In summary, the GO Bar Kensei shines as a top-tier mobile DAC, offering exceptional sound quality and features that enhance bass performance, transparency, and balanced audio output.
The title “Kensei” carries deep significance, translating to “Sword Saint” in Japanese, honoring legendary swordsmen. This embodies the relentless pursuit of excellence that iFi dedicated to crafting the meticulous iFi Kensei.
To immerse yourself in the immersive audio experience provided by the GO Bar Kensei, you can purchase it from ifi-audio.com, Amazon, and selected online retailers for $449.
For those dabbling in casual listening, the price might seem a bit steep, yet true audio enthusiasts will marvel at the plethora of features and sturdy construction that promise years of portable audio delight.
For those looking for an alternative to the Kensei, the iBasso DC-Elite presents a compelling option with similar features and design. Both products are well-received in the market for their robust performance.
The iFi GO Bar Kensei presents a cutting-edge experience with its 32-bit Cirrus Logic DAC chipset, delivering Hi-Res True Native® playback across an array of music formats, from MP3 to DSD256, PCM384, and DXD384. It also offers full MQA decoding. With premium capacitors, the Kensei ensures a clear signal, minimal distortion, and superior noise reduction capabilities.
One standout element includes four digital filters and two analog modes, each indicated by a specific LED:
Should you be considering investing in the iFi GO Bar Kensei, be aware that using smartphones and tablets to power it via the USB-C port tends to drain the battery significantly. However, laptops with larger batteries handle this better, allowing for simultaneous listening and charging. Unlike the iFi GO blu, the Kensei lacks an internal battery.
The Kensei’s transparency highlights bass intricacies, especially with songs like Skrillex’s “Mumbai Power” and “Start A Riot” from the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack, showcasing remarkable authority and aggression.
Depending on the headphones or IEMs paired with the Kensei, the digital filters mentioned earlier could dramatically elevate your listening experience. For example, activating filters like K2HD, XBass, and XSpace notably enhanced the $120 1MORE Penta Driver IEMs, surpassing their default audio quality.
The “Sword Saint” delivers an ethereal and full-bodied audio experience. The seamless sound quality through the 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs showcases beautiful musicality.
