Features:

  • UPGRADE YOUR SYSTEM - With this state of the art compact Digital Analogue Converter for home audio, office, or desktop use, you will hear a difference and clarity in your audio system whether you use speakers or headphones
  • EASY CONNECTIVITY - Connect via USB3.0 (USB2.0 compatible) input from your USB source such as a computer or Digital Audio Player (DAP). Output to headphones, active speakers, or amplifier with 6.3mm Unbalanced / 4.4mm Balanced / RCA connections
  • HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO - Hear familiar songs in a whole new light with rich detail and warm natural tones created by the Burr Brown True Native digital to analogue converter which can process any hi-res audio format up to PCM 24/384, DSD256, DXD 384kHz, and renders MQA all without additional conversion so you can listen exactly as the artist intended. Also perfect for upgrading the sound for streaming services such as Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, and Amazon Music
  • TECH PACKED - With technology like: Variable analogue volume control, PowerMatch adjustment for iEMs/On & Over Ears, and TrueBass to add bass to iEMs, you can listen to your music with smoother, cleaner, playback
  • STYLISH AND SMART DESIGN - Military Grade Aluminum makes up a sturdy and sleek exterior. The smooth curves and edges will bring a sense of peace and tranquility to your home or office
Excellent Sound - Great Choice for TIDAL MQA Streaming!

Here is my review so far: I am relatively new to Hi-Res Audio and MQA etc... etc... The short review: Awesome, go get yourself one immediately. It was only $139 after taxes on Amazon. TOTALLY Worth it! Details: It does not come with a 5v power supply. however you apparently can purchase one. I haven't needed one yet. I connect it to my USB port (So I can Stream MQA from TIDAL) and it gets it power from that. There are probably situations that someone would want external 5vdc to power this... but... It comes with an RCA connector (unbalanced) so you can connect audio to your receiver/amp. The power match button... (Gain button) - makes it louder. Apparently this is to drive difficult headphones.. Seems nice... I like louder. TrueBass button : this is pretty darn awesome. It really makes the bottom end clear and separated. not muddy at all. EXCEPT... I did notice some heavier type music when it was better to turn TrueBass off. But in general it is really nice. The Volume knob turns very nicely, and the dial "Glows" depending on the Audio Resolution... As always The MQA Purple is my favorite. I did load the USB driver from the iFi website... (I really didn't need to) anyway... I loaded it, then I couldn't see the device... Until I went back on the website and loaded the older driver that was available... then I was good again. Remember for MQA in TIDAL - Set to Exclusive mode for MQA... for a while I was getting only Green 44.1 even though TIDAL was saying MASTER... I dont currently have any 4.4mm connectors (balanced) I will most likely pick one up soon so that I can connect balanced to my amp. However, I am not convinced that I have enough interference to need a new cable. I also have the DragonFly RED : (This is not a slam on the RED at all) This iFi Zen Dac gives a richer warmer sound than the Dragonfly. I realize that the Dragonfly has it's strength in portability. However, the iFi Zen will become my main system DAC for my living room moving forward. It really has an amazing full sound. It sounds amazing even when not processing MQA 👍 - 44.1 sounds great also! If you have questions feel free to ask, I will do my best to answer. Have a great day!

Incredible value! Light years ahead of e10K

I was skeptical about audio equipment for headphones. I run music out of my computer and most of my headphones were easy to drive. So I didn't really see a need for a DAC or AMP. I then bought a Fiio e10K a few months ago and realized that adding a DAC and Amp may actually improve things a lot. I then purchased the Hifiman He4XX (which are excellent) and the e10K simply wasn't cutting it with power. I was going to buy a Fiio K5 Pro or a JDS Atom, but then this product by iFi showed up. I read the specs and took gamble on it and wow, WHAT A DIFFERENCE!! This unit is a gamechanger for $120. The build quality, crystal clear sound, exceptional Bass Boost function and a few unique output options make this unit a TERRIFIC choice for anyone looking to upgrade from on board sound card or a cheaper DAC/AMP. It also has a Balanced output. And it has the power to drive fairly hard to drive headphones, like my He4xx, very well. The iFI Zen Dac is easy to install on Windows with drivers on the iFi homepage. The iFi page also has a GTO Filter firmware update which is also easy to install and just sharpens the sound up a notch. I cannot recommend this unit enough, especially if you have the SHP9500s, M50x or Grados, or anything that you may not feel can benefit from an AMP/DAC and you're on the fence for a product like this. Believe me, it will take your music to the next level.

