You're 2 for 2 Z. I'm a military retiree so I don't have a lot of money to spend on headphones and peripherals, but after watching your review on the Zen dac/amp and the Sundaras, holy fuck. ( I watch all of your reviews) I'm 500 bucks into the very best sound I will ever be able to afford. You've gained a new Patreon man. The Sundara/Zen combination is amazing. It's more than amazing. Thanks man.
Exactly what i just pulled the trigger on. Open box sundaras and refurbished zen v1. Picking up the extended power cable and a balanced cable to seal the deal. 👍
A portable magical combo is also - final audio e4000/phillips l2 & astell and kern pee51/hc1 or 2. Just my 2 cents worth. I understand budget limitations too 😅 cheers, bro.
The previous firmware version (5.2B) sounds more natural than the newer (5.30) or (5.3c) on this iFi Zen Dac. Bought it 2 weeks ago and really like it. Frightening to think of " The Law of Diminishing Returns " after this purchase :)
@@SparkiNgFLasH7 I went back and forth between all three for about an hour and couldn't hear any sound differences whatsoever. iFi's website says that the only differences between the three is functionality; 5.20 is the standard of the three, 5.2A enables DSD256 operation, and 5.2B disables sleep mode on their Micro iDSD (it also mentions that 5.2B should ONLY be used for smartphone users). Their site also says there is no need to use 5.2A if DSD files aren't played at all or 5.2B with any other products other than their Micro iDSD, therefore just use 5.20 if you're a casual listener who doesn't use DSD.
@@EDG3PC Yep, coupled it with the SHP9500. As far as I can tell, it's good for gaming as well. I'm able to identify the direction of the in-game sound and pick up subtle noises quite easily with this setup, so that's great. (I don't play competitively and have never tried other dac/amp + headphone combos before, though)
Bought this the day it came out because it being a DAC/amp with a 4.4mm for $130 is amazing on its own. My favorite part though... DT880 250ohm + bass boost button = orgasm
Never used a DAC or amp for head phones before. I had JBL wireless, bought Vmoda, Vmodas sounded like I took the pillow off the JBLs, gave those away. bought this DAC/AMP, sounded like I took the pillow off the Vmodas.
@@EDG3PC Since day one. Works perfect with anything music , movies and of course with games as well. A USB DAC it's a sound card so of course it works.
Wolfson no more, unfortunately. Used to be based in walking distance of my home, here in Edinburgh. Sold off years ago. I think the intellectual property is owned by Cirrus Logic, and the design lab is gone. Probably to the States, or China.
I pair the zen DAC with the loxjie 20 with all balanced ins and outs as well as upgraded power supplies for both. It’s fantastic with hifiman he4xx and Sennheiser hd6xx. Straight butter
@@yaniv-nos-tubes yooo. I got it this week and WOW what an upgrade. It took me 2 seconds to realize how much crisper and more detailed things got. And the imaging. When sound goes right to left it hits like a wave. I honestly did not believe that power supply or whatever noise cancelling this does had such a dramatic effect.
Nice I got this delivered on the 15th of Jan just three days before Zeos reviewed :). After looking at so many options I saw the USB3, Switchable RCA outs and balanced options at the price I was sold!
Zen Dac V2 is now here! The V2 has the 16 core XMOS USB controller with an improved crystal clock for $159. Now, you can power with the iPower 5V for $59 which should improve the clarity quite a bit.
Not even close, the power output is in another league, and the Micro also has the cleanliness / endgame distortion specs, so that won't help the Zen either.
Hi, congratulations on your channel, before buying anything, always go through that channel before deciding. but I would like to ask a question, between ifi Zen and fiio k5 which one would you recommend comparing the sound? thank you and continued good work
thank you for the great video. I just brought the sennheiser HD58X and I'm currently just powering it via my 2013 iMac. Would the iFi Zen be a good match for the 58X? the Zen costs $20 over what i paid for the 58X so i'll only be upgraded if it makes a noticeable difference.
Man...I'm listening to my SHP9500 through the Zen (with additional power plugged in) right now and I just had a thought; If you're an audiophile on a budget and don't mind the sometimes grainy highs of the SHPs, these could be your go-to combo for a really, really long time. Together, these are simply EARGASMIC. I do have multiple headphones, but I don't feel the need to grab the other ones to listen to different types of music at all. In my opinion, this combo just hit the sweet spot.
@@agoogleuser9025 I do! Though, I game with headphones for the first time with this setup and I don't play competitively, so I can't really give much of an insight about the quality of the gaming audio. But, I do notice that, in game, I can hear and identify the direction of sound quite easily, so that's great. Much better than speakers setup I used previously, for sure.
@@krisvoninks5312 Hi, what other headphones do you have? I also have the sph9500 and i will buy the zen dac and the power supply. So you really think that is a good investiment then right?
I've owned the ifi Zen for a couple of weeks and I actually didn't realise what the purpose of the fixed/variable switch was. Now that I know I'm using this as my main Dac instead of a Focusrite Scarlett 2. Actually switched it over in the middle of this video so thanks for that. It's a damn nice dac and amp for my Shure SRH1840s and Yamaha HS5 speakers. Doesn't look out of place on top of my LA EQX2 either
"2020 is kickin off right" - Zeos Pantera, Jan 2020 Welp.. yeah, about that 2020. Need to have a talk about that.. Meanwhile, back at the ranch.. I picked up that iFi Zen DAC recently (yesterday) and really looking forward to playing with it! Been looking at getting this for awhile. I was actually waiting for the Drop version to become available again, but after watching/reading reviews comparing the two, It doesn't seem like the price hike for the Drop exclusive is really worth it.. or, is it?
