iFi Audio - ZEN DAC

Works beautifully with all 3 of my headphones hd660s , k712 pro and he400i 2020 , has a neutral smooth tone with just a bit of warmth added and smoothness in top end , very laid back , all in all a value product.

I already have a Chord Mojo but I got the Zen DAC because I needed a DAC to be perpetually connected to my computer and this fit the bill perfectly as it is powered off USB 3.0 and does not need a separate brick (though you can attach one; more on that later). First impressions after a few weeks of usage through its standard RCA ouput was that it was pretty darn good for the price and definitely better than the one inside my Cambridge Audio CXA81. The sound compared to the inbuilt one inside the CXA81 was more soothing and softer, yet containing all the details. However, compared to my Chord Mojo, it was a no contest. The Chord Mojo just had better tone and texture and more adept and revealing microdetails. Since the CXA81 accepts balanced XLR inputs, i got myself an ifi 4.4mm pentaconn to XLR cable. After hooking the Zen DAC up with the XLR cable, the background became quieter during songs which helped in dynamics, especially bass sounded cleaner with the overall presentation becoming bolder. This can be easily checked as you can run both outputs i.e. XLR and RCA simultaneously and quick switching between the two clearly reveals the substantial gains to be had with a balanced connection. However, it was still no match for the Chord Mojo which still had that better texture and tone. Then came a revelation in the form of the GTO filter which is a firmware upgrade which costs nothing and takes less than a minute to install. Next thing i knew, i could not tell the difference in sound quality between the Zen DAC and the Chord Mojo, Multiple A/B quick switch tests later, i guess the Mojo is still better with leading edges but it could be my imagination and I could not tell the difference during blind tests. Now, the 4.4mm pentaconn to XLR cable does not come cheap and brings the cost up to 21K but thats still terrific if it managed to beat the Mojo. I'm getting an Allo Shanti Linear PSU (which again is not cheap at 8K) to see if it improves the performance even further and it'll be something if it manages to outdo the Mojo but that remains to be seen. Also, its headphone section is excellent and its trubass function adds a delicious dose of bass in the lower frequencies without bloating it or congesting the mids - its truly non intrusive and fantastic for listening at low volumes when dynamics and bass go missing. This is especially helpful for my bass shy Hifiman HE400is which simply sound bright and anaemic with the Chord Mojo. All in all, colour me impressed with this cheap piece of chifi wonder. Oh, and it may be cheap but its build quality is superb and definitely looks and feels much more premium than its Topping and FX Audio counterparts. In fact, i'd daresay that at the very least, its build quality is at par with my Mojo if not better while it convincingly trounces it in the looks department though that is very subjective.

For reference, the amps that I tested it with were the (i) Cambridge Audio CXA81(balanced XLR), (ii) Crown XLS1502 (balanced XLR), (iii) Marantz PM6006 (RCA), and (iv) Marantz SR6013(RCA) and the loudspeakers were (i) Quad S5, (ii) KEF Q350, (iii) Wharfedale Evo 4.2, (iv) Boston Acoustics A26. Subwoofers were dual REL T9i's. 3.5mm cable used with the Chord Mojo was Audioquest Golden Gate and usb cable was Audioquest pearl whereas the RCA cable used with the Ifi Zen DAC was the Mogami Gold and balanced cable was Ifi 4.4mm pentaconn to XLR while the USB cable was a generic Amazonbasics 3.0 6 feet usb cable. Both units were connected to the laptop through an Audioquest jitterbug USB noise filter.

Got my HiFiMan Sundara a few months back. So far was pairing them with a old FiiO portable dac/amp but the headphone was asking for more power and also missing MQA. After a lot of online research settled on ZEN DAC.
Initial impressions weren’t amazing, until I turned on “power match”, this is basically the gain setting. Running in power match improved the overall sound quality hugely. It’s more open, transparent and full spectrum. Replaying my old favourites has been a revealing experience.

Overall I am extremely happy with my purchase. As usual headphonezone service has been flawless.

