When I came back to this hobby last year, I was so out of touch. First thing I bought was the BTR5 with some China IEMs, while using my old a Sony WH-1000XM2. Then I purchased the Sennheiser HD650, followed by the iFi Zen DAC V2. I instantly fell in love with the warm sound of the iFi. I have since gone on to purchase a variety of headphones with the Toppings A90 & D90SE stack, the xDuoo XA-10. Now, I am toying with the idea of a higher end headphone (Empyrean, Elite to Atrium). Am thinking if I should go for the Denafrips Ares or Musician equivalent and use it with the A90 or sell both 90 stack (sounds too lean and clean for me) and get the SA1 or go for the iFi iDSD Pro Signature?
Hi, can I ask you a suggestion?. I have this combo with Sundara Headphone and I am really happy with the result. I also have the ifi Diablo and I'm quite happy with the result as well. I would like to upgrade the headphone to the next level buying the HE1000 Steath V3 but I am afraid my gear will not be able to make me appreaciate the headphone quality difference between the Sundara and the HE1000 Stealth V3. What do you suggest me? Sitting with my Sundara or giving a try to the HE1000 Stealt V3? Will my gear make me appreciate the higher leel of HE1000? Thanks again for your kindness in answering me. Alessandro.
I don't have the ZEN stack anymore, it was loaned for review. I'm sure it would do very well with the HE1000 Stealth, and you will hear a huge improvement over the Sundara. I haven't reviewed the Diablo, so I don't know.
Hi sir...very nice review...actually I am listening to this review using the same Ifi stack of Dac and Amp ur reviewing connected with the ifi balanced cable. I am using Hifiman Edition XS open back Headphone connected to the amp with Hifiman Balanced cable. This is the unit with which I stepped into the audiophile community. The whole set up of mine makes me feel good with the musics I listen to but I have no other idea of any dac or amp or headphone , hence listening to you just to know whether my purchase is good for an entry level. I am using Apple I pad and Apple Music as the source connected with the usb input. I have also purchased Fiio M11 plus ess edition, a portable music player and I listen my Hifiman Edition XS connected with this portable player with the balanced cable. Honestly let me tell ..I found no real difference in listening experience and actually felt comfortable for using the portable player for its ease of usage The ifi stack and Fiio made me to feel really good sounding with my Hifiman Edition XS. Now I am waiting for your second part to know about Aarya and Ananda with this stack. You look very experienced in this field sir..hence your reviews also mean a lot to us. I am just an amateur trying to understand what this audiophile community is really about. Is it about enjoying music or all time thinking / comparing about another Headphone or Dac or Amp or cables... Actually I too want to be driven crazy as an audiophile. I don’t know whether I have those kinds of ears. Anyway lot of respect for you and your reviews sir. Waiting for part 2😊😊😊
Hey, been searching, but I’ve only found you (as a pro reviewer) that has reviewed both EF400 and iFi Zen Signature Set HFM Edition. If I may ask and disturbe you, what’s your take on these two? I’m a Tidal user thru an Android tablet. So with the EF400 I need to use UAPP app to get bit perfect, and not even then I can go full MQA. But with the Ifi I get it all… but I´m afraid that I will miss out on the smooth analog sound of the R2R. Any advice? Many thanks!
Thank you for the compliment, but I'm just an amateur reviewer. I know very little about MQA so can't really help you there. The EF-400 sounds great IMO, but the iFi stack just has so many more features and can do so much more.
@@theheadphoneexperience-wil2250 many thanks! If we put both MQA and other features like inputs etc. aside. What's your take on sound between them? I'm using Arya Stealth...
I'm sorry, I honestly don't remember if I tried using both at the same time. The Signature stack was sent back to iFi, so I have no way to find out now.
I had the same question. I will find out later today as it should arrive today. The only difference is I ordered the 6xx can version for better dynamics matched to Senheiser cans.
Sir..when will you release Part 2....or can pls let me know how Arya sounds over Edition XS with this stack ? I am waiting to buy Arya if it is doing really good with this stack 🙂🙂🙂
i only have de AMP, is it a must to get the DAC aswell? im currently plugged in by AUX to my pc and my headphones are plugged into the normal out (not balanced) is this good or am i missing out because im not using the balanced in and out ports?
thought this was the actual HFM stack that comes w Zen DAC Sig, Zen CAN HFM w/ included pentacon connector. But looks like the Zen One and Zen Can HFM. Zen DAC supposedly sounds better than Zen One. Just not as many features as Zen One.
My question as well..how does the Zen signature one compare to the Zen Signature DAC V2 in terms of sound as the Zen one has the advantage as far as inputs.
This channel is and absolute gem! Amazing review!
Thank you.
Your channel does not look the most professional yet but you did the best review actually comparing with other dacs
When I came back to this hobby last year, I was so out of touch. First thing I bought was the BTR5 with some China IEMs, while using my old a Sony WH-1000XM2. Then I purchased the Sennheiser HD650, followed by the iFi Zen DAC V2. I instantly fell in love with the warm sound of the iFi. I have since gone on to purchase a variety of headphones with the Toppings A90 & D90SE stack, the xDuoo XA-10. Now, I am toying with the idea of a higher end headphone (Empyrean, Elite to Atrium). Am thinking if I should go for the Denafrips Ares or Musician equivalent and use it with the A90 or sell both 90 stack (sounds too lean and clean for me) and get the SA1 or go for the iFi iDSD Pro Signature?
