[dadracer2]

Hi folks, apologies as I meant to mention earlier but I've posted a short review on the Zen Can here. https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ifi-audio-zen-can.24607/

 

[shampoosuicide]

I don't know....I have been lusting after the zen can for some weeks now but still have not pulled the trigger...too many audio related disappointments in my purchase history ya know....

I have been reading some reviews and a few of them say it has a "warm" signature and a narrow soundstage.....does anybody here agree with this opinion or are they full of *** and were just hearing the characteristics of the dac they had connected to it?....

I've owned most of the entry-level ~$100 amps (JDS Atom, Schiit Magni 3+, Cavalli Liquid Spark, O2). The ZEN CAN certainly stands out as being the most spacious of the lot. I wouldn't describe it as warm either--smooth and fluid, yes, but certainly not warm or dark. It manages to do something very special to my ears, sounding both airy and analog at the same time. Needless to say, I'm enjoying my unit a bunch...

 

[BWythani]

I just wanted to hop into this thread with an update- they immediately started working on my warranty return and had it back in the mail the same day.

Just got it back in my hands and I'm really really enjoying it with my LCDGX!

and I can't really put my finger on it by enjoying my zen can more than any of my other amps.

 

[shampoosuicide]

I've been so enamoured with the ZEN CAN that I figured I had to pick up the ZEN DAC. So far I've been using an iFi nano BL as a DAC, and was a little sceptical about the improvement the balanced output the ZEN DAC might bring. I'm pleased as punch to report that I found the ZEN DAC balanced to be a worthy upgrade. Both the nano BL and the ZEN DAC are running firmware 5.3c.

My chain is as follows: Tidal via Audirvana > iFi ZEN DAC Balanced > iFi ZEN CAN Balanced > Onkyo A800 / Sony XBA-Z5

The difference between the single-ended and balanced inputs of the ZEN CAN is fairly distinct, if not significant. Soundstage is much larger, low-end is weightier, and there's greater tonal weight/density. By comparison, the single-ended input sounds relatively lean/thin and narrow.

Hopefully this information is useful to anyone on the fence...

 

[BattousaiX26]

Nice job ifi, this sounds phenomenal for the price. Tested on my hifiman he1000 v1 and it sounds really great. Testing on LCD 2 and Ad2000x to follow

 

[BattousaiX26]

I love the x-bass feature on the he1000, very detailed and musical at the same time. I don't know if the xbass is good with other headphones because i haven't tested it yet with my lcd 2 and ad2000x but with the He1000, the bass becomes very enjoyable and impactful but not bloated or muddy

 

[BattousaiX26]

Very good pairing with the LCD 2 fazors too but for the LCD-2 the xbass is a bit too much so it is better turned off. I think that zen can is really good for planars in general.

 

[Philip Ha]

@iFi audio

Hello
I have a question about Zen CAN's power button.

I feel it's too sensitive to turn on Zen CAN.

case 1 : Push power button very shortly -> turned on
case 2 : Push and hold button over 1 sec -> not turned on

after case 2, I can't turn on the device.
I need to pull the power adapter and insert it again and then I can turn on CAN by case 1.

Is it normal???

 

[BattousaiX26]

@iFi audio

Hello
I have a question about Zen CAN's power button.

I feel it's too sensitive to turn on Zen CAN.

case 1 : Push power button very shortly -> turned on
case 2 : Push and hold button over 1 sec -> not turned on

after case 2, I can't turn on the device.
I need to pull the power adapter and insert it again and then I can turn on CAN by case 1.

Is it normal???

Mine is also like that

 

[Lucozade 1]

@iFi audio

Hello
I have a question about Zen CAN's power button.

I feel it's too sensitive to turn on Zen CAN.

case 1 : Push power button very shortly -> turned on
case 2 : Push and hold button over 1 sec -> not turned on

after case 2, I can't turn on the device.
I need to pull the power adapter and insert it again and then I can turn on CAN by case 1.

Is it normal???

Mine isn't like that ,i can hold the power button in for as long as i like, it turns on just fine while the the butten is held down

 

[Lucozade 1]

Really enjoying the Zen Can so far along with the Zen Blue ,Sounds really good with lots of power in reserve.

 

[Daimiel]

Nice job ifi, this sounds phenomenal for the price. Tested on my hifiman he1000 v1 and it sounds really great. Testing on LCD 2 and Ad2000x to follow

Hi! Can you try the Zen Can with the Chord Mojo? Pairs well or lose any of the details that the Mojo reproduce?
Thanks.
p.d: I have the Mojo the Sennheiser HD660S and the AKG K701. The AKG needs more power and the Zen Can could be a good option.

 

[vodkadebugger]

@iFi audio

Hello
I have a question about Zen CAN's power button.

I feel it's too sensitive to turn on Zen CAN.

case 1 : Push power button very shortly -> turned on
case 2 : Push and hold button over 1 sec -> not turned on

after case 2, I can't turn on the device.
I need to pull the power adapter and insert it again and then I can turn on CAN by case 1.

Is it normal???

I have never noticed this in my month with the Can

Hi! Can you try the Zen Can with the Chord Mojo? Pairs well or lose any of the details that the Mojo reproduce?
Thanks.
p.d: I have the Mojo the Sennheiser HD660S and the AKG K701. The AKG needs more power and the Zen Can could be a good option.

I see no reason why a proper amp like the Can couldn’t reproduce a good DAC signal.

 

[BattousaiX26]

Hi! Can you try the Zen Can with the Chord Mojo? Pairs well or lose any of the details that the Mojo reproduce?
Thanks.
p.d: I have the Mojo the Sennheiser HD660S and the AKG K701. The AKG needs more power and the Zen Can could be a good option.

I can't try now because my chord mojo is dead after a year of use. Sad because it offers very good sound but unfortunately not very reliable. But I think the better the source, the better sounding the zen can will be because it will be amplifying a good signal.

I am actually planning to buy Ifi Pro Ican next year because I am very impressed with the sound it produce with my he1000v1 when I demo it in the headphone store. But having own the zen can now, the urge to buy pro ican just disappeared. I like the zen can more than the ifi pro ican in solid state mode and that amp costs thosands of dollars more than the zen can. The zen can offers good amount of details and dynamics while having that smooth top end and retaining musicality in the mids and lows but the bigger brother pro ican sounds sterile and analytical in solid state mode when compared to the zen can.

 

[Lucozade 1]

Hi! Can you try the Zen Can with the Chord Mojo? Pairs well or lose any of the details that the Mojo reproduce?
Thanks.
p.d: I have the Mojo the Sennheiser HD660S and the AKG K701. The AKG needs more power and the Zen Can could be a good option.

The Zen can will have no trouble powering the Akg 700 series ,I have Akg 712 pro ,and yes they need more power than the hd660 to sound there best .
Zen can reproduces the source it is fed accurately in my experience