Happy to see you review this dongle! Really wanted a review that could discern the merits of the K2HD! That you picked the K2 mode as the way you liked it the best says a lot! Is the Kensei better than an og chord mojo? Hiby FC6? Are you adding a Kensei to your reference collection? Hope to hear this at the next CanJam!
Thanks for the kind words. I've not heard the Hiby FC6. Chord Mojo been a long time since I heard it. I don't remember enough to give a fair comparison.
Hi Dave! I have the regular ifi go Bar and can say it sounds incredible. While I can cannot say how much better the Kensei is because of its JVC implementation, I think, based on my own experience and your review that it is a Worthwhile purchase if you can afford it. A tip I would give for someone considering this device though is it sounds better when plugged into a high power usb C outlet. It sounds very good on phones and tablets but the extra current and power give it more dynamics and bigger soundstage. Also, if you need more power, pressing and holding the volume up and Down at the same time will toggle between high power and normal power. The balanced output on this device sounds better and has more power which is not necessarily because of the balanced output. It is just the way this device was projected. Finally, on my devices it was a battery hog like many other dongles of this type. Great review. All the best!!
Thanks for the comparison. I completely forgot to mention that the Kensei is a bit of a battery hog in comparison to others. Not terrible but about an hour less listening than others.
Have you tried the Shanling Onix XI1 dongle at $109. It is getting high praise for bang for the buck sound and has been called a possible end game dongle by some respect hifi critics.
@@TheHonestAudiophile I figured you haven't yet tried the ONIX Alpha XI1, given the title to this video. Fair enough. Rome wasn't built in a day. 500mW into 32Ohms (4.4mm Bal) + LCD panel + APP. 2 X CS43198. Regardless of it's
GM ☕️ On our way to a wedding 💒 today. Good people,good food and hopefully decent music …anyway back to the subject at hand ….its a bit of a chunky boi ..I personally have the IFI Go Blue..I don’t like something that chunky attached to another device (iPhone )and then to my wired headphones/iems ..yes with the Effects cable 😆 Of late ,IFI has been making some strange design choices on a lot of their gear ⚙️ ..I don’t think they’ve made a dud ..but there’s always something. I think as a portable unit it’s bit of a fail ..but a micro desktop unit ..and at its level of performance..a definite consideration for IEM’s . A great review as usual. Take care and enjoy the weekend. Also ,given the exchange rate
IFI is one those _we charge this much cause we proud of it_ company. I know this because i paid what i paid for my idsd signature only for it to get almost a 50% price cut now. Wait for it to come down to normie price. This is dap pricing
Hi Dave, sure miss seeing you. Love to watch this review because I am a fan of iFi Audio however, no point, since this is waaaaaay out of my budget. Stay well.❤
Thank you for the review. Wow this Kensei K2HD sounds very impressive. I remember you rated Hiby FC3 slightly better than FC4. How would you compare the GO Bar with FC3 for IEMs? Is the difference significant?
Dave lad, I'm not interested in paying for a bamboo box or useless leather belt case. I'm more interested in paying for quality sound and do you know how many periodic rhodiums I can purchase for the same price as this silly dongle? The bloody thing is $650 Canadian. Dave, that's bloody insane.
I was interested until I heard the price. I’m in 🇨🇦 too and this would cost nearly as much as my whole desktop system electronics (DAC, pre/headphone amp, three amplifiers) and I doubt I could hear the difference.
I understand about the bamboo box and belt case. The price is steep for sure. The Rhodium is fantastic value but not on the same level as the Kensei. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I have a couple of questions regarding the XBass feature: 1. Is it possible to adjust the XBass in levels, or is it simply an on/off function? 2. Additionally, how much is the bass boosted in terms of dB, and at what frequency does the increase peak (e.g., 60Hz)? I haven't been able to find any graphs that detail the exact nature of the bass enhancement.
xBass is a on/off function with the Kensei. I am not sure about the db boost or the specific frequency. Sorry, haven't done any actual measurements or specific tests. To my ears, it seems like it is around 120hz-60hz. You could send an email to iFi Audio, they might give you more specifics.
