[Maverick255]

i connect power supply to ifi zen dac, then to android smartphone via usb otg and it looks like it uses power from a smartphone.

My battery disappears quickly.

 

[bvhme]

I was thinking about this last night, I think the DAC might just always power itself of the phone whilst the power in powers the built-in headphone amplifier.

 

[iFi audio]

i connect power supply to ifi zen dac, then to android smartphone via usb otg and it looks like it uses power from a smartphone.

My battery disappears quickly.

That's odd, it shouldn't from what I can tell. Do you have a way of checking whether that external power supply is OK? Since it powers the product I assume that it is, but let's make sure.

 

[Maverick255]

That's odd, it shouldn't from what I can tell. Do you have a way of checking whether that external power supply is OK? Since it powers the product I assume that it is, but let's make sure.

I when i disconnect phone from dac it still still uses the power supply because all leds are on.

And when i connect phone to dac without power supply it's working but sound isn't that good as connected to PC with USB 3. And when i again connect power supply to dac there's nothing change, it's sounds like it doesn't has much power from phone and it don't uses additional power supply beacuse it doesn't sound like it connected to pc with usb 3 without addidtional power supply.

I don't know if you understand this my english is so bad.

It sounds best from PC with usb 3.0 without additional power supply when i connect power supply mids are withdrawn and it's sounds like powered only from phone.

led external power on back of zen dac is green. I'm check on power adapter from google chromecast audio 5V 1A and phone charger 5v 2A connected good quality Lindy usb - dc in 2.1 5.5 cable.

I want to play from motorola g7 plus smartphone because my PC is very loud and i has open back headphones.

Maybe i need to buy Ifi ipower but it's cost almost 1/2 of zen dac in my country so it's too expensive.

 

[Zeka]

Maybe try this way: first connect Dac to power supply and then connect it to phone - whats happen?

 

[iFi audio]

Maybe try this way: first connect Dac to power supply and then connect it to phone - whats happen?

I was going to ask about the same thing, but from what I understood @Maverick255 did this already.

I when i disconnect phone from dac it still still uses the power supply because all leds are on.

And when i connect phone to dac without power supply it's working but sound isn't that good as connected to PC with USB 3. And when i again connect power supply to dac there's nothing change, it's sounds like it doesn't has much power from phone and it don't uses additional power supply beacuse it doesn't sound like it connected to pc with usb 3 without addidtional power supply.

I don't know if you understand this my english is so bad.

It sounds best from PC with usb 3.0 without additional power supply when i connect power supply mids are withdrawn and it's sounds like powered only from phone.

led external power on back of zen dac is green. I'm check on power adapter from google chromecast audio 5V 1A and phone charger 5v 2A connected good quality Lindy usb - dc in 2.1 5.5 cable.

I want to play from motorola g7 plus smartphone because my PC is very loud and i has open back headphones.

Maybe i need to buy Ifi ipower but it's cost almost 1/2 of zen dac in my country so it's too expensive.

OK, so you don't use our iPower from what I can tell. Most feedback we got was that ZEN series products in general sound better upon powering them from an external power supply, but all such feedback I've seen thus far included our iPower. It's just a thought, but if your current external power supply is very noisy, it will reduce sound quality and that might be the reason why your ZEN device sounds better if it's powered from your PC's USB port. This port might be in fact less noisy than your external charger.

But the original issue you had was about your ZEN product taking power from a smartphone even if it's connected to your charger. If you haven't tried this yet, I'd advice to first cconnect that charger and then connect your ZEN product to your smartphone. If your ZEN still takes power from your smartphone, then I'd check that charger, whether it works as it should.

 

[Coop]

i connect power supply to ifi zen dac, then to android smartphone via usb otg and it looks like it uses power from a smartphone.

My battery disappears quickly.

Check the power supply.

I had the same problem. I used a generic 5V 2.5A power supply and my Fiio M6 battery was still drained (although it was slightly less than with USB power only).
When I swapped the generic power supply with the iPower from my Zen Can, there was no more power drain.

