[Mr BubbaHyde]

A big Thanks to Simon Lucas for giving us the T3 Platinum Award for the GO bar!

“As a basis for its overall performance, the Go Bar creates a much deeper, much wider, and much taller soundstage for the elements of a recording to exist on. Compared to even the best-sounding smartphones, the iFi creates a far better-defined stage – and it locks every strand of a recording on there with real certainty, meaning each element is secure in its own space and doesn’t impact on any other.”

Thank You!

GO Bar

Cheers!!

 

[dancehall]

Hi,

I've had the GO bar for almost a year, coupled with a Focal Radiance. It's been fine, but I'd like to try open-back headphones now that I'm living alone. I'd like to keep my GO bar. I've already owned a Sennheiser HD 600, which I liked. Maybe this time I'll get the HD 650 for a bit more fun.

Is the GO bar a good companion for this Sennheiser range?

I'm open to other proposals (Sennheiser or other brands). What are the differences between the HD 650, HD 6XX and HD 660S2?

I use a Forza 4.4 mm balanced cable for my Focal. I'd also be interested in buying a 4.4 mm balanced cable for the Sennheiser.

I also like the option of sticking with Focal. I can see the Elex on Massdrop right now...

Thanks

 

[wolfen68]

I use a Go Bar with the 6XX (balanced) and am very pleased with the result. While the Go Bar cannot fully drive the 6XX as well as my desktop amp (K7), it does a passable job with more than enough volume.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Folks, Just sharing some thoughts from another member on the forum, Thanks for looking!

5 stars from Colin Aikens for the GO bar on Head-Fi

“The musicality of this dongle is the element that impresses me the most, every other dongle I’ve tried or owned has had good aspects but none has matched the musicality of this, or the detail. The Go bar never gets fatiguing when listening for extended periods, I used to struggle with dongles like the cobalt which seemed to pierce my ears after a couple of hours, not so with the Go Bar. It’s like velvet over long periods of use.”

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ifi-go-bar.25909/reviews

Cheers!!

 

[dancehall]

I use a Go Bar with the 6XX (balanced) and am very pleased with the result. While the Go Bar cannot fully drive the 6XX as well as my desktop amp (K7), it does a passable job with more than enough volume.

Thanks for your answer.

Do you really mean the GO bar can't fully drive the HD 6XX? I'd like to switch from my Focal Radiance to open-back headphones but want to keep my GO bar which I like a lot and find easy to use.

Which other open-back headphones (from any brands at any price) would be interesting/realistic to use with the GO bar? I already mentioned Sennheiser HD 650/6XX and Focal Clear MG. Other recommandations?

 

[wolfen68]

Thanks for your answer.

Do you really mean the GO bar can't fully drive the HD 6XX? I'd like to switch from my Focal Radiance to open-back headphones but want to keep my GO bar which I like a lot and find easy to use.

Which other open-back headphones (from any brands at any price) would be interesting/realistic to use with the GO bar? I already mentioned Sennheiser HD 650/6XX and Focal Clear MG. Other recommandations?

No, the Go Bar cannot fully drive the HD 6XX, but IMO is more than adequate for portable use.

There are lots of open backed headphones representing lower impedance and reasonable current draw that I think the Go Bar would do well with. I've been curious to try a Grado headphone with the Go Bar, but I don't have one to try at this time.

Edit: I have been experimenting with flat open earbuds and the Fiio FF3 sounds great with the Go Bar!

 

[dancehall]

No, the Go Bar cannot fully drive the HD 6XX, but IMO is more than adequate for portable use.

There are lots of open backed headphones representing lower impedance and reasonable current draw that I think the Go Bar would do well with. I've been curious to try a Grado headphone with the Go Bar, but I don't have one to try at this time.

Edit: I have been experimenting with flat open earbuds and the Fiio FF3 sounds great with the Go Bar!

My use would be 100% a home use. Forgot to mention that I think.