Please review the ibasso DC elite. It cost exactly the same as the Kensei. I've seen where some reviewers prefer it over the Kensei and some prefer the Kensei over it. I really value your opinion, so I'm curious to see how it compares.
Run a sine sweep or play a sine sweep video on TH-cam (with the K2HD feature enabled) and you'll hear what the K2HD does on the audible spectrum. It starts around 4kHz, quite bizarre.
I have only heard the E3 and MM500 at Axpona. I didn't have opportunity to test with Kensei. As mentioned in video planar headphone aren't the intended pairing but it's somewhat capable. Honestly I think the E3 and MM500 would be better served with a desktop amplifier.
IFI is a generally pricy company, but everything I’ve purchased from them has always seemed to justify its price. This seems like that “stepping into actual audiophilia” first step that someone is gonna need.
You can pay $10 for the Onkyo HF Player on your iPhone. It can convert all your pcm music to dsd in real-time and output it to your external dac. As long as your dac supports dsd256, it will work. Much cheaper than this kensei dongle.
There are countless dongle dacs with many of them very good. What are your points of reference? Which notable dongle dacs have you heard? Have you heard the ibasso DC07 pro for example?
Listed in the description of the video is a link to my ranking grades which lists all items I have reviewed; here's a link for you: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nRHnsP_4vLg9DlD9kwJ6gQuEQFqhTR0lnrkxXo3AMG8/edit?usp=sharing In that list you will find that I have reviewed the following, you can do a search to find the reviews on TH-cam: Aune Yuki 7hz 71 ADV AccessPort Lite AFUL Snowy Night AudioEngine DAC3 Fosi Audio DS1 Fosi Audio DS2 Hiby FC4 Hiby FC3 Hidizs SD2 Hidizs S9 Pro Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Hidizs XO iFi Audio Go Bar iFi Audio Go Link iFi Audio Go Bar Kensei Moondrop Dawn 4.4 NextDrive Spectra X Periodic Audio Rhodium RosSelsa Rose Technics RS9039 Shanling UA3 Shanling UA1 Plus Simgot DEW4X Tanchjim Space Venture Electronics Odyssey HD xDuoo Link xDuoo Link 2021 Others waiting to be reviewed: Fiio KA17 Shanling UA4 DUNU DTC480 Hidizs S8 Pro This list doesn't include the Bluetooth dongles and others that I have had opportunity of hearing in passing but have not reviewed. I haven't had the opportunity to hear the iBasso DC07 Pro. As for points of reference, the dongles that I use regularly are the Periodic Audio Rhodium, Hiby FC3, Fosi Audio DS2. Hiby FC4, Hidizs XO and Moondrop Dawn 4.4. I also compare the dongles to other sources like my DAP the Hiby R5 gen2 and my various desktop gear.
Hey honest audiophile, would you say the k2hd mode enhances the experience for all genres? I’m tempted to try these out but not sure if genres like techno would really benefit from these. That hole in my bank account will be pretty steep too if I jump to this
@@saechaoboi416 it adds a sparkle to the sound, not an Eq or distortion type sizzle, but more like some subtle magic zing, that translates into a more realistic sound reproduction, it gives me the feeling of listening to the true master recording……
I have the original iFi Go bar and it's pretty good if overpriced. But whoever designed and whoever approved its absolutely unreadable black on black markings should never have another job ever. The Kensei does fix that lunacy, and I'd bet that it's a more significant change than any SQ upgrade. I also have reservations about iFi, which has been shown to manipulate stated specs of some products. At the same price, I'd be more interested in the iBasso DC-Elite dongle, a miniaturization of a $3500 iBasso DAP with much of the same tech, including the same flagship Rohm DAC, which has drawn favorable comparisons to much more expensive DAPs and the Mojo 2. I can afford one purchase in July and an dithering between the DC-Elite and the I/O Volare IEM.
