Verdict
There ’s so much to like about the ZEN DAC 3 ( even at this new , steeper cost ) that it ’s laborious to live where iFi will make meaningful improvement for the next interlingual rendition . listen you , I thought that last clock time too …
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The original ZEN DAC was an telling piece of kit . When iFi launched the v2 , everyone agreed that it was a worthwhile betterment and , consequently , the best earpiece amp / DAC around at anything like the money . But this is not a fellowship to rest on its honor – and so now the third multiplication of the ZEN DAC is here .
That it has big shoe to fill and hard acts to follow is jolly obvious . iFi , though , will be confident that the third time is even more of a charm than the first two …
Availability
The iFi ZEN DAC 3 is on sale , and it ’s one of those rare production that does n’t seek to fleece customers in the southerly hemisphere : in Australia it be AU$229 , in the United States it sells for $ 229 and in the United Kingdom it ’s yours for £ 229 .
No matter where you ’re shopping , though , this is a middling large price increase over the outgoing ZEN DAC v2.So while it ’s far from the most expensive screen background headphone amp / DAC around , it ’s still made something of a rod for its own back …
Design
At a glance , the ZEN DAC 3 looks pretty much identical to its ancestor . That moderately trapezoid physical body is made from a single piece of curved metallic element , and the fascia is recessed into it just a little . There ’s a ( comparatively ) large volume control in the centre of the fascia , and a confident iFi logo on the top of the gadget .
There are a few differences , though . The fascia is now divided into top and bottom discussion section by a strip of metal ( the colour of which is Sunlit Bronze , plain ) that also encircles the physical control and headphone sockets . Below the line the dashboard is the same grey - ish / silver - ish colour as the independent consistency of the ZEN DAC 3 , while above it ’s darker in color and textured .
There ’s a light around the volume telephone dial that changes colouring material to reflect the size and type of digital audio file the iFi is apportion with . If the gadget is on your desktop and you ’re looking down on it , the lighting is just about visible – if you ’re look immediately at the front of the ZEN DAC 3 , though , it disappears .
Obviously this is a briny - powered twist , and as such is not portable – and anyway , at 456 g and 35 x 158 x 115 mm ( HWD ) it ’s not very pouch - friendly . It does n’t take up too much real estate on your desktop or kit - rack , though .
Features
A very welcome update to the ZEN DAC 3 over the example it replace is the move to USB - blow for mains superpower and data transfer . If you both power it up and feast it digital audio information this way , you keep your cable - count to a minimum – but there ’s also a 5V mains socket , so if you have a main adaptor ( or corrupt one from iFi ) you’re able to leave the USB - coulomb to get on with data transfer and enjoy a cleaner , less compromise signal as a result .
The incoming digital entropy is processed by a 16 - core XMOS microprocessor at the USB - C stimulation stage before it ’s passed to a nicely specified Burr Brown DAC chipset . It ’s a four - distribution channel gimmick informally call True Native on the groundwork that it has separate pathway for PCM and DSD subject , and each file cabinet type stays in its aboriginal var. until it becomes parallel entropy . The iFi can handle double - speed DXD as well as DSD512 and 32 - bit/768kHz depicted object , and is a fullMQAdecoder too .
Once the D - to - A conversion has ask place , it can be exported in a variety of ways . Up front there are two earphone sockets – an unbalanced 6.3 mm output and a balanced 4.4 mm choice . On the rear of the ZEN DAC 3 there ’s a pair of stereo RCA outputs and another balanced 4.4 mm output , with a fixed / varying amplification control between them . Set the iFi to variable and it can be used as a preamplifier with intensity restraint , while when sic to situate it functions as another channel - stratum source .
The emphasis of the analog turnout can be altered via a mates of dashboard controls . Power Match is an amp - stage processor that fundamentally acts as a increase ascendence in event your headphones are in particular hard work , while XBass+ is designed to “ enhance bass without compromising the clearness of the midrange ” – which sound very much like a euphemism for ‘ a kick up the low frequency ’ to me .
Sound Quality
Before I get into the gist of it , it ’s important to note that everything I ’m about to say applies to those people who use at least half - decent earpiece with their iFi ZEN DAC 3 and do n’t expect it to work miracles on poverty - spec 320kbps MP3 files from Spotify or wherever .
Let ’s assume you ’re doing the right thing , then – I do most of the testing of the iFi usingFiiO FT3headphones and listening to 16 - bit/44.1kHz subject as a minimum from TIDAL and from internet - attached storage via my laptop computer , and that ’s what I ’m calling ‘ the correct thing ’ . Used this way , the ZEN DAC 3 is capable of deeply satisfying results .
Its tonal balance , for illustration , is very nicely judge . In infrangible term it ’s on the fractionally warm side , but that merely help oneself it to sound quite deluxe – and there ’s more than enough rigour on showing where attack and decay is concerned , specially in the lower frequencies , to keep momentum levels high and allow rhythms right expression .
The midrange is articulate and detail , with batch of apt observations about a vocalist ’s posture and technique uncommitted thanks to the nicely eminent detail levels . And at the top ending , there ’s splendor that ’s nicely balanced by a fair amount of marrow – so treble sounds can crash when necessary but never get splashy or hard .
The entire frequency range is nicely interconnected , and even a middling complex transcription like Mogwai ’s Come On Die Young as a 24 - bit/96kHz FLAC file cabinet has a uniqueness to its presentation that is tenacious and direct . It assist that the soundstage the ZEN DAC 3 father is heart-to-heart and well - limit , with appropriate weight apply to the silences and appreciable length between single element allowing them the breathing outer space to properly do their thing . But , and I ca n’t really hyperbolise this , this organisation and openness is not at the expense of unity .
Or , at least , it ’s not unless you deploy XSpace . It creates an even large soundstage , but it ’s at the expense of a little definition and positivity where positioning is pertain . Leave it alone , though , and the iFi is still a wide - open listen .
It ’s dynamic , too , both where the ramping up of volumes and intensities so beloved of Mogwai are bear on and in terms of more minor ( but no less important ) sport in harmonic reaction . Investigate XBass+ and the increment in scummy - oftenness presence can squelch active response just a small – but , again , if you pass on these analogue processing alternative alone the iFi ZEN DAC 3 is capable of faithful , entertaining and quite insightful performance . It ’s a respectable a headphone amp / DAC choice as this money can currently buy .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
Make a line - level joining to a spare input on the back of your amp and suddenly you ’ve a whole new reservoir of Hawai’i - atomic number 75 contentedness
It ’s not as unpitying or as particular as some alternatives , but withal the iFi is n’t amused by Spotify ’s barren tier up
Final Thoughts
I liked the original ZEN DAC . I really like the ZEN DAC v2 . And it ’s secure to say that , even though the pricing has become rather more optimistic , I really , really like the ZEN DAC 3 .
Sometimes it seems ( to me , at least ) that iFi ’s relentless expansion of its intersection catalog is a double - border sword , but in this example there ’s not much at all to complain about …
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every DAC we review thoroughly over an extended period of fourth dimension . We use industry - received tests to equate features properly . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , accept money to reexamine a product .
Find out more about how we test in ourethics policy
FAQs
There ’s no Bluetooth support on the ZEN DAC 3 .
