iFi audio Presents, ZEN CAN 3...Serenity in Every Detail

Jan 13, 2025 at 5:52 PM Post #166 of 177
I wish that the XBass function would be a bit weaker. Paired with an Arya Organic it is way too much Bass.
When using EQ i use a low shelf with +2.5dB.
The Xbass seems like +8dB or more...right?

The Power Button (the Buttons in generell) could be a bit more clicky.

But when it comes to Power, Clarity and Staging this combo is a Beast for the price.
These two will Stay on my Desk :)

Next Step will be an Upgrade for the PSU (Zen Can).
I bought the iPower X power supply and I am struggling to hear a difference. I am giving another week of testing before sending it back.
Great amplifier, no doubt I will keep it along with my Serenade.
 
Jan 17, 2025 at 6:54 AM Post #167 of 177
The Xbass seems like +8dB or more...right?
It is around +10dB at 20Hz, down to around +2dB at 100Hz. That what was it like in original ZenCan and in "not-branded" ZenCan Signature.
Dedicated mostly to bass-shy open back headphones, with bass rolloff below flat response, below 120Hz. Works great with AKG K6/K7 series, open Sundara, HD600, DT880, T50/T60RP... Much better than bass boost implementation in ZenDac, which goes too much into the lower midrange IMO.
 
Last edited:
Jan 20, 2025 at 9:20 PM Post #169 of 177
1719314509327.png
1719314532545.png

Serenity in Every Detail.​

With the darkest background, one discovers the tiniest details.

1719314649135.png

Incredible Power. Uncompromising Clarity.​

Today the world is busy, fast, and full of noise. We know the power of music, and how it’s capable of taking you out of this world to someplace new. Somewhere tranquil, where melodies can uplift, and vocals can move you to tears.

The unrivalled clarity of the ZEN CAN 3 envelops you with raw, unadulterated emotion. Hear the crack of a voice, the crescendo of a chorus, the delicate whisper of a piano – every note and nuance is delivered with breathtaking precision. The ZEN CAN 3 ignites late-night listening sessions with its ability to effortlessly drive headphones – from xMEMS-based IEMs to high-end planars – delivering up to 2,000mW output power through the same Class A circuitry found in our flagship iCAN Phantom.
Isolate yourself from the chaos of the outside world with our all-new analogue EQ-modes, allowing for full immersion during intense gaming and movie marathons.


1719314716077.png

Future-Proof Features.​

The ZEN CAN 3 now supports IEMs using xMEMS, an innovative micro-speaker technology pushing the boundaries of headphone performance.

  • Ultra-fast mechanical response, 150 times faster than a typical dynamic driver
  • Flat 2° phase response for more accurate sound reproduction
  • +/- 1° phase matching for more accurate spatial sound
  • Silicon speaker diaphragm, 95 times more rigid than plastic, for reduced speaker break-up and a less muddy midrange
By incorporating the pioneering xMEMS amplification first found in the flagship iDSD Diablo-X, the ZEN CAN 3 can deliver the voltage required for optimal operation of this cutting-edge technology, bringing the power of xMEMS to a whole new audience and ensuring that you are ready for the future as it happens.

1719314775608.png

Crisp Footsteps. Clear Voices.​

Have you ever experienced watching a thrilling scene only to struggle to hear what the characters are saying? This is a frustration shared by many, as streamed content often has dialogue that gets lost amidst background sounds and music.
Enter movie mode, an EQ specifically designed to address the clarity of dialogue in streamed content, enabling you to fully immerse in the narrative without straining to hear or decipher what is being said.
Game mode caters directly to the needs of those constantly seeking any
advantage they can get in competitive play.
Gamers understand the importance of hearing even the faintest sounds that can give away an opponent’s position or signal an approaching threat.
Game mode’s EQ enhances this aspect of gameplay by sharpening subtle, low-level sound effects, ensuring that every sound becomes more distinct and easier to pinpoint. Whether navigating through intense firefights or sneaking up on enemies, this heightened audio sensitivity allows you to stay one step ahead of opponents.

1719314816373.png

Prodigious Power.​

With its impressive 2,000mW output power, the ZEN CAN 3 offers a significant upgrade to the way you experience music through headphones, with unprecedented clarity and headroom.

Its ability to handle dynamic peaks with ease means you can experience music as it was meant to be heard – vivid, immersive, and profoundly moving. It means more than just loudness – it’s about feeling the music resonate through you, stirring your soul and creating a connection that transcends mere sound.

Whether its planar magnetic headphones requiring more power to drive accurately, or high-impedance models that need ample current delivery, the ZEN CAN 3 rises to the challenge.