I wanted to verify my findings, so I scienced a little:
Test setup:
Fiio M6 running Poweramp, 24/192 FLAC file playing (Gustav Mahlers 6th symphony in case you wondered)
Connection was via Ifi USB OTG cable (stock from Hip DAC), USB tester (generic AliExpress cheapie, verified against my Fluke Multimeter), Zen DAC stock USB cable.
Ifi Zen DAC, volume at 12 o'clock
Fostex T50RP Mk3 connected to the single ended headphone out.
The same 1 minute section of the song was played for each measurement, the numbers shown below were stable throughout that minute. The Fiio was charged back up to 100% between measurements and the room temperature was stable at 20C.
That's pretty much all I could do rule out other influences at the kitchen table laboratory...

1st measurement, no PSU connected.
Current draw from M6 was 0.14A

2nd measurement, generic 5V PSU connected.
Current draw from M6 was 0.05A

3rd measurement, Ifi iPower PSU connected.
Current draw from M6 was 0.00A


So, either the generic PSU is not quite up to the task. Or Ifi is doing something very sneaky to make the Zen DAC recognize the use of a Ifi power supply



p.s. I found a couple of other generic 5V PSUs in my ole box of saved wallwarts, but haven't had time yet to test with those.

 

[iFi audio]

1st measurement, no PSU connected.
Current draw from M6 was 0.14A

2nd measurement, generic 5V PSU connected.
Current draw from M6 was 0.05A

3rd measurement, Ifi iPower PSU connected.
Current draw from M6 was 0.00A

Exactly.

 

[Makiah S]

Not going to sugar coat this but... hands down I think Zen DAC really is the very best entry level dac/amp on the market! I'm really blown away by it, that said tho I think more than it being an awesome value I really feel it offers a "Hi-Fi" system at a price accessible to almost everyone which I like! An I kinda wish back in 2012 something this amazing existed

But my Video review is up alongside the back story of how I got into this hobby! Hope you guys enjoy

 

[MisterMudd]

Not going to sugar coat this but... hands down I think Zen DAC really is the very best entry level dac/amp on the market! I'm really blown away by it, that said tho I think more than it being an awesome value I really feel it offers a "Hi-Fi" system at a price accessible to almost everyone which I like! An I kinda wish back in 2012 something this amazing existed

But my Video review is up alongside the back story of how I got into this hobby! Hope you guys enjoy

I’m with you friend. Have had mine for 3 months and it performs way above its measly expenditure. Balanced blows my mind it’s so good. It has stopped me in my spending tracks. For now. Lol

 

[iFi audio]

Not going to sugar coat this but... hands down I think Zen DAC really is the very best entry level dac/amp on the market! I'm really blown away by it, that said tho I think more than it being an awesome value I really feel it offers a "Hi-Fi" system at a price accessible to almost everyone which I like! An I kinda wish back in 2012 something this amazing existed

But my Video review is up alongside the back story of how I got into this hobby! Hope you guys enjoy

Thanks a ton! Lots of things to like about this post

it performs way above its measly expenditure

That was our goal

Is there anything in particular you like about it?

 

[bvhme]

I’m with you friend. Have had mine for 3 months and it performs way above its measly expenditure. Balanced blows my mind it’s so good. It has stopped me in my spending tracks. For now. Lol

Yeah, It easily sits with both the Sony TA-ZH1ES and the Focal Arche, despite being less than a tenth of their prices, including the power adapter I don't like any of the three more than the others.

 

[iFi audio]

Yeah, It easily sits with both the Sony TA-ZH1ES and the Focal Arche, despite being less than a tenth of their prices, including the power adapter I don't like any of the three more than the others.

Thank you!

 

[daytrader]

Guys!
The real gem in the line at a price point is the Zen Blue.

 

[iFi audio]

Guys!
The real gem in the line at a price point is the Zen Blue.

If I may ask, is there anything in particular you like about it?