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iFi GO Hyperlink 2 evaluate: two minute evaluate
Specs
Dimensions: 137 x 12 x 7.6mm (5.4 x 0.47 x 0.31”)
Weight: 7.8g (0.3oz)
Frequency response: 10Hz-80kHz (-0.5dB)
Output: 3.5mm stereo/S-Balanced
Hi-Res assist: PCM 32-bit/384kHz; DSD256
Output energy: ≥1.59V/79mW @ 32Ω / ≥2.0V/14mW @ 300Ω
Connection: USB-C/A/Lightning
This mannequin delivers decrease harmonic distortion and a wider dynamic vary, and it does so in a tool that is even smaller than the already tiny unique. With an unchanged price ticket the second-generation GO Hyperlink is likely one of the most inexpensive methods to enhance your audio expertise, particularly for music on the transfer.
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- iFi Go Hyperlink 2 at Crutchfield for $59
iFi GO Hyperlink 2 evaluate: value and launch date
- Launched February 2026
- $59 / £59 (about AU$111)
The GO Hyperlink 2 was introduced in February 2026 with a advisable retail costs of $59 / £59 (about AU$111). That is the identical value as the unique mannequin and barely lower than the bigger GO Hyperlink Max, which has a balanced 4.4mm output in addition to the usual 3.5mm socket.
Pricing is aggressive with the likes of the FiiO KA11 and KA1 headphone DAC/amps.
iFi GO Hyperlink 2 evaluate: options
The cable feels somewhat flimsy however it helps preserve the GO Hyperlink 2 from being cumbersome. (Picture credit score: Future)
- ESS SABRE DAC with as much as 6dB further vary
- Low noise ground and low distortion
- S-Balanced 3.5mm output
The GO Hyperlink 2 relies on the identical ESS SABRE DAC as earlier than, however this time round it comes with what iFi calls Dynamic Vary Enhancement, which provides as much as 6dB between the loudest and quietest moments. It additionally options decrease harmonic distortion — as much as 62% decrease than the first-gen mannequin, iFi says.
Though there’s solely a 3.5mm output, the GO Hyperlink 2 options iFi’s S-Balanced system which iFi claims considerably reduces crosstalk between channels by “making use of balanced circuitry rules to a single-ended headphone output”.
That is the primary GO Hyperlink mannequin that is absolutely suitable with iFi’s Nexis app, which you should utilize to customise the filters and apply firmware updates — however solely on Android to this point. As an iPhone/iPad consumer I wasn’t in a position to reap the benefits of these options, because the iPhone app would not talk with the DAC. Hopefully an replace is incoming.
Options rating: 4 / 5
iFi GO Hyperlink 2 evaluate: sound high quality
iFi retains it easy: there’s one output and a single colour altering standing mild. (Picture credit score: Future)
- Impressively loud with nice bass
- Glorious readability and positioning
- Greatest suited to decrease impedance headphones
The GO Hyperlink 2 will make you smile. It delivers wonderful readability, a spacious soundstage and a very inviting audio expertise, particularly on good headphones. It is fairly nice on funds ones, too.
I have already got an iFi desktop DAC/amp, and I used to be happy by how shut this comparatively microscopic mannequin sounded to its rather more costly sibling at wise listening ranges. It is notably spectacular on the low finish, which it handles with energy and precision, and should you’re upgrading your telephone or laptop computer you will be actually happy that you simply did.
One in every of my favorite songs for testing audio is the dwell model of Peter Gabriel’s Digging within the Filth. It is fantastically carried out and recorded, however there’s loads occurring from the very low finish to the very excessive, with a subterranean percussive bass, every kind of devices, and highly effective vocals from Gabriel and Paula Cole. The GO Hyperlink 2 took all of it in its stride, delivering a deeply involving sound from an Apple Lossless stream. I had quite a lot of enjoyable with FLACs too, as an example U2’s remastered Achtung Child and Discuss Discuss’s numerous masterpieces.
The GO Hyperlink 2 is surprisingly loud, and louder nonetheless whenever you join it to a pc: there was a noticeable enhance in quantity once I performed the identical Apple Lossless audio on my Mac in comparison with on my iPhone.
