" x 0.9" x 0.5”)
DNR 108dB(A) / 109dB(A) (BAL/S-BAL)
FORMATS SUPPORTED 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
FREQUENCY RESPONSE 20Hz - 70kHz (-3dB)
INPUT USB-C
LIMITED WARRANTY 12 months
NET WEIGHT 65.5g (2.3 oz)
POWER CONSUMPTION <4W max.
RMS OUTPUT POWER Balanced: 477mW@32Ω; 7.2V@600Ω

S-Bal: 300mW@32Ω; 3.8V@600Ω
SNR 132dB(A) / 121dB(A) (BAL/S-BAL)*

114dB(A) / 114dB(A) (BAL/S-BAL)
THD+N Balanced: ≤0.0025% (600Ω 2V) @ (20-20KHz)

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



They have delivered the Kensei with a decorative wooden box, its a nice touch that make the unboxing a little more special.



The stainless steel has a brushed outside, there is also applied some stickers like the Hi-Res here. You can remove the stickers, but then lots of glue is left behind that you need alcohol to remove. The metal gets scratches fairly easily, for some more negative than others. The metal is Japanese Stainless Steel, I love the design and feel.



The side of the Kensei has the mode button for the sound settings and the volume buttons, it also has a switch at the bottom for activating the iEMatch. You need to rock it for either the single ended or balanced when using iEMatch, activating this also takes down the loudness.



The Kensei has no display, but in return it has a nice layout with led lights to show what is activated and how loud you have adjusted the Kensei.

The K2HD is a filter that restores music data lost during digitalisation, made together with JVCKENWOOD.



The headphone sockets are in single ended 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm, they are tight and secure.



The accessories are nice and simple, you get a small belt pouch. It can hold the dongle and a cable, it is made for storage and not for use while listening. You get two cables, one for normal devices with USB-C and one with Apple Lightning. There is also an USB-C to USB-A for use with computers.



Sound impression

Going to use the ranges here in review:


It is hard to talk about dongles or DAPs about sound, as the differences are often much smaller than with the transducers themself. Personally I find more change in sources than with cables and often also eartips.

Overall the sound of Kensei is what I consider neutral and clean, it's not sterile and has some sweetness to it that makes it sound more organic and natural. Soundstage is spacious and has good depth and height, the Kensei is very capable on a technical level.

The Kensei have many filters for what sampling rate or for the tonality, I have stuck to what I see as the neutral setting with Bit Perfect and nothing activated. Changing to K2HD can sound a little softer and less sharp, and can be good for some sets. Also having the xBass and xStage is a nice thing to change up the sound or synergies with IEMs and headphones.

In use

The Kensei do give off some heat, more than my other dongles. Not where it's any dangerous, but it's noticeable if you keep it in your pocket or pick it up.

I am not a person who measures gear in my reviews, but this dongle drains much more power than the other ones I have. Searched it up and it does drain up to twice as much battery as some of the competition, probably also a reason why it sounds so good.

It remembers the previous settings, so when you plug it in again it has the same filters and same volume.

It have worked flawless for me, be it together with the PC or the phone.



Comparisons

When evaluating the sets I use each of them over longer periods and also some shorter sessions swapping back and forth, it takes a long time and is not done in one sitting. These are very subjective comparisons.

HIBY FC6 is the first one out as it's the one closest to the sound quality of Kensei, it's around half the cost of Kensei and has a smaller body with a display. This one is a R2R dongle with Darwin tech from HIBY, the sound is more analogue and less technical.

First obvious difference is less micro detail and top end extension, Kensei is a good step above for resolution. Tonality is cleaner and more neutral with Kensei, both sound natural with no digital glare but Kensei does so with more up top. Transients get softer with FC6 making music more soft that takes away clarity, but also make sharper and more intense IEMs more easy to enjoy. It is a reason why I have kept this as a main dongle for long, a dongle more for musicality than technicality. But since Kensei has some filters and the xBass can be as enjoyable while being much more technical at the same time, also without the xSpace the Kensei is more holographic and deep with the option to use it for something extra space that work on some transducers.

Colorfly CDA M1P is an AKM chip based dongle, this is a much cheaper dongle with a metal shell. The sound of this one is closer to R2R and sounds very analogue for being chip based, it actually sounds very close to the older AKM sound from before the factory fire.

CDA M1P is sort of similar sounding to the FC6 with some softness to the sound, but a little brighter and with more digital glare. When compared to Kensei the comparison gets very similar to FC6 and Kensei, just that the Colorfly is not as organic and more digital sounding. It has a resolution similar to FC6 and less than Kensei, and soundstage is smaller than both.

Simgot DEW4X is also a much cheaper dongle than the Kensei, built in plastic and has a light and small shell. This is also a Cirrus Logic dongle, this is one that I have used on the go for some time as it sounds exceptionally good for the cost. It doesn't have the same clarity and sound darker than Kensei, I never have compared the DEW4X before to any dongles so this surprised me.

Changing over to Kensei is like lifting a thin veil from the music, making it cleaner and more dynamic. Interesting is how it handles bass, as DEW4X is softer and less hard hitting than Kensei. It is clear for me that DEW4X is not up to the standard of the other dongles here and especially the Kensei.



In the pure power aspect driving my Dahlia and Verite the FC6 and Kensei is similar in loudness with Kensei just being more technical capable, the Kensei have more dynamics and fullness to the sound than the DEW4X and CDA M1P and they don’t have the juice to drive the Verite. Even the Kensei cannot reach the level of powerful desktop amps, but on more easy to drive headphones like Dahlia and SR7000 it does a fine job.



I will only have one comparison with a DAP, that being the iBasso DX180. This is also a cirrus logic based DAC with no details about the amplification stage. The sound is very similar, both have a natural and clear sound with some sweetness to them. First thing that caught my attention was a slightly veiled top end with DX180, Kensei definitely has a very clean and well done extension up top that is also noticeable compared here. DX180 also sounds less controlled and is more susceptible to sharpness and sibilance than Kensei.

Kensei also has a little more power and dynamic sound when I use hard to drive earbuds or headphones, this is less noticeable on IEMs. It has more expression between the silent and loud parts making it sound more realistic and open, also helping that Kensei sound is a little more spacious and detailed. Should mention that one IEMs that some can sound more plasticky in the bass on DX180, the Kensei then being more direct and visceral. This can be a power issue, with Kensei having more power on demand for punchy fast bass quality.

It is not that weird that a dedicated dongle costing the same as a DAP can exceed it, it costs less to produce and more money can go into the sound itself.

IEM and earbud pairings



Campfire Audio Fathom is the successor of sorts to the legendary Andromeda, both sensitivity and tuning is almost the same as the older 2018 models. Meaning this a thick and midrange focused IEM, that is very sensitive that picks up noise from most sources.

WIthout the iEMatch activated there is some waterfall noise on both the single ended and balanced output, then when activated there is almost nothing noticeable. So with very sensitive IEMs using the iEMatch is needed, the noise is audible on all the dongles in this test and would have been a nice feature on them as well.
Kensei has a good volume range, and I can hover around 20% without being in the lowest steps.

As for sound, it sounds as expected with Fathom. It sounds good on every set of gear I have, and also here with Kensei. Fathom lacks some subbass so the xBass button is a nice flex to make it more full sounding and fun than the other dongles.



Venture Electronics Zen 3.0 is a 300 ohm earbud with low sensitivity, often harder to drive than many full size headphones. Many DAPs struggle with this one, only the more powerful ones can keep the sound controlled and full and weak sources sound wooly and low res. And it's not about loudness, as most devices dongles and DAPs get loud enough in high gain around max.

First off in iEMatch mode the Kensei have enough volume from around 80-100%, without ieMatch more like 60-80%. Then you can activate the turbo mode for even more power. This is the one dongle that I have tried that controls the Zen 3.0 the best, it is actually passable where it could be hard to distinguish it from my powerful class A desktop amp. The loudness here will depend on what music you play, and also what service/app.

Straight out from iBasso DX180 the sound is very wooly and bass drowns out the rest, it also doesn't have the dynamics of Kensei so it sounds very low res with DX180.
Then from HIBY FC6 it sounds also good, but less clear. The FC6 gets loud enough around 25% volume and has more power than the Kensei.



The Letshuoer Cadenza 12 is the flagship IEM from the brand, using 1DD and 11BA. The sound is sweet and natural with good extension without being artificially bright, bass is deep and elastic.

I find Cadenza 12 to sound good on most sources, but that doesn't mean all sound as impressive. Often down to the bass quality, as some can be too soft and make the bass be less controlled. Obvious when comparing the DX180 DAP with Kensei, as Kensei sound much more controlled and tight in the bass with Kensei. It also makes better use of the drivers producing the highs, making it sound more clear and open.

While most of my testing has been done in the Bit Perfect and with no filters, the Cadenza 12 sounded extra good for me with K2HD and xBass activated. This just makes the Cadenza 12 have more of a full and lush sound without sacrificing the technicality too much.



Campfire Audio Astrolith is a dual planar flagship, the sound is energetic and thick with a V shaped tonality. The Astrolith is also quite sensitive and can pick up a slight noise when used without iEMatch, but only in silent passages.With it activated its nothing, you can also avoid it in the normal mode by using 3.5mm instead of 4.4mm.

Astrolith needs one thing for me to sound good, controlled highs that are not sharp. Since Astrolith have lots of treble energy, it is needed to balance the visceral and thick bass. For example the HIBY FC6 sounds a little dark and is not a good match for Astrolith, while DX180 actually is a little sibilant and sharp. Kensei definitely has more control up top and is clear with the sibilance and sharpness, it is just on the border so more bright music can get to much with Kensei. Activating the xBass makes Astrolith to rumbly, probably since it already has lots of sub bass. The xSpace it's hard to notice, only thing I notice is it being less warm that could be a good thing for the ones who find a set to warm.



Music

Click here for Audio with Leo playlist

When comparing iFi audio GO bar Kensei have used the tracks listed here and more, I will also provide a few records I have enjoyed lately.



Readers of my reviews know I have been talking about this artist before, one of my modern favorites of more organic and interesting electronica.



Instrumental desert rock/metal/progressive and more, little unknown gem that has many great records.



A modern classical gem, atmospheric and haunting.



Brilliant jazz artist from the UK, hadn’t heard this in years and recently got mentioned in a thread here on head-fi.



Summary

I took a new photo at the end of my review process, as you can see it has some wear and tear now. And that is for a good reason as I have had this with me everywhere, it is my favorite dongle and it's super versatile. Being able to have a dongle you can store in your pocket that can rival some high end DAPs is impressive, the sound is organic and technical without the usual glare or softness some have.

While I think the sound is excellent, some other things could have been improved for it to get a maximum score. The belt storage clip could have been changed out for a normal case, specially to keep it more scratch free when in use. Though this look is also a little nice, as it gets a worn look. While not everyone uses bluetooth for audio, having the option on a dongle makes it perfect for portable use. The button and LED layout is cool, but also a little more confusing than using a display.

The cons are minor, and don’t take away my enjoyment and satisfaction of the Kensei. I highly recommend this, Kensei the Sword Saint is a suiting name for this dongle.

Thanks for reading, and thanks @iFi audio for providing me with a review unit.

Introduction

Since 2012, iFi, the Southport (UK) based brand with distribution center in the USA, has developed more than 50 products. iFi sources parts from all over the world (Germany, USA, Japan, etc.) to offer the highest quality in all its electronic products (TDK C0G (Class 1) ceramic capacitors, Panasonic OS-CON capacitors, tantalum capacitors, muRata control type high Q and low ESR multilayer multilayer capacitors, etc.).
In its own words, the iFi GO Bar Kensei is similar to a legendary sword meticulously forged for a kensei. Embodying the dedication of a master swordsman, we focus on purity, balance and refinement to reveal the true essence of his music. Kensei is a Japanese term that translates to “saint of the sword” in English, a title bestowed upon the elite who elevate the art of swordsmanship beyond the best masters. With cutting-edge Japanese audio processing technology, K2HD, and enhanced power supply and clock circuitry, the Kensei represents the pinnacle of our journey of refinement in the GO bar range.”
The GO bar Kensei features K2HD technology developed by Victor Studio (JVCKENWOOD) engineers. K2 technology revives the rich, natural harmonics of digital sound, revitalizing the sound of studio recordings.
For this occasion, the iFi GO bar Kensei iFi GO bar features analog circuitry with a balanced design and a symmetrical two-channel output stage. It also has four digital filters and two analog processing modes (Bit Perfect, GTO, Minimum Phase, Standard, XBass+ and XSpace). The 32-bit Cirrus Logic DAC section of the GO bar Kensei uses a powerful 16-core XMOS microcontroller to process audio data received at the USB input. The precision GMT (Global Master Timing) clocking system ensures ultra-low jitter.
The GO Bar Kensei is made of Japanese stainless steel for maximum rigidity. It incorporates two power adjustment technologies: iEMatch for high-sensitivity IEM and Turbo mode for high-power headphones. iFi's unique 3.5 mm S-Balanced* technology reduces crosstalk and noise by 50% compared to standard single-ended headphones.
Finally, it is worth noting that iFi prides itself on being an environmentally friendly company.
Firmware v1.6A has been used for the following review.



Specifications

• Input: USB-C.
• Formats: PCM 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192/352.8/384 kHz. DSD 2.8/3.1/5.6/6.1/11.3/12.3MHz. DXD 352.8/384 kHz.
• Full MQA decoder.
• DAC: Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC by Cirrus Logic.
• Headphone output. 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 enabled).
• SNR: 132dB(A) / 121dB(A) (BAL/S-BAL) (With intelligent muting enabled ).
• SNR: 114 dB(A) / 114 dB(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: 65x22x13.2mm.
• Weight: 65.5g (2.3 oz).
• Warranty period 12 months.
• Price at time of review: $449.

Packaging

The iFi GO Bar Kensei comes in a medium-sized, white-backed box with dimensions 137 x 96 x 64 mm. In the top left corner is a pair of kanji, in the top center is the brand name in gray and in the top right corner is the Hi-Res Audio logo. In the center of this side is the actual picture of the dongle. Below is the product name and a brief description. On the back, top left, is the product logo. The rest is gray text. It starts with a short introduction about the reasons for using the word Kensei. Then it lists the main features of the product: content, connectivity, specifications, brand signatures and standards it meets. On one side are all the logos of the technologies used and, on the other, a real side picture of the bar. Opening the box reveals a bamboo wood box with a sliding lid. Inside is a quick guide card with the bar's connections that protects the Kensei itself, which is inside a thick black foam mold. In the second layer is the leather carrying case. The complete contents are as follows:

• The iFi GO bar Kensei.
• USB-C OTG cable.
• USB-C to Lightning cable.
• USB-C to USB-A adapter.
• Leather carrying case.
• Quick guide card.
• Instruction manual.

The presentation with the bamboo case is top notch, as is the black leather belt holster. The inner recess is designed to hold at least one adapter cable, although it really does fold up a lot. The GO Bar Kensei is protected by a sheet of paper to prevent scratches.



Construction and Design

The GO Bar Kensei is a Japanese stainless steel bar measuring 65 x 22 x 13.2 mm. Its weight is 65.5 g. Its shape is rectangular and elongated. On the upper face it has two small sharp edges on both sides. On the upper side are the brand logo, the two kanji, the model name and the sticker with the Hi-Res Audio logo. On the rear face are the LEDs indicating the playback formats, as well as the LEDs indicating the filters or modes used. The bar is divided into two parts: a sleeve and the lower cover containing the LEDs. On the upper edge is the USB-C input connection. On the underside are the two audio outputs: one 4.4 mm (BAL) and one 3.5 mm (SE). As usual, the BAL output is gold-plated, while the SE is plastic. At the base there is a small black Torx screw. On one side there is only a white sticker with a QR code. On the other side are the IEMatch controls, two buttons for volume and the mode button.
The two cables are of the same type. The oval, black, plastic sleeve that protects the connections is of the same type. The cable is covered with a gold braided textile fabric. The USB-C to USB-A adapter is metallic and black in color, and bears the brand logo in white lettering.
Without a doubt, this bar is on the larger and heavier end of my dongle collection. You notice its stainless steel construction and its almost minimalist and sober design, with a scratch-sensitive surface. In order to use it, the normal position is upside down, with the flat side containing the LEDs facing up.
The GO Bar Kensei looks like a desktop dongle, rather than a dongle for everyday or street use.



Connectivity

The GO bar Kensei is compatible with Apple cell phones, Mac tablets and other IOS systems. It is also compatible with Android and Windows systems. From Windows 10 onwards no drivers are required. It has ASIO drivers that can be downloaded from iFi's own website.



Operativity

The truth is that the GO Bar Kensei has many additional features, such as IEMatch. Its function is to reduce the output level, so that even the most sensitive IEMs can be matched to the GO Bar Kensei. It has three positions: the center one is disabled and can be activated for both the 4.4mm BAL output and the 3.5mm SE. To tell the truth, this switch seems to me a little sensitive and with little travel, it gives the feeling of being somewhat “loose”.
The volume can be synchronized with the volume of the connected mobile or computer. If synchronization is enabled, the connected device will indicate a volume change on its display.

By default, the synchronization function is disabled. To activate or deactivate it, press the button for more than 8 seconds. Activation is indicated by the six white LEDs lighting up. In that order, from the PCM LED to the center.

Turbo mode increases the gain by 6 dB. To activate or deactivate it, press the volume + and - buttons at the same time for more than 2 seconds. Turbo mode is activated when the 2 white LEDs (K2HD - DSD) are lit. Normal gain is indicated by 6 white LEDs (K2HD - PCM), which decrease to two and light up for two seconds.

