I know everyone is already talking about the Truebass bass boost implementation, but I thought I'd chime in with my take on it. It sounds great for being a simple bass boost button without ever overpowering mids or highs and all without even muddying the bass at all. The kicker for me is that it allows you to use bass light headphones as daily drivers and if a bass heavy track comes out, you can hear it more fully instead of having to switch out your headphones to fully enjoy that song/album.
Not the same product but yup I use ifi hip dac with hd660s when not at my desktop and the bass boost on it is perfect for pretty much all songs except the already heavy bass songs
The manual for this DAC on the iFi Audio official website clarifies this interesting point about the Xbass+ button. : "Sonically-hindering DSP is NOT used for XBass+ systems. The Xbass+ systems use highest-quality discrete components and operate purely in the analogue domain. Hence all the clarity and resolution of the original music is retained".
There are plenty of Zen Dac v1's at the used market at the moment for 70-100€, MONSTER value for everyone who wants to step into the hobby for even cheaper. The difference between the v1 and v2 are mostly just the MQA decoder, so the V1 is also a really good investment. Rocking Hifiman HE400SE and the Zen Dac V1, sounds amazing and the Truebass is the cherry on the top with these planars, love it.
What if I want something that can hook up to my PC and have standard speaker wire connections with my two bookshelf speakers and then also a headphone jack which will mute the speakers when I plug into it?
@@JonJonJonJonJon the only thing that I can think of is the Loxjie A30. But you have to manually switch outputs, I’m pretty sure. I’m not sure of anything that auto switches output without some sort of physical switch or digital menu control. There may be something out there, but I’m guess that you’ll have to pay a bit for an aio like that. Probably better luck looking at building a stack with a preamp that has that capability, but once again, way more expensive. There’s also stereo receivers, but unless you’re willing to shell out some good money, the headphone out circuits tends to be an afterthought and not very good.
@@JonJonJonJonJon I use a cheap class d amp for my speakers and just turn that off when I'm using my headphones from the zen dac. You can switch the output of the rca or 4.5mm balanced jack to ignore the volume control or include it. I set mine to ignore the volume control.
I still haven't found a way to replace my V1. Even with a Zen Can, I prefer the TrueBass on the Zen DAC to XBass on the Zen Can. Also haven't found anything that doesn't pair well with it. Great for those of us that like warm/smooth sound. Cool review 👍 ☕
Ifi have released a firmware update for the V2 that should now allow it to work with the ps5. Also major props for mentioning the whole MQA situation, the more consumers learn about it the more chance that we can get companies to stop buying into it
was choosing a dac/amp combo a while back when I got my sennheiser hD 660S from my wife. Doubted a lot between the zen dac and a topping (viewing Joshua's channel), nobody had a (decent) review up on the zen dac, but choose the zen dac anyways because of the looks. Man, it is great. I now have it hooked up on my new work-from-home office, connected via a docking station for the input, and outputing to my headphones and a pair of white Jamo PM 801 bookshelf speakers (thanks to Joshua and recovering audiophile's review). Looks stunning and really deliveres great sound for the money. I was about 159€ when I bought it from amazon france, but in Europe we always note the price with the taxes included ;)
Ah good, man! Glad you're enjoying it. I haven't got into Topping yet. Right around the time I was, there was a unit out that was frying headphones? So it made keep my distance until they got all that sorted.
@@tiredmask I'm still using these. I live in Belgium, centre of Europe. Schitt is more expensive over here, don't have of their things and don't see the need to change
I recently purchased the Zen Dac v2 and insane value for money. I don't have 600 ohm headphones so this is all I really need. To get a significant boost in performance you'd have to spend £500 like he said. At this price there's nothing better with the features on offer.
Adding a proper power source significantly improved sound clarity and quality even though it ran with power from the USB connection in my experience. I am using the upgraded wall wort from iFi I have the V1 which compares well with my $300+ DACs.
I have my iFi Zen Dac connected with my Yamaha HS8, Hifiman Sundara, ATH-R70X, and the Moondrop B2. The Truebass is such a versatile and useful feature I can't even consider buying another DAC/AMP without it. The HS8 is known to be very flat and boring for audiophiles, but with Truebass I have the studio quality monitor with buttery smooth bass boost tonality. Sundara open back is also known for the heavy subbass drop but with Truebass it becomes a very pleasing headphone to listen to. Most importantly, I can connect the Zen Dac with my PS5 and laptop without needing to go back and forth EQing my audio, since some people are only listening to music on PC. I just wish they have a device selector. Great review brother spot on!
@@kokomisclam6625 the R70X is such a treat coupled with the truebass. The headphone can handle so much power and won’t hurt your ears, you can literally make it vibrate around your ear 😁 but do take care of your ears lol
I think you got me started with your Aeon Open X review. Now I have a JDS El 2 stack with custom hollow knight and dark souls engraving, a darkvoice, an xduoo mt-602, a hip dac, a qudelix 5k, ZMF aeolus, aeon closed x, lcd2c, 6xx, er2xr, blessing 2 dusk, etc. What a rabbit hole
@@alfonsosaavedra8009 I wish I never bought that setup because it sent me down a very large rabbit hole upgrading gear once I heard it haha ... I went from that to spending $10,000 on audio equipment over a period of time. Once you hear that setup - you won't go back... So YES I recommend but also at the same time DON'T DO IT RUN WHILE YOU CAN HELP ME THEY HAVE ME HOSTAGE...
@@pinoyxbox Yeah I've got the IDSD Black Label and would agree that the XBass is better. The 3D+ is also a cool effect at times. Especially when gaming
@@gabrielmoreno5775 Might be ok with low-bass planars. My Sennheiser 6xx are borderline ok with tubes and bass button. The Hifiman 4XX, also a planer, is too much, same with dynamic ones like Focal Elegia and Sivga Phoenix are too much, even without a tube amp for my taste (though my Elegia's are EQ'd up a bit to begin with). That said certain songs are fun with it, but for the most part, I find it just becomes too much and muddies the mids (though far better than most bass boost functions)
I saw Zeos losing his mind over this baby, but his content can be a bit odd at times hahhaa, I really appreciate you making this review, it helps to confirm this stuff
I have a JDS Labs Atom+ Stack and got this just to see how it sound out of curiosity. It definitely has a smoother sound which I prefer because at occasions with the JDS, some highs can sound too bright for me, which is never the case with the iFi. But as a tradeoff it doesn't reach that sparkle you can get with the JDS. After some A/B'ing I felt that the iFi has noticeably subtler bass than the JDS as well. With the JDS it's like you feel the bass, the kick, the oomf.. with the iFi you just hear the bass. It might be because I only have it powered via USB. Bought a regular PSU to see if the bass will improve. Overall I think the JDS sounds cleaner but can also be sharp occasionally. If it wouldn't be for the weak bass, I would keep the iFi, I'll see in a few days if it'll improve with the PSU.