Solid build quality, great sound - especially when balanced.

I love iFi products. I really enjoy my Nano BL and xDSD. I was curious about this new Zen DAC offering, so I gave it a spin. This DAC powers my Beyerdynamic DT880s really well, and the sound is quite pleasing to the ear, present and lively. But, I have to say, what really stands out for me is the sound quality when using the 4.4 balanced headphone input. I have a pair of iBasso it01s phones with a 2.5 balanced jack to which I added a 4.4 Fiio adapter. I'm telling you the sound that comes out of those headphones connected to the Zen DAC is dramatic. It sounds 3D in my head. The presence, clarity, detail and separation is incredible. While I could use the Zen and my other iFi DACs to power my over the ear headphones with wonderful sound, the performance I'm getting from the 4.4 balanced headphone input clearly is an experience that is unique to the Zen. I can't really explain it, but for that fact alone, it makes the Zen a real keeper for me. Overall, for the price, the Zen DAC is a very competent performer.

Great value.

I wanted to wait to write a review because I didn't want to rush to form an opinion about something that I've only had for a day or two. I don't have much experience with DACs other than the ones that come with my smart phones and so I didn't know where to start when searching for one. I did some research and narrowed it down between an Ifi Nano LE and a Schiit Modi because they were both within my budget. But when I found out that Ifi was going to release a new DAC around the price range I decided to purchase it. I'm using a Samsung Galaxy S10+ as my source so I had to purchase an OTG usb cable ($15) and a 5v DC power supply ($49) to power the unit since my phone isn't able to power it alone. Also, I had to purchase the USB Audio Player Pro app ($7.99) along with the MQA pluggin ($3.99) to take advange of the format since Samsung upsamples all USB audio. I can immediately tell a difference in sound quality compared to using the DAC on my phone. Everything now sounds clearer and more defined. The only thing I can think of comapring it to is going from a 1080p display to a 4k display. Especially when playing Hi-Res files from Qobuz and MQA through Tidal. The headphone amp is also great in my opinion. I have some old open back AKG K240 MKII headphones and they have never sounded better. The XBassII feature makes a huge difference with these open back headphones without muddying the sound. In the end I spent more than what I originally had planned, but it has been worth it. (Small update) I started using the balanced 4.4mm output on the rear of the unit and connecting to the xlr inputs on the THX AAA 789and sound quality has noticeably increased.

You'll have to spend a lot more to do better

This is my new second favorite audio product, can't believe the sound and build quality for the price. Right now my home setup is the Schiit Modi Multibit (Mimby) with the iFi Micro iCan and Massdrop TH-X00. This DAC/amp setup retailed for $550. This little Zen DAC basically sounds at least 95% the same for roughly 25% of the cost. I also have an Emotiva A-100 amp that I use with headphones (and the mimby) sometimes and I like the sound of this better. So this little guy definitely has some potential to hang with the big boys in the $500 price range. Here's a full review: BUILD QUALITY The build quality is fantastic. It's actually probably better than the Micro iCan IHMO (which is the same chassis as the Micro iDSD), so you're basically getting that $500+ build quality and sound to match. I'd estimate that volume knob alone should cost at least 10% of the total price, so what they've accomplished here for this price is unreal. BASS I'm a full on basshead at home, quality and quantity. I use a Schiit Loki and bump the 20 Hz region by probably 15-20 dB with the XBass on my iCan and Loki (combined). The iCan XBass max setting is noticeably more powerful than the TrueBass here. However, the TrueBass is still fantastic and gives a bigger boost than I expected. I bought the Zen for use at the office, where I don't go full out basshead, so I will absolutely be satisfied by the boost it provides. I expect most people to be satisfied as well. MIDS Not much to say here. The other reviews praising this amp are accurate. It's clean, smooth, warm, detailed, etc. with a quiet background and absolutely improves the sound quality by all objective and subjective measures vs. a cell phone or motherboard. TREBLE This is where I miss the Micro iCan. There's something about the 3D switch that brings higher frequency sounds (e.g. symbols) forward in an unobtrusive way while also making the whole spectrum of sound seem more detailed and bigger. It's hard to describe, but if you have the money to go with a more expensive iFi product, I personally think their 3D tech is absolutely worth the cost of entry if you're not a "purist" and just want to have more options (i.e. fun) for changing the sound depending on the musical genre or headphones you're listening to. Aside from that, this absolutely takes some serious critical listening effort to notice differences between it and my more expensive DACs / amps. If iFi ever releases a Zen DAC with their 3D tech, I'd gladly buy it. SOUNDSTAGE/IMAGING/DETAIL Not much to say here either. You have to try really hard to notice differences between this little guy and the more expensive offerings I listed. The TH-X00 is known for having average imaging and soundstage in its price range though, so perhaps top-tier cans that excel in this section might have more noticeable differences. To summarize, one of my favorite, and least favorite, things about audio is how subjective it is. It's interesting to apply logic to a person's subjective opinions. For example, if A is better than B and B is better than C, then A must be better than C. If you apply that kind of thinking to my review here, you could basically argue that this thing sounds like a setup many times its actual cost. The DAC section is easily on par with the Mimby, which people say sounds equivalent to the Bifrost Multibit, and the amp section easily competes with my iCan, so there you go. Save yourself a few hundred bucks and buy this. Use the money you save for better headphones. Easy 10/10 in all categories.