1719314891951.png

Superior Components. Class A Sound.​

The ZEN CAN 3 features trickle-down Class A discrete balanced circuitry from our flagship headphone amplifier. Underpinning the circuitry are cherry-picked, premium components from Panasonic, TDK, MELF, Texas Instruments and muRata.
The amplification stage boasts iFi/AMR’s own ‘OV’ (Operationsverstärker) series op-amps, outperforming commercial chips that use low-grade copper and inexpensive aluminium bond-wire.
Performance of the ZEN CAN 3 is optionally upgradable by powering with an ultra-quiet power supply. The SilentPower iPower2 boasts performance more than 10 times quieter than other audiophile solutions – ensuring the clarity you crave is never compromised.

1719314937399.png

DSP-Free Purity.​

Unlike other audiophile offerings, all the ZEN CAN 3’s features are done with analogue circuitry, as opposed to Digital Signal Processing (DSP), where the audio signal is manipulated before being converted to true analogue sound.

Instead, the ZEN CAN 3 leverages the natural advantages of analogue circuitry: it maintains the integrity of the sound, introduces less phase shift and distortion, and boasts a more natural-sounding adjustment of frequencies.

iFi’s signature analogue bass enhancement, XBass+, is designed to make bass hit harder without compromising the clarity of the midrange – perfect for when you’re listening with IEMs or open-back headphones that lack bass response.

XSpace recreates the expansive soundstage of speakers, transforming headphone listening from confined and ‘inside your head’ to natural and spacious. This technology makes music come alive, offering a concert-like sound experience without losing any detail or resolution – all achieved through the innovative design of our circuitry.


Sonically superior – richer, deeper.
The XBass® analogue bass correction system corrects for the missing headphone/speaker bass response.

As with many other iFi audio products, we’ve incorporated a custom OV Series operational-amplifier. This top-notch component contributes to the extremely low noise, low distortion (0.0001%) and wide bandwidth.


A Tokyo Cosmos Electric Co. (TOCOS) multi-track potentiometer is used. This has close channel matching tolerance for optimal performance (always use above 11 o’ clock).


TDK C0G (Class 1 ceramic) capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit applications.
Getting ever closer to the theoretical ideal of pure, frequency-constant capacitance, these capacitors reduce capacitor-induced distortion to vanishingly low levels.
They are pricey but are a perfect addition to our products.


Texas Instruments low-noise ICs offer great unity-gain bandwidth, very low noise and distortion, high output drive capability, Common-mode and Power Supply Rejection Ratios of over 100 dB, wide maximum-output-swing bandwidths and high slew rates.


Class A Discrete is a circuit that has come straight out of iFi’s flagship headphone amplifier, the iCAN Phantom, which at £3,749 is 16 times the price of the ZEN CAN 3.

1719315098677.png

To get yours please visit Here!

Or find your local distributor HERE!

Cheers!!
I'm really interested in this, but I don't quite like the Bronze accents. Do you plan to offer an alternative, more sobber finish, such as nickel/silver?
 
Feb 22, 2025 at 5:20 PM Post #172 of 177
1719314509327.png
1719314532545.png

Serenity in Every Detail.​

With the darkest background, one discovers the tiniest details.

1719314649135.png

Incredible Power. Uncompromising Clarity.​

Today the world is busy, fast, and full of noise. We know the power of music, and how it’s capable of taking you out of this world to someplace new. Somewhere tranquil, where melodies can uplift, and vocals can move you to tears.

The unrivalled clarity of the ZEN CAN 3 envelops you with raw, unadulterated emotion. Hear the crack of a voice, the crescendo of a chorus, the delicate whisper of a piano – every note and nuance is delivered with breathtaking precision. The ZEN CAN 3 ignites late-night listening sessions with its ability to effortlessly drive headphones – from xMEMS-based IEMs to high-end planars – delivering up to 2,000mW output power through the same Class A circuitry found in our flagship iCAN Phantom.
Isolate yourself from the chaos of the outside world with our all-new analogue EQ-modes, allowing for full immersion during intense gaming and movie marathons.


1719314716077.png

Future-Proof Features.​

The ZEN CAN 3 now supports IEMs using xMEMS, an innovative micro-speaker technology pushing the boundaries of headphone performance.

  • Ultra-fast mechanical response, 150 times faster than a typical dynamic driver
  • Flat 2° phase response for more accurate sound reproduction
  • +/- 1° phase matching for more accurate spatial sound
  • Silicon speaker diaphragm, 95 times more rigid than plastic, for reduced speaker break-up and a less muddy midrange
By incorporating the pioneering xMEMS amplification first found in the flagship iDSD Diablo-X, the ZEN CAN 3 can deliver the voltage required for optimal operation of this cutting-edge technology, bringing the power of xMEMS to a whole new audience and ensuring that you are ready for the future as it happens.