Okay, then I think I'd go with other headphones if the high impedance of the HD 6XX doesn't allow the complete potential. I have already owned a pair of Grado SR60. Really good brand in my opinion but also really uncomfortable headphones. Need to replace the pads for sure.

Audeze LCD-X seem to be a good option (20 Ω). Maybe...

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Stereonet has given the Go Bar an Applause award!

Thanks to Jay Garrett of Stereonet for this review and the Stereonet Applause Award!!

“…little block of wonderment…”
"“While iFi’s GO bar might not shout its hi-res credentials, this little block of wonderment certainly seems to have it where it counts. While it might be pricier than some of its apparent competition when you start lining up spec sheets this highly-portable slab of tech starts to leave a clear gap between it and the usual suspects.”
Thank you Jay!!

https://www.stereonet.com/reviews/ifi-audio-go-bar-review

Cheers!!

 

[BORUSSIA]

Hey is there a possibility to connect the go bar to an apple tv 4k? Through optical out of the Beamer -> Go bar? Is there a good long cable that doesn’t break the banc?

Has someone a cable recommendation for the PS5? USB-C to USB-C? 3-5m cable?

 

[bwardrop]

Hey is there a possibility to connect the go bar to an apple tv 4k? Through optical out of the Beamer -> Go bar? Is there a good long cable that doesn’t break the banc?

Has someone a cable recommendation for the PS5? USB-C to USB-C? 3-5m cable?

I tested the Gobar with my PS5 when I first got it and it works with a usbc cable. No mic passthrough though.

 

[fabduf69]

Hi
I have a problem with my Ifi go bar and my iphone 15 pro max. It doesn’t work and I don’t know why. I tried many Usb c cables. My go bar works very well with my iPad Pro.
Do you have a idea ?
Thank you

 

[Strale]

I plugged it into my astell&kern sp1000m & i have no problems at all & the settings on my astell&kern sr25 mk2 are set the same.
It did work once after I posted with the sr25 mkii but after I turned it off it won't work again for some reason. Very annoying & the place I bought it from is closed today. Thanks for your help.

@Lightspeed12, could you please briefly compare ifi Gold Bar to A&K sr25 mk2 in terms of sound quality? Is Gold Bar narrower and brighter? Are mids and highs more fatiguing (harsh) on Gold Bar compared to sr25?
Thanks.

 

[iFi audio]

Hi
I have a problem with my Ifi go bar and my iphone 15 pro max. It doesn’t work and I don’t know why. I tried many Usb c cables. My go bar works very well with my iPad Pro.
Do you have a idea ?
Thank you

Not sure why that would be, however, please open a support ticket here, and hopefully they can get you sorted out.

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

Let us know how you make out!

Cheers!!

 

[Strale]

In general, how ifi Go Bar (Black one) is dealing with brighter headphones?
There are a couple of reviews which stated that it could be a bit harsh, edgy and fatiguing with those.
So far the only one DAC/DAP I know is dealing perfectly with bright headphones is A&K SR35 which somehow rounds those edgy highs, making it very pleasant, non-fatiguing but in the same time everything is still there and full of energy.
So, is there such kind of a 'magic' in ifi Go Bar, or it will just let the headphones to shout at you?
Thanks.

 

[wolfen68]

In general, how ifi Go Bar (Black one) is dealing with brighter headphones?
There are a couple of reviews which stated that it could be a bit harsh, edgy and fatiguing with those.
So far the only one DAC/DAP I know is dealing perfectly with bright headphones is A&K SR35 which somehow rounds those edgy highs, making it very pleasant, non-fatiguing but in the same time everything is still there and full of energy.
So, is there such kind of a 'magic' in ifi Go Bar, or it will just let the headphones to shout at you?
Thanks.

I have found the Go Bar to be on the warmish side of neutral and have not had any issues with any edgy highs. With that said, most of my headphones are warmish in character so I have not challenged the Go Bar with a headphone posing lots of treble energy.