iFi GO Pod — Wearable Bluetooth DAC/Amp True Wireless IEM Adapters

 GO pod by iFi Audio

Transform your wired in-ear monitors. Wireless. World-class. 

GO wireless. GO pod.

The GO pod ­is a pair of wearable Bluetooth DAC/headphone amps designed to make your premium corded in-ear monitors (IEMs) wireless. 

It is the first device of its kind to support Hi-Res 96kHz/24bits with LDAC and Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound Bluetooth codecs on TWS!

Given the quality of the GO pod’s circuitry, when combined with a well-chosen pair of high-performance IEMs, the resulting sound is far in advance of any ‘true wireless’ earbuds or Bluetooth headphones.

Using a pair of GO pods is simple. First, detach the cable from your favourite IEMs and connect the earpieces to the left and right pods. Then, pair the pods with your source device (a smartphone, for example) and hook the ergonomically designed ear loops around your ears to ensure a comfortable fit. The result is unrivalled True Wireless Stereo headphone sound.

Distinctly different.

True wireless earbuds rely on the SoC (System on a Chip) solution to integrate the requisite tech into a tiny space. Crucial stages like Bluetooth decoding, digital-to-analogue conversion and amplification are all-in-one to save space and cost. This compromises sound quality.

The GO pod is distinctly different. Each critical stage is designed separately and optimised individually to ensure excellent sound quality – Bluetooth, DAC and amplification. 

Much like top-level hi-fi loudspeakers, high-quality corded IEMs are engineered for sonic excellence, combining multiple hi-tech drive units to transmit sound directly into your ear canal. Given the high-level of audio engineering in both, connecting a pair of these IEMs to the GO pod results in sound that is so much better than typical true wireless earbuds.

Best of Bluetooth.

iFi has gone to great lengths to ensure its Bluetooth technology is state-of-the-art throughout its product range, earning it a class-leading reputation. The GO pod continues this uncompromising approach, including certification for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound platform and Bluetooth 5.2 for optimum range, speed and reliability. Bluetooth processing is handled by Qualcomm’s top-tier QCC5144 module, with its 32-bit, quad-core architecture and low power draw delivering excellent wireless audio performance whilst minimising drain on the GO pod’s battery.

As always with iFi’s Bluetooth audio devices, the GO pod is compatible with an impressive array of Bluetooth formats. LDAC and LHDC (HWA) are both supported to their maximum 32-bit/96kHz specifications, with LDAC’s highest 990kbps bitrate available to users of Android devices that support Snapdragon Sound (660kbps with other LDAC-enabled devices). Qualcomm’s 24-bit aptX Adaptive formats are also covered, offering sample rates of up to 48kHz and 96kHz, with the additional benefit of QHS (Qualcomm High Speed) providing an extra 300kbps of bandwidth. Other supported codecs include regular aptX, AAC and SBC. This means that every possible source device is handled at the highest audio resolution its Bluetooth specification allows.

Another Qualcomm technology enabled in the GO pod is TrueWireless Mirroring. Although appearing as a single device when paired, both the left and right pods can receive Bluetooth signals – but only the one with the strongest connection acts as the receiver while the other mirrors the connected pod. If the listener moves position and the connection to the mirroring pod becomes stronger, they swap over so the mirroring pod becomes the receiver without interrupting the audio signal. Similarly, if the receiving pod is removed from the listener’s ear, the other pod becomes the receiver, ensuring a seamless true wireless stereo experience.

Class-leading DAC.

In addition to Bluetooth processing, Qualcomm’s QCC5144 chipset can be configured to perform digital-toanalogue conversion and headphone amplification too – but this is not the iFi way. Though more complicated and costly to design, the sonic benefits of separate, individually optimised DAC and amp stages are far more valuable to iFi than the savings made by one-chip-does-all solutions.

To that end, the GO pod incorporates two Cirrus Logic MasterHIFI chips – one in the left pod, the other in the right. This 32-bit hi-res DAC chip is dedicated to single-channel digital-to-analogue signal conversion in the GO pod’s circuit design, combining with a jitter-eradicating precision clock to deliver ultra-low distortion and high dynamic range – one of the key reasons why the GO pod unlocks better sound quality than competing adapters, let alone typical true wireless earbuds.