Skeptic consumer

tl;dr holy crap >> Read this review through the lens of an engineer, musician, RA hobbyist, and nine-to-five desk/cubicle jockey. >> Suspend any audiophile vocabulary--you won't find it here--pretend we are speaking like normal humans. >> My investment in hi-fi audio ends with FLAC. Save the DSD/DXD/MQA 'high-fi-ving' for your loved ones. My needs for such a device were: 1) Portability; singular unit--no stacking or interconnecting; self-powered optional 2) Functionality; plug in = profit. No driver magic, dongle dances, or forum scouring for secret settings 3) Performance; Do I like the sounds coming out of my headphones? (Yes or No--pass/fail assessment) 4) Price; <$200--I don't buy in to the allure of the 1% gain for 10x price (see #3) ifi Zen DAC = #needsMet #Pros: -$130 USD (amazing given the included features) -solid build -atypical aesthetics; ie not a box, volume knob is dope (as they say), indicator lights are pleasing -**unbalanced HD600 cans sound terrific (only pair I own) -single USB 3.0 power/comm -plugged into Windows 10 laptop, PC, and tablet: worked immediately -plugged into Android (via OTG USB-C): worked immediately -no external power used at any point **I have nothing to say about balanced outputs as I don't have a 4.4mm cable. Nor did I plug into any speakers. This is all based on standard headphone use. I will be building a custom cable--'cause I'm a nerd--and I'm curious what balanced has to offer me. ifi did make it pretty obvious this was a key feature. Will update soon. #Gripes: (we're getting really into the nitty gritty here) In case ifi is listening ;-) -front panel buttons rattle (pick it up, gentle shake) sounds like something loose inside. Totally normal, I assume. -no other inputs beside usb 3.0 (does not affect my use but may bother others) -I wish it was 30-40% smaller. Like, it is clearly not in the same category as the 'portable' units, but because it can be powered and driven from a single phone connection, it is capable of being portable. Something closer to palm sized would greatly enhance this aspect. I've seen photos of the interior--most of this enclosure is empty space. -I did test the knob indication with some sample files (neat). But I would have liked some customizability with these colors. I'd bet this is an RGB source, yet we're limited to just 5 colors? Can't I map color to bit depth instead of sample frequency? Or to file type? Food for thought. -did not see the point of updating firmware to 5.3c *shrug* -NO POWER SWITCH. Shouldn't bother me as much as it does. Workaround is disabling USB power in BIOS. #Final thoughts: I did not expect my entry into standalone audio amplification to succeed this succinctly. I advise you listen to the critics who best match your use cases. For your own discernment, demo the actual devices--not just datatables and forum junkies <3. UPDATE: Added photo of the de facto "office setup" Since initial review, I have built my own balanced cable and am quite enjoying the extra head room on the HD600s. I have even gone without the power match for certain sessions (low noise environments). I also realized ifi had other plans in development for a more portable product. A close cousin to the Zen Dac, the Hip-DAC, recently released. This makes their design choices on the Zen a lot more clear (in hindsight) and my "gripes" rather moot :) Thanks for reading.

