News

iFi Audio has launched the GO bar Kensei, which the company claims to be the world’s first ultraportable digital-to-analogue converter with K2HD technology. A spokesperson from the company explains: “Developed by JVC Kenwood’s sound engineers, K2HD Technology works to restore music to the same quality as the original master, reviving it with the rich, natural harmonics lost during digitalisation.”

The GO bar Kensei boasts four digital filter options as well as XBass+ and XSpace options in an effort to create a more accurate bass response and spacious soundfield. An enhanced power and clock circuitry has been introduced to produce a wider soundstage, more detail and a more robust bass. Equipped with a 4.4mm balanced output, a symmetrical twin-mono output stage and a claimed 477mW maximum output power, the GO bar Kensei’s iEMatch fine tunes the output levels for sensitive IEMs while Turbo Mode adds 6dB for hungrier headphones.

The DAC section uses a 16-core XMOS micro controller to process the audio data received at the USB input. It supports PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz, native DSD up to DSD256​ and full MQA decoding.

Crafted from Japanese stainless steel, the GO bar Kensei measures 65 x 22 x 13.2mm (WxHxD) and weighs 65.5g.

Available to buy now for £450, you can find out more about the iFi Audio GO bar Kensei here and read the review in the July issue.