You mentioned at 7:02 that adding a ZEN Can (and thus returning total cost to above $400) makes it a completely different comparison and a different video. I'm curious what the other contenders would be and how they'd stack up? Perhaps something for a future video?
Nice to see this pop up on your channel! I got my Zen DAC v2 & Zen CAN stack when my Heresy decided to blow up.. on day one -_- That Schiit aside, iFi is doing good business! Love it on my 660S & Sundara's, real powerhouse!
I have the V1 and I love it! But I wish it stopped playing on the speakers when you plug in headphones. Switching the speaker input every time on a daily basis is quite annoying. Sometimes I forget that the speaker is playing at the same time as the headphones and I end up blasting audio through the speakers at 2 am… 😅
Been hooked since the last 2,5 years on your vids Bryan, awesome review again. I’ve been asking Joshua Valour to do a review of the Topping MX3 DAC/AMP, which I own. It cost just $129. It’s got the same headphone power output as the iFi Zen DAC but also has a built in amp for passive speakers. I’ve got them hooked to some Q Acoustics 3020i’s and a HD58X, and that’s a sub $500 dollar desktop BANGER of a system. Would absolutely LOVE to see a review of them. Cheers from the Netherlands!
Just got my schit stack last month with my hd58x. Can't say I regret it even after watching this but I will be recommending this amp fax to friends that like my set up but don't want to spend that much. Might even get my gf this for her bday with a good pair of headphones if that's what she wants. Looking forward to the next video!
Hey man…just ran across your review and liked it. You know your shit and quickly kicked the reviews ass. No wasted words or bullshit. Brevity is impressive. You didn’t say useless shit to prove how smart you are…which shows how smart you are.. Matt in Texas
Thanks for another great video. I went with the Sennheiser GSX 1000 and Schiit Fulla E. I will be using it for gaming hopefully one will be notably better than the other.
I have a Zen v2 in my office at work feeding an Asgard 3. Great little platform to run everything from. The A3 feeds a set of Mackie monitors and I've got the 1/4 inch on the A3, Zen, and the 4.4mm for when/if I have cans with me and want to use them instead.
Got myself one of these awhile ago and while it's true that the sound quality, Truebass, and etc are amazing, I had to return it for a seemingly dumb reason. The Zen Dac overrides windows volume controls, and you're not able to control Windows volume through your keyboard/media control buttons. As I have my PC quite out of reach this is a deal breaker, I change volume frequently and it's a pain to have to stretch to reach the Zen Dac for volume changes. I'm surprised that most reviews don't cover this little nuisance that might or might not be a deal breaker for some. Also if anyone knows a good DAC or DAC/AMP combo that retains Windows volume controls, hmu as i really need a good option. I know audiophiles all want the volume controls on the DAC/AMP itself for the best sound quality but tbh im mostly listening to Spotify and watching RUclips and I can't really tell a difference. Using the DT177x GO for now, planning on splurging on the DCA Aeon Noires soon if I get to save up.
if your source is just spotify and youtube. you probably don't need a more expensive DAC. Just get a decent sounding cheap DAC that works well with your needs. It is pretty common that whenever you use a dedicated DAC, the volume control will be done in the device itself as it overrides your pc. (can't find the right words for it but you get the point) You are using the DAC so it's common sense that the volume will be controlled on the device itself. Why else would they put a volume knob on the device. As for DAC that suits your need, you might want to try a dongle instead. It was my first external DAC, a CX PRO to be exact and it satisfied my needs for a while until i decided to upgrade.
@@evilkamatis542 hey thanks for the answer brother. it's the answer i needed to hear but at the time i was just looking for an excuse to find a higher end DAC to splurge on lol. As for windows volume control, what you said makes sense but for my specific use case, i really do need my keyboard volume controls (my PC is placed very far away from where i sit, and i have to use a wireless keyboard/mouse lol). I picked up the Fulla Schitt and it works great for this, still allows windows volume controls and sounds great! Also it's a got a mic input for my PC38x. Maybe this might help someone out there that has this extremely edge case scenario like myself.
There is a weird audio volume bump from 120clock to 1oclock on the dial knob, also popping noise when pausing or playing audio and the imaging is off for my headphones that other amps haven’t ruined
Got mine a month ago and have the same issue as others. There is an awful channel imbalance. I switched back to my old dac and because I can't return the V2 it's collecting dust. Does anybody know if there is a fix for this, since I want the same amount of volume on each ear!!!
Great video! As someone with a bunch of high end headphones (Focal Clears, Anandas, etc run through an Adi2Pro) I've been astonished at the performance of cheap ChiFi iems. Got myself the Moondrop Arias and a Qudelix BT/dac/amp and the results are frankly not what I was expecting. Where was cheap good audio when I was a broke a** college student daggummit? Do try and get your hands on a few of these hybrid iems (Moondrop, KHZ, Fiio, etc), would love your take on them!
Probably the last device to double down on support for MQA. I know a lot of people who have said they jumped the Tidal ship after Apple released Hi-res audio and Amazon music got cheaper.
Good stuff, bought the Topping A30/D30 Pro a few months back and I've been kicking myself for not saving some money and going with the ZenDac/ZenCan stack.
I was considering the A30/D30 Pro but ended up getting the Zen Dac v2. For me the former stack would have been slightly overkill so I thought I'd save a few bucks and the performance is still pretty damn good
Hey Brian, love the straight-forward reviews. 18 mo later, is the zen still the great value with a new price of $200 - Any new competetitors you'd suggest?
I've had the old zen dac for over a year and loved it, I bought the zen can somewhat recently to power some stronger headphones. Fun fact, you can stack the bass boost for some serious punch
Would be curious to see how you compare this to the Fiio K5 Pro which is in a similar price range. It was my personal introduction to DAC/AMP's and am really happy with it. Currently saving up to go for the shiit stack with the loki added onto it. Thanks for all the info you provided in all your videos. It's what made me more confident in buying audio gear!
Wow, didn't know about you before today. Very professional video. It's nice that you get to the point without the juvenile humor that I see on other review channels.
Im lost you said it was a dac+amp but its called a zen dac meaning its just a dac? Then you mentioned the zen can being the amp. What?? I thought the zen dac was the dac+amp. So does that mean you can pair the zen dac and can to stack just to use higher powered drives?? But what about the amps of both the dac and can will they interfere?? Little help for the newbie looking to buy a dac+amp as a beginner.
