iFiGO bar Kensei - Portable DAC/Headphone Amp Featuring K2HD Technology - Hi-Res PCM 384kHz/DSD256 - Analogue XBass+ and XSpace Processing

Overall, this is a well made and extremely useful DAC and amplifier. Came with two dongles (one is for iPhone, which is what I use it with), along with a carrying case - nice touch! The unit itself is relatively easy to use, although figuring out the various modes, setting changes, and light meanings will require you to download the User Manual and take your time learning the set up options. The sound quality is excellent, and it translated everything in full detail, including MQA files. Even with the 6dB boost, it's not as loud as my Red Dragonfly DAC, but this should be plenty for most users in a variety of situations (note that I have not tried it with balanced 4.4mm headphones yet, only 3.5mm). A bit hard to figure out what all the lights and locations mean, but either way it sounds much better than the converters in your iPhone or iPad. Overall, definitely recommended for audiophiles.

I took my Sennheiser HD 800 S cans with me on my latest road trip to try these out on the go. I normally use the Woo WA7 at home and I didn't have a good balanced 4.4mm setup for listening away from home until I got the iFi Kensei. This amp is incredibly responsive, and does well powered and sourced by my phone and laptop. It handles high bit rates well, has its own volume control, and this thing feels substantial and uses the metal case to dissipate heat. At any given time, it just feels warm and not hot to the touch. I loved having my amazing headphones with me and the Kensei made it worth taking with me. It won't replace my WA7 at home, but it will get a lot of use on the road. Awesome little amp.

Before marrying a DAC, I dated a couple. Kensei was my final pick for several reasons: clarity and musicality, easy to learn and use, several options to enhance the sound quality, and it is just so easy to fall in love with it. It has all I was looking for in a DAC and more. I am using it with my MDR-MV1 SONY open-back headphones. I've tried the Mojo 2, I did not like it, it was so complicated to use, and the sound was not any better than the sound the Kensei offers. If anything, my ears enjoy the sound power even at a low volume setting, the Kensei offers. I also tried the Audio Engine DAC 3, even though it is a good one I kept going back to the Kensei; but music is very subjective, as the experts say, so if I were you, just give it a try. Make sure you buy it from a reputable store on Amazon with a good return policy, but me, I am staying with my Kensei :) BTW I place the cloth under so it does not scratch, I like to take care of things I buy because they cost money/effort, so I value them. But, I am hoping one day soon someone comes up with a nice case for the Kensei. Update: I just got the usb c to usbc cable DDHIFI And it’s the perfect match, cables matter. I feel like I’m in a concert. 🎵 enjoy it! I hope this helps. 😇

As some reviewer said, some kind of magic is happening inside this device. Everything sounds far better, Xspace gives music a wide sound stage, Xbass is addictive, K2HD does some magic to my old Mp3 files.I have a Fiio BTR15, Fiio Q3-MQA, Hiby FC4 and returned a Shanling UA4 because it wasn't a full MQA decoder. Finally took the plunge on the Kensei. I hear so much more detail with the Go Bar Kensei than all other dongles I own.It is loud when driving my Sennheiser IE100 Pro. The sound I can get out of my HifiMan Sundara when the volume is set to Turbo is incredible.The hardware itself is premium, heavy, and polished because is Japanese stainless steel. In yesteryear you could have said this is the BMW or Mercedes Benz of all DAC/AMP dongles. It is a quality product.If you have the money and want the best DAC/AMP dongle in the market, get it... Just a warning, it is selling out and backordered everywhere.Update April 2025:The first one failed in 4 months, the replacement send by iFi failed in 8 months. It is really expensive for it to have this kind of issues, not in one unit but on both. I am not willing to spend another $450 in one year.