[Stevko]

Yes

 

[Death_Block]

I’m looking at picking up a zen DAC v2. But my friend is offering me a deal on a modi 3/vali 2+. I’m not sure which one to go with though. Does anyone have experience with these products and can compare them?

If ifi sig is similar through their products, the zen will sound warmer/smoother.
@iFi audio do all your products run from burr brown or whatever it's called?

 

[iFi audio]

@iFi audio do all your products run from burr brown or whatever it's called?

Most rely on these chips, yes, but sound that's a touch warm, round and full is our aim in general. Hope this helps, thanks!

 

[bachankas]

Did anybody try to replace the potentiometer to something better than this cheap ALPS which provides an awful imbalance at low volumes?
I had Nano BL, I own Zen DAC, I had Zen CAN and each equpiment has the same bad channel balance in the low volume region. Such a shame.

 

[farits]

I connected Hifiman Edition XS, to Ifi Zen dac v2, also a Mean Well adapter for 5 volts 3 amps. The sound improved, but unpleasant high frequencies appeared. Without an adapter, the sound is muddy.

 

[iFi audio]

Did anybody try to replace the potentiometer to something better than this cheap ALPS which provides an awful imbalance at low volumes?
I had Nano BL, I own Zen DAC, I had Zen CAN and each equpiment has the same bad channel balance in the low volume region. Such a shame.

At low level volume some channel imbalance might occur and is normal, but during normal playback both channels should be spot on even. Thanks!

I connected Hifiman Edition XS, to Ifi Zen dac v2, also a Mean Well adapter for 5 volts 3 amps. The sound improved, but unpleasant high frequencies appeared. Without an adapter, the sound is muddy.

ZEN DAC V2 benefits from external PSUs indeed, but just to not have any unpleasant surprises we advise our super-silent iPower. A PSU shouldn't introduce any high-pitched tones.

 

[Blurry]

Having had the zen dac v2 for a while now and enjoying them with the HD600 balanced and andromeda 2020 with the iematch 4.4. Will adding the zen can provide any benefits?

 

[iFi audio]

Will adding the zen can provide any benefits?

The more demanding headphones are, the more it makes sense to add ZEN CAN. Senns HD 600 aren't crazy difficult to drive, but ZEN CAN would make them more dynamic, punchier and spatially larger

 

[bachankas]

Having had the zen dac v2 for a while now and enjoying them with the HD600 balanced and andromeda 2020 with the iematch 4.4. Will adding the zen can provide any benefits?

IMO CAN provides a bit better dynamics, but it's a small progres for cans like Your Senns.
However, the hiss is much lower than in DAC, I think it still will be too much for Andromeda, but not as much hiss aż Zen DAC provides.

 

[fattycheesebeef]

Silly question. Demanding such as higher the ohms, more difficult to drive?

 

[Blurry]

IMO CAN provides a bit better dynamics, but it's a small progres for cans like Your Senns.
However, the hiss is much lower than in DAC, I think it still will be too much for Andromeda, but not as much hiss aż Zen DAC provides.

Seeing that the CAN will add minimal benefits, I’m now considering a closed can instead. How does the dt770 pro x pair with the zen dac v2

 

[GlenAppleton]

Silly question. Demanding such as higher the ohms, more difficult to drive?

It's not just the impedance (ohms), but also the driver efficiency rating. For example, the Beyer DT-770 (250 ohm version) and the Beyer DT-1990 have the same impedance @ 250 ohms, but the DT-1990 has a much more efficient driver, so it requires less amp output to get the same volume / dynamics.

Hope this makes sense and helps.

 

[GlenAppleton]

Seeing that the CAN will add minimal benefits, I’m now considering a closed can instead. How does the dt770 pro x pair with the zen dac v2

From what I've read, the 700 & 900 Pro X cans are very efficient and can be driven well by just about anything, so it's probably a good bet. Hopefully someone who has one or both of those can chime in one way or another.

 

[iFi audio]

It's not just the impedance (ohms), but also the driver efficiency rating. For example, the Beyer DT-770 (250 ohm version) and the Beyer DT-1990 have the same impedance @ 250 ohms, but the DT-1990 has a much more efficient driver, so it requires less amp output to get the same volume / dynamics.

Hope this makes sense and helps.

That's correct. Driver efficiency is no less important than impedance. Susvaras are 60Ω cans and one could say they should be fine with portable products, but their efficiency (83dB) makes them VERY difficult to drive. Senns HD800 are a 300Ω load that's also 19dB more efficient (102dB).

 

[fattycheesebeef]

Was about to ask how to determine efficiency but thanks on referencing the decibels