Well now I can't decide between getting this or the Schiit Hel, so that means it's time to stop watching your videos for a bit before I spend all the money I don't have.
Really not for me..I tried both Zen..both sound weird to me and and the knob was defective on the Zen Dac. Well. MQA is bs anyway. But for the price you get a better product than average at that price point. Ifi not sure they did good by coming up with a tcheaper product than what we are use to. Great review anyway. Thanks Zeos
Super combo with DT770 PRO 80ohm. Sounds like hifi should, nicely airy, pretty big tight and entertaining. Detailed and smooth but not "desperately trying to be high end" at 130USD Although details in this forced way sound more detailed at first glance, but it has its price, tiring/sharp and sterile This is more like fine Dark chocolate Reminds me of Sonusfaber speakers. Might be too dark /vintage sounding for some, If you like modern sound, this is not for you. Definitely not forward, analytical and sterile which is the brand new super amazing "natural"
Z thank you! I purchased the Zen DAC and I really like it. After using it for a few weeks I decided to run it out the balanced 4.4 on the back into the XLR’s on my Drop AAA 789. I’m not disappointed. I’ll see if I replace it in August when Drop ships the Grace SDAC Balanced.
Zeos is right this thing is addicting. I got this as my first desk dac and since switched to a modius and 789. Gave this thing to my cousin. A month later. I realized i wanted it back. But I'm not that kind of person so im getting the zen can instead.
Awesome review. Thank you. My question is: if I use iPhone or iPad as a source to stream Apple Music lossless, would that be any concerns for using Zen DAC ? What kind of adapter or cable should I get for connection (lightening) to Zen DAC? Hope to hear from you soon
Questions... If I'm a little confused. I'm connecting though usb From my PC to my SONY AMP, (STR-DH790) What output would I get the best quality sound from? The RCA? Its an Unbalanced Amplifier so i'm assuming RCA would be the best bet...would I still be getting the top quality stream available through RCA or is there a drop in quality by not using an XLR connection? I'm aware that using RCA cables can pick up noise but will it reduce the overall quality of the stream. I guess my question is, hypothetically just say if noise wasn't an issue, would RCA cables (unbalanced) stream the same rate as XLR (balanced) cables?
If you are serious about any, even minor upgrade you must power it with a separate power supply (linear), sounds better, guaranteed, using it since first available day in late October or early November if possible to remember. But the thing is, I bought it from a hunch, I was 100% shure that it will be this good plus that 4.4mm pentacon for my Sundaras or HD600! Long live ifi! The only thing I am not happy is a lack of optical input as I enjoy watching movies on my TV.
Bought this. Prolly will return. Would love to keep it since it does everything I need (hi-fi decoding, mqa, pre-outs, balanced) and is a great build for the price, nice piece, nice to turn the volume knob. Problem is sound is quite warm, and seems bass boosted (haven't listened enough to peg down where the bumps are exactly, might also have mid and treble spikes, but definitely not neutral). If you have neutral, clinical cans, and want to add some color and maybe width, or like really warm sound, this may be for you. With more colored cans (B&O H6's, atm), I find it nauseating, like pouring honey on sugar, i.e. gilding the lilly. Too bad, because sound is good for the money, good separation, detail, width, and it does everything you need, signature just isn't for me, unless I keep it just to use with certain cans where I want some color. Same product, same price, more neutral, would be a home run for me.
I don't know if this is in the same class, but I've been using the SMSL M3 at work based on your recommendation. It's nice because it has an optical in; I use the digital out on one of those little Bluetooth receivers paired with my phone as input. No balanced though.
Thanks zeos. Just got into this hobby running a dragon fly Cobalt which I think is fine for starters. Was a bit anemic in the low end for my tastes but good enough for someone who doesn't know what he's doing yet. Was trying to go to a real dac/amp but couldn't decide. Until now. New sub.
@@earlskeletor430 They really do sound great with the Zen Dac. I'm getting the 5v power supply tomorrow to try to just squeeze a tiny bit more out of the Zen Dac.
@@phanatic23608 That's awesome. I just got the Topping P50 linear power supply. I'm actually using it on a Douk Audio tube amp. Perfection. Power supplies can make a slight difference.
great review keep up the good work. I have just received my fiio k5 pro i was wondering if you could give me some help. I noticed you have the input on COAX/OPTICAL IN is that the best input when using a headset for sound quality over just using the USB input settting? I mainly game so it would be great to know if its worth me buying the extra cables to get the maximum sound quality out of the k5 pro. my headset it is paired up with is beyerdynamic DT 990 PROS TIA.
Planning to buy an AKG K702 or 712 soon and later a Sennheiser H600 or 650. Would the Zen be a good match for these cans or the Fiio K5Pro would be better?
Z, another thing. I am using Macbook pro 2022. When I plug in the DAC i see almost no difference. It can be 5% improvement. Can this be the case? or its just something wrong with the DAC? I am using Fostex X00. Someone said that the headphones are way better then the DAC and I would need a better DAC for them to get to a full sound potential. PLease advise. thank you🙏🏻
Hey Z, I just got a ZEN Dac and cannot connect it to my Macbook, as it has a Type C USB and the adapter does not work. I get this yellow LED color. Can you recommend any DAC specifically for Mac with the approximate sound quality? I appreciate it man 🙏🏻
Hi great video just bought v2 for £134.95 , great audio but can I find a pentagon jack plug to 2.5mm 4 ring plug for my sennheiser hd560s aD these headphones has balance 4 ring plug, can get pentagon plug to stereo 3 ring 3.5mm adapter tho . Thanks mark
Interesting you mention the Gorack. Have you tried using it as an intermediate between a DAC and a balanced headphone amp? I don't have a balanced DAC so I have been experimenting with this exact setup into the SP200. The bass boost, like you say, is magical on that thing. With regard to the Zen, used purely as a source, would you recommend it over the Grace Design SDAC Balanced on Drop? I don't really need an AIO as I am happy with my NFB11.28.
