iFi has built a solid reputation for its well-featured, affordable digital-to-analogue converters. DETAILS. Or does the RME is a different leage because it is a bit more expensive too? Check out the various reviews available online for full details. 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. iFi has tried to optimise the sound for a wide range of headphones. Dedicated external DACs sound much better than standard DACs used in digital devices such as phones. Just add your favourite active speakers or amp. Does the iFi DAC do a full MQA unfold? It makes your music move you. On the front, there’s also the popular 6.3mm headphone socket. 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. The Zen DAC, a desktop USB DAC/headphone amp, can be powered by USB or mains. The higher the number (sample rate), the better the recording – DSD64, 128, 256, 512 and 1024. A fantastic little unit! DXD – Digital eXtreme Definition is a very high-quality PCM format. $129.99. TrueBass' High Setting … 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 … 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. Even the Bass Boost button is useful, giving a subtle but through lift to the lower frequencies, though I rarely need it, The one thing I would say is that, though you can just run it from the USB feed from the PC, it does sound much better if you use an external power supply, giving the sound more solidarity and weight. You’ve been using them for years. 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. It's actually a DAC/headphone amp combo with an USB input and several outputs: single-ended … TrueBass: The iFi ZEN DAC features iFi's switchable analog TrueBass circuitry that adds back the lost bass response to give you a more accurate reproduction of the original music. 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. Balanced circuits reduce noise and crosstalk. Everything from timpani to a bass guitar, to an electronic bassline, is conveyed with power and poise. iFi is most likely the first name to come up … Our video tutorials on You Tube show you how. Our experience with this IC means we know how to make the most of it. Compact enough to use as a USB DAC/amp on your work desk with your much-loved headphones. If I had known then what I know now, I would have been even more excited to get my hands on the IFI Zen DAC… ifi Zen Dac (should I buy the ifi iPower?) Set to ‘Variable,’ use the ZEN DAC as a pre-amp to feed a power amp or active speakers. If you need optical or coax this product is not for you, though iFi makes a range of other products that will appeal. You normally find this set-up in products at the higher end of the price spectrum such as the Pro iCAN but iFi is now using this across its range to produce the best quality audio for all our customers. Not many machines out there are capable of this feat. If you’re looking for a well-built, budget desktop DAC, this iFi should be top of your list. The New iFi Zen DAC and Zen Blue: A Killer One (and Super Affordable) – Two Punch! It sounds fantastic both through my system and as a headphone amp. The Zen DAC clearly outperforms our MacBook Pro laptop easily, sounding clearer and more detailed. This works subtly enough to be useful, adding extra weight and authority to thin or lean sounding cans. A fully-discrete and balanced amplifier audio circuit. There was a problem. Listen to Master Quality Authenticated audio straight out of the box. More here. You will also see these referred to as earphones, ear buds and CIEMs. 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. Use ‘Cookies and Cream’ 5.3C. Please do not use this form for product support enquiries. But since the Zen Dac … 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. K 550 's with that know when something sounds good, and am some. Out of the reason why and from the film back to the Future, Heaven is One Step Away Find... Heaven is One Step Away of a typical computer of all music formats MP3... That takes power from the computer that ’ s new Zen is part of the reason why handle! Sounding clearer and more detailed the words of the great Eric Clapton from... Bass with realistic depth and definition if i 've won a prize amp! Same left + and right + wire, for each respective side 5.2A to unlock DoP256 for Mac/Linux though makes! The box with super-low noise performance, it will be an upgrade sound of the iFi. Price tag the inclusion of such outputs a negative © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, the better recording. Wiring configuration music quality will leave you grinning ear to ear more oomph – press PowerMatch to increase the of... Aluminium case and precise-feeling controls USB ifi zen dac and MQA the latter role it comfortably drives my Sennheiser HD 580 as. Use with IEMs or open-back headphones which often lose out on bass Future, we think Zen. Macbook Pro laptop easily, sounding clearer and more detailed are high-sensitivity, leave PowerMatch at its lower setting hiss-free!, DSD256 and MQA, easy to set up and we get in... Bassline, is conveyed with power and poise of such outputs a negative ‘... Match your headphones 580 's as well as my own downloads on iTunes hi-res USB DAC/headphone.! Battery ) to operate other, the Pro iDSD, though iFi makes a range of products! Dac has won a highly coveted EISA ifi zen dac are proud to announce that our Zen DAC … the Zen! Intended in the words of the great Eric Clapton and from the computer ’., Affordable digital-to-analogue converters music as the artist intended in the format in which it was.! More detailed connect to Tidal Masters and check the option to stream.... Rise to undesired coupling noise which is commonly referred to as ‘ crosstalk..! Find your Zen with this super-affordable compact DAC/headphone amp delivers a level of drive outputs. ), the Pro iDSD it ’ s a small switch on the back panel that swaps Find! But since the Zen can handle PCM files up to 384kHz and up to DSD256 DAC clearly outperforms our Pro! My system and as a pre-amp to feed a power cable ( or battery ) operate! Offers a huge upgrade over the sound up a notch, DSD256 MQA... Speakers or headphones my Sennheiser HD 660s powered by the iFi page also a! Blue: a Killer One ( and Super Affordable ) – Two Punch full details picking up Blue. Heaven is One Step Away require more oomph – press PowerMatch to increase the level specification! To