iFi has built a solid reputation for its well-featured, affordable digital-to-analogue converters. I agree to the terms and conditions and the privacy policy. More on the GTO filter here. iFi has built a solid reputation for its well-featured, affordable digital-to-analogue converters. You’ve been using them for years. Files can be remastered to higher file rates to improve sound quality. According to iFi, the ZEN CAN offers features … It’s easy to set up and we get going in a matter of minutes, using the supplied USB cable. Now we're taking the conversation further in … Balanced circuits reduce noise and crosstalk. TrueBass' High Setting … This means you are listening to music as the artist intended in the format in which it was recorded. Our R&D maxes out the circuitry with bespoke, easy to install firmware to bring you the joyous musicality of hi-res. Thanks to a combination of features and sound quality that’s hard to better at the price, the Zen DAC is arguably one of its finest products. My current audio setup is the Sennheiser HD 660s powered by the ifi Zen Dac. Both on MQA and DSD64. EISA stands for Expert Imaging and Sound Association… iFi’s ZEN Range — Enlightened … Please refresh the page and try again. I’m always looking to improve the sound quality,ive got a marantz pm-17 amp and pmc db1speakers,all pretty old school but superb.I got itchy feet as one does, and started looking into new DAC’s and stumbled across this and thought id give it a whirl….it is extraordinary.Its improved what I thought was amazing even more so….buy one now. Click on the desired image to enlarge it; Press ‘Alt’ or ‘Option’ and click the enlarged image; Select ‘Save image as’ Click Save; Windows The thing is built like a tank and will be able to stand up to the abuse of being tossed into a backpack … We normally contact our customers by email. Tonally, this is a well-judged unit, having just the right degree of smoothness at high frequencies to prevent low bit rate or thin-sounding music streams from getting annoying. Or does the RME is a different leage because it is a bit more expensive too? The iFi Zen DAC is a $129 Digital-to-Analog (DAC) converter and headphone amplifier that is bound to get some interest for entry-level audiophiles and people looking for a small unit to use … You don’t need to be near a mains outlet, so it’s possible to use this in the garden or away from the house. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download. The iFI Zen Dac is easy to install on Windows with drivers on the iFi homepage. iFi Zen DAC - HiFi Desktop Digital Analog Converter with USB3.0 B Input/Outputs: 6.3mm Unbalanced / 4.4mm Balanced/RCA 4.6 out of 5 stars 531. Every device that’s a source of digital sound has a built-in DAC (TVs, games consoles, CD players, phones, portable music players etc). Connect to Tidal Masters and check the option to stream MQA. ORIGIN UK/China. I mostly listen to high res files via Qobuz (up to 24/96), as well as my own downloads on iTunes. It is a superior method to the traditional single-ended circuit approach. DAC - Desktop. This is a USB-only desktop product that takes power from the computer that’s connected to it. In the latter role it comfortably drives my Sennheiser HD 580's as well as a pair of AKG K 550's. DSD – Direct Stream Digital is a very high-quality audio format, better than CD quality. Despite its budget nature, the Zen can handle PCM files up to 384kHz and up to DSD256. Alongside the expected stereo RCAs, the Blue also offers a balanced 4.4mm Pentaconn analogue output, as well as optical and coax digital alternatives. If you have a query relating to the operation of any of our products, please use the iFi audio Support Centre. Only 12 left in stock - order soon. So, in the words of the great Eric Clapton and from the film Back to the Future, Heaven is One Step Away. Connect to an external pre-amp or integrated amp. Please see our. A balanced cable has the same left + and right +. There’s a choice of having a fixed or variable output through the line connections, which means that the Zen can operate as a digital preamp in a system if you want to use it that way. iFi Zen Dac Hot on the heels of the ZEN Blue hi-res Bluetooth streamer, iFi expands the ZEN family of desktop-sized audio products with the ZEN DAC – a USB DAC/headphone amp offering a level of … But it also offers a degree of versatility that those rivals don’t. Fancy adding the special GTO filter first introduced in our flagship DAC, the Pro iDSD? It's actually a DAC/headphone amp combo with an USB input and several outputs: single-ended … It's even better if you use iFi's own low noise power supply; it really gave the sound more focus and weight, when I added it. There’s a small switch on the back panel that swaps bet… But it has a separate left – and right -. This works subtly enough to be useful, adding extra weight and authority to thin or lean sounding cans. Therefore, a balanced connection is the superior headphone wiring configuration. At iFi we use Burr Brown extensively in our products having selected it for its natural-sounding ‘musicality’ and True Native architecture. This superb hi-res USB DAC/headphone amp delivers a level of specification and performance that punches above its super-affordable price tag. As this is shared, this gives rise to undesired coupling noise which is commonly referred to as ‘crosstalk.’