true wireless headphones are convenient, but the sound quality is still necessary to return to traditional wired headphones. Is there any way to have the best of both worlds? I searched for a long time and finally let me meet iFi Go Blu, and I immediately bought it and became the editor-in-chief's pocket.
Thinking about the [alternative solution] outside of computers
How can I say it is a [trick plan]? Because there are many music lectures, I use the computer as a signal source. When encountering different DACs, I always need to pre-set them. Although I use Macbook Pro, I am not worried about the need for a driver, but relying on the remote control of my mobile phone, I sometimes encounter problems. Moreover, the new version of iTunes is getting closer to the cloud. Sometimes, the music archives are clearly on the hard drive, but the archives are not found. I can only be played by switching to a cloud database. So, I began to think about the [alternative solution] for direct Bluetooth playback on my mobile phone.
There are many similar Bluetooth receiver players on the market, but most of them are independent single-player. Although they are not large in size, they take a speech outside, plus a Bluetooth receiver, which feels not burdened. However, with the power supply of both, as well as wires, the backpack is full. I was not satisfied with it after trying a few. When I wanted to give up, I found Go Blu. The first specification that attracted me was that it was super light weight, with only 27 grams. Taking out the change in my pocket may be heavier than Go Blu, and I absolutely have no burden to carry.
only 27 grams ultra-light weight
Study the specifications, the amazing, super small Go Blu, the design concept is actually very Hi End. Let's start with Bluetooth reception. It is equipped with a 4-core Qualcomm QCC 5100 Bluetooth chip, with the latest specifications of 5.1. High-sound quality aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, Sony LDAC, LHDC, SBC or AAC. All support it, and it can reach up to 24 bits/96 kHz. If there is a new codec in the future, you can also upgrade the software to support it. However, this has a good feeling for Android phones. I am an Apple fan and I am satisfied with it as long as I have AAC. After receiving the digital music file from
, it sends it to the Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC, directly performs 32bit oversampling, and performs Mismatch Shaping. Even if there may be code loss during the wireless transmission process, the sound quality can be effectively improved through oversampling and digital interpolation, and the sound quality can be effectively improved, and the precise clock correction system can be used to effectively reduce the time base error (jitter).
Compare the design concept of Hi End audio
Some people will ask: Mobile phones can provide Bluetooth transmission, DAC decoding and headphone drivers, why do you still need to use Go Blu? Isn’t it unnecessary? Of course, the mobile phone has complete functions, but these functions are integrated into a single chip, which is difficult to cover everything. Go Blu has all independent functions. Bluetooth receives dedicated chips, and DAC is also dedicated chips. It also has a calibration clock close to the DAC and then sends it to an analogy enlargement line. Don't look at Go Blu's small and exquisite design concept. The most exciting part of
Go Blu is the analogy enlargement circuit. Such a small portable Bluetooth DAC ear expansion actually uses a balanced enlargement circuit, and it is a dual mono design, which is almost in line with the big brother Pro iCan. The amplification component is selected as the OV series OP customized by iFi, which has low noise and low distortion. How low is the distortion rate? 0.0001%, it is not easy to achieve such specifications.
fully balanced dual mono also comes with audio supplement
double mono balanced analog amplification line, using Direct Drive, which is directly intersected. There is no capacitive coupling in the music signal path to avoid sound dyeing, and use audio-specific fever supplements, such as TDK C0G Class 1 ceramic capacitors, and Murata Control Type low ESR and high Q value multi-layer capacitors, these are good materials hidden in Go Blu. The output power of
Go Blu is also quite standard. It can output 165 mW (3.5mm) and 245 mW (Pentaconn) at 32 ohm impedance. The 600 ohm impedance can maintain 2.8V (3.5mm) and 5.6V (Pentaconn). It may be surprising to use it to promote the HD800.
Four sound modes are available for
Although the amplification line is directly interlinked to reduce the sound dyeing caused by the intersection capacitor, the tone is relatively subjective, so Go Blu has adjustment options for analogy amplification, that is, XBass and XSpace. You can understand the functions at a glance. XBass increases the sense of low frequency volume, XSpace increases the sense of space, and you can also mix the two, that is, XBass + XSpace, plus the standard mode, which means that Go Blu has four tone expressions to choose from.
The control button to switch tone option is located below the ChronoDial control knob. When the light on the body is not on, it represents the standard amplification mode. Press to switch XBass, the light turns green (but the instruction is yellow), press again, turn on XSPACE, the light shows blue, and press again, it is XBass + XSpace. Because there is only one switching button, it is loop control: Standard, XBass, XSpace, XBass + XSpace.
ChronoDial
Although it is a small Bluetooth DAC ear expansion, the Go Blu's case is very well-made, with fine metal hair and silk texture. The matte black plastic material not only looks good, but also has an anti-slip effect. The most beautiful thing is the control knob. iFi is called ChronoDial. It uses brass columns and lock nuts, and has 304 stainless steel bearings inside, paired with pure nickel button springs and precision-processed AL6063 aluminum alloy buttons. This is a trick learned from the crown design of Swiss mechanical watches.
