Turning High-End IEMs Into True Wireless? iFi GO pod Air Tested!
When iFi reached out to me at the High End Munich 2025 show to review their new GO pod Air, I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical. My first thought was, “Who is this really for?” A device designed to turn even high-end wired IEMs into a Bluetooth setup sounded like a niche product at best. After all, most serious audiophiles are willing to put up with a cable between their source and headphones if it means preserving every ounce of sound quality. It’s a bit like the preference many enthusiasts have for traditional stereo systems with separate amplification and cables over active speakers.
But once I got my hands on the GO pod Air and started testing it, I quickly realized this is far from a gimmicky or “casual listener” product. In fact, it’s a surprisingly well-thought-out solution that combines convenience with serious audio engineering.
Before diving into my experience with it, let’s take a step back and introduce iFi Audio and the GO pod Air.
Who is iFi Audio?
iFi Audio is a UK-based brand known for creating high-quality portable and desktop audio gear, from DACs and headphone amplifiers to streamers and accessories. They’ve built a strong reputation among audiophiles by focusing on premium components, innovative designs, and great value for money.
What is the GO pod Air?
The GO pod Air is a portable, high-resolution Bluetooth DAC/amp system designed to make any pair of IEMs wireless without sacrificing performance. It consists of two small, clip-on modules, one for each ear, that connect directly to your IEMs, supporting high-res Bluetooth codecs and offering enough power to drive demanding earphones. In other words, it’s an audiophile-grade take on true wireless listening, aimed at those who want top-tier sound on the go without being tied down by cables. The packaging is very well-designed and carefully detailed, featuring a fabric-covered hard case that houses the USB-C charging cable, while the charging status is clearly indicated inside the case through dedicated LED indicators.
Under the hood, the GO pod Air runs on Bluetooth 5.2 with support for LDAC, LHDC, and aptX Adaptive codecs, powered by a Qualcomm QCC5144 chipset paired with a Cirrus Logic MasterHIFI DAC and a dedicated balanced amplifier. It offers automatic impedance matching for 16, 32, and 64-ohm earphones, outputting up to 57mW at 16 ohms, with an impressive 124dB signal-to-noise ratio. Each pod is equipped with dual microphones featuring Qualcomm noise suppression, touch controls, and IPX5 water resistance, while iFi’s Nexis app provides additional customization.
The 10g pods provide around 7 hours of playback, with the compact 580mAh charging case adding another 15 hours. Out of the box, you get both 0.78mm 2-pin and MMCX connectors, with optional adapters for A2DC, T2, and Pentaconn, making it a versatile solution for a wide range of IEMs. The GO pod Air is priced consistently across regions, selling for $249 in the US, €249 in the Eurozone, and £249 in the UK.
The iFi Nexis app is quite basic, offering little more than firmware updates, battery status checks, touch latency adjustments, DAC filter selection, and bit-perfect playback mode. I would have expected at least a PEQ and more customization for touch controls, which unfortunately are missing.
That said, pairing the GO pod Air with my smartphone was quick, intuitive, and effortless. My iOS device recognized them instantly, and playback was smooth and interruption-free, even when streaming high-resolution 24-bit music.
For my tests, I used the highly technical and excellent Sennheiser IE600. My pair is not the standard version, but fitted with Custom Comfort silicone tips. Since every ear canal is unique, even the left and right ears are slightly different, individually manufactured tips ensure a perfect fit and are essential for achieving clear, precise sound.
I recommend checking out the detailed video review I made about these tips, as they truly elevate the IE600’s performance.
Sennheiser IEMs CUSTOM COMFORT TIPS
One feature I really appreciate about the GO pod Air is that you can store your IEMs attached to the modules inside the case, which saves you from having to reconnect them every time.
At first glance, the GO pod Air modules might look a bit bulky, but in reality, they are easy to wear, practically invisible behind the ear, and extremely comfortable. They are also impressively stable during sports or physical activities, something that would be impossible to achieve with the wired IE600. Going completely cable-free is an absolute game-changer, adding a new level of freedom and convenience. The touch controls are reasonably precise and well thought out: single tap for play, pause, or answering a call; double tap to reject or hang up a call or skip forward; triple tap to skip back; four taps on the touch control area to power on or off; press and hold the right side to raise volume or the left side to lower it (both functions only work when using both earpieces); single tap and hold to activate your voice assistant; and hold both sides together for two seconds to enter Bluetooth pairing mode.
The GO pod Air can handle both making and receiving calls, though in a direct comparison with my older Sennheiser True Wireless 3, I preferred the latter for its superior call clarity and noise cancellation. When it comes to sound quality for music, however, that’s a completely different story. I honestly struggled to hear a meaningful difference between the IE600 paired with the GO pod Air and the same IE600 running wired through a dedicated DAC like the iFi hip-dac3. The sound quality is truly outstanding, compared to the True Wireless 3, the texture, three-dimensionality, and detail are on another level, completely unattainable for any conventional earbuds.
That said, I did miss having a dedicated button or touch control for bass boost, a feature iFi has mastered on its DACs and which would have been a great addition to this wireless setup.
Pros
Excellent sound quality, nearly indistinguishable from a wired DAC/amp setup
Compact, lightweight design that’s surprisingly comfortable and stable
High-quality build with a well-designed case and clear battery indicators
Broad codec support (LDAC, LHDC, aptX Adaptive) and Bluetooth 5.2 for reliable streaming
Easy and intuitive pairing, even with iOS devices
Good battery life (7 hours + 15 hours via case) and IPX5 water resistance
Comes with both MMCX and 0.78mm 2-pin connectors, with optional adapter support
Great wireless solution for high-end IEM owners
Cons
Call quality and noise cancellation not as strong as some true wireless earbuds (e.g., Momentum True Wireless 3)
No PEQ or advanced customization in the app, very limited controls
No bass boost or sound-shaping features found in other iFi devices
Price is premium compared to standard true wireless solutions
Touch controls work well but can feel limited in flexibility
Conclusion
The iFi GO pod Air is a true game-changer for audiophiles who want the freedom of wireless listening without compromising on sound quality. While it doesn’t quite match the call performance of mainstream true wireless earbuds and the app feels bare-bones, its sonic performance is on a completely different level, bringing the clarity, texture, and dynamics of a high-end wired DAC setup into a compact, portable form.
If you already own great IEMs and want to experience them untethered without losing fidelity, this is one of the best solutions available today.
