Pros: Typical iFi quality
Typical iFi innovation
Powerful enough for all but the hardest-to-drive IEMs
Inclusion of MMCX & 0.78mm 2-pin
Fit was better than I expected
With the ability to run your coveted IEMs, the possibilities are all but endless

Cons: Expensive
Won’t be for everyone
Controls are still not intuitive to me

iFi GO pod MAX ($599): Does this really MAXimize the performance?

iFi GO pod MAX

Score of 4.25, which by now we really should be able to differentiate on Head-Fi…come on. Raised from 4.0 for iFi quality and abilities, lowered from 4.5 due to cost.

Intro:
Having previously reviewed the iFi GO Pod I was eager to try the iFi GO Pod Max when Lawrance asked. I appreciated what the GO Pod could bring to the table for those looking at high-quality BT potential, but using their own IEMs. A novel approach that offered a two-way system for using our cherished IEMs.
The GO Pod functioned well, and to be truthful, represented a viable option at a fairly affordable price compared to quality TWS BT options. Now, though, the quality of TWS buds has risen markedly, as has their price in some cases. I have a set, which will be used for comparison purposes, that are my daily drivers.
As such, the new GO Pod Max has stiff competition, with a commensurate price increase it compete with my favored TWS buds? This review aims to find out.
The GO Pod Max is a loaner (unfortunately) and will be returned to iFi upon completion of the review. I again thank Lawrance and iFi for the use of their wares, something which I may not have been exposed to otherwise.
Since the GO Pod Max is a TWS connection, there is no need for burn-in, and I immediately started utilizing the capabilities across many usage patterns.

Specs:

AUTO IMPEDANCE MATCHING	16/32/64/300 Ohms
BATTERY	180mAh (Pods); 1500mAh (Charging Case) 7 hours; 35 hours including case.
BLUETOOTH CHIPSET	QCC5181
BLUETOOTH CODECS	LDAC, LHDC/HWA, aptX Adaptive,aptX, AAC, SBC
BLUETOOTH FORMATS	aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, LDAC, LHDC/HWA, AAC, SBC
BLUETOOTH VERSION	Bluetooth 5.4
CHARGING	USB-C; 5V/1A or 5V/2A with Qi certified charger
CHARGING TIME	<1.5 hours (Pods); <2 hours (Charging Case)
DIMENSIONS	47.5 x 16.1 x 9.5mm (Pods); 116 x 76 x 47.8mm (Charging Case)
DNR	129dB(A) @ 32 Ohms, 20-20kHz
LIMITED WARRANTY	12 months
NET WEIGHT	24.5g (Pods); 185g (Charging Case)
SNR	132dB(A) @ 300 Ohms, 20-20kHz
THD+N	0.002% (20-20kHz)

In The Box:
What’s in the Box

1x GO pod Max Unit L + R
1x Charging Case
1x Ear Loop (0.78 mm 2-Pin)
1x Ear Loop (MMCX)
1x USB Charging cable
1x User Manual
1 year Warranty Card

Gear used/compared:
Campfire Audio Supermoon Custom
Campfire Audio Solaris 2020

iPhone 16 Pro Max
Cayin N6ii

Noble FoKus Prestige Encore ($699)

Music:
Tidal & Qobuz streaming

Unboxing:
iFi has traditionally been quite efficient with their packaging (even on the big units), and the GO Pod Max (henceforth known as the Max) is no different. Sized slightly larger than a comparatively priced TWS, the package carries the familiar white iFi look.
Sliding the informative sleeve off, you get to the box laden with a silver iFi logo. Removing the lid, you are met with a protective sleeve-laden packing for the “portable” case. Above that, though, are the instruction manual, sticker, MQA setup tutorial, and a quick start guide.
Below that are the 2-pin (0.78mm thankfully) ear pieces, and the USB-A to USB-C charging cable for the case.
Modern, efficient, and purposeful as always.

Build/ Fit/Usability quality:
I have never had any issues with build quality across many iFi devices and the Max is no different. The bronzed geometric pattern of the case top looks the part, and gives very good tactility for usage. There is a gold triangular area along the front for opening the case easily.
Once opened, you are met with a lighted veloured area housing the Max, and IEM of choice when connected. I did find that using my CFA Solaris 2020 that the IEMs had to be angled a bit for proper fit, but upon closer inspection this was not necessary. The lid presents a larger opening than just the bottom, so short of an IEM the size of a Mack truck, they should fit.
The velour does collect dirt and potential debris, so cleaning the cradles out is a must. Connection for the Max keeps the duo in place and properly stored for not only charging purpose, but to prevent any potential movement within. Again, an efficient setup all around.
Four blue LED lights on the left side show the cases charge, with each LED denoting approximately 25%. The case in combination with the Max allows for up to 35 hours of total playtime. For a device such as this, that is applaudable. I never felt like the time allotted was shortened by battery life.
The build is typical iFi quality, and using either connection, while the weight could be felt around my ears, it did not really become a bother until I reached the 3+ hour stage.