Pressing the mode button (short press) toggles between Off > XSpace > XBass+ > XSpace and XBass+.

To enter the digital filter setting mode, press and hold the mode button for ≥3 s. The MQA LED will flash with the color of the currently set digital filter. Pressing the - button changes the filter selection. A short press of the mode button will select and exit the filter setting mode.
To activate the K2HD mode, the mode button must be held down for ≥3 s, after the MQA LED starts flashing. Then press the + button and the K2HD LED will light up to indicate that K2HD is activated.

Filters:

• Bit-Perfect (Cyan): Provides natural tones, ideal for all genres.
• GTO (Red): Enhances the details and density of the sound, especially suitable for vocal tracks.
• Minimum Phase (Yellow): Produces a warmer sound, blending Bit-Perfect and Standard characteristics, perfect for Soul and Jazz.
• Standard (White): Provides a tighter sound with controlled treble, perfect for pop music and movie soundtracks.

Sound effects:

• Blue: Xspace
• Orange: Xbass+

K2HD LED

• White: On
• Off: Deactivated

MQA

• Green: MQA
• Blue: MQA Studio
• Magenta: Original sample rate

Measures

According to the specifications the GO bar Kensei can provide:

• SE: 300mW at 32Ω, which is a voltage of 3.1V and a current of 97mA.
• SE: 3.8V for 600Ω, which is 24mW power and 6.33mA current.
• BAL: 477mW at 32Ω, which is a voltage of 3.91V and a current of 120mA.
• BAL: 7.2V for 600Ω, which is 86.4mW power and 12mA current.

It should be remembered that my measurements are based on finding a pure response over the entire frequency range and not just the pure 1kHz tone.
As a general rule, my measurements fall a bit short of what is specified. But there can be many factors for this to be the case. For measurements I have used the Kensei connected to several DAPS with very similar results. But the current delivery may not be the maximum.

I could see that some filters alter the frequency response for high tones, such as the Bit Perfect filter.



On the other hand, the output impedance is really low and almost tends to zero (without using the IEMatch).
Finally, I have not made measurements with the IEMatch on as it is an output attenuator.

The Standard filter has been used for the measurements. I have checked that the use of K2HD mode does not affect the power.



SE No load

At no load the maximum RMS output for low gain is 2V and 3.8V for high gain.



SE 15Ω

1,474VRMS for 15Ω, which means a current of 98.3mA and 140mW. Surpassing the mythical 90mA barrier.



SE 33Ω

This is where the discrepancies begin. According to the specifications, 3.1VRMS should be reached. My maximum measurement at 1khz has been 3VRMS, but that measurement is not reached for the whole frequency range, as distortion is observed in the pure tones. The maximum measured voltage without visible distortion for the whole range has been 2.651VRMS, which means a power of 210mW and a current of 80mA. Somewhat off the specification.



SE 100Ω

Surprise for 100Ω, the maximum voltage of 3.8V is not reached, but remains at 3.354VRMS, with 110mW and 33.5mA.



BAL No load

At no load the maximum RMS output for low gain is 4V and 7.535V for high gain.



BAL 15Ω

As I have seen in other dongles, the output for 15Ω by BAL is less powerful than by SE. 1.323VRMS, which is 120mmW and 88.2mA.



BAL 33Ω

3,562VRMS for 33Ω, which implies a current of 110mA and 380mW. 477mW and 120mA are specified. It falls 10mA and 0.35V short of reaching that figure. Not bad at all because it is a very high value.



BAL 100Ω

5,673VRMS for 100Ω, which means a current of 57mA and 320mW. Again, very high values for a dongle.



Frequency Response

Flat response in the audible frequency range. Only 0.5dB loss at 5Hz, however there is a slight gain at 40kHz.
With the Xbass+ enabled a gain of 8.5dB at 20Hz is achieved, which becomes 4dB at 50Hz and 0.5dB at 200Hz. You notice a fairly steep roll-off and a good job of gaining depth without bloating the mid bass. I like it.
The XSpace filter generates a sustained 5dB drop at 20Hz up to 100Hz, crosses through zero at 1kHz and gradually rises to 3dB at the 20kHz figure.
With both filters at the same time the subwoofer at 20Hz rises to 60dB, but drops 2dB at the 200Hz figure to match the XSpace curve above 1khz.



Sound

As is often the case, the various filters make very little difference. It is true that they exist, but it is difficult to explain the changes in words; they seem more like very subjective sensations.
For the sound review, I used the Standard filter without K2HD activated.
The first thing that makes me feel the GO Bar Kensei is that its sound moves away from that of any conventional dongle and resembles that of any desktop in its price range. I don't have any dongle that can compete on the same level. The Aune Yuki does not generate as good bass as the GO Bar Kensei, and neither does the EPZ TP50.
On a comparative level, the pure tones of the Kensei are very realistic, very analog, with no wave character, which gives it great realism and depth. Compared to other dongles, these generate more oscillations that are less realistic and more noticeable at the sub-bass end. The very low frequency tones appear more natural, colorless and without artifacts that spoil their behavior or sonority. It is the best dongle I have tested in the very low frequency pure tone test. And, of course, the translation to bass response could not be otherwise. Having no wave character, the bass is very restrained, very tight and concise. They are dry and relatively dark, with a very high level of precision, resolution and detail. The Kensei really knows how to extract the best bass from headphones.
En la prueba de graves sucios, mal grabados y sin filtrar, se mantiene la naturalidad y el control por encima de todo. El Kensei sabe cómo mantener los graves en su feudo sin que la sonoridad ni el timbre se vean afectados. Sobresaliente.
I mentioned that the bass is excellent, but the Kensei has the virtue of boosting vocals without being midcentric. In that sense, the GTO filter can be useful. Textually, this filter enhances the detail and density of the sound, especially suitable for vocal tracks. But, in reality, the Kensei is like that by nature. The mids are perceived dense, close and very present, with a certain sense of intimacy, without implying tightness or overwhelming. It also feels sweeter and softer, more analog. Vocals are more velvety, more textured, and move away from the smoothness they present with other dongles or even other desktop DACs/AMPs. And this is where the classic iFi sound comes into play: warm, rich, organic and highly textured, coming across as very analog and engaging, exciting and lush. It is possible that the notes are a bit thicker and their weight heavier, hence the density and texture are predominant in the sound. But that only enhances the impression made by the mids. The midrange moves away from dryness and becomes more focused or analytical. It becomes clear that the mids are profuse, plethoric and very full, highly enjoyable. They move away from any bland or purely informative impression to become much more expressive and exciting. And that is the true paradigm of iFi sound that the brand has achieved with this Kensei dongle.
It could be said that the nature of the Kensei allows the personality of the connected headphones to be expressed. The Kensei does not make all headphones connected to it warm. It is true that it favors and brings out the potential of softer headphones, enhancing those characteristics. But those that are cooler or more analytical also benefit from its level of transparency and resolution. The richness of the sound and all its details are also demonstrated on the other side of the scale. The Kensei does not shy away from a stark or harsh presentation, but instead comes across as softer and more musical, with nicer, rounder edges and profiles. But that doesn't detract from the treble's fuller, even subtly extolled response. The musicality of the ensemble makes the treble come across as more joined-up and harmonious, coming to sound like one long, wide piece. It loses that more focused, individual and concrete feeling, in which each note seems to have its own representation, to sound in a more natural, organic and combined way. All this, while maintaining the definition, clarity, transparency and level of resolution that the Kensei treasures, as can be seen in the frequency response graph, in which a slight emphasis of the harmonics is noted above 20 kHz.
The Kensei's stage is very large for a dongle. The layering capability and the thorough breakdown of background detail are on par with, or even above, the best desktop systems. It is impressive how the Kensei can compete on equal or superiority with desktop systems of the same price point. Despite this level of musicality, the Kensei does not shy away from being explicit with micro-details, displaying them in a precise, elegant, natural, realistic and analog way. The ability to delve into the depths of the sound is one of the virtues that I have most enjoyed about this equipment. But, above all, its differential expression stands out, far from any cold, profiled and over marked representation. The Kensei knows how to breathe life and passion into that micro-detail, generating musicality from the smallest elements. From there, the sound expands and fills the soundstage coherently, big, but without overflowing. The sound is broad, but also dense, full and enveloping. The sense of laterality and height is immediate. The sound immediately passes over the head and surrounds it, but without losing the sense of attachment and blending of all the notes together. It is not a gaseous and ethereal sound, but rather a powerful and extensive one, which expands thanks to its capacity for depth, prolongation, dilation and propagation of the notes. In this way, the recreated image appears very realistic, even close at times. But it is also full of life.



Conclusion

I can't say for sure that the iFi Go Bar Kensei is the best dongle on the market, but it is the best I have tried. It is true that it is also the most expensive, but its sound and all its special features can justify this price. Starting from the premise that it is a special edition, made of Japanese stainless steel, and presented with the refinement that this level of construction deserves, ifi has wanted to provide this dongle with all the particularities of its best equipment: IEMatch for both outputs, the best electronic components, K2HD technology, XBass+, XSpace, four sound filters, S-Balanced technology for its 3.5 mm output and a huge amount of power to move practically everything. And the best part is that all those special properties do work when it comes to expressing the best sound, the trademark of the house. The sound of the Kensei is big, analog, realistic, natural, organic, powerful and expansive, as well as terrifically musical, expressive and, of course, warm, smooth, highly enjoyable, engaging and enveloping. It is a real pleasure for the ears and also a headache for other desktop devices of the same price. I think the EISA award for best product of 2024-2025 in the compact DAC category is undoubted.



Earphones and Sources Used During Analysis

• Kiwi Ears Quintet.
• Kiwi Ears KE4.
• LetShuoer S12 2024.
• LetShuoer Cadenza 4.
• Simgot SuperMix 4.
• Simgot EA1000.
• NiceHCK Himalaya.
• BQEYZ Frost.
• Rose QT9 MK3.
• Hidizs MP145 Golden Titanium.
• Hidizs AP80 PRO-X Red Copper LE.
• Tempotec V3.

iFi Go Bar ‘Kensei’
RRP: $449.99



Introduction

This is my second experience with an iFi product, a brand that’s been on my radar for the past few years. They have a strong presence on Head-Fi and regularly show up in my Amazon recommendations... no doubt Amazon knows my browsing habits a bit too well. My first encounter with iFi was the Gryphon, which I picked up about two years ago. It was a beast of a DAC/amp with impressive performance, but I ran into a hardware issue unfortunately as the 4.4mm jack was stiff, and after a few days, some internal parts actually came loose while unplugging an IEM. It was a bit of a shock, so I decided to return it, which was disappointing because I really liked the Gryphon...

Lawrance from iFi reached out to me a few weeks ago, suggesting I try out the Kensei. It felt like the right time to give iFi another shot, and I’m glad I did. This review will dig into what makes the Kensei a standout device for me.

The Kensei was sent to me free of charge in exchange for my thoughts and as always, the brand has no input to my review.

About Me…

I worked in the consumer electronics industry for a large part of my career and have been passionate about music and technology for as long as I can remember. Even as a small child, I would ask my mum to put records on the turntable (Abba, Supertramp, and Planxty if anyone is curious).

My music preferences are very varied—anything from classical to techno, indie rock to jazz, and everything in between. In my early teens, I was a big fan of bands like The Cure and The Smiths (still am all these years later). I was bitten by the dance music bug in the early 90s, becoming passionate about genres like techno, house, trance, and IDM. I amassed a huge collection of records and CDs, DJing at various parties and occasional pirate radio station slots. Although it remained a hobby, I still own thousands of records, and my trusty Technics 1210 turntables are still going strong 30 years later—a testament to Japanese engineering!

I am not a professional reviewer, just an enthusiast who loves music and the devices we use to listen to it. Over the last few years, I have become obsessed with IEMs and related gear. I've bought and sold many, and kept a select few—ranging from the $20 Moondrop Chu to kilobuck sets like the Aroma Jewel, Oriolus' infamous 'Traillii,' UM Mentor, and various beloved single DDs. Through this exploration, I like to share my thoughts with the Head-Fi community, hoping they might be useful to others. However, remember that this is a highly subjective hobby, and your mileage may vary.

While I've been fortunate to own and try a variety of the TOTL sets on the market, I honestly enjoy lower-priced sets as much - especially as the gap continues to close, many much cheaper sets now offering significant value and further driving diminishing returns.

I’ll admit I do suffer from happy ears—rarely do I find an IEM that I genuinely dislike. At this stage, there are very few truly "bad" IEMs; it all comes down to individual preferences. Since I listen to such a wide variety of genres, I almost always find synergy with some part of my library. Where I tend to deduct marks is in areas like value for money, poor accessories, or an uncomfortable fit—things that can detract from the overall experience.

About iFi Audio (from the brand website)

Since launching in 2012, your love of music is why we continue to pour our heart and soul into creating audio devices that make a difference to how you live your life.
It’s why we oversee the design, development and manufacture of more than 50 products from our headquarters in Southport, UK.
It’s why we source parts from across the globe including Germany, USA and Japan.
And it’s why we set up our distribution centre in the USA who serve industry leading retailers such as B&H and etailz and work hard on increasing our global network.

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 Output: 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: 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

Unboxing

The Kensei arrives in what initially seems like a standard box, with typical branding and details. However, upon opening, it becomes immediately clear that iFi has gone the extra mile with a presentation that’s anything but ordinary. Inside is a stunning wooden box adorned with intricate Japanese-inspired artwork... a beautiful and unique touch that singals the premium nature of the product.

Accessories

The Kensei comes with everything you need to hit the ground running. The aforementioned wooden box is not only a functional storage solution but also a piece of craftsmanship that earns its place on any audio enthusiast’s shelf. Additionally, a premium leather holster with magnetic closure is included, which has enough space to carry the Kensei and one of the provided cables.



Included accessories:

• Leather case
• USB-C to USB-A adaptor
• USB-C to Lightning cable
• USB-C to USB-C cable

Design

The Kensei feels luxurious in the hand with its robust, stainless steel construction. Despite its compact form factor, it carries a reassuring heft, which might be noticeable in your pocket but feels consistent with its high-end nature.



The buttons, which include volume control and a function button, are soft yet tactile, providing a satisfying click when pressed. The +/- increments are very well-executed, tapping up or down results in very small adjustments, allowing you to really tweak to your specific volume preference.



On one end, you have 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced outputs, while the other houses the USB-C port. Both audio jacks feel secure yet easy to use (phew!).





Another thoughtful touch is the rear-mounted LEDs that indicate the format being processed - convenient for quick at-a-glance reference… and indeed looks pretty cool, I certainly enjoy subdued LED lights as I feel they add to the overall premium package.





Features

One of the most notable aspects of the Kensei is its power output, delivering up to 477mW @ 32Ω (balanced) and 300mW @ 32Ω (single-ended). This makes it capable of driving a wide range of headphones, from IEMs to more power-hungry full size headphones with ease.

The inclusion of iEMatch technology ensures silent operation even with sensitive IEMs. While I encountered some initial buzzing with my FIIO FA19 (and was briefly a bit worried, thinking it might be a fault!), enabling the iEMatch switch eliminated the issue immediately.



Switching between sound settings takes a little getting used to, with combinations of button presses enabling features like Turbo mode and the signature XBass and XSpace enhancements. These features provide customization options to suit various preferences and genres, adding versatility to the listening experience. The font is rather small also, so those of you who might be like me with somewhat declining eyesight, prepare to do a bit of squinting or holding towards a light source… the joys of age. I'd recommend reviewing the manual to get a grip on how to adjust all of the sound features.

As per the vast majority (if not all?) dongles on the market, the power is sourced from the host device. I must note that virtually all of my listening has been via my laptop, so I can’t comment unfortunately on the extent to which it drains battery power from a phone.



The Kensei becomes somewhat warm during use, but at best lukewarm, certainly nothing more.

XBass & XSpace

The XBass feature takes me back to the 1990s or early 2000s, reminiscent of the “bass boost” modes on old-school portable audio gear. Activating it injects an immediate sense of warmth and weight to the low-end, adding a noticeable rumble and a good solid slam as kick drums hit. While I don’t use it that frequently, it’s great to have as an option for tracks that benefit from extra low-end energy.

Switching to XSpace creates a vastly different effect, significantly widening the soundstage and pulling back on the bass somewhat. I am listening to 36’s "Exit All The Lights" as I type this, and I was very impressed by how the soundfield expanded, lending the music a more ethereal and quality. This setting can make some vocals sound a touch thin but excels for instrumental and ambient genres in particular in my experience… possible a case of your ears needing to adjust though, especially when switching from XBass.

K2HD

The K2HD feature, developed by JVCKenwood, enhances digital audio by restoring harmonics to create a more natural, organic sound. Activating it involves holding the options button for a few seconds, followed by a quick press of the volume button to select K2HD. The accompanying LED lights up to confirm the setting.

With this mode enabled, I found the sound to gain a smoother, more intimate character. It pairs particularly well with ambient and classical tracks, enhancing their sense of nuance and texture. While I don’t use it universally, I’ve kept it enabled for roughly 70% of my listening, which speaks to its impact on my experience.

Listening Impressions

The Kensei delivers an impressively clear, detailed tonality that feels well-suited for a wide range of genres. Bass is deep and impactful without overpowering, striking a perfect balance between power and control. The midrange shines with clarity, presenting vocals and acoustic instruments with texture and depth, while the treble extends smoothly, offering crisp detail and air without harshness.

Switching on XBass instantly enhances the low frequencies, providing a richer, more energetic presentation that pairs wonderfully with electronic, dub, and other bass-heavy genres, albeit a touch too much for me at times on recordings that are already very bass-focused. Conversely, the XSpace setting adds noticeable width to the soundstage, creating an expansive, immersive listening experience. Activating K2HD, probably the standout feature of the Kensei for me, brings a refined harmonic texture to the sound, and adding a touch of organic warmth that complements genres like modern classical or acoustic music to name two, yet doesn’t compromise in terms of resolution and detail.

