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

[Nick24JJ]

@iFi audio
@Mr BubbaHyde

Dear iFi Audio,

I am a first time customer. I would like to kindly ask you, I am... begging you(!) to reconsider your Impedance Auto-Detection function on the GO Pod. Please, give us a switch to turn this function OFF, if possible, as soon as possible!

The GO Pod is superior to the UTWS5, at least theoretically. Today, I have connected my IMR Elan+ with my UTWS5 and everything sounds fantastic, to the level of a Bluetooth product! The bass is amazing, the midrange, the upper midrange and treble, is there, present! Crisp, crystal clear! With the GO Pod, there is a veil in the treble and upper midrange. It sounds muffled and recessed. This puzzled me so much that last week I've sent my Elan+ back to IMR Acoustics for checking. Nothing wrong, they've told me.

How is it possible, dear iFi Audio, that my Elan+ sounds great with the UTWS5 and muffled/veiled/recessed, missing spark, clarity and crispiness, with the GO Pod?

Note, please, that I am using my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, as my source. So, I am forced to use aptX with the UTWS5, due to their experimental LDAC implementation. With the GO Pod, however, I am using LDAC 990/909kbps. And, still, aptX from the UTWS5 sounds better than LDAC on the GO Pod! I am listening to my WAV files, to Amazon Music Unlimited and YouTube Premium. Everything, in the upper midrange and treble, sounds muffled, like an old cassette player.

I sincerely hope you will provide a button to disable the impedance auto-detection/auto-selection button for those who need it.

Kindly.

 

[iFi audio]

Just here to report that I can't get my Go Pod to connect at 990kbps (SQ priority mode) to my Xperia 1 IV (latest firmware Android 13), or actually to Shanling M1s and M0 Pro. It is very unstable / sound breaks off every second or two. No issue when switching to 660kbps / 330 kbps (Best Effort mode). In comparison, I have no problem connecting these devices to FiiO UTWS5 (firmware v 1.73), Sony WF-1000XM4 and Linkbuds S with 990kbps so I doubt it is because of bandwidth / QHS issue, especially since Xperia 1 IV has Qualcomm 8 Gen 1 which does support QHS / SnapDragon Sound certified.

Can you by any chance let our support know about this? Maybe they've already encountered a situation similar to yours and possibly know the answer. It's worth a shot: https://support.ifi-audio.com

How is it possible, dear iFi Audio, that my Elan+ sounds great with the UTWS5 and muffled/veiled/recessed, missing spark, clarity and crispiness, with the GO Pod?

Although I have nothing firm to reply here, I'll ask internally about this and will update you once I know what may be the reason. Thanks for flagging!

 

[Nick24JJ]

@iFi audio

I am replying to your post here, as I feel it is more on-topic and other owners or potential customers might benefit.

My issue is described in my post above.

My suggestion:
Since you, iFi Audio, the R&D team, does not own an IMR Elan+ to test it, first-hand, the only other way I can think of is, your R&D to have a close look at the specs of the Elan+ and conclude if the GO Pod has enough power and, at the same time, is setting the correct impedance for this specific IEM. I cannot think of anything else but, of course, I am not an Audio Engineer. Your R&D team has full knowledge of the GO Pod, I am sure, so if they will see the drivers of this IEM and its other specifications, they will understand what is going on.

Finally, I can understand that several days might need to pass before getting an answer but I have asked about this on July 10, 2023 by opening to ticket.

Looking forward to your update, here.

Thank you.

 

[e-dub]

Jesus ****ing christ, this thread.

 

[e-dub]

I found the Advars too bright ultimately so am selling them. Changed to Fiio FH7 and they sound pretty good to me, a bit warmer.

Hi! I'm close to getting a pair of Go Pods and will almost certainly be moving my FH7 from their current UTWS5 to the Go Pods. How's the pairing working for you?

 

[gryffe]

Hi! I'm close to getting a pair of Go Pods and will almost certainly be moving my FH7 from their current UTWS5 to the Go Pods. How's the pairing working for you?

Yeah, I prefer the sound of the FH7, and much cheaper than the Advar too. The FH7's are bulkier than the Advars though, and this is where the large charging case for the Go-Pods is advantageous, it's a very snug fit whereas the Advars left plenty room in the case.

If anybody is looking for a pair of Advars give me a shout, won't be too difficult with the price.

 

[Frankie Lam]

Re-customized earhooks, using 7N single crystal copper LitzType6, very easy to wear without pain, the only disadvantage is that you don't need to put it back into the charging box

 

[PhenixS1970]

Re-customized earhooks, using 7N single crystal copper LitzType6, very easy to wear without pain, the only disadvantage is that you don't need to put it back into the charging box

Nice. Did you make these yourself? I'm also having comfort issues which actually makes me consider selling them. Got some 'adapters' incoming to make that ear hook a bit longer and see how it goes. Your solution is much better (and my VxV is a tiny iem so it might still fit the box...)

 

[Frankie Lam]

好的。這些是你自己做的嗎？我也遇到了舒適度問題，這實際上讓我考慮要賣掉它們。收到了一些“適配器”，可以讓耳鉤更長一點，看看效果如何。你的解決方案好的護理（我的VxV是一個鏡片的iem，所以可能仍然適合盒子......）

尋找香港專賣店訂購
https://www.facebook.com/rstudiohpshop

 

[PhenixS1970]

尋找香港專賣店訂購

According to DEEPL = find a store in Hong Kong to order

 

[iFi audio]

Looking forward to your update, here.

Thanks and you shall have it, once our R&D gets back to us. Thanks!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Re-customized earhooks, using 7N single crystal copper LitzType6, very easy to wear without pain, the only disadvantage is that you don't need to put it back into the charging box

That is extremely cool, thank you for sharing!

Cheers!!

 

[Nick24JJ]

Re-customized earhooks, using 7N single crystal copper LitzType6, very easy to wear without pain, the only disadvantage is that you don't need to put it back into the charging box

Hi, really cool, thanks for sharing.

What do you mean by

the only disadvantage is that you don't need to put it back into the charging box

Do you mean that your IEMs do not fit inside the case or that, with this modification, the ear-hooks do not charge?

 

[Frankie Lam]

Hi, really cool, thanks for sharing.

What do you mean by

Do you mean that your IEMs do not fit inside the case or that, with this modification, the ear-hooks do not charge?

That means you can't put it back in the charging case with the earhooks. After use, you should remove the earhook before placing it in the charging position, because the prongs of the earhook are too long to be removed.
這意思是無法將其與耳掛一起放回充電盒中。 使用後，應先將耳掛取下再放入充電位置，因為耳掛的插腳太長放不入充電盒。

 

[twister6]

Regarding the fit comfort, it will be impossible to have one earhook-to-fit-them-all due to a difference in IEMs shell design and our outer ear anatomy "design" I did make a note in my review about the fit comfort, and it will vary. What I would suggest for iFi, something I already mentioned to Lawrence directly, is to release another set of slightly longer modular earhooks, even 1/2" longer would improve the comfort with some smaller shell iems or for users with dumbo ears

Here is to demonstrate the difference, look at the tip of the ear, not much room left with VE Phoenix, causing it to pinch it while extra room with EE Odin.