The latest from iFi Audio is the Go Link Max. It is a small but mighty portable DAC/Amp that can connect to just about anything. This Go Link Max is a plug-in dongle that has both 4.4mm and 3.5mm outputs. The input end is a standard USB C connection, however, they do include a USB C to Lightning adapter for those of us using older Apple devices. It is the most simple-to-use device I have had in for review and it aims to give you not only a headphone jack but also one better than your phone would have had anyway, especially due to no phone I know of having a balanced output jack. On top of all that the Go Link Max is a super affordable device at only $79.00 (U.S.). So does the Go Link Max have what it takes to become part of your mobile audio setup? Let’s take a look and listen.

Unboxing and Setup

There isn’t much to say here, the box was pretty standard affair and the setup is as simple as it gets. All you need to do is pick the end you need depending on what you are plugging it into, either the USB C or the included adapter to get a Lighting connection. On the other end is the two output jack, 4.4mm Balanced and 3.5mm Single Ended. There are no settings or buttons, just the pure signal. The LED on the top will tell you what bitrate and format you are listening to, to verify you are getting High Res audio. The color codes are below.

Sound

To describe the sound of the Go Link it may be easier to describe what it doesn’t sound like. It doesn’t impart any color to the audio, it doesn’t brighten the sound or warm it either. What it does do, is decode and amply your signal with great clarity and resolution. I really enjoy a tonally agnostic product as it lets me tailor my sound with my choice of headphones. I don’t have to worry about will it pair well with these or those headphones. Also, you can use it as a DAC in your stereo system through an aux cord if you want, it doesn’t have to be used strictly with headphones. Speaking of headphones, I tried a few different options to get a good feel of the Go Link Max, my Meze 99 Classics, Meze Rai Solo, and Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro 250Ω. I have both a balanced and unbalanced cable for the 99 Classics, I used these to do some direct comparisons between the balanced and single-ended outputs.

Go Link Max with 99 Classics

The 99 Classics are probably my favorite headphones. They are easy to wear for hours, sound great,t and won’t break the bank. I streamed Qobuz from my Macbook Air M2, playing a variety of music from my Hifi Chicken Recomendations playlist (link: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/26199454). There is a fairly wide range of music on there, and if you are adventurous you may just enjoy it. Listening with the fairly warm and rich 99 Classics, I really appreciate the transparent neutral sound of the Go Link Max. The 99 Classics don’t need any help in the bass though a touch of air livens them up. However, the extra power available compared to my Macbook’s output allows them to be more dynamic and deepens the bass. This is especially true with the balanced output, which is not even an option on any MacBook I am aware of. The balanced output of the Go Link Max is my favorite feature. I have always preferred balanced headphone cables over single-ended. You get more power, better imaging, and a more holographic sound. This is no different on the Go Link Max and if your headphones support using a balanced cable I recommend it.

The Go Link Max has good resolution and clarity throughout the frequency range. You can take advantage of hi-res music regardless of the device you are using as your source which is nice, especially if your phone, tablet or computer doesn’t decode hi-res. Some of the samples in my playlist include a recent new favorite; Flower Face. She has extremely dramatic instrumentals that complement the deep lyrics in many of her tracks, such as Biblical Love and Eternal Sunshine. Biblical Love starts with a guitar and ambient backing. The lyrics are soft, almost delicate. At about the midpoint in the song, there is a huge crash and the drums come in before the bridge and a second crash. The build up just gets me every time, there is something about it. You need power to convey the sound properly and plenty of resolution to let it breathe, the Go Link Max gives me that. Eternal Sunshine plays in a similar way, and if you like one song you will like the other. The chord progression is captivating and her vocals tantalizing.

Go Link Max with DT990 Pros

First, the most important part of this is that yes, the Go Link Max has enough power for 250Ω headphones. I was able to get these well over comfortable listening levels without any breakup or audible distortion so there is certainly more headroom for even higher ohm headphones. I am not sure yu would be able to go up 600Ω but 300 should be doable. That said yes, they do require a decent bit more volume than the 99 Classics (32Ω) to get the same level of output. Impedance is not the only difference between the 99 Classics and the DT990 Pros. The DT990 Pro is a semi-open back design as well as being much flatter throughout the frequency range. They are great reference headphones and primarily why I own them as they can help me determine if a source is colored in some way. And to answer that, the Go Link Max is not colored, it is very neutral, which is nice, as it lets you tailor your sound with your headphones and you don’t have any pairing issues. If you are a purist, this is the combo for you. Your music will be exactly as it was recorded, with no bump in the lowes, or scooping the mids, no added sparkle in the top end.