I stream Hi-Res from my IPhone to my Adcom system and have been using a Dragonfly Red for over a year. Just bought the Zen V2 and compared it with my Red, I like the Red. The Zen V2 is fatiguing on my ears. I don’t wana spend another $200 on cables and power supply if it’s not gonna make a difference, lesson learned.
I love your B roll in this video! I think you could frame your A roll shot a little more I want to see the top of your head when you zoom in and when you are at the wide shot I would like to see the entire bad seed light but I can’t talk I only work live production. TLDR: I watch your content for free and have comments idk. Keep up the amazing vids!
Have the v1 and love it. I use the RCA out at fixed setting for my Creative Labs T20ii multimedia speakers, which is powered and have a volume knob. This lets me have different volumes on my speaker and headphones. My only gripe about the v1 is how tight the 4.4mm socket is. I literally have to hold down the whole unit securely with one hand if I want to unplug the 4.4mm. Checked with iFi and they said that's just how it is made. :( It also looks pleasing sitting right under my monitor, but that is a matter of personal taste. I know people who think it's the ugliest ever piece of equipment. lol
"this outputs over headphones and externals at the same time" This is exactly the information I've been struggling to find. Thank you for mentioning it
@@Justintricate really? I was specifically hoping it could do this. I wanted to listen to music with my partner using this as my DAC, and multiple pairs of headphones. My Zen DAC acting simultaneously as a headphone amp, and a pre-amp for my Schiit IEMagni lets us do exactly that with individual volume control. It's perfect
I enjoyed this on my setup dali oberon+smsl da-9 for speaker setup and zen stack for the sundara and ananda but already sold the v2 to pickup the denafrips ares 2 :)
There is one point that I don't understand. What advantage is there in plugging this iFi Zen Air Dac into the mains socket (5V adapter) rather than only via USB into the computer? If I connected this DAC via the mains adapter, I would still have to plug the DAC into the computer's USB port at the same time, so what is the difference or advantage in concrete terms? Also, I notice that the DC 5V adapter sold by iFi Audio (the "iFi Audio iPower", which is almost as expensive as the price of the iFI Audio Zen Air Dac!) has a function called "Active Noise Cancellation". When I connect only by USB cable the iFi Air DAC in my MacBook, I have no background noise in my DT-900 ProX headphones.
I personally run it USB bus powered always. I have done extensive listening using the ac adapter as well and I can't hear a single advantage in using it. I would skip it if it were me.
Have you tested to see if powering the DAC via USB only consumes more the computer battery ? Because if the power supply is rather outside the computer, therefore in the electrical sector of the wall, the laptop battery should be much less stressed. @@badseedtech
I'm really new to this whole audio thing and I don't understand most of the thing said in this video, but I do feel like I need an amp or DAC (whichever applies) to power up my DT 770 Pro 80 ohm as the volume is too low when I plug it to my PC. Is this still worth buying and is all I need?
I have the zen DAC 1 and I love it, it has no problem driving my beyerdynamic DT770pro 250 ohm headphones, love it love it love it. Was the first DAC APM I’ve used and I have zero regrets. At the time I got it I could have got the zen DAC 2, but I don’t have any MQA audio so I decided to save a few bucks, and for my use age they’re essentially the same.
@@Caribano it should be fine. The 990 is essentially an open back 770, apart from that they’re pretty much the same. If minimum volume on the zen dac is 7 o’clock, and full is 5 o’clock, I usually have it about 2 o’clock for loud but comfortable (with power match turned on) 3 and 4 o’clock can leave you with a slight ringing on some tracks, and at least with Apple Music on my Mac mini, 24bit 192KHz play back slightly quieter than 16/24bit 44.1/88.2/96KHz files. Tidal seems to be the same volume as 24/192 regardless of file type.
Hello! I just bought a Zen Dac V2 and it does not allow me to control the volume of Windows 10 (on the OS), I can only do it from the Dac wheel. Please could you tell me if this can be modified? I already installed all the software and firmware versions and I couldn't fix the problem. Maybe there is some software or firmware that can fix the problem. thanks!
I'm looking for a headphone amp that has analog IN to use after the GoXLR in my chain (goxlr isn't quite giving enough juice for my HD 6XX). I previously had a Schiit Magni Heresy but it needs to be repaired and since I live in Canada, it's not worth the money/time to send it back to them for repair. So ideally something I can grab from Amazon. Any suggestions?
I wanted to buy the schiit stack but I can't find it anywhere in Germany and shipping would make it unnecessarily too expensive. Fortunately I saw the ifi zen dac 2 available and I have ordered it, it will arrive in 2 days, I'll pair it with my Byerdynamic DT 770 pro 250 Ohms, I was with my feet on the ground but now my expectations went high after you mentioned that all those headphones sound great on it, I hope mine will too.
Just a quick correction. The V2 Zen Dac will work with the PS5 but only if you install the latest version of ifi's GTO firmware. Great right? Well the GTO filter basically applies the MQA filter to EVERYTHING you put through the dac. Not ideal. My advice for both the Zen 1 and 2 is to install the Limoncello firmware. It removes all the MQA crap from the dac and opens up DSD256 content (in the event you actually own any DSD albums?)
I'm looking for a dac/amp with this featureset and after a couple days of searching I have noticed that this exact model keeps popping up. I can get my hands on one for a good price so I'm curious how you guys feel about this thing now that it's been two years. For reference I've been running a Fiio E10k for many years because that was all I could get my hands on back then. My headphones are the DT 770 Pro and the Fidelio X1. I was able to borrow an old Konnect 6 for a couple weeks almost 7 years ago and it made my DT 770s sound incredible. I've been chasing that dragon ever since.
I love your review because you translate the technical into the practical. Here is my dilemma… I’ve settled on Grado’s but I use losses from my iPhone sure there are probably better options. I have the Zen dac signature v. 2 but that means I would need a zen blue+ the CAN. So three devices, so I’m thinking I sell it get the zen one and the can so I’m down to 2 and that or should I keep the Zen DAC 2 signature
Maybe if you get into the higher end of their range. I drive my 400se's and Sundara's just fine over a Magni Heresy. Honestly, I only went with Schiit because they are built mainly in the US. Yet still offered at a competitive price. I feel those companies need a little bit of props. But its whatever.
Easy to use if you intend to feed it with a pc. Using a mobile phone is a pain. You have to buy a power supply and another USB cable (Type B to Type C or an adapter) And you have to be sure that your phone can output sound to USB. Older android phones may not do this. Using an ipod does not work either. I ended up having to rig a Raspberry pi running volumino.
I'm bumping up the question if anyone has had a chance to compare the K7 with the iFi zen V2. Both in the same price range rally so it's great to have a comparison if anyone has already had a chance to check it out. Especially for an open headphone like the HD560S or DT900 ProX for example.
