iFi ZEN DAC V2 - Desktop Digital Analog Converter With USB 3.0 B Input only/Outputs: 6.3mm Unbalanced / 4.4mm Balanced/RCA - MQA DECODER - Audio System Upgrade (Unit Only)

Product Information

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. Still, that hardly makes the inclusion of such outputs a negative. 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 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.

Does it work with PS5? - iFi audio

The Topping DACs provide an excellent alternative to the usual actors in your review. The E50 (DSD/PCM and MQA audio decoding balanced and non balanced outputs) or it's cheaper sibling E30 are great budget DACs. The ZEN DAC V2 boasts TrueBass. This proprietary tech is a switchable ‘bass boost’ operating in the analogue domain. There’s no DSP with iFi gear. On the left side of the front panel, there are two buttons. One is for the Power Match feature and the other is for the TrueBass feature. LEDs indicate if the features are on or off. The metal knurled volume knob sits in the center and is very smooth to operate.

The Zen DAC uses an XMOS chip with iFi’s custom firmware. It seems to be the same eight-core chip used in the Hip DAC. It’s a capable chip and handles everything on par with the Burr brown. Dual Mono Dual Amplifier On the V2, you could better hear the individual vocals and how they blended, making the song a lot more engaging.

ZEN DAC V2 Manual Ver1.0 - iFi audio ZEN DAC V2 Manual Ver1.0 - iFi audio

This means that the full ‘three unfold’ decoding process is performed internally, as opposed to only the final unfold in the manner of an MQA ‘renderer’. According to iFi, “The full benefit of the ZEN DAC Signature V2’s balanced circuit design comes to the fore when it is connected to an amp or active speakers equipped with a balanced input. This can either be a 4.4mm Balanced input or stereo XLR inputs via a 4.4mm-to-XLR cable.” DACs convert digital information, stored or streamed by computers, into music we can hear through speakers or headphones. Other than that, the two Zen DACs are basically the same. You get the same nice chassis, SE and Balanced connections, Truebass analog bass enhancement, and Power Match gain control. At Peter Tyson we pride ourselves on prompt, efficient delivery. Please note that the daily cut off time for all next day delivery services is 3pm.

Award-winning technology

The Zen Dac has surprisingly good bass extension. Similarly priced Dacs often weak out under 100Hz, but the Zen Dac keeps going. The bass is nicely balanced and relatively flat in its price range with an option to give it a tasteful boost (‘truebass’ button). The Burr-Brown True Native® chipset means file formats remain unchanged or ‘bit-perfect’. This means you are listening to music as the artist intended in the format in which it was recorded. Various key surface-mounted circuit components have been upgraded to high-end devices, including Panasonic OS-CON and Elna Silmic II capacitors.

iFi Audio Zen DAC Review — Headfonics iFi Audio Zen DAC Review — Headfonics

My main testing headphone with the Zen Dac was the LCD-X, and I have to say they were driven decently. The LCD-X is advertised as easy to drive (20 ohm, 103db/1mw), but like all big planar headphones they like a bit of juice and current. The Zen Dac made them sound loud enough and quite enjoyable. Despite its budget nature, the Zen can handle PCM files up to 384kHz and up to DSD256. It can also decode MQA, which is impressive at this price. The digital to analog conversion is handled by a Burr-Brown DSD1793 chip. This Burr-Brown True Native chip is one commonly used by WiFi. This Burr Brown gives the Zen DAC separate DSD and PCM pathways and provides you with the slam of multi-bit or linearity on Delta Sigma. Decoding

The Zen DAC feels sturdy and is slightly heavy at a little over a pound. When I first held it in my hands I immediately said to myself this feels more expensive than the asking price of 129 USD at the time of this writing. It feels like a quality item.

ZEN DAC Signature V2 by iFi audio - A pure performance

In the vast majority of cases we will not be able to install the cabinet doors to built-in laundry products as the fittings very rarely match up. We will try our best however if we are unable to do this we will still install connect to plumbing and put the appliance in situ. While the Chord Hugo 2 is, like the Mojo 2, battery-powered, its price, performance and connectivity make it just as suitable for system environments as desktop ones. This is essentially the Mojo 2 on steroids, offering one of the most transparent and musical performers on the market. “There isn’t another DAC around at anywhere near this sort of price able to communicate so torrentially, so unambiguously or so effortlessly,” we concluded in our review of the multi-award winner. (That said, those with bigger budgets and sonic ambitions can go up a model to the Chord Hugo TT2.) HD 6XX (balanced): It's good, i like the bass boost function with it, you definitely want high gain for this one. Unbalanced is probably a step down (not tested). Does it sound better on the Ferrum? Yeah, but it's best on the Echo MK II tube amp anyway, so who cares. DAC & Amps that have volume controls make its operation incredibly simple; turn up the volume on your smartphone or your source devices and then change the volume on DAC & Amps to the desired level.Active speakers have an in-built power amplifier and just need a power cable (or battery) to operate. Passive speakers require an external power amplifier to operate.