What else could I possibly add to show how good this unit really is

Where to begin - just where to begin? Alright, I'm in the process of reviewing/blogging about 6 different budget DAC's (those below $150). As a matter of info, those are the iFi Zen Dac, the Soundavo HP-DAC1, the Schiit Modi 3, the Micca OriGen G2, the FX-Audio DAC-X6, and the Sabaj D3. It's fun and time consuming as you try to discern the differences between most of these units. After all, when you first turn them on, most budget models can sound a bit harsh/bright, and like any good audio gear, you should leave them on and run music through them for at least several days before rendering any judgements. Another issue with the majority of entry level (or budget) DAC's is that they initially all sound the same or are similar. Only time consuming listening sessions with various hi-quality audio material can cut through most of the confusion and small differences begin to arise. Now enter the iFI Zen DAC. I'm not going to describe the features, looks, and feel of this DAC 'cause so much has already been written about it (not to mention various You Tube reviews). It's built like a tank - so there! Now let me get this right out of the way, and that is this Zen Dac can compete with DAC's that I've heard at $1000 - it's that simple. Sound-wise, from the moment you turn it on (and by the way, make sure you have the latest firmware which will be the case if you order one new now), you are greeted with a sound signature that is bold, with much depth. Bass is full, deep, and yet tight. The Zen Dac has this way of taking your music (and putting you right there with an authority that I find missing in many DAC's - now go figure? Soundstaging is excellent with ample instrumental separation from left to right and from front to rear - but do take note that everything else you have in your music chain will either detract or add to the overall experience. Take classical music for instance - all of the instruments take on a weight that I've not noticed with most of the other DAC's I'm evaluating. High frequencies are pristine and instruments like strings take on an almost silky sheen. Midrange instruments like brass have that bite that sends chills up and down your spine. And bass - whether it be string bass, bass drum, kettle drums, or you name it, has an added (not necessarily artificial) weight to them that often defies description. Now it is important to keep in mind that the huge variable here is that my comments are based on my feeding it good source material - not the typical junk that many folks listen to. Feed the Zen Dac great (high quality) material and you will be rewarded with musical nirvana. Feed it horribly remixed or poor source material, and you'll soon want to turn it off to be sure. It let's you know what you're feeding it. So am I impressed with this ZenvDac? Hell yes, I am and of the 6 budget DAC's I'm evaluating at the moment, the ZenDac is so far in the front that it's not even a fair comparison. A close second is the Soundavo HP-DAC1 - another outstanding unit (look it up on Amazon) - and I'm very impressed with that one also. Following that (in order of my preferences) are the Schitt Modi 3, followed by the Sabaj D3, and then the Micca OriGen G2, and last place (but still a very nice sounding unit) is the FX-Audio DAC-X-6. YMMV. Folks, for some of you, just for a moment, put your nose-in-the-air standards temporarily aside and overlook the pittance that you'd expend for the ZenDac 'cause you will soon become hooked. I know I did... Highly recommended, thus my 5 star conclusion. Do note that I'm comparing the cost of this unit with a performance level that punches far above its weight. The gear I evaluated the Zen Dac with is/are: 1. USB connection to a Windows 10 desktop PC with 64 Gigs of RAM. Cables used were the upgraded Audioquest Pearl USB A to USB B. 2. Analog Cables used was a 1.5 foot run of World's Best Cables to a GoHiFiAudio S1 passive RCA Audio input/output switcher (which adds nothing and subtracts nothing while making comparisons). Cable used from the switcher to speakers is the Blue Jeans Cables LC-1 - a 3 foot run. 3. Speakers used to evaluate - which are all active speakers. They were the Edifier R2000DB's, the Edifier R1850DB's, the Edifier R1700BT's, and the Edifier 3000 Pro's. The reason I used all 4 is that they represent different levels of investment and accuracy. Ben Herrmann Fuquay Varina, NC

Only one thing keeping it from a 5 star review

This DAC/amp out performs both of my other, more expensive DAC/amp combos. I have the Topping NX4 and the Audioengine D1 24-Bit DAC/amp combos. And it does so being 30 dollars or more less in price. It has what most of us would understand to be a gain boost, although they call it a "power match". It also has a "truebass" button that slightly boosts the sub base and base response without distorting any other harmonics. I've sold the previously mentioned two DACs and have kept the Ifi Zen DAC/amp. Also, and I'm not detracting for it, but there is no power button to turn the unit on or off. Even if the computer is off. You have to pull the USB cable from the port in order to shut it down. And even then, if you have a power adapter plugged in, the light still stays on in the back. I don't think this affects the performance or uses electricity needlessly. The power draw is slight. But in all. this unit out performed other more expensive like units. This DAC also has a balanced port if you should choose to (pay a lot) for balanced cables (it's a 4.4mm plug just so you know). In all though, I am happy with the performance. For the record, my Zen is powering Hifiman Sundara open back headphones and they sound superb coupled with this DAC.