I played some more of the songs from the same playlist and replayed some of the same songs above to listen for differences. The differences I found were due entirely to the headphone choice and in part due to the DT990 Pros only having the option of single-ended. However, with the open back, you get a nice sense of space and width. I will say, that Biblical Love, while having a bit less impact, is more clear and airy as there is no bump in the bass that can at times be overpowering on the 99 Classics. Also listening to Peter Cat Recording Co is a treat. Big band and jazz with this combo is sublime. You get nice realism which comes from the neutral tone of both the headphones and the DAC/amp in the Go Link Max. The DT990 Pros having an open design can really be exorcised with songs like “Leave It Alone” by Caroline Glaser. The guitar slides are distant and the song has a lot of ambient space. When listening with a good set of speakers it can sound like your room is massive, with sound expanding well beyond the physical limits of your wall. With headphones, The song is certainly a little more closed in, but with open backs you gain back some of the space. The Go Link Max and DT990 Pros did an excellent job together of recreating that sensation.

Go Link Max with Rai Solo IEMS

I will say, IEMs are my least favorite way to listen to music. It may be my ear canal shape which does not work well with most IEM designs, or perhaps how in your head the music can sound. Nonetheless, they have their place and certainly a massive fan base. To get a good rating from me, headphones in general, and especially IEMs need to be comfortable over everything else. If I can’t wear them for any amount of time, the sound quality is sort of irrelevant. Now the Rai Solos are the most comfortable IEMs I have tried and I can usually get about an hour or two out of them before I need to give my ears a break. The Rai Solo headphones sound pretty good, they are not perfect and have a bit of a strange curve, but as there is a seat for ass, there is IEM for every ear.

The Rai Solos are a bit thin and could stand a boost in the bottom end and a little reigning in, in the upper mids. Fortunately or unfortunately the Go Link Max will do neither of those things, as I said it is very neutral so if you have a set of headphones that need work, you may have to adjust the EQ in your music processor. Now if you love the way your headphones sound it is great that you won’t lose any of the tone they have. All that said they had good detail and clarity with the Go Link Max. Spacially they sound nice, though the IEM “inside” sound can be hard to get away from. I played a variety os music and this combo lacked the excitement and density I got from the other two pairs of headphones. I would say the only downside to the Go Link Max is that it won’t fix your sound, rather it exemplifies what you have, elevating the sound and adding detail and clarity, but it doesn’t color the sound.

Compared to Other DACS/Amps

I compared the Go Link Max to my iPhone 14 Pro (apple dongle) Macbook Air M2, and Fiio M9. It is more apparent how much better it is than the Apple dongle and the MacBook Air’s output, however, I would say it is fairly comparable to the Fiio M9. It Makes sense, the M9 is a dedicated DAP with both balanced and Single-ended outputs whereas both Apple products are made to do a whole bunch of stuff pretty well. The iPhone dongle, well it works, it gives you back your headphone jack, but it is sort of the bare minimum. It is designed to power 32Ω headphones and really more so the Apple earbuds. The Go Link Max has better power, dynamics, and detail, and overall a better sound.

The Macbook on the other hand is a bit better, it can power my DT990 Pros, albeit quietly they do produce sound at a listenable level, but lack the drive to be very dynamic and have any punch. The detail and clarity out of the Macbook Air is decent and I would go so far as to say it is probably better than the average user will even notice. But like the iPhone dongle, there is no option for balanced output. The audio from the Go Link Max sounds more refined and tangible, I preferred it with every set of headphones, especially with the 99 Classics as I could use my balanced cable.

The Fiio M9 is truly comparable, offering good power, connectivity, and supporting high res. The issue with the M9 is, it becomes another device to charge, to put apps and music on, and so on. It was also quite a bit more expensive when I bought it (no longer available) at $250 4 years ago. The Fiio M9 is fairly neutral with maybe a touch of warmth when compared to the Go Link Max. Detail delivery was comparable between the two devices and resolution is also on par. I would say if you are using a dedicated DAP, the Go Link Max may not add much to your experience but for phone and laptop users I do feel as though there are gains to be had.

Specs:

Price: $79.00 (U.S.)

Associated Equipment

• Meze 99 Classics (with silver balanced cable and standard single-ended)
• Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro 250Ω
• Meze Rai Solo
• Fiio M9
• Macbook Air M2
• iPhone 14 Pro
• Apple Lighting Audio Dongle

Conclusion

The Go Link Max is a great little product, that offers users better sound for under a hundred bucks. There are not many sub-100 dollar products out there let alone good ones. The Go Link Max isn’t a giant killer, but what it does offer is great for the money. You can add balanced output to your phone or computer, improve the power for higher impedance headphones, and gain hi-res support. All of that for 80 bucks, oh and it will sound better than your phone. For 80 dollars it is hard to go wrong, unless you have a dedicated DAP there is a good chance you will notice a difference in your mobile audio. I love that it doesn’t have a battery as I already forget to charge my M9 all the time and don’t need to add another thing to the list of “needs charged”. I highly recommend trying out the Go Link Max for yourself.

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Disclaimer:
iFi Audio provided Hifi Chicken with a demo copy of the Go Link Max for the purpose of this review. iFi nor any affiliate paid in part or in full in exchange for this review.