Rotate ChronoDial to control the volume. The feel of a gramogram is very good and the control is quite accurate. Pressing ChronoDial can remotely control the functions of playing, stopping, next and previous songs on the phone. Pressing ChronoDial can call Siri or Google Assistant. You can also use the built-in MEMS microphone to do voice control or call. This is a practical function of ChronoDial, but only by actual operation can you know how good the texture of ChronoDial is.
Go Blu The button next to the body is the power switch, which can be turned on after pressing it. However, there is also a hidden function. Press it twice in a row, and the music being played will become soft. Then the voice prompts the file specifications of the current music playing. For example, the Apple Music I use is mostly AAC 44.1 kHz, which prompts the voice of the music file specifications is a gentle female voice. After the voice prompt, the music will automatically return to the original playback volume.
Mini DAC ear expansion that can be used [all-weather]
The design of Go Blu is roughly shown. Next, it needs to show off its skills. If you treat Go Blu as a portable Bluetooth DAC ear expansion, then underestimate it. Go Blu can actually be regarded as a digital music partner that runs [all-weather]. Commuters like me are indispensable for music when taking the MRT. They use Go Blu with wired ear canal headphones. When they go to the office and work on the laptop, they can use USB cable, use Go Blu as a USB DAC, and charge Go Blu, and then the most important reason I bought it: they use Go Blu as a Bluetooth wireless input gear connected to the audio system.
To make Go Blu have a connection with the audio, it is very simple. Just prepare a 3.5mm RCA signal cable, and my trick is Crystal Cable. I had a Piccolo Diamond many years ago, and later I bought Duet. The packaging of Crystal Cable is a black velvet bag. Go Blu comes with a suede protection bag, which can be placed in the Duet signal cable, which has become the editor-in-chief's trick. In the future, when I go out for a speech, I don't have to use a computer. I use the Duet signal cable to connect the previous RCA input, and then I can play music on my mobile phone.
Unexpected good voice
What about the sound performance? Good beyond my expectations! Usually when connecting with Bluetooth, you will always feel that the tone has a bit of burrs, and the transparency is not as good as that of a streaming player or CD. The low-frequency lower disc is also slightly cloudy, but Go Blu does not have these problems, and the tone is transparent and has a very good resolution.Moreover, Go Blu is paired with a sound system, and there is also a way to play with fine-tuning tone, because Go Blu itself has its own ear expansion, you can use the volume of Go Blu and the volume of the front level to fine-tune the tone thickness. If you want a thicker tone, turn the volume of Go Blu as high as possible. The higher the front end output, the thicker the lower plate. If you want the tone to be transparent, you can moderately reduce the output of Go Blu and push the volume with the front level.
decided to pay the bill when I let Go Blu accompany me for a day. It was so easy to use. When I took the MRT, the Atom Floyd Super Darts headphones that had been resting for a while were resurrected (this time was replaced by real wireless headphones). The mid-to-high frequency details of the armature headphones are far better than dynamic headphones. The tone is much brighter and brighter. I feel better when I go to work. When I get to the office, I plug in USB to charge, and Go Blu becomes a USB DAC ear expansion. Sometimes if I try the audio, the CD I want to listen to is placed at home, and I can also use Go Blu to connect it to a large system and listen to Apple Music directly.
is enough but not omnipotent driver
The headset I usually use on my work desk is Pioneer SE Master One, but the desktop listening space is limited and it may not necessarily be connected to the ears. However, with Go Blu, if you want to charge, you can pick it up and listen to music. SE Master One is not a difficult headset to push. Go Blu is easy to push, the medium and high frequency tone is gorgeous, and the low frequency band is full and thick, which sounds like Michael Jackson is very high.
Since SE Master One failed Go Blu, I replaced the headphone editor-in-chief Cai Chengrong's Senherisser HD 800 S, and the 300 ohm impedance headphones. It's not a guy who is easy to mess with. Fortunately, the editor gave me a 4.4mm balanced headphone cable, allowing Go Blu to exert the maximum thrust. Listen to Michael Jackson's [The Way You Make Me Feel], Go Blu pushed it well, the music is transparent and open, but when the volume is turned on, you will feel that the control is slightly insufficient, the low frequency is enough, the medium and high frequency is a little stiff, and the SE Master One, Go Blu You can be full of vitality, the low-frequency band is more dynamic, and the overall driving is more balanced and comprehensive. However, using the HD 800 S to test Go Blu is too much. Anyway, I don’t usually use the HD 800 S (I have to borrow from the editor). Go Blu is already satisfied with being able to promote SE Master One well.
Warm and transparent and open comfortable tone
In most cases, I will listen in the standard mode of Go Blu. The tone is warm and transparent and open, the medium and low frequencies are smooth, and the overall frequency band distribution is balanced. It is a very comfortable tone. For example, listening to Yo-you Ma’s [Six Evolutions - Bach: Cello Suites], Go Blu presents a clean cello solo sound line, and has a very good spatial presentation. The quiet music background sets off the cello’s playing shape more vividly. The subtle sound of finger pressing the fingerboard can be heard more clearly on the headphones. Moreover, even if the volume is turned very small, listen as background music, Go Blu can still maintain a sense of balance and will not shrink into a ball like a mosquito buzzing.
