FiiO IMP XLR-4 Impedance Adapter Review
A balanced impedance adapter for connecting headphones to a desktop power amplifier, listed at $39.99. It has 4.4mm and 4-pin XLR outputs and 4mm banana-socket inputs, and suits owners who already have a power amplifier.
Our verdict
A fit for someone who already owns a desktop power amplifier and wants to connect balanced headphones to it through a 4.4mm or 4-pin XLR port. Look elsewhere if you need a DAC or an amplifier of your own, because the page lists neither. The main caveat is that the page gives no attenuation, impedance or frequency figures, so how it behaves with a given amplifier and pair of headphones rests on the page's words alone.
- Best for
- Owners of a desktop power amplifier who want to plug in balanced 4.4mm or 4-pin XLR headphones.
- Skip if
- You need a DAC or headphone amplifier of your own, or want attenuation figures before buying.
Why 3.4/5: Held back by a page with no specification list as text and by the store's own terms contradicting each other, and because no independent test of this model was checked for this review.
FiiO's IMP XLR-4 is not a headphone amplifier in the usual sense: the page calls it a power amplifier impedance adapter, a compact aluminium-chassis box that sits between a desktop power amplifier and a pair of headphones. It is listed at $39.99 in a single Black option. The page names 4.4mm and 4-pin XLR balanced outputs, 4mm banana-socket inputs and a stated input limit of 300W, and it lists no DAC or amplifier stage.
Specifications
| Spec | Page says |
|---|---|
| Type | Power amplifier impedance adapter |
| Circuit | Internal voltage divider circuit design |
| Power amp input | Supports up to 300W |
| Headphone outputs | 4.4mm and 4-pin XLR balanced |
| Input ports | Gold-plated copper banana sockets (4mm) |
| Chassis | High-density all-aluminium alloy |
| Color | Black |
| Setup named on the page | JT7 and FT7 headphones with the EA13 power amplifier |
Options and pricing
One option is listed, IMP XLR-4 Black, at $39.99, and it could be ordered when the listing was read. Two balanced headphone ports are built into the adapter, a 4.4mm port and a 4-pin XLR port, and the page says this removes the need for extra conversion adapters. The amplifier side uses 4mm banana sockets. The page does not say what is in the box, including whether any cable is included.
How it compares
The IMP XLR-4 is a different kind of product from the DAC and amp units around it. The FiiO BTR13 Dual CS43131 Bluetooth 5.1 DAC & Headphone AMP at $69.99 and the Fosi Audio SK02 ES9038Q2M Compact Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier at $84.99 each name their own DAC and amplifier, while this page describes only a voltage divider and ports. Choose the IMP XLR-4 at $39.99 if you already own a desktop power amplifier; choose either of the others if you need a complete chain from source to headphones.
Shipping, returns and warranty
HiFiGO sells from hifigo.com and says every order leaves its warehouse in China, usually 1-3 business days after it is placed, and says its delivery times are estimates, not promises. Its shipping policy gives the United States 1-2 weeks (about 10 days on average) by Priority and 6-10 days by Premium, both with duties and taxes prepaid by the store; Canada 2-3 weeks; the United Kingdom 1-2 weeks; and Australia 10-15 days. Express couriers (DHL, UPS, FedEx) take 3-7 days, but then the buyer pays any duties and taxes. No shipping page names New Zealand, PO boxes are not accepted, and the free-shipping thresholds differ between the store's own pages, so check the cart. One of its two shipping pages adds that a lost parcel on an order above $50 gets only a 50% refund. A US buyer reported a $40 tariff charge in August 2025, after which HiFiGO said it had added a customs notice at checkout.
Read the return terms before you order. The homepage advertises 7-day returns. Both of HiFiGO's policy pages offer a 7-day dead-on-arrival cover (a replacement or a full refund, with the return postage refunded) and also describe 30-day returns, but a request made 7 to 30 days after delivery loses 30% of the MSRP as a restocking fee (10% more if the packaging is incomplete), plus shipping both ways and duties, and the FAQ on the same pages says there is no refund or exchange once 7 days have passed. One version recommends reselling an opened product locally. Custom IEMs and custom cables cannot be returned, no return address is published, and buyers describe sending items back to China.
Cables and adapters get three months of warranty from the order date, against one year for DACs, amps and IEMs; a note on the same page also excludes cables from returns for hygiene reasons, while the FAQ says a cable can come back in its original condition. HiFiGO decides between repair and replacement and the buyer pays the shipping. Claims go to [email protected], the only contact the store lists: its pages name no company, street address or phone.
FiiO's own notice "A letter to FiiO fans" (undated) lists HiFiGo among sellers it has not authorized and recommends buying FiiO products from local agents. FiiO says it still services genuine products bought from such sellers if the buyer emails [email protected], but the buyer pays the freight and duties if a unit must go back to China.
