The iFi UP Travel Max is a pocket-sized lossless Bluetooth transceiver and DAC. It can send audio from an airplane seat or laptop to your wireless headphones, or receive Bluetooth from your phone and feed it into a car’s AUX input. With aptX Lossless, K2 Technology and Auracast, it is a clear step up from the existing UP Travel.
iFi UP Travel Max: transmitter and receiver in one
A switch on the side toggles between two modes. In transmitter (TX) mode, you plug the iFi UP Travel Max into a 3.5 mm headphone jack, for example on an in-flight entertainment screen or a laptop, and it streams that audio to your Bluetooth headphones. USB-C can also serve as an input in this mode. In receiver (RX) mode, it works the other way around: you connect it to your car’s AUX input and stream music from your phone via Bluetooth 5.4.
iFi describes it as the only lossless in-flight adapter with true hi-fi architecture. At 55 x 30 x 16.8 mm and 25.7 grams, it disappears into a jacket pocket.
aptX Lossless and K2 Technology
The iFi UP Travel Max supports a wide range of codecs: aptX Lossless for CD-quality lossless Bluetooth, LDAC and LHDC/HWA for hi-res, plus aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC and SBC. That broad support means it works with almost any pair of headphones or source device.
On top of that, iFi includes JVCKENWOOD’s K2 Technology. It aims to restore harmonic detail that is lost during digitisation, for a more natural and detailed sound. In RX mode, the analogue output delivers 70 mW into 32 ohms, with distortion of 0.004% or lower and a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 120 dBA.
Auracast for shared listening
The iFi UP Travel Max is one of the first iFi devices with full Auracast compatibility. Auracast is Bluetooth broadcasting to an unlimited number of listeners. You switch it on in the iFi Nexis app, after which anyone with compatible headphones can join in without pairing or passwords. That makes it easy to share a film on a plane or a playlist on a road trip. The Nexis app also handles device customisation and battery optimisation.
Ten hours on a charge
A 400 mAh battery gives at least 10 hours of use, enough for most long-haul flights. Charging is via USB-C at 5 V. If you want to upgrade the cable side of your portable setup too, read our news on the iFi GO cable.
Pricing and availability
The iFi UP Travel Max is available now from the iFi online store at £129, with shipping to the UK, the US and the EU. The warranty is one year in the UK and US, and two years in the EU. More information is available on the iFi audio website.
Key specifications
- Type: lossless Bluetooth transceiver and DAC
- Bluetooth: 5.4, Auracast
- Codecs: aptX Lossless, LDAC, LHDC/HWA, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC
- Inputs: TX: 3.5 mm AUX, USB-C; RX: Bluetooth
- Output: TX: Bluetooth; RX: 3.5 mm AUX, 70 mW @ 32 Ω
- THD+N: ≤0.004% @ 1 kHz, 32 Ω
- SNR / DNR: ≥120 dBA @ 32 Ω
- Battery: 400 mAh, at least 10 hours
- Dimensions and weight: 55 x 30 x 16.8 mm, 25.7 g
- Price: £129
