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The way we have recently reviewed DACs, and I have to say that my time with Zen Dac 3 was fun. It is a beautiful machine that looks great on the table, with sound chops.
You get a lot for $ 229 and my only threat is that I would like to see an analog Xspace mode included for IEM and headphones whose sounds are a little missing.
IFI ZEN DAC 3: Price and availability
IFI ZEN DAC 3 is currently available directly from iFi-aaudio.com or Amazon for $ 229. Since it was on Amazon, it has suffered dirty, so if you are on the market and look at it, there is no better time to buy it.
For what you get, the price is quite solid, because the competing equipment does not have the same number of features for this price. You want more, you will have to pay more, generally speaking.
IFI ZEN DAC 3: Status and Fit
Zen DAC 3, built of aluminum, has when you pick it up. All buttons provide calming feedback, the volume button is smooth and beautifully machine and the ports are tight and feel well made. There are many small details on the Zen DAC 3, from various textures brushed or molded metal surfaces to the sun -drenched bronze accents, buttons and buttons to the dust cover at the RCA inputs on the back of the device.
Many design elements have been well considered and shows it.
At the bottom of the device are rubber legs, another nice detail that stores the surface on the bottom. It’s smart because these legs provide additional GIP on the bottom when you connect/disconnect the cables. Moreover, the unit is so light that these rubber legs prevent DAC from moving on your table because of the cable movement if you are grim when listening to your melodies.
Finally, when we speak “assembly”, the input/outputs are intuitively located. On the back of the Zen DAC 3 is I/O, but it makes sense to have outputs there because they connect to a larger external device than a few headphones.
IFI ZEN DAC 3: Function
The Zen DAC 3 has two headphone connectors in front. One balanced input 4.4 mm pushes 390MW at 64OHMS and one input 6.3 mm pushes 210MW@32ohms. Inside the box you get an adapter of 3.5 mm to 6.3 mm, because for one of the most common types of audio interfaces is not input. On the front are also a power match and XBass more buttons. The Power Match provides an increase in profits for the hearing aid, while XBass is an IFS signature of an analog enhancer bass.
This beautiful analog volume NOB on the front also doubles as an LED sound format that shines in seven different colors, indicating the sound format and frequency of sampling that are accepted from the sound source.
The back of the unit is where you will find a USB-C input with overvoltage protection, DC 5V input, another balanced 4.4 mm out (2V-6.2V MAX variable, 4.2 fixed) and RCA outputs (1V-3.3 V max variable, 2.1V fixed). The output impedance on them is 200 NaM and 100Ohms, appropriate. The 4.4 mm and RCA outputs allow you to connect this DAC/AMP as a preamplifier to another amplifier or active speakers. Since you have these options I/O, it was also smart for IFI to add or variable output gain to the rear of the unit.
All these outputs and their properties are powered by bit-spectacular DSD and DXD Burr Brown DAC, which supports PCM up to 768 kHz, DSD up to DSD 512 and MQA decoding complete.
IFI ZEN DAC 3: sound quality
The sound quality of the IFi GO BLU and Go Bar Kensei among my favorite DAC, which uses the logic chipsets of Cirrus, but the Zen Dac 3 uses Burr Brown DAC, whose sound quality distinguishes two. The word that was best described by the Chip Burr Brown is “smooth”. Its tuning is not as “transparent” as Kensei, but it does a listening experience with Zen Dac 3 fun and engaging.
One of my regular “Moanin” test tracks has some corners sections that can be quite rough, but Zen DAC 3 makes it easier to listen to these sections because its smooth upper end relieves the penetrating brass explosions.
If you want a break from the suffocating curve at your lower frequencies, the XBass Plus analog mode restores the growl back to the bass and below the bass. But sometimes it is not muddy, compressed digital filter. Strengthening the low end is tight and controlled. Activating this causes listening to bass heavy songs is quite pleasant, especially if you use flatter headphones such as a pair of magnetics. Without active XBass Plus and using more balanced or flat headphones or IEM, stops like Skrillex’s “Mumbai Power” with deep bass and floors, they lose a little bit.
Although you are smooth, you will still get great stereo display, with a wonderful feeling for the tools and where layered into the audio image. And these pictures will always feel nice and fully thanks to Power Match, which increases profit and provides sufficient output for my Sennheiser HD660S2 and Hifiman He-4xx that, depending on the track, I needed to move this analog volume more than 50% of its maximum. For my IEMS, with power supply, I have to convert the NOB volume into 25% of its maximum power for a nice full sound.
The Zen DAC 3 is a great DAC that connects to your laptop or surface for warm and smooth sound that does not endanger the vocals of medium suffering or allow harder sounds at higher frequencies. I categorize it as “fun and fun” when it comes to DAC and active listening. It’s great for a list of music at the table or watching movies.
IFI ZEN DAC 3: Competition
There are several alternatives to Zen DAC 3, but there are compromises. Many USB standard USBs, connect mobile phone and pain. For example, the FIIO K7 and Topping DX3 Pro Plus are great options, but they use USB-B connection. On the other hand, you get a coaxial and optical connection. The DX3 for Plus even has a built -in screen.
Then there is a Magni Schit that offers a USB-C connection. Check out the internal DAC option that will start you $ 189 and give you many Zen DAC 3 features. The disadvantage is the possibility of connecting to the headphone cable. On the front you get only one ¼ ”, aka 6.35 mm, a single jack. There is no balanced 3.5 mm, so you will have or adapt. It is worth unsubscribing.
IFI ZEN DAC 3: Should you buy it?
You should buy Zen DAC 3 if …
- Want to have a capable laptop/mobile phone/desktop computer DAC
- Do you want a dac that can power headphones or active speakers
- Want quality without breaking a bank
You should not buy Zen DAC 3 if …
- Want to connect Bluetooth
- You want a coaxial/optical audio connection
For Polo-Mobile DAC, which produces smooth sound and has some great connection options, Zen Dac 3 is worth a price tag! You get a beautiful piece of hardware, an intelligent set of features and full energy to drive almost any few headphones or IEMs that you connect to it. XBass Plus does DAC something that can also get bass heads!
The Beauty of Zen Line is that the IFI has just released several new versions that should cover the needs of almost anyone looking for a semi-mobile DAC board between these three.
Smooth sounds of the surface!
If the Zen DAC line was a hit with consumers and this third -generation iteration should also be. Solid I/O, associated with a fun sound on the desktop computer, at a fair price makes it a great choice for the sound pleasure of hi-growth on the desktop.