iFi Audio - ZEN Blue

Easy set up. Great Bluetooth receiver. Haven't tried the DAC.

This is a good bluetooth receiver. I am not using its internal DAC, so I can't comment on the quality of analog output. I am using the coax output. The coax output from this unit is connected to mojo DAC. The sound output is very clean with lot of details, although not so musical (slightly brigher). Other sources (network player or optical output from TV) definitely more musical when played through mojo DAC. But overall this is a great product. One can't go wrong with these products - mojo DAC and ZEN Blue. Anyway I am using MARANTZ PM8006 as integrated amplifier.

I received the Zen Blue receiver just after 2 days of placing the order. Out of the box, I meat with a beautiful looking gear not so heavy but solidly built. After connecting with my Chord 2quete external DAC, I was greeted with pure music as if my mobile directly connected with 2quete DAC. Although BT transmission mode was "SBC", lowest quality supported. Playing dsd file over "LDAC" was a joy to listen. Blue Zen is simply superb BT reciver considering it's affordable price & solid build quality, IFI-Audio is known for. Only one slight complain about this receiver is absence of dedicated power off/on switch at the back. Overall it is a terrific experience to own this product.

Outstanding sound. Very easy to pair. A great buy. Value for money.

It's Just the one I wanted.

My quest to add a good bluetooth dac to my hifi audio chain was fulfilled by the Zen Blue Dac. In my stereo setup I use the audioengine d2 (wireless 24bit dac) for streaming music from my computer into a chifi preamp buffer(GE 5654 tubes) which then feeds into my Denon amp(source direct mode). I wanted to connect to this chain via bluetooth through phone(s) but my audioengine required a wired connection at one end. The Zen Blue enabled me to connect to this chain via bluetooth and it did well. The bluetooth connection never drops and is strong. It supported aptX HD out of the box and that gave me a lot better sound. It seems LDAC would be supported via a update. Ok so what about the sound quality of the DAC itself : It is good not the best I would say but it has pretty clean and solid output. I am yet to try the balanced out given in this DAC. Will update the review as I use it more and compare with other DAC's that I have. Thanks to headphonezone for a very fast delivery they surprised me as i did a preorder(3-4 weeks for delivery it said) and then it shipped out next day (...not updated webpage probably) and got delivered in another day.