Just bought here in Spain. 199 euros! (everything is more expensive here, darnnit) If you could please read and answer my previous comment, as I will be using it (mostly) with a smartphone. Thanks.
I'm new to all this trying to learn. I have a pair of Razer Nommo Pro speakers. They are like the Rolls Royce of the Razer brand as far as speakers go. I also want to purchase a pair of Bluetooth Focal Bathys. I know the headphones already have a DAC inside them. Do I need a DAC/amp for the speakers sake? Can I connect the BT headphones to a BT compatible DAC/amp so everything is connected into one place. If so, any suggestions? I currently have a GSX 1000 and used to have pair of Focal Celestees, but discovered I'm just not a wired guy. Now I'm a bit confused on what to do. I wanna replace the GSX 1000 as well because I purchased it used and there is a weird problem with it where it randomly makes a loud 'thump' sound out of nowhere. The same sound you get when saving settings on it, but in this case it just randomly goes off out of nowhere and scares the shit out of me. I do like have the volume wheel right in front of me though from the GSX 1000. So what equipment would you get if you were in my shoes? Thanks.
The Creative G6 might be what you are looking for. I had one and it worked well with my consoles and PC. I ended up going to the X3 for the chat/volume mix since I started playing some games with friends during the pandemic. But I'm tempted by the Zen DAC v2.
Solid review. I was looking for options on what to get formy first DAC/AMP, but I think I’ve decided after watching this video, I was considering something from FiiO but the Truebass button ended up convincing me, hope they work good with my SHP9500.
I have a V1 and it works great with the SHP9500s. Truebass YMMV, I think the 9500s have nicely balanced bass to begin with, adding more doesn't really improve anything. Just be warned, that Balanced Output sounds even better than the Single Ended with some HD58Xs plugged into it...
Hey ladies and gents. I have the soundblaster G6. I primarily game but I want to spend money on upgrading my audio. Would it be worth the $ to go from the G6 to the Zen Dac V2, or rather save some money for a much more expensive set up like the JDS labs element 2? Mic input isn't a problem. My headphone upgrade path is PC38X --> DT 1990 Pro --> Audeze LCD-GX. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Yeah I think it is, because I bought the G6X about 2 years ago and I returned it because it sounded shouty to me. the EQ presets and software was honestly bad and made it sound bloated or muffled. The other thing I dislike was the audible hissing when using any headphones or iems. With the Zen v2 you can try and pick and choose which fw you'd like, changes the sound or compatibility on certain things like MQA support or Playstation consoke support. Also works on switch. Overall in my opinion and experience with the two id pick this one any day but make sure to get the power supply as that will improve volume and sound quality a bit further.
I purchased a soundblaster G6 based on your review of it. G6 or this? And would the schit stack be a good upgrade from either or not worth it? What would be a good budget friendly upgrade?
I have Zen Dac v1 with Zen Can pair with Sony 1Am2 🎧, the AKM GUN SOUND from PUBG blow my ear away. Btw, Zen dac v2 already firmware update to pair with PS5.
You are what got me into understanding what a DAC/AMP was and got a Schet Heil. Good to see the future is getting better.
Why the Schet Heil over the Zendac?
@@Backyard_Brouhaha i watched a lot or reviews on it. No reason as I didn’t know about the other one. However I have since moved on to a Fiio K7
I wish EVERYONE spoke like this guy, no stuttering "ums/ers" no bullshit, direct clear and complete sentences. It's so refreshing!
I know everyone is already talking about the Truebass bass boost implementation, but I thought I'd chime in with my take on it. It sounds great for being a simple bass boost button without ever overpowering mids or highs and all without even muddying the bass at all. The kicker for me is that it allows you to use bass light headphones as daily drivers and if a bass heavy track comes out, you can hear it more fully instead of having to switch out your headphones to fully enjoy that song/album.
Noice!
Not the same product but yup I use ifi hip dac with hd660s when not at my desktop and the bass boost on it is perfect for pretty much all songs except the already heavy bass songs
The manual for this DAC on the iFi Audio official website clarifies this interesting point about the Xbass+ button. : "Sonically-hindering DSP is NOT used for XBass+ systems. The Xbass+ systems use highest-quality discrete components and operate purely in the analogue domain. Hence all the clarity and resolution of the original music is retained".
Awesome work bro! I’m loving the Zen DAC v2 as well.
Bought the Zen dac v2 a couple of months ago. Absolutely no regrets. Great review as always
You have chosen wisely 😁
The real "pro" point with the IFI is the totally clean background you get from it. Great review.
There are plenty of Zen Dac v1's at the used market at the moment for 70-100€, MONSTER value for everyone who wants to step into the hobby for even cheaper. The difference between the v1 and v2 are mostly just the MQA decoder, so the V1 is also a really good investment. Rocking Hifiman HE400SE and the Zen Dac V1, sounds amazing and the Truebass is the cherry on the top with these planars, love it.
Agreed the V1 I picked up is mine blowing and for sub 100 shut up and take my money if you find it sec hand pull the trigger
Where can you find it at that price point? I'm in Europe
What if I want something that can hook up to my PC and have standard speaker wire connections with my two bookshelf speakers and then also a headphone jack which will mute the speakers when I plug into it?
@@JonJonJonJonJon the only thing that I can think of is the Loxjie A30. But you have to manually switch outputs, I’m pretty sure. I’m not sure of anything that auto switches output without some sort of physical switch or digital menu control. There may be something out there, but I’m guess that you’ll have to pay a bit for an aio like that. Probably better luck looking at building a stack with a preamp that has that capability, but once again, way more expensive. There’s also stereo receivers, but unless you’re willing to shell out some good money, the headphone out circuits tends to be an afterthought and not very good.
@@JonJonJonJonJon I use a cheap class d amp for my speakers and just turn that off when I'm using my headphones from the zen dac. You can switch the output of the rca or 4.5mm balanced jack to ignore the volume control or include it. I set mine to ignore the volume control.
I still haven't found a way to replace my V1. Even with a Zen Can, I prefer the TrueBass on the Zen DAC to XBass on the Zen Can. Also haven't found anything that doesn't pair well with it. Great for those of us that like warm/smooth sound. Cool review 👍 ☕
Just bought one of these a week ago. Happily surprised to see you cover it.
Ifi have released a firmware update for the V2 that should now allow it to work with the ps5. Also major props for mentioning the whole MQA situation, the more consumers learn about it the more chance that we can get companies to stop buying into it
Ah NICE on the PS5. That’s great to see.
Really?! Can you please send a link
Oh, would this work with the Switch? As, I was thinking of getting the JDS Labs Atom DAC.
Any chance with the Xbox or back of the TV like the CX?
Does ifi hip work too?