Another factor is the hardware-based analogue volume control. The GO pod doesn’t rely on the software-based volume controls in connected digital devices, which can have a deleterious effect on audio resolution. Instead, adjusting the volume on the connected device controls the volume level in the DAC, rather than in the phone, tablet or computer.

To minimise pre-echoes and ringing artifacts, the DAC is designed with proprietary digital-interpolation filters that support multiple digital filter responses. This enables the GO pod to offer five filter settings, user-selectable to suit personal taste, musical style and format type; no true wireless earbuds offer such a facility.

Awesome amplification.

Delivering a balanced output signal to each connected earpiece – another first for the TWS in-ear headphone scene – the GO pod’s amp stage has been carefully deigned to ensure ultra-low distortion and a silent background with high-sensitivity IEMs. With a power output of 120mW into 32 ohms, and an output voltage of 4V into high-impedance 300-ohm loads, each GO pod supplies plenty of gas to drive any connected IEM with consummate ease, without rapidly draining the internal battery.

To ensure its output perfectly matches the connected IEM, each pod auto-detects the IEM’s impedance and adjusts power accordingly. There are four settings – 16 ohms, 32 ohms, 64 ohms and 300 ohms – with the setting most appropriate to the connected IEM selected automatically.

Those familiar with iFi audio devices will know that the company uses discrete, high-grade components in its circuit designs, and the same is true of the GO pod. Devices such as TDK C0G multilayer ceramic capacitors and inductors from Taiyo Yuden and Murata deliver qualities such as low ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance) and high linearity, paying great dividends in terms of sound quality.

Connectors abound.

IEM manufacturers use a variety of connection types, but whichever is used by your favourite brand iFi has it covered. The GO pod’s detachable ear loop contains the IEM connector, and these are interchangeable.

The GO pod package contains the most common MMCX and 0.78mm 2-pin connectors.

Pentaconn, T2 and A2DC connectors are sold separately.

Ready? Charge!

The GO pod comes with a smartly designed charging case, with softly lined internal compartments and sufficient room to accommodate connected IEMs as well as the pods themselves.

A 1500mAH rechargeable battery is built into the charging case; a pair of GO pods will play for up to seven hours on a single charge, while the case provides multiple recharges to enable up to 35 hours of playing time. The case supports both Qi wireless charging and USB-C fast charging.

The case even features carefully-placed LED lighting inside, for easy use no matter the conditions.

• Voice clarity: built-in mic with Qualcomm noise suppression.
• Touch Controls: aluminum panel on front of pod acts as a touch pad with play, pause, and skip controls.
• Easy Charging: comes with a smartly-designed charging case, softly-lined compartments, and sufficient room to accommodate connected IEMs along with pods.
• Hi-Res Bluetooth: Qualcomm’s 24-bit aptX formats are covered, offering sample rates of up to 96kHz.
• True Wireless Mirroring: Both left and right pods can receive BT signals, but only the pod with the strongest connection acts as the receiver while the other simply mirrors.
• Cirrus Logic MasterHiFi: GO pod incorporates (x2) Cirrus Logic MasterHiFi chips, 1 in each pod. This 32-bit hi-res chip is dedicated to single-channel DAC signal conversion.
• Balanced Amplification: the amp stage has been carefully designed to ensure ultra-low distortion and silent background with high-sensitivity IEMs. With a power output of 120mW into 32Ω, and an output voltage of 4V into high-impedance 300Ω loads.
• IPX5-rated: GO pod is water and sweat-resistant - no issue wearing them in the gym or getting caught in the rain.

Dimensions:

Go Pod: 43.5 x 16.4 x 9.5 mm | 1.7" x 0.6" x 0.4"

Charging case: 116 x 76 x 38.5 mm | 4.6" x 3" x 1.5"

Weight:

GO pod 12g (0.42 oz)

Case 126g (4.44 oz)

Bluetooth version

Bluetooth 5.2™

Bluetooth chipset

Qualcomm QCC 5100 Series

Bluetooth codecs

LDAC

LHDC/HWA

aptX Adaptive

aptX

AAC

SBC

Auto impedance detection

16Ω / 32Ω / 64Ω / 300Ω

Total Harmonic Distortion

+ Noise ≤0.002% (1KHz/32Ω) @ (20-20KHz)

Output Max power