[iFi audio]

I would like the operate the ZenDac in stealth mode (no light behind the volume knob). Has anyone managed to disable the light? Can I pull the volume knob off and cover the light with a sticker from Amazon or use gaffers tape? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

The volume knob should dismount easily if some pressure is applied to it, so covering it with a tape shouldn't be difficult, thanks!

 

[pathworks]

The volume knob should dismount easily if some pressure is applied to it, so covering it with a tape shouldn't be difficult, thanks!

Thanks, iFi audio, for the suggestion. Do you pull the volume knob to remove it or turn it to the left? It didn't release easily for me and I didn't want to break it. I took another approach this evening but may try another tact if I can get the volume knob off. Here are my pics and instructions for anyone else who wants to use the DAC amp in a bedroom and remain married.

 

[iFi audio]

Do you pull the volume knob

Yup, it has to be firmly pulled and then it should dismount a volume pot's center piece. Purposely it's a tight fit to keep that knob in place, but doable.

 

[danny87]

Hi! Hope to get some help. When my zen dac is powered by a dc plug and the usb is connected to my phone, the zen dac's metal shell gives me minor electric shocks (feels like vibrating) when i touch it, and it's being transmitted to my earbuds as well (metal shell) and it hurts my ears. When powered via usb from the PC, this doesn't happen.

Any way to fix this without having to buy ifi's ground fix?

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Hi! Hope to get some help. When my zen dac is powered by a dc plug and the usb is connected to my phone, the zen dac's metal shell gives me minor electric shocks (feels like vibrating) when i touch it, and it's being transmitted to my earbuds as well (metal shell) and it hurts my ears. When powered via usb from the PC, this doesn't happen.

Any way to fix this without having to buy ifi's ground fix?

You could certainly try a ground lift adapter on the end of your current power supply plug to see if it makes any difference for you (I am referring to a 3 prong to 2 prong style). Of course trying a different power supply on the same voltage range is also worth a shot.

I definitely would not let this continue long without a solution, I have lost gear due to a static type charge, so best to get a solution quickly, and do put in a support ticket as maybe they have information as well!

Cheers!!

 

[danny87]

You could certainly try a ground lift adapter on the end of your current power supply plug to see if it makes any difference for you (I am referring to a 3 prong to 2 prong style). Of course trying a different power supply on the same voltage range is also worth a shot.

I definitely would not let this continue long without a solution, I have lost gear due to a static type charge, so best to get a solution quickly, and do put in a support ticket as maybe they have information as well!

Cheers!!

My country is already using a UK plug, so I don't think the ground lift adapter will be applicable.

For the power supply, I don't have a spare wall wart to test at the moment, but this is definitely in my consideration as well. Just wondering if there are alternatives while I'm looking for a suitable wall wart replacement (can't afford ifi's ipower unfortunately).

Thanks for the advice!

 

[G-rig]

Hi! Hope to get some help. When my zen dac is powered by a dc plug and the usb is connected to my phone, the zen dac's metal shell gives me minor electric shocks (feels like vibrating) when i touch it, and it's being transmitted to my earbuds as well (metal shell) and it hurts my ears. When powered via usb from the PC, this doesn't happen.

Any way to fix this without having to buy ifi's ground fix?

I know you can get an optional dc adapter but I gess these are designed to be plugged into the computer and powered via USB. You could check the DC adaptor is the correct specification but agree doesn't seem right. A USB dongle style DAC would be better for your phone and more portable/smaller (Aliexpress has some good ones a bit like this dragonfly ones).
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mNM6b0c

 

[danny87]

I know you can get an optional dc adapter but I gess these are designed to be plugged into the computer and powered via USB. You could check the DC adaptor is the correct specification but agree doesn't seem right. A USB dongle style DAC would be better for your phone and more portable/smaller (Aliexpress has some good ones a bit like this dragonfly ones).
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mNM6b0c

Yeah, the reason I didn't get the usb/dc adapter initially is because of the known noise issue when using usb/dc adapters. So i bought a dedicated ac/dc adapter from a relatively reliable brand. I'll try a few more troubleshooting steps before I buy a new adapter and share the results in case anyone's facing the same problem.

Btw i also have a creative sxfi on the way for my portable use. The ifi is more of a desktop setup as a dedicated dac to my tube amp.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[danny87]

Yeah, the reason I didn't get the usb/dc adapter initially is because of the known noise issue when using usb/dc adapters. So i bought a dedicated ac/dc adapter from a relatively reliable brand. I'll try a few more troubleshooting steps before I buy a new adapter and share the results in case anyone's facing the same problem.

