The iFi GO Bar Kensei proves that size doesn’t matter when it comes to audio quality.
iFi Audio has released the GO bar Kensei, an ultraportable DAC/amp designed to redefine high-fidelity audio on the go. As the first portable DAC to incorporate the K2HD technology, the GO bar Kensei aims to deliver an outstanding listening experience for discerning audiophiles.
In Japanese culture, a Kensei is a highly skilled warrior known as a “sword saint.” It’s a title given only to those who have reached the highest level of sword mastery. iFi Audio named their latest GO bar DAC/amp “Kensei” to show that it’s produced with the same care as a Kensei’s sword.
“GO bar Kensei is akin to a legendary sword meticulously forged for a Kensei. Embodying the dedication of a master swordsmith, we focused on purity, balance, and refinement to reveal the true essence of your music.” says iFi Audio.
“Just as a Kensei deserves an exceptional blade, an audiophile deserves an exceptional DAC.”
iFi GO Bar Kensei Features
The GO bar Kensei uses the K2HD processing technology, developed by engineers at the well-known Victor Studio in Japan.
This technology is a result of their frustrations with the emotional difference between original analog masters and digital recordings.
It’s a special processing technique that brings back the rich, natural harmonics lost in digital recordings. This makes the recordings sound closer to the original master quality.
To power this up, the GO bar Kensei uses a powerful 16-core XMOS microcontroller and a 32-bit Cirrus Logic DAC chipset.
It also supports many high-resolution audio formats, such as PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz, native DSD up to DSD256, 2x DXD, and full MQA decoding.
This means that music lovers can enjoy their favorite tracks in the best possible quality, without any compromises.
But, the GO Bar is also made to be very portable and convenient.
It measures just at 65 x 22 x 13.2 mm – about the same size as a USB flash drive. And, it has a USB-C connection, so it’s easy to plug in and use with most mobile devices.
Even though it’s small, the GO bar Kensei is very powerful when it comes to driving headphones.
It can output up to 477mW of power and has iFi’s iEMatch and Turbo mode. So, it can easily handle many different types of headphones, from sensitive in-ear monitors to power-hungry over-ear models. You can use this with virtually any headphones.
Music lovers will like the GO bar Kensei’s customization options for sound. It has four special digital filters and two analog processing modes.
Users can adjust the sound to their liking and the type of music they’re listening to. For example, the XBass+ and XSpace give control of the bass response and soundstage for an immersive listening experience.
Inside the GO bar Kensei, there are many high-quality components. These include TDK C0G capacitors, Panasonic OS-CON capacitors (totaling 5,410uF), Tantalum capacitors, and muRata control-type, low-ESR high-Q multi-layer capacitors.
These components, along with the balanced analog circuitry design and symmetrical twin-channel output stage, help to reduce noise and crosstalk.
The GO bar Kensei also has a GMT (Global Master Timing) femto-precision clock and intelligent memory buffer. These ensure very low jitter for a clean, precise sound.
Where to Buy
The iFi GO bar Kensei is available now for purchase at $449. You can buy this through iFi Audio’s official website or from select retailers worldwide.