As previously noted, power output is a real highlight, as the Kensei has no trouble driving hungry headphones like the HD650, all while maintaining excellent control and dynamics. Sensitive IEMs also perform exceptionally well, with the iEMatch feature ensuring dead silence and eliminating any trace of hiss, a perfectly black background.

Across all configurations and pairings, the Kensei adapts beautifully, offering an exceptional level of versatility… intriguing to look at a such a relatively small device, and experience what it’s capable of.

Regardless of what genre shelf I reach for, the Kensei consistenly impresses me with its ability to convey music with both emotional engagement and technical excellence. It’s a compact powerhouse that consistently delivers a high-end listening experience.



Comparisons

Potentially unfair comparisons, given the significant additional investment required to step up to Kensei, but at the same time, perhaps useful to illustrate what you get for the extra $$$.



DITA Navigator ($299)

The Navigator has been my go-to dongle for many months now. From a features perspective, there are quite a few differences – for Navigator, these lie more in perhaps features that will be more specific to rather niche preferences; a kickstand for a mobile phone, a built-in Philips screwdriver, and probably one of the most robust designs on the market… but as I say, these will be somewhat niche – although on a recent flight, I was kicking myself for not bringing Navigator while trying to find something to prop my phone up as I watched a movie on Netflix! Kensei on the other hand provides tuning configurations that allow you the flexibility to tweak the audio to your preference, arguably a more popular feature for a dongle, but the Navigator has an incredibly quirky charm in terms of the overall design and set of functions.

Getting down to sound, the most obvious immediate difference is the power output for both single-ended and balanced… Kensei delivering 477mW balanced, and 300mW single-ended, versus 340mW and 110mW on the DITA. You can immediately hear the difference the extra power makes, especially on sets like Erebus from NGAudio, that extra power under the hood makes the tuning sound more vibrant, dynamic, and energetic… I suspect the hungry ESTs appreciate the power. Kensei sounds more detailed too, not quite as warm as Navigator – not that Navigator is too warm, but I note the difference in temperature when switching, Kensei just sounds more lively, vibrant, and energetic, and even with the extra detail, certainly not clinical.

Cayin RU6 ($249)

The RU6 is the oldest of the bunch, and a dongle I’ve had since it was released – I think possibly 2022? While similar in size (even though it looks larger in the picture above, just shadows), it certainly weighs far less and feels significantly lighter. As one would expect with R2R, the RU6 immediately sounds smoother, more organic, and more relaxed overall as a result – that coupled with the lower power (213mW balanced, 138mW single-ended) leads to a far less energetic presentation, lacking the detail and dynamism of Kensei, plus steps back quite a bit from a soundstage perspective. R2R is a unique proposition though, and incredibly captivating so there is absolutely an argument to own both, reaching for one or the other as the mood or music suits… if however you are a one-dongle person, it will really be down to your preference of source signature, and crucially whether you need the extra power on offer from the Kensei. RU6 definitely not leaving me anyway.

Conclusion

The Kensei stands as a testament to the art of audio engineering. Its premium built quality, powerful output, and exceptional sound performance make it a standout choice of dongle. While the price may place it in the upper echelons, you do indeed get what you pay for... a stunning design, a robust feature set, and sound quality that sets it apart from the competition - oh and of course a beautiful wooden box

As Musashi once said, "Perception is strong and sight weak. In strategy, it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things." The Kensei encapsulates this philosophy, bringing the finest details in music to the forefront while maintaining a balanced, expansive soundstage. With its unparalleled precision and artistry, the Kensei truly lives up to its name "Sword Saint" offering a "Way of Sound" that cuts through the ordinary and elevates your listening experience to something truly extraordinary.

For those seeking uncompromising quality coupled with one of the most beautiful looking dongles on the market, the Kensei delivers in my experience, and should you choose to invest, I honestly cannot imagine you will be disappointed, and indeed I cannot imagine you will see a need to upgrade for the foreseeable future!

Finally, worth noting that the Kensei was recently awarded with the prestigious EISA award for Best Compact DAC 2024-2025, a testament to its standout performance and design.



Thanks again to iFi for the opportunity to review Kensei, definitely exceeded expectations.

Hi Guys,

Today we are talking about a follow-up product from iFi, the GoBar Kensei. I reviewed the original GoBar a couple of years ago and was a big fan of it when compared to other dongle DACs I had used, especially if it was going to be your primary DAC/Amp in your system. iFi has taken the GoBar and slightly reworked it with the new Kensei model, and added an interesting feature from JVC/Kenwood as part of the new package.

Basically, the Kensei is the same size and shape as the original GoBar. It features a new Stainless Steel shell which is slightly heavier than the original GoBar but should offer slightly better protection from bumps and knocks and does feel better in the hand than the original. The inputs and outputs remain the same as the original GoBar, with a USB-C input, and a 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced Pentaconn output as standard. I really like the industry’s overall move to USB-C over the last couple of years for these types of devices, as I find it to be a bit more hard-wearing and tough than connections like Micro USB.



On the side of the Kensei, there are three buttons, two for either volume change or option change, and a selection button for the K2 HD processing, iFi’s standard XSpace, and XBass options, and MQA (though I would argue MQA is pretty much a dead format these days.) It also features iFi’s “ieMatch” feature, allowing you to tweak the output for very high sensitivity IEMs, which is very handy if you happen to own a super sensitive pair to avoid hiss.

So. What is “K2 HD” processing? This is an interesting new feature that is owned and licensed by JVC/Kenwood. Essentially the engineers at Victor Studio found that their Digital submasters did not sound as good as their original masters. I’m assuming this may mean older tape-based masters, as the vast majority of recording since at least the late 1990’s is captured digitally. Anyhow, I digress. As far as I understand K2 attempts to correct the 1st 2nd and 3rd harmonic distortion characteristics of the original sound, across the high-frequency range – which can be truncated by 44.1khz/16bit recordings. Thus, the overall goal of K2 processing is to try and provide a more true to real-life sound from recordings whilst also upscaling the file to 192khz/24bit. Did I find it made a huge difference? No. A slight difference on some more simply recorded acoustic instrumental tracks? Maybe? Honestly, it was a small enough difference it could have been mental and the placebo effect. Still, it’s an interesting feature to have on such a small piece of gear, and I have to give iFi credit for at least trying new ideas and trying to bring meaningful features to their products.



In terms of overall sound, the Kensei reminds me of the original GoBar but with slightly less warmth in the lower mids and very slightly more clarity in the treble. The overall performance is actually very similar. There is a very good amount of power available, 477mw into 32ohms from the balanced 4.4mm output, which is impressive for a device of this size. The slight increase in clarity in the treble does help with the leading edges of notes and helps sounds seem slightly more defined. The bass is largely the same as the original GoBar but does seem slightly more accurate and precise, again perhaps due to the slight increase in clarity.

In terms of filters, you have the same filter set as many iFi devices these days. Bit Perfect, Standard, Minimum Phase, and Gibbs Transient Optimized. My favourite of all these which seems to be across all the iFi devices which feature them, is the GTO, Gibbs Transient Optimized filter. This upsamples to 352.8/384Khz and seems slightly more detailed to my ears. It also seems slightly more accurate sounding. However, I really recommend you play with all these settings, as you might enjoy one of the other filters. There’s no right or wrong answer here, just personal preferences.



The build quality of the Kensei feels better than that of the original GoBar. This will largely be due to the new Stainless Steel shell. It has heft to it and feels great in the hand. The finish will scratch if pushed, but so will the original GoBar. Overall, there are not many changes build quality-wise with the GoBar, as there isn’t really much to a simple Dongle DAC/Amp, but the new stainless steel shell is a welcome addition, in my opinion.



Overall, the GoBar Kensei is a slight improvement over its predecessor so original GoBar. The new implementation of K2 processing is not as massive a change to the sonics as it may seem, but everything else about the Kensei remains worthwhile. I really do enjoy the new stainless steel shell, and the slight changes and improvements to the sonic performance are absolutely worthwhile also. At $449USD, this is not a cheap USB dongle DAC/Amp. If it is going to be your only source/amp in your system, it is worth it in my opinion. If it is simply a cheap backup option you are looking for, I would recommend checking out some of the cheaper Chi-fi dongle options on the market, of which there are many nowadays. The Kensei sounds great, has worked well over my entire time with the loaner model, and looks and feels better than the original also. A nice update from iFi, and worth checking out in my opinion.

iFi GO Bar Kensei ($449): There are Dongles, and then there are Dongles.



GO Bar Kensei

Intro:

The original GO bar was lauded for excellent performance and features, which many others did not have. It was also fairly expensive compared to some competitors, which also performed favorably to it in comparison. While not the costliest, the GO bar Kensei can be placed in that vaunted group of upper-end dongles such as the Cayin RU6, RU7, and Questyle M12 & M15. All are excellent dongles, with many functioning nearly on par with their desktop brethren.

Here is where the GO bar Kensei may separate itself because while it does share some with the family, it goes its way on its own merits. iFi is known for utilizing technologies outside the “normal” portable audio world, and the Kensei is no exception. Here they use technology developed in concert with JVC/Kenwood bringing something unique into play.

I am a fan of iFi products, having tested and owned many including my TOTL Pro iDSD/iCAN models as my go-to home baseline. This will not hinder my review, and it may even make me more critical of the unit, since I own many of their products and have a certain level of expectations going in. The Kensei is a loaner unit and will be returned upon the finishing of this review.

Specs:



In The Box:


GO bar Kensei
USB-C to USB-C cable-10cm
USB-C to Lightning cable-10cm
Carrying pouch
Owner’s manual
USB-C to USB-A adapter
iFi warranty card



Gear Used/Compared:

iPhone 13 Pro Max
MBP
HiBy R4

Spirit Torino Twin Pulse IEM
CFA Solaris 2020
Meze 99Classics

Cayin RU6
Cayin RU7
Questyle M15



Tech Highlights:

The Kensei comes with the usual aspects associated with quality dongles/DACs, but also carries some tricks up its sleeve. First and foremost, the Kensei uses K2HD technology developed by JVC/Kenwood and modified to fit iFi’s needs over 18 months of collaborative work.

In a nutshell, K2HD seeks to restore what has been lost from the original masters when copying to digital representations. Purportedly harmonics and emotive effects are lost over numerous iterations from the original masters (this is why first pressings sound better than subsequent vinyl representations). Reviving that loss leads to a more organic, rich signature of the music revitalizing what the studio sound was meant to be when we hear the recordings. This iteration is a new version developed specifically for the Kensei and iFi.

The Bit-perfect 32-bit DAC chip developed by Cirrus Logic is capable of PCM up to 32bit/384kHx & DSD up to DSD256. The Kensei also supports 2x DXD and full MQA decoding.

The 16-core XMOS microcontroller offers support for the inbound sound also optimizing sound quality. With GMT (Global Master Timing) clock system for low jitter and the choice of four bespoke digital filters (GTO-my favorite on my Pro set), Bit-Perfect, Minimum Phase, and Standard) and two analog processing modes, the Kensei comes fit for use.

Throw in the usual iFi characteristics of Turbo mode (IEM Match off), XBass+, IEM Match (3.5mm se & 4.4mm bal), and XSpace and you have a highly tunable dongle.



Design:

Dongle/DACs are by nature small and mostly unobtrusive. The Kensei is no different, except for the look and heft. This is not a light dongle by comparison, and much of that can be attributed to the stainless-steel shell, which carries the bulk of the 65.5g weight. It also carries fingerprints. Coming in at 65x22x13.2mm it is slightly thicker than the Cayin RU7, but markedly heavier by almost 3x.

Carrying the Kensei script logo on one side, the other is side is all business with the nomenclature for all of the decoding choices and color LEDs, along with XBass+ & XSpace. The right side (as you look at the side with the LEDs) carries the function button on the top portion, which controls turning XBass+, XSpace, and actuating MQA on (long press). Below that are the volume up and down buttons, with the IEMatch toggle below that.



iFi has long held that a bit of fine-tuning could help with your jack of choice, and this is where IEMatch comes in. Switching to 3.5mm allows a synergistic approach with those headphones and IEMs that have a 3.5mm jack. Conversely, the 4.4mm bal does the same thing, dropping the volume level of either a bit. When in the off position the volume is raised back to “normal” or what is considered Turbo mode here. While not quite as brutal as the Turbo mode on iDSD Diablo or the older micro–Black Label, it does raise the volume enough to warrant me turning the volume down first.

The bottom carries the lined 3.5mm se and 4.4mm bal jacks while the top houses the USB-C connection port. Simple and straightforward to operate, it does carry extra weight compared to its competitors.



Wired Connectivity:

USB-C to USB-C

Using the included cable for connection to my MBP was seamless and permission was immediately asked to allow connection. Entering Tidal, the Kensei was already connected (which does not happen on some items I have reviewed of late).

The connection was stable, and the Kensei could easily lay on the desk next to the MBP with just the right length of the cable.

USB-C to Lightning

The same can be said about connecting to my iPhone, but the heft of the Kensei was felt more here. Permission was granted again and I was listening within a few seconds to Tidal and Qobuz.

Battery impact:

I was seeing 5-7% per hour on my MBP, and that much or more on my iPhone. Not the best, and not the worst I have encountered.

Sound Impressions:

All sound impressions were made on my iPhone 13 Pro Max, MBP, or HiBy R4 using a combination of the Spirit Torino Twin Pulse IEM, Campfire Audio Solaris 2020, or the Meze 99Classics.



Summary:

iFi products to me have always slanted a bit (or more) towards a warm, musical signature, with richness and an organic nature to them, which separates them from competitors. The Kensei, while sharing some of those characteristics comes across as musical but with a lighter hand in the overall sound signature. Brighter, compared to my desktop Pro duo, the Kensei immediately sounds more succinct in sound quality, with an accuracy that sets itself apart.

Both ends are lifted a bit, making for the typical V-shaped signature, but mids still come across as harmonious, melodic, and detailed; if a bit lifted and behind the extremes.

K2HD effect:

The K2 implementation makes the end product sound more natural to me, giving the overall sound signature a bit more clarity and detail. There is a slight amount of holography as well, with a more musical note to it.

The bass response becomes a bit more pronounced, with an increase in presence (especially with XBass+ on). The mids come forward while the treble gains some presence. Both seem to be “closer to true” than before.

The overall stage is more energized and the timbre becomes organic. Layering seems to take on levels not heard before, which becomes closer to the original. I found Pop and Rock work well here, but jazz also becomes more sensual in tonality.

I am a fan of vinyl and the Kensei embraces that vintage sound, albeit with excellent translation moving away from the “typical” analog sound often heard with devices that promote detail and clarity first and foremost.

Timbre:

There is what I call a “typical” iFi sound, which comes across as vibrant, detailed, and rich. But one not having the most clarity. There is a definite sound to it, which purists may not like; but as mentioned above the K2HD implementation goes a long way towards combining all of this into a coherent sound.

The Kensei lies on the warmer, richer side of life; with thicker notes giving a velvety touch to the music, but with sufficient clarity to satisfy most. While detail retrieval does suffer a bit as a result of this, the K2HD implementation and XSpace go a long way toward combining the best of both worlds. I am beginning to see the value of such a device, especially for those who may want something that works across many platforms and in many situations.

Think of the Go bar Kensei as a device pining to be a desktop unit besides a portable device.

Even without XBass+ and XSpace toggled on, the sound carries a good holographic feel to it, along with detail in its character. There is a solid if not depth-reaching bass line holding the foundation, with the mids coming forward. Treble reach carries good height without becoming grating or too much sizzle for my liking.

Add in XBass+ and XSpace though, and the sound be very immersive. This to me makes for the more typical iFi signature sound. Raising the volume becomes a necessity as you engross yourself in the music at hand.

Staging & Dynamics:

The soundstage without XSpace on is good, equally spread in all three dimensions to me. Adding XSpace to the equation makes for an out-of-head experience in all three dimensions. This adds to the holographic sound to me, allowing the layers to become more prevalent and discernible. Not in a separate way, but cohesive. Expressive notes come across with excellent heft and the right amount of thickness. All while not becoming thick or slow in response.

Transient response especially with XSpace takes on those extra detailed levels in a good way without becoming too expressive or sharp in shortness. I have always what appreciated XBass+ and XSpace can do, and this is no different. Some might think this added filtering makes for a less-than-realistic sound, but I would rather have the choice(s) of this than not. There are times when I leave both on and others where both are off or use one singularly. To me, that is the benefit of having that choice. Change when you feel like it.

Dynamically speaking this can compete with some of the best out there, including the Questyle M15, while also having the ability to change some “filters” to your choice.



Pairings:

For ease of use, while typing this out, I connected the iFi GO bar Kensei to my MBP, which of course limited its CODEC response. That said, Tidal still sounded full and vibrant with a rich character that made me appreciate the positive response hooked together. Playing with XSpace and XBass+ allowed me to tailor the sound to my liking, even with those limitations.

Switching to my iPhone 13 Pro Max with similar limitations still afforded me better sound than without, by a good amount. Transient response was faster, with better clarity coming forth, without losing the depth of the notes. iFi’s traditional note-weight heft shone through without becoming drippy. XSpace and XBass+ were a wonderful treat, but not needed as much with this pairing. I still used both regularly, especially when the song needed more volume to satiate my appetite.

Moving to a non-iOS device in the HiBy R4 allowed me to experience more options to stretch the legs and strengths of the Kensei. All music had to be played through the USB Audio Pro app, but logging into Tidal and Qobuz was easy and play within the app was seamless across SD card and the streaming platforms.

