iFi Go Link 2 Ultra-Compact USB DAC Brings 32-bit/284kHz Hi-Res Audio to Phones and Laptops for $59

Compared with minimalist rivals like Noble Audio’s Sceptre, the Go Link 2 takes a more configurable, “audiophile-first” approach. The inclusion of selectable digital filters hints at a DAC topology that’s tuned as much for temporal accuracy as for headline resolution. Linear filtering will appeal to listeners chasing textbook frequency response and phase integrity, while the hybrid option subtly trades edge precision for a more relaxed transient envelope — a choice often debated in forum threads when discussing delta-sigma implementations versus perceived musicality. This level of control is rare at the entry end of the dongle market and suggests iFi is targeting enthusiasts who already understand how filter behavior affects staging and attack.

There’s also a philosophical difference in how iFi handles output design. Rather than chasing raw power figures, the focus is clearly on channel integrity and load consistency, which is more relevant for real-world headphones than sheer voltage swing. That approach aligns with iFi’s broader house sound: slightly on the neutral-warm side, prioritising separation and coherence over hyper-etched detail. For listeners stepping up from a phone’s internal codec or a generic USB-C adapter, the upgrade isn’t about louder playback, but about restoring spatial cues and tonal density that tend to collapse when audio is handled by general-purpose silicon.