How is Kinsei compared to the Mojo 2 and Xduoo xdo5 pro? Even though the later is more cost comparison which one would you recommend to get for preferred sound quality? Thanks Bye the way great review.
Nice review as always, looked on their web page and they say it's a 32-bit Cirrus Logic DAC chipset. What version/model, they don't say. And they still push the MQA thing which I thought is dead at the moment. Way to much for this type of dongle.
Forgive my lack of knowledge in this specific area. A lot of what I listen to with Ultimate Ears 18+ is through a Samsung S23 phone and Note 8. I started a search because I can't get a crap dongle to work. I spent the $$$ on the UE's because of their soundstage, depth, clarity, etc. What dongle(s) would you recommend based on that? Thanks.
I've not had any issues with dongles and my S24 Ultra. What dongles have you tried? Depending on your budget I have several recommendations. But if the funds are available the Kensei is an excellent choice.
@TheHonestAudiophile thank you for the quick reply. The dongles tried have been merely just to get the IEMs to work. The USB-C headphones that came with the tablet work fine. The UEs still don't. The budget could include the Kensei, if that really ensures the UEs shine. I'm open, but don't want to get fleeced.
hi - have you tried the Cayin RU7 - if not - do try it - once you've tried it you might want to do a side by side comparison with the ifi Kensei - I use the RU7 with my DITA Project M IEM's - I could write a paragraph here but why spoil the fun ya - hope you try it - 🍻🍻🍻
In order to activate K2HD you press a button on the dongle. No special player software on your PC, laptop, phone or DAP is required. You use the dongle like any other.
Anyone have give an opinion on technical performance (sound quality) between the Kensei and the micro iDSD Signature/Final? The signature is on clearance for $400 now. Main over ear can I’ve been running are HD600, ZMF Verite, and HE1000SE
I am sorry I haven't heard the micro iDSD Signature since I reviewed. I can't remember enough to give a fair comparison. Here is a link to my review: th-cam.com/video/AkeXrAVxfEk/w-d-xo.html
Hi. I have a few questions: 1. Does the K2HD mode improve the sound for lossless sources too (also for iems) or you only tried it with lossy sources (like spotify)? 2. How does the ifi go bar Kensei compare to the S9 Pro Plus (martha)? I'm going to upgrade soon.
The iFi Audio GoBar Kensei is capable of decoding lossy and lossless files, it can decode up to DSD256, natively 2x DXD, and PCM 32bit/384kH, MQA and MQA Studio. The K2HD mode is useable with all file formats. I tested it off my MSI Creator M16 A11UC and my Samsung S24 Ultra. I used it with Audirvana Studio and various streaming services ensuring it worked with both streaming and local downloaded music. Versus the S9 Pro Plus the GoBar Kensei is a significant upgrade in my opinion. Tone, timbre, detail retrieval and resolution are a major step up with the GoBar Kensei.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Oohh that’s explain why I don’t see it xD srry my bad I wanna see a good review of the KA17 cuz i want a good dongle for planar iem
That K2HD feature is just throwing in a bunch of garbage data above 20k Hz, which you can’t hear anyway. Maybe it’s also having some effect on the upper treble frequencies, but it’s basically acting like an EQ then and is not an accurate representation of the original music. It’s a gimmick to convince you to spend $500 on a freaking dongle.
@@TheHonestAudiophile I pulled this from iFi's own documentation: "This advanced processing optionally upscales a file to 192kHz/24-bit" Every modern DAC can do this. "The unparalleled originality of K2HD lies in its advanced high-frequency extension, enabling the restoration of natural harmonics and overtones beyond 22kHz, delivering audio quality that is close to the original master." Objectively inaudible frequencies unless you're a bat. Sorry, but unless I'm missing something, I don't see how this is anything more than snake oil.
