iFi Audio
iFi Audio - ZEN Air DAC
Desktop DAC & Headphone Amp
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Designed in the
UK
1 Year of
Warranty
Ideal for
Indoor Use
Connect With
USB3.0
>280mW @ 32Ω
Power Output
IFI AUDIO INTRODUCES THE ALL-NEW ZEN AIR DAC AND HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER
iFi Audio presents the ZEN Air DAC based on the award-winning ZEN Series. The ZEN Air range makes high-performance audio more accessible than ever before. The iFi Audio ZEN Air DAC is a versatile device that can act as a pure Hi-Res DAC with an amp and speakers and also fulfils the role of a headphone amp. The ZEN Air DAC can be used with PCs, Macs, Smartphones, Tablets and Gaming Consoles. ZEN Air DAC is capable of playing back Hi-res PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256 natively and offers support for MQA rendering too.
EXPERIENCE REFINED PERFORMANCE WITHOUT ANY ARTEFACTS OR JITTER
ZEN Air DAC is the latest addition to the beloved and award-winning ZEN series devices from iFi Audio. The ZEN Air DAC offers a pure listening experience with the equipped 16 core XMOS chip. This new 16-core chip is fused with iFi optimised firmware delivers double the clock speed and expanded memory as well as USB connectivity. Apart from optimising the sound, this XMOS chip improves the processing power, clock speed and memory. The other purpose that the chip fulfils is to feed an external amp, be it a headphone amp, or an amp and active speakers. This new and improved ZEN Air DAC elevates the sound quality of digital sources to a higher plane.
EMBEDDED WITH BURR-BROWN CHIP FOR IMMACULATE HI-RES AUDIO QUALITY
The iFi Audio ZEN Air DAC comes equipped with a Burr-Brown Native DSD DAC chip to deliver ‘Bit-Perfect’ audio with native PCM, DSD and DXD support. The iFi-programmed XMOS firmware which processes data received at the USB input, combined with jitter-eradicating audiophile-grade oscillators, contribute to exemplary handling of digital audio signals as they are received, processed and converted to analogue form. This allows you to experience and enjoy your music in the highest quality. ZEN Air DAC supports Hi-Res True Native playback of all music formats from MP3 to DSD 256, PCM 32bit/384kHz and DXD 352.8/384kHz.
MQA RENDERING SUPPORT WITH POWERMATCH AND XBASS+ TECHNOLOGY
ZEN Air DAC MQA support through the USB connection with full rendering capability of MQA files thanks to the processing power of the new 16-core XMOS chip. With this, you can enjoy your music in the original master recording quality as the ZEN Air DAC can now render MQA files effortlessly. It also allows you to stream from popular services like Apple Music, Room and Tidal.
With the ZEN Air DAC, you also capability to use the PowerMatch feature that adjusts the gain of the ZEN Air DAC so it functions at the right level for your headphones. ZEN Air DAC also offers unique sonic tailoring possibilities with XBass+ technology and Analogue Bass Boost. XBass+ technology and Analogue Bass allows you to tailor the audio to suit your headphones and your sonic taste by extending the bass response.
EQUIPPED WITH HIGH-QUALITY COMPONENTS FOR DISTORTION-FREE AUDIO
The new ZEN Air DAC comes equipped with high-grade components. The amplification stage in the ZEN Air DAC utilises an iFi Operational Amplifier OV2637 that delivers high performance with low noise and is capable of driving various headphones. ZEN Air DAC also embeds an advanced low jitter clock with a Texas Instruments precision low-noise power supply to complement the audio circuitry. Outstanding components like TDK C0G capacitors complete the design for the device. The iFi Audio ZEN Air DAC also offers a 6.3mm headphone output at the front with an added gold plated RCA socket at the back that allows you to maintain an immaculate audio signal.
