iFi Audio GO link 2 Max – Dual-DAC sound from a cable

The GO link 2 Max turns a phone, laptop or PC into a high-resolution source through a single USB-C cable. Two ESS Sabre DAC chips, one per channel, drive your headphones with more power and lower distortion than a dongle this size suggests. A pocketable upgrade for wired listening, available at Soundium.

Key Features

• Dual ESS Sabre DACs: One chip per channel for wider separation and a lower noise floor.
• 241mW output: Real headroom to drive demanding full-size headphones, not just IEMs.
• S-Balanced 3.5mm output: Balanced-style crosstalk reduction from a standard single-ended jack.
• Dynamic Range Enhancement: Up to 6dB more space between the quietest and loudest passages.
• Hardware volume control: Level changes handled on the device rather than buried in the OS mixer.
• iFi Nexis app: Over-the-air firmware updates and two selectable digital filters on Android.

Customer Benefits

Plug it in and the difference is immediate: cleaner detail, firmer low end, and a wider stereo image than the headphone output built into your phone or laptop. Because the two DAC chips split left and right, channel crosstalk drops and instruments sit in their own space. The 241mW reserve keeps it composed with full-size headphones, while the inline cable design tucks away far more easily than a stacked DAC and amp.

Quick Specs

• DAC: Dual ESS Sabre, one chip per channel
• Supported formats: PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz, native DSD256
• Output power: Up to 241mW
• Output: 3.5mm S-Balanced single-ended
• Input: USB-C
• Volume control: Hardware
• App: iFi Nexis (Android), two digital filters

Compatibility

Compatible with USB-C Android phones and tablets, USB-C iPhone and iPad, plus Mac, Windows and Linux computers.

Ideal For

• High-resolution listening on the move
• Getting more from wired headphones with a phone or laptop
• A travel-friendly alternative to a desktop DAC

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros:

• Two DAC chips in a cable-sized package
• Genuine power reserve at 241mW for full-size headphones
• Hardware volume plus app-selectable filters

⚠️ Cons:

• Single 3.5mm output only — no 4.4mm balanced socket like the GO link Max
• Filters and firmware updates need the Android-only Nexis app

For listeners who want desktop-grade conversion without a desktop, the GO link 2 Max does the work from the end of a USB-C cable. Find the iFi Audio GO link 2 Max at Soundium.