@@TheHonestAudiophile I don’t doubt that you hear something, I’m just not sure what part of the technology it is, because their marketing copy seems rather empty-worded. My best guess is that it could be acting like a super late high frequency roll off filter, but I’d really need to hear it for myself. Unfortunately I don’t see myself ever being in a scenario to do so.
It’s easy to downplay this as a gimmick, it’s not an eq, a phase distortion or saturation, it adds sparkle and mojo that you have to hear to believe…..if you know you know…
Cirrus, is "Sear-Us" not "serious". Although, for $450 for an unknown CS DAC (one that can be had for pennies on the dollar), and an unknown Op Amp...charging $450 for a dongle DAC does beg the question... "Are you Serious, and where is the Logic?" So, perhaps your mispronunciation was a clever Freudian Slip? Also, Kensei is not "Kensy", its "Ken-Say". But, to be honest, i stopped watching after the first 3 minutes, because any company that wont spec their hardware, and wants to charge 4 times the going rate of other Dongle DAC's, itsnt worth the time. IFI used to be a qualityh company with good hardware at a reasonable price. Now it seems like they have hired a marketing exec from Bose. Real shame. I will be avoiding IFI in the future, as this is the third product in recent memory, where they have jacked the price up, and hidden the specs. Sorry IFI, yur'dun.
It it pronounced “Ken-Say” for future reference. Nice review as per usual
Happy to see you review this dongle!
Really wanted a review that could discern the merits of the K2HD!
That you picked the K2 mode as the way you liked it the best says a lot!
Is the Kensei better than an og chord mojo?
Hiby FC6?
Are you adding a Kensei to your reference collection?
Hope to hear this at the next CanJam!
Thanks for the kind words.
I've not heard the Hiby FC6. Chord Mojo been a long time since I heard it. I don't remember enough to give a fair comparison.
Hi Dave! I have the regular ifi go Bar and can say it sounds incredible. While I can cannot say how much better the
Kensei is because of its JVC implementation, I think, based on my own experience and your review that it is a
Worthwhile purchase if you can afford it.
A tip I would give for someone considering this device though is it sounds better when plugged into a high power usb C outlet. It sounds very good on phones and tablets but the extra current and power give it more dynamics and bigger soundstage. Also, if you need more power, pressing and holding the volume up and
Down at the same time will toggle between high power and normal power.
The balanced output on this device sounds better and has more power which is not necessarily because of the balanced output. It is just the way this device was projected.
Finally, on my devices it was a battery hog like many other dongles of this type.
Great review.
All the best!!
Thanks for the comparison. I completely forgot to mention that the Kensei is a bit of a battery hog in comparison to others. Not terrible but about an hour less listening than others.
Have you tried the
Shanling Onix XI1 dongle at $109. It is getting high praise for bang for the buck sound and has been called a possible end game dongle by some respect hifi critics.
Thanks for the suggestion.
I agree I would like a review of this as it more affordable.
Plenty of budget friendly reviews on the channel and more to come.
@@TheHonestAudiophile I figured you haven't yet tried the ONIX Alpha XI1, given the title to this video. Fair enough. Rome wasn't built in a day.
500mW into 32Ohms (4.4mm Bal) + LCD panel + APP. 2 X CS43198. Regardless of it's
@@jb678901 Thanks for the impressions
Have one on order. I had the chance to test one and immediately ordered it.
Awesomeness 💯
GM ☕️
On our way to a wedding 💒 today.
Good people,good food and hopefully decent music …anyway back to the subject at hand ….its a bit of a chunky boi ..I personally have the IFI Go Blue..I don’t like something that chunky attached to another device (iPhone )and then to my wired headphones/iems ..yes with the Effects cable 😆
Of late ,IFI has been making some strange design choices on a lot of their gear ⚙️ ..I don’t think they’ve made a dud ..but there’s always something.
I think as a portable unit it’s bit of a fail ..but a micro desktop unit ..and at its level of performance..a definite consideration for IEM’s .
A great review as usual.