EXPERTLY BUILT WITH AN INDICATIVE LED LIGHT FOR AUDIO FORMATS PLAYED
iFi Audio ZEN Air DAC comes equipped with a powerful LED that lights up on the front panel. This LED light is RGB enabled and doubles as an indicator light to display the file format of the played file. The specific colour of the LED is as follows - PCM 44.1/48/88.2/96kHz Green, PCM 176.4/192/352.8/384kHz Yellow, DSD 64/128 Teal, DSD 256 Blue and MQA files show a Magenta light. This LED light provides a quick visual cue for your played track and informs you quickly.
| INPUT VOLTAGE | DC 5V/2.5A |
| DIGITAL INPUT | USB3.0 B Socket (USB2.0 compatible) |
| FORMATS | PCM : 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192/352.8/384kHz DSD : 2.8/3.1/5.6/6.1/11.3/12.3MHz DXD : 352.8/384kHz MQA : Renderer |
| DAC | Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC by Burr Brown |
| POWER CONSUMPTION | No Signal ~0.5W Max Signal ~2.5W |
| DIMENSIONS | 158 x 117 x 35 mm (6.2" x 4.6" x 1.4") |
| WEIGHT | 315 g (0.69 lbs) |
| OUTPUT | 1V / 3.3V max. |
| OUTPUT IMPEDANCE | ≤50Ω |
| SNR | <-113dB(A) @ 0dBFS |
| DNR | >113dB(A) @ -60dBFS |
| THD + N | <0.04% @ 0dBFS |
| OUTPUT | 1V / 3.3V max. (variable) |
| OUTPUT POWER | >280mW @ 32Ω; >36mW @ 300Ω |
| OUTPUT IMPEDANCE | <1Ω |
| THD + N | <0.04% (100mW @ 16Ω) |
| SNR | >113dBA (3.3V) |
| BOX CONTENTS | 1. iFi Audio ZEN Air DAC |
| 2. 1 x USB2.0 Cable | |
| 3. 1 x Quick Start card | |
| 4. 1 x Assistance card |
| GENERIC NAME | Digital Audio Converter |
| COUNTRY OF ORIGIN | China |
| IMPORTER DETAILS | Importers Name: Ferrari Video Address: 63/18, 1st Main Road, Gandhi Nagar, Chennai - 600020 Contact No: 044-24420733 |
| NET QUANTITY | 1 |
The iFi Audio Story
From live experience for your home to on-the-go music for your ears, iFi Audio has a wide range of audio products for every music enthusiast. Ever since the beginning of iFi Audio in the year 2012, it is the love of music lovers that have been encouraging iFi audio to develop audio products that make a difference in how music is heard. The products are designed, developed and manufactured in iFi Audio headquarters in Southport, UK. The materials are sourced from across the globe including from countries like Germany, USA and Japan. iFi Audio has its distribution centre in the USA and is working hard on increasing its global network of distributors.
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The High-Octane Audio
iFi Audio is an award-winning company focussed to deliver audio products to enrich music listening experience. iFi Audio understands how important music is to people and therefore all of their products are centred towards delivering amazing sound that is free of noise, distortion and other kinds of hiss. A studio-quality sound which is close to how the artist intended the music to sound. The materials that are used in most of the iFi products are used to enhance the sound performance of the product by eliminating echo and disturbing jitter.
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A Proud Eco-Friendly Company
iFi takes the environment safety sincerely and recognizes their role to contribute to the cause. Therefore all the iFi products including their packaging are made of eco-friendly materials like aluminium paper and recycled plastics which can be recycled and reused in the future. iFi Audio makes sure that no hazardous toxins or materials are used in the products and that they meet the standards of environmental safety
1 Year Warranty
Don't sweat it, this iFi Audio - ZEN Air DAC comes with a warranty
from iFi Audio that covers manufacturing defects.
All products featured on Headphone Zone are backed by an original manufacturer's warranty.
Read more about iFi Audio's warranty in India.
Customer Reviews
I didn't expect fantastic output from that small box, even it is working perfectly with my Book shelf speaker aswell. I am totally satisfied ☺️
Hey there, nothing makes us happier than knowing you loved your purchase, hope you had a comfortable shopping experience & thank you for the great review & ratings!
