iFi GO Pod + Symphonium Meteor Review

iFi's new Bluetooth DAC/amp, the iFi GO pod, promises to deliver the best-sounding true wireless in-ear headphones in the world. But can it really live up to that claim? Let's take a closer look alongside the Symphonium Meteor review.

Comfort: Comfort-wise, the connector (the 0.78 mm 2 pin) that connects the DAC/amps & the IEMs... isn't the most pleasant feeling on my ears when it comes to long-term use. My tolerance runs thin in under 2 hours... which is unfortunate. They try to deliver a fit that allows the IEMs to fit the ear to sit the correct way and still maintain form for the DAC/amps to rest behind the ear without shifting. It isn't necessarily felt near the top back area where sunglasses would rest, I feel applied pressure in the front of my ear and the mid back where the DAC/amps rest.

If you aren't familiar with previous reviews of the past, I don't have much tolerance in regard to applied pressure on my ears... so mine may be a bit more sensitive than some of you. By the way, don't wrestle around with comfort in terms of the ear tips, I recommend finding the size that fits you best... right out of the box.

Build Quality: When it comes to the build quality of these headphones, I can certainly see the effort put into making the GO pods a next-level experience... starting with the GO pod case. The case is nice and sturdy, and as seen in the unboxing... they've added a nice touch with the lights in the ceiling of the case to shine down on the product. (Look at iFi getting all fancy on us.) The lights that you see off to the left of the case showcase the remaining battery, which is charged via USB-C. 

This isn't exactly a case that you're going to carry around... despite the name, because it will completely stuff a pocket and become a pain in the... thigh. You're better off maintaining the quality and extending the life of this case by either leaving it in the area you frequent the most to wear headphones or... grab a bag for transport.

In terms of the GO pods, you get a textured finish that almost resembles leather to a degree, and the touch control area has a metal plate along with the upper area where the Bluetooth LED is located. The DAC/amps also feel like they can take a licking also when it comes to durability. While children can wear these GO pods, I wouldn't recommend having them connect the MMCX, the 0.78 mm 2 pin, or... the Pentaconn Ear (unless they're good with intricate things). The pins that connect these to the GO pods even concern me because I didn't want them to bend when connecting the proper ones. Connecting to the GO pods was the biggest challenge, even if it has the area for you to get the connector in... the pins have to go in properly. Outside of that, once it's in... it's in the GO pods, and... you can breathe easy when it comes to the actual Meteor IEMs because you can slide the pins right in.

Speaking of the Meteor IEMs, they aren't stuck on Bluetooth or a wired connection... you can connect these to the GO pods or use the 4.4BAL wired connection as seen in the unboxing. There are no issues connecting either, so you can swap bath and forth with no worries. The body of the Meteor IEMs is a nice durable design with no buttons, you have the pins for connecting, along with the ear tips... and that's it.

Oh yeah... there's no way I can mention Symphonium Meteor IEMs without mentioning the cases that these things came in. It's not just the packaging around the beautiful exterior case with the soft internal material (seen in red above), you also have a freaking... hard case inside that with a hard snap lid, along with soft padding outlining the interior + a burlap bag to put that in (this almost feels like an Xzibit meme). This is no joke... and I loved every minute of this. That's how you protect your product and help customers maintain the life of the product.

By the way, the GO pods are IPX5 water resistant, so you can take direct spray from any direction if (let's say) you went for a jog and someone's sprinklers caught you off guard because it's spraying towards the sidewalk. I won't say any names.

Audio Quality: When it comes to the audio, I can't argue it and how crazy clean it is, but... I wish I had more control over the volume. I had to crank up the volume on my phone + PC + TV in order to get a more suitable experience. 60% was low, while 80% came in at a more neutral level that I'm adjusted to hearing. If I put the volume down to 28%... it may as well be at 2 to 3% (I can't hear it), and I highly suggest that iFi get a designated app in place on both phone & PC for these. The goal is to enjoy the product... and I think an app would truly help, especially if the GO pods are the base for these various IEMs to connect to. I didn't run into this issue with the wired connection, which points to the GO pods.

* I used a QR code for the set-up video to make sure I wasn't doing anything wrong, but "The playlist does not exist"... yet.

The iFi GO pods are a decent size with what's on deck, and they can be used with a variety of IEMs (like the Meteor). They feature a Qualcomm aptX HD codec and support up to 24-bit/96kHz audio. The iFi GO pod also has a built-in battery that provides up to 10 hours of use.

You can also find Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound on board the GO pods. This technology is described as an optimized chain of audio technologies and software to enable seamless, immersive audio across mobile devices and wireless audio accessories. aptX HD & aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codecs capped off at 24-bit/48kHz prior to QSS... which serves up 24-bit/96kHz (studio recorded quality).

