The iFi GO Bar Kensei is a superb device, truly living up to its name in every way.

A highly skilled swordsman in Japan was often referred to as a kensei, an honorific title reserved for those possessing exceptional martial prowess and mastery over the art of kenjutsu, the traditional Japanese discipline of sword fighting. The name “Kensei” translates to “Sword Saint,” embodying iFi’s unwavering commitment to excellence, which is reflected in the meticulous design and execution of the iFi Kensei. 

While catering specifically to audiophiles, we will delve slightly deeper into the technical aspects of this assessment while maintaining its accessibility.

The iFi GO Bar Kensei is available for purchase from iFi-audio.com, Amazon, and other online retailers such as Sweetwater, with a price tag of $449. Unlike the limited-edition iFi Gold bar, this release is not a restricted run and may be available for an extended period, according to an iFi representative’s feedback on a Hi-Fi enthusiast forum sponsored by iFi.

Mastering the unboxing of a Kensei is a nuanced art. Set amidst a lush, idyllic picket fence, its natural beauty unspoiled. Two premium braided cables are included: one USB-C to USB-C and another USB-C to Lightning with a USB-A adapter, packaged in a high-quality leather pouch. Compact yet surprisingly substantial in hand, the GO bar Kensei, crafted from high-quality Japanese chrome steel, belies its diminutive size as it fills the palm with a reassuring heft. Its sleek physique boasts subtle chamfered edges, exuding a premium feel from every angle – unfortunately, this also makes it prone to attracting fingerprints with magnetic-like persistence. The underside of the bar showcases exceptional branding, but the true excitement awaits on its surface.

On first inspection, you’ll notice a control panel featuring LED indicators that clearly display information about quantity settings, audio formats, frequency levels, and sound quality metrics. You will find the quantity and setting controls, as well as the IEMatch adjustment, in this precise area. At the apex of the device lies the trio of 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone jacks, awaiting connection to your preferred listening devices. Meanwhile, the underside harbors the USB-C port, capable of transmitting high-fidelity audio up to 32-bit/384kHz standards.

The Go Bar Kensei may experience some warmth during prolonged use, but this is unlikely to become uncomfortably hot. While boasting a substantial density and satisfying weight, the chrome steel’s exterior finish is somewhat prone to scratches and scuffs when exposed to wear and tear.

The Go Bar Kensei employs a 32-bit Cirrus Logic DAC chipset, delivering high-resolution playback of various music codecs, including MP3, DSD256, PCM384, and DXD384. You also gain access to full MQA decoding capabilities. The Kensei is packed with top-tier capacitors, providing a definitive indication of their quality, allowing for significantly reduced potential distortion and advanced noise-reduction features. You’re able to examine these closely here.

Celebrities of today’s mobile photography scene include four exceptional digital filters and two unique analog modes, offering a wealth of creative possibilities. The various modes and their associated indicator lights are:

I experienced exceptional sonic clarity when listening to Bit-Excellent through my Sennheiser IE 900 in-ear monitors, which rendered vibrant, sibilance-free soundscapes with remarkable definition. This one offers you your high-resolution or lossless audio as intended.

Crimson’s customary tone emerged as understated yet warm, its vocals imbued with gentle heat rather than piercing brightness.

Although a minimal section may be hotter, the combination of tight bass and warm tones creates an optimal listening experience. For bass enthusiasts, this filter is the ultimate game-changer. When you enable the XBass filter along with the K2HD filter, you can expect a punchy and robust sound with rich bass, well-defined midrange frequencies, and crisp vocals that remain intelligible.

This proprietary technology from Chord Electronics, Gibbs Transient Optimized, upconverts the audio signal to a high frequency of either 352 or 384 kHz for enhanced performance and improved sound quality. I’d simply describe this one as energetic overall? The vibrations will resonate deeply as the frequency range shifts.

The Kensei’s proprietary noise reduction technique effectively handles high-sensitivity IEMs, such as Campfire Audio Mammoths, through its adaptive gain adjustment. Additionally, Turbo Mode boosts output by 6dB to power demanding headphones, like HiFiMan Planar magnetics, with increased drive efficiency. The Kensei’s performance isn’t just limited by its inability to handle what you throw at it, with a robust 477mW or 7.2V output from the 4.4mm driver and a powerful 300mW or 8V output from the three S-Balanced drivers? 

You can manage the quantity stage output by synchronizing the supply audio from the Kensei with the supply device’s audio controls, or alternatively bypass the supply device’s audio controls entirely. 