Let me tell you one thing, it's a budget offering from ifi and for the price the multibit burr brown dsd1793 chip sounds like analogue. Volume control is very smooth, one RCA out is enough for your powered speakers and external amplifiers. The universal USB input is enough for connecting to various devices like PC, laptops, dap and mobile phones. Remember to get an OTG cable for your mobile. Rest the body is plastic, don't worry it is not that light in the weight and the plastic quality is quite satisfactory. Comes with a blue short USB A to USB B cable and a power cable for 5v dc. The DAC can also be powered using the 5v dc , however the best part is ...it can also be powered using the same USB cable through which it pulls the audio signal in case you have no power outlet near you.
So at 8k it's a very good purchase for budding and beginner audiophiles. It doesn't have any balanced headphones out but under 10k dac I hv no regrets. Although they should provide a 6.3mm to 3.5mm adaptor with it for its headphone jack .
280mw at 32ohms and 36mw at 300ohms is its headphone output power.
Supports 44.1 to 384khz sample rates and I tried all, gives you different color LED notification for each sample rate, it's not an MQA decoder but a renderer.
Supports dsd64/128 and 256. All works well.
Refer to my channel: techReviewPool for video review and unbox video :)
Hi Dinesh Singh,
We are so happy you took out time & elaborately reviewed the product. We are sure this will help our customers to make an even better & informed decision.
Coming in from a Fiio E18 which has served me for about 8-9 years or so I was looking for a desktop DAC. Zeroed in on Zen DAC V2 but alas good things are seldom instock, Hence settled for the Air DAC. Given the innards are basically the similar to Zen V2 bar the metal build and balance output I suspected it should rather sound the same and surprise-surprise It does sound pretty good.
I have used my Vmoda M100 as my drivers for the last month and I have a preference for slightly punchier bit accentuated bass without any muddiness, no loss in mids and just clean Highs(complete flat singatures kinda sounds shrill to my ears) and DAC delivered the experience I wanted. Though I cant vouch for Xbass button, kinda makes my headphone sound like something from Beats.
The build is plastic but doesnt feel cheap, the Vol. knob is metal and smooth af. Overall I would be hard pressed to think of any other alternatives of the same calibre in this price range. Also thanks to headphonezone for timely delivery!
Hi Shivansh,
We are so happy you took out time & elaborately reviewed the product with a comparison. We are sure this will help our customers to make an even better & informed decision.
Headphone Zone delivered the product super fast and I appreciate that
I never used Zen Dac V1 or V2 so can't compare this Zen air Dac to those but this Zen Air Dac just doesn't sound as good as my $10 Dongle DACs I have like Odyssey HD, Abigail, Avani and CX Pro
Zen air Dac lacks clarity in the sound and also the vocals and highs sound harsh. Vocals are also pushed back a bit. My Dongle DACs mentioned above sound clean and more natural in comparison. Zen air dac has more power though than my Dongle Dacs
Xbass+ just adds a bit of sub bass but mid bass is nowhere to be seen. It feels like it reduces the mid bass when Xbass+ is activated
Tested all this with both Data and power USB cables connected to USB 3.0 ports on my Desktop and used multiple IEMs and Headphones
Also, this ZEN air Dac doesn't come with USB Type B 3.0 socket but it is a 2.0 port. IFI has incorrectly put it up as USB Type B 3.0 socket on their website. Type B 3.0 and 2.0 sockets are different so 3.0 cable can't be connected to a 2.0 socket
Overall, not satisfied with this product
We are extremely sorry for the disappointing experience you had to go through with us. We agree that the brand had given out the wrong information and we have rectified the issue with the brand as well. We appreciate your patience.
Nice built quality and has good features for a beginner and support most os the entry level headphones and items . Power match is only good for headphones not for items and if you are a bass head the it also cover you with xbass+ feature and is ok
We appreciate your honest review & awesome ratings, Manish U V!
This is one of the best and beginner's friendly device
Thank you for the awesome review & ratings, NIYAZ AHMAD!
Please need some help on this. followed the instructions as per product support, but, ultimately the driver doesn’t get installed.
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