iFi Audio - ZEN CAN

Desktop Headphone Amplifier

Sale price₹ 14,999 Regular priceMRP: ₹ 19,999
Discontinued
This product is permanently discontinued by the manufacturer and continues to live on in Headphone Zone's Museum.

Unfortunately, even if we desire to, we won't be able to resurrect this product. The Museum is where we pay our respects to end-of-life, old, archived, but not forgotten products. This page was made with a lot of love and will live on for posterity. What to say, we're sentimental people. 😔

While this product is gone forever, here are others we recommend

Customer Reviews

Based on 38 reviews
79%
(30)
11%
(4)
5%
(2)
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5%
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P
Prashanna (Chennai)
Solid performer but..

I have this paired with a Zen DAC v1. The combo works great. I found the volume to be lacking on the DAC with my HD560S, so I bought the CAN - said goodbye to volume worries. The xbass and 3D also works beautifully. They xbass on the CAN is noticeably cleaner than the TruBass on the Zen DAC. The soundstage on the HD560S is quite narrow, so the 3D button opened it up as well, and does it naturally. Its a great amp in terms of functionality but I only have one problem with it - the heat.

If you're living in a hot place, the heat output from the amp could bother you as it did me. It actually runs very hot, so you can't afford to keep it running 24 7. It's a class A Amp apparently - something that I wasn't aware about prior to buying. Class A amps output a lot of heat - they use max power even when your headphone doesn't fully demand it, so it doesn't matter if you're using the low gain setting or the highest.

The heat bothered me so much that I only turn on the amp when I'm in the mood for some serious listening. When I just wanna chill, I just use my IEMs with the DAC alone, and have the amp turned off. But this is a ME problem. You may not find this a big deal, and it could just be me over worrying.

Hi there! Thank you for leaving a review for the ZEN CAN. We're glad to hear that you are enjoying the functionality and improved volume with your HD560S. If you have any concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Happy listening!

A
Anujit Ganguly (Kolkata)
Simply super Amp - please get it

AS I have posted in my last review about Zen DAC v2 - that I will get the Zen CAN, once I get my salary; so I did.

The pair of DAC and CAN is simply to put - AWESOME! The DAC is currently acting as a Pre-AMP (sorta) to the CAN's input. I am completely broke after buying these 2 on back to back months, otherwise I would suggest to get a balanced connector for the DAC and the CAN (Amp).

I am keeping the DAC in "variable" mode so that I get better tonal quality in the output - the Burr-Brown DAC is soo freaking good, especially with my Hifiman Sundara's planar magnetic drivers.

Just a 4.4 mm balanced connector cable short of making a perfect setup for me.

For those who are still unsure - if you like balanced sound with very high quality of sound coming out of your desktop - then is entire combo could be the best bet below 60k INR.

BTW - Zen CAN is a strong amp - so be sure to turn it off when not needed, it has a switch for that, in the front.

Great review! Thanks for taking the time to write it. We're glad to hear that our product has helped you improve your sound quality.

V
Vinith Paramel (Bengaluru)
Highly recommended as a budget segment amp to power the power hungry headphones !!

I never really had any kind of dedicated amp cause my IEMs & headphones all were highly efficient to be driven by DAP but eversince I bought Sundara I felt lack of power thru my DAP ..that's when I decided I should get a dedicated HP amp in order to get the most out of the Sundara.. with help from headphonezone gurus and their trade in program I was able to purchase IFI Audio Zen Can and these have so much power in them and that too without altering the sound originally coming from the source (Hiby R5 Gen II).

IFI Audio Zen Can is definitely a good buy in budget segment who wants to power their power hungry headphones or even if you have to use it as a pre-amp that also works like a charm.. though not a big fan of their x-bass & 3D which alters the sound quite a bit that too not in a good way, any which ways I'm not very fond of extra features which changes the dynamics of the original source..

Another nitpicking would be 3.5mm is missing as an output, though you have the option of SE 6.5mm but still I think 3.5mm would have made more sense to give than 6.5mm.. since I only use balance connection 4.4mm doesn't really matter to me but I'm sure there would be people who would like 3.5mm as an output and not just as input source..

Highly recommended as a budget segment amp to power the power hungry headphones !!

Btw - Kudos to headphonezone team for providing great support to audiophiles' who can easily sell of their old audio gears on headphonezone and get a new one from their site itself... highly impressed with their end to end solution and also I really like their nice touch of providing audiophile playlist from each genre.. I'm listening to each of the playlist as if I'm reading a book .. one request though please have a dedicated playlist for 'AR Rahman'...