While the Kensei’s vibrant sound quality may be a major draw, users should be aware that it comes at a cost: significant battery drain from connected devices, as power is supplied through the USB-C port. While larger batteries might make your laptops less noticeable, the fact remains that any battery drain still occurs when listening. There is no internal battery powering this device, similar to many other modern smartphones. 

The enigmatic “Sword Saint” crafts sonic tapestries that effortlessly blend ethereal refinement with robust depth. It’s all there. The sound quality emanating from each of the three 3.5mm and four 4.4mm ports is effortlessly delivered, showcasing remarkably nuanced musicality.

This crystal-clear digital-to-analog converter/amp allows you to fully appreciate the subtleties of a stereo soundstage. When pairing the Kensei with analytical headphones or IEMs, it’s as if you’ve flipped a switch that illuminates an entire room, previously dimly lit by a humble 40-watt bulb, now radiating with vivid clarity and precision. Upon inserting Sennheiser’s IE900 in-ear monitors into the 4.4mm balanced output, coupled with the precise digital filter set to bit-perfect mode, I was greeted by a truly exceptional sonic experience. 

The enchanting soundtrack of Chevalier: a medley of notes that danced across my ears as I savored “Violin Duel”, its melodic nuances transporting me to a realm where emotions unfolded like a tapestry. As you revisit the tracks, you may uncover subtle details and subtleties that initially escaped your notice. The subtle pressure exerted on the violin strings by the bow’s gentle caress. The assault on chord modifications was jarring, a stark departure from my previous experience where I only perceived the assault through various actions. Like Beyoncé’s “Texas Maintain ‘Em,” where the picking of the banjo and guitars, subtly textured behind layers, was exquisitely nuanced.

The transparency in this regard reveals the engineering prowess behind an audiophile’s observation. While the IE900 is not inherently bass-forward, its 7mm dynamic drivers are capable of delivering energetic, deep bass through precise equalization (PEQ) or digital filtering, as exemplified by iFi’s XBass feature when activated. Skrillex’s “Mumbai Energy” and “Begin A Riot” from the Spider-Man: Throughout the Spider-Verse soundtrack unleashed a torrent of sonic intensity, conjuring an uncontrollable urge to contort my face into a “stank face” as I bobbed my head in sync with the crushing bass and sub-bass beats. As I delved deeper into exploring soundscapes, I embarked on a journey to sample approximately a dozen hip-hop tracks using this innovative IEM/DAC filter combination.

It’s crucial to note that the digital filters I previously mentioned can significantly enhance the quality of your music, dependent on the specific IEMs or headphones used in conjunction with the Kensei. I sampled the $120 1MORE Penta Driver IEMs alongside the IE900, noticing significant differences in transparency; however, with the K2HD, XBass, and XSpace filters engaged, the Penta Drivers surprisingly opened up, offering a more expansive listening experience than their default tuning.

The GO Bar Kensei stands out as a premium offering, boasting an elaborate design that elevates it to the status of a collector’s piece, featuring intricate details on its field, equipment, and matching knob and end plate. On this worthwhile level, however, there are still competitors with diverse feature options. FiiO crafts exceptional products, and the Q15 may equally delight music enthusiasts seeking a harmonious pairing of their listening preferences, thanks to its integrated IPS display and Bluetooth system-on-chip, granting seamless access to wireless high-resolution audio streaming capabilities.

Despite my best efforts, I was unable to procure an iBasso DC-Elite for a dedicated review. The sword has a distinctive function set that closely matches the characteristics of the Kensei, and its striking design is visually captivating. On paper, this product appears to be a formidable contender and is widely regarded as a robust offering.

• You don’t want Bluetooth
• You’re looking for Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs) that deliver crystal-clear audio, right?
• You don’t need PEQ

• Worth is a priority
• You want Bluetooth 
• You need PEQ

The GO Bar by Kensie strikes a balance between challenge and accessibility without being too lenient or demanding? This innovative amplifier seamlessly complements musical in-ear monitors, offering expanded digital filter options when paired with various headphones or earphones. Meanwhile, its analog processing modes – including XBass Plus and XSpace – inject remarkable bass and sub-bass enhancement into open-back over-ear designs. While delivering seamless performance with each application, you’ll need to consider the potential cost to your device’s battery life.

While this DAC/amp may be a worthwhile investment for those seeking high-fidelity sound, its price point may prove prohibitively expensive for casual music enthusiasts on a budget. For audio enthusiasts, this device boasts an impressive array of features and is built with rugged reliability in mind, making it an ideal companion for countless hours of mobile entertainment.