On Trustpilot, HiFiGO had 4.6 out of 5 from 378 reviews when we checked on 2026-10-28 (91% five-star, 5% one-star), and it had replied to about 75% of negative reviews; Trustpilot notes the store has not invited customers to review recently. The one-star reviews mostly concern the short return window and the deductions on returns, items listed in stock that turned out back-ordered, slow email support and a tariff charge on a US delivery in 2025. HiFiGO says its products are genuine and come in the brands' retail packaging; it does not claim to be an authorized dealer.
What we liked
- Two balanced headphone ports on the unit itself, 4.4mm and 4-pin XLR, per the page
- The page states an input limit of 300W from a power amplifier
- 4mm gold-plated copper banana sockets for the amplifier connection
- All-aluminium alloy chassis, and the page also calls the unit compact
Worth noting
- The page gives no specification list: no attenuation figure, output impedance, frequency response, size or weight
- The page lists no DAC or amplifier stage, so a separate power amplifier is required according to the page's own description
- Only balanced outputs are listed; no single-ended headphone port is named
Questions before you buy
What does the IMP XLR-4 connect to?
Per the page, it takes a power amplifier's output through 4mm gold-plated copper banana sockets and has two balanced headphone ports, a 4.4mm port and a 4-pin XLR port. The page says it supports power amplifier input up to 300W.
Does it have its own DAC or amplifier?
None is listed. The page calls it a power amplifier impedance adapter built around an internal voltage divider circuit, so a separate power amplifier is the source of the signal.
Which headphones does the page name?
It names the JT7 and FT7 headphones used with the EA13 power amplifier as example setups. It says it suits both high-impedance, low-sensitivity headphones and low-impedance, high-sensitivity ones, but it gives no impedance or sensitivity figures.
Where does HiFiGO ship from, and how long does it take?
From its warehouse in China, usually 1-3 business days after the order. The shipping policy gives 1-2 weeks to the US by Priority (6-10 days by Premium), both with duties and taxes prepaid, 2-3 weeks to Canada, 1-2 weeks to the UK and 10-15 days to Australia. Express couriers take 3-7 days, but the buyer pays any duties.
Can I send it back if I change my mind?
HiFiGO gives 7 days to report an item that arrives dead, damaged or wrong. Its policy also describes 30-day returns, but requests 7 to 30 days after delivery lose 30% of the MSRP plus shipping both ways and duties, and the FAQ on the same page says no refund or exchange after 7 days. Ask [email protected] before you open the box.
What warranty does HiFiGO give on cables?
Three months from the order date for cables and adapters, against one year for DACs, amps and IEMs. HiFiGO chooses repair or replacement and the buyer pays the shipping. Claims go to [email protected].
Sources & verification
What this review is based on and the day we last read it. Specs and claims from the maker are the maker’s own; the verdict and the rating are ours.
From the maker
- FiiO: A letter to FiiO fans (seller notice)Undated FiiO notice listing HiFiGo among unauthorized third-party sellers; FiiO still services genuine unitsRead October 28, 2026
From the store
- FiiO IMP XLR-4 Balanced Headphone Amplifier Impedance Adapter product page: specs, options and priceSpecs, options and the listed priceRead October 28, 2026
- HiFiGO shipping policyShips from China in 1-3 business days; US 1-2 weeks by Priority or 6-10 days by Premium, duties prepaid; Express buyers pay dutiesRead October 28, 2026
- HiFiGO shipping and order tracking pageA second shipping text: Premium also for Canada and Australia, Canada free shipping from $99.99, lost-parcel rulesRead October 28, 2026
- HiFiGO refund policy7-day dead-on-arrival cover; 30-day returns minus a 30% restocking fee; its FAQ says no refund after 7 daysRead October 28, 2026
- HiFiGO warranty and refund policyWarranty by product class (1 year; cables and adapters 3 months); 30% fee for resealing an opened productRead October 28, 2026
- HiFiGO terms of serviceOperator named only as HiFiGo; governed by the laws of China; contact [email protected]Read October 28, 2026
Independent
- HiFiGO reviews on Trustpilot4.6 of 5 from 378 reviews (91% five-star, 5% one-star); the store has not invited reviews recentlyRead October 28, 2026
What we couldn’t verify
- The page gives no specification list, so there is no attenuation ratio, output impedance, frequency response, size or weight; how it matches an amplifier and headphones is the page's claim.
- The page says it purifies the noise floor and protects headphones from burning out; the page text gives no measurement or result for either claim.
- The store title calls it a headphone amplifier impedance adapter, while the text describes only an adapter with a voltage divider; the 300W input limit has no stated load impedance or duration.
- HiFiGO's policy pages contradict each other: 30-day returns with a 30% restocking fee in one place, no refund or exchange after 7 days in the FAQ.
- HiFiGO's pages name no company, street address or phone number; the only contact given is [email protected].
- FiiO's undated seller notice lists HiFiGo as an unauthorized seller; FiiO says it still services genuine units, with freight and duties paid by the buyer.
Spotted an error or something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it and update the date.
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