Bought this for about a year ago and never been so pleased. Especially after you install the GTO-filter. It will definitely not let you down!
was choosing a dac/amp combo a while back when I got my sennheiser hD 660S from my wife. Doubted a lot between the zen dac and a topping (viewing Joshua's channel), nobody had a (decent) review up on the zen dac, but choose the zen dac anyways because of the looks. Man, it is great. I now have it hooked up on my new work-from-home office, connected via a docking station for the input, and outputing to my headphones and a pair of white Jamo PM 801 bookshelf speakers (thanks to Joshua and recovering audiophile's review). Looks stunning and really deliveres great sound for the money. I was about 159€ when I bought it from amazon france, but in Europe we always note the price with the taxes included ;)
Ah good, man! Glad you're enjoying it. I haven't got into Topping yet. Right around the time I was, there was a unit out that was frying headphones? So it made keep my distance until they got all that sorted.
@@badseedtech yea L30 it was haha
Hey I just got the 660s and was wondering if ur still using the same ones or if u think it’s better I get the schiit stack
@@tiredmask I'm still using these. I live in Belgium, centre of Europe. Schitt is more expensive over here, don't have of their things and don't see the need to change
@@dwazeke ok thank you I’m really excited for my 660s to arrive! Just was worried about the amp and dac or if I even needed one tbh
I recently purchased the Zen Dac v2 and insane value for money. I don't have 600 ohm headphones so this is all I really need. To get a significant boost in performance you'd have to spend £500 like he said. At this price there's nothing better with the features on offer.
Adding a proper power source significantly improved sound clarity and quality even though it ran with power from the USB connection in my experience. I am using the upgraded wall wort from iFi I have the V1 which compares well with my $300+ DACs.
I have my iFi Zen Dac connected with my Yamaha HS8, Hifiman Sundara, ATH-R70X, and the Moondrop B2. The Truebass is such a versatile and useful feature I can't even consider buying another DAC/AMP without it. The HS8 is known to be very flat and boring for audiophiles, but with Truebass I have the studio quality monitor with buttery smooth bass boost tonality. Sundara open back is also known for the heavy subbass drop but with Truebass it becomes a very pleasing headphone to listen to. Most importantly, I can connect the Zen Dac with my PS5 and laptop without needing to go back and forth EQing my audio, since some people are only listening to music on PC. I just wish they have a device selector. Great review brother spot on!
Wait, there is an update of ifi Zen Dac v2 for PS5 compability?
I got R70x and B2 Dusk too 😳 cant wait for my v2 to arrive - my first dac ever!
@@kokomisclam6625 the R70X is such a treat coupled with the truebass. The headphone can handle so much power and won’t hurt your ears, you can literally make it vibrate around your ear 😁 but do take care of your ears lol
I think you got me started with your Aeon Open X review. Now I have a JDS El 2 stack with custom hollow knight and dark souls engraving, a darkvoice, an xduoo mt-602, a hip dac, a qudelix 5k, ZMF aeolus, aeon closed x, lcd2c, 6xx, er2xr, blessing 2 dusk, etc. What a rabbit hole
I have the V1 paired with my DT 1990's, it's a great combo and the truebass button is magical.
Just bought the iFI Zen DAC v2 & Sennheiser HD560S as my first leap into the audiophile world I'm excited for them to show up!
How is this setup going for you? I’m thinking about going the same route
@@alfonsosaavedra8009 I wish I never bought that setup because it sent me down a very large rabbit hole upgrading gear once I heard it haha ... I went from that to spending $10,000 on audio equipment over a period of time.
Once you hear that setup - you won't go back... So YES I recommend but also at the same time DON'T DO IT RUN WHILE YOU CAN HELP ME THEY HAVE ME HOSTAGE...
Once you try the iFI BASS Boost(TrueBass) on their Dac/Amps it's hard to go back to anything else. It's pretty addicting if you're a Bass lover
For me Xbass>true bass. Subtle but full.
@@pinoyxbox Yeah I've got the IDSD Black Label and would agree that the XBass is better. The 3D+ is also a cool effect at times. Especially when gaming
Have you guys paired it with tubes and hit true bass just saying you’ll smile
@@gabrielmoreno5775 i have tubes and its bloated as fuck lol
@@gabrielmoreno5775 Might be ok with low-bass planars. My Sennheiser 6xx are borderline ok with tubes and bass button. The Hifiman 4XX, also a planer, is too much, same with dynamic ones like Focal Elegia and Sivga Phoenix are too much, even without a tube amp for my taste (though my Elegia's are EQ'd up a bit to begin with). That said certain songs are fun with it, but for the most part, I find it just becomes too much and muddies the mids (though far better than most bass boost functions)
0:53 to 1:00
That just made my day. :D
PS.
Holy cow, dude. Thank you so much for just being honest and straight to the point. Subscribed.
I saw Zeos losing his mind over this baby, but his content can be a bit odd at times hahhaa, I really appreciate you making this review, it helps to confirm this stuff
Anime girls intensify
@@johnlocke2694 THICC waifus
I have a JDS Labs Atom+ Stack and got this just to see how it sound out of curiosity. It definitely has a smoother sound which I prefer because at occasions with the JDS, some highs can sound too bright for me, which is never the case with the iFi. But as a tradeoff it doesn't reach that sparkle you can get with the JDS. After some A/B'ing I felt that the iFi has noticeably subtler bass than the JDS as well. With the JDS it's like you feel the bass, the kick, the oomf.. with the iFi you just hear the bass. It might be because I only have it powered via USB. Bought a regular PSU to see if the bass will improve. Overall I think the JDS sounds cleaner but can also be sharp occasionally. If it wouldn't be for the weak bass, I would keep the iFi, I'll see in a few days if it'll improve with the PSU.
@@henrygg295 have you tried the mayflower arc?
@@thejessejames623 nope, just the JDS and iFi
I would be really interested to see you cover the full Zen stack and how you think it sounds compared to competitors.
I believe I tried v1, I enjoyed it, I can only imagine the upgraded version being just as quality
You mentioned at 7:02 that adding a ZEN Can (and thus returning total cost to above $400) makes it a completely different comparison and a different video. I'm curious what the other contenders would be and how they'd stack up? Perhaps something for a future video?
I have this paired with the Zen Can. Sounds great with the Sennheiser HD560 S. It also makes a great preamp for powered monitors.
Debating on what to get with my HD560s either this possibly or a schiit stack or fulla/hel
Nice to see this pop up on your channel! I got my Zen DAC v2 & Zen CAN stack when my Heresy decided to blow up.. on day one -_- That Schiit aside, iFi is doing good business! Love it on my 660S & Sundara's, real powerhouse!
I have the V1 and I love it!