People praise the v2 for acoustic and vocals, but how does the v2 run with energetic genres, pop rock, edm ?
That 4.3 mm jumper cable sells for about $15 on Amazon.
I got the hfm sig amp and paired it with an evga sound card. Loving it with my sundara
Hi, can I ask you a suggestion?. I have this combo with Sundara Headphone and I am really happy with the result. I also have the ifi Diablo and I'm quite happy with the result as well. I would like to upgrade the headphone to the next level buying the HE1000 Steath V3 but I am afraid my gear will not be able to make me appreaciate the headphone quality difference between the Sundara and the HE1000 Stealth V3. What do you suggest me? Sitting with my Sundara or giving a try to the HE1000 Stealt V3? Will my gear make me appreciate the higher leel of HE1000? Thanks again for your kindness in answering me. Alessandro.
I don't have the ZEN stack anymore, it was loaned for review. I'm sure it would do very well with the HE1000 Stealth, and you will hear a huge improvement over the Sundara.
I haven't reviewed the Diablo, so I don't know.
Thanks!
Hi sir...very nice review...actually I am listening to this review using the same Ifi stack of Dac and Amp ur reviewing connected with the ifi balanced cable. I am using Hifiman Edition XS open back Headphone connected to the amp with Hifiman Balanced cable. This is the unit with which I stepped into the audiophile community. The whole set up of mine makes me feel good with the musics I listen to but I have no other idea of any dac or amp or headphone , hence listening to you just to know whether my purchase is good for an entry level. I am using Apple I pad and Apple Music as the source connected with the usb input. I have also purchased Fiio M11 plus ess edition, a portable music player and I listen my Hifiman Edition XS connected with this portable player with the balanced cable. Honestly let me tell ..I found no real difference in listening experience and actually felt comfortable for using the portable player for its ease of usage The ifi stack and Fiio made me to feel really good sounding with my Hifiman Edition XS. Now I am waiting for your second part to know about Aarya and Ananda with this stack. You look very experienced in this field sir..hence your reviews also mean a lot to us. I am just an amateur trying to understand what this audiophile community is really about. Is it about enjoying music or all time thinking / comparing about another Headphone or Dac or Amp or cables... Actually I too want to be driven crazy as an audiophile. I don’t know whether I have those kinds of ears. Anyway lot of respect for you and your reviews sir. Waiting for part 2😊😊😊
Hey, been searching, but I’ve only found you (as a pro reviewer) that has reviewed both EF400 and iFi Zen Signature Set HFM Edition. If I may ask and disturbe you, what’s your take on these two? I’m a Tidal user thru an Android tablet. So with the EF400 I need to use UAPP app to get bit perfect, and not even then I can go full MQA. But with the Ifi I get it all… but I´m afraid that I will miss out on the smooth analog sound of the R2R.
Any advice? Many thanks!
Thank you for the compliment, but I'm just an amateur reviewer. I know very little about MQA so can't really help you there. The EF-400 sounds great IMO, but the iFi stack just has so many more features and can do so much more.
@@theheadphoneexperience-wil2250 many thanks! If we put both MQA and other features like inputs etc. aside. What's your take on sound between them? I'm using Arya Stealth...
Do the rca and 4.4mm balanced outputs work simultaneously?
I'm sorry, I honestly don't remember if I tried using both at the same time. The Signature stack was sent back to iFi, so I have no way to find out now.
I had the same question. I will find out later today as it should arrive today. The only difference is I ordered the 6xx can version for better dynamics matched to Senheiser cans.
Sir..when will you release Part 2....or can pls let me know how Arya sounds over Edition XS with this stack ? I am waiting to buy Arya if it is doing really good with this stack 🙂🙂🙂
And..this ifi stack vs Hifiman EF 400 dac/amp..sir Arya sounds best with which of these two ?!! 🤔
i only have de AMP, is it a must to get the DAC aswell? im currently plugged in by AUX to my pc and my headphones are plugged into the normal out (not balanced) is this good or am i missing out because im not using the balanced in and out ports?
If you are using the built in dac in your PC, you will have a HUGE improvement in sound quality using a good dac like the ZEN ONE Signature.
@@theheadphoneexperience-wil2250 thnx for the quick reply, do i need to change my hd6xx cable to a 4.4 balanced? (im new to all this)
@@ayhankayhan2785 The 4.4mm will give a slight improvement over 6.3mm output. Something you can do later if you want to.
Thank you very much!
thought this was the actual HFM stack that comes w Zen DAC Sig, Zen CAN HFM w/ included pentacon connector. But looks like the Zen One and Zen Can HFM. Zen DAC supposedly sounds better than Zen One. Just not as many features as Zen One.
My question as well..how does the Zen signature one compare to the Zen Signature DAC V2 in terms of sound as the Zen one has the advantage as far as inputs.
i don't like the dac and the color system, a normal screen would be better
I agree as a person who is color blind. The colors mean nothing to me.