Honestly, I couldn't say since I don't have the Sennheisers. I will two things. I ended up going with the Fiio K5 Pro, and I love it. It's powerful and clean sounding (to my ears). That said, I've seen lots of people say that the ifi Zen Dac is amazing. You probably can't go wrong with either one.
I bought the Topping MX3 off your recommendation Z, and no regrets there, but should I then buy this for a noticeable upgrade in sound quality? Thanks for the review by the way.
ya i had to go back into this vid. that buttery smack true bass button!! apparently, my kph30i's love that buttery smack bass button! they sound great with that button on!!
I love your videos. Is there anywhere that you keep a current ranking of your favourite Class D amps? Would love to upgrade from the SMSL one I've had for the past 5 years.
What application is that on your computer that you play all your movies/music from or atleast music and how do u hook a computer/laptop to a tv on a wall with wireless keyboard and mouse and what is best wireless keyboard and mouse ?
Hello and thank you very much for this review! I have now Micca OriGen+ and it has been giving me troubles getting it to work in foobar2000 in the Native DSD / ASIO mode on Windows 7. How is ZEN doing regarding that? Does it require special drivers etc.? Or is it a plug-and-play thing? Again, I am talking about reproducing DSD natively in foobar2000 on Windows 7. Thank you.
Dealbreaker for me is that it doesn't have a switch on the front for switching from headphones or RCA out, shame. I don't understand why more things don't have this. Looks really nice though. Thanks for the review.
However this would be a great too, especially if you like the idea of the Bass Boost button (not sure if it works when just using it as a DAC?). And it gives you the option to listen to something in with more chill (“Zen”) sound through the internal Amp than the “sterile” THX sound as Zeos mentioned.
@Tasunke bb chips sounds nicer than other delta sigma chips,warmer less sharp or bright ,a bit less detail but better tone,plugging a warmer sounding dac to the sterile 789 makes perfect sense . r 2 r or tube dacs even better.
having watched both this and your MX3 review, you had amazing stuff to say for both. What are the differences and which would you recommend to use with a pair of blon b20s ?
MX3 has a real good headphone amp, but its speaker output has sad levels of distortion, so the Zen is probably far superior at that end. And it works without a power brick, you can power it just with the USB.
This or the topping MX3? I currently use the MX3 and I might actually upgrade to this? Currently I'm only using a 58x and the mx3 has no issue with powering that but I plan on investing on either argon mk3's OR DT1990's so would my MX3 be capable of powering either of those or would I need to upgrade to this or something else?
@@ZReviews Yeah I'm not, I thought the MX3 was decent as just a headphone dac amp also, but in that case; I'll be returning my MX3 in replace of this Monday! Thanks, Z.
I hope this is still considered a recommend and I hope it's powerful enough for my Tin P1s. My Magni 3 amp went up in smoke just a little while ago. I remembered the good reviews for this unit and considered the price to performance sounds worth the purchase. If it isn't powerful enough I suppose I could use it's 4.4 balanced out to push to a stronger amp.
@@misternef What other cans or IEMs are you running with them? I finally ordered my first headphone amp - a Zen Can - and I'm getting it Wednesday - I can't wait. I have AD500Xs (with HM5 pads) and am gonna buy 600ohm DT880s
@@Gamez4eveR Right now my main cans are DT 1770 pros with Dekoni Suede pads. I also sometimes put on my 58X Jubilees. Audio Technica certainly makes good headphones. I used to have a pair of their Solid Bass ones that I gave to my father that needed a good pair of headphones.
@@TheEchelon Not really. It's a flaw for the millions of game console users that want a plug and play amp for a headset. Plus all the others you personally might deem insignificant for some bizarre reason.
I would like to start by saying, what an amazing reviewer you are! You have your own way of expressing your thoughts into words and it connects, at least with people like me :). I have a question. Where can I get the balanced cable like the one you have in this review, the purple and pink? I need a Headphone Jack on both ends (TRS). Is it possible to buy such cable online at a reasonable cost? Thanks!
Hello! I'm still pretty new to the world of good sound. I was looking to purchase a Creative Sound Blaster X3 but then ran into this review...would this be better than the X3?? Significant step up?
Yes! Soundblaster is mainly focused on gaming / 7.1. But Zen DAC is for made audiophiles. It definitely will be a lot worth more than soundblaster, if you have audiophile headphones.
I already got this one. Sound quality is amazing, goes well with HD600 but on earlier linear filter firmware. I don't like new GTO filter in the newest update. I went back to the previous one.
why? i had the gto one month now(idac2 itube headamp gilmore lite hd 700/nighthawks), i'm not sure but it sounds a bit bright maybe? how does the other one sound compared to it? btw the ipower 5v is a great 50$ upgrade
@@yaniv-nos-tubes on the higher ifi dac models gto filter might work better idk. On the zen dac GTO filter makes the sound unnatural (especially Sennheiser's HD600 midrange) and changes gain switch to more like "loudness" switch with distortion at higher volumes. With 5.3 firmware (without "c") it sounds much better. GTO filter converts everything to MQA and you loose native bit perfect DSD decoding of the previous firmware.
