iFi Audio GO Bar Kensei is the newest version of a device that integrates both digital-to-analogue converter and a headphone amplifier in one sleek-looking USB-dongle form factor case. Moreover, it’s not only the latest reincarnation of the GO Bar, but it’s also more expensive than the predecessor and – if we believe the manufacturer’s claims – the most advanced one up to date. For those not that familiar: there is still the first version of the iFi Audio GO Bar available on the market, and was reviewed by us here. As an addition to that original variant iFi Audio has also made an anniversary edition – the GOLD Bar – which was, as you might have guessed, gold plated. And also encapsulated in a copper enclosure – while the original GO Bar was an aluminium alloy. That Gold bar also had (I mean past tense, since it was a limited run, so not available on the market anymore) an enhanced power supply section, therefore no surprise that many deemed it to be significantly better than the original.
And since iFi Audio likes to come up with some new interesting products incorporating some even more interesting ideas when actually nobody expects that to happen – here comes the newest GO Bar Kensei. This time we have the case made from the Japanese stainless steel, enhanced power supply (as in Gold bar), ultra-low jitter clock (which was not available in the Gold bar). And one thing more that may make some well-informed in the various technicalities of the audio reproduction really turn their heads: the K2HD technology. That one particular feature is a complete novum for both the GO Bar range and actually for the whole iFi Audio product line. And as far as I know, outside some studio environments, nobody has nowadays implemented that technology in any digital source that may be part of the (more or less portable) audiophile world.
What I mean to say here is this: before anyone judges that the new version is just another “special edition” update that isn’t actually that special – consider this: the original K2 interface was back in the day probably the first available re-clocking and retiming technology that made its way into old days’ CD-Players. It was in the time where silver spinning disc was so prevalent and people were striving to get the most of it in any way possible. Yet, what is also worth of note, is that here we have the JVCKENWOOD’s K2HD technology, which is quite a bit different from the original (thus the “HD” in its name), and can be seen as a evolution of its ancestor, yet with quite similar sonic goal in mind.
While we will get back to this soon, I would also like to one emphasize just more thing: the original GO Bar was actually pretty good, not only in its ability to drive more difficult headphones, but also because it could compete without any problems with many DACs in its price range that were much more “desktop” in their form factor. It was not only about the power output totalling 475 mW at 32 ohms (or 7.2V voltage swing at 600 ohms), but rather about the quality of what came out of it. And here we have another, actually third version of the GO Bar. This time retailing for 449 Euro(or USD), which is significantly more expensive than the original that cost the 329 Euro (or USD). Definitely not cheap, but let me put it this way: we have a plethora of IEMs on the market that cost as much as a pretty good used car, so the the-price-vs-perceived-size doesn’t matter that much anymore. Moreover, something tells me that those who will really want it, will get it anyway. And there’s that K2HD technology that may, just may turn out to be the star of the show here. And, finally, as it turned out that I have all three Bars (Original, Gold, and the Kensei) with me – we can take both a closer look and see things from a wider perspective at the same time.
iFi Audio GO Bar Kensei – design
The first thing that we’ll undoubtedly notice will be its weight. It’s 65.5 grams, while the GO Bar was 28.5 and GOLD Bar was 64 respectively. And, as mentioned, here we have the stainless steel for the case, while the first GO Bar used aluminium and the GOLD version had copper. While we can debate quite a long time on whether the steel or copper is better for any audio device, this is how iFi Audio replied when I asked them the whole “which enclosure material is better” question:
“In truth, this was more of a design and aesthetic choice than a technical one. You are quite right of course, in that construction material does change shielding properties, but overall, the shielding performance is very similar. Both have better EMI rejection than the original GO bar, so we are still confident that the GO bar Kensei offers a solid improvement in this regard, while also bringing with it the storied history of Japanese steel.”