iFi audio GO pod + IEMs = brilliant wireless sound on the GO!

[iFi audio]

@iFi audio Personally I'd like to have an option to disable BT codec change voice announcements. In my setup codec sample rate is automatically adjusted for source content sample rate on each track and Go Pod is treating it as a codec change that calls for an announcement. Can get quite annoying when you're listening to playlists with diverse mix of sample rates etc.

I can completely understand this and will pass it on to those in the department who facilitate these things.

Thanks for the input!

Cheers!!

 

[Anouk]

Hi, is it possible to use these with sennheiser iems yet?
thanks in advance
Greetings,Anouk,

 

[bmazzeo]

Does any one use an Astell & Kern DAP with the Go Pods? I just acquired an SR35 and am wondering how to install the Gaia app. I tried downloading the APK from the ifi website and copying it into the open services folder but it does not appear in the Services menu to allow you to install it.

 

[toomasg]

Does any one use an Astell & Kern DAP with the Go Pods? I just acquired an SR35 and am wondering how to install the Gaia app. I tried downloading the APK from the ifi website and copying it into the open services folder but it does not appear in the Services menu to allow you to install it.

A&K DAPs allow only whitelisted applications to be installed, presumably so that they could Q&A them and that the device doesn't become bloated.
You have an option to use another mobile device to configure the Go Pod, as Gaia app is not needed for playback. Although with hi-res BT audio codecs it's not likely to be a stellar performance.

 

[bmazzeo]

A&K DAPs allow only whitelisted applications to be installed, presumably so that they could Q&A them and that the device doesn't become bloated.
You have an option to use another mobile device to configure the Go Pod, as Gaia app is not needed for playback. Although with hi-res BT audio codecs it's not likely to be a stellar performance.

So for example, if I disable the Go Pod buttons using Gaia on my iBasso Dx180, they will stay disabled when I pair it with the AK35?

Why would this affect the Go Pod's performance on the SR35? Or do you mean something else by "Although with hi-res BT audio codecs it's not likely to be a stellar performance."

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

@iFi audio Personally I'd like to have an option to disable BT codec change voice announcements. In my setup codec sample rate is automatically adjusted for source content sample rate on each track and Go Pod is treating it as a codec change that calls for an announcement. Can get quite annoying when you're listening to playlists with diverse mix of sample rates etc.

Would you mind giving an example of when/how this happens for you? Although I have reported your query it would be helpful to know your setup and exactly why this is happening.

Thanks!

Cheers!!

 

[toomasg]

So for example, if I disable the Go Pod buttons using Gaia on my iBasso Dx180, they will stay disabled when I pair it with the AK35?

Why would this affect the Go Pod's performance on the SR35? Or do you mean something else by "Although with hi-res BT audio codecs it's not likely to be a stellar performance."

Sorry about confusing wording.
1. Yes, configuration stays persistent on Go Pod itself, no matter which device is connected to it.

2. What I meant is that it is unlikely that SR35 BT would give stable connection with Go Pod if you max out audio quality settings, for example with LDAC. SR35 is using a mid-tier old generation chipset. Same is true for most DAPs out there. It's not their main use case or strength. You have a better chance with your phone (unless it's iPhone).

 

[bmazzeo]

Sorry about confusing wording.
1. Yes, configuration stays persistent on Go Pod itself, no matter which device is connected to it.

2. What I meant is that it is unlikely that SR35 BT would give stable connection with Go Pod if you max out audio quality settings, for example with LDAC. SR35 is using a mid-tier old generation chipset. Same is true for most DAPs out there. It's not their main use case or strength. You have a better chance with your phone (unless it's iPhone).

Thanks for the clarification. My use case is streaming Tidal/Nugs.net and listening through Bluetooth iems/go pods when I am at the gym. I was using my iPhone at the beginning of the year and then switched to Android DAPS because some Gaia features were not available on the iPhone at the time and I wanted higher resolution than AAC. I first tried Sony Walkman's (first the 105 and then the 707) and they could not keep a stable connection to the streaming service and/or the Bluetooth iems when I was in the gym. Constant drop outs. I recently bought a iBasso DX180 and that seems to maintain a more stable connection. The SR35 was an impulse buy when it went on sale.