Features:
I was able to get approximately 7 hours out of the Max before charging was needed with the QCC5181 chipset BT 5.4. A power output of roughly 120mW @32W, which was more than enough to power all the IEMs used.
Using JVC/Kenwood’s K2HD technology, the Max adds life to potentially aid flat digital recordings, restoring rich, natural harmonics. Its advanced high-frequency extension revives overtones above 22kHz, bringing the sound closer to the original studio master, restoring up to 96kHz. I cannot hear that high, and will take their word for it. Essentially, this is utilized to decompress the CD-quality compression. The result does sound good.
AAC is still the bane of iPhone users, but when utilized with a DAP, or your Android smartphone, you get aptX Lossless, LDAC, LHDC/HWA, aptX Adaptive, aptX, and SBC.
Dual microphones promote good sound quality, as evidenced by a phone call taken on a windy Lake Superior winter’s day.

Controls:

• Single Tap: Play/Pause/Answer the call.
• Double Tap: Reject/hang up/Skip Forward.
• Triple Tap: Skip back.
• Four Taps: On/Off Touch control area.
• Hold right: Volume Up
• Hold Left: Volume Down
• Hold left and right together for ≥2s: Bluetooth Pairing

The iFi Go Pod MAX also comes with indicator lights on the face of each unit. The following colors represent different tasks:

• Constant Red: Charging.
• No LED: Fully charged.
• Flashing Blue: Awaiting connection.
• Alternately ‑flash Red and Blue: Ready to pair.
• Constant Blue ≥3s. Then, alternating Red and Green: Factory Reset

There is no iFi app for use, and you do rely upon the connected source other than what is listed above.
*The two bullet point lists above come courtesy of @pradiptacr7’s Head-Fi review. I thank him for the precise list.

Case:
The case provides up to an additional 30 hours of charge besides the onboard batteries 7 hours. I was able to attain close to the 35 hours promoted at least three times during the testing.
Those nice blue lights also send UV into the case much like the old Chemistry cabinets did to disinfect your old goggles. But in this case, it does so for the IEM and Max working unit.
The case is on the large size, but necessary for all of the technology and capabilities. Thankfully, excellent tactility affords good usage. Plus, the USB-C port is on the lower-back, so the unit may sit nicely upon your desktop, enhancing the look.

Sound Impressions:
All sound impressions were made using the gear listed above, and in no particular order. The Cayin N6ii was used for a high-quality DAP, while the iPhone was used for what would be most users’ intentions, something quick.
Varying the IEMs used allowed use across what most of us also have…a plethora of good choices ranging from the CFA Solaris 2020, to CFA Supermoon Custom, and the Earsonics Onyx. Others could have been used, but this selection represents a good cross-spectrum of price.

Summary:
The Max provides good power in addition to whatever source you use. I could reach quite loud levels without much effort. Since iFi keeps the insides pretty much a secret, one must utilize your senses to garner an impression.
The Max presents a neutral sound quality to the sound, allowing both the source and the IEM of choice to show their qualities regarding the sound signature. Virtually no background noise accompanies excellent clarity and detail retrieval, again only limited by the source/IEM combination.

Timbre:
The neutrality with which the Max presents sound gives the listener the ability to fine-tune sound simply by changing IEMs. If one prefers a darker signature, such as the CFA Solaris 2020, change to it. If you prefer a more neutral to bright signature, switch to something like the CFA Supermoon Custom.
That said, the neutral signature present does not mean there is not a vitality to the sound. By allowing the concert of source/IEM to work in conjunction, the level of detail retrieval remains high, no matter the pairing. While a good DAC allows the music to come through unencumbered, an excellent one (IMO) affords the combination to really shine. And in this case, the Max indeed presents levels of clarity that heighten the listening experience.
I am not saying that the Max can raise the sound quality of an IEM, but rather that if the chosen IEM presents excellent levels of detail and clarity, the Max will not stand in the way, but open the windows a bit for an excellent view.