But I wish it stopped playing on the speakers when you plug in headphones. Switching the speaker input every time on a daily basis is quite annoying.
Sometimes I forget that the speaker is playing at the same time as the headphones and I end up blasting audio through the speakers at 2 am… 😅
make it a habit to turn the volume down before turning on your setup. saves me from jumpscares
Ordered this just today as my first ever dedicated Amp or a DAC and this video came out so recently from you. Thanks, BadSeed Tech!
You’ll love it bro!
@@LorenzoFrausto I do hope that. I'll post my findings tomorrow.
@@primeshmohanty7701 looking forwards to it 👍🏽
@@primeshmohanty7701how was it ?
Came for the review; had to comment on the beard! Best beard I’ve ever seen. You’re the beard champ!
THANK YOU for showing a product thats actually available in Canada!
wish you had this vid out about 1.5 months ago, as I'm that far into my 3-4 month waitlist for a Schiit Fulla 4 :(
Going to be real sad when you get it and it bricks itself
Is it able to run the Sennheiser hd600?
Been hooked since the last 2,5 years on your vids Bryan, awesome review again. I’ve been asking Joshua Valour to do a review of the Topping MX3 DAC/AMP, which I own. It cost just $129. It’s got the same headphone power output as the iFi Zen DAC but also has a built in amp for passive speakers. I’ve got them hooked to some Q Acoustics 3020i’s and a HD58X, and that’s a sub $500 dollar desktop BANGER of a system. Would absolutely LOVE to see a review of them. Cheers from the Netherlands!
Just got my schit stack last month with my hd58x. Can't say I regret it even after watching this but I will be recommending this amp fax to friends that like my set up but don't want to spend that much.
Might even get my gf this for her bday with a good pair of headphones if that's what she wants.
Looking forward to the next video!
Hey man…just ran across your review and liked it. You know your shit and quickly kicked the reviews ass. No wasted words or bullshit. Brevity is impressive. You didn’t say useless shit to prove how smart you are…which shows how smart you are..
Matt in Texas
Why is it $189.00 when it was $159.00 before? Trying to find one on sale but not looking so good….
If you have EQ settings (via softwared) on your PC do those EQ tweaks carry over to the DAC or is only sending the flat signal to the DAC?
Thanks for another great video. I went with the Sennheiser GSX 1000 and Schiit Fulla E. I will be using it for gaming hopefully one will be notably better than the other.
I have a Zen v2 in my office at work feeding an Asgard 3. Great little platform to run everything from. The A3 feeds a set of Mackie monitors and I've got the 1/4 inch on the A3, Zen, and the 4.4mm for when/if I have cans with me and want to use them instead.
Love your videos and positive vibes. Keep it up and I look forward to more!
Got myself one of these awhile ago and while it's true that the sound quality, Truebass, and etc are amazing, I had to return it for a seemingly dumb reason.
The Zen Dac overrides windows volume controls, and you're not able to control Windows volume through your keyboard/media control buttons.
As I have my PC quite out of reach this is a deal breaker, I change volume frequently and it's a pain to have to stretch to reach the Zen Dac for volume changes. I'm surprised that most reviews don't cover this little nuisance that might or might not be a deal breaker for some.
Also if anyone knows a good DAC or DAC/AMP combo that retains Windows volume controls, hmu as i really need a good option. I know audiophiles all want the volume controls on the DAC/AMP itself for the best sound quality but tbh im mostly listening to Spotify and watching RUclips and I can't really tell a difference.
Using the DT177x GO for now, planning on splurging on the DCA Aeon Noires soon if I get to save up.
if your source is just spotify and youtube. you probably don't need a more expensive DAC. Just get a decent sounding cheap DAC that works well with your needs. It is pretty common that whenever you use a dedicated DAC, the volume control will be done in the device itself as it overrides your pc. (can't find the right words for it but you get the point) You are using the DAC so it's common sense that the volume will be controlled on the device itself. Why else would they put a volume knob on the device. As for DAC that suits your need, you might want to try a dongle instead. It was my first external DAC, a CX PRO to be exact and it satisfied my needs for a while until i decided to upgrade.
@@evilkamatis542 hey thanks for the answer brother. it's the answer i needed to hear but at the time i was just looking for an excuse to find a higher end DAC to splurge on lol.
As for windows volume control, what you said makes sense but for my specific use case, i really do need my keyboard volume controls (my PC is placed very far away from where i sit, and i have to use a wireless keyboard/mouse lol).
I picked up the Fulla Schitt and it works great for this, still allows windows volume controls and sounds great! Also it's a got a mic input for my PC38x. Maybe this might help someone out there that has this extremely edge case scenario like myself.
This is it. This is the video I needed to see. Adding this to the short list, thanks man!
There is a weird audio volume bump from 120clock to 1oclock on the dial knob, also popping noise when pausing or playing audio and the imaging is off for my headphones that other amps haven’t ruined
Good one! I really like your brass knuckle coffee cup. Gotta get one of those.
Can you connect to laptop?
iFi says the Zen DAC does work with PS5, but only when powered separately by a 5v power supply.
Got mine a month ago and have the same issue as others. There is an awful channel imbalance. I switched back to my old dac and because I can't return the V2 it's collecting dust. Does anybody know if there is a fix for this, since I want the same amount of volume on each ear!!!
6:38 mine just starting doing this too and its not even a year old. Cant go past 9 o'clock without static showing up. What gives?
This vs K5 Pro if you're only using single ended headphones? Great video btw!
+1 on this. I'm actually also curious
Zen Air DAC just dropped!
Please review it sir, how it compared to Zen DAC v2 and which one should a beginner go for.
Seeing price increases on this, now $189. Does the Atom/Schiit stack become a more sensible buy at this higher price?
hellou ,
my sound is pretty low... for games like tarkov and so on, so i wondered if this also makes my system/ headphones louder?
Yes IT Will make your Sound stronger/luder and if I May say so better.
Great video! As someone with a bunch of high end headphones (Focal Clears, Anandas, etc run through an Adi2Pro) I've been astonished at the performance of cheap ChiFi iems. Got myself the Moondrop Arias and a Qudelix BT/dac/amp and the results are frankly not what I was expecting. Where was cheap good audio when I was a broke a** college student daggummit?
Do try and get your hands on a few of these hybrid iems (Moondrop, KHZ, Fiio, etc), would love your take on them!
How does the Ananda sound paired with the ifi zen dac v2? Have you done any extra EQ'ing?
Probably the last device to double down on support for MQA. I know a lot of people who have said they jumped the Tidal ship after Apple released Hi-res audio and Amazon music got cheaper.
Good stuff, bought the Topping A30/D30 Pro a few months back and I've been kicking myself for not saving some money and going with the ZenDac/ZenCan stack.