Take care and enjoy the weekend.
Also ,given the exchange rate
IFI is one those _we charge this much cause we proud of it_ company. I know this because i paid what i paid for my idsd signature only for it to get almost a 50% price cut now.
Wait for it to come down to normie price. This is dap pricing
Hi Dave, sure miss seeing you. Love to watch this review because I am a fan of iFi Audio however, no point, since this is waaaaaay out of my budget. Stay well.❤
Thanks for watching. I totally understand about the price.
It should come with a skin. If I were to buy this, I would have to wrap it in clear tape to protect it from scratches.
That's a good idea, a thin skin or wrap would be nice.
Great review, you rock, any chance to review can compare with E1DA 9039s?
Sorry haven't heard the E1DA 9039
Thank you for the review. Wow this Kensei K2HD sounds very impressive. I remember you rated Hiby FC3 slightly better than FC4. How would you compare the GO Bar with FC3 for IEMs? Is the difference significant?
FC3 doesn't have as much body, impact, texture, details, resolution. The Kensei is a significant upgrade.
"Kenzie" Wowzers I've never heard of that one before 🤣🤣🤣!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dave lad, I'm not interested in paying for a bamboo box or useless leather belt case. I'm more interested in paying for quality sound and do you know how many periodic rhodiums I can purchase for the same price as this silly dongle? The bloody thing is $650 Canadian. Dave, that's bloody insane.
Agreed
I was interested until I heard the price. I’m in 🇨🇦 too and this would cost nearly as much as my whole desktop system electronics (DAC, pre/headphone amp, three amplifiers) and I doubt I could hear the difference.
@@superspeeder Agreed.
@@superspeeder An entire Topping desktop rig would cost less and give more.
I understand about the bamboo box and belt case. The price is steep for sure. The Rhodium is fantastic value but not on the same level as the Kensei. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I have a couple of questions regarding the XBass feature:
1. Is it possible to adjust the XBass in levels, or is it simply an on/off function?
2. Additionally, how much is the bass boosted in terms of dB, and at what frequency does the increase peak (e.g., 60Hz)? I haven't been able to find any graphs that detail the exact nature of the bass enhancement.
xBass is a on/off function with the Kensei.
I am not sure about the db boost or the specific frequency. Sorry, haven't done any actual measurements or specific tests. To my ears, it seems like it is around 120hz-60hz.
You could send an email to iFi Audio, they might give you more specifics.
Please review the ibasso DC elite. It cost exactly the same as the Kensei. I've seen where some reviewers prefer it over the Kensei and some prefer the Kensei over it. I really value your opinion, so I'm curious to see how it compares.
Thanks for the suggestion
Run a sine sweep or play a sine sweep video on TH-cam (with the K2HD feature enabled) and you'll hear what the K2HD does on the audible spectrum. It starts around 4kHz, quite bizarre.
good job Dave
Thanks
Great review! How does this version compare to the ifi Gryphon? Ideas?
I've not heard the Gryphon since I reviewed it a long time ago. I don't recall enough to do a fair comparison.
Would this great little gadget power Dan Clark audio E3 or Audeze MM500 connected to Mac Book Pro M3 MAX? Thanks for a great vid!
I have only heard the E3 and MM500 at Axpona. I didn't have opportunity to test with Kensei. As mentioned in video planar headphone aren't the intended pairing but it's somewhat capable. Honestly I think the E3 and MM500 would be better served with a desktop amplifier.
Hi Dave, great review. Is this tech a sort of DSD DXD conversion of PCM files?
Yeah kinda. I'd read the link in the description, it explains it a lot better.
IFI is a generally pricy company, but everything I’ve purchased from them has always seemed to justify its price. This seems like that “stepping into actual audiophilia” first step that someone is gonna need.
💯 This is so true. The quality in build and sound from iFi puts them on another level.
You can pay $10 for the Onkyo HF Player on your iPhone. It can convert all your pcm music to dsd in real-time and output it to your external dac. As long as your dac supports dsd256, it will work. Much cheaper than this kensei dongle.