No optical in makes it useless for me. The K5 pro has more complete connectivity. Not sure why you don't mention it in your review since it was your previous recommendation for a sub $200 dac/amp...
Newbie here asking for some advice. I'm looking to buy my first audiophile headphones, the HiFiMAN Sundara, in combination with this DAC/AMP. My question: since the Sundara's come with a detachable 3.5mm cable, and the ifi Zen DAC supports 6.3mm unbalanced / 4.4mm balanced, can I still use these headphones by using a fitting cable(s), and if so, what cable should I look to buy? Thanks :)
Your Sundara's should come with an adaptor to go from 3.5 to 1/4". The ifi Zen DAC also comes with one in the box. I can tell you this is absolutely amazing for a beginner. I bought mine a while back and absolutely love it.
Did you record this before or after the SMSL M500? Other than the fixed/variable switch and the 4mm jack(s), isn't the M500 a better DAC/headphone amp/preamp choice?
You're 2 for 2 Z. I'm a military retiree so I don't have a lot of money to spend on headphones and peripherals, but after watching your review on the Zen dac/amp and the Sundaras, holy fuck. ( I watch all of your reviews) I'm 500 bucks into the very best sound I will ever be able to afford. You've gained a new Patreon man. The Sundara/Zen combination is amazing. It's more than amazing. Thanks man.
Enjoy the combo, i will purchase the same when i get the paycheck. Any music recomendation to enjoy?
@@asiergarcia1213 try giving Friedrich Habetler a listen. its mostly anime stuff but he has some bangers.
Exactly what i just pulled the trigger on. Open box sundaras and refurbished zen v1. Picking up the extended power cable and a balanced cable to seal the deal. 👍
A portable magical combo is also - final audio e4000/phillips l2 & astell and kern pee51/hc1 or 2. Just my 2 cents worth. I understand budget limitations too 😅 cheers, bro.
about the sound quality, which is your choice ? fiio 5k Pro, or ifi zen dac?
The previous firmware version (5.2B) sounds more natural than the newer (5.30) or (5.3c) on this iFi Zen Dac.
Bought it 2 weeks ago and really like it. Frightening to think of " The Law of Diminishing Returns " after this purchase :)
You saved my life!
Has anyone else felt this? Need a larger sample size
can I get the older firmware? Is it less colored?
Out of the 3 was (5.2B) the most natural out of the (5.2A) and (5.20)
@@SparkiNgFLasH7 I went back and forth between all three for about an hour and couldn't hear any sound differences whatsoever. iFi's website says that the only differences between the three is functionality; 5.20 is the standard of the three, 5.2A enables DSD256 operation, and 5.2B disables sleep mode on their Micro iDSD (it also mentions that 5.2B should ONLY be used for smartphone users). Their site also says there is no need to use 5.2A if DSD files aren't played at all or 5.2B with any other products other than their Micro iDSD, therefore just use 5.20 if you're a casual listener who doesn't use DSD.
I just recently got the Zen and I just wanted to come back to this video to say:
Dude... BUTTER. HEROIN.
I also felt the withdrawal when turning off TrueBass.
Did you try it on games?
@@EDG3PC Yep, coupled it with the SHP9500. As far as I can tell, it's good for gaming as well. I'm able to identify the direction of the in-game sound and pick up subtle noises quite easily with this setup, so that's great. (I don't play competitively and have never tried other dac/amp + headphone combos before, though)
@@krisvoninks5312
can this dac connected to bookshelf speakers? speaker has an inbuilt amp
@@praba991ify yes you can switch the rca outputs to fixed and connect them to bookshelves
Bought this the day it came out because it being a DAC/amp with a 4.4mm for $130 is amazing on its own. My favorite part though...
DT880 250ohm + bass boost button = orgasm
I have the DT880 250 ohm too, how is the Sound about not Balanced output? I was thinking to get the Fiio K5 pro.
u tried not balanced output?
Wood Meat DT 880 + bass bost = orgasm... but balanced or unbalanced?
Never used a DAC or amp for head phones before. I had JBL wireless, bought Vmoda, Vmodas sounded like I took the pillow off the JBLs, gave those away. bought this DAC/AMP, sounded like I took the pillow off the Vmodas.
Thanks Z! Got mine today and I'm happy with it. Bonus: it works off the usb-c on your phone too... with an adapter ofc!
I just bought one today on Amazon with the charger,hope that it sounds good enough for my small desk area.Thx Zeos
next door neighbors going at it
I got mine delivered and this thing really has remarkable sound and build quality, not even considering the price.
Did you try it with games?
"It's the wrong gender, like we all are." I love you zeos
I have it as a soundcard replacement for my PC. It's an amazing DAC. I use it for now with my Audio Technica MSR7b headphones.
Did you try with games?
@@EDG3PC Since day one. Works perfect with anything music , movies and of course with games as well. A USB DAC it's a sound card so of course it works.
@@EDG3PC I tried it with league of legends and it's like 15 percent better
Burr-Brown baby! Legendary DAC chips! Burr-Brown, Sabre and Wofson are classics
Wolfson no more, unfortunately. Used to be based in walking distance of my home, here in Edinburgh. Sold off years ago. I think the intellectual property is owned by Cirrus Logic, and the design lab is gone. Probably to the States, or China.
