[erich6]

Nice @Joe Bloggs; thanks for sharing the frequency response changes. Great idea for a product!

Is the equalization done through DSP or analog? Aside from the equalization, how does the Zen CAN's amplifier compare to the one that comes with the standard version of the Zen DAC/Amp?

 

[tcellguy]

Is the wattage output reported anywhere for this amp? I imagine the amp is built to output well at ~ 300 Ohms. The version I heard sounded great with LCD4 and Atticus. I'm curious how it does with low impedance headphones (e.g. Aeon).

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Nice @Joe Bloggs; thanks for sharing the frequency response changes. Great idea for a product!

Is the equalization done through DSP or analog? Aside from the equalization, how does the Zen CAN's amplifier compare to the one that comes with the standard version of the Zen DAC/Amp?

Is the wattage output reported anywhere for this amp? I imagine the amp is built to output well at ~ 300 Ohms. The version I heard sounded great with LCD4 and Atticus. I'm curious how it does with low impedance headphones (e.g. Aeon).

At this point in time (before the official release) I'd just point out that this is going to be a dedicated box for amplification taking up as much board space for this alone as DAC and amplification did in the ZEN DAC. You can bet that the amplification circuitry will be completely different and on another level Oh, and yes, the EQ is done in analog.

 

[erich6]

At this point in time (before the official release) I'd just point out that this is going to be a dedicated box for amplification taking up as much board space for this alone as DAC and amplification did in the ZEN DAC. You can bet that the amplification circuitry will be completely different and on another level Oh, and yes, the EQ is done in analog.

Awesome

 

[nxxo]

Me, seriously I find that IFI audio gets lost in all models of DAC amp, portable DAC amp for the right, DAC for the left...the best example is the XDSD and the XCAN, no, but seriously why? Really I'm not saying this to bash on IFI, I sincerely love this company, I think it makes good products in a more than respectable price range, but seriously did you really need a another 100th DAC or amp to put on the market?

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Me, seriously I find that IFI audio gets lost in all models of DAC amp, portable DAC amp for the right, DAC for the left...the best example is the XDSD and the XCAN, no, but seriously why? Really I'm not saying this to bash on IFI, I sincerely love this company, I think it makes good products in a more than respectable price range, but seriously did you really need a another 100th DAC or amp to put on the market?

Well, if you have one of our existing products, it will continue to work perfectly fine after the introduction of the new product But this new amp is as different as they come from previous products, at least for Sennheiser 6XX/650/600 etc. users?

 

[Evshrug]

Lots of quotes!!

Here's a bit of extra information we're putting here, ahead of even the Drop post. The correction curve applied by iFi audio ZEN CAN Signature 6XX will be as follows:
[link pending]

So, about that pending link for the EQ curve for the HD 6XX? It's here

Good to see the EQ comparison, thanks!
If it raises the bass and upper mids a bit, I imagine the HD 598 (and HD 599, PC37X) will be in more of the “good” category alongside the HD 700 because those HD 500 Series models are already kind of V-shaped (for Sennheiser). I am also very curious because the HD 500 series typically has a much lower impedance and some higher sensitivity.

That said, the HD 558/559 should fit in the “Very Good” category and I think it would be very cool to try it out myself with my 5 headphones around that lineup! I would particularly like to try it with my midrange HD 500 series headphone and my HD 660S... and of course my HD 650 (same headphone as the HD 6XX). I don’t think the HD 660S would be much worse than the HD 600!

Senns HD 660 have noticeably different FR than HD 600/650/6XX above 2kHz, but are quite similar on bass. Our ZEN CAN Signature 6XX will thus improve bass of HD 660.

Maybe a bit more upper mids too, but we’ll just have to see. Could be awesome for people just wanting to switch between “Stock” and “Fun!”

When they are singing along at their best, they really do sound like a real flagship product as they were once marketed back 10 years ago or so. Back when a $600 headphone belonged in the exclusive 'high end forum', and we thought that kind of money was really stretching what the hobby could maintain

2001! And I believe they launched at $499, and Sennheiser also believed they might be stretching what the hobby could maintain. My how times change! But it was cool for me that the HD 660S launched at the same $499, all these years later.

In for review here. The HD6XX button, most noticeably, boosts the bass a bit.

Looking forward to catching more of your comments!

Just one do-it-all button is a solution as simple as it's elegant. And there are many folks with HD6XX but no EQ anywhere nearby to make 'em better!

Right, and some sources (like my videogame consoles, vinyl, etc) that don’t have the ability to add apps to EQ digitally. I also have very little experience (but a fair amount of interest) in iFi’s “spacializer” feature, especially if it was tuned to help the HD 650’s flat-angled drivers sound more “out of your head.”

I mean, it’s basically a good amp with the bonus of an analog EQ targeted at one of the all-time most popular headphones. It’s likely that customers own an HD 650 variant; but even without that, plenty of amps have succeeded without any EQ features.

 

[iFi audio]

but seriously did you really need a another 100th DAC or amp to put on the market?

It's not about what we (as in, iFi audio) needed

Right, and some sources (like my videogame consoles, vinyl, etc) that don’t have the ability to add apps to EQ digitally.

Exactly.

 

[PsilocybinCube]

I got roasted a little while ago on Reddit's headphone sub for recommending a Bottlehead Crack for having good 'synergy' with the HD650 and HD800. I wonder if they will slay anyone recommending this for 'synergy' purposes.

 

[iFi audio]

I got roasted a little while ago on Reddit's headphone sub for recommending a Bottlehead Crack for having good 'synergy' with the HD650 and HD800. I wonder if they will slay anyone recommending this for 'synergy' purposes.

Considering what that EQ button does, that would be a surprise

 

[iFi audio]

Also folks, info about our ZEN DAC Signature was added to the first post of this thread, which makes it now about ZEN Signature machines!

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ifi...e-6xx-zen-dac-signature.936743/#post-15722307

 

[Cat Music]

Also folks, info about our ZEN DAC Signature was added to the first post of this thread, which makes it now about ZEN Signature machines!

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ifi...e-6xx-zen-dac-signature.936743/#post-15722307

Sounds good to me, I just wish the name of the Zen Dac Signature is a bit more different than the name of the normal iFi Zen Dac, although visually they look different, the name can be confusing

 

[iFi audio]

Sounds good to me, I just wish the name of the Zen Dac Signature is a bit more different than the name of the normal iFi Zen Dac, although visually they look different, the name can be confusing

I'd say that they look similar enough to see them as products within the same range, in this case ZEN.

 

[omegaorgun]

At some point yes, it's possible.



An advanced analogue filter designed to significantly improve popular headphones (and some other similar models to an extent too!) I would label as practical and useful



That is true of course, but realistically any similar cans will benefit from that EQ button, i.e. Senns HD600/650

Sounds great!

I am still waiting for you guys to make a $400-600 DAC amp combo with balanced (XLR) out to go toe to toe with the THX stuff.

Something like the Yulong Aquila II. Maybe class A and something that can push a bit of power in the 300/600 ohm range.

 

[iFi audio]

Sounds great!

I am still waiting for you guys to make a $400-600 DAC amp combo with balanced (XLR) out to go toe to toe with the THX stuff.

Something like the Yulong Aquila II. Maybe class A and something that can push a bit of power in the 300/600 ohm range.

Although I can't say anything about our upcoming products and confirm/deny anything at this point, I will say that our schedule is full