I was considering the A30/D30 Pro but ended up getting the Zen Dac v2. For me the former stack would have been slightly overkill so I thought I'd save a few bucks and the performance is still pretty damn good
Hey Brian, love the straight-forward reviews. 18 mo later, is the zen still the great value with a new price of $200 - Any new competetitors you'd suggest?
I also noticed the prices on most of the stuff went up. Have you ordered one? Finding a dac / amp set up is harder than choosing a set of headphones
I've had the old zen dac for over a year and loved it, I bought the zen can somewhat recently to power some stronger headphones. Fun fact, you can stack the bass boost for some serious punch
Thank you for confirming this. Can you tell a difference from the bass boost on each unit?
subtly dropping that he has an 8xx is such a nice flex can't wait for that review
Should I buy this or the mayflower mk2. Mostly gonna be used for PS4/ps5? Headphones are dt 1990, sundara, 660s
I bought schitt stack b-stock direct.. saved like 20$ which I used for pyst cable... I love it.
Please compare this side by side with FiiO K5 Pro
Would be curious to see how you compare this to the Fiio K5 Pro which is in a similar price range. It was my personal introduction to DAC/AMP's and am really happy with it. Currently saving up to go for the shiit stack with the loki added onto it.
Thanks for all the info you provided in all your videos. It's what made me more confident in buying audio gear!
Wow, didn't know about you before today. Very professional video. It's nice that you get to the point without the juvenile humor that I see on other review channels.
Im lost you said it was a dac+amp but its called a zen dac meaning its just a dac? Then you mentioned the zen can being the amp. What?? I thought the zen dac was the dac+amp. So does that mean you can pair the zen dac and can to stack just to use higher powered drives?? But what about the amps of both the dac and can will they interfere?? Little help for the newbie looking to buy a dac+amp as a beginner.
My god love your humor in videos🤣 crushed it as always my guy!
Thank you sir!
I stream Hi-Res from my IPhone to my Adcom system and have been using a Dragonfly Red for over a year. Just bought the Zen V2 and compared it with my Red, I like the Red. The Zen V2 is fatiguing on my ears. I don’t wana spend another $200 on cables and power supply if it’s not gonna make a difference, lesson learned.
I love your B roll in this video! I think you could frame your A roll shot a little more I want to see the top of your head when you zoom in and when you are at the wide shot I would like to see the entire bad seed light but I can’t talk I only work live production.
TLDR: I watch your content for free and have comments idk.
Keep up the amazing vids!
Have the v1 and love it. I use the RCA out at fixed setting for my Creative Labs T20ii multimedia speakers, which is powered and have a volume knob. This lets me have different volumes on my speaker and headphones. My only gripe about the v1 is how tight the 4.4mm socket is. I literally have to hold down the whole unit securely with one hand if I want to unplug the 4.4mm. Checked with iFi and they said that's just how it is made. :(
It also looks pleasing sitting right under my monitor, but that is a matter of personal taste. I know people who think it's the ugliest ever piece of equipment. lol
Hello Alex, do you need to unplug the headphones if you would like to play on the speakers?
I think the real comparison isn't between this and the Schiit stack, but between this and the Fiio K5 which is a similar device for a similar price.
See the pinned comment
That beard....is..... glorious.
"this outputs over headphones and externals at the same time"
This is exactly the information I've been struggling to find. Thank you for mentioning it
this is such a bummer, such a deal breaker for me..
@@Justintricate really? I was specifically hoping it could do this. I wanted to listen to music with my partner using this as my DAC, and multiple pairs of headphones. My Zen DAC acting simultaneously as a headphone amp, and a pre-amp for my Schiit IEMagni lets us do exactly that with individual volume control. It's perfect
Seriously I just bought a Schiit Fulla :)! Missed this by one day.
I enjoyed this on my setup dali oberon+smsl da-9 for speaker setup and zen stack for the sundara and ananda but already sold the v2 to pickup the denafrips ares 2 :)
There is one point that I don't understand. What advantage is there in plugging this iFi Zen Air Dac into the mains socket (5V adapter) rather than only via USB into the computer? If I connected this DAC via the mains adapter, I would still have to plug the DAC into the computer's USB port at the same time, so what is the difference or advantage in concrete terms?
Also, I notice that the DC 5V adapter sold by iFi Audio (the "iFi Audio iPower", which is almost as expensive as the price of the iFI Audio Zen Air Dac!) has a function called "Active Noise Cancellation". When I connect only by USB cable the iFi Air DAC in my MacBook, I have no background noise in my DT-900 ProX headphones.
I personally run it USB bus powered always. I have done extensive listening using the ac adapter as well and I can't hear a single advantage in using it. I would skip it if it were me.
Have you tested to see if powering the DAC via USB only consumes more the computer battery ? Because if the power supply is rather outside the computer, therefore in the electrical sector of the wall, the laptop battery should be much less stressed. @@badseedtech
I'm really new to this whole audio thing and I don't understand most of the thing said in this video, but I do feel like I need an amp or DAC (whichever applies) to power up my DT 770 Pro 80 ohm as the volume is too low when I plug it to my PC. Is this still worth buying and is all I need?
I have the zen DAC 1 and I love it, it has no problem driving my beyerdynamic DT770pro 250 ohm headphones, love it love it love it. Was the first DAC APM I’ve used and I have zero regrets. At the time I got it I could have got the zen DAC 2, but I don’t have any MQA audio so I decided to save a few bucks, and for my use age they’re essentially the same.
Will the Zen DAC v2 drive the DT 990 Pro 250 ohm too? What position do you have the volume control at (like 12 o'clock?)
@@Caribano it should be fine. The 990 is essentially an open back 770, apart from that they’re pretty much the same. If minimum volume on the zen dac is 7 o’clock, and full is 5 o’clock, I usually have it about 2 o’clock for loud but comfortable (with power match turned on) 3 and 4 o’clock can leave you with a slight ringing on some tracks, and at least with Apple Music on my Mac mini, 24bit 192KHz play back slightly quieter than 16/24bit 44.1/88.2/96KHz files. Tidal seems to be the same volume as 24/192 regardless of file type.
@@millar876 awesome information man, exactly what I was looking for. Thanks, I'm buying it!
It works as expected on mac with apple music hi-res and go up to 192khz. But on iPad, the output fixed to 48khz.
Yeah because Apple
Hello! I just bought a Zen Dac V2 and it does not allow me to control the volume of Windows 10 (on the OS), I can only do it from the Dac wheel. Please could you tell me if this can be modified? I already installed all the software and firmware versions and I couldn't fix the problem. Maybe there is some software or firmware that can fix the problem. thanks!
