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iFi Audio

iFi Audio - ZEN DAC 3

Desktop DAC And Preamp
Sale price₹ 21,999 Regular priceMRP: ₹ 22,999
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7 Day Replacement Guarantee

In case you receive the iFi Audio - ZEN DAC 3 with a manufacturing defect, please raise a return request within 7 days of delivery.

However, if you receive an incorrect / damaged / different product or one with missing accessories, please raise a return request within 24 hours of delivery. In case you receive a product with a missing, incorrect, or faulty accessory, you will be given a replacement accessory instead of the entire product.

Please make sure that the product is in the original packaging with all the accessories it came with. We'll also need an unboxing video and images of the parcel to investigate about the discrepancy. You may be asked to share images of the product and the packaging received for us to determine the damage or defect prior to approving the return request. The free replacement will be shipped only once the original order is returned.

A replacement will be issued only if:

- It is found to be defective
- It is determined that the product was not damaged while in your possession
- The product is not different from what was shipped to you
- The product is returned in original condition (with brand’s/manufacturer's box, MRP tag intact, user manual, warranty card and all the accessories therein)

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Warranty & Services

Don't sweat it, this iFi Audio - ZEN DAC 3 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.

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Why iFi Audio is Special

🇬🇧

Designed in UK
Established & Reputed

Trust us, our reputation in the audio world speaks for itself!


This headphone or gear comes from a well-respected brand known for its high-quality audio equipment, so you can be confident in your purchase.


If you see a product marked as “🎖️ Established & Reputed”, it means you're getting a top-tier device from a brand that's earned its stripes in the audio industry.
Specialist

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


This headphone or gear is crafted by specialists who know their stuff, ensuring every detail is perfect.


If you see a product marked as “🌟 Specialist”, it means you're choosing a device designed by experts who specialize in creating this specific category of device.
🐣

Born in 2012

Why we love this DAC/Amp

Value for Money

Great sound always doesn't have to come with a fancy price tag.


Every once in a while we come across a product that give you a lot more value for the price.


If you see products marked as "🥜 Value For Money" you can be sure you're getting a great bang for your buck.

For Enthusiasts on a Budget

We are here to help you find the best bang for your buck.


This headphone or gear is made for all passionate hobbyists who want top-notch gear without breaking the bank.


If you see a product marked as “🪴 For Enthusiasts on a Budget”, get ready to indulge in your music with high-quality, affordable products that keep your wallet happy and your enthusiasm alive!
Our Team's Favourite

Cause after all, we are audiophiles first!


This headphone or gear has won the hearts of our team, standing out as a top pick among our gurus.


If you see products marked as “💙 Our Team’s Favourite”, you're choosing a product that’s been tested, loved, and enthusiastically recommended by our team, giving you confidence that it’s a standout choice!
For Audiophiles at Home

Cause music hit differently when you are in your own space.


This headphone or gear is perfect for those who demand exceptional sound quality in their personal sanctuary.


If you see products marked as “🏠 For Audiophiles at Home”, get ready to transform your living space into an audiophile's paradise, with rich, immersive sound that makes every listening session a masterpiece.
Connect With Cable

This device comes with multiple connectivity options. Be sure to check if your source and output support these input and output options.
Built like a Tank

No need to worry about durability.


If you're seeking a headphone or gear with a strong, rugged build, this snapshot indicates that this is the one for you.


If you see a product marked with “🪖 Built like a Tank", it means this product is crafted with metal in its design, ensuring exceptional robustness and durability.

Why it Sounds Amazing

DAC Chip

Know the secret to your pristine audio.


This headphone or gear reveals the secret sauce behind superior audio quality, highlighting the presence of a high-performance DAC chip for pristine sound reproduction.


If you see products marked as “⚙️ DAC Chip”, expect to experience your music with unparalleled clarity, detail, and fidelity, ensuring that every note and nuance is faithfully reproduced for your listening pleasure.
Power Output

When you need that juice to get the best out of your products.


This headphone or gear packs a punch, revealing the product's impressive power output capabilities, ensuring it can handle even the most demanding products with ease.


If you see products marked as “🚀 Power Output”, you're in for a treat with robust performance for driving high-fidelity products without breaking a sweat.
Balanced Output

Upgrading from single-ended to balanced can be the easiest way to improve your sound.


This DAC, Amp or Hi-Res player offers a balanced output, ensuring pristine audio quality with minimised interference and enhanced clarity for your listening pleasure.


If you see a product marked as "⚖️ Balanced Output”, get ready for a symphony of crystal-clear tunes, free from any unwanted noise drama!
Sampling Rate And Bit Depth

Ever wonder how those ones and zeros on your computer magically transform into the rich melodies that fill your room?


The secret lies in a tiny device called a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC). Think of it as a translator, taking the digital code of your music and meticulously sculpting it back into a smooth, analog wave that your speakers can understand. But just like a sculptor needs the right tools, achieving audio nirvana with a DAC depends on two key factors: sampling rate and bit depth.