The R4 carries a bit of richness to its signature, but with a bit of flair to it, which I appreciate. Adding the Kensei into the equation raised that flair factor, adding depth to the low end as well. Mids were moved forward a bit using the Kensei, too. Playing Los Lonely Boys came across as raucous & fun, with a rich, warmer signature giving me an immersive effect.

IEMs/Headphones in use:

I leaned heavily on the Meze 99Classics with the DDHiFi BC150B 4.4mm bal cable and came away impressed. The only “fault” I can find with the OG 99’s is a tendency to sound a bit thin in sound signature. I still consider it one of the best bargains out there, especially used (my pair was used and it was in “as new” condition). A simple aftermarket cable and the addition of the Kensei have made me appreciate the versatility of the 99’s even more now. The Kensei took the 99’s positives and added an extra bit to each segment, which was greatly appreciated and could be “tuned” by turning both XBass+ or XSpace on or off.

When I reviewed the Spirit Torino Twin Pulse IEM, I came away impressed with the sound, while thinking I would like to try their headphones in the future. Until then, this will certainly do. Adding the Kensei to it, the vibrant tonality stuck out to me yet again. The Kensei comes across as typically iFi in its warmer signature, but the clarity coming forth adds to the Kensei’s reputation for quality along with the “house sound.” Using this pairing I gauged the sound equally impressive and palatable with and without XBass+ or XSpace turned on. While I did prefer both to be activated in this setup, the punctuating mids coming out filled in what I might consider the Spirit’s weaker point. The midrange is very, very good, but a bit behind the signature. Using the Kensei brought the whole into focus again, heightening my overall appreciation of both.

The CFA Solaris 2020 is a polarizing unit. When I reviewed Thomas’ copy, I came away with the positives of it being my favorite of the 2020 trio release. Tight control of the bass coupled with mids that define the CFA legacy were accentuated using the Kensei. Bass reached a bit deeper using XBass+, and the spatial awareness of the sound became a bit tighter and more detailed using XSpace. The DDHiFi Nyx Pro is an astounding cable for the price but does bring with it a punctuating midrange that may not be the best choice for the Solaris 2020. But I used it anyway, and combined with the Kensei it made for a thoroughly engaging signature, especially with electronic-oriented music such as Jamiroquai’s Deeper Underground. Punctuating treble notes and a solid bass foundation made me think I was in a fine Paris underground nightclub. A good mix again.



Select Comparisons:

You should ideally have 3 comparisons but 2 is ok also if you are short of options. If you only have one then talk to me as we can tailor something different.

Choice of comparisons should be a factor of similar price, similar features and ideally, brands people identify with but I know that is not always possible. Talk to me about this if you have concerns.

Cayin RU6



Technical

At $249, the RU6 is half the price of the Kensei, and much simpler. The RU6 is a 24-bit R-2R DAC, which comes with 48 resistors (23-R & 25-2R) per channel, totaling 96 resistors. As opposed to the typical Delta Sigma DAC, the R-2R is a ladder-back array as mentioned above. This can purportedly isolate potential feedback better making for a “purer” sound coming forth.

With power up to 138mW at 32ohms in 3.5 and 213mW at 32ohms in 4.4, that may not seem like much. Coupled with the device LO set at 100 typically, I found the power much more than adequate. The large SNR ratios of 113dB’s and 114dB’s (20Hz-20kHz, A-weighted) respectively played into the versatility of the RU6, too.

Design

At 65mm x 25.4mm x 13.7mm and 28g, the RU6 is slightly larger, but half the weight of the Kensei.

The black glossy plastic does make for a fingerprint magnet, but the orange case not only looks fabulous it gives you better tactility. Plus, with only three buttons to control, usage becomes second nature. The difference here from “typical” dongle/DACs is that the volume buttons are next to each other instead of sandwiching another control.

That last button (closest to the headphone jacks) controls access to the simple menu, which contains gain (H/L), sampling (NOS/OS), and the backlight. Accessing this functionality requires a long press, which keeps it from accidentally being pushed. This is especially good since gain is the first option.

Performance

While comparing some dongle/DACs in this price range, the RU6 quickly became my favorite along with the Questyle M12...until I heard the RU7. Separating that, the RU6 is vibrant and tantalizing in signature with a sound that may be too bright for some.

Digging deeper reveals that the forward nature of that sound is excellent detail retrieval and an increased level of clarity. Cayin knows a thing or two about producing portable devices, and the RU6 is a home run in the semi-affordable market.

The differences here are usable features and the definitive difference in sound signature. If you prefer a tighter, more accurate signature, the RU6 wins. But if you want a more immersive sound, one which can draw you in allowing some level of control; the Kensei wins to me going away. Both are excellent in their own right, though.

Cayin RU7

Technical

Currently on sale for roughly $220usd, the RU7 would be considered a steal for that price. With a 1-bit resistive ladder DAC configuration, Cayin continued its adaptability in forging a different path. Sharing some technology with an in-house item, as does the Questyle mentioned below. Nominally more powerful than the RU6, the output of 160mW on a 32Ω load, and balanced output of 400mW make for a very adequate jump across your devices.

Both the R-2R for the RU6 and the 1-bit for the RU7 were the first of any kind in the dongle/DAC world. There is a degree of similarity to how R-2R and the 1-bit work using matching 0.1% resistor ladder arrays for conversion. The 1-BIT DAC however benefits primarily apply to processing native 1-BIT DSD, as opposed to PCM, which is multibit. Arrayed in 128 pieces (4x32) the resistors go through a 3-level LPF conversion before being converted to a single-ended signal for volume adjustment. This is almost unheard of adding dynamic range and channel consistency not often heard at this level.

The RU7 with no FPGA differentiates between the two signals (PCM & DSD), adopting an “all-to-DSD” processing approach. That means both PCM and DSD get processed (upsampled) to DSD before being sent to the DAC, an approach that yields benefits in sound impressions well beyond what it should.

The RU7 decodes up to DSD256 natively as well as PCM up to 32BIT/384kHz, consistent with the RU6’s decoding capability.

Design

At 66m x 24mm x 12mm and 25g, it is lighter than the RU6, but roughly larger than the Kensei. The black glossy shape again carries fingerprints. I am again thankful for the good-looking green case, which adds looks and tactility to it.

The LCD screen also carries more sub-menus including “All to DSD,” which is the LPF mentioned above as well as output (PO/LO), gain (L/H), and backlight (complete with changeable timer).

Performance

I like the RU6 performance. I love the RU7 performance. Rich, and velvety but with finesse and substantive increases in clarity make this one of the best dongle/DACs out. Yes, there are newer ones, but the level of detail wrought from the 1-bit ladder array makes me a believer.

While not quite having the bass depth of either the RU6 or Kensei, the quality of sound makes up for that “lack” of reach down low. Mind you it is still there in plenty, but without the sub bass reach of the others.

Changing the DSD filter can alter the signature a bit when utilizing something that handles DSD, but is pretty useless on iOS devices. Nonetheless, the majority of the planet can enjoy the decoding levels.

If I had to choose between one, it would come down to features vs sound. There is no denying the absolute gem the RU7 is in terms of sound. Considered by many as one of the absolute best dongle/DACs out, I cannot deny that. The Kensei has filter-changing abilities, and slightly more power, which can sway some, but this will come down to whether you prefer pure unadulterated sound versus the ability to add spatial awareness and extra bass down low. I cannot decide.

Questyle M15

Image courtesy of Headfonics.com

Technical

At $250, the M15 comes in at half the price of the Kensei as well. Carrying the company-patented CMA (Current Mode Amplification) like its desktop units in 2 SiP modules, the familial sound here is as telling as iFi’s. Using the ES9281AC PRO chipset, the M15 goes for a different approach than many of today’s Cirrus Logic choices (but the same choice as the M12).

A 32-bit two-channel DAC make for use up to DSD256 native and PCM 32BIT/384kHz as well as an 8X MQA hardware unfolding capability. The Torex power management unit along with 11.97mW @ 300Ω (3.5mm se), and 22.60mW @ 300Ω (4.4mm bal), seem extraordinarily low, until you see that is at 300 Ω. The M15 provides plenty of power for most devices.

Design

At 61.8mm x 27.2mm x 12mm and 28.5g, it is bigger and heavier than the other two comparative efforts here. With an open side, you can see the insides at work, complete with a light denoting CODEC, but does fall behind the others at DSD128 only. I like the look of it and preferred it to the others due to the ability to see inside.

Performance

The Sabre-equipped chip M15 pretty much set the bar for sound when it came out. The then lofty price of $270 was “justified” due to its extraordinary sound emanating from within. I found myself not wanting to give back the loaner unit at the time, contemplating the selling of much of what was sitting on my desk as “desktop units.”

The levels of detail wrought from the M15 far surpassed pretty much any dongle out, and I still lament for a Questyle desktop unit such as the CMA15 or even the CMA12, they sound so good. For those looking at purely sound, this is the benchmark to me (RU7 is a close second). Levels of detail you thought were not possible from a dongle/DAC come forth with waves of euphonic clarity. Exacting sound is one thing, but to do so with emotive effects as well comes down to the tuning of that ESS Sabre chip and Questyle’s in-house engineers; which need to be given a hefty raise.

But a large downside does exist: when using an iPhone, you need the Apple camera adaptor to get proper power to the unit. The iPhone power sent to the M15 is insufficient to properly drive it or drive it at all according to multiple reviews (my results as well). Once this issue was taken care of, the functionality was fine. But to those of us using an iPhone, the levels of gain from a dongle pale in comparison to Android or Linux users. If this was on pure sound, the M15 would be my choice, but factor in the functionality issues (there is now an M15i that has corrected said issues) and lack of customizing and the Kensei makes a strong case for itself.



finale:

The iFi GO bar Kensei is the latest iteration of the venerable GO bar series. The OG GO bar cost a pretty penny itself, setting the bar (so to speak) high, while winning awards as the top dongle out. The Kensei, with its additional K2HD sound enhancements and new shell, raises that bar even higher.

Providing excellent sound to start with, the user can add bass or soundstage via a somewhat holographic effect tailoring the sound even further. To do this, the price has been raised. We are now entering into the category of solid-performing desktop DAC/amp units that have more connecting options and most likely provide more power. So where does the Kensei fit in?

The Kensei will provide the user with an excellent option to add more power to their Smartphone (which many now arguably do not need) or laptop, while also enhancing the sound coming forth. This is probably its greatest strength twice over: more power and enhanced sound. Who doesn’t want that for when you need to drive your hard-to-drive headphones through your laptop or Smartphone?

The downsides? The price for one, and the fingerprint-prone stainless-steel shell. Another downside to me is the small lettering on the Kensei which is also harder to see on that shiny surface. And (minor) like any portable iFi device, both sides are worth looking at, but one will be face down most of the time covering most likely the Japanese script.

But the positives, including the excellent IEMatch, more than make up for the cost increase. Especially when we consider the sound coming forth from the Kensei. For those looking at a portable solution that while heavy, provides excellent sound characteristics, plus the venerable XBass+ & XSpace; the Kensei is well worth a look and muscles its way to the top (or close to) of the dongle/DAC category.

I again thank Lawrance and iFi for the loan of the Kensei and appreciate their continued support. The Kensei will be missed, so I guess my desktop units will have to do it for now.

Cheers.

Introduction
iFi Audio is a well-known name in the realm of portable audio, most importantly for those who appreciate high-quality sound on the go. Based in the UK, iFi has proved its reputation by the introduction of design ideas and production of an amazing device range, which, certainly, is targeted at providing the utmost quality of sound. It is their latest product, the iFi Audio Go Bar Kensei, an upgraded version of the original Go Bar. Basically, this is a small, high-quality portable DAC/amplifier gadget. Taking its design and technology cues from Japan, the Go Bar Kensei promises better performance and high-end build quality. It is easily portable because of its small size, and it still drives both earphones and larger headphones effectively. Priced at $449 (₹39,999), it would be more for those looking to have a superior sound experience without compromising on portability.

Build Quality

Talking about the build quality, the iFi Audio Go Bar Kensei makes a good impression right from the moment I took it in my hands. The moment I saw the device, I felt that it was a premium one. Made of Japanese stainless steel, this is perfect work. Despite being polished, every edge is smooth. It is very small and portable, although it is noticeable in its weight. It feels solid, which is reassuring and at the same time a surprise for something that small. Brushed stainless steel outside definitely enhances the premium feel, but it also makes the device a complete fingerprint magnet. But that's one thing I personally can't help but pay attention to: it is evidently seen that iFi did not skimp on the design of this device. And the packaging. The unboxing of the Go Bar Kensei felt pretty special. It comes well-packaged in a sturdy wooden box with foam cutouts for the device and its accessories.

Experience

Using the iFi Audio Go Bar Kensei has been an easy experience after I was acquainted with it. The setup on this thing is actually rather user-friendly. On one side, you will find three circular buttons: a settings button on top and two volume controls, + and -, below it. The settings button, I found: It lets you toggle through a couple of useful sound features. For one, hitting the settings button once will give you an xBass boost that noticeably punches up the bass. Hit it again, and it gives the sound a little more air and depth with the xSpace to let you savor even better what you are listening to. A third push and they are both activated, and a fourth depress deactivates them. This actually makes it very easy to adjust the sound rather quickly. The rear of the device has indicators that light up giving information such as sample rate, whether MQA decoding is on or off, K2HD processing, among others. As for the outputs, at the bottom are the 3.5mm SE port and the 4.4mm balanced port. This helps me switch really easily from one headphone to another without an issue in view of the variety of headphones or IEMs that I would like to use. It really impressed me with how much power it was delivering—way more than one would expect from something of this size and more than capable of driving even demanding headphones. A function that I found very useful was the IEMatch switch. This switch really helps reduce background noise and gives a cleaner sound, especially when sensitive in-ear monitors are used. In a word, using the Go Bar Kensei feels very smooth; the controls are friendly, and the attention is focused clearly on versatility and high-quality listening.

Sound Quality
Basically, where this iFi Audio Go Bar Kensei really stands out is in sound quality. I have subjected the Go Bar Kensei to extensive testing, with a variety of in-ear monitors, from the Softears RSV and the Aful Performer 8 to even the Blessing 2. The results are excellent. It matches nicely to the warm and bassy signature of the Softears RSV, which is vocal-oriented. The unit does much for bringing the natural warmth of the RSV and its bass response out, yet without over-coloring the output. This is especially notable with tracks that are already rich in bass and have forward vocals. The Go Bar Kensei brings a clean and powerful output, keeping all the characteristics of the RSV but making its performance clearer and more refined. The IEMatch feature here has especially come to the rescue, helping reduce noise and interference, so that the RSV can present its full, engaging sound profile. In addition to that, this is where the xSpace function came in as a fun add-on that increased spatial width and a sense of air to the sound, which made it sound more open and immersive.

On the other hand, an IEM like the Aful Performer 8, with its IEM strength on detail and clarity, does benefit from a cable like the Go Bar Kensei to further accentuate the last bit of subtlety toward a finer presentation. Go Bar Kensei comes with so much detailing in sound processing that the most convoluted subtleties of the Performer 8 come out with pinpoint precision, which makes for very critical listening. The sound remains utterly neutral and transparent, without any changes to its inherent qualities; on the contrary, this sound profile boosts the detailed presentation. The xBass feature of the iFi Go Bar Kensei, when turned on, increases the low frequencies for the P8 and gives it more depth and impact, making bass-heavy music tracks sound better. This makes it ideal for genres that benefit from a richer bass experience.

One could easily say the ability of the Go Bar Kensei to maintain an equilibrium without focusing on any specific frequency range with the Blessing 2. The soundstage of the IEM from Go Bar Kensei is very wide and enveloping. It did wonders for the sound quality; not only that, but this one doesn't need xBass and xSpace. A transparent character, quite clean and detailed, carrying the original intention from the recording. Furthermore, added benefits of the IEMatch feature enhance the listening experience through sensitive IEMs. This little device is quite versatile and will basically go well with almost all kinds of IEMs or headphones, especially thanks to those xBass and xSpace modes. All in all, the iFi Audio Go Bar Kensei is just the versatile and powerful companion you need. It shows how good it is at adapting to different scenarios without the sound losing its integrity.

Comparison
When comparing the sound signature and power output of the iFi Audio Go Bar Kensei with the Hiby FC6, there was a huge distinction. The Go Bar Kensei masterfully reproduces very rich and relatively neutral sound, with quite a lot of cleanness and accuracy. It is powerful enough to drive even some hard-to-power headphones and IEMs, making it versatile for people who have different tastes in listening. The sound profile does not change much; this is great for users who wish to experience their devices in a clear, uncolored manner. On the other hand, Hiby FC6 gives slightly different impressions and may have its strengths. The FC6 usually sounds more dynamic and incites coloration, which some users may find useful for more vivid perception. While also being able to drive power effectively, it might not be able to match the capability of the Go Bar Kensei in doing so for high-impedance headphones or in terms of sheer detail. Go Bar Kensei would be an ideal fit when one needs clean and precise sound across different devices, while the FC6 can be opted for if he/she is looking for some dynamic and coloured sonics.

Conclusion
Summarising, the iFi Audio Go Bar Kensei DAC/Amp device that brings high-end promises for purity, cleanliness, and neutrality in sound. It has rather strong power and, subsequently, can deal with most headphone and IEM pairs, being rather universal and good for meeting audiophiles' needs of accuracy and detail in music playback. The integration of K2HD tech and IEMatch features will improve the performance, making users enjoy high-resolution audio with a slight touch of coloration. Though the build quality and the design are quite premium made, the weight and the shape could not be as much handy for on-the-go usage compared to some lighter, more ergonomically designed options. In general, it excels in delivering a quality sound that really is not coloured by prejudice but very faithful to the source: reason enough to consider it a good investment for any other person who loves a sophisticated, accurate portable audio solution.