Thanks a lot for your detailed and genuine feedback, we're glad that you have such positive thoughts about the product and we'll share your thoughts with the brand as well. It'll also help our fellow customers to make the right choice!

Reviewer avatar
ARITRA MANNA (Kolkata)
Once listened, you cannot turn back from it!

Before buying ifi zen can: I was using my Sundaras and HD 660s with the ifi Zen DAC V2 which is an excellent dac amp and I really liked its sound at that time. After having used it for 1 year I was having a small problem. The Hifiman Sundaras had started to feel a bit sharp on the high end and even the HD 660s were a bit peaky on the treble, which was bothering me. Also both of them felt thin on the bass.

My experience with ifi Zen Can: After a lot of AB tests between the zen dac and can I figured out the sound differences between them. The Zen Cans are a bit warmer with way better textured bass and also the quantity of bass is perfect. The mids have a little forward presence in the mix with more texture and clarity. So music sounds more musical on these than the Zen dac. The treble is a bit darker than the Zen dac but still a good amount of details which has solved my problem with peakyness in treble. This makes the soundstage on it a bit intimate than Zen dac. The Can also feels more grand on orchestral sountracks or just soundtracks with a big soundstage and. As the sound is more intimate, it feels more personal. The imaging is on par with the zen dac.

Conclusion: If you listen to music for enjoyment or to feel the grandness of some Interstellar tracks or Lindsey Stirling's tracks then you should definitely buy this. This is a very musical amp and also has a lot of power for power hungry cans. Sundara actually required this bass uplift and a darker treble to sound at its best form. But if you are too analytical or play more games than listening to music then you can stay with then Zen dac. If you do everything getting this zen dac and can stack is the best option.

Judge.me YouTube video placeholder

Thanks a lot for your detailed and genuine feedback, we're glad that you have such positive thoughts about the product and we'll share your thoughts with the brand as well. It'll also help our fellow customers to make the right choice!

S
Sudhir Kalyanikar (Thane)
Design and Comfort:
Great
Poor
Sound Quality:
Awesome
Awful
Value for Money:
Bang On!
Not at all
Awesome companion to the iFi Zen DAC

I got this as a a companion to my iFi Zen DAC because while the Zen DAC was quite capable enough to drive my highest impedance headphones (Beyerdynamic DT880 Edition 250 Ohms), I thought something could be better. The Chord Mojo could make these headphones sound different and more open. I got this iFi Zen Can and I am happy to report that now I am very happy with the sound I am getting out of this stack. This is really the perfect complement to the Zen DAC. Only regret - I wish I had got them sooner (maybe when you guys were offering iFi freebies).

Hey Sudhir, Thank you so much for the positive feedback! It means a lot to us. We are so happy to hear that you are loving our products and services.

S
Sharath Vasishta (Bengaluru)
Design and Comfort:
Great
Poor
Sound Quality:
Awesome
Awful
Value for Money:
Bang On!
Not at all
Value for money

Nice amp and value for the price

We appreciate the genuine feedback and we'll share your thoughts with the brand as well.

R
Ravi Shanker (Chennai)
Design and Comfort:
Great
Poor
Sound Quality:
Awesome
Awful
Value for Money:
Bang On!
Not at all
Best value AMP for most listeners

Simply put this the amp is comparable to apple dongle for IEMs (like Crinacle said) but for headphones. Has the quality and the power to handle anything up to Arya and consumes fraction of power that a stack would take. Match it with Zen DAC or Topping E30 and don't look back.

D
Divyan Christopher (Mumbai)
Design and Comfort:
Great
Poor
Sound Quality:
Awesome
Awful
Value for Money:
Bang On!
Not at all
Powerful Desktop Amp.

They are really good quality, I use these with Beyerdynamic DT1990 Pro, which has an impedance of 250 Ohms, and it is easily able to power those, I have also tested these on Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro, which also sounds fantastic, I love listening to Classical, Ethnic, Traditional music with these. On the slight contrary, I feel like the bass is too much, for which a simple Eq should do the job. Thanks Headphone zone for this sleek yet powerful device.

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!

Why iFi Audio is Special

🇬🇧

Designed in UK

Established & Reputed

Trust us, our reputation speaks for itself 🏆!


I believe that when a brand has decades of proven excellence, you can invest with confidence knowing your purchase is backed by years of audio engineering expertise. These products come from manufacturers with extensive histories of innovation and unwavering commitment to sonic excellence. Think of them like luxury watch brands - their reputation has been earned through decades of consistent quality and innovation.


