The iFi GO link Max was sent for the purpose of this review. I didn’t receive monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don’t use affiliate links. The price of the GO link Max is $79 and you can buy it from the iFi online shop.
iFi GO link Max
The Go link is iFi’s most affordable USB DAC dongle, an entry level, compact sized model with a single-ended 3.5mm headphone jack.
The recently released iFi GO link Max is an enhanced version of the GO link that adds dual DAC chips and an extra 4.4mm true balanced output.
Technical highlights
The iFi GO link Max has dual ESS ES9219 DAC chips in a balanced architecture. The device uses the Sabre DAC’s Dynamic Range Enhancement (DRE) feature to deliver greater contrast between the loudest and quietest sounds. The device supports sampling rates up to 384kHz/32bit PCM and DSD256.
iFi has also employed several other circuitry enhancements and namely their S-Balanced technology (both for the 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs), hardware-based volume control and extensive jitter-eradication technologies, including GMT (Global Master Timing) femto-precision clock and intelligent memory buffer.
Build quality and appearance
The device has the exact same appearance as the iFi GO link but it is a little bigger and heavier. The GO link Max measures 150x15x10mm and weighs 14.5g vs the GO link which measures 135×12.6×7.6mm and weighs 11g. The iFi GO link Max is the most compact sized USB DAC dongle I can think of with both 3.5mm and true balanced 4.4mm headphone jacks.
The well made, rectangularly shaped chassis is constructed from lightweight and durable magnesium alloy in a military green finish. The 6cm long USB type-C cable is permanently attached to the main body of the device. Non detachable cables have the advantage of lower bulk but they can’t be replaced when they wear out.
The cable has silver-plated copper conductors, each with polymer insulation in a twisted pair design but it is thin and looks a bit fragile. However it is flexible and reinforced with generous strain reliefs at both ends while the USB plug is long enough to fit into a phone’s USB port together with its protective case.
Operation
The GO link Max is a simple plug ‘n play USB DAC dongle without an LCD screen and other features. It doesn’t have buttons for volume and playback control, it is not compatible with an application and you can’t adjust audio parameters like gain or digital filters. It only has a single LED that changes colours to indicate the incoming audio format and sampling rate. Green for PCM 44.1/48/88.2/96kHz, Yellow for PCM 176.4/192/352.8/384kHz, Cyan for DSD64/128 and Blue for DSD256.
Accessories
The package includes USB type-C to A and USB type-C to Lightning adapters.
Power output and efficiency
The GO link Max is much more powerful than the GO link as it can do 241mW/32Ω from its balanced output and 100mW/32Ω from the single-ended. Not bad and on par with a lot of other similar products, the iFi GO link Max has enough power to drive most earphones and several sensitive headphones, like the Aune SR7000, but it can easily run out of juice and hit its maximum volume level when the load becomes more demanding.
I have measured the power consumption of the device at 0.06A in standby mode and 0.11A when playing music. It is pretty obvious that the GO link Max is efficient enough and will not drain your phone’s battery too fast. The device gets slightly warm during use and is absolutely silent even with very sensitive earphones.
(The Go link Max was updated to the latest firmware available at the time of writing this review)
Listening impressions
iFi is known for its warmish and analog-like house sound, at least in most of their models. I can think of a couple of exceptions, like the original iFi NEO iDSD, the iFi iDSD Diablo and to a lesser extent the iFi iDSD Diablo 2.
The iFi GO link Max is also an exception to the rule because it is more neutral sounding rather than too warm and organic. This doesn’t mean though that it is harsh or sharp as someone would expect from the ES9219 DAC chip. On the contrary, iFi has done a great job taming the treble brightness without depriving it of its energy and sparkle.
The sound is technical and precise but not clinical or sterile. Detail retrieval is absolutely fantastic for the category but the GO link Max doesn’t sound analytical or boring. The bass is deep, fast and controlled with good timing and a wide dynamic range. The textures are surprisingly weighty and full bodied, not only in the low-end, which is elastic enough and not dry, but also in the mids and the treble that do not sound thin and lifeless.
More listening impressions
The mid-range and the higher frequencies are rendered with excellent clarity and definition while maintaining a good amount of harmonic saturation. The GO link Max is very resolving but melodious and engaging at the same time. The timbre is quite natural and realistic throughout the whole frequency range. Not as organic and analog-like as we are accustomed by iFi but still with very low amounts of digital glare and artificiality.
The soundstage is wide and spacious with good depth layering and accurate imaging. Not as holographic and immersive as in the iFi GO bar Kensei but still grand and realistic enough. You can use much more expensive earphones that are famous for their expansive soundstage and the GO link Max will never be the weak link (sic).
This is a USB DAC dongle that pairs well with all types of earphones, as it doesn’t add any specific character of its own, and sounds good with all kinds of music from classical to hip-hop.
Vs the competition
There are too many USB DAC dongles at this price point so it is rather vague to make a direct comparison with certain models. The GO link Max belongs to the category of the compact sized USB DAC dongles that try to combine ease of use and low bulk with good sound and decent power output.
As an example it is slightly bigger than the ddHiFi TC44Pro but it is two times more powerful. The GO link Max looks more similar to the ddHiFi TC44Pro E2 which has the same power output but it doesn’t include a 3.5mm output and is also $20 more expensive. The TC44Pro E2 is a more premium looking device and is better made but it is also heavier and bigger.
When it comes to a comparison with the iFi Go link, the Max version represents a better value because with a mere $20 extra you buy more power and better sonic performance for just a slight increase in size and weight. The only way I can recommend the GO link over the Max is if your budget is very tight and all your earphones are single ended.
In the end
Sometimes simplicity is much better than having a lot of unnecessary or difficult to use features that come in contradiction with the true nature of a portable audio device. The iFi GO link Max is a bare bones, simple to use USB DAC dongle that combines good sound quality and enough power in a compact sized and lightweight body.
It might lack certain bells and whistles that some of the competition has, but it is the slimmest USB DAC dongle with both true balanced 4.4mm and 3.5mm outputs and is going to enhance the sound quality of your earphones without adding bulk and weight.
Copyright – Petros Laskis 2025.
+ Neutral and transparent
+ Technical and precise
+ Natural timbre and low artificiality
+ Full bodied textures and wide soundstage
+ Resolving and refined
+ Plenty of power for the size
+ Simple and easy to use
+ Compact sized and lightweight
+ True balanced 4.4mm and 3.5mm outputs
+ Well made
+ High quality USB adapters
- Fixed and rather fragile cable
- No display or hardware buttons
- Can't adjust audio parameters
- Not as powerful as other USB DAC dongles
- Not ideal for full sized headphones
- Not as warm and organic sounding as other iFi devices
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