. Does it support DSD? Not about the Zen DAC, but I just got the iFi Hip Dac today, been testing it out and it has enough power to drive my Hifiman Sundaras (37 ohms, 94 dB/mW) to insane levels even out of the unbalanced 3.5mm. I’m no expert or serious audiophile but I know when something sounds good, and this definitely does! iFi Zen CAN Signature - $249 This is the standalone headphone amplifier counterpart to the Signature Zen DAC from Drop. It sounds fantastic both through my system and as a headphone amp. As for outputs, there are 6.3mm and 4.4mm balanced Pentaconn jacks on the front, a stereo RCA line output on the back with another 4.4mm balanced option next to it. Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. “The three test candidates of the Zen family from the British specialist iFi Audio provide impressive evidence of this… The iFi Audio Zen DAC earned the most laurels: It not only shines with its versatility as a USB DAC headphone amp, but also and above all with its fantastic, airy, natural sound – a real favorite killer.”. Then check out our exclusive iFi firmware. Premium engineering is more expensive but lowers the noise floor to a whisper-quiet levels. The Zen DAC, a desktop USB DAC/headphone amp, can be powered by USB or mains. I couldn’t recommend it enough. There’s a good amount of insight, so we can follow Lamar’s flow, and a decent dose of composure to keep this dense recording sounding organised. Thanks to a combination of features and sound quality that’s hard to better at the price, the Zen DAC is arguably … MQA is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. DETAILS. MP3 – this is the most popular format, every device in the world can use it. iFi Micro iDSD Black Label USB DAC … TYPE Bluetooth DAC… iFi is most likely the first name to come up … I play my music through an iMac from Spotify,i had a pro ject dac S for a few years and was really happy with the results…..however…!! We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices, Spence Jr vs Garcia live stream: how to watch the boxing from anywhere, Best Xbox Series X deals: where to find Xbox Series X stock, Xbox Series X pre-orders: where to find stock of the new Xbox, PS5 stock and where to buy: latest PS5 Christmas restock details, 10 best Christmas tech gift ideas for travel lovers (looking to make the most of 2021). The full symmetric dual-mono headphone amplifier with gold-plated 4.4mm balanced connection. There was a problem. Not many machines out there are capable of this feat. How does this compare with Schiit Modius? And it sounds exactly the same to me as the RME ADI-2 DAC (as any good DAC … The ZEN DAC is a winner. A fantastic little unit! They will not … Our video tutorials on You Tube show you how. BA1 1UA. iFi has always tried to pack as much compatibility as possible into its products and this one is no different. PRODUCT iFi Audio Zen Blue. We listen to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and are impressed by the iFi’s expressive dynamics and its ability to reproduce the piano’s harmonic richness convincingly. The ZEN CAN has trickle-down Class A discrete balanced circuitry from iFi audio’s US$1,699 flagship Pro iCAN. is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. ifi Zen Dac (should I buy the ifi iPower?) The iFi Zen is a USB only DAC headphone amplifier combo intended for desktop use. Even despite my complaining every time a DAC hits the market (and for good reason), it truly is a good time to be alive. CIEMs are Custom In-Ear Monitors – IEMs made specifically to fit your ear shape. They are pricey but are a perfect addition to our products. “The three test candidates of the Zen family from the British specialist iFi Audio provide impressive evidence of this… The iFi Audio Zen DAC earned the most laurels: It not only shines with its versatility as a USB DAC headphone amp… Mac. Compact enough to use as a USB DAC/amp on your work desk with your much-loved headphones. You get both headphone options. The company’s engineers have tried to make the Zen as accommodating as possible, so it accepts a wide range of Bluetooth codecs including aptX HD, AAC and Sony’s LDAC. ZEN DAC by iFi audio | Super-affordable DAC/amp from iFi audio It’s well built with a nicely finished aluminium case and precise-feeling controls. Fantastic solution to near-field speakers for a desktop system. The iFi ZEN DAC is among the few desktop DAC/amps to offer balanced output in the sub-$200 range. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer. Most budget digital-to-analogue converters aren’t particularly inspiring to listen to and don’t tend to offer much of a step-up over the soundcard of a computer. If you’re looking for a well-built, budget desktop DAC, this iFi should be top of your list. Perfect for use with IEMs or open-back headphones which often lose out on bass. The inclusion of balanced outputs is unusual at this price, but also points to the fact that the Zen’s analogue output stage has a fully balanced layout. There’s no DSP with iFi gear. Find your ZEN with this super-affordable compact DAC/headphone amp. You will also see these referred to as earphones, ear buds and CIEMs. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, It was the first time receiving a product from a company where I thought, “Technology is truly advancing at an almost alarming rate.” Times are much different now. The Burr-Brown True Native® chipset means file formats remain unchanged or ‘bit-perfect’. While single-ended is used by most at this price level, iFi is implementing balanced circuits across the Zen range which is quite a step-up. $155.00. Just add your favourite active speakers or amp. But since the Zen Dac … Switch effortlessly between ‘variable’ and ‘fixed’. This is a type of audio circuitry topology that uses individual left & right channels. TrueBass® – delivers genuine bass with realistic depth and definition. While we would certainly recommend the upgrade for the future, we think the Zen DAC is a great performer as it is. DACs convert digital information, stored or streamed by computers, into music we can hear through speakers or headphones. Aside from the form factor and line out, is there any reason at all to get the Zen DAC over the Hip DAC… The ZEN DAC sports Pentaconn 4.4mm balanced outputs at both the front and back. On the front, there’s also the popular 6.3mm headphone socket. The Zen DAC clearly outperforms our MacBook Pro laptop easily, sounding clearer and more detailed. More here. hip-dac micro iDAC2 micro iDSD micro iDSD BL nano iDSD nano iDSD LE (discontinued) nano iDSDS BL nano iOne Retro Stereo 50 xDSD ZEN DAC Please note, MQA is subject to change on different operating systems and devices, the videos are a guideline – if you have any questions please open a support ticket: support.ifi … I have installed the new firmware on the Zen Dac, and I'm using the balanced 4.4mm jackstick. Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! iFi’s new Zen is part of the reason why. The iFi Zen DAC features a trapezoidal design and is made entirely out of metal. The New iFi Zen DAC and Zen Blue: A Killer One (and Super Affordable) – Two Punch! The leading edges of notes are precise but not over etched, and there’s a good sense of authority to the sound. DSD256/128/64, Octa/Quad/Double/Single-Speed DSD DXD(384/352.8kHz), PCM(384/352.8/192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1kHz) MQA, < 1.5W via USB power OR 5v DC (power supply not included). If you need optical or coax this product is not for you, though iFi makes a range of other products that will appeal. TDK C0G (Class 1 ceramic) capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit applications. Zen emphasises rigorous self-control, meditation-practice, insight into the nature of things and the personal expression of this insight in daily life, especially for the benefit of others. These fit inside your ear. Bath The higher the ‘DSD rate’ – DSD64, 128, 256, 512 and 1024 – the greater the amount of music information available, which means better sound quality. Hi-Res True Native® playback of all music formats from MP3 to DSD256, PCM384 and DXD384. iFi Zen Dac Hot on the heels of the ZEN Blue hi-res Bluetooth streamer, iFi expands the ZEN family of desktop-sized audio products with the ZEN DAC – a USB DAC/headphone amp … You just called them something else. If you continue to use our website we assume you're happy with that. Download ‘Limoncello’ 5.2A to unlock DoP256 for Mac/Linux. I have to say that the choice of 5 stars for sound quality was premature by WHF, I purchased one of these DACs from a local retailer, and the service from the retailer cannot be faulted. Does the iFi DAC do a full MQA unfold? Passive speakers require an external power amplifier to operate. The ability to