iFi Audio - ZEN DAC Signature

Covered in striking space blue finish, the iFi Audio ZEN DAC is a pure desktop DAC meant for nothing else but the best performance. It has no in-built headphone amp as it feeds directly to an external amp which could either be a headphone amp or a speaker. ZEN DAC Signature has a simple circuitry which provides scope to upgrade the signal path and other significant components. The all-new ZEN DAC Signature takes inspiration from its original to offer an upgraded true-differential balanced topology. The ZEN DAC Signature is what it is - a pure desktop DAC and does its job remarkably well.

There has been a number of significant updates to the new ZEN DAC Signature. Experience lowest ESR, excellent noise reduction and improved frequency response elements with highly durable Panasonic OS-CON. It also has an ELNA Japan Silmic II capacitor for power supply which has silk fibre delivering exceptional linearity and superior acoustics. The performance remains at its best with a refined circuit design which makes way for short and direct signal paths. All these upgrades are employed to offer better efficiency and next-level performance.

The ZEN DAC Signature stays true to the native DAC architecture. It offers bit-perfect PCM (up to 32-bit/384kHz), native DSD (up to DSD256), DXD as well as MQA. MQA refers to Master Quality Authenticated which is an audio technology used for high fidelity digital audio streaming. There is a dedicated multicoloured LED right next to the volume control which displays the sample rate of the incoming audio. The ZEN DAC Signature features an iFi-programmed XMOS chip that receives data over USB input. This data is then received, processed and converted to analogue form using jitter-cancelling, audiophile-grade oscillators. All your hi-res music files won't lose their charm, thanks to the Burr-Brown True Native chipset which keeps the sound bit-perfect. Making sure that you are listening to your favourite music just the way the artist intended it to sound.

Never lose your connection with the USB Type B input which comes with the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 as well as the USB 2.0. The custom-designed audio clock circuitry of the ZEN DAC Signature monitors the audio signals to ensure accurate and jitter-free audio transformation. You also have RCA sockets for single-ended connection and a Pentaconn 4.4mm output for balanced signal transfer. To connect the ZEN DAC Signature to an amp or an active speaker with balanced input, either use a 4.4mm Pentaconn input, or stereo XLR inputs(4.4mm-to-XLR cable). These connections allow you to use the balanced circuit design in full capacity which will make your music speak to your soul.

Texas Instruments low-noise ICs make room for a great unity-gain bandwidth, high slew rates, output drive and a common mode. It also helps with power supply rejection ratios and wide maximum-output-swing bandwidths. So every sound that you listen to is free of noise and distortion. Moreover, the muRata multi-layer capacitors add to the noise-reducing capabilities of the ZEN DAC Signature. The ‘ESR control’ aspect of the Murata is also something special. Their noise suppression abilities are impressive. While listening to music in complete silence, you are assured of close channel matching tolerance leading to the optimal performance, all thanks to the Tokyo Cosmos Electric Co. (TOCOS) multi-track potentiometer.

You get the absolute freedom of switching from the variable output to fixed output with ease. The variable output will apply volume control to audio signals, this will transform your ZEN DAC Signature to a preamp to connect directly to a power amp. The fixed output avoids the volume control element to keep the power output fixed at 4.2V (balanced) or 2.1V (single-ended). You can use these power outputs to connect the ZEN DAC Signature to an external preamp, integrated amp or active speakers which have dedicated volume control.