12:44 meow
Microwave woww I missed that hahaha
True audiophile
Funny thing is, the wallpaper made that sound
I pair the zen DAC with the loxjie 20 with all balanced ins and outs as well as upgraded power supplies for both. It’s fantastic with hifiman he4xx and Sennheiser hd6xx. Straight butter
Finally!!! LOVE the Zen! Theres also a firmware update on their website that cleans up the sound a bit as well. I highly recommend that.
try the ipower 5v it's 50 $
@@yaniv-nos-tubes helps?
@@yaniv-nos-tubes yooo. I got it this week and WOW what an upgrade. It took me 2 seconds to realize how much crisper and more detailed things got. And the imaging. When sound goes right to left it hits like a wave. I honestly did not believe that power supply or whatever noise cancelling this does had such a dramatic effect.
@@MrAhuraMazda Did you get more soundstage and better imaging with this? Witch hedphones you use?
Nice I got this delivered on the 15th of Jan just three days before Zeos reviewed :). After looking at so many options I saw the USB3, Switchable RCA outs and balanced options at the price I was sold!
"butter herion" is more commonly known as "morphin i stole from a hospital "
The Ifi iPower low noise 5v power supply takes the Zen Dac to a whole other level. For $50, it's a must. I didnt believe it, but try it for yourself.
can you compare the iPower to more generic 5v adapters you can find?
Zen Dac V2 is now here! The V2 has the 16 core XMOS USB controller with an improved crystal clock for $159. Now, you can power with the iPower 5V for $59 which should improve the clarity quite a bit.
is this worth switching to from the ifi Micro iDSD?
no
Not even close, the power output is in another league, and the Micro also has the cleanliness / endgame distortion specs, so that won't help the Zen either.
@@d0nj03 how does this compare to the iDAC 2 then? I saw a display set for the same price in my area
I finally found you
What are U talking about... We talk clearly price to performance
Hi, congratulations on your channel, before buying anything, always go through that channel before deciding. but I would like to ask a question, between ifi Zen and fiio k5 which one would you recommend comparing the sound? thank you and continued good work
thank you for the great video. I just brought the sennheiser HD58X and I'm currently just powering it via my 2013 iMac. Would the iFi Zen be a good match for the 58X? the Zen costs $20 over what i paid for the 58X so i'll only be upgraded if it makes a noticeable difference.
Yes upgrade to a proper Amp & dac dude. Your MacBook has nothing on proper hardware
Man...I'm listening to my SHP9500 through the Zen (with additional power plugged in) right now and I just had a thought; If you're an audiophile on a budget and don't mind the sometimes grainy highs of the SHPs, these could be your go-to combo for a really, really long time. Together, these are simply EARGASMIC. I do have multiple headphones, but I don't feel the need to grab the other ones to listen to different types of music at all. In my opinion, this combo just hit the sweet spot.
Do you also game with this setup?
@@agoogleuser9025 I do! Though, I game with headphones for the first time with this setup and I don't play competitively, so I can't really give much of an insight about the quality of the gaming audio. But, I do notice that, in game, I can hear and identify the direction of sound quite easily, so that's great. Much better than speakers setup I used previously, for sure.
@@krisvoninks5312 Hi, what other headphones do you have? I also have the sph9500 and i will buy the zen dac and the power supply. So you really think that is a good investiment then right?
Zen dac + ipower from ifi = perfect sounds for starter.
Plus upgraded power supply plus all balanced in and out = master race status
*here's knocking on wall* "Who is it??" 😂
I've owned the ifi Zen for a couple of weeks and I actually didn't realise what the purpose of the fixed/variable switch was. Now that I know I'm using this as my main Dac instead of a Focusrite Scarlett 2. Actually switched it over in the middle of this video so thanks for that. It's a damn nice dac and amp for my Shure SRH1840s and Yamaha HS5 speakers.
Doesn't look out of place on top of my LA EQX2 either
Can you use your monitor speakers simultaneously with headphones amp on?
@@maurusfernandes Zeos said in the video, it'd output out together with the H/O
Hi. So, can you control the volume of the HS5 directly from the Zen? It would be very comfortable, really.
2:09 "whatever the f shape you want to call this." That's a flask bro
because it sips power HAHAHAHAAHAHAH...HAHA...HA..eh.......ill leave now
@@jirya957 you need to seek therapy or visit AA. Now leave 😂
This with the balanced output going to a loxjie P20 would be a fantastic setup
le mish it is. Trust me
"please never send a headphones to Poland"
Thanks Man! :P
Great video, I hink you have made my mind of what to buy :D
I in fact like this better than the Chord Hugo! I sold the Hugo and kept the Zen!
2 different animals. Zen is a Zebra, Chord is a Rhino.
great review
pretty helpful as always
i'm interested at buying it to use at home on my laptop.
keep up the good work,Zeos
"2020 is kickin off right" - Zeos Pantera, Jan 2020
Welp.. yeah, about that 2020. Need to have a talk about that..
Meanwhile, back at the ranch.. I picked up that iFi Zen DAC recently (yesterday) and really looking forward to playing with it! Been looking at getting this for awhile. I was actually waiting for the Drop version to become available again, but after watching/reading reviews comparing the two, It doesn't seem like the price hike for the Drop exclusive is really worth it.. or, is it?
Well now I can't decide between getting this or the Schiit Hel, so that means it's time to stop watching your videos for a bit before I spend all the money I don't have.
Really not for me..I tried both Zen..both sound weird to me and and the knob was defective on the Zen Dac. Well. MQA is bs anyway. But for the price you get a better product than average at that price point. Ifi not sure they did good by coming up with a tcheaper product than what we are use to. Great review anyway. Thanks Zeos
Super combo with DT770 PRO 80ohm.
