Key Features at a Glance

• Up to 241mW of power for louder, clearer sound: Delivers up to 241mW of output power – nearly five times that of a standard MacBook Pro. This extra power ensures your music plays louder and clearer, even with high-end, power-hungry headphones.
  
• Balanced circuitry for reduced noise and better audio separation: Features 4.4 balanced connection to unlock balanced sound. Designed with balanced audio circuitry, this device significantly reduces noise and interference. It provides better separation between the left and right channels, giving you a more immersive listening experience with precise instrument and vocal positioning.
  
• THD Compensation for purer, less distorted sound: Advanced THD Compensation technology minimises total harmonic distortion, giving you cleaner, purer audio. This means fewer unwanted distortions and a more accurate representation of your music.
  
• Dual DAC setup with jitter elimination for precise, clear audio: With its dual ES9219 DACs and Time Domain Jitter Elimination, it ensures incredibly precise audio conversion. This setup reduces timing errors, delivering ultra-clear sound with incredible detail.
  
• Dynamic Range Enhancement for more exciting music: Boosting the dynamic range by an additional +6dB, making the loudest moments louder and the quietest
  moments clearer, giving your music more depth, excitement, and emotional impact.
  
• Supports hi-res audio formats like PCM 384kHz and DSD 256: For those who appreciate high-fidelity sound, it supports hi-res audio formats like PCM 384kHz and DSD256. This ensures your music is delivered with the highest possible quality, revealing every nuance of your favorite tracks.

Big Sound in a Small Package

Despite its compact size, the GO link Max delivers a huge audio upgrade compared to its worthy predecessor. With up to 241mW of output power – nearly five times more than a MacBook Pro* – it drives demanding headphones with ease, making your music sound louder, clearer, and more powerful wherever you go.
*Calculated at 32 ohms RMS using MacBook Pro’s stated headphone output voltage.

Balanced Dual DAC for Perfect Clarity

The GO link Max uses advanced balanced circuitry with a Dual ES9219 DAC setup, physically and audibly separating the left and right channels - with separation measuring >118dB. This separation creates an incredibly immersive experience, where instruments and vocals come to life with crystal-clear stereo positioning - it’s akin to being at a live concert, where you not only hear but ‘see’ the instruments laid out across the stage in front of you.

The GO link Max is built with a 4.4mm balanced headphone output to help listeners unlock the benefits of ultra-clear, precise balanced sound. With balanced audio, there is less unwanted noise or interference disrupting the signal, leaving a sound full of musicality, emotion and free from distortion.

Next-Level Sound Quality

With built-in cutting-edge technology to reduce distortion and deliver a purer, cleaner sound, the THD Compensation, minimises harmonic distortion. iFi has also fine-tuned and enhanced the Dynamic Range Enhancement (DRE) to boost the range between the loudest and quietest moments, making your music experience more exciting and engaging.

Dual DAC Precision: Crystal-Clear Audio Without Compromise

Thanks to its advanced ‘Quad DAC+’ and Jitter Elimination technologies, the GO link Max delivers ultra-low distortion and outstanding clarity. With its silver-plated copper cable and noise-rejecting helix design, you can enjoy clear, uninterrupted sound no matter where you are.
This advanced system reduces digital noise to ensure ultra-clear sound with exceptional detail. Every note, instrument, and vocal is rendered with pinpoint accuracy, allowing listeners to experience their music with enhanced clarity and precision, free from the subtle distortions that can otherwise impact sound quality.

Easy, High-Quality Volume Control

Unlike other devices that lower sound quality when you adjust the volume, the GO link Max uses a hardware-based volume control. This means you can turn the volume up or down without losing any of the detail in your music.

GO link Max vs GO link

In The Box

• GO link Max
• USB-A Male to USB-C Female Adapter
• Quick Start Card
• Instruction Card

Specifications

Hi-Res Support

• Supported Formats: PCM 384; DSD256

Headphone Outputs

• Output Type:
  • 4.4mm Balanced (RMS): 241mW @ 32Ω; 4V @ 300Ω
  • 3.5mm Unbalanced (RMS): 100mW @ 32Ω; 2V @ 300Ω
• Output Impedance:
  • 4.4mm Balanced: 0.35Ω
  • 3.5mm Unbalanced: 0.79Ω
• SNR:
  • 130dBA via 4.4mm
  • 125dBA via 3.5mm
• DNR:
  • 130dBA via 4.4mm
  • 125dBA via 3.5mm
• THD+N:
  • ≤0.0016% @ 32Ω, 2.4V via 4.4mm
  • ≤0.0015% @ 32Ω, 1.27V via 3.5mm

General Specifications

• Power Consumption:
  • No Signal: -0.6W
  • Max Signal: -3.2W
• Dimensions: 150 x 15 x 10mm (5.9 x 0.59 x 0.39")
• Net Weight: 14.5g (0.51 oz)

Connectivity

• Digital Inputs: USB-C
• Headphone Outputs:
  • 1x Balanced 4.4mm
  • 1x S-Balanced 3.5mm

FAQ

1. What makes the GO link Max different from other portable DACs?
The GO link Max is designed to deliver powerful, high-resolution audio on the go, featuring a balanced dual DAC setup with advanced noise reduction and high output power. It offers up to 241mW of power, THD Compensation for cleaner sound, and Dynamic Range Enhancement for more engaging music experiences. It’s a step up from the standard GO link with added balanced circuitry, higher power output, and enhanced features for audio clarity.

2. What audio formats does the GO link Max support?
The GO link Max supports high-resolution PCM audio up to 384kHz and DSD256, providing a highly detailed and accurate listening experience.

3. How does the GO link Max improve sound quality?
It features a dual DAC design with Time Domain Jitter Elimination, THD Compensation technology to reduce harmonic distortion, and Dynamic Range Enhancement to boost the range between quiet and loud sounds. The balanced 4.4mm connection minimizes noise and enhances left-right channel separation for immersive audio.

4. What type of headphones are compatible with the GO link Max?
The GO link Max supports a wide range of headphones with its 4.4mm balanced output and 3.5mm unbalanced S-Balanced output. It is ideal for use with high-end, power-hungry headphones, thanks to its 241mW maximum output power.

5. What is the advantage of the balanced output?
The balanced 4.4mm output reduces noise and interference, delivering a clearer and more accurate sound. It also improves separation between the left and right channels, giving you precise positioning of instruments and vocals.

6. How does the GO link Max compare to the standard GO link?
The GO link Max offers up to 241mW of output power through its balanced connection, nearly five times more than a MacBook Pro. It also features THD Compensation and a dual DAC setup for a clearer and more detailed sound. In contrast, the GO link supports MQA rendering and has a single S-Balanced output.

7. Does the GO link Max offer volume control without sacrificing sound quality?
Yes, it uses hardware-based volume control, which allows you to adjust the volume without losing any detail or experiencing digital compression effects that can occur with software-based volume controls.

8. How does the GO link Max handle noise and distortion?
It employs advanced technologies like THD Compensation, which minimizes total harmonic distortion, and a noise-rejecting cable design to deliver clean, detailed audio. Additionally, its Jitter Elimination technology reduces timing errors that can affect audio clarity.

9. What devices are compatible with the GO link Max?
The GO link Max is compatible with any device that offers a USB-C connection for digital audio input, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. It also supports balanced 4.4mm and unbalanced 3.5mm headphone outputs.