Serious sound for the price

I am by no means an audiophile, but I did want a nice DAC to pair with my Kanto Yu desktop speakers (another fantastic purchase) and for headphone listening on my Sony MDR-7506's. After doing several hours of research, I settled on this little gadget. A couple of observations right out of the box, I may update this after a few weeks: 1. It is extremely well made. Very solid aluminum enclosure, the buttons all feel well made and they are also metal, and the inputs and outputs offer a wide range, BUT the thing that really takes the cake is the volume knob, WOW! This thing is smooth as butter, there is an LCD backlight that tells you what quality sound you are listening to (purple for MQA so you know you are getting the highest quality) and it just feels like it belongs on a piece of equipment ten times the cost. 2. Sound. The sound is really good, I have listened to everything from rock (Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Tedeschi Trucks Band) to classical (Ludovico Einaudi, Yo Yo Ma) EDM/Dance music (Flume, Santigold, Aviici) and a lot of Hip Hop. It produces a really clean sound with good high and low end, even on my woofer-less Kanto's which don't produce great bass the bass sounds really nice. On my Sony MDR 7506's is where the Zen really shines though. Holy Crap! Talk about being transported to another universe, the soundstage is crazy, I can hear every little detail on each song and with True-bass on (iFi's bass boost) the bass blows you away. I am by no means an audiophile, but I do have the Fiio K3 (a very good DAC for the money) and this thing absolutely blows it away. 3. Price/Value - I don't think there's anything out there that offers balanced/unbalanced, build quality AND MQA for the price point that this guy is at. The K3 costs $20 less and I'd prob pay $100 more for this, it's that big of a difference in overall quality and value. Overall verdict, at the price point, this is definitely a no-brainer for anyone who is looking for "entry-level" hi-fi, and, honestly, I think it should be considered strongly for a computer/desktop DAC even up against the higher end stuff. This was the perfect purchase for my needs.

My headphone AMP/DAC of choice...

I waited till my Balanced Adapter came in the mail so I could review this unit properly. This is my second foray into the world of AMP/DAC combos, my first was the Fiio E10k (Olympus 2). Since this is only my second AMP/DAC, I'm not going to jump the gun and say something like: "THIS IS THE BEST DAC/AMP MONEY CAN BUY !" . The truth of the matter is, I simply don't know and I'm not an expert. I do have about 30+ years in the world of Hi-Fi, but I go by what my ears tell me not by some fancy feature(s) the unit comes with. Although those are nice to have, the Bottom Line at the end of the day is the SOUND. I'm also not going to drown you in a bunch of fancy acronyms (IEM etc ) like I'm some type of expert which I'm not. What I can tell you is that this unit DOES sound much better than the E10K. Not by a mile, but substantially(IMHO). There is a more laid back, less harsh should I say more refined sound, more separation in the instruments although the sound stage remains about the same. The cymbals sound like cymbals instead of this muted scratchy sound I experienced with the E10K. You know you got good sound when everything seems to slow down and you begin hearing every instrument individually. This unit is great with vocals also. You can actually hear and place the background singers in the background without their voices becoming overwhelming. The only thing the E10k has over this unit in my opinion, is the Base. It just sounds deeper and more defined than on the Zen Dac, although not by a mile. Of course you are paying almost twice as much for this unit than the E10K, so maybe that plays a part... I gave this unit a 5-star, but to tell you the truth I wish I could give it a 4.5-star. The reason why I say this is because things can get a little muddled when listening to busy passages. Nevertheless, for the price I am a happy camper. So far this unit has replaced my E10k as my headphone AMP of choice, but that may not last very long, since I'm always looking for the 'ultimate sound'. As far as the Balanced/Unbalanced outputs, I could not tell the difference at all ? The Balanced output seemed a little more defined, but also slightly harsher so you give up a little something for an insignificant gain...

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