Please note

1. Power match should not be needed for lower impedance headphones. Even for Sundara, the volume can get very high quickly, so be careful with the volume knob :)
2. I am running my USB connection through iPurifier3. Don’t know how much that impacts sound quality in this setup, haven’t tested without.

I wanna preface this by saying that I bought this as my first entry into audiophile equipment and therefore this is my first DAC/AMP. So I wasn't sure what I should have been expecting from this unit. I paired it a with a DT 770 pro 80 Ohm, which was also a first for me as I had previously only really invested large sums of money into Bluetooth headphones like the XB950bt and WH-1000XM3. And while the combo sounds massively better than what I was used to, when used on their own, the headphones sound 95% as good without the Zen. Doesn't matter if I'm playing lossless or compressed, I've even looked at possibly missing drivers and DSPs incase I didn't set it up properly. But this really doesn't blow me away like the headphones did on their own.

That's not to say its completely worthless, the 'truebass' button/feature is almost magical. And the build quality (especially the volume knob) is exceptionally good for a 'budget' option. But I just don't feel that, for me, this is worth it for what it does.

The value I suppose lies in use cases other than mine, specifically:
- If you have hard to drive headphones (harder than my 80ohm 770s)
- Or if you're listening to a pair of balanced cans, which admittedly I'm not
- OR if your headphones are bass anemic, which, again the 770s are not.

I'd still recommend buying this though if for nothing else then to see what the fuss is all about with dedicated AMPs and DACs. And while I personally don't find it worth it right now, it's not so offensively expensive that I can't live with it. Especially considering its future potential that I'm yet to tap into. Perhaps with a different set of headphones I buy down the line.

P.S. Did I mention the volume knob is amazing? seriously, it's almost worth it just to have that.

I purchased this to use it with HiFiMan Deva. Previously I was using Deva directly though Laptop, but must say this DAC definitely brings difference in both sound quality and level. I haven't spent much time with it, but so far so amazing!

Firstly, I have to mention this is my first ever dac and first step into entering this audiophile rabbit hole. I'm currently using Hifiman HE-400I headphones and I paired this along with them. I've done a lot of research before buying this one and trust me it makes a significant difference(atleast to my headphones)

Build quality-
It feels like solid steel block made of high quality materials, the look and feel is awesome. Volume knob is buttery smooth. The only thing which could be added is on/off button but that is fine. It also has 4.4mm balanced output. The DAC can be powered with just USB, so it contributes to desktop setup

Sound impression-
It greatly improves the sound quality, the details which we can't be noticed usually can now be heard easily bringing out all the frequencies of high resolution audio (FLAC, DSD, WAV, MQA)
Adding this between headphones and source makes a humongous difference to the listening experience. The music🎼 becomes more enjoyable, bass becomes tighter, vocals🎙 become clear, highs become crisp, instrument 🎸🎹🎺🎻🥁🪘🎷separation become lively and beautiful. Feels like Artist is performing in front of you.
Truebass feature improves the bass detail, especially helpful if you are using open back headphones.
Powermatch feature helps the circuit internally to provide optimal power and sound to plugged in gear
I tried with local music files and Tidal too.
Listening to Opeth, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, Porcupine Tree, Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Linkin Park, AR Rehman, Ilayaraja feels blissful

Conclusion-
Overall it's a great DAC/Amp combo for this price. I feel it's worth the investment(atleast for my headphones).
I cannot compare it with any other DACs coz I don't have😆. All the impressions are based on my opinion and my ability of perceiving music. If something is not quite right please forgive me.

Bang for the buck...