Introduction:-


Hey guys, today I am going to review the ifi go bar kensei. This is a new dongle dac from ifi which costs a whopping $449.

I have also shared a video version of the review at YouTube any support there in form of a view, A like or A subscribe is greatly appreciated. But if you so wish to read the written version you can read this.





Before I start the review I want to say a huge thanks to Ifi for the review unit. But all the thoughts and opinions you are about to hear are my own. Please check them out below via the unaffiliated link to Ifi

Buy here (Unaffiliated Links) :-

Amazon USA - https://www.amazon.com/iFi-GO-Kensei-Portable-Amplifier/dp/B0CYCPZBJZ

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/iFi-GO-Kensei-Portable-Amplifier/dp/B0CYCPZBJZ

Ifi Website - https://ifi-audio.com/products/go-bar-kensei/

Ifi Japanese website - https://ifiaudio.jp/products/go-bar-kensei/


I will be as usual following my bullet style format for better readability for those who are dyslexic and in general find it hard to read long paragraphs. I follow this guide in general from the British Dyslexia Association.


Lets get started!

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Review:-



1. Before I tell whats inside the box, let me tell you about what the Go bar is kensei is about



2. Kensei in Japanese means “Sword Saint”, which is a title given to someone who has gained elite level of skill on swordsmanship. This is not to be confused with “Kenshi” which means swordsman.



3.Miyamoto Musashi who you might have heard about from games such as onimusha or if you have read the japanese comics or manga “vagabond” by Takehiko Inoue where the main character was based on Miyamoto Musashi. Yes was one of the most famous Kensei in japanese culture.








4. When you open the box of the go bar kensei, you are greeted with a fantastic bamboo box with some traditional engravings on it.



5. While most even care about it, but it certainly adds a fantastic touch to the unboxing experience.



6. When you open the box, you get the dac and below it is the pouch which has the cables.



7. You get one small usb-c cable with a usb c-a converter and c to lightning cable for people using old iphones.



8. I would say the accessories package is really awesome as it gives everything. But I personally do not like the case which has this belt loop around it. It just doesn’t go well with the dac.



9. I would have preferred a better case which can hold the dac and iem of your choice along with cables.



10. Also for the price, I would have like if ifi would have included a case for the dac. Not the big case, but rather a case which is included with the likes of the fiio ka17.



11. Now coming to the dac, it has this fantastic build quality! It is entirely made out of stainless steel. It is made of Japanese stainless steel.



12. The build quality is fantastic and feel so premium, its almost like a show piece.





13. This stainless steel build quality also has drawbacks is that it catches fingerprints very easily.



14. While I love the stainless steel body and the heft it has, but it does scratch easily and hence I would have loved a case included inside the box.



15. I would have been happier if they had given me a proper case rather than include a pouch belt loop case. Again this is my personal opinion, do comment below and let me know what you think.



16. While the build quality and weight does invoke confidence in me, but its a bit too heavy and the weight can tug on your iems and could cause some strains to your usb c port and usb cable.



17. Now well all the negatives end over here, because from here on out its all uphill for the go bar kensei.



18. Lets talk about the tech inside the Kensei. It has the same cirrus logic dac as the regular go bar.



19. It has PCM upto 32 bit/384khz, Native DSD upto DSD256, 2x DSD and Has full MQA Decoding.



20. It has the K2HD tech which was developed by JVC Kenwood. It basically is a settings which upscales your mp3 files. Will talk about it in detail during the sound section.



21. It has the fantastic Xpsace and Xbass+ mode which is ifi is famous for






22. It also has 4 filters Bit-perfect, GTO, Minimum Phase and Standard. I will talk about this more and in detail in the sound section of this review.



23. It uses a XMOS16 core chip to process the audio data, It uses TDK capacitors and Tantalum capacitors with a panasonic os-con capacitor along with murata control type capacitors for better noise reduction.



24. Sorry for all the marketing talk, I know it doesn’t matter but still wanted to share it.



25. It can send power upto 300mw via the 3.5 and 477mw via the 4.4 at 32ohms. Which is awesome and should be enough for even some headphones. It powered all my iems without any issues.



26. Well before I talk about the sound lets talk about the buttons and how to use the settings of the kensei



27. Well on the left side you have the function button, volume + and – and the iematch button






28. The iematch button is available for both 3.5 and 4.4. But for me I didn’t need it to use it all, because even the most sensitive iems had no problems with the kensei.



29. Unlike the ifi hip dac 3 I had no issues with noise here and the background with even my most sensitive iems was pitch black



30. Now if you press the settings buttons once, you will be toggling between xbass+, xspace and then xpsace + xbass+ together and then off. You have to toggle between these settings in cycle and to turn it off you have to do it in order and cycle through it, unfortunately you have to cycle through the settings you cannot select one setting directly.



31. Now to turn on K2HD press and hold the settings button for 2-3 seconds and the MQA button blinks.



32. Then press the volume + button to toggle between K2HD on and off



33. Now if you press the volume – button you can toggle between the filters of the kensei, which there are 4. Bit-perfect, GTO, Minimum Phase and Standard.



34. Bit perfect is represented by cyan colour, standard by red, Minimum phase by yellow and GTO by white. As usual you have to cycle through the filters you cannot select one filter directly.



35. After setting k2hd and/or the filters just press the settings button once to set it or wait a few seconds to set it in its own.



36. The volume thankfully is independent



37. It is denoted by the lights on the back from K2HD to PCM, each notch is about 10 volume steps. So in total there are 60 steps for volume.



38. After the volume is set the lights returns to its original position to denote the bitrate of the file.



39. Pressing the volume + and volume – buttons activates the turbo mode which is basically high gain. The lights run up and from K2hd to PCM denoting that turbo mode is engaged. When turbo mode or high gain is engaged the lights beside PCM and K2hd are on



40. Now when you switch to low gain or normal gain mode, the lights run down from PCM to K2hd. Also when In low gain mode the lights beside DSD and K2hd are on.



41. Now as you can see there is a bit of learning curve to learn the controls. I will display the manual on the below, please do go through it once






42. I personally would have liked a screen something akin to the KA17 or EPZ TP50. But I guess maybe its not included because the machining process might get too hard and complicated or maybe it might have introduced noise.



43. A small gripe here, but once you get hold of the controls after few uses its quite easy!



44. Now lets talk about the sound! I have used the bit-perfect mode for all my testing and haven't used any xbass or xpsace or k2hd mode for the base testing. Before I talk about the sound I want to say that it is very hard to determine the sound of a dac sometimes and its heavily dependant on the iem I am using and also by comparing it to different sources I have access to.



45. The overall sound of the kensei is very similar to that of the hip dac 3 and the go blu the other ifi products I have.






46. That is to say its a very warm neutral sound and sounds very analougish.



47. The bass of the kensei has a tad bit of punch, which for bright sounding iems sounds very good.



48. But for thick sounding iems like the plutus beast doesn’t sound too dark.



49. The mids of the go kensei stays relatively neutral specially the male vocals. It all depends on the iem



50. But the female vocals has this nice kick to it. For example when listening to Ano umi ni by Hako Yamasaki the raspiness of her voice comes across more prominently when listening to it via my cadenza 4 or the ea500lm. Normally they sound a tad bit subdued.



51. But it doesn’t again become unbearable specially when listening to bright sounding iems.



52. The treble is the place which surprised me. Because the treble is really beautiful and crisp but yet it sounds so natural and analougish and warm.






53. While the treble notes of the kensei are a bit blunted, but it doesn’t loose the naturalness of the entire treble range.



54. If you find my explanation of the sound a bit hard to understand lets give you an analogy. During the rainy season at night when you sit at a warm place and drink a hot cup of chocolate and also during summer when its too hot and you drink a crisp glass of cold lemon juice to quench your thirst. The kensei sounds something similar to both of those feeling combined. I know its a bit cheesy, but hope that gives you an idea.



55. It sounds warm and analuogish while not losing on the details so much.



56. The soundstage of the kensei has gives a great boost. For example the ea500lm and cadenza 4 sounded a bit wider and deeper than usual when listening to live songs






57. I found no difference in imaging here and it depended completely upon the iem I was using.



56. Now talking about the K2hd mode. Well before I got I was very skeptical of it, but it surprised me and it surprisingly works very well.



57. When listening to the song Nobody by One Republic which is the ending song of the anime Kaiju Hachigou. The loseless version I bought sounds really crisp, the bass notes are really tactile and the voice sounds 3 dimensional but the lossy spotify version sounds ok and a bit 1 dimensional.



58. With my usual suspects of iems via the kensei when playing the loseless file it sounded fantastic. But when I listened to same song via spotify or youtube music with the same setup it sounded a bit lifeless.



59. Without K2hd it sounded a bit closed in and the bass notes were slightly rolled off and it sounded like I was listening to the song in a tin can. But with the k2hd on it improved the experience a lot!



60. The bass notes sounded a more tactile, there was a slight treble boost, the sense of spaciousness in the song opened up a lot. The tin can type listening experience I was talking about exists no more.






61. I know it sounds a bit unbelievable, but trust me for lossy mp3 files the k2hd really does improve the song a lot. The lossy version of the song sounds a bit closer to the lossless version of the song, granted the song is mastered very nicely.



62. One more thing, do not use the k2hd mode with loseless files as it does make it sound bad and has the reverse effect. Use it only with lossy mp3 files.



63. When listening to the song crack crack crackle by classy via my cadenza 4, I always find the bass to be a bit lacking. But using the xbass+ mode of the kensei, it sounds so good. It doesn’t distort other parts of the sonic range at all while giving a good bump to the bass.



64. What I like is that the xbass+ mode of the kensei is much more subtle and nicer than the big +10db boost from the xbass mode which the ifi hip dac 3 has.



65. The xbass+ mode is my favourite thing and is one of the main reasons why I love ifi products and I have been using the go blu since day one!



66. The xpsace mode in the kensei too works very well, like when listening to songs like galactic funk 1985 live version by cassiopea. The sense of space seems a bit wider and the crowd claps sounds distant like they should while giving a good understanding of the placing of instruments of the band,





67. The xpsace and xbass+ mode together is good, but it highly depends on the type of iem you are using. Because not all iems will sound good with these both modes on.



68. One more thing I want to mention is that the kensei has very good volume progression, most dongle dacs I tested has a small range of volume progression but for the kensei its a very linear rise.



69. Now coming to the comparison of the kensei with my favourite dongle dacs.



70. v/s Hiby FC6 – Well the fc6 has been favourite dongle dac from the day I got it. It just sounds fantastic! But the kensei takes the cake over here, it sounds very similar to the fc6 but it expands on the soundstage which in my opinion the fc6 lacks a bit. Also the treble in the kensei sounds natural while not losing the details too much. While both the fc6 and kensei sound very similar but the features which the kensei offers specially the k2hd, xbass+ which is my favourite fetaure, even with the price difference I would easily pick the kensei.



71. v/s Fiio KA17 – This is another of my favourite dongle dac along with the FC6 until now. But the kensei is every way better than the ka17 in my opinion. While the ka17 has EQ options via the app, the screen is a fantastic addition and makes it easy to use daily very much and also the included case is a big bonus. But I personally prefer the kensei and its simplistic approach than the ka17. While I would have loved a screen here, but after the initial learning curve its not that hard. Soundwise the KA17 is quite neutral sounding and the soundstage is very wide, but the subtle warm sound of the kensei along with the great soundstage and xbass+ features I would pick the kensei.



72. Now comes the million dollar question or a $449 question, which one shall you pick and is the price difference worth it?



73. Well that entirely depends on how much you can spend. Don't get me wrong both the Fiio KA17 and the FC6 are a fantastic device, but the kensei improves upon them.



74. While I don’t like doing this, lets put an arbitrary number for those 3 devices. As of this review I would say both the FC6 and KA17 are a 91/100 with the fc6 sounding very analougish and the ka17 sounding a bit neutral while having a better soundstage and more features. But if I have to give the kensei a number then I would give it a 94-95/100.





75. Now it completely depends on you if you are willing to pay a premium for that sound. Again in no way or shape or form am I saying that kensei is not expensive, it is very expensive for a dongle dac. But I would also be lying if don’t say that the kensei does sound better than the fc6 and ka17



76. If you have the money or means and are using very expensive iems or headphones, I would highly suggest checking out the kensei. Also this doesn’t have battery, so you don’t have to worry about it breaking down or replacing the battery.



77. Well this certainly is the rolls royce of dongle dacs, and it shows in the price, the build quality and the performance.



78. So that is my review of the Ifi Go Bar kensei, If you have any question please do comment below and I will try to help you out. Like and subscribe to my YouTube channel if possible as it helps me a lot in making these reviews! Its free and its a great way of supporting me. I hope you have a great day ahead, bye!

---

If you have any questions please feel free to ask me and also if you have any issues regarding this format of review please do comment I will try to mend it. Also sorry to those who are used to reading long paragraphs of review in headfi. I hope my review was upto the mark, I appreciate any feedback.

Again a big thanks to ifi Audio for making this review possible.

Have a great day ahead, Bye

I mainly review only dongles lately as I am a bit obsessed with them. Does not matter to me anymore if it makes sense to buy another expensive dongle but just to find the best one. I can buy a dap or a proper headphones amp instead or even review some of them however my obsession dictates only to look and find the best dongle available to drive headphones that normally should not be driven well by dongles.

Few months ago I have reviewed the fiio KA17 which I described it as a giant killer and an end game dongle. Moreover, I thought that was the only dongle that can drive properly, almost like an amp, difficult to drive headphones such the Sennheiser 6 series. I have tested in the past the ifi go bar and owned the KA3 and KA5 so I knew immediately when I saw a big leap from KA17 that this was the end for dongles for me for some time in the foreseeable future.

Ironically enough Kensei was around the corner! I was intrigued when the Kensei was presented and I wanted to hear it. I was not expecting though to be significantly better than the KA17 as the bar was really set too high. And from memory although the original go bar was great at the time did not left me such an impression to really miss it.

It took me though few moments to get shocked from the Kensei using K2HD or not as I found it immediately better than the original go bar. I really did not expect that at all as it is using the same dac with the original one.

I used several headphones starting with the 58x then moving to 660s and 660s2 ending up with Elex. In every time I was in total disbelief how this dongle is so much magical and drawing me into the music like no other. The sound is more organic and analogue in comparison to KA17. It has a bit less analysis and resolution but only in a direct comparison. But the sound has substantial more gravitas to it, more flesh and is substantial more musical.

The comparison is quite unfair if someone uses the original cables shipped with KA17. Surprisingly enough the cables shipped with ifi doing better jobs with both devises. I used only these cables with both devices for comparison purposes and they improve even further the sound coming from the ka17. But even then, I have preferred almost always the sound signature and musicality of the Kensei.

The tonality and sound signature of the Kensei is similar to KA5 not surprising as they use Dacs from the same brand. The technicalities and depth of Kensei is much better and on another level in comparison with the KA5. Both emphasise particularly bass presence as I find many cirrus logic chips have that trait. The bass from ka17 is much more neutral. And although ka17 is much better than KA5 in almost every respect it sounds a bit lean and more digital in direct comparison to Kensei.

From the moment you hear the Kensei you just do not want to go back in anything else really. The treble is amazing, the bass is substantial and the mids are simply wonderful. It sounds like a proper amp with a full rich sound across all frequencies. I would never justify this amount of money for a dongle but with the Kensei is a simple question of affordability. If you can afford it you go for it. Obviously the ka17 is still the undisputed value king that you can always have around but the Kensei can give you such emotions that is difficult to live without once you experience them.

My 58x scaled even further, testament how much great this cheap headphone is, being able to sound better and better with a good source like its more expensive siblings. I find 58x the most musical of the series and since the Kensei is also the most musical dongle I have heard in my life this combination is one of the heavens.

The same is true with my 660s. It performed better than any other time with the added benefit of the substantial bass presence. The 660s is prone to synergy especially to the bass department as it is bass light in some combinations but not others. The cirrus logic signature (KA5 and Kensei) makes a wonderful combination eliminating any bass accusation once and for all. The upgraded quality of Kensei elevates this headphone to another level surpassed only by its upgraded successor the 660s2.

In combination with the 660s2 the bass presence is now on another dimension. The organic nature of the Kensei especially when combined with the K2HD settings transform the s2 to sounding like a super mega HD650 on steroids. A tittle that belongs to the family and not the Elex as focal used to claim. Which in turn sounds so much organic and impactful by the Kensei-K2HD combination. Superb combinations all over the place indeed.

I used mainly for my testing the balanced output of the Kensei as I am doing almost always with my headphone collection which particularly favours the extra power. In addition, the click in the cable input seems really sturdy and satisfying something that you cannot take for granted in other dongles.

The best analogy I have is what Apple did recently with the iPads. You have the iPad Air 13 which is absolutely fantastic value for money and the iPad Pro 13 with the oled screen that is crazy expensive. You look at them on a store and really you do not see much of a difference. However, you take them home and look carefully in dark and then the additional screen quality hits you and really you cannot go back. Simply you want to have it if you can afford it. Both choices are great and cannot go wrong but one is really magical. But as the ka17 is so much reasonably priced, in this particular case you can have both if you can afford the Kensei.

When I first unpacked the Kensei I was shocked both by its beauty and its weight. Personally, I find the cold colour distasteful and thus I was never interested in the cold bar. But I love the platinum or silver and the Kensei with its simplicity and Japanese engraved letters is absolutely stunning. But I was concerned about the weight. How this can be a practical dongle I initially wondered. But nowadays I do not pay any attention to the weight at all. Surprisingly enough does not bother me a bit. As I am using at home only, I get so much used to it that is the least thing I am noticing. It seats on my lap beautifully.