With their extensive history of innovation and countless satisfied customers worldwide, you can be confident your investment is backed by proven audio engineering expertise and industry leadership 📈.


When you see "🎖️ Established & Reputed" products, expect time-tested excellence from manufacturers who've consistently demonstrated mastery in audio engineering for generations.

Specialist

A masterpiece from experts who know audio inside and out 🔧!


I tend to describe specialist manufacturers as "audio artisans" who focus exclusively on perfecting specific categories of equipment. These products are meticulously crafted by dedicated experts who possess deep knowledge of sound reproduction, ensuring every technical aspect is refined to perfection. Think of them like master craftsmen who spend their entire careers perfecting one specific skill - their focused expertise shows in every detail.


These dedicated experts bring years of specialised knowledge to the design process, resulting in products that consistently achieve exceptional performance standards through focused engineering excellence 🎯.


When you see "🌟 Specialist" products, expect focused expertise from manufacturers who dedicate their entire efforts to perfecting specific audio equipment categories.

🐣

Born in 2012

Why we love this DAC/Amp

Value for Money

I've found that the best gear isn’t always the most expensive. Some products punch well above their weight and deliver performance that rivals higher-priced alternatives. That’s what we mean with the "Value for Money" badge. It’s our way of telling you that you’re getting something special without breaking the bank. 🥜


These products are all about maximum returns for minimal investment. You’re not just saving money — you’re gaining an audio experience that exceeds expectations. Whether it’s build quality, tuning, or bundled accessories, these picks overdeliver.


When you see '🥜 Value for Money' products, expect impressive performance at an affordable price, making them a smart pick for budget-conscious buyers or first-time audiophiles.

For Budding Enthusiasts

In my experience, discovering good audio gear early on is a bit like tasting great coffee for the first time — once you've had a sip, you're hooked. "For Budding Enthusiasts" is a badge we use for products that are perfect gateways into the audiophile world. They're easy to use, not overly expensive, and give you a real taste of what good sound can be — without needing a degree in audio engineering. 🎧


These are the IEMs, headphones, and DACs that let you dip your toes into premium sound without drowning in choices. They balance performance, price, and practicality beautifully. Whether you're buying your first serious pair or helping someone else start their journey, these picks deliver satisfaction straight out of the box.


When you see '🪴 For Budding Enthusiasts' products, expect simple setups, solid sound quality, and an easy upgrade path — perfect for your first foray into better audio.


Audiophile Community Favourite

When I see a product that keeps coming up in forums, Reddit threads, and community meet-ups, I know it’s earned its place. "Audiophile Community Favourite" is our way of spotlighting the gear that real listeners — not just reviewers — swear by. 🦋


These are products that enjoy a sort of cult following for all the right reasons: consistently great tuning, build, and value. They're the kind of recommendations you'd get from a friend deep in the hobby. If you're the type who likes going with a proven crowd-pleaser, these picks are beloved by thousands of ears.


When you see '🦋 Audiophile Community Favourite' products, expect reliable recommendations backed by passionate users, often refined over years of trust and love from the community.

Incredibly Popular

Some things deserve all the attention ⭐!


I've found that when something becomes incredibly popular in the audio world, it's usually for very good reasons. This exceptional audio gear has earned widespread popularity by consistently delivering outstanding performance that resonates with listeners across diverse preferences and experiences. Think of it like that blockbuster movie that everyone loves - sometimes, universal appeal indicates genuine quality rather than just marketing hype.


The widespread acclaim isn't just about trend or marketing - it's a testament to genuine quality and performance that has been consistently demonstrated through real-world usage. This popularity has been earned through merit, delivering reliable satisfaction to countless users 📈.


When you encounter "🥇 Incredibly Popular" products, expect proven excellence validated by the collective experience of satisfied users who've made these their go-to choice.

Our Team's Favourite

Cause after all, we are audiophiles first 🎧!


In my experience, when our entire team gets excited about something, you know it's genuinely exceptional. This audio gear has captured the hearts and minds of our seasoned experts, distinguishing itself as a standout favourite among people who test hundreds of products every year. Think of it like getting a unanimous recommendation from a panel of audio critics - when everyone agrees, you pay attention.


These selections have not only met but exceeded our rigorous standards, earning enthusiastic endorsement from our audio specialists who've tested everything from budget options to flagship models. When you choose these products, you're selecting gear that has been thoroughly vetted and passionately embraced by genuine experts 🏆.