Interesting. Thanks for the information. i will look into it.
There are countless dongle dacs with many of them very good. What are your points of reference? Which notable dongle dacs have you heard? Have you heard the ibasso DC07 pro for example?
Listed in the description of the video is a link to my ranking grades which lists all items I have reviewed; here's a link for you:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nRHnsP_4vLg9DlD9kwJ6gQuEQFqhTR0lnrkxXo3AMG8/edit?usp=sharing
In that list you will find that I have reviewed the following, you can do a search to find the reviews on TH-cam:
Aune Yuki
7hz 71
ADV AccessPort Lite
AFUL Snowy Night
AudioEngine DAC3
Fosi Audio DS1
Fosi Audio DS2
Hiby FC4
Hiby FC3
Hidizs SD2
Hidizs S9 Pro
Hidizs S9 Pro Plus
Hidizs XO
iFi Audio Go Bar
iFi Audio Go Link
iFi Audio Go Bar Kensei
Moondrop Dawn 4.4
NextDrive Spectra X
Periodic Audio Rhodium
RosSelsa Rose Technics RS9039
Shanling UA3
Shanling UA1 Plus
Simgot DEW4X
Tanchjim Space
Venture Electronics Odyssey HD
xDuoo Link
xDuoo Link 2021
Others waiting to be reviewed:
Fiio KA17
Shanling UA4
DUNU DTC480
Hidizs S8 Pro
This list doesn't include the Bluetooth dongles and others that I have had opportunity of hearing in passing but have not reviewed.
I haven't had the opportunity to hear the iBasso DC07 Pro.
As for points of reference, the dongles that I use regularly are the Periodic Audio Rhodium, Hiby FC3, Fosi Audio DS2. Hiby FC4, Hidizs XO and Moondrop Dawn 4.4. I also compare the dongles to other sources like my DAP the Hiby R5 gen2 and my various desktop gear.
Hey honest audiophile, would you say the k2hd mode enhances the experience for all genres? I’m tempted to try these out but not sure if genres like techno would really benefit from these. That hole in my bank account will be pretty steep too if I jump to this
I found it enhanced every genre I tested.
@@saechaoboi416 it adds a sparkle to the sound, not an Eq or distortion type sizzle, but more like some subtle magic zing, that translates into a more realistic sound reproduction, it gives me the feeling of listening to the true master recording……
Good review! I'm not trying to nitpick, but the name of this company is Eye-Fi, rhyming with "hi-fi". Anyway, love your channel! Good stuff.
Hi Dave, Thanks for sharing... Any chance if this dongle beat an entry level DAP - Fiio m11+, A&K SR35 etc? 🤟🤟
Sonically it's good competition but power wise both beat it. But I'm going off memory as I haven't heard either of those DAP in a long time.
I have the original iFi Go bar and it's pretty good if overpriced. But whoever designed and whoever approved its absolutely unreadable black on black markings should never have another job ever. The Kensei does fix that lunacy, and I'd bet that it's a more significant change than any SQ upgrade. I also have reservations about iFi, which has been shown to manipulate stated specs of some products. At the same price, I'd be more interested in the iBasso DC-Elite dongle, a miniaturization of a $3500 iBasso DAP with much of the same tech, including the same flagship Rohm DAC, which has drawn favorable comparisons to much more expensive DAPs and the Mojo 2. I can afford one purchase in July and an dithering between the DC-Elite and the I/O Volare IEM.
Interesting. Thanks for the information on the iBasso DC-Elite
How is Kinsei compared to the Mojo 2 and Xduoo xdo5 pro? Even though the later is more cost comparison which one would you recommend to get for preferred sound quality? Thanks Bye the way great review.
Sorry haven't heard either the Mojo 2 or XDO5 Pro.
I would take the Mojo 2 over this any day! More detailed and natural in sound.
@@hpol3603thanks for your input.
