Yes the implementation together with the analogue stage and the filters are pretty impressive.
Darn good sound.

Great review my friend. I totally agree with the bit perfect filter is my favourite too!!!

I also agree with the balanced vs unbalanced output quality. Tiny difference if any at all. So much different than all other products I have.

And while I have not heard the thx or RU6 I immediately got what you have to say.

Great job Petros as always!!!

Thank you very much for your kind words.
I think that iFi have done a great job with the Go bar by not just releasing another "copy-paste" USB DAC dongle.

Pricing is always a relative thing. My opinion is that the €170 premium for the Gold version is a steal. Luckily I haven’t done the pricing since otherwise it would have been at least €100 more expensive

Bit perfect is the way to go for me too. Is it actually a filter? My interpretation is that ‘bit perfect’ bypasses the filters. ‘No digital filtering’ is also what the manual says.

Nevertheless, a fantastic device this is for sure.

As you say pricing is a bit subjective but I have to mention.
If you ask me, I agree with you and I am willing to pay the extra for the gold edition.
Bit perfect is bit perfect but it is not pure NOS because no D/S can do NOS so it is essentially a filter.
Even the flagship CS43198 that has an embedded NOS mode, it is not actually a NOS as you can find out by reading the technical manual.

An excellent, well-written review! Would be very interested in your impressions of the Questyle M15 in comparison to the iFi Go Bar, should you have a chance to hear it.

Hi, thank you very much, I don't have the M15 but I will ask Questyle to send one.

Thanks a lot @Ichos, awesome stuff!

It is always my pleasure to review good sounding stuff!

Thank you for the review.
Low frequencies are not enough for me with RU6 and IEM headphones. will the Go Bar give any improvements in terms of low frequencies?
if I listen to Trance, then there are enough low frequencies with a stretch, but if not electronic music, it will be boring in everything, despite the gorgeous detail and scene.
The same FiiO KA3 pumps better on the bass. as a result, RU6 is excellent in everything except the low-frequency feed.

Thank you.
If we are talking about frequency extension all three units have the same linear response without any roll off and this is an undeniable measured fact.
If you are talking about bold presentation and impact then I could agree that the RU6 is more polite.
And while the Go bar might hit a touch harder my guess is that you are going to like the KA3 more.
It is more agressive in the low end and slightly better suited for electronic music.
On the other hand the Go bar is more visceral but not that hard hitting in the strict meaning of the term.
So you can decide only by testing yourself.

Thanks!

Is the power consumption of the iFi Go Bar from the host phone battery higher than compatible dongles (Lotoo Paw S2 for example) because it is capable of higher power output, meaning only when used to power headphones others cannot or to generate volume higher than others using an identical pair, or does it actually consume more power than others also under similar listening settings (similar volume / SPL)?

Thanks!

Thank you.
I don't know how it works, I suppose the higher the volume the higher the power consumption.
I don't know how the amplifier is biased and what is the power drain of the system when set at lower listening volume.
But from listening experience it drained the battery a touch faster than the FiiO KA3 at roughly the same listening volume.

having listened to both Go Bar and Go Bar(Gold) I will definitely go for the Go Bar(Gold) for sure! the difference is discernable. Marketing aside, they might as well do the Go Bar(gold) as their standard dongle.

They should definitely do, maybe without the Gold plate and the anniversary status, so it should be cheaper.

If they had a battery, I'd have already bought one. But I suppose that puts it in direct competition with their own GO Blu.

If they had battery they would be much better (and expensive) than the Go Blue.
The Gold bar with a battery would be on the same ballpark with the Gryphon and maybe better.
But anyway, they don't have battery and they are very good for what they were designed.

I agree. And great review with lots of great pics.

Thank you!

Good review, thank you!