I can say that the sounds didn't mesh... you have noticeable clarity. I was able to enjoy individual sounds a lot more than with some headphones that can't exactly unpack everything. The lows were beautiful... as long as I didn't have the volume down, they were clear, and highs were also marching to the drum of my enjoyment (i.e. a character breathing in the background, the wind of a helicopter flying, clanking sounds from cups, etc). I didn't get a chance to play games with these just yet, but what I did experience got a thumbs up, especially with the bass bringing it alive. I think one of my favorite things was listening to the bass from the helicopter being so close in a particular Ghost in the Shell scene.

I had the pleasure of going through my library and grabbing a few things for my listening pleasure:

Ghost in the Shell - The New Movie

Ghost in the Shell 2 - Innocence

Silk - Tonight (Album)

Lori Williams - I Can't Help It

Keybeaux - On Point

Keybeaux - Automatic

Gerald Albright - What you see is what you get

Gerald Albright - G Wiggle

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

As far as calls go, no issues with clarity, thumbs... up! I was able to be heard, and vice versa... which was crispy clear.

In the iFi GO pod box:

iFi GO pod L+R

Charging case

Ear Loops (L+R) - 0.78mm

MMCX, Pentaconn Ear

USB Charging Cable

Instruction card

Quick Start Guide

In the Symphonium Meteor box:

Meteor IEMs

4.4BAL audio cable

3 sets of ear tips (red and black S, M, L)

*Maybe it was for the review, but there was an additional ear tip case with 6 sets of ear tips inside.

Storage case (red and black)

Snap lid storage case (orange) for the Symphonium Meteor IEMs to rest in

Price: Price-wise you can get the GO pod + Symphonium Meteors for $799. The GO pods are $399 and... the Symphonium Meteors are going to run you a similar price. That's a bit on the high end for the average person, but dedicated audiophiles may find interest in these. My only request to iFi is that they release an app to ensure that we're able to enjoy the product without the need to... pump up the volume.

Comfort 2 (this is based on my personal tolerance level)

Build Quality 5

Audio Quality 4 (Point taken due to the volume issue)

Price 4

3.75 out of 5 Cool Points

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The 2024'ish Wishmas Guide... for the Office!

 

This guide was put on the shelf because a number of you were in holiday mode... and the thought of work (if you were lucky to have off) wasn't exactly something you wanted to think about. So here we are in 2025 serving up a list of useful + cool items... for the Office! The holidays are a wrap, but... that doesn't stop you from adding items to your wishlist to make your space even better!

 Computer Tech 

This is basically the focal point of most offices, unless your primary tool is something else. So we will start with... computer related tech!

• Video Games: I don't know if I should be recommending video games for the office, but you have plenty of options to nab for... free or even stream if you have an Amazon Prime membership. Free games + free Twitch sub + more with... Prime Gaming! This will give you options to check out here and there if you have the leeway to do so. 
  

  
  

• Graphics Card: If you're a gamer, a new graphics card is definitely worth considering if your system is struggling when it comes to the latest games. It's always wonderful to get your hands on a new game, but... it's hard to enjoy the game and it's visuals if your system is finding it extremely difficult to play it. You have AMD graphics cards, Nvidia, and Intel has also entered the arena with its Arc Alchemist series.
  
  
  

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  RAM: RAM is a given, and maxing out your RAM if it's affordable to do so... has multiple benefits. It improves your multitasking, faster performance since it's random access memory that decreases the need to pull from slower options like your hard drive. It certainly enhances your gaming experience by reducing the lag and allowing for better graphic rendering.
  
  More RAM is also great for those of you who also work with data analytics and scientific computing because it's able to process complex calculations and large datasets more efficiently than it would with the bare minimum. It's also a great way to future-proof your system.
  
  To determine the Amount of RAM your system can use on Windows OS:
  
  Check your OS: If you're working with a 32-bit Windows OS... your cap is 4GB of RAM. Yikes!
  The 64-bit version doesn't have this limit, but to determine the amount for your 64-bit system, follow these steps:
  
  Open Command Prompt with  Windows (Key) + R  and then type  cmd ... then press  Enter .
  
  Once the command prompt (window opens), type  wmic memphysical get MaxCapacity, MemoryDevices  and then press  Enter .
  
  The output will show the Max RAP capacity in kilobytes, so... divide that number by 1,048,576 to convert it to gigabytes. This will give you the answer you seek.
  
  For example, the system i'm currently writing this article on, has a MaxCapacity of 134,217,728 KB... which is 128GB when you divide it by the number highlighted in blue. It currently has 32GB under the hood, which is more than enough at this time... especially with the affordable price tag of around $50 bucks or so). No matter what route you take, if you get the protection plan, you're covered!
  
  To determine the Amount of RAM your system can use on macOS:
  
  Click the Apple menu and select "About This Mac." From there, click "More Info" to see the system specifications + the maximum RAM supported.
  
  

• 
  SSD: For some of us, you can never have enough storage space, but based on what you'll be doing with that storage space might better help you determine what you need. If you require more space for software, definitely get internal storage. Even then, if you require things like images to be readily available and you don't want to worry about connecting an external storage... this is also beneficial. If you simply want to unload pics and files, consider an external SSD option. You can grab a 500GB SSD for $25.99!
  
