dadracer2
500+ Head-Fier
Ok so I have now had time to play with and assess the ifi Audio Zen DAC. First though I must give my thanks to ifi Audio for sending me one on loan together with an iP3 (more of which later).
Now I am sure many of you will know the details on this cunning little device but if not then you can find out all the details and tech here… https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-dac/
As I don’t fully understand all of this tech and still consider that music streaming to be a form of witchcraft it is probably better that you look to the ifi Audio web link for details.
I have tried quite a number of ifi Audio products over quite a number of years and have owned the iDSD micro, iCAN SE, iUSB power, various ifi cables and the iPurifier2. The majority of these items were recently “borrowed” by my younger son for his student flat which meant I could not compare it to the Zen.
Onto the music though and I used a variety of favourite tracks and albums from Tidal HiFi and Masters from my old and wheezy laptop. I used the Zen DAC with my Audio Technica ATH MSR7b headphones. These are closed back portable headphones with the option of a balanced cable (hence the “b”) using a 4.4mm plug. I also had both an Audioquest Dragonfly Black and Meridian Explorer 2 USB dacs to compare and my Cayin N5ii DAP. All of these can also run Tidal Masters but only the Cayin DAP has a balanced output.
The Zen DAC was clearly superior to all of these other DACs and DAPs in terms of the bass clarity, midrange neutrality and treble extension. The soundstage it creates is wide and with very good instrument and vocal positioning. The front to back depth of the soundstage was not at that same level at first but on connecting up the iPurifier 3 this added a lot more depth.
The Zen DAC is not very good for the money it is very good full stop! I am going to try it side by side with my main system shortly (Auralic Aries G1 with Vega DAC into a Cayin HA300 with Sennheiser HD800S) just to determine what I am missing because it does not feel like a lot (worryingly).
The iP3 is worthwhile if you have a creaky old noisy laptop like mine but it probably doesn’t make financial sense as it costs as much as the Zen DAC itself.
The Audio Technica headphones pair really well with the Zen DAC and especially as you get the balanced benefit. I tried the “True bass” button but I think its personal taste and music dependent. The boost to the bass is apparent and does not muddy things but I wasn’t sure that I liked it so I mostly used the Zen DAC without it.
I’m pretty sure that I once claimed the iPurifier 2 was the best product which ifi Audio made in “bang for your buck” terms. That is no longer the case as this Zen DAC is their best product I have heard for such a reasonable price.
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