I'm looking for a headphone amp that has analog IN to use after the GoXLR in my chain (goxlr isn't quite giving enough juice for my HD 6XX).
I previously had a Schiit Magni Heresy but it needs to be repaired and since I live in Canada, it's not worth the money/time to send it back to them for repair. So ideally something I can grab from Amazon.
Any suggestions?
You holding the zen dac like that really puts how big you are into perspective
I wanted to buy the schiit stack but I can't find it anywhere in Germany and shipping would make it unnecessarily too expensive.
Fortunately I saw the ifi zen dac 2 available and I have ordered it, it will arrive in 2 days, I'll pair it with my Byerdynamic DT 770 pro 250 Ohms, I was with my feet on the ground but now my expectations went high after you mentioned that all those headphones sound great on it, I hope mine will too.
Just a quick correction. The V2 Zen Dac will work with the PS5 but only if you install the latest version of ifi's GTO firmware. Great right? Well the GTO filter basically applies the MQA filter to EVERYTHING you put through the dac. Not ideal. My advice for both the Zen 1 and 2 is to install the Limoncello firmware. It removes all the MQA crap from the dac and opens up DSD256 content (in the event you actually own any DSD albums?)
Where do you get that fw?
I'm looking for a dac/amp with this featureset and after a couple days of searching I have noticed that this exact model keeps popping up. I can get my hands on one for a good price so I'm curious how you guys feel about this thing now that it's been two years.
For reference I've been running a Fiio E10k for many years because that was all I could get my hands on back then. My headphones are the DT 770 Pro and the Fidelio X1.
I was able to borrow an old Konnect 6 for a couple weeks almost 7 years ago and it made my DT 770s sound incredible. I've been chasing that dragon ever since.
I love your review because you translate the technical into the practical. Here is my dilemma… I’ve settled on Grado’s but I use losses from my iPhone sure there are probably better options. I have the Zen dac signature v. 2 but that means I would need a zen blue+ the CAN. So three devices, so I’m thinking I sell it get the zen one and the can so I’m down to 2 and that or should I keep the Zen DAC 2 signature
Brian, you really need to review some Hifiman Planars. Though some are so inefficient, that you would need an Asgard over a Magni.
Maybe if you get into the higher end of their range. I drive my 400se's and Sundara's just fine over a Magni Heresy. Honestly, I only went with Schiit because they are built mainly in the US. Yet still offered at a competitive price. I feel those companies need a little bit of props. But its whatever.
@@liberatorkramit I have an HE5se. It really needs power to properly sing. While msrp was like $800, I bought for less than half that.
I’ve reviewed…so many…
thanks for a quick and thorough review, no frills to the point
Big difference with V1 version?
Easy to use if you intend to feed it with a pc. Using a mobile phone is a pain. You have to buy a power supply and another USB cable (Type B to Type C or an adapter) And you have to be sure that your phone can output sound to USB. Older android phones may not do this. Using an ipod does not work either. I ended up having to rig a Raspberry pi running volumino.
I'm bumping up the question if anyone has had a chance to compare the K7 with the iFi zen V2. Both in the same price range rally so it's great to have a comparison if anyone has already had a chance to check it out.
Especially for an open headphone like the HD560S or DT900 ProX for example.
Would it be good for active speakers, or is it mainly for headphone use? Sound source is my TV..
Just bought here in Spain. 199 euros! (everything is more expensive here, darnnit) If you could please read and answer my previous comment, as I will be using it (mostly) with a smartphone. Thanks.
Your witty line on monetization of the video had me in splits! What a cool video and a cool product. Thank you.
My Arete fresh reviews have a cable with a 3.5 jack
Should I use a 4.4 adapter of the 6 adapter?
Good for gaming FPS games?
I'm new to all this trying to learn. I have a pair of Razer Nommo Pro speakers. They are like the Rolls Royce of the Razer brand as far as speakers go. I also want to purchase a pair of Bluetooth Focal Bathys. I know the headphones already have a DAC inside them. Do I need a DAC/amp for the speakers sake? Can I connect the BT headphones to a BT compatible DAC/amp so everything is connected into one place. If so, any suggestions? I currently have a GSX 1000 and used to have pair of Focal Celestees, but discovered I'm just not a wired guy. Now I'm a bit confused on what to do. I wanna replace the GSX 1000 as well because I purchased it used and there is a weird problem with it where it randomly makes a loud 'thump' sound out of nowhere. The same sound you get when saving settings on it, but in this case it just randomly goes off out of nowhere and scares the shit out of me. I do like have the volume wheel right in front of me though from the GSX 1000. So what equipment would you get if you were in my shoes? Thanks.
I really liked your comment on console compatibility. That’s what I’m after primarily but music is a close second. Anyways great video
The Creative G6 might be what you are looking for. I had one and it worked well with my consoles and PC. I ended up going to the X3 for the chat/volume mix since I started playing some games with friends during the pandemic. But I'm tempted by the Zen DAC v2.
Solid review. I was looking for options on what to get formy first DAC/AMP, but I think I’ve decided after watching this video, I was considering something from FiiO but the Truebass button ended up convincing me, hope they work good with my SHP9500.
I have a V1 and it works great with the SHP9500s. Truebass YMMV, I think the 9500s have nicely balanced bass to begin with, adding more doesn't really improve anything. Just be warned, that Balanced Output sounds even better than the Single Ended with some HD58Xs plugged into it...
Hey ladies and gents. I have the soundblaster G6. I primarily game but I want to spend money on upgrading my audio. Would it be worth the $ to go from the G6 to the Zen Dac V2, or rather save some money for a much more expensive set up like the JDS labs element 2? Mic input isn't a problem.
My headphone upgrade path is PC38X --> DT 1990 Pro --> Audeze LCD-GX.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Yeah I think it is, because I bought the G6X about 2 years ago and I returned it because it sounded shouty to me. the EQ presets and software was honestly bad and made it sound bloated or muffled. The other thing I dislike was the audible hissing when using any headphones or iems.
With the Zen v2 you can try and pick and choose which fw you'd like, changes the sound or compatibility on certain things like MQA support or Playstation consoke support. Also works on switch. Overall in my opinion and experience with the two id pick this one any day but make sure to get the power supply as that will improve volume and sound quality a bit further.
I purchased a soundblaster G6 based on your review of it. G6 or this? And would the schit stack be a good upgrade from either or not worth it? What would be a good budget friendly upgrade?
I found G6 less expensive for me in my country. However, Im not sure if this will work out as good as ifi zen dac v2.
I have Zen Dac v1 with Zen Can pair with Sony 1Am2 🎧, the AKM GUN SOUND from PUBG blow my ear away. Btw, Zen dac v2 already firmware update to pair with PS5.