The design is classic and I love it even if there is no screen on it. I am ok with that because exactly in this kind of design you cannot have a screen on it. The back side though with all these small lights is a bit impractical. Thankfully though I do not need many adjustments. I have the pure filter, K2HD on, volume boost and that’s it, I am ready to fly.

The battery life is also much better with the Kensei in comparison to the desktop mode of the KA17. The desktop mode is needed for the best performance with my 6 series headphones. Paradoxically as I changed from Apple Music to tidal recently I find tidal to work much better from an iPhone. My iPhone has a lightning port though so cannot play with desktop mode. The Kensei can have maximum performance without such mode so can play with my iPhone for a much more acceptable time period. So in terms of practicalities the Kensei battery consumption is the perfect compromise of performance vs efficiency. Can drive magnificently my 300 Omhs 660s2 for some considerably time with my iPhone.

I really do not understand how ifi managed to do this. There is nothing extraordinary with the dac inside or the amps used as I can see from the marketing material. And although the K2HD is a nice setting and I prefer it the Kensei is impressive even without it. It seemed that all the quality components advertised are not a marketing trick and they pay dividends in terms of music satisfaction. Although is from memory I find the Kensei much better than the original go bar. And although the original go bar is cheaper I do not find it a great value for buying at the moment. On the contrary, although the Kensei is even more expensive than the original go bar is such much better that is also a better value to my eyes. I usually recommend good value for money products that I can easily afford and replace if I needed without pain but there are some exemplary products that make you throw caution into the wind and the Kensei is definitely one of them.

I really hope ifi introduce some more affordable dongle in the future with less functionalities that not everyone needs like the imatch or the amazing wooden box in order to decrease the price so everyone to be able to afford it. They can also go a bit wild and try other dac manufacturers and mobile amp sections. They can also try to change the shape and incorporate a small oled screen on it. But they should never loose this organic nature of their sound signature which is trait of every ifi product so far.

I never thought that I recommend wholeheartedly an expensive product but is the pure pleasure you get musically from this device that I can give my full buy recommendation for anyone that can afford such a beauty visually and sonically. After all, some claim there is no price to absolute quality but we can all agree that there some special products sometimes that makes it worth paying a bit more…like a pro…

DISCLAIMER

The iFi GO Bar Kensei is a loaner from iFi. It will be returned after this review.

It can be gotten here: https://ifi-audio.com/products/go-bar-kensei/ (no affiliate links).




INTRODUCTION

In case you are wondering what is a "KENSEI", this Japanese term means "Sword Saint". It is a legendary title that is not handed out easily, and is only bestowed on the cream-of-the-crop prodigies and maestros in swordmanship. Indeed, as we will read below, there are a lot of Japanese influences in this dongle, from the packaging to the external design, and even within some of the internal components.


SPECIFICATIONS/COMPATIBILITY

Tested at $449 USD


I'm not an Apple ecosystem user and can't vouch for its performance and compatibility with Apple gear, but the Kensei was easily picked up on various Windows and Android devices I plugged it into. There is no need for the installation of additional drivers on Windows 10 devices and above.


ACCESSORIES

Other than the dongle, the packaging includes:
- USB-C to USB-C cable
- Lightning to USB-C cable
- USB-C to USB-A adapter
- Leather case
- Wooden box

The accessories are comprehensive, even catering for our Apple fans with the provision of a Lightning cable. Hence, everything that an audiophile would require is covered.



The cables are well-sheathed and braided exquisitely, and are quite supple.




The leatherette case has a button clasp, and the insides have pockets to store accessories and the Kensei. The back of the case can be secured onto a belt or bag with a harness outpouching.




There is also an elegant wooden box with carvings and a slidable cover, which ties in nicely with the Japanese Kensei concept of being an artisan piece of work.


DESIGN/FUNCTION



In keeping with the Eastern motif, the Kensei is fashioned from tough Japanese stainless steel. It is literally built like a tank, but the refined finish may be prone to scratches if one is not careful.

This dongle is rather compact - measuring 65 x 22 x 13.2 mm - so it can easily fit into a pocket or small bag. However, weighing in at 65.5 g, the Kensei is quite heavy for a dongle, so dangling off a phone on-the-go might not be the wisest idea in terms of preservation of USB ports.




On one end of the fuselage, we have the USB-C port for charging and data.




The opposite end houses a 3.5 mm (single-ended) and 4.4 mm (balanced) port, with the latter reinforced by gold plating. IFi’s markets that there is an inclusion of a patented 3.5mm S-Balanced technology, which is supposed to half crosstalk and noise.



Along the side of the chassis, we have the the iEMatch tab, + and - volume buttons (also doubling up as turbo mode), and a round setup button which toggles between filters and other modes.



I'm glad to report that the Kensei has independent volume steps with finely tuned levels. There are some modern day dongles that totally omit volume controls, or even if they are present, some are not independent or have too huge steps in between presses. Of note, the Kensei goes one step further, in having an option to unyoke it to a non-independent volume setting (just hold the setup button for > 8 seconds to activate this).

Turbo Mode increases the gain by 6 dB. This is essentially iFi's terminology for a gain button, and is activated by holding the + and - volume buttons for 2 seconds or longer. This may be an option for harder to drive transducers to induce more headroom.

The round setup button cycles thru DAC filters, XSpace, XBass+ and the K2 HD modes.

The XSpace function provides a more expansive stage, whereas the XBass+ can increase bass for our basshead brethren.

The 4 digital DAC filters can be accessed via pressing the setup button for 3 seconds and then pressing the - button:

• Bit-Perfect (cyan light): Delivers a more organic tone and lusher midrange. No digital filtering or pre/post ringing is applied.
• GTO Gibbs Transient-Optimised (White): Music is up-sampled to 352.8/384kHz. Minimal filtering with no pre-ringing and minimal post-ringing is applied. Resolution and micro-details are improved.
• Minimum Phase (yellow light): Slow roll-off with minimal pre and post ringing is in play. We hear a warmer tone.
• Standard (red light): Bestows a balanced filtering with modest pre and post ringing.

The DAC filters are quite subtle but do offer some minor sonic differences if one pays close attention in a quiet environment.

The analogue K2 HD mode is activated by pressing the setup button for 3 seconds and pressing the + button thereafter. This K2 HD mode is a specialty of JVC Kenwood, and is supposed to confer a very natural and organic sonic profile via processing of harmonics.




On the back of the device, we have a multitude of LED lights that correspond to the various bitrates and modes that are in use. One can refer to the manual on what the colours signify.

The Kensei has no app software unfortunately. Neither does it have PEQ or an LED screen.




INTERNALS

Unlike the usual Burr Brown chips found in iFi products, the Kensei has 2 DAC chips - a Delta Sigma DSD & DXD DAC by Cirrus Logic, and another analogue DAC in the aforementioned K2 HD technology.

This dongle allows playback of music from MP3 all the way to DSD256, PCM384 and DXD384.

IFi has included a myriad of premium technology inside its frame, such as:

• 16-core XMOS micro controller for the 32-bit Cirrus Logic DAC, with low latency and double clock-speed via a 16-core IC and superspeed USB standard
• Customized digital filter via GMT (Global Master Timing) precision clock for low jitter
• TDK C0G (Class 1 ceramic) capacitors
• Panasonic OS-CON caps totaling 5,410uF
• Tantalum capacitors
• Murata control-type, low-ESR high-Q multi-layer capacitors
• Balanced design with symmetrical dual channel output stage for analogue circuitry

SOUND/PERFORMANCE

I tested the Kensei with Android phones and Windows laptops and PCs. Once again, as I am not an Apple ecosystem user, I can't vouch for its performance with Apple devices.

On phones, I used the HiBy Music Player, with USB bit perfect OTG activated. I cannot vouch for usage with other USB exclusive music apps.

The testing below will be with FLAC/WAV files via the Cirrus Logic DAC, on bit-perfect mode.


Tonally, with the Cirrus DAC in play, the Kensei sports a neutral yet non-fatiguing and lush signature. It sounds very natural yet not veering to sterility, with the organic timbre a highlight. Note weight is on the slightly thicker side, but we are not lacking in edge definition or having a too veiled profile.

End-to-end extension is excellent, with a controlled, clean and textured bass accompanied by a transparent midrange and good treble air. Technicalities are likewise stellar for a dongle, with an expansive stage in all 3 dimensions with good layering, instrument separation and imaging. Micro-detailing is nicely captured despite a non treble-boosted tone.

Power-wise, the Kensei outputs 300 mW @ 32 Ω and 477 mW @ 32 Ω for the single-ended and balanced ports respectively. This is considered at the upper-end of present day dongles in terms of driving power, and should be able to tackle most transducers other than rare outlier behemoths.

My acid tests for source evaluation include 3 of my hardest to drive gear:
1) Final Audio E5000 (low sensitivity at 93dB/mW)
2) Sennheiser HD650 (high impedance at 300ohm)
3) Yinman 600 ohm (600 ohm impedance and 87db/mW sensitivity)

The E5000 was easily handled on 4.4 mm, with good bass texturing and dynamics. Likewise, the HD650 was driven well, with a controlled bass and no lack of dynamics or headroom.

The final boss - the Yinman 600 ohm with an ultra-low sensitivity and ultra-high impedance - is inadequately driven by the majority of portable sources or even expensive DAPs. On 4.4 mm with turbo mode, this flathead is surprisingly powered to aplomb, with staging and dynamics more than acceptable. Bass texturing could be a tinge better portrayed, but probably we will be asking for desktop grade amps to do a better job.

This DAC/AMP does have hiss with high sensitivity IEMs, but engaging the iEMatch button removes this totally. The Kensei also has has ≤1 Ω output impedance (or ≤ 3.6 Ω with iEMatch engaged), so pairing fastidious low impedance IEMs shouldn't change the frequency response much.

During usage, the Kensei may run on the hotter side when driving power-hungry goliaths, but it does not get scalding. There is no nasty loud "pop" on removing transducers too, which is a sign of good implementation of the noise suppression in the ports.




COMPARISONS

Once again, the testing below will be with FLAC/WAV files via the Cirrus Logic DAC on the Kensei, with bit-perfect mode in use.


Cayin RU7 dongle

The RU7 is a 1-bit DAC that has 3 DSD modes, but is less versatile overall compared to the Kensei.

The RU7 pumps out 400 mW @ 32 ohms on the 4.4 mm jack, which is slightly less than the Kensei's specs.

The RU7 is inferior in imaging, soundstage, instrument separation and micro-detailing. The RU7 has a thicker note weight and more analoguish sound.

The RU7 has minute soft clicking in between tracks or when switching songs - this is the DSD conversion in play, which may be a bit distracting for some users. The Kensei is dead silent, especially once iEMatch is toggled.


Questyle M15 dongle

The M15 utilizes a ES9281AC DAC. It is neutral but sounds a bit thinner in note weight than the Kensei. The M15 has a more intimate stage, with poorer micro-detailing and instrument separation. Imaging may be a touch stronger on the M15.

The M15 has way less power than the Kensei, and cannot drive very demanding gear. The M15 runs cooler during usage though, but has slight hiss with sensitive IEMs (it cannot be mitigated with the iEMatch function on the Kensei as such).

This may be a deal breaker, but the M15 has no volume controls, let alone independent volume controls. It also doesn't have a host of UI friendly features like digital filters, dual DAC modes and the like that is found on the Kensei.


CONCLUSIONS



The Kensei is a beautiful piece of equipment. It espouses exotic Japanese themes, from the wooden box to the external design, to even the internals, such as the K2 HD DAC from JVC Kenwood! This dongle comes well-accessorized with a solid build and compact profile. It is on the heavier side for a dongle - and the housings may be prone to scratching - but otherwise I've no other complaints on the external aspects.

Function-wise, this device has some nifty features such as a dual DAC option - between the lusher K2 HD mode versus the more balanced Cirrus DAC mode - and also boasts of 4 digital filters that offer subtle sonic variations. So it is quite versatile compared to other dongles, though sadly there is no app or PEQ function available.

With the stock Cirrus DAC in play, the Kensei brings a neutral yet highly resolving sound to the table. Technicalities are excellent - in particular soundstage and layering - and timbre is very natural. This is without veering to shoutiness or fatigue in the higher registers, so everything sounds organic yet detailed. Additionally, I really like the punchy and controlled bass this dongle furnishes, with commendable texturing.

With big power on tap, the Kensei can juice most gear out there, and it has some clever functions such as the XBass+ and XSpace modes for fun, and the iEMatch to mitigate hiss and output impedance differences. I appreciate that there is no "POP" sound on disconnecting transducers. The Kensei does get on the warmer side when powering hard-to-drive stuff though.

All things considered, the Kensei truly amalgamates the 3 Ts of tonality, timbre and technicalities nicely into an alluring housing, and the soundscape is both euphonic without neglecting resolution. The Kensei may be on the pricier side for a dongle, but sometimes you can't unhear good sound! I enjoyed my time with this tour unit, and actually would be looking to purchase a set in the future.

iFi Audio Go-Bar KENSEI: Mightier Than Sword

DISCLAIMER: The iFi Audio Go-Bar KENSEI is a loaner unit sent directly to us directly by iFi Audio for a limited time. We At Aural Cafe would like to thank the iFi Audio team for this opportunity and their continuous support for Aural Cafe.

Introduction: -

Today at Aural Cafe we will be reviewing the mighty iFi Audio GO bar KENSEI which is their latest offering in the GO bar lineup. The Go Bar Kensei is the upgraded version of their original GO bar and is placed at the same level as their limited edition Go Bar Gold Edition of which 1000 pieces were produced to celebrate iFi Audio's 10TH year in the industry in year 2022. Dongles and Portable DAC/Amps seem to be a flavour of the season and more and more brands are coming up with their take on the same. Although Audioquest and Fiio were the first to enter this product segment it is iFi Audio that keeps on rewriting the standard of this space by launching innovative Hi-Fi portables from time to time such as iFi Go Pod, Go Blu, Go Bar, xCan, Go link and Hip DAC 3 which we also had the honour to review on Aural Cafe.

iFi Go Bar Kensei is iFi Audio's latest ultra-portable USB DAC/Amp featuring Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC By Cirrus Logic and JVC KENWOOD’s innovative “K2HD Technology”. iFi Go Bar Kensei is crafted from Japanese stainless steel and comes with an enhanced power supply and clock circuitry over the original Go Bar but before we delve more into Go Bar KENSEI let's talk a bit about the iFi Audio. iFi Audio is a subsidiary of Abbingdon Music Research (AMR) which is one of the UK's largest manufacturers of high-end audio products: Amplifiers, Active Buffers/Preamplifiers, DACs and USB filters. Founded in 2000, AMR is based in London, United Kingdom. iFi Audio is one of the most respected brands in the audiophile world with Hi-Fi products across different prices and product categories with one aim- to improve, music enjoyment. Founded in 2012 iFi oversee the design, development and manufacture of more than 50 products from their headquarters in Southport, UK. iFi products and their packaging are made from recyclable materials, including Aluminium, Paper and Recycled plastics. No hazardous toxins are in their components, and they ensure that every product released meets environmental standards. iFi prides itself on being an eco-friendly company.

iFi Go Bar Kensei derives its inspiration from the Japanese word KENSEI which means “sword saint”. iFi GO bar Kensei true to its name is a masterful combination of technology and product quality. It is crafted through the amalgamation of superior Japanese Stainless Steel with Japan-based JVC KENWOOD’s patented “K2HD Technology”. The iFi Audio team like many Audiophiles felt that digital recordings sometimes sound emotionally flat and lifeless and therefore implemented “K2HD Technology” in Go Bar Kensei with the help of JVC KENWOOD, to revive back rich, natural harmonics into digitally recorded soundtracks. K2 Technology processing basically aims at revitalizing the studio recording sound, infusing it with life once again. To implement K2HD Technology the iFi Audio team used a completely new set of K2 parameters which were then passed by the JVC KENWOOD team after the listening test by the studio engineers at Victor Studios, Japan. While previous K2 parameter values were set with consideration of correcting the sound quality of the product itself, the K2 parameter values provided this time for iFi are purely the settings for the best K2 effect. In this sense, it can be said that the K2 parameter values allow you to hear the original ideal “K2 sound.” commented, JVC KENWOOD. What differentiates iFi Audio Go Bar Kensei from its previous iteration of Go Bar is its meticulously forged stainless steel body and the implementation of cutting-edge Japanese audio processing technology K2HD along with improved power supply and clock circuitry to reveal the true ethos of recorded soundtracks.

iFi Audio’s Go Bar Kensei is priced at US$ 449.