Which DAPs do you consider to have more current LDAC chipsets than the SR35. Any of them reasonably priced?

 

[toomasg]

Thanks for the clarification. My use case is streaming Tidal/Nugs.net and listening through Bluetooth iems/go pods when I am at the gym. I was using my iPhone at the beginning of the year and then switched to Android DAPS because some Gaia features were not available on the iPhone at the time and I wanted higher resolution than AAC. I first tried Sony Walkman's (first the 105 and then the 707) and they could not keep a stable connection to the streaming service and/or the Bluetooth iems when I was in the gym. Constant drop outs. I recently bought a iBasso DX180 and that seems to maintain a more stable connection. The SR35 was an impulse buy when it went on sale.

Which DAPs do you consider to have more current LDAC chipsets than the SR35. Any of them reasonably priced?

If Bluetooth streaming from Tidal and other services is your primary use case, then I'd pick any previous gen flagship Android phone with Snapdragon 8 (any Gen) chip-set over any DAP. It's just better value for money in that case and less trial and error. Just make sure the codecs you want to use are supported.

This is relatively reliable (but incomplete) list of all the phones supporting Snapdragon Sound https://www.aptx.com/product-listin...x]=2024/10/10&sort_by=created&sort_order=DESC which allows Go Pod to operate at max LDAC quality setting and should give stable signal.

 

[toomasg]

My use case is streaming Tidal/Nugs.net and listening through Bluetooth iems/go pods when I am at the gym.

Thanks for a hint, imma check Nugs out.

 

[toomasg]

Would you mind giving an example of when/how this happens for you? Although I have reported your query it would be helpful to know your setup and exactly why this is happening.

Thanks!

Cheers!!

When I connect the phone with the Go Pod, it's by default automatically set to LDAC 900/990 96/24.
Now if I start playback of a track with 96Khz sample rate, nothing unusual happens. If some track is at any other sample rate (44.1, 48, 88.2) then LDAC sample rate is automatically switched to that value, to avoid unnecessary resampling steps leading to sound degradation. In that case Go Pod again announces "LDAC", and again next time with any track that's causing LDAC sample rate change. All the other connection settings remain the same. I can give more technical details via DM.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

When I connect the phone with the Go Pod, it's by default automatically set to LDAC 900/990 96/24.
Now if I start playback of a track with 96Khz sample rate, nothing unusual happens. If some track is at any other sample rate (44.1, 48, 88.2) then LDAC sample rate is automatically switched to that value, to avoid unnecessary resampling steps leading to sound degradation. In that case Go Pod again announces "LDAC", and again next time with any track that's causing LDAC sample rate change. All the other connection settings remain the same. I can give more technical details via DM.

Thanks for the clarification!

DM any details that are relevant and I will certainly pass them on verbatim as this is not an issue I have run into, would rather get the details right, thanks for your help!

Cheers!!

 

[bmazzeo]

Thanks for a hint, imma check Nugs out.

Nugs.net specializes in live concert recordings which differentiates it from Tidal, Spotify, etc. Their niche used to be jam bands but they have expanded to other music.

I checked out the specs on my iBasso. It uses a high speed version of the snapdragon 665. It's probably good enough for my use case. I'll take a look at your list of Android phones when I am ready to buy again (after I sell off my Sony's).

 

[toomasg]

I checked out the specs on my iBasso. It uses a high speed version of the snapdragon 665. It's probably good enough for my use case. I'll take a look at your list of Android phones when I am ready to buy again (after I sell off my Sony's).

There is another alternative you could try, once/if available in your region https://www.fiio.com/bt11
You could use it with your iPhone and luckily on iOS USB Audio out is guaranteed bit-perfect.
Downside compared to direct connection with the phone is that calls are not supported via usb.

 

[bmazzeo]

There is another alternative you could try, once/if available in your region https://www.fiio.com/bt11
You could use it with your iPhone and luckily on iOS USB Audio out is guaranteed bit-perfect.
Downside compared to direct connection with the phone is that calls are not supported via usb.

Definitely worth trying. The iPhone has maintained the most stable connection when streaming while using Bluetooth. I have the 15 which is the first to have usb-c instead of lightning which this requires. Should allow me to do a/b comparisons betweeen aac and ldac.