Everything started when I brought an AKG K72 pro. my 7year old E10K was struggling to power it. I was getting loud at 3rd level on high gain after that I could hear distortion ( level goes up to 8 ).
So I watched all the reviews and brought a zen DAC. I was sceptical about the power but all the reviewers said it has all the power you need So I brought it. one of the reviewers had my exact setup
M50x, Hd 599, K712Pro, and Sundara so I believed him. The first impression I connected to my speakers Swan M50w there is a sound quality upgrade from e10k.
e10k has metallic sound zen is more natural so that was an upgrade it sounds wonderful now. Then comes the headphone amp It is underpowered. same as the e10k it gets loud at 1 to 2 o clock
but does not sound very good it's like biting into a slightly damp biscuit there is no crispness. true bass button is good on k712 and Sundara not on HD599 it blots a little bit of the midrange.
I took too long to write this review because I thought my ears are not acclimated to the sound of zen. Finally, I decided to buy a zen can.
[ I am still giving it a 5 star Because there is nothing in the price range that does these many things ]

For part two Goto zen can page.

tidal masters + zen dac + a decent pair of open back headphones = mindblown

FiiO K3 was my first DAC Amp; although it was efficient for the purpose, but it was so tiny to Desk it. It felt more like portable than Desktop DAC Amp.

Upgraded to iFi ZEN DAC; couldn't be more happier. Built is spectacular; DAC and Amp are class-leading.
FiiO K3 had bass-boost feature; but compared to ZEN DAC; K3 falls short. True Bass is really something on ZEN DAC; one has to hear to believe it; can't be described in words.
Only thing missing in ZEN; is a power button; it is always on; no way to turn it off. But, that really does not matter for its other class-leading features.

My recently bought Sennheiser HD 560s is so enjoyable with ZEN DAC;
Thanks iFi for making such spectacular product!

~ About HeadphoneZone ~

Thanks 'HeadphoneZone' for making all the world-class audiophile stuffs available in India.

Just One feature missing on HeadphoneZone site;
***Wishlist/Favorites***
(Please add those lovely little hearts for people to shortlist/favorite/wish list their desired items).

Amazing if you can pair it right and unlock its potential.

Having used an entry-level AMP like Fiio A3; I went for iFi Zen DAC on an impluse. It having a vintage look that reminds me of these appliiances from the 1950s. Really well-built. And oh boy was I right about its sound! Being a lover of a slightly brighter tone, iFi Zen DAC come forward as 'warm' and somewhat 'relaxed'. It has been a new experience for me to enjoy my music in such a tone. I keep it loud and the 'bass' button off for the most part of my music collection. It sounds more clearer on higher volumes on an open-back headphone like Hifiman Sundara.

I am really glad to hear through a reviewer that this DAC can easily drive headphones upto 300 ohms....

I got a bit late with my feedback since I haven't been able to take off my Hifiman Sundara paired with these...They sound like Heaven or if its even a term...definitely can't be put in words !

DISCLAIMER - My ears are my ears; none of your ears!

A must have. I am using it as a DAC for Hi-res computer streaming. Enjoy the performance.

Previously I used a Fiio X5 iii. It was not doing justice to the Beyer DT990 32ohm. got this one and what a combination! This duo just sings! Fast yet weighty bass, nice mid, non shrill top end.
The DAC changed for better after firmware update 5.3C, It came with the 5.3 and the bass was a little too much for my taste. I did the firmwire update on a Mac, it was easier. Couldn't get the head or tail of windows update.

This is the best product in dac and amp combined category, specially in this price point. Forget this price point ,if you separately buy A Dac and a Amp combined worth 25 to 30 thousand Rupees ,the dac and amp combined setup will not exceed the music performance of ifi Zen dac. In any situation, the dac - amp combo may perform only 10% better.
The ifi Zen dac comes with a RCA cable,a usb A 3.0 to usb B 3.0 cable.and an adaptor for 3.5 mm headphone. Through the usb 3 cable it receives digital audio signals and power supply . You do not have to power it with a 5 v dc charger. However if you want to supply additional power to it ,you can buy a 5 volt dc charger from amazon.it will cost around 300 to 500 rupees. But it will not improve the music performance noticably. Because the amount of power it gets from usb,it uses it very efficiently and performs very well in all headphones up to 300 Impedance.
Just plug it in and play with Mac or windows products.

Thank you headphone zone for this great product. Delivery is too fast. Thank you for your service.