Dankeschön ❤
My pleasure, you're welcome
I'd like to try it but it's a hell of a lot for a dongle.
I understand, tough decision.
Nice review as always, looked on their web page and they say it's a 32-bit Cirrus Logic DAC chipset. What version/model, they don't say. And they still push the MQA thing which I thought is dead at the moment. Way to much for this type of dongle.
I don't care about the MQA but people do have MQA files so why not include it?
Forgive my lack of knowledge in this specific area. A lot of what I listen to with Ultimate Ears 18+ is through a Samsung S23 phone and Note 8. I started a search because I can't get a crap dongle to work. I spent the $$$ on the UE's because of their soundstage, depth, clarity, etc. What dongle(s) would you recommend based on that? Thanks.
I've not had any issues with dongles and my S24 Ultra. What dongles have you tried?
Depending on your budget I have several recommendations. But if the funds are available the Kensei is an excellent choice.
@TheHonestAudiophile thank you for the quick reply. The dongles tried have been merely just to get the IEMs to work. The USB-C headphones that came with the tablet work fine. The UEs still don't. The budget could include the Kensei, if that really ensures the UEs shine. I'm open, but don't want to get fleeced.
@billsampson53 It's a plug n play dongle with the Samsung. Look forward to hearing your impressions.
hi - have you tried the Cayin RU7 - if not - do try it - once you've tried it you might want to do a side by side comparison with the ifi Kensei - I use the RU7 with my DITA Project M IEM's - I could write a paragraph here but why spoil the fun ya - hope you try it - 🍻🍻🍻
Thanks for the suggestion. Sadly the Kensei was a loaner and has been returned to iFi Audio.
@@TheHonestAudiophile no worries - but do try the RU7 as & when 🥂🥂🥂
Do you need a special player software to use the K2HD ? Or it "upscale" the music to it ?
In order to activate K2HD you press a button on the dongle. No special player software on your PC, laptop, phone or DAP is required. You use the dongle like any other.
@@TheHonestAudiophile thanks and do you think it could outperform the Kio 9 AKM ?
Hey honest audiophile,
In your experience, this does drain batteries off of smartphones fast?
No more than other dongle I've used.
Do you have a suggestion for an upgrade usb-c cable ?
Upgrade USB-C cable?
@@TheHonestAudiophile The cable that is gived with the dongle seem really stiff i wonder if a cable like the SHANLING ONIX would work with it.
I don't see why not, I had no issues with the cable even though it is a bit stiff.
Anyone have give an opinion on technical performance (sound quality) between the Kensei and the micro iDSD Signature/Final? The signature is on clearance for $400 now. Main over ear can I’ve been running are HD600, ZMF Verite, and HE1000SE
I am sorry I haven't heard the micro iDSD Signature since I reviewed. I can't remember enough to give a fair comparison. Here is a link to my review:
th-cam.com/video/AkeXrAVxfEk/w-d-xo.html
How does it compare to hipdac 3?
Sorry haven't heard Hip DAC 3
This vs Onyx Alpha 11 ?
Sorry haven't heard Onyx Alpha 11
Great review as usual,but 450 no thanks .
Hi. I have a few questions:
1. Does the K2HD mode improve the sound for lossless sources too (also for iems) or you only tried it with lossy sources (like spotify)?
2. How does the ifi go bar Kensei compare to the S9 Pro Plus (martha)? I'm going to upgrade soon.
The iFi Audio GoBar Kensei is capable of decoding lossy and lossless files, it can decode up to DSD256, natively 2x DXD, and PCM 32bit/384kH, MQA and MQA Studio. The K2HD mode is useable with all file formats. I tested it off my MSI Creator M16 A11UC and my Samsung S24 Ultra. I used it with Audirvana Studio and various streaming services ensuring it worked with both streaming and local downloaded music.
Versus the S9 Pro Plus the GoBar Kensei is a significant upgrade in my opinion. Tone, timbre, detail retrieval and resolution are a major step up with the GoBar Kensei.