Soundstage/Imaging:
Also, as one would hope, the soundstage is excellent, rivaling a wired IEM/DAP pairing. The width goes beyond the listener’s ears, as does the height. The depth fairs competitively too, defining the fore/aft placing of instruments and vocals. Male vocals take on a blended feeling without losing definition, while female vocals come across with a precise nature, allowing the user to appreciate the slight differences.
Left/right imaging follows suit with good placement of instruments based upon the soundstage definition. I found that I did not really miss the cabled effect, no matter what IEM I used, showing the gap between BT and wired continues to shrink.

Pairings:
The whole point of the Max is so the listener can utilize their own IEMs. And in that regard, the Max works perfectly. For use on the go and commuting, plug in your more durable or cheaper IEMs. For the office or dedicated sessions, plug in your higher-end IEMs to provide them with the BT experience.
The Earsonics Onyx was a pleasant surprise when I reviewed them, and the same holds true for the BT experience. A mid-fi priced IEM that presents sound with good detail retrieval, but a warmer signature to go along with that richness, the Onyx paired well. The Max afforded the Onyx that extra bit of power, even if they were easy to drive. I found the level of detail was quite good, since the internal DAC was easily on par (better) than my iPhone 16 Pro Max (which is still a shame…). Bass reached deep, and the top end came across with a bit of rounding, but this matched my review of the Onyx.
My favorite pairing though, was with the Campfire Audio Supermoon custom. Coming from a review for another publication, I quickly became enamored with the Supermoon for its punctuating highs, engaging mids, and a bass that, while not Vega-esque, comes across with enough verve & energy to tie it all together. The BT setup with the Max enhanced the usability of the Supermoon, and I could not fault any of the sound emanating from within.
The CFA Solaris 2020 is another of my favorite IEMs due to a sound signature that I prefer, and its relative positioning at the upper end of mid-fi. Call it a budget high-end IEM, and one in my opinion that functions quite well. Deeper-reaching bass than the Supermoon, along with sumptuous mids and vocals, makes this a pleasure for female voice-based music. I found the slight lack of detail retrieval to be a worthy omission due to the rest of the signature, that fits my bill.

Comparisons:
iFi GO Pod Max ($599) vs Noble FoKus Prestige Encore ($699):
The Noble is my go-to BT IEM currently, and I have actually given away most of my others. That is how enamored I am with the Encore. Named as a follow-up to the OG model, the Encore certainly raises the curtain on the performance of a TWS BT, in my opinion. Stunning bass, excellent detail retrieval, and the ability to develop a personalized sound using the personal EQ option, the Noble presents the benchmark of TWS IEM performance, to me.
Are there more expensive options? Sure, but that adage of diminishing returns rears its ugly head in doing so. Going down, are there options that come close to a more affordable price? Sure, but when you can personalize your listening options using Audiodo, you get a complete package.
Combining the Max with an IEM that costs twice as much may not seem like a fair comparison, and you can easily end up with something that is three times the price of the Noble. But the appeal of being able to use your favorite IEM does pique one’s interest.
Compared to the Supermoon/Max combination, the bass reaches lower with more grunt on the Noble, as expected. What may not be completely expected, though, is the ability of the Noble to hold its own when it comes to detail retrieval and clarity. Micro detail is superb with the Noble, even disregarding that it is a BT TWS.
The downside to that, though, is that you have another earbud to lug around instead of simply using your current IEMs in place of that. A valid argument, but in terms of audio performance (to me) and the ability to personalize the EQ with Audiodo, the Noble is very hard to beat.

finale:
The iFi GO Pod Max fills a niche we did not know needed filling. While I liked the OG GO Pod, the Max fixes some of the issues I had surrounding it. The user interface was not as crisply defined as it is now on the Max, and power was more dependent upon the source. With the Max, you can genuinely add power, which makes it quite diverse across your harder-to-drive IEMs that will be used.
The ability to plug in your favorite IEMs and make them BT should not be diminished or understated. For those “purists” who prefer wired, the Max does indeed give a valid “excuse” for using those expensive IEMs that you might miss during the day due to the need to also carry a source in which to plug them in. Now, though, you simply attach your favorite and run wirelessly from your Smartphone or computer without a bother.
I did find some instances of sound cutting out, especially from the right earbud at odd times. I attribute this to interference from external sources, but it did happen more than once, and only to the right earbud. The listening source was always on the left side of my body (or desktop) when this occurred. But it was not frequent enough to warrant a caution, and happened once every few days at most.
All of that said, the Max fills a niche that will certainly appeal to those who would prefer to utilize their favored IEMs in a BT situation. And in that usage, I cannot fault the Max, especially if you can afford it.
I again thank Lawrance and iFi for the continued faith in my feeble words. The GO Pod Max is a pretty cool device.