When you choose "💙 Our Team's Favourite" products, expect expertly vetted excellence backed by genuine enthusiasm from people who live and breathe audio every day.

For Audiophiles at Home

I’ve always loved the ritual of coming home, settling into my favourite chair, and firing up a dedicated setup. Gear labelled For Audiophiles at Home is made for those moments — when you can really sit back and appreciate music in its purest form 🛋️. These products tend to be more powerful, larger, and often require wall power — perfect for a stationary rig.


Here’s the trade-off: these setups often involve external DACs, amps, or full-size headphones, which means more space, more power, but also more immersive listening. They shine when used in quiet environments, where detail, depth, and dynamics can truly be appreciated.


When you see '🏠 For Audiophiles at Home' products, expect: exceptional fidelity, stronger output, and the kind of soundstage that makes you never want to leave your listening chair.

Connect With Cable

In my experience, there’s still nothing like the dependability of a wired connection when it comes to audio 🎧. I love describing it as the direct flight of music — no delays, no turbulence. When a product says “Connect with Cable,” it means you’re getting the most reliable signal path, with zero wireless compression and minimal interference.


Here’s what’s actually happening: a physical cable transmits uncompressed analog or digital signals directly from your source to your gear. This results in lower latency, no signal drops, and consistently better sound — especially when paired with a good DAC or amp. It’s ideal for critical listening, gaming, and professional use. The trade-off? You’re tethered — but for a lot of audiophiles, that’s a small price to pay for sonic purity.


When you see '🔗 Connect With Cable' products, expect: pure, uninterrupted sound quality that lets your gear perform at its full potential — perfect for focused, high-fidelity listening.

Built like a Tank

Durability concerns? Rest assured 💪.


I tend to describe these products as audio equipment that's built to survive anything you can throw at them. These headphones incorporate high-grade metal components and reinforced design elements that ensure they can handle demanding conditions while maintaining structural integrity. Think of them as the military-grade vehicles of the audio world - over-engineered for reliability and built to last decades, not just years.


The metal construction provides exceptional strength and longevity while contributing to a premium feel that serious audio enthusiasts appreciate. Whether you're a professional who needs reliable daily-use equipment or someone who values long-term investment in audio gear 🏗️.


When you encounter "🪖 Built like a Tank" products, expect unmatched robustness and durability you can count on for years of intensive use.


Why it Sounds Amazing

Power Output

I like to think of power output in audio gear like engine horsepower, it determines how much muscle your setup really has 💪. Whether you’re trying to drive a pair of power-hungry planar headphones or just want headroom for dynamic peaks, power output is the spec you want to check first.


Technically, it refers to the amount of electrical power (measured in mW or Watts) an amp or DAC/Amp combo can deliver to your headphones. More power means better control, improved dynamics, and the ability to handle demanding gear without distortion. But more isn’t always better, too much power with sensitive IEMs can introduce hiss or harshness.


When you see '🚀 Power Output' products, expect: strong driving capability, better dynamics, and optimal performance with headphones that need serious juice to shine.


Balanced Output

I often say balanced output is like using both hands to carry something heavy — it distributes power evenly and keeps things stable. In audio gear, balanced output helps reduce unwanted noise and interference, especially over longer cables. Think of it as a cleaner, more efficient way to transmit your music, ideal for anyone using high-end DACs, amps, or studio-grade headphones 🎧. You’ll typically find it on gear with XLR or 4.4mm connectors, and it's a must-have if you’re chasing that ultra-clean signal path.


Here’s what’s actually happening: a balanced output uses two separate signals, one inverted, so when interference is picked up along the cable, it gets cancelled out when the signals are recombined. The result? Cleaner audio, better dynamic range, and more power output — especially when paired with balanced headphones. The trade-off? You’ll need gear that supports balanced connections on both ends to really enjoy the benefits.


When you see '⚖️ Balanced Output' products, expect: ultra-low noise, more headroom, and better synergy with high-impedance headphones or sensitive IEMs — ideal for serious listening setups.

With the Zen Can, what you get is an extremely capable and versatile Headphone Amplifier, which I dare say, is essential for a beginner audiophile. Pair it with a Zen DAC and you've got a perfect stack from iFi.
RAGHAV SOMANI

About RAGHAV SOMANI

Raghav Somani is the Founder & CEO of Headphone Zone. An avid audiophile and musician since 2008, his choice of headphones include STAX Electrostats, Audeze LCD 3, and for music on the go, the JH Audio Roxanne + Astell&Kern SP1000 is never too far away. On his playlist, you'll find A.R. Rahman, Michael Jackson, and the Eagles.