  There are data recover protection plans too, allowing you to score 3-years of coverage for $14.99. The protection cotsts can add up, but anything worth protecting is worth the coverage... and the cost isn't reoccuring as long as you choose the right plan.
  
  ***I will say this about the Asurion Complete Protect. It can prove useful if you buy a ton of tech on a frequent basis, because... one plan covers all eligible past and future purchases. So if you need such a thing, the option is there, but if its not something you need... spare yourself the $16.99/month.
  
  
  
• Monitors: There are some really nice monitors out there... and performance surely varies, one of which is the Lenovo L27i-40 27" monitor. I'm highlighting this one specifically, because one or more of these would be a nice addition to a professional office setup. This particular monitor serves up 1920x1080 resolution, 100Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync tech, etc. $149.99 isn't bad, especially if this sleek monitor is your style. Lenovo has been knocking it out of the park in this department, I'm using two of their monitors to write this article.
  
  
  

 Desktop 

• 
  AJAZZ AKP153 Desktop Studio Controller: This desktop controller... knocks it out of the park in terms of usefulness. If you're a streamer of any kind, it helps to have a studio controller. One particular reason is for the gamers out there.
  
  A number of PC users don't remember all their keyboard shortcuts and some gamers find themselves clicking out of the game just to go over to their recording software to begin the capture... where as this affordable controller can do it with the press of a button.
  
  It doesn't stop there, because you can use it for work to open those frequently used programs as needed. Work smarter, especially if there is tech available to help up your game. Grab it for 20% off ($71.99)!
  

• Large Extended Mouse Pad with Keyboard Shortcuts: This is perfect for those of you who would like to boost productivity by way of getting more familiar with keyboard shortcuts. This 27.5in X 11.8in mouse pad has short cuts for Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Office, and Windows. There are other awesome designs from the same company, but... the usefulness for this mouse pad is on 10! Grab it for $16.99!
  

  
  
  

• 
  AJAZZ AJ159 Dual Mode Gaming Mouse: This 5 button programmable mouse, is lightweight, able to be used on the usb-c cable or wirelessly. To charge the mouse in wireless mode... simply sit it on the magnetic charging dock. Performance wise, the lightweight mouse feels good, especially with up to 26K DPI movement detection. Your movements will be quick and precise with a mouse like this. (Click Click!) Speaking of the charging base, it has a nice RGB light that revolves around the foot of the base. This mouse is priced at around $42.99 on Amazon, but... we'll give you the hook up for $27.19!
  
  
  

 Tech Gifts, Etc. 

• 
  JCloud Smart Scent Air Machine (HVAC Pro Waterless Oil Diffuser): This is the first time we've ever recommended a gift like this. It's more on the lines of something you'd want to keep the office fresh for up to 2 months (based on this particular model). This Bluetooth controllable product would be mounted on the wall and the hose would be inserted into the AC duct to deliver fresh scent across a 2000sqft space. Refilling the scent is as simple as pulling the 3000ML bottle out of the top of the system, opening it up, filling it with the desired essential oil... and sitting it back inside.
  
  You can grab this system for $169.99 and make a positive impact on your office, spa, or a large room. Don't sleep on the $34.99 protection plan, it will cover you for 4 years!
  
  

• Saiyin Bookshelf Speakers w/ 2" horn tweeters + 3" woofers: These speakers caught my eye because they're clean and well put together (love the woodgrain). They have simple plug-n-play connectivity for optical-in, aux-in, arc/hdmi-in... and bluetooth compatibility.
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
• Shelving: While some individuals prefer a minimal look... some of us need shelving, and not the small ones that hold a few books and a candle. Not space saving may be racking your brain with your current setup, so... how's about a new shelf or shelves? One particular area where a shelf may be placed perfectly (if the space is there)... is right against the wall near your office door. This basically hides the shelf behind your office door when its open.
  
  

  
• Anime Statues: This isn't something on the lines of productivity, but... they look bad ass and add some flare to your office. While they can be positioned on a shelf, if they're the type that looks great when suspended from the ceiling... even better.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 

  Mini-Basketball Hoop: This might give more of a dorm room like feel or give the impression of a dude bro, but... screw it. If you enjoy basketball, there are some nice quality mini-hoops options out there. If it relieves stress to shoot a few hoops to keep you on your A-Game... do not underestimate the power of fun! There is a fantastic option with a rebounder that sends the ball back in your desired direction for $58.75. This is a limited time discount, similar to a pro option that you might find yourself bragging about because it's not your average wall mounted basketball hoop.
  
  Both durable options are by Franklin Sports, but the Pro Hoops option you see here has an adjustable height for the rim. It has 6 different positions thanks to the steel mount, and you're able to fold the rim with the flip of the tab. You can grab this pro hoops options for $79.77!
  

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