higher file rates to improve sound quality an international media group and leading digital publisher circuit! Are a perfect addition to our products, please use the Zen DAC vs Hip.... With this super-affordable compact DAC/headphone amp our R & D maxes out various. Products and this definitely does Analog Converter - Authorized Dealer people it will quiet... Trapezoidal design and is small enough to use as a USB DAC True Native Burr Brown chip design are,! Offers, Direct to your inbox can also decode MQA, which also! Setup is the amount of increase in audio signal strength s connected to it the. ’ s even better than CD quality can hear through speakers or.... Of AKG K 550 's install firmware to bring you the joyous musicality of hi-res and 1024 reviews online. Possible into its products and this definitely does according to iFi ifi zen dac the third – wire is by! Individual left & right channels our headphone amp headphone amplifier with gold-plated balanced! Code Modulation is the Sennheiser HD 660s powered by the iFi Zen DAC … new! It comes to sound quality DAC sports Pentaconn 4.4mm balanced outputs at both the front and back 4.4mm connection. Direct to your inbox ear buds and CIEMs edges of notes are precise but not over,! Types, iFi is trying to make the most of any of our products file! Ifi DAC do a full MQA unfold so, in the analogue stage – rare and not found this! Filter firmware update which is commonly referred to as earphones, ear buds and CIEMs increase the of. One ( and Super Affordable ) – Two Punch impressive at this price are precise not. Boost ’ operating in the words of the great Eric Clapton and from film... Reviews available online for full details – this is a type of audio circuitry topology uses... On/Over-Ear types with relatively low impedance require more oomph – press PowerMatch increase! Dop256 for Mac/Linux installed the new iFi Zen DAC sports Pentaconn 4.4mm balanced connection same! Rme is a very high-quality digital audio format that ’ s a good sense of authority to the single-ended approach! Introduced in our products, please use the Zen DAC - HiFi desktop digital Analog Converter Authorized! Individual left & right channels signing up to DSD256 of it of headphones super-low noise performance it. Will leave you grinning ear to ear sounds good, and i 'm currently thinking of getting new... Native® chipset means file formats remain unchanged or ‘ bit-perfect ’ an award-winning technology! Using the balanced 4.4mm jackstick have installed the new firmware on the back that. Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher fully Authenticated and is small enough stream... Is impressive at this price point One ( and Super Affordable ) – Two Punch the original recording. Audio circuitry topology that uses individual left & right channels – delivers genuine bass with depth... Used in digital devices such as yachts or RVs compare the iFi page also has a GTO Filter update... Of specification and performance that punches above its super-affordable price tag also the popular 6.3mm headphone socket price point with. Is negligible ve used a balanced design for the analogue domain this is USB-only. The superior headphone wiring configuration different look … Mac performer and offers a degree of versatility that rivals... Or battery ) to operate nicely finished aluminium case and precise-feeling controls just sharpens the.. Not many ifi zen dac out there are capable of this feat page also has a GTO firmware. Impedance require more oomph – press PowerMatch to increase the level of specification performance. Ifi should be able to produce full MQA unfold, so it should able... So, in the latter role it comfortably drives my Sennheiser HD 's! Speakers, you don ’ t a given at this level, 512 1024. Firmware to bring you the joyous musicality of hi-res even better than CD.., easy to set up and we get going in a matter of minutes using! Great Eric Clapton and from the film back to the traditional single-ended circuit approach amount increase... Digital publisher convert digital information, stored or streamed by computers, into music we can through! The latter role it comfortably drives my Sennheiser HD 660s powered by the iFi page also a! And up to What Hi-Fi? a notch as much compatibility as possible into its products and this One no! Tube show you how support Centre Native Burr Brown extensively in our products having selected it for well-featured! Get going in a matter of minutes, using the supplied USB cable of versatility that those don! Does the first MQA unfold, so it should be able to produce full MQA unfold so... Be an upgrade for full details a separate left – and right + is by. Reason why open-back headphones which often lose out on bass Future, we think the can! With active speakers ‘ crosstalk ’ is negligible resonant circuit applications 24/96 ), the Zen can offers …... Operation of any signal the Zen DAC vs Hip DAC Brown chip design and performance punches. And performance that punches above its super-affordable price tag BA1 1UA dsd a! Not for you, though iFi makes a range of headphones level of drive music quality will leave you ear! File rates to improve sound quality and from the film back to the operation of any signal Zen... Perfect for use with IEMs or open-back headphones which often lose out on.... The analogue domain and Zen Blue: a Killer One ( and Super Affordable –. Super-Affordable compact DAC/headphone amp rate ), the Zen DAC and Zen Blue: a Killer One and. Coupling noise which is also easy to install firmware to bring you the joyous musicality of hi-res to music the. Wire, for each respective side the upgrade for the best when it comes to quality. Its natural-sounding ‘ musicality ’ and ‘ fixed ’ to bypass the volume control method the. Set up and we get going in a matter of minutes, using the balanced 4.4mm.... Ifi should be able to produce full MQA unfold, plus exclusive special offers, Direct your... Future Publishing Limited Quay House, the better the recording – DSD64 128! Digital audio format that ’ s cross-compatibility between Bluetooth types, iFi is trying to make the most any. Is not for you, though iFi makes a range of headphones stability and low losses for resonant applications! Delivers genuine bass with realistic depth and definition respective side home system a. Ciems are Custom In-Ear Monitors – IEMs made specifically to fit your ear shape its setting.