18:58 $450 U.S. is $615 CAD 😳
Ouchie
I would say rather expensive for a Dongle another $100-200 you can get a portable powered Dac.
@DragnetSound yes that's true, the Fiio Q15 is fantastic but doesn't sound like the Kensei.
Issues with weight and fit in pocket plus high price tag make this dongle a no go dongle. 😩
I understand. The price tag is for sure an issue.
Pls do a review of the FIIO KA17 it’s so powerful
I have a KA17 in the review schedule.
@@TheHonestAudiophile
I don’t found :c
Can you put the link of your video? Pls
The review of the KA17 hasn't been done yet.
@@TheHonestAudiophile
Oohh that’s explain why I don’t see it xD srry my bad
I wanna see a good review of the KA17 cuz i want a good dongle for planar iem
That K2HD feature is just throwing in a bunch of garbage data above 20k Hz, which you can’t hear anyway. Maybe it’s also having some effect on the upper treble frequencies, but it’s basically acting like an EQ then and is not an accurate representation of the original music. It’s a gimmick to convince you to spend $500 on a freaking dongle.
😂😂😂😂 I recommend you do some research by reading about the JVC Kenwood process. I hope you get to hear the differences at some point.
@@TheHonestAudiophile I pulled this from iFi's own documentation:
"This advanced processing optionally upscales a file to 192kHz/24-bit"
Every modern DAC can do this.
"The unparalleled originality of K2HD lies in its advanced high-frequency extension, enabling the restoration of natural harmonics and overtones beyond 22kHz, delivering audio quality that is close to the original master."
Objectively inaudible frequencies unless you're a bat.
Sorry, but unless I'm missing something, I don't see how this is anything more than snake oil.
@scorpioassmodeusgtx1811 You're free to believe whatever you want. I know what I hear and stated it in the video.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@TheHonestAudiophile I don’t doubt that you hear something, I’m just not sure what part of the technology it is, because their marketing copy seems rather empty-worded. My best guess is that it could be acting like a super late high frequency roll off filter, but I’d really need to hear it for myself. Unfortunately I don’t see myself ever being in a scenario to do so.
It’s easy to downplay this as a gimmick, it’s not an eq, a phase distortion or saturation, it adds sparkle and mojo that you have to hear to believe…..if you know you know…
Sure is one of the biggest dongs. Have they dropped the price now that MQA is kaput?
MQA is included because people have MQA files plus MQA is still available, not kaput.
iFi customer service is NON-EXISTENT in my experience. 😔
SHABBAT SHALOM! 🕎
HAPPY SABBATH! ✡️
Sorry to hear that.
Subscribed for commenting "Android and PC user"... fuck apple!
Cirrus, is "Sear-Us" not "serious".
Although, for $450 for an unknown CS DAC (one that can be had for pennies on the dollar), and an unknown Op Amp...charging $450 for a dongle DAC does beg the question... "Are you Serious, and where is the Logic?" So, perhaps your mispronunciation was a clever Freudian Slip?
Also, Kensei is not "Kensy", its "Ken-Say".
But, to be honest, i stopped watching after the first 3 minutes, because any company that wont spec their hardware, and wants to charge 4 times the going rate of other Dongle DAC's, itsnt worth the time.
IFI used to be a qualityh company with good hardware at a reasonable price. Now it seems like they have hired a marketing exec from Bose. Real shame.
I will be avoiding IFI in the future, as this is the third product in recent memory, where they have jacked the price up, and hidden the specs. Sorry IFI, yur'dun.
Can you watch the entire video please and inform me of all my errors, I need an editor 😉 Thanks.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Unfortunately, TH-cam comments are limited on their size. ;)
Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing 😘
How is that a dongle?
Because it dongles
Why should I buy this dongle when I can buy a decent DAP at that price ?
Smaller than a DAP and more convenient. May have better sonics depending on the DAP.