Specifications: -

• Input: USB-C
• Formats Supported: DSD256 / PCM384kHz / Full MQA Decoder / 2xDXD
• DAC Used: Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC By Cirrus Logic
• Headphone Outputs: 4.4mm Balanced, 3.5mm SE
• Output Impedance: ≤1Ω (≤3.6 Ω With IEMatch Engaged)
• Power Output: BAL 477mW @ 32Ω; 7.2V @600Ω / s-BAL 300mW @ 32Ω; 3.8V @600Ω
• SNR: BAL <132dB(A) @ 0dBFS / s-BAL <114dB(A) @ 0dBFS
• DNR: BAL <108dB(A) / s-BAL <109dB(A)
• THD + N: BAL <0.0025% (2.0V @600Ω) / s-BAL <0.009% (1.27V @16Ω)
• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 70kHz (±3dB)
• Power Consumption: <4W max

Packaging & Accessories: -

The unboxing experience of Go Bar Kensei in itself is a coalescence of traditional designs with a modern premium touch. The G0 Bar Kensei is presented in a premium solid wooden box. The upper lid of the Go Bar Kensei Wooden Box features a beautiful artwork whose inspiration we think is taken from the Japanese culture. The Go Bar Kensei is engraved on the top corner of the lid in English. The “Kensei” word is also engraved in the Japanese language to give respect to the rich history and culture of Japan along with the iFi logo being etched on the bottom of the lid. On removing the lid the beautifully crafted Go Bar Kensei can be seen placed right in the middle on the top layer of the wooden box with the support of foam along with leaflets of instruction manuals, warranty cards and iFi stickers. The bottom layer is where all the accessories are placed inside a premium leather pouch ergonomically designed for the same. The GO Bar Kensei comes with a USB adapter (Type-C to Type-A USB), along with two high-quality USB cables: one Type-C and one Apple Lightning, so that audiophiles don’t face any problems using it on different platforms from Android to iOS and from windows to apple MacBook. So, all in all, the unboxing experience is simple, minimalistic, premium and very user-friendly, thereby showcasing the ethos of Japanese culture in a very fine manner. For a more fun and visual experience one can see our unboxing video of Go Bar Kensei by clicking on the following link:









Build & Design Concept: -

The iFi Audio is positioning Go Bar Kensei as the smallest portable DAC/Pre-Amp/Headphone Amp of its size and we at Aural Cafe feel that the iFi Audio has done a great job in achieving the same. The high-quality Japanese stainless steel emanates a premium feel. The Go Bar Kensei is just 65mm x 22mm x 13.2mm in size and therefore very portable to carry but we feel that it’s the Go Bar Kensei's weight of 65gms which can be an issue for Audiophiles to listen to music on the “GO” and treat it as a dongle. The Go Bar Kensei is capable of maximum output power of up to 477mW which can become very handy while listening to demanding headphones if you are into headphones. The brushed stainless-steel finish and the smoothened edges of the GO Bar Kensei are top-notch and give you a feel of having a very premium portable dongle. The layout of GO Bar Kensei is also very thoughtfully designed with the iFi Audio’s logo etched along with the Go Bar Kensei logo on the Front while the back side is graced by multiple LED indicators, to reveal the volume level, sample rate, MQA status, K2HD processing along with xBass and xSpace settings during the usage. The left side is where the three round buttons and iFi patented IEMatch switch are placed for the smooth operation of the Go Bar Kensei the high-quality iFi’s exclusive 3.5mm S-Balanced (helps cut the crosstalk and thus prevent signal bleeding from one channel to another) and 4.4mm balanced port is located on the bottom of the bar along with the USB-C port on the top of the bar. All in all, we especially love the way the iFi audio team has smoothened all the edges of GO Bar Kensei which not only showcases the focus of the iFi Audio team on small things while designing the product but also goes a long way to give a user-friendly experience to the audiophiles.

The nucleus of Go Bar Kensei is equally solid and premium as the outside. The Go Bar Kensei just like its predecessor is powered by the 32-bit Cirrus Logic DAC along with a robust 16-core XMOS microcontroller which has been further programmed by the iFi audio team to optimize sound quality and ensure a perfect partnership with the 32-bit Cirrus Logic DAC chipset. Top-end premium quality capacitors and components by renowned manufacturers such as Panasonic, TDK, Tantalum and Murata adorned the PCB of Go BAR Kensei to reduce the noise and distortion to the lowest possible. This is not all, the team at iFi Audio developed a tailored digital filter to minimize artefacts like pre-echoes and ringing and a GMT clock system to ensure low jitter and noise which is a big concern while listening to soundtracks on MacBook or Windows PC. iFi Audio like always hasn’t revealed the version of Cirrus Logic DAC being used in GO Bar Kensei but we are happy to inform you that it out of the box supports high-resolution audio formats such as PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz, native DSD playback up to DSD256, 2xDXD and comprehensive MQA decoding capabilities.



Operating Go Bar Kensei: -

The iFi Audio team has done a phenomenal job in implementing maximum features inside a small portable premium dongle. Every inch of Go Bar Kensei is beautifully utilized to provide the audiophiles with a user-friendly experience. The control of the Go Bar Kensei operation lies on three rounded buttons and the IEMatch switch located on the right side of the unit. The top-placed rounded button controls the overall settings of the Bar Kensei along with the help of the two rounded volume buttons with plus and minus symbols which are placed just below the settings button. The settings button allows you to control the xBass and xSpace features which work as follows:

• First Press: Activates the xBass feature.
• Second Press: Switches off xBass and activates xSpace.
• Third Press: Turns on both xBass and xSpace simultaneously.
• Fourth Press: Deactivates both xBass and xSpace.

The iFi Go bar comes with four bespoke digital filters which can be operated in the following way. First, the Setting Button needs to be pressed for Over Two Seconds to activate the digital filter mode following which the +/- Volume Buttons can be used to experience the four bespoke filters with each indicated by a different colour:

• Cyan: Bit-perfect; no filtering.
• Red: GTO; enhances sound details and density, particularly suited for Vocal tracks.
• Yellow: Minimum Phase; produces a warmer sound, blending characteristics of Bit-Perfect and Standard, perfect for Soul and Jazz.
• White: Standard; offers a tighter sound with controlled highs, perfect for Pop music and movies OST.

The Special K2HD processing technology can be enabled by pressing and holding the top setting button for 3s after which once the MQA LED flashes, press the volume (+) button and the K2HD LED light will light up to indicate that K2HD processing is on.

Sound Analysis: -

• Tonality: - After listening to iFi Go Bar Kensei for several hours across various genres of music on bit perfect filter using neutral IEMs such as Sennheiser IE900 and Rhapsodio Little Eden and on headphones such as Sennheiser HD6XX we can say that the sound tonality of iFi Go Bar is purely neutral. The iFi Audio team seems to have worked very hard to keep the background noise at the lowest level resulting in top-quality clarity across the frequency of the soundtracks. The lows, mids and highs are precisely tuned without any specific part of frequency overpowering the other. This can be fun while shuffling to various genres of music as the sound tonality completely changes with utmost precision and completely depends on the way the sound has been recorded. We also listened to the same track again and again to understand the K2HD processing and felt that it adds a more reference nature to the overall tonality of the Go Bar Kensei which can be heard easily on critical listening on headphones like Sennheiser HD6XX. We feel that the experienced audiophiles would love the K2HD processing more than the newbies in this hobby. We especially enjoyed listening to ‘Chanachan’ composed by A.R Rahman for the movie ‘Water’ and it emphasized more of Santoor’s and Bass’s timbre and on Go bar Kensei with Sennheiser IE900 and HD6XX with K2HD technology processing on it sounded phenomenal.
• Lows: - The lows on Go Bar Kensei are very precise, clean and tight without adding any muddiness to the Mids. We listened to the soundtrack ‘Mombasa’ by Hans Zimmer from the movie ‘Inception’ and we are happy to say that the xBass feature does add to the overall bass rumble. the bass hits quite deep on listening on iFi Go Bar + Craft Ears the Six IEM setup with the xBass feature on. The mid-bass is tight and clean while the sub-bass has high-quality rumble and texture thereby showcasing a precise yet free-flowing low-end performance. It also shows excellent transient response and speed which also adds fun while listening to the Rock genre soundtracks.
• Mids: - The Mids on Go Bar Kensei is again very balanced neutral and surprisingly natural. Due to high-quality components, the mids come out beautifully with lots of emotions and clarity. With the K2HD technology processing on the mids becomes a touch more organic and audible on critical listening on Apple Music Loslesss + Rhapsodio Little Eden. Both the lower and upper mids are tuned very precisely which we experienced while listening to ‘Skyfall’ by Adele on Rhapsodio Little Eden with K2HD technology processing on. The timbre of the musical instruments feels very original without any digital image due to which we enjoyed the last part of the soundtrack ‘In Your Eyes’ by ‘The Weekend’ feat Kenny G when the Kenny G Saxophone took centre stage. The timbre of the instruments is lifelike without any colour.
• Highs: - The highs on the iFi GO Bar Kensei are tuned in a precise neutral way without being overly bright and aggressive. The highs on Go Bar Kensei have a smooth extension and natural transparency which we really experienced and enjoyed while listening to ‘Indian Summer’ by Anoushka Shankar on Craft Ears the Six. The sitar notes hit beautifully without being harsh along with lots of emotions in the soundtrack. We also like to add here the xSpace feature does add a bit of air and space across the highs which takes the listening experience while listening to “Hotel California” by the Eagles on Aune AR5000 to a different zone.
• Soundstage & Imaging: - The Soundstage and imaging on Go Bar Kensei is one of the best we have heard on a portable source to date. The enhanced power supply and the focus of the iFi Audio’s team on reducing the distortion and noise have helped with an above-average soundstage in terms of width and depth. With the xSpace mode on the Go Bar Kensei adds a touch more air and space to the overall frequency which becomes really fun, especially for the Rock genre. We enjoyed listening to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen on Sennheiser HD6XX + Go Bar Kensei with the IEMatch and K2HD turned On. The imaging and separation are also above average on Go Bar Kensei.
• Synergy: - The precise neutral tonality makes Go Bar Kensei go with most IEMs and headphones along with various genres of soundtracks. The IEMatch switch adds to the versatility factor of the Go Bar Kensei as it goes really well with sensitive transducers. While using the Go Bar Kensei the sound output will mostly depend on the IEMs and the headphone's tonality as it won’t add any colour and will present the way the soundtrack was recorded. When it comes to the Go Bar Kensei's ability to drive notorious headphones such as Sennheiser HD6XX, we are happy to observe that it drives well on the 4.4mm balanced port without any kind of background noise. We also enjoyed using Go Bar Kensei on our Windows PC to listen to DSD tracks which GO Bar Kensei played effortlessly without any background hiss or noise.

Conclusion: -

The iFi Go Bar Kensei ‘flaunt’ the Japanese precision, ethos and culture from the very ‘GO’. Everything about the Go Bar Kensei is done with full focus and precision. This can be experienced from the very start when you have Go Bar Kensei with you. The compact wooden box, the use of Japanese stainless steel and the beautiful smoothen edges on the outside along with high-quality components and K2HD technology processing just screams precision at every stage. As per the iFi Audio team, they have spent around 18 years implementing K2HD technology into portables which may be also the time they have spent on developing this dongle and thereby shows the focus of the iFi Audio team towards their offerings. The K2HD technology does add a more reference nature to the sound tonality and will be especially adored by the experienced audiophiles in the hobby. So, if you are in a market in search of a high-quality portable DAC/Amp that not only sounds neutral and clean and can drive demanding headphones and IEMs but also will last long due to top-notch craftsmanship then we feel Go Bar Kensei would be the best choice for you. But we would like to conclude the review by adding that the 65gm weight of the Go Bar Kensei along with the shape it comes in, will make it quite difficult to listen to music on the go and thereby is more suitable for usage inside the house, train or flight on your PC or MacBook with headphones or IEMs when you are in search for a clutter-free environment so just plug and play Go Bar Kensei and you are good to ‘GO’ to the music galaxy. We would also like to add that we would love it if the iFi Audio team came with a lighter version or a more ergonomic shape like Hip-DAC for Go Bar Kensei.

Non-Affiliated Links: -
- https://www.headphonezone.in/products/dita-audio-project-m
- https://www.amazon.com/iFi-GO-Kensei-Portable-Amplifier/dp/B0CYCPZBJZ

iFi currently produces three portable USB DAC dongles. The entry level, iFi Go link, the regular sized iFi Go bar and its limited edition, the iFi Go bar/Gold edition which is now sold out. The brand new addition to the family is the iFi Go bar Kensei which incorporates all the extra technical features that were to be found in the Gold edition plus a few more.



Technical stuff

The DAC section of the GO bar Kensei uses a powerful 16-core XMOS micro controller to process the audio data received at the USB input and ensure a perfect partnership with the 32-bit Cirrus Logic DAC chipset. A customized digital filter minimizes pre-echoes and ringing artifacts and a Global Master Timing precision clock system ensures ultra-low jitter. The iFi Go bar Kensei supports PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz, native DSD playback up to DSD256, 2x DXD and full MQA decoding.

The analogue circuitry features a balanced design with a symmetrical twin-channel output stage. This topology, usually reserved for larger and more expensive amplifiers owing to its cost and complexity, reduces noise and crosstalk in the signal path by fully separating the left and right channels.



New features

The Go bar Kensei employs enhanced power supply and clock circuitry compared to the original Go bar. The Gold edition also featured an enhanced power supply but iFi doesn't specify the differences between it and the Kensei. By closely inspecting the circuit boards we can see one capacitor in the Go bar, three on the Kensei and four on the Gold edition. I don't know the exact values of the capacitors but the Gold edition seems to have higher rectifying capacitance.



K2HD technology

The brand new and shout after feature of the iFi Go bar Kensei is the implementation of the K2HD processing technology that is an algorithm that revives rich, natural harmonics into emotionally flat and lifeless digital recordings.

The unparalleled originality of K2HD lies in its advanced high-frequency extension, enabling the restoration of natural harmonics and overtones beyond 22kHz, delivering audio quality that is close to the original master.

The K2HD technology was originally developed by engineers at the Victor Studio who noticed a lack of emotion between their original masters and digital sub-masters, sparking a quest for a solution. The K2 parameter values provided by iFi for the Go bar Kensei are completely new K2 parameter values that have never been used before and were selected by JVC/KENWOOD and passed a listening test by studio engineers at Victor Studios.

You can enable the K2HD processing technology by long pressing and holding the setup button for 3s. After the MQA LED starts to flash, then press the volume(+) button and the K2HD LED will light up to indicate that it is active.

The K2HD mode is only effective when the audio file format is PCM and the sampling frequency
needs to be ≤192kHz. The K2HD mode is invalid and cannot be enabled when the audio file format is DSD or MQA. The K2HD is compatible with the GTO filter but its upsampling frequency will be limited to 192kHz instead of 384kHz.



Extra features

The Go bar Kensei incorporates iFi’s iEMatch technology for use with high sensitivity IEMs and a Turbo mode (high gain) for power hungry headphones. The iEMatch is effective for both the 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, selectable by a micro switch at the side of the chassis. The high gain is enabled by simultaneously pressing the volume + and - buttons. The 3.5mm output additionally features iFi's S-Balanced technology that cuts crosstalk and noise by 50% compared to regular single ended outputs. Standard are also iFi's renowned XBass+ and XSpace analog processing modes that enhance bass and soundstage perception. These two modes can be separately or simultaneously active.



Non Audio stuff

The chassis of GO Bar Kensei is crafted with Japanese stainless steel for maximum rigidity and shielding from EMI. The surfaces have a matte polish that is not too shiny so it doesn't attract fingerprints. The iFi and Kensei logos are engraved at the front surface, furthermore all other markings that indicate the various operations are also engraved and not ink printed. Craftsmanship and finish are of the highest quality, the iFi Go bar Kensei is one of the best made USB DAC dongles in the market. Subjectively speaking, the Kensei is by far better looking than the Go bar and Go bar Gold edition and maybe the most beautiful and premium looking portable USB stick among all the competition.

The size is compact enough (65 x 22 x 13.2 mm), the iFi Go bar Kensei is not bigger or larger than similar products, but it is substantially heavier. It weighs a whole 65.5g when the iFi Go bar is 28.5g. So while it is pocket friendly and small sized, it is not the best idea to leave it hanging out from your smartphone.

Accessories

The iFi Go bar Kensei comes packed in a nicely crafted wooden box together with a leather carrying case, two short USB type-C to C and USB type-C to lightning cables plus a USB adapter.



Power output and efficiency

The rated power output of the Go bar Kensei is 475mW/32Ω or 7.2V/600Ω from its balanced output and 300mW/32Ω or 3.8V/600Ω from the unbalanced, the same as with the iFi Go bar. This is amongst the most powerful USB DAC dongles that can drive full sized headphones like the Meze Liric 2, the Sennheiser HD660S2 and the Focal Clear Mg. The Kensei is also suitable for use with sensitive earphones because it is silent enough and you also have the option to enable the iEMatch and kill any hint of background noise.

The power consumption of the iFi Go bar Kensei was measured at 0.12A/0.63W when idling and about 0.16A/0.81W with the Meze Liric 2 playing high resolution material at a pretty loud volume. This is not the most efficient USB dongle that you can buy but it also doesn't consume more power than similarly power hungry dongles like the Cayin RU-7 (0.18A/0.92W).

Audio stuff

The iFi Go bar Kensei has an excellent sonic performance that positions it among the top specimens of its kind. It outperforms the iFi Go bar with sonic qualities that match that of the Go bar Gold edition which is already one the best sounding dongles in the market. They do sound a little bit different of course but this is something that is going to be discussed later on.

The Kensei is exceptionally musical and engaging with a sound signature that combines an analog-like and organic timbre with top notch technicalities. Even with the K2HD mode disabled, the sound of the Kensei is realistic and lifelike without any significant digital glare. Sometimes the treble can be perceived as a little fake but this is something that completely vanishes after enabling the K2HD mode. The effects are subtle but worthwhile, consider them as the perfect icing on the cake. The K2HD mode really reinstates and adds all the natural harmonics that were previously missing from the higher frequencies. The result is an expressive and realistic sound with unparalleled fluidity, full of vibrant harmonics and colorful overtones. The Kensei sounds like a miniaturized analog set-up, this is the kind of source that will make your music sound rich and full of emotions. Please note that not all audio tracks will benefit from the K2HD processing technology, sometimes I couldn't notice any audible differences with or without the K2HD.