However, when I want to listen to rock music, I will turn on XBass mode, such as listening to Michael Jackson's [Billie Jean]. Although the standard mode is good, it is more powerful by pushing a little medium and low frequency Boost with XBass, especially the opening electric bass. The recording is very full, and the electric bass is almost overdrive. This electric bass force that cannot be broken, turn on XBass to listen to, which is more exciting.
paired with music type changes XBass and XSpace
If it is a rock concert scene, then I will choose the XBass + XSpace mode, the stage space is more open, and the low frequency is also added with Boost, such as listening to John Mayer's [Where The Light Is]. The opening [Neon] is a wonderful acoustic guitar solo. Amid the cheers of the crowd, John Mayer plays his Martin signature piano with stunning skills, deliberately lowering the sixth string, allowing the root of the acoustic guitar to proceed, just like the tone of a hollow bass.
If you listen in XSpace mode, the tone of the steel string guitar will be brighter and crisper, but if it is an XBass + XSpace concert, the live feeling will be better, especially the acoustic guitar that never plugs in, replaced with a plug-in electric guitar, and the atmosphere of a rock pop concert, XBass + XSpace will be stronger. When listening to [Waiting On The World To Change], the jazz drum is stronger, and the particles of the big drum stepping on it are fuller. While John Mayer was singing, the electric guitar on his hand did not stop for a second. He is really the guitar god of the younger generation! Listen to Slow Dance In A Burning Room, the electric guitar has a small amount of Over Drive, and it is a beautiful Fender Tweed tone, and it is awesome to listen to it with Go Blu.
Rock is to heavy low frequency
Listen rock, of course, foreigners cannot be so beautiful that they are just listening to Eggplant eggs [Love is greater than what I think]. The big drum is pedaling with drum beats, the electronic synthesizer plays long chords, Hi Hat is crisply beaten, the lead singer A Bin starts singing, when the electric guitar comes in, the light Funky rhythm, on Go Blu, not only the clarity of each part is good, but the ensemble of the two electric guitars makes the music more lively, and this song is more vigorous.
Let’s have a slow song. Listen to the fire extinguisher’s [Inside Words], the acoustic guitar plays a decomposition of the chord progression. Play one hand first, and add the second hand to create a chord combination effect like a 12-string guitar. The guitar tone superimposed in the recording studio sounds so full. The lead singer Yang Dazheng sings [Inside Words]. If you listen attentively, it is really the sincere emotions written into the hearts of the wanderer. Listen with Go Blu, the emotions in the recording are even more intense. This is the mood of the young rock band, rooted in the growth process. When singing to the end [God, if you are watching, please protect and protect this family], it will really make people cry. If you listen with XSpace, the feeling of the scene will be better.
It’s not a problem to listen to female voices Go Blu, listen to Zhang Xuan’s singing [Screaming]. Before playing the crisp acoustic guitar, Zhang Xuan’s subtle inhalation sound strengthens his expectation for music. Turn on XSpace mode. Zhang Xuan’s voice is pulled closer, the guitar and jazz drum are back a little, and the space feels wider. XSpace is actually just adding a little bit of flavor, and the musical atmosphere is different. If you switch back to the standard mode, the guitar and jazz drum will pull closer, but it feels more flat.
[Tips in the Editor's Pocket]
The small Go Blu is now the [Tips in the Editor's Pocket]. Put Go Blu in the black velvet bag of Duet signal cable. It can not only be paired with wired headphones to enjoy the convenience of Bluetooth wireless, but also be used as the [Registration] of my music lecture. If there is any situation in the computer, you can connect Go Blu to the pre-level level at any time and play music directly with your mobile phone. After searching for it for a long time, you finally got the registration. If you go out for a speech in the future, you will not be able to do anything.
Equipment specifications
iFi Audio Go Blu
Format: Portable Bluetooth transmission DAC Ear expansion
Bluetooth chip: Qualcomm QCC 5100 Series
DAC chip: Cirrus Logic CS43131
Input: Bluetooth 5.1 (AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX HD,
aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, LDAC, LHDC/HWA Codec); Wired transmission USB-C (24/96)
headphone output: 4.4mm balanced/ 245mW @ 32Ω; 5.6v @ 600Ω; 3.5mm single-ended/ 165mW @ 32Ω; 2.8v @ 600Ω
Noise ratio: balanced/ 111dB(A) @ 0dBFS; single-ended/ 116.5dB(A) @ 0dBFS
Dynamic range: 120dB(A)
Total harmonic distortion: balanced/ 0.009% @ (6.5mW/2.0v@600Ω); single-ended/ 0.03% @ (100mW/1.27v@16Ω)
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 45kHz
Battery: 450mAh Lithium Battery
Size: 54 x 34 x 13 mm
Weight: 27 g
Price: 5,800 yuan
Prices in the article are all New Taiwan dollars in units