Sampling Rate:

Imagine your favourite song as a complex rollercoaster track. The sampling rate refers to how often the DAC takes measurements of this digital track, measured in kHz (kilohertz) or thousands of times per second. A higher sampling rate, like 96 kHz, is like taking a ton of pictures of the track, capturing every twist and turn with incredible detail. Lower rates, like the standard 44.1 kHz used in CDs, are like taking snapshots at a theme park – fun, but you might miss some of the subtler details that make the ride truly exhilarating.


Bit Depth:

Now, think about the sculptor's tools. Bit depth refers to the precision of each measurement the DAC takes. Imagine the number of colours available to the sculptor. With higher bit depth (e.g., 24 bits compared to 16 bits), each measurement can capture a wider range of values. This allows the DAC to recreate subtler variations in the sound wave, resulting in richer and more nuanced audio. It's like having a broader colour palette for building a more detailed and lifelike sculpture of the sound.

INTRODUCING THE iFi AUDIO ZEN DAC V2'S SUCCESSOR - THE ALL-NEW ZEN DAC 3

In a world filled with noise and constant stir, music serves as a powerful remedy. To provide the ultimate music therapy to music lovers, iFi Audio has developed a DAC to amplify music's transformative power, providing a getaway into a serene dimension where melodies resonate deeply and vocals stir profound emotions. The all-new iFi Audio Zen DAC 3 aims to offer an unparalleled listening experience, featuring ultra-res audio capabilities supporting PCM decoding up to 768kHz, native DSD up to DSD 512 and full MQA decoding. The iFi Audio Zen DAC 3 ensures exceptional audio quality and versatility, with a USB-C input for seamless plug-and-play connectivity, balanced 4.4mm headphone and line outputs and a 6.3mm single-ended headphone output, as well as advanced features like XBass+ and PowerMatch modes. The iFi Audio ZEN DAC 3 is a Hi-Res Audio certified product, showcasing its capability to deliver exceptional sound.
ZEN DAC 3

Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN DAC 3

EXCEPTIONAL DECODING CAPABILITY WITH BURR-BROWN DAC FOR CLEAN AUDIO DELIVERY

The iFi Audio Zen DAC 3 equips the Bit-Perfect DSD and DXD DAC by Burr Brown, supporting PCM formats up to 768kHz ensures exceptional clarity and detail in high-resolution audio playback. The native DSD support up to DSD 512 caters to those who appreciate ultra-high-definition audio quality. Also, the Zen DAC 3 provides full MQA decoding capability for rendering MQA audio files with exceptional fidelity. The iFi Audio Zen DAC 3's impressive decoding abilities make it a high-performance DAC with support for a wide range of audio formats and superior sound reproduction.
ZEN DAC 3

Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN DAC 3
Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN DAC 3

EASY CONNECTIVITY WITH XMOS USB PORT AND DC OFFSET OUTPUT VOLTAGE PROTECTION

The iFi Audio Zen DAC 3 incorporates advanced features to elevate your user experience and protect the device. Its XMOS 16-Core Chip ensures efficient and high-performance USB audio processing, enabling plug-and-play connectivity via the USB-C input. The Zen DAC 3 includes improved DC offset output voltage, reducing audible clicks during function switches for smoother transitions. It also features input overvoltage protection through the USB-C port, safeguarding against potential electrical mishaps and providing reliability. These enhancements not only contribute to a seamless user experience but also prioritize the longevity and safety of the Zen DAC 3, making it a reliable and user-friendly choice for audio enthusiasts.

Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN DAC 3

ENGINEERED WITH A BALANCED OUTPUT DESIGN FOR UNINTERRUPTED AUDIO SIGNAL TRANSMISSION

The iFi Audio Zen DAC 3 features a comprehensive output design, including two 4.4mm balanced outputs for headphones and amplifiers, effectively reducing distortion and crosstalk for clean audio transmission. This design choice, along with a 6.3mm single-ended headphone output, maintains signal integrity and enhances sound quality across various listening scenarios. Along with this, the iFi Audio Zen DAC 3 delivers an impressive Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) exceeding 109 dBA and Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise (THD+N) of less than 0.005% at 2V and 600Ω, ensuring exceptional audio performance and fidelity in your music listening experience.

Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN DAC 3
Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN DAC 3

PREAMP FUNCTIONALITY WITH DUAL GAIN OUTPUT MODE AND POTENTIOMETER VOLUME CONTROL FOR PRECISE SOUND

The iFi Audio Zen DAC 3 provides versatility in its output gain options, offering fixed and variable modes to suit different audio setups. With the ability to seamlessly connect to headphones, amplifiers or active speakers, you can choose between Variable or Fixed output modes. The Variable mode enables the volume knob functionality for direct connections to active speakers where the volume control is needed. On the other hand, the Fixed mode bypasses the volume knob for routing line outputs to receivers or main amplifiers, maintaining a consistent output level. This flexibility allows the Zen DAC 3 to pair up with various audio devices, ensuring optimal performance and compatibility across different setups.

Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN DAC 3
Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN DAC 3

FEATURING ANALOG PROCESSING MODES WITH XBASS+ AND POWERMATCH FOR ELEVATED LISTENING EXPERIENCE

The iFi Audio Zen DAC 3 introduces two innovative analog processing modes, XBass+ and PowerMatch. The XBass+ featured in the Zen DAC 3 is the latest version of iFi's renowned analogue EQ, designed to restore lost bass frequencies. These frequencies are commonly experienced with open headphones, enriching the low-end response for a fuller and more immersive sound. On the other hand, PowerMatch offers a gain boost specifically tailored for headphones that require more power to drive effectively, ensuring optimal performance and dynamics with a wide range of headphone models. These advanced processing modes further demonstrate iFi's commitment to providing customizable alternatives that cater to the diverse needs of audiophiles and music enthusiasts.

Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN DAC V2

CRAFTED WITH AESTHETIC DESIGN UPGRADES FOR AN ALL-NEW VISUAL APPEAL

The iFi Audio Zen DAC 3 introduces a refreshed design compared to its predecessor, the Zen DAC V2. It features "Sunlit Bronze" hardware that adds a touch of premium aesthetics to give the device an all-new look and feel. The revised volume potentiometer contributes to smoother and more precise volume control, improving user experience. Its two-tone design sets it apart from the typical "black box" style of competitors, making it visually distinctive and appealing. These design upgrades the ifi Audio Zen DAC 3's appearance and complement its advanced audio capabilities, creating a harmonious blend of style and performance.

Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN DAC 3
Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN DAC 3
Headphone-Zone-iFi Audio-ZEN DAC 3
1 Year Warranty

Don't sweat it, this iFi Audio - ZEN DAC 3 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.

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Our customer support is available Monday to Saturday: 10am-6:30pm.Average answer time: 2-3 hours

Customer Reviews

Based on 3 reviews
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Apurba (Mumbai)
Pretty darn good

Before I share my thoughts, here is a disclaimer. I am not an audiophile with generational wealth. I have not been brought up with any audiophile grade equipment in my house since childhood. My parents had a Philips transistor and that’s what I have listened to growing up. I am 40 and so my listening ability is somewhat compromised I suppose. So take this with a grain of salt.

My setup is a Denon PMA 1700NE and Dynaudio Emit 30 speakers. My amp has a built in DAC that was hooked up to my PC via USB which I thought was lacking. So Zen DAC 3 comes between my amp and PC. I do not have high fidelity local files, so I depend on Tidal and Apple Music, sometimes even Spotify. Apart from my amp’s built-in DAC, my old Ipad Mini is hooked up via 3.5mm jack to RCA to my amp for comparison. I don’t have any experience with any other DAC so I’m solely sharing my thoughts on what I have heard using this system.

First, there are some quirks when using Zen DAC using the phone as source (USB C to C). This is particular to Tidal MQA. When running Max MQA file, the LED turn magenta and remains there, even the next song is not MQA/44.1. It changes once you disconnect the USB and reconnect again. But the same song in PC through Tidal shows Blue LED in the DAC. So there is something different going on in mobile device and desktop device which I have no idea about.

Now coming to the sound quality of the Zen DAC, there is noticeable harshness in songs which had high notes and sharp string instruments. Songs like If only I could by Bules Company(male vocal), Kiss in blue by Yello, Shoot the moon by Norah Jones sounded dry and the harshness became unbearable and forced me to turn the volume down. On the contrary, the same songs through my old ipad sounded sweet, I can turn up the volume and still enjoy it. Don't get me wrong, it is not about clarity, which is plenty in Zen DAC, there is musicality and sweetness in high notes through the ipad which I found missing in Zen DAC.

Songs which do not hit the high notes so often, this DAC is marvellous. There is clarity and punch. The vocals are clear and it throws a pretty good soundstage. Being a millennial, I grew up with MJ, Ricky Martin, Britney Spears, J Lo and all. The pop through this DAC is damn good. Modern day wonder Billie Eilish new album Hit me hard and soft, which was released just before, I have listened through this DAC, it is thoroughly enjoyable. Rock is also something I have enjoyed, be it Eagles, Verve, Jimmy Hendrix or Pink Floyd.

On parting, three songs you must listen to in high volumes though this DAC to experience something magical. And ohh you must listen to them at night when the world is quiet. Sway by Diana Krall, Besame Mucho by Chantal Chamberland and Ain't no sunshine by Eva Cassidy. If you already knew, you are smiling now and if you didn't then there will be a smile on your face.

User picture User picture

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!

P
P.U. (Bengaluru)
Small Powerhouse

This works amazingly well with my HD 600 and my collection of IEMs and doesn’t need any additional amplification. The sound is clear and x bass works well on some tracks. The DAC can be powered by the usb source alone and doesn’t necessarily need an external power supply even though it has the option of plugging external supply. All in all a solid buy that I’m really happy with.

Hey there, thanks a lot for this lovely review and we are glad you are enjoying it! Keep the music playing.

Reviewer avatar
Prateek Saini (New Delhi)
Smooth Punchy Sound

It can take the tinge of harshness off your chain. Good value. But there should be a power supply in box

User picture

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