Progress really is amazing. Just two years after we awarded five stars to the iFi Go Link Max DAC, iFi has launched a sequel that is smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and with lower distortion to boot.
The iFi Go Link 2 Max is again a highly pocketable portable DAC for listening on the go. But this model can receive over-the-air updates via the iFi Nexis app, though these are available only to Android users at the moment.
The app also has two digital filters – hybrid and linear – so you can tweak the sound profile to your exact taste.
Like its predecessor, the Go Link 2 Max acts as the middle man between your music source and your wired headphones. Plug it into each, and it will boost the sound quality, with THD compensation reducing distortion by over 50 per cent compared with the five-star Go Link Max.
It has the same maximum power output of 241mW as its predecessor, while its balanced architecture claims “improved dynamics, lower noise and greater sonic control”.
Inside are two ESS Sabre DAC chips, one for each audio channel. This allows for superior definition and instrument separation, while Dynamic Range Enhancement (DRE) provides +6dB additional range between the loudest and quietest parts in your music, making both more engaging.
It also includes iFi’s S-Balanced tech. This applies balanced circuitry principles to the 3.5mm headphone output, reducing by half the crosstalk between headphone channels.
Quad DAC+ and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator technologies combine with iFi’s dedicated GMT clock circuitry to provide low distortion, and better clarity and musical timing.
The silver copper cable has polymer insulation and a “twisted pair” design, which reduces inductance and capacitance while helping to quash unwanted noise. And because it has volume controls on the hardware itself, it doesn’t decrease the amount of data sent to the DACs, and hence retains the musical details.
All this, and it manages to be 3g lighter and slightly smaller than its predecessor. It looks very good indeed, and given the resurgence in popularity of wired headphones at the moment, we’re probably not the only ones eager to take it for a spin.
The iFi Go Link 2 Max costs £85 / $85 (around AU$160) and is currently listed as sold out on iFi’s website, so expect it to go on sale very soon.
MORE:
Read our iFi Go Link Max review
Also consider the AudioQuest DragonFly Red
Best DACs: USB, desktop and portable digital-to-analogue converters