Technicalities are stellar, the iFi Go bar Kensei is crystal clear and transparent with excellent definition and precision. It can produce deep and layered bass which is tight and controlled with huge physical impact. Dynamic and highly contrasted it can make all earphones come alive and follow the most instantaneous and sudden dynamic changes. Resolution and refinement are among the best ever heard while the Kensei is very skilful at reproducing the finest micro details without never sounding analytical or mechanical. Truth is that some of the competition, and not necessarily more expensive, can sound a little more transparent and crystalline with better precision and deeper detail extraction but they usually tend to become a little sterile and clinical, something that never happens with the Kensei.

The soundstage of the Kensei is not only spacious and expansive with good positioning accuracy but it is also exceptionally holographic and immersive. The Kensei really excels in the way that it communicates spades of ambient information thus contributing greatly to the overall realism. The Kensei will make your earphones sound like ear-speakers and is one of my top recommendations for listening to classical music.



Internal affairs

The iFi Go bar Kensei is not only the most beautiful looking member of the family but also the best sounding one. The Kensei is better than the Go bar as it surpasses it in transparency and clarity, it has an improved suit of technicalities and much better timbre thus creating a more lifelike listening experience. When it comes to the Go bar Gold edition, they are in the same league without a clear winner, the differences are rather a matter of taste than actual performance deviations. The Gold bar has a warmer and slightly thicker sound signature with a bit more visceral and weightier bass but the Kensei is more transparent, has better clarity and definition while it sounds more controlled and tight. The Gold edition has an already natural and organic timbre but the K2HD further enhances these qualities, especially in the critical higher frequencies that sound less digital and more resolving.

Comparison with the Cayin RU-7

This is really a difficult comparison as both sound more alike than different. They are two of the best (if not the best) USB DAC dongles you can buy if you care about timbre realism and tonal accuracy. To my ears, the Cayin RU-7 is a little more natural sounding with just a bit better sense of overall realism and soundstage holography. Differences are really subtle and I could happily own one of those as my end game USB DAC dongle. They both earn my highest recommendation and someone should consider other, non audio, differences in order to decide which one to get. The iFi Go bar Kensei has more bells and whistles that allow for a more personalized listening experience but the Cayin RU-7 has a real, unamplified, line output (both 4.4mm and 3.5mn) so you can use it as a miniature 1-bit DSD DAC.

Conclusion

The iFi Go bar Kensei is not only an improvement over the regular Go bar but it even surpasses the limited Gold edition, depending on someone's listening tastes. The Kensei is a bit expensive but not without a reason as it offers class leading sonic performance and plenty of features. Actually, the Kensei is one of the best sounding USB DAC dongles in the market, thus earning the “Kensei” honorary title.

The price of the iFi Go bar Kensei is €449 and you can buy it from all authorized dealers around the world.

The review sample was kindly provided as a long term loan.

The GO Bar Kensei is a portable DAC (digital-to-analog converter) it is designed to offer more power and clarity when compared to the stock output. My thanks for ifi lending a review unit.

Design and Build Quality:
The GO Bar Kensei is meticulously crafted, akin to a legendary sword forged for a Kensei (Kensei (Japanese: 剣聖, sometimes rendered in English as Kensai, Ken Sai, Kensei, or Kenshei) is a Japanese honorary title given to a warrior of legendary skill in swordsmanship. The literal translation of kensei is "sword saint".)

The Kensei is the heaviest dongle and size wise it's one of the biggest I've used but it's not unmanageable.
The GO Bar Kensei is the first Dongle-DAC to feature the renowned K2HD technology. K2HD enhances audio quality significantly and is a game changer in my opinion.
Power Supply and Clock Circuitry: Improved power supply and clock circuitry contribute to superior sonic performance. The Kensei surpasses the original GO Bar in audio quality, thanks to an enhanced clock and a more powerful 477mW power supply.
The GoBar Kensei offers a range of filters to tailor the sound to your preference giving the dongle a wide range of customization with features like IEMatch, Xbass, and Xspace. The price of this Dongle is high when compared to the competition like the original or the questyle M15

Sound opinions:
The ifi GoBar Kensei is a large improvement over the OG and many of its competitors. It has a big sound, everything I put on it sounds better, larger, and clearer.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a high-quality, portable DAC that delivers exceptional sound, and features the iFi Audio GO Bar Kensei is worth considering. It's made extremely well, sounds amazing and the only cons are the weight and cost.

Introduction

I don’t think iFi-Audio need much introduction on head-fi anymore, over the last few years they have amassed an array of products covering almost every need you could need for your music and headphones, all bar a DAP!

I’ve liked and owned a few of their products, like a lot of products I own, I don’t always keep things a long time bar a few longer term items that just stay in my cycle. The original Go bar’s fall into that category for me. I owned both the standard first edition and the limited edition Gold Go bar.

In my quest to find the ideal portable solution for my needs I sold my Gold Go bar when I bought the iFi Go Pods (wireless adaptors) thinking I was done with dongles. A few months on and as much as I love my Go pods I found myself still trying new dongles. This led me here to trying the new Go Kensei bar.

Disclaimer

iFi-Audio provided me this unit to review and return when finished or choose to buy. This was/is not a gift



Unboxing/Packaging

Usually with all of the other iFi products I’ve owned the packaging is pretty standard, nice enough but functional boxes with all the cables and adaptors that you will need to get listening. The Kensei is the exception, as well as the normal packaging it also comes in really nice engraved wooden box. The quality of this box is really good and is a nice touch.





Design and Features

Detailed tech specs are on this showcase page as well on the iFi page so I won’t go into them here


iFi-Audio make some really well designed products that are on the whole easy to use and the Kensei is no different.

The size is just right for a USB-C Dongle, it is a lot smaller than you think it is going to be. It is very weighty which I’m fine with as it adds to the overall feeling of a high quality product. The Kensei is a slab of solid steel which feels very sturdy. Some nice Japanese engraving on the steel body.

Side of the Kensei has a function button along with volume up and down buttons. There is also a selector for the inbuilt IEMatch. I don’t personally have any really sensitive IEM’s that require the use of this but it’s nice feature to have included.

3.5mm single ended and 4.4mm balanced earphone connections adorn the bottom of the Kensei. On the back of the Kensei is a row of small LED’s which indicate various functions.

Overall this looks, feels and functions like a premium product should.





The Kensei features a list of different filters to allow the listener to adjust sound, however I tend to use the filter that keeps what is a fairly neutral profile. I did listen with the other filters and they all make very small subtle differences, none are detrimental to the sound.

The biggest factor that iFi have emphasised for the Kensei has been the inclusion of JVC’s K2HD technology, from what I can understand this a processing feature that JVC say enhances the sound of a recording. It is not a new format but merely a process. It seems to have been around for over a decade and was used for a period of time in the mastering of some CD releases. I tried it and will comment on how I found it.

In addition to this there is the Xbass and Xspace. Xbass is designed to add some low level thump to the bass response and Xspace to open up the sound. Lastly there is the Turbo mode which is essentially a high gain mode




Gear used

For testing I used the following

Earphones

Sony IER Z1R

Fir Audio Rn6

Custom Art FIBAE 5

Headphones

Sennhieser HD660s

Grado RS1X


Source was my Samsung S24 Ultra smartphone using a mixture of streaming from Tidal and Qobuz and the UAPP app. Battery drain considering the power that this dongle can achieve is quite impressive. I listen for maybe an hour to two at a time and notice my battery life take a small hit but nothing that worries me too much.

Selecting the filters and sound enhancements are easy to do with a press of the function for 1-3 seconds and a press of the volume button dependant on usage, not having a screen is really no issue with the Kensei or any of the Go bars.



Sound

The majority of my listening was with the earphones listed above with some light headphone use. I tend to use a set playlist of certain songs that I always use when trying new gear. Most of my music taste is of an indie/alternative nature but do also like some electronic music.


Although I tried the different filters and found very minimal subtle differences I used the ‘BP’ Cyan filter for most listening which is the bit-perfect most neutral filter on the Kensei

In addition for most listening the 4.4mm balanced connection was used.


Fir Audio Radeon 6 (Rn6) – These earphones are probably the best earphone I have owned and when using with my normal DAP/Amp combo of Cayin N7/C9 they are just simply stunning with very little that seems to compete. So I was keen to see how the Kensei would fare as the Hip DAC 3 fared well when I tested that a few months ago.

First thing of note was that the bass rumble on the Rn6 was still very evident with the Kensei, and the mids were still majestic, detail in the highs was also presented extremely well. The Kensei and Rn6 played through my playlist of Bowie, The Smiths and others with ease, producing excellent results. The Cirrus Logic DAC chipset retains what I always consider to be the iFi ‘house sound’ which is to my ears, neutral yet detailed and warm without you ever really thinking it too much of either (really hope that makes sense!).

On most tracks that I tried with the Rn6/Kensei combo, the ability of the Kensei to get very close to the N7 in terms of detail and smoothness is not be underplayed.

The same applies to the Sony IER Z1r, this earphone needs no introduction, an absolute classic that sometimes splits opinion. I was late to the party with the z1r, only getting them a few months ago used but they were worth the wait. Even after a few years they are rarely bettered (in my opinion) and produce a wonderful sound, which is even better when powered well. I wondered if the Kensei could provide that power and it does, needs quite a few notches over the Rn6 on the volume but the depth it gives is really good.

It’s a similar tale with the Custom Art FIBAE 5 and their dual planar drivers, on paper they shouldn’t need much power but they benefit from it and again the Kensei doesn’t disappoint.

The output power of 477mw through balanced is very impressive for this kind of dongle that takes it power from your USB-C device. Most that I have tried have been around the 230-300mw output power.

Xbass when I tried it does add a little low end into the mix and it feels well implemented but none of my earphones really need it so I didn’t really use it.


K2HD

What is it and what does it do?

I’m not going to lie and say that I knew what this was before and I’m not going to go into any kind of explanation as I won’t do it justice so here’s the link that iFi provide

https://ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/iFi_GO_bar_Kensei_K2HD_Tech_Note_2024_Mar.pdf

Does it work?

I’m going to say that for the most part it does seem to make a positive difference. I’m not normally one for using different enhancement options, I barely ever use Xspace or Xbass and haven’t really used anything in the past.

With the K2HD I used my normal test tracks along with a few others to see if I could hear a difference and I think that I did, and in a positive way. Notes felt a little more rounded and on some tracks there was more depth to the music, an example being a little more echo to the snare drum in the first minute or so of ‘I Know It’s Over’ by The Smiths. The drum is isolated slightly and the timbre/echo/depth seems better. I’d say the bass response on most tracks is also marginally more rounded. The one aspect that surprised me was that most of the tracks felt smoother with more of a natural feel however this is only to my ears and others might not experience the same.

I noticed small differences like this across most tracks and find myself having it turned on all the time.





Closing thoughts

Normally I would do some comparisons either from gear I still have or from notes on previous equipment.

This time I’ll just say that this is the best dongle I’ve tried to date, I can’t compare to the Gold Go but from memory and some notes I wrote they are much the same. I’ve tried a fair few dongles over the last 2-3 years and this one is by far (for me and my usage) the best I’ve used. It gets close to my main DAP at times but doesn’t surpass my Cayin N7 but I wouldn’t expect it to given they are different devices however if I had to give up a DAP and just have a dongle, the Kensei would be more than sufficient for my needs.

thaslaya's star rating system:
☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!
☆☆☆☆ - Recommended
☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me
☆☆ - Can't see the appeal
☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer:
This product was provided to me by iFi Audio in exchange for my impartial and honest review. I recieve no compensation and all thoughts and opinions are my own. A special thanks to Karina at iFi for coordinating this unit for review.

Gear used:
● LG v30+
● Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra
● Samsung dongle
● Various iems

Source:
● Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD.

Introduction:
Honestly iFi Audio needs little introduction for those in the audiophile community and, if you're looking to purchase the GO bar Kensei, chances are you're familiar with the brand. The Kensei is the third iteration of the GO bar dongle DAC/amplifier. The previous being the original GO bar and the 10th Anniversary gold edition. Kensei is a Japanese word that translates to "sword saint" - an honorary title bestowed on very few warriors who displayed legendary swordmanship. It's a catchy name for sure but does the newest model of the GO bar live up to it's namesake? A question I hope to answer in this review.

Unboxing:
The packaging isn't much different than other iFi products but once the outer box is open there is a nice surprise waiting. The Kensei comes in a beautifully engraved wooden box. It's a work of art in and of itself and makes a nice display piece to place on a shelf. Included with the usual paperwork and user manuals are both a USB-C and lightning cables. Also there's a small USB adapter for use with desktop setups. It's simple to include all the connections one could need but it's always appreciated as some companies make you choose between cable types when ordering.

Design:
I have seen pictures of the GO bar many times in listings on Head-fi and Reddit. I always assumed its length to be much longer so I was taken aback when I opened the box to find how little it really is. It's surprisingly small but very dense and much heavier than anticipated. Don't let it's size fool you though, this thing is an audiophile's dream tool whose size undercuts its power, not unlike the samurai swords of old. Made from Japanese stainless steel, the Kensei is sturdy, robust and lustrous. The build quality is absolutely superb. It feels great to hold in hand and premium to the touch. The only drawback may be the finish is a bit prone to fingerprints and scratches. On one end of the unit you'll find the USB-C connection and on the other are the 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports. Located on the side of the Kensei are the function button, + and - volume buttons, and the IEMatch toggle. On the back are a plethora of indicator lights to show the playback format and the current options being utilized.

Technical Information:
The Kensei utilizes a 32-bit Cirrus Logic DAC chipset. It supports the following audio formats: PCM up to 32-bit/384 kHz, native DSD playback up to DSD256, 2x DXD, and full MQA decoding. I'm not a very tech savvy user so I will have to differ to iFi's website for all that mumbo jumbo. A full rundown of the internals and circuitry can be found here.


Features:
The list of features on the Kensei is very impressive, especially when you consider there's no companion app. There is, of course, iFi's staple XBass and XSpace. There's also a Turbo mode, essentially a high gain level, and 4 digital filters to toggle through that I'll touch on later. Specific to the Kensei version of the GO bar is the new K2HD mode that, according to iFi, "revives rich, natural harmonics into digital sound, adding an organic quality unlike any other". It essentially aims to make your music sound a bit less digital and more lifelike.

Power consumption:
With great power comes great...battery drain? I don't think that's quite right but in the case of the Kensei it's close. This thing does indeed drain your source's battery fairly quickly but it also depends on what options are enabled at the time. When using higher volumes, XBass, XSpace, and Turbo mode, the power consumption will be higher. My LG v30+ was only able to last about 2-3 hours of continuous use. My S22 Ultra faired better at around 4-5 hours but I was also browsing and utilizing other functions of the phone.

Sound impressions:
I don't know what magic is going on inside the Kensei but it elevates everything I've paired it with to another level. There's enough variety with the plethora of options that makes using any iem/headphone an easy and fun interaction. The 4 filter options are Bit- Perfect (cyan), Standard (red), Minimum Phase (yellow), and Gibbs Transient-Optimized or GTO (white). My filter of choice varied with each iem depending on the synergy. It's a bit hard to explain the subtleties that accompany each filter and compare them to each other. I believe the best way to convey what I hear is to share what settings I used with each individual pairing and how it affects the sound compared to the stock tuning.

●Aful MagicOne - Standard (red) filter, K2HD enabled, 4.4 connection with IEMatch, Turbo mode, and XBass and XSpace enabled. This added a touch of warmth to the vocals but still allowed them to shine. It also opened up the soundstage and added some much needed bass emphasis.

●Kiwi Ears x Crinacle: Singolo - Bit-Perfect (cyan) filter, 4.4 conncection with IEMatch, Turbo mode, and XSpace enabled. This added more vocal presence while preserving the excellent timbre of the mids, more tightness and speed to the bass, and an enhanced soundstage.

●Softears Volume - GTO (white) filter, 4.4 connection with IEMatch, Turbo mode, and K2HD enabled. There's a bigger midbass slam and texture, vocals had a slightly more organic timbre, and the entirety of the frequencies had more energy without any troublesome peaks.

●Truthear x Crinacle Zero:Red - Minimum Phase (yellow) filter, 4.4 connection with IEMatch, Turbo mode, K2HD, and XBass enabled. There's a deeper subbass rumble and presence bordering on basshead levels but overall the bass had more separation with no bleed. The overall warmer tuning was still present but vocals and mids had more clarity and were presented more forward on the stage.

●Accoustune HS1790ti - Bit-Perfect (cyan) filter, 3.5 connection with IEMatch, K2HD, and XBass enabled. The bass sounded more full with a bigger rumble, vocals were slightly more forward with a warmer organic tilt, and the upper mids/lower treble had better separation and overall better dynamics with more energy.

Final thoughts:
Honestly, this was an arduous review to get through. Not because I didn't like the Kensei. It's quite the opposite actually, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment! Reviewing was difficult because I found myself getting lost in the music due to the superb sound quality. I often felt drawn to hold the Kensei, relishing the weight and excellent build quality. Also somewhere deep in my subconscious I knew that with every word I typed I was closer to having to return the unit to iFi (maybe I should have drawn this one out a few weeks ). I have been a fan of iFi since I first tried the original hip dac. I'm now a full on disciple at the feet of the Kensei. Yes the price is high but the quality is absolutely there and in spades. The 4 distinct filters, K2HD, Xbass, XSpace, Turbo mode, and IEMatch all somehow add up to something that is more than the sum of their parts. I understand that a lot of consumers will probably never consider spending $450 for a dongle DAC. However, for those that can afford the cost of entry, the iFi GO bar Kensei is one of the finest products I've had the pleasure of using and easily the best portable DAC that I've come across. In my opinion, it has cemented it's legendary status and earned the moniker of "sword saint".