Btw i also have a creative sxfi on the way for my portable use. The ifi is more of a desktop setup as a dedicated dac to my tube amp.

Thanks for the advice!

It seems i somewhat figured out the issue. It's current leak due to no grounding.

The current leak only happens when the 5V adapter is switched on in certain scenarios. It doesn't happen at all if powered via usb.

With 5V adapter switched on:
Zen DAC - USB - PC: no current leak (PC is grounded)
Zen DAC - USB - Phone: current leak (phone is not grounded)
Zen DAC - RCA - Schiit Vali: current leak (amp is not grounded)
Zen DAC - 3.5mm - PC: no current leak (USB not connected)

Basically i need to get the zen dac connected to anything that has ground connection, in this case, my PC. The PC doesn't even need to be switched on. Next step is to get a 4.4mm-to-3.5mm cable to connect the zen dac to my PC (just for grounding) so that it frees up the 3.5mm jack for my iems. Anyone knows if this might have adverse effect to the PC in the long run?

I'm thinking a different 5V adapter might have less current leak and might yield similar results, but it will take a lot of trial (and money) and error until i find one that works. Mean Well medical power supplies are advertised to have very low current leak but it's not particularly cheap.

 

[G-rig]

Yeah not really design to be used with phone and isn't portable anyway. I'd use PC as source and get another DAC/amp for phone if you really need it, but honestly Bluetooth with some noise cancelling headphones is good enough for portable and no fuss.

 

[danny87]

Yeah not really design to be used with phone and isn't portable anyway. I'd use PC as source and get another DAC/amp for phone if you really need it, but honestly Bluetooth with some noise cancelling headphones is good enough for portable and no fuss.

I do have a topping dx3 pro as my usual dac for my phone (via ldac bluetooth). Just thought in case i wanted to sell off one of my dac and keep just one. I'm leaning towards my dx3 for now but want to give the zen dac a bit more time. It sounds fun with some music.

 

[GlenAppleton]

Yeah not really design to be used with phone and isn't portable anyway. I'd use PC as source and get another DAC/amp for phone if you really need it, but honestly Bluetooth with some noise cancelling headphones is good enough for portable and no fuss.

Whether it's designed for use with a phone (or other portable source) is really not the point, IMO. Any electronics that use mains power should have sufficient grounding capabilities, and this is especially true of those that ship with an external power supply. Since the Zen DAC doesn't ship with a dedicated power supply, I think the next steps would be to try another power supply (maybe an iFi iPower2, if possible) and to contact @iFi audio directly regarding the grounding issue.

@danny87 - Have you contacted iFi support regarding the grounding issue?

 

[danny87]

Whether it's designed for use with a phone (or other portable source) is really not the point, IMO. Any electronics that use mains power should have sufficient grounding capabilities, and this is especially true of those that ship with an external power supply. Since the Zen DAC doesn't ship with a dedicated power supply, I think the next steps would be to try another power supply (maybe an iFi iPower2, if possible) and to contact @iFi audio directly regarding the grounding issue.

@danny87 - Have you contacted iFi support regarding the grounding issue?

Not yet. But i have somewhat resolved the grounding issue by connecting the zen dac to my PC via an audio cable. It worked with the 6.3mm jack, but since I need to use that, I'll need a 4.4mm cable instead to free up the 6.3mm jack. I think it works similar to ifi's groundhog.

 

[G-rig]

Whether it's designed for use with a phone (or other portable source) is really not the point, IMO. Any electronics that use mains power should have sufficient grounding capabilities, and this is especially true of those that ship with an external power supply. Since the Zen DAC doesn't ship with a dedicated power supply, I think the next steps would be to try another power supply (maybe an iFi iPower2, if possible) and to contact @iFi audio directly regarding the grounding issue.

@danny87 - Have you contacted iFi support regarding the grounding issue?

Agree but sometimes it's not worth the trouble or cost to go down certain routes if there are better solutions or choices of equipment. You shouldn't need to spend a lot on those fancy power supplies and filters, that ipower 2 costs a third of the price of the DAC. They should really ship it with a normal AC adaptor, but as I say it's designed to be used with PC (no other inputs besides USB) and I don't have any issues when connected to PC via USB. Some countries may have worse quality power supply no doubt.

It does sound pretty fun and pairs well with more clinical amps but I'd personally sell it and get something more portable.

 

[Piober]

I don't think I missed this in the posts (if I did I apologize). Could someone explain or point me to an explanation of the GTO addition in 7.4c? How exactly is 7.4 different?