Audio company iFi has recently introduced a new DAC (digital-to-analog converter) that is both smaller and lighter than its previous model, and it costs just $59. The iFi GO Link 2 connects to a smartphone or other audio-playing device over USB-C and can instantly improve the listening experience over wired headphones.
Wireless earbuds and music streaming services have made it normal to listen to your favorite songs in lower quality. For anyone who doesn’t consider themselves an audiophile, it may not matter, but now that many streaming services offer high sample rates and lossless audio, you may want to consider other ways to listen. To experience all the benefits of high-resolution or lossless audio, you need wired headphones, something that becomes more difficult when most smartphones only have a USB-C port. That’s where the iFi GO Link 2 comes in. The dongle plugs into a USB-C port and lets you connect a pair of wired earbuds while preserving your high-quality audio at the same time.
iFi’s new DAC is eight percent smaller and 29 percent lighter than the previous GO Link, which is close to the size of Apple’s USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack dongle. The Go Link 2’s built-in ESS Saber DAC chipset is said to add “6 dB of dynamic range between the loudest and quietest moments” and reduce distortion by 62 percent for clearer sound compared to the original Go Link.
Via iFi’s companion Nexis app on Android, the GO Link 2 can also be updated on the go and further customized with digital filters. The GO Link 2 supports two digital filters – a hybrid and a linear – so you can adjust things to your preferred sound profile. You can also use the Nexis app to set volume limits when you’re listening with the DAC attached.
The previous GO Link made Engadget’s list of the best DACs for Apple Music lossless, and at the same price, the GO Link 2 looks to do the same. The iFi GO Link 2 is now available for purchase for $59.
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