Sounds like hifi should, nicely airy, pretty big tight and entertaining.
Detailed and smooth but not "desperately trying to be high end" at 130USD Although details in this forced way sound more detailed at first glance, but it has its price, tiring/sharp and sterile
This is more like fine Dark chocolate
Reminds me of Sonusfaber speakers.
Might be too dark /vintage sounding for some, If you like modern sound, this is not for you.
Definitely not forward, analytical and sterile which is the brand new super amazing "natural"
Z thank you! I purchased the Zen DAC and I really like it. After using it for a few weeks I decided to run it out the balanced 4.4 on the back into the XLR’s on my Drop AAA 789. I’m not disappointed. I’ll see if I replace it in August when Drop ships the Grace SDAC Balanced.
Zeos is right this thing is addicting. I got this as my first desk dac and since switched to a modius and 789. Gave this thing to my cousin. A month later. I realized i wanted it back. But I'm not that kind of person so im getting the zen can instead.
I was waiting for this review... and now I can buy this. Simple.
Awesome review. Thank you. My question is: if I use iPhone or iPad as a source to stream Apple Music lossless, would that be any concerns for using Zen DAC ? What kind of adapter or cable should I get for connection (lightening) to Zen DAC? Hope to hear from you soon
You need a lightning to USB 3.0 A adapter, then a usb 3.0 A to usb 3.0 B cord
Questions... If I'm a little confused. I'm connecting though usb From my PC to my SONY AMP, (STR-DH790) What output would I get the best quality sound from? The RCA? Its an Unbalanced Amplifier so i'm assuming RCA would be the best bet...would I still be getting the top quality stream available through RCA or is there a drop in quality by not using an XLR connection? I'm aware that using RCA cables can pick up noise but will it reduce the overall quality of the stream. I guess my question is, hypothetically just say if noise wasn't an issue, would RCA cables (unbalanced) stream the same rate as XLR (balanced) cables?
"It can go from quiet to FUCK real fast. " This line had me laugh out hard. :-D
Since I only have single ended headphones I prefer the K5 pro because more power.
in term of just headphone amp audio quality which is better ifi zen or cavalli liquid carbon?
Tonight tonight tonight... OHHHH OHHHHHH
I’m gonna get it riiiight
Tonight tonight tonight.
Great reviews as always.
I know they are different devices but on sound quality alone zen dac or fiio bt5k?
Finally got around to getting one of these, and I love it! Cheers for the review.
did you do the firmware update? apparently it makes the sound a bit clearer and tighter.
If you are serious about any, even minor upgrade you must power it with a separate power supply (linear), sounds better, guaranteed, using it since first available day in late October or early November if possible to remember. But the thing is, I bought it from a hunch, I was 100% shure that it will be this good plus that 4.4mm pentacon for my Sundaras or HD600! Long live ifi!
The only thing I am not happy is a lack of optical input as I enjoy watching movies on my TV.
Bought this. Prolly will return. Would love to keep it since it does everything I need (hi-fi decoding, mqa, pre-outs, balanced) and is a great build for the price, nice piece, nice to turn the volume knob. Problem is sound is quite warm, and seems bass boosted (haven't listened enough to peg down where the bumps are exactly, might also have mid and treble spikes, but definitely not neutral). If you have neutral, clinical cans, and want to add some color and maybe width, or like really warm sound, this may be for you. With more colored cans (B&O H6's, atm), I find it nauseating, like pouring honey on sugar, i.e. gilding the lilly. Too bad, because sound is good for the money, good separation, detail, width, and it does everything you need, signature just isn't for me, unless I keep it just to use with certain cans where I want some color. Same product, same price, more neutral, would be a home run for me.
Also, holy $hit it has 4.4 balanced as well? Take my money!
I don't know if this is in the same class, but I've been using the SMSL M3 at work based on your recommendation. It's nice because it has an optical in; I use the digital out on one of those little Bluetooth receivers paired with my phone as input. No balanced though.
Thanks zeos. Just got into this hobby running a dragon fly Cobalt which I think is fine for starters. Was a bit anemic in the low end for my tastes but good enough for someone who doesn't know what he's doing yet. Was trying to go to a real dac/amp but couldn't decide. Until now. New sub.
My poor man’s audio includes this with the HD 560 S. This is exactly what those headphones needed.
560s are so good. I just got some K712 pros today. I hate them. Sticking with my 560s and DT880.
I have basically every Sennheiser headphone ever and the 560S is my current go to, Love it!
@@earlskeletor430 They really do sound great with the Zen Dac. I'm getting the 5v power supply tomorrow to try to just squeeze a tiny bit more out of the Zen Dac.
@@Princeton_James I'm not sure if I ever want to listen to closed backs ever again.
@@phanatic23608 That's awesome. I just got the Topping P50 linear power supply. I'm actually using it on a Douk Audio tube amp. Perfection. Power supplies can make a slight difference.
I love the Zen been using it for about a month together with mine Adam audio T5V 👍
Playing mqa from tidal and dsd from my library great sound
You use rca or xlr?
I have the t7v thats why i am asking and i am thinking it to use it with an xlr adapter to my adam.
@@vasilistzannetis8286 I am using rca, but did try them with xlr on another system, they sound good with both connections
@@Mister_Fixit thanks
I’d the 3D feature useful?
