Introduction
Every dongle DAC solves the same problem and creates a second one. It fixes the phone's headphone output, then becomes one more thing to unplug, pocket, and eventually lose. iFi's answer is to stop making a separate box at all.
The GO cable is a USB-C cable with the DAC and headphone amp built into the inline housing. USB-C into the phone, tablet, laptop or handheld console at one end; a pair of 0.78 mm 2-pin plugs onto your own in-ear monitors at the other. iFi says the audio system inside is based on the architecture of the GO link, its award-winning dongle, so this is the same idea with the box removed.
Where it doesn't stretch: it only fits IEMs with standard 2-pin sockets, and at 14 mW into 300 Ω it is built for in-ears, not for full-size high-impedance headphones. That is the deal you make for losing the dongle.
Watch It in Action
iFi's official look at the GO cable:
Key Features & Benefits
- One cable instead of a cable plus a dongle: the DAC and amp live in the inline housing, so the only thing you carry is the cable your IEMs needed anyway.
- Real hi-res decoding: an ESS Sabre chipset handles PCM up to 384 kHz and DSD256, bit-perfect for DSD and DXD.
- More contrast, less distortion: iFi unlocks Dynamic Range Enhancement and THD compensation on the chip, so quiet passages stay quiet and loud ones have somewhere to go.
- Under 1 Ω output impedance: sensitive multi-driver IEMs keep the frequency response their designer intended, instead of the one your phone gives them.
- Controls without reaching for the phone: inline volume, play, pause and skip, plus an echo-cancelling mic for calls and voice chat.
- Works on the Switch 2: including GameChat, so handheld sessions get proper audio and a usable mic.
- Built to be carried: OFHC copper with pure silver plating, a water-resistant chassis, and 16 g on the scale.
Real-World Reactions
The GO cable was announced this month and the first coverage has landed. What Hi-Fi? framed it plainly in their headline: "iFi has squeezed a DAC and headphone amplifier into its latest USB-C in-ear monitor cable" (What Hi-Fi?).
ecoustics was more specific about who it suits, saying it "makes the most sense for IEM owners who primarily listen from USB C phones, tablets, laptops or handheld gaming devices and are tired of carrying a separate dongle DAC", while flagging that it is "less compelling for anyone who regularly swaps between IEMs and full size headphones, needs 4.4mm balanced connectivity or wants significantly more output power" (ecoustics).
Darko.Audio covered it under the same one-line summary the product deserves: "iFi hides a DAC and amplifier inside an IEM cable" (Darko.Audio). No full reviews yet, so treat the sound quality question as open until units land.
Gallery
Who It's For
- People who already own 2-pin IEMs and are tired of a dongle riding along with them
- Commuters who want inline volume and skip without pulling the phone out
- Switch 2 players who need GameChat with a mic that actually works
- Laptop listeners who want a clean USB-C path to sensitive in-ears without a desktop amp
Who should look elsewhere:
- MMCX owners. The GO cable is 0.78 mm 2-pin only, and there is no adapter in the box.
- Anyone driving full-size high-impedance headphones. 14 mW into 300 Ω is in-ear territory; the iFi GO blu Air (€149) or hip-dac 3 (€189) have the muscle.
- Anyone who swaps between several headphones. A standalone dongle such as the iFi Uno (€89) serves every pair you own, not just the one wearing this cable.
Quick Specs
- DAC chipset: ESS Sabre, bit-perfect DSD and DXD
- Hi-res support: PCM up to 384 kHz, DSD256
- Input: USB-C. IEM output: 0.78 mm 2-pin L/R male
- Output power (RMS): 1.5 V / 70 mW @ 32 Ω; 2 V / 14 mW @ 300 Ω
- Output impedance: under 1 Ω
- SNR 120 dBA; DNR 125 dBA; THD+N 0.004% (1.27 V @ 32 Ω)
- Frequency response: 10 Hz to 80 kHz (-0.5 dB)
- Conductor: OFHC copper with pure silver plating
- Power consumption: around 0.3 W idle, under 1 W maximum
- Total length: 1.37 m. Weight: 16 g
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros:
- The dongle disappears, and with it the thing you keep losing
- Full ESS Sabre hi-res decoding with DRE and THD compensation at €79
- Output impedance under 1 Ω suits sensitive multi-driver IEMs
- Inline mic and transport controls make it work for calls and gaming, not only playback
- Water-resistant chassis and silver-plated OFHC conductors for daily carry
⚠️ Cons:
- 0.78 mm 2-pin only, so MMCX IEMs are out
- 14 mW into 300 Ω rules out demanding full-size headphones
- The DAC is tied to this one cable rather than shared across your whole collection
- No full reviews published yet at the time of writing
Where to Buy
The iFi Audio GO cable is open for pre-order at Soundium at €79. We stock gear locally for fast, secure delivery.
- Free pickup shipping on orders over €149
- Free courier shipping on orders over €299
- Secure checkout and interest-free payments
- Support from people who actually know the gear
Pre-order the iFi Audio GO cable from Soundium
Final Thoughts
iFi has been shrinking the portable DAC for years, and the GO cable is where that line runs out of room: there is nothing left to shrink once the box is gone. If you own one favourite pair of 2-pin IEMs and listen from a phone or a laptop, €79 buys a real hi-res signal path and one fewer object in your bag. If you rotate between headphones or need to drive something demanding, a separate dongle is still the more flexible tool.
Still Unsure?
Not sure the GO cable fits your IEMs or your setup? Reach out to our team and we'll help you find the right match.