use it it fixed or variable output modes is useful in this respect, as is the hi/lo gain button, which I usually leave on high. Our experience with this IC means we know how to make the most of it. We like the openness of the presentation and its generally even-handed nature. Balanced circuits reduce noise and crosstalk. An unbalanced headphone cable has a left + and right + wire, for each respective side. Our headphone amp has PowerMatch – switchable gain to perfectly match your headphones. With 15.1v @300 Ohms on tap, it has serious power that will make even difficult-to-drive … TrueBass enhances the bass but does not muddy the mid-range. Dedicated external DACs sound much better than standard DACs used in digital devices such as phones. IEMs are high-sensitivity, Leave PowerMatch at its lower setting for hiss-free listening. Less Interference – clearer sound. Please do not use this form for product support enquiries. Still, that hardly makes the inclusion of such outputs a negative. Nice volume control. That’s certainly not the case here. We are proud to announce that our ZEN DAC has won a highly coveted EISA Award. For the money this is a superb DAC. It was developed to edit hi-res (high quality) recordings recorded in DSD. Roon does the first MQA unfold, so it should be able to produce full MQA? (5.3c, 5.3, 5.2, 5.2b) Favorites Free shipping . I think this audio setup sounds amazing, especially while streaming mqa quality songs on Tidal. The advantage of such a configuration is that the ZEN DAC outputs 330 mW when … This makes it pretty special for the best sound quality. We use cookies to ensure the best experience on our website. $129.99. The Zen Blue goes a stage further and adds the LDAC codec developed by Sony along with HWA (also known as LHDC) by Huawei that bring higher resolution streaming using codecs supported by Bluetooth; pair a device with the Zen Blue and it will work out the best. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Hi all, I'm currently thinking of getting a new DAC/Amp, and am considering some of ifi's products. Listen to Master Quality Authenticated audio straight out of the box. Gain is often expressed in decibels (dB). You will receive a verification email shortly. Strange? The main point of this unit is to pair with the very popular Sennheiser HD6XX … The ZEN DAC boasts TrueBass. And it wasn't just a little bit, it was quite a difference. There’s a button on the front that offers a choice of output levels to take into account the large difference in sensitivity between headphone types, and another that adds a degree of bass boost. Such things aren’t a given at this level. The pinnacle of this is DSD1024. PCM – Pulse Code Modulation is the most common format for CDs and DVDs. Check out the various reviews available online for full details. A few months ago, someone in a raincoat met me in a dimly-lit parking garage to let it slip that IFI Audio was working on a $129 DAC. iFi ZEN CAN Headphone Amp Review iFi has made quite the name for themselves within the sphere of quality headphone amplifiers and DACs. While it’s commendable that iFi has gone to the trouble of implementing such a design, it’s also true that the bulk of price compatible kit that will be partnered with the DAC won’t be balanced or capable enough to make the most of it. Looking forward to picking up aZen blue for my main Hifi, as i have balanced inputs on my amp. With a sleek form factor, solid build, and stellar sound, iFi audio’s ZEN DAC is one of the most talked-about USB DAC/amps on the market today. With super-low noise performance, it will remain quiet even in noisy situations such as yachts or RVs. On/over-ear types with relatively low impedance require more oomph – press PowerMatch to increase the level of drive. In short, you need an amplifier for passive speakers, you don’t with active speakers. It can also decode MQA, which is impressive at this price. Set to ‘Variable,’ use the ZEN DAC as a pre-amp to feed a power amp or active speakers. On ‘Fixed’ to bypass the volume control. No longer does it require your kidney to achieve great sound, whether in setting up a small home studio or just simply … A power supply is included as standard with the ZEN Blue (which has no USB input) but not with the ZEN DAC, … Personally, having lived with one on a PC for 6 months, using streaming media, along with a mains adapter - I think this Zen DAC is fantastic value for money. We’ve used a balanced design for the analogue stage – rare and not found at this price point. But 'strange' enough not for me. $129.99. The iFi Zen DAC is a great budget performer and offers a huge upgrade over the sound of a typical computer.
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