Topping e30 or ifi ? I am really stuck between the two
great review keep up the good work. I have just received my fiio k5 pro i was wondering if you could give me some help. I noticed you have the input on COAX/OPTICAL IN is that the best input when using a headset for sound quality over just using the USB input settting? I mainly game so it would be great to know if its worth me buying the extra cables to get the maximum sound quality out of the k5 pro. my headset it is paired up with is beyerdynamic DT 990 PROS TIA.
Planning to buy an AKG K702 or 712 soon and later a Sennheiser H600 or 650. Would the Zen be a good match for these cans or the Fiio K5Pro would be better?
No optical in? Not for me. I already have 4 usb dacs.
Ok...I am calling Zeos...ButterfingerZ.
Z, another thing. I am using Macbook pro 2022. When I plug in the DAC i see almost no difference. It can be 5% improvement. Can this be the case? or its just something wrong with the DAC? I am using Fostex X00. Someone said that the headphones are way better then the DAC and I would need a better DAC for them to get to a full sound potential. PLease advise. thank you🙏🏻
Hey Z, I just got a ZEN Dac and cannot connect it to my Macbook, as it has a Type C USB and the adapter does not work. I get this yellow LED color. Can you recommend any DAC specifically for Mac with the approximate sound quality? I appreciate it man 🙏🏻
how does it compares to Fiio K5 pro?
The real question is: this or the FiiO K5 Pro?
I have the same question!
Same here, I'm leaning towards the FiiO
I got the K5 Pro already! FML. I am happy with it though.
I mean.. That maybe for power. But this has balanced out AND bass boost.. +2 ifi
@@ZReviews This is cheaper + USB3 + balanced as you said 😫
Hi great video just bought v2 for £134.95 , great audio but can I find a pentagon jack plug to 2.5mm 4 ring plug for my sennheiser hd560s aD these headphones has balance 4 ring plug, can get pentagon plug to stereo 3 ring 3.5mm adapter tho . Thanks mark
Interesting you mention the Gorack. Have you tried using it as an intermediate between a DAC and a balanced headphone amp? I don't have a balanced DAC so I have been experimenting with this exact setup into the SP200. The bass boost, like you say, is magical on that thing.
With regard to the Zen, used purely as a source, would you recommend it over the Grace Design SDAC Balanced on Drop? I don't really need an AIO as I am happy with my NFB11.28.
should I buy this over the FIIO K5pro cos I have Sony MDR 1AM2 with 4.4mm jack cable?
This or the Fiio K5 Pro? You really loved those too.
Honestly, I couldn't say since I don't have the Sennheisers. I will two things. I ended up going with the Fiio K5 Pro, and I love it. It's powerful and clean sounding (to my ears). That said, I've seen lots of people say that the ifi Zen Dac is amazing. You probably can't go wrong with either one.
I bought the Topping MX3 off your recommendation Z, and no regrets there, but should I then buy this for a noticeable upgrade in sound quality? Thanks for the review by the way.
Apparently, the Zen Can does not have a relay muting circuit so be ready for noise on turning on, etc.
ya i had to go back into this vid. that buttery smack true bass button!! apparently, my kph30i's love that buttery smack bass button! they sound great with that button on!!
I love your videos. Is there anywhere that you keep a current ranking of your favourite Class D amps? Would love to upgrade from the SMSL one I've had for the past 5 years.
When comparing dac/amps at that price, what do you think of the o2+sdac from massdrop?
What application is that on your computer that you play all your movies/music from or atleast music and how do u hook a computer/laptop to a tv on a wall with wireless keyboard and mouse and what is best wireless keyboard and mouse ?
I recently bought a Fiio K3. Should I return it and get this one instead? Butter heroin does sound good
Hello and thank you very much for this review!
I have now Micca OriGen+ and it has been giving me troubles getting it to work in foobar2000 in the Native DSD / ASIO mode on Windows 7. How is ZEN doing regarding that? Does it require special drivers etc.? Or is it a plug-and-play thing? Again, I am talking about reproducing DSD natively in foobar2000 on Windows 7.
Thank you.
I have a HOSA cable from 1/8 to split XLRs, can really tell if its worth the "conversion" but it is usable, I got it at Guitar Center
BTW 149 Amazon.de, was debating this or FiiO K5pro same price in Germany. went with the ifi because i liked the looks of it
Can always try both and send back one.
@@tenveri I think i will do that, thanks
Did you try both? How they compare?
Dealbreaker for me is that it doesn't have a switch on the front for switching from headphones or RCA out, shame. I don't understand why more things don't have this. Looks really nice though. Thanks for the review.
Would you recommend using this DAC with a THX AAA 789? I can't decide for a good enough DAC for my setup.
However this would be a great too, especially if you like the idea of the Bass Boost button (not sure if it works when just using it as a DAC?). And it gives you the option to listen to something in with more chill (“Zen”) sound through the internal Amp than the “sterile” THX sound as Zeos mentioned.
If you already have THX 789 you'd better get a better dedicated DAC like topping D30. The BB dac on the Zen is not nearly as good.
The d50s is 180 on drop
@Tasunke bb chips sounds nicer than other delta sigma chips,warmer less sharp or bright ,a bit less detail but better tone,plugging a warmer sounding dac to the sterile 789 makes perfect sense . r 2 r or tube dacs even better.
having watched both this and your MX3 review, you had amazing stuff to say for both. What are the differences and which would you recommend to use with a pair of blon b20s ?
MX3 has a real good headphone amp, but its speaker output has sad levels of distortion, so the Zen is probably far superior at that end. And it works without a power brick, you can power it just with the USB.
This or the topping MX3?