Nevertheless, I did discover that with the ability to push the headphones more durable on my Mac was counter-productive: in the direction of full quantity, snare drums and distorted guitars grew to become harsh, whereas intentionally loud-mastered pop music corresponding to Kygo and Selina Gomez’s It Ain’t Me grew to become too vivid and noticeably distorted by the deep bass notes. The identical factor did not occur on iPhone.
For those who wish to pay attention loud on a pc then a desktop DAC or one in all iFi’s extra highly effective DACs could have extra headroom on your headphones.
Sound high quality: 5 / 5
iFi GO Hyperlink 2 evaluate: design
- Tiny and minimalist
- 137mm x 12mm x 7.6mm
- 7.8g
Dongles do not get a lot dinkier than this. The GO Hyperlink 2 is totally tiny, with the primary part smaller than half of a Biro pen. It is 8% smaller than the primary era mannequin, and it is 29% lighter.
There aren’t any buttons, no switches, nothing to show or poke or press, and since it is too small to have a display it has a colour-changing standing LED as an alternative. That LED is inexperienced for PCM audio from 44.1 to 96kHz; yellow for PCM from 176.4 to 384kHz; and blue for DSD256.
The USB-C connector is connected with a brief braided cable to the primary unit, which has a 3.5mm headphone socket. Though the GO Hyperlink 2 is USB-C it comes with adapters for USB-A and Lightning ports, overlaying all of the bases.
The cable feels very skinny and I would fear about it fraying long run; it is a recognized difficulty with among the first-generation fashions, so it is in all probability sensible to deal with the GO Hyperlink 2 with care.
Design rating: 4 / 5
iFi GO Hyperlink 2 evaluate: ease of use and setup
- Plug…
- …and play
- No buttons, screens or switches
It would not get a lot simpler than this: plug it in and also you’re good to go, though as ever with USB audio units should you’re connecting to a Mac you will must tweak Audio and MIDI setup in your laptop to allow greater high quality than 16-bit/44.1KHz.
It is a disgrace that the app that lets you alter filters and different settings is presently Android-only, though I used to be fairly pleased with the out-of-box settings.
Usability and setup rating: 4 / 5
iFi GO Hyperlink 2 evaluate: worth
- Very good worth for cash
- No pointless options or gimmicks
- Even higher than the unique
The unique GO Hyperlink is much-loved, and iFi has very sensibly determined to not mess with its successful formulation. As an alternative it is refined it with extra dynamic vary, even smaller dimensions and the identical plug-and-go ease of use. The GO Hyperlink 2 is reasonable and it will make you cheerful.
Worth rating: 5 / 5
Ought to I purchase the iFi GO Hyperlink 2?
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Attributes
Notes
Ranking
Options
S-balanced 3.5mm output and good hi-res audio assist. App compatibility is presently Android-only.
4/5
Design
Perform over type: tiny dimension means little room for design aptitude or fancy options.
4/5
Sound high quality
Even higher than earlier than with wider vary.
5/5
Worth
An immediate, pleasurable audio improve that is excellent for telephones.
5/5
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
iFi GO Hyperlink 2 evaluate: Additionally contemplate
FiiO’s KA1 is equally small and equally inexpensive, however in contrast to the GO Hyperlink 2 it additionally helps MQA rendering. It is out there in each USB-C and Lightning choices.
For an additional 20% over the GO Hyperlink 2 or KA1’s value you could possibly purchase iFi’s bigger however nonetheless eminently moveable GO Hyperlink Max, which has greater energy output and each 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced outputs.
How I examined the iFi GO Hyperlink 2
- Open-back, closed-back and IEM headphones
- Lossy streaming, lossless FLAC and multitrack Logic Professional tasks
I examined the iFi GO Hyperlink 2 for 10 days utilizing my regular headphones and IEMs: BeyerDynamic DT990 Professional open-back headphones, DT770 closed-back headphones, and the inexpensive and punchy SoundMagic E11C IEMs.
I listened to a variety of music on my iPhone 16 Professional, my iPad Professional and my Mac mini, with sources together with lossy and lossless streaming, uncompressed multitrack tasks on my Mac, and FLAC audio information.
iFi Go Hyperlink 2: Value Comparability
