# iFi hid a hi-res DAC inside a USB-C cable

> The iFi Go Cable buries a full DAC and headphone amp in the wire, so the IEMs you already own can go hi-res.
- Title: iFi hid a hi-res DAC inside a USB-C cable · TechRadar
- Summary: The iFi Go Cable buries a full DAC and headphone amp in the wire, so the IEMs you already own can go hi-res. The upgrade lives in the cable now. Keep the…
- Keywords: audio, dac, iem, ifi, headphones, technology, hid, hi-res, inside, USB-C, cable, TechRadar
- Source: TechRadar — https://techradar.com/audio/dacs/ifis-newest-hi-res-headphone-dac-and-amp-squeezes-into-a-tiny-usb-c-earbuds-cable-you-just-add-your-own-audiophile-iems
- Published: 2026-09-15T09:44:31+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: audio, dac, iem, ifi, headphones, technology
## The cable is the DAC
iFi's Go Cable is not just a wire. A hi-res DAC and headphone amp are built into the cable itself, small enough to coil up next to a laptop.
## ESS Sabre doing the work
Inside sits an ESS Sabre chip with 32-bit audio support, the same family of converters that shows up in far larger desktop gear.
## USB-C on one end
It plugs straight into a phone or laptop over USB-C, so there is no charging, no pairing and no extra box riding in your pocket.
## Bring your own IEMs
The other end is left for you. Connect whatever audiophile in-ears you already trust instead of buying into someone else's tuning.
## Or take the bundle
If you have no IEMs yet, iFi sells the cable packaged with a pair of its own at a cut price, cheaper than buying the two separately.
## A crowded little category
Dongle DACs like the AudioQuest DragonFly and Astell & Kern AK HC5 got here first. iFi's answer is to stop making it a dongle at all.
## Key takeaway

The upgrade lives in the cable now. Keep the earbuds you love and let the wire do the converting.