[iFi audio]

Hello, I have a weird issue with ZEN DAC V2 which I bought two days ago. I bought it with Meze 99 C and their silver balanced 4.4 cable. Plugged that setup in right away, everything worked, sound was amazing. Then I wanted to do some A/B cable testing so I tried stock Meze cable in 6.3 single ended socket. Also worked. Then I put back in balanced connection - suddenly only left cup was playing with weird quality. I thought that I didn't push a jack in one of three places all the way through, so I rechecked. All was good, but still only left cup was playing. I did disconnect it few more times and plugged everything back exactly the same way - suddenly both cups are playing. I was puzzled...

Anyway, today I wanted to repeat the A/B testing - so stock cable, all good - then balanced and the same problem occurs yet again, only one headphone cup works. The problem now is that I cannot force it to work on both sides again in balanced mode, no matter how many times I tried to reconnect, unplug DAC or restart PC. What's also funny is that no matter how I swap L/R cable ends, only one and the same (!) side is always playing. Single ended 6.3 port seem to have no issues.

I couldn't contact my reseller today, but I will do on Monday and probably apply for warranty replace, but maybe I'm doing something totally silly and stupid and someone here can point that out to me during the weekend. Thanks in advance.

From your post I gather that it's either a faulty 4.4mm socket in your ZEN DAC V2, or a faulty 4.4mm plug of your cable. One or the other might be just a wee bit off on tolerances and that's when issues such as yours happen. If possible, if I were you I'd first try a different cable terminated with a 4.4mm plug. If not, by all means please feel free to contact your local iFi reseller, thanks

 

[overhaze]

Just a little niggle I have noticed on my Zen Dac V2. It can't switch between UAC2 and UAC1 without being powered down. Basically I can't just unplug it from my PC then plug it into my PS5 and expect it to work, I also have to disconnect it from the mains (I'm using an ifi power supply). It's not a huge problem or anything it's just an annoying extra step. Do you think that is something that might be address with future firmware?

 

[iFi audio]

Just a little niggle I have noticed on my Zen Dac V2. It can't switch between UAC2 and UAC1 without being powered down. Basically I can't just unplug it from my PC then plug it into my PS5 and expect it to work, I also have to disconnect it from the mains (I'm using an ifi power supply). It's not a huge problem or anything it's just an annoying extra step. Do you think that is something that might be address with future firmware?

Thanks for your feedback! I'll ask internally about that, but I don't think this is possible because the product needs to accommodate to two different standards (UAC1 and UAC2). Thanks!

 

[currie]

Hi, wonder if this is the right place for a new member to get some advice?
I just purchased a 2nd hand Zen DAC v1 and I'm rather underwhelmed at the moment. Wonder if I'm missing something in set-up? Running from a Windows laptop, no external power supply, updated to latest ifi firmware (tried A,B+C) / USB drivers, into some Superlux HD 681 phones. Budget for this gear is low!

It just sounds all very aggressive / harsh / tiring to me and I prefer the output from my Google Pixel 4a(!) Am I missing something obvious??

 

[iFi audio]

Hi, wonder if this is the right place for a new member to get some advice?
I just purchased a 2nd hand Zen DAC v1 and I'm rather underwhelmed at the moment. Wonder if I'm missing something in set-up? Running from a Windows laptop, no external power supply, updated to latest ifi firmware (tried A,B+C) / USB drivers, into some Superlux HD 681 phones. Budget for this gear is low!

It just sounds all very aggressive / harsh / tiring to me and I prefer the output from my Google Pixel 4a(!) Am I missing something obvious??

Hi there and welcome to Head-fi.org! As for ZEN CAN V1, just as vast majority of our products it's known for rather neutral sound profile that leans towards warmth and roundness. There aren't many things to miss to be honest. An external power supply would help, just so that your ZEN CAN V1 isn't powered from your laptop. I'd also try listening to the product via i.e. Foobar2K, just to see whether this changes anything. Hope this helps, thanks!

 

[Stevko]

Old pc with bad usb?

 

[iFi audio]

Old pc with bad usb?

Could be. If it's very noisy, it might introduce harshness, fatigue etc. DACs work on what they get from transports after all.

 

[currie]

Thanks for the replies. I'll try the suggestions. It's a fairly new Dell laptop but I do have a few other USB cables coming out...

 

[Stevko]

If you have an always on USB,try it!
Almost more power and best sound

 

[iFi audio]

If you have an always on USB,try it!

I'm not sure I follow, can you please elaborate what do you mean here ? Thanks!

 

[Stevko]

A laptop with usb thats on all the time. Mostly more power/cleaner signal

 

[currie]

I've had a bit of a play with windows sound settings.
Found that unticking "Enable audio enhancements" seems to improve the sound (remove the hashness I'm hearing). No idea why but I'll take it!

 

[iFi audio]

Found that unticking "Enable audio enhancements" seems to improve the sound (remove the hashness I'm hearing). No idea why but I'll take it!

That's the reason why I suggested using Foobar2K. It bypasses Windows audio layer and that's why to many people it sounds better

A laptop with usb thats on all the time. Mostly more power/cleaner signal

OK, understood, thanks!

 

[currie]

I'm using the Spotify app and don't have any local files so Foobar2K isn't much use to me unfortunately. @iFi audio do you have a set of recommended settings for Windows 10 users with Spotify? Seems like a bit of a minefield for what should be a fairly common set-up?

 

[iFi audio]

@iFi audio do you have a set of recommended settings for Windows 10 users with Spotify? Seems like a bit of a minefield for what should be a fairly common set-up?

None that I'm aware of, but first I'd check if you have the exclusive mode engaged or not:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...es-it-do/26922597-f6c8-4080-a675-199e37f37a0b