iFi Audio GO Bar Kensei... The Ultimate GO Bar Has Arrived!

[Killedkella]

I'm a bit late, but anyway, here is my review of Kensei

Just in time after just recently trying it myself, your review makes it even more tempting)

 

[iFi audio]

I'm a bit late, but anyway, here is my review of Kensei

Better late than never, right?

Thanks so much for sharing your review here, much appreciated!

Cheers!!

 

[harris88]

Hello,

I have a general DAC/amp question, but since I'm using the Kensei, I thought I'd ask here.

My usual setup involves the Kensei paired with the Samsung S23 Ultra, but today I tried using the Kensei with a laptop and noticed it seemed to perform better (compared to my phone) – specifically, it appeared to have a higher power output at the same volume. Both the soundstage and dynamics improved noticeably.

Can anyone explain why that might be? I was under the impression that the main purpose of a dongle DAC/amp is to bypass the source and handle power amplification directly.

Btw the IEMs being used are Monarch MKIIIs (if that matters).

Thanks!

 

[Killedkella]

I’m an owner of the hip-dac 2 but the Kensei absolutely blew me away with the IE900, simply phenomenal in my opinion. The Xbass + also felt more tasteful and discrete than the one featured on the hip-dac 2.

But, unfortunately it did not work with my iPhone 14 Pro Max. I tried 2 different OTG lightning cables and nothing seemed to wake it up, is that a common issue? My battery level was pretty low for the record so it could have been that.

I wanted to make an update post regarding the iPhone incompatibility.

I recently went back to the shop to test it again, but this time with a higher charge (past 50%) on my iPhone, and it worked without any issues, even when using my BTR7 usb-c to lightning cable that came bundled with that Bluetooth dac/amp. So I guess for iPhone users the battery charge may affect its operability.

 

[Assationater]

Hello,

I have a general DAC/amp question, but since I'm using the Kensei, I thought I'd ask here.

My usual setup involves the Kensei paired with the Samsung S23 Ultra, but today I tried using the Kensei with a laptop and noticed it seemed to perform better (compared to my phone) – specifically, it appeared to have a higher power output at the same volume. Both the soundstage and dynamics improved noticeably.

Can anyone explain why that might be? I was under the impression that the main purpose of a dongle DAC/amp is to bypass the source and handle power amplification directly.

Btw the IEMs being used are Monarch MKIIIs (if that matters).

Thanks!

Well as a dongle with only one input, that being usb-c, it can only draw as much power as the downstream device will give it. And even the highest end devices are affected by power quality, different sources will give different sound. You can try using a different cable as well and see if it makes any difference.

 

[jsmiller58]

Hello,

I have a general DAC/amp question, but since I'm using the Kensei, I thought I'd ask here.

My usual setup involves the Kensei paired with the Samsung S23 Ultra, but today I tried using the Kensei with a laptop and noticed it seemed to perform better (compared to my phone) – specifically, it appeared to have a higher power output at the same volume. Both the soundstage and dynamics improved noticeably.

Can anyone explain why that might be? I was under the impression that the main purpose of a dongle DAC/amp is to bypass the source and handle power amplification directly.

Btw the IEMs being used are Monarch MKIIIs (if that matters).

Thanks!

As @Assationater alludes, the dongle is going to amplify what it receives… so if there is a higher voltage or current coming from the laptop versus the phone this would be an expected result.

 

[jonmbarlow]

Hi, I have a question that hopefully somebody can help with! I brought the Go Bar and planned to use it with a power bank to avoid draining the battery, purchased an Ibasso cb19 split cable and a power bank. Using it with my S24 ultra the power bank is not being recognised, I have no issues with the power bank with my Fiio M23. Link to power bank below......any advice appreciated.

https://amzn.eu/d/j3EKh9K

 

[iFi audio]

Hi, I have a question that hopefully somebody can help with! I brought the Go Bar and planned to use it with a power bank to avoid draining the battery, purchased an Ibasso cb19 split cable and a power bank. Using it with my S24 ultra the power bank is not being recognised, I have no issues with the power bank with my Fiio M23. Link to power bank below......any advice appreciated.

https://amzn.eu/d/j3EKh9K

Hello, hopefully, someone may be able to help you out, I have never tried anything like this so I am at a bit of a loss.

However thoughts that come to mind are I know that the GO Bar obviously doesn't "activate" for lack of a better term until it senses a connection to the phone (or other similar device), this may be causing an issue.

I would ask for some help from our support folks as well perhaps they have run into this before.

Perhaps the use of some sort of "charging dock" wirelessly may help here.

https://support.ifi-audio.com/

Cheers!!

 

[iFi audio]

Folks,

We just wanted to mention that at the moment the GO Bar Kansei is sold out globally! Now that doesn't mean that distributors don't still have stock it means "We"

So from all of us to all of you thank you so much for the support and love you have shown to our GO Bar Kensei, we truly appreciate it and are grateful!

Cheers!!

 

[Assationater]

Folks,

We just wanted to mention that at the moment the GO Bar Kansei is sold out globally! Now that doesn't mean that distributors don't still have stock it means "We"

So from all of us to all of you thank you so much for the support and love you have shown to our GO Bar Kensei, we truly appreciate it and are grateful!

Cheers!!

Im all for optimizing production and maybe even passing on cost savings down to the consumer, but like the ifi micro finale, iusb, igalvanic, this seems like such a short production run ;-;. And with the pro series seemingly discontinued I wonder whats in store...

 

[Killedkella]

Folks,

We just wanted to mention that at the moment the GO Bar Kansei is sold out globally! Now that doesn't mean that distributors don't still have stock it means "We"

So from all of us to all of you thank you so much for the support and love you have shown to our GO Bar Kensei, we truly appreciate it and are grateful!

Cheers!!

that's incredibly sad... I hope I am able to get a unit before my local shop runs out

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Im all for optimizing production and maybe even passing on cost savings down to the consumer, but like the ifi micro finale, iusb, igalvanic, this seems like such a short production run ;-;. And with the pro series seemingly discontinued I wonder whats in store...

that's incredibly sad... I hope I am able to get a unit before my local shop runs out

Sold out does not mean "Gone Forever" Stay tuned for any restock updates I can get...

Posting for Clarity...

Cheers!!

 

[Killedkella]

Sold out does not mean "Gone Forever" Stay tuned for any restock updates I can get...

Posting for Clarity...

Cheers!!

Oh! That's good to hear, the message just sounded like a last goodbye for a discontinued product

 

[utdeep]

Is this product discontinued? It was my favorite dongle by far. I am selling mine, but hope to buy one again in the future when I return to the hobby:
https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/ifi-kensei-dac-amp-dongle.84515/

 

[jonmbarlow]

I have a Gold bar on Ebay for a very attractive price if anybody is interested