ELEVATE YOUR MUSIC LISTENING EXPERIENCE WITH IFI AUDIO ZEN CAN

Laptops tend to have low power output and even if you pair it with really good headphones, the headphones won't be able to reach their complete potential. Therefore to achieve headphone's total capacity, you should connect your headphones and laptop/mobile phone with iFi Audio ZEN CAN. This DAC delivers 52x more power so that you do not miss on the quality of your music.

Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN CAN

WITH DISCRETE BALANCED CIRCUITRY FOR HIGH-END PERFORMANCE

The ZEN CAN receive its Class A discrete balanced circuitry from iFi audio’s US$1,699 flagship Pro iCAN. It comes with 15.1v @300 Ohms on tap, which is more than enough power to drive even difficult-to-drive headphones to perform better. The FET input reduces noise and other kinds of distortions while SE inputs ensure source loading to deliver Class A operation. ZEN CAN also has an output gain of four steps in +6dB which is ideal for headphone matching.

Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN CAN
Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN CAN

WITH 3D SPECIAL SOUND CIRCUIT TO ENJOY MORE DEPTH AND WIDTH IN YOUR AUDIO

Audio recordings were always designed to be heard in speakers and when they are played back on headphones the sound does not reach its actual potential. To address this issue, the iFi Audio ZEN CAN feature 3D special sound circuit, which helps you listen to your sound with better stereo image, depth and width. It also ensures that there is no colourization or resolution loss in the process. The all analogue circuitry does not require expensive or complex signal manipulation to deliver high-end audio that satisfies all kinds of listeners.

Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN CAN
Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN CAN

EXPERIENCE BEST-IN-CLASS BASS WITH XBASS EQUILISATION

Most of the open-back headphones tend to leak the sound out freely and this affects the bass-performance. To solve this, ZEN CAN comes with XBass equalisation that offers best-in-class bass correction. The combination of active and passive components and the frequency response curve ensures that the low-end frequencies are delivered with precision. The TDK C0G (Class 1 ceramic) capacitors of ZEN CAN provide high-end stability and reduce losses for resonant circuit applications.
ZEN CAN

Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN CAN
Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN CAN

DESIGNED WITH PREMIUM GRADE COMPONENTS FOR EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE

iFi Audio features balanced and active circuitry which consists of Panasonic ECPU capacitors, TDK C0G ceramic capacitors, iFi/AMR ‘OV’ ‘Operationsverstärker’ series op-amps, MELF resistors, Texas Instruments low-noise ICs, muRata capacitors and Tokyo Cosmos Electric Co. (TOCOS) multi-track potentiometer.

Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN CAN
1 Year Warranty

Don't sweat it, this iFi Audio - ZEN CAN comes with a 1 Year 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.

Award-Winning Audio Technology From The UK

Established in 2012, iFi Audio is committed to revolutionizing music enjoyment through cutting-edge audio technology. Based in Southport, UK, they design and manufacture a diverse range of high-quality portable audio devices, including DACs, amplifiers, and digital enhancers. Globally sourcing parts ensures top-notch quality and studio-grade sound reproduction, eliminating noise and distortion. With acclaimed products like the Zen DAC and Hip DAC, iFi Audio has earned numerous awards for its superior performance and innovative features such as Burr-Brown DAC Chips and Custom Op-Amps. Their dedication to audio excellence continues to redefine the music listening experience for audiophiles worldwide.

Fun fact: iFi products and their packaging are made from recyclable materials, including Aluminium, Paper and Recycled plastics. There are no hazardous toxins in their components, and ensure every product released meets environmental standards. iFi Audio prides itself on being an eco-friendly company.

Explore Collection
IGN Awards

BEST Dekstop Amplifier

Headfonia
Dec, 2020

Headfonics

"The Zen Can looks smartly finished with a neatly-sized, sturdy aluminium enclosure. In the centre of the front panel is a rotary volume control, flanked by a range of sockets and buttons."

Read More
Major HiFi

"Its ability to drive power-hungry planar-magnetic headphones is the key selling point, it’s able to deliver live concert dynamics, yet is also dead-quiet."

Read More

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Check out the most common questions our customers ask. Still have questions? Talk to our Headphone Gurus.

Our customer support is available Monday to Saturday: 10am - 7pm.Average answer time: 2-3 hours