1719314775608.png

Crisp Footsteps. Clear Voices.​

Have you ever experienced watching a thrilling scene only to struggle to hear what the characters are saying? This is a frustration shared by many, as streamed content often has dialogue that gets lost amidst background sounds and music.
Enter movie mode, an EQ specifically designed to address the clarity of dialogue in streamed content, enabling you to fully immerse in the narrative without straining to hear or decipher what is being said.
Game mode caters directly to the needs of those constantly seeking any
advantage they can get in competitive play.
Gamers understand the importance of hearing even the faintest sounds that can give away an opponent’s position or signal an approaching threat.
Game mode’s EQ enhances this aspect of gameplay by sharpening subtle, low-level sound effects, ensuring that every sound becomes more distinct and easier to pinpoint. Whether navigating through intense firefights or sneaking up on enemies, this heightened audio sensitivity allows you to stay one step ahead of opponents.

1719314816373.png

Prodigious Power.​

With its impressive 2,000mW output power, the ZEN CAN 3 offers a significant upgrade to the way you experience music through headphones, with unprecedented clarity and headroom.

Its ability to handle dynamic peaks with ease means you can experience music as it was meant to be heard – vivid, immersive, and profoundly moving. It means more than just loudness – it’s about feeling the music resonate through you, stirring your soul and creating a connection that transcends mere sound.

Whether its planar magnetic headphones requiring more power to drive accurately, or high-impedance models that need ample current delivery, the ZEN CAN 3 rises to the challenge.

1719314891951.png

Superior Components. Class A Sound.​

The ZEN CAN 3 features trickle-down Class A discrete balanced circuitry from our flagship headphone amplifier. Underpinning the circuitry are cherry-picked, premium components from Panasonic, TDK, MELF, Texas Instruments and muRata.
The amplification stage boasts iFi/AMR’s own ‘OV’ (Operationsverstärker) series op-amps, outperforming commercial chips that use low-grade copper and inexpensive aluminium bond-wire.
Performance of the ZEN CAN 3 is optionally upgradable by powering with an ultra-quiet power supply. The SilentPower iPower2 boasts performance more than 10 times quieter than other audiophile solutions – ensuring the clarity you crave is never compromised.

1719314937399.png

DSP-Free Purity.​

Unlike other audiophile offerings, all the ZEN CAN 3’s features are done with analogue circuitry, as opposed to Digital Signal Processing (DSP), where the audio signal is manipulated before being converted to true analogue sound.

Instead, the ZEN CAN 3 leverages the natural advantages of analogue circuitry: it maintains the integrity of the sound, introduces less phase shift and distortion, and boasts a more natural-sounding adjustment of frequencies.

iFi’s signature analogue bass enhancement, XBass+, is designed to make bass hit harder without compromising the clarity of the midrange – perfect for when you’re listening with IEMs or open-back headphones that lack bass response.

XSpace recreates the expansive soundstage of speakers, transforming headphone listening from confined and ‘inside your head’ to natural and spacious. This technology makes music come alive, offering a concert-like sound experience without losing any detail or resolution – all achieved through the innovative design of our circuitry.


Sonically superior – richer, deeper.
The XBass® analogue bass correction system corrects for the missing headphone/speaker bass response.

As with many other iFi audio products, we’ve incorporated a custom OV Series operational-amplifier. This top-notch component contributes to the extremely low noise, low distortion (0.0001%) and wide bandwidth.


A Tokyo Cosmos Electric Co. (TOCOS) multi-track potentiometer is used. This has close channel matching tolerance for optimal performance (always use above 11 o’ clock).


TDK C0G (Class 1 ceramic) capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit applications.
Getting ever closer to the theoretical ideal of pure, frequency-constant capacitance, these capacitors reduce capacitor-induced distortion to vanishingly low levels.
They are pricey but are a perfect addition to our products.


Texas Instruments low-noise ICs offer great unity-gain bandwidth, very low noise and distortion, high output drive capability, Common-mode and Power Supply Rejection Ratios of over 100 dB, wide maximum-output-swing bandwidths and high slew rates.


Class A Discrete is a circuit that has come straight out of iFi’s flagship headphone amplifier, the iCAN Phantom, which at £3,749 is 16 times the price of the ZEN CAN 3.

1719315098677.png

To get yours please visit Here!

Or find your local distributor HERE!

Cheers!!


What would be great is offering an Sig version of this, BUT with an alps R27 potentiometer for better linearity.
I’m sure people would get it, even if it was a limited run.
 
Feb 22, 2025 at 6:25 PM Post #174 of 177
Does the zen can sig have channel imbalance?

Not at higher volume, but it would be nice to have a better potentiometer, for below 11oclock volume
I mean Schiit uses an alps R27 pot and it works great. Except I don’t like how their amps sound unfortunately.

But Ifi could find a way to fit it in a Zen Can for sure.
The box doesn’t have to be THAT small. I mean it’s silly. It’s a desktop solution not portable.


@iFi audio

So , how does the output class A stage differ from the First Zen Can or Sig version ?
Does the Zen Can 3 use the same OV2637A?

@iFi audio

So I take it no response means the regular Zen Can and the Zen Can 3 have no real differences in the Class A output stage?

The regular Zen Can also boasted class A operation.

Thanks
 
Last edited:
May 4, 2025 at 4:21 AM Post #177 of 177

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