I currently use the MX3 and I might actually upgrade to this?
Currently I'm only using a 58x and the mx3 has no issue with powering that but I plan on investing on either argon mk3's OR DT1990's so would my MX3 be capable of powering either of those or would I need to upgrade to this or something else?
I mean if you aren't running speakers with the MX3. This makes way more sense.
@@ZReviews Yeah I'm not, I thought the MX3 was decent as just a headphone dac amp also, but in that case; I'll be returning my MX3 in replace of this Monday!
Thanks, Z.
Do you mind sharing how does this compare to Fiio K5 Pro?
I hope this is still considered a recommend and I hope it's powerful enough for my Tin P1s. My Magni 3 amp went up in smoke just a little while ago. I remembered the good reviews for this unit and considered the price to performance sounds worth the purchase. If it isn't powerful enough I suppose I could use it's 4.4 balanced out to push to a stronger amp.
If their specs is anything to go by the Zen should be able to outright fry them. Did you get it in the end?
@@Gamez4eveR Yes I got the Zen and couldn't be happier. It's wonderful.
@@misternef What other cans or IEMs are you running with them? I finally ordered my first headphone amp - a Zen Can - and I'm getting it Wednesday - I can't wait. I have AD500Xs (with HM5 pads) and am gonna buy 600ohm DT880s
@@Gamez4eveR Right now my main cans are DT 1770 pros with Dekoni Suede pads. I also sometimes put on my 58X Jubilees. Audio Technica certainly makes good headphones. I used to have a pair of their Solid Bass ones that I gave to my father that needed a good pair of headphones.
@@misternef 1770s and 1990s are definitely on my wishlist
if only it had 2 inputs. that would have been amazing
After comparing the Fiio K3 and the ifi Zen, I much prefer the Zen.
There is one flaw. The fact that its USB only with no optical input will be an issue for some people
Flaw for you, not for those who'd use USB anyway. We could list all the "missing" inputs/outputs with that logic.
worse is no analog input so you can just use it as an amp with other things
@@fammillie8385 what dac amp has analog input dac bypass?
@@TheEchelon Not really. It's a flaw for the millions of game console users that want a plug and play amp for a headset. Plus all the others you personally might deem insignificant for some bizarre reason.
I would like to start by saying, what an amazing reviewer you are! You have your own way of expressing your thoughts into words and it connects, at least with people like me :). I have a question. Where can I get the balanced cable like the one you have in this review, the purple and pink? I need a Headphone Jack on both ends (TRS). Is it possible to buy such cable online at a reasonable cost? Thanks!
Hello! I'm still pretty new to the world of good sound. I was looking to purchase a Creative Sound Blaster X3 but then ran into this review...would this be better than the X3?? Significant step up?
Yes! Soundblaster is mainly focused on gaming / 7.1. But Zen DAC is for made audiophiles. It definitely will be a lot worth more than soundblaster, if you have audiophile headphones.
I already got this one. Sound quality is amazing, goes well with HD600 but on earlier linear filter firmware.
I don't like new GTO filter in the newest update. I went back to the previous one.
why?
i had the gto one month now(idac2 itube headamp gilmore lite hd 700/nighthawks), i'm not sure but it sounds a bit bright maybe? how does the other one sound compared to it? btw the ipower 5v is a great 50$ upgrade
@@yaniv-nos-tubes on the higher ifi dac models gto filter might work better idk.
On the zen dac GTO filter makes the sound unnatural (especially Sennheiser's HD600 midrange) and changes gain switch to more like "loudness" switch with distortion at higher volumes.
With 5.3 firmware (without "c") it sounds much better.
GTO filter converts everything to MQA and you loose native bit perfect DSD decoding of the previous firmware.
@@yaniv-nos-tubes I'm using Amiron Home with previous firmware too, I don't like GTO filter firmware, I't sounds unnuature.
No optical in makes it useless for me. The K5 pro has more complete connectivity. Not sure why you don't mention it in your review since it was your previous recommendation for a sub $200 dac/amp...
23:22 DMS and Joshua Valour just got butt hurt 😂
Dac part of iFI Zen or Schiit modi 3? Which one is better sounding? Please advice.
does the bass boost sound good with Sundara?
Again, an amazing typical Zeos review. Will this iFi drive my 250ohm beyerdynamics?
Yes it will.
Trying to decide between this and a SoundBlaster AE-5 plus... any suggestions?
Is the FiiO K5 Pro as clean as ifi Zen ? I don't need balanced for now , it the Fiio is just as clean and has similar soundstage I will go with Fiio s
Answered my question in 6 seconds
Newbie here asking for some advice. I'm looking to buy my first audiophile headphones, the HiFiMAN Sundara, in combination with this DAC/AMP. My question: since the Sundara's come with a detachable 3.5mm cable, and the ifi Zen DAC supports 6.3mm unbalanced / 4.4mm balanced, can I still use these headphones by using a fitting cable(s), and if so, what cable should I look to buy? Thanks :)
Your Sundara's should come with an adaptor to go from 3.5 to 1/4". The ifi Zen DAC also comes with one in the box. I can tell you this is absolutely amazing for a beginner. I bought mine a while back and absolutely love it.
Did you record this before or after the SMSL M500? Other than the fixed/variable switch and the 4mm jack(s), isn't the M500 a better DAC/headphone amp/preamp choice?
To be honest IFI Zen DAC uses an outdated DAC chip. It is just a entry level DAC. SMSL M500 targets audiophiles
this or the lcx sdac that was on sale for $250 ? i know you're reading this zeos