ifi Zen DAC and Headphone Amp Review

[Jimbob54]

thx for your reply! i think i was looking at this wrong. could i connect the ifi dac to the ifi amp with this cable?:

https://www.amazon.com/4-4mm-Balanced-Headphone-Adapter-Silver/dp/B07WSR5M3J

My gut feel is yes but why would you not use RCA to RCA? Someone else more knowledgeable might say you shouldnt go 4.4 to RCA

 

[Zek]

ifi amp

What ifi amp do you have?

 

[phattio]

What ifi amp do you have?

ifi zen can

 

[phattio]

My gut feel is yes but why would you not use RCA to RCA? Someone else more knowledgeable might say you shouldnt go 4.4 to RCA

maybe in order to keep it a balanced connection? i'm not sure...

 

[Zek]

maybe in order to keep it a balanced connection?

If you go balanced, then balanced out from Dac to balanced in on Can.
https://www.amazon.com/4-4mm-Balanced-Headphone-Adapter-Silver/dp/B07WSR5M3J
This cable is adapter from balanced to unbalanced connection.

 

[phattio]

If you go balanced, then balanced out from Dac to balanced in on Can.

ok, thank you! sounds like i need a lot of adapters. ugh. i can't find a 4.4mm trrs to 4.4mm trrs cable.

 

[Jimbob54]

maybe in order to keep it a balanced connection? i'm not sure...

It definitely wouldnt be balanced then. Would need to be 4.4 to 4.4 for that. I think you will get sound from 4.4 to RCA- but it will have none of the balanced properties including increased voltage and noise rejection.

My concern is that 4.4 to RCA might be harmful, but I dont think so, thats the bit I want someone else to check.

 

[phattio]

It definitely wouldnt be balanced then. Would need to be 4.4 to 4.4 for that. I think you will get sound from 4.4 to RCA- but it will have none of the balanced properties including increased voltage and noise rejection.

My concern is that 4.4 to RCA might be harmful, but I dont think so, thats the bit I want someone else to check.

i see! thank you!

 

[Jimbob54]

i see! thank you!

I would say if you cant find (for the right price) a 4.4 to 4.4 and dont need to use both sets of outputs, just go RCA to RCA- or dont buy the Zen stack

 

[zjx1017]

you might need sth like this

 

[phattio]

you might need sth like this
View attachment 77019

YES, thank you so much! that is EXACTLY what i need and so difficult to find!

 

[LaL]

@amirm do you think you'll be measuring their new $169 Amp the iFi Zen-Can ? I've read it's a lot cleaner.
►BloomAudio.com/products/ifi-zen-can-desktop-headphone-amplifier

 

[Veri]

@amirm do you think you'll be measuring their new $169 Amp the iFi Zen-Can ? I've read it's a lot cleaner.

I think it'll happen if someone offers to send him one. I don't think iFi is the kind of company that will send Amir stuff by their own accord.

 

[Jimbob54]

I think it'll happen if someone offers to send him one. I don't think iFi is the kind of company that will send Amir stuff by their own accord.

Not if it performs like the Zen DAC.

 

[Asylum Seeker]

Why disabuse the public of the notion that their products are well designed and implemented with tests if the court of public opinion has already hyped the product and ruled it great? The rational choice is to avoid ASR.

 

[AnalogSteph]

Why disabuse the public of the notion that their products are well designed and implemented with tests if the court of public opinion has already hyped the product and ruled it great? The rational choice is to avoid ASR.

I give this one about a gibberish out of 10.

How does one even disabuse something, let alone the public? If that was supposed to be disavow, well, epic faceplant. Look kids, here's a good example of why you shouldn't be writing like an utter snob if you don't have the chops to back it up. (Yes that includes you, aspiring writers. Take some pity on your fellow humans, and maybe a course on how communication works.)

Let's not even get started with the "one million flies can't be wrong" type argument, that hat is so old that it has literally grown a beard and turned to dust.

 

[Asylum Seeker]

I give this one about a gibberish out of 10.

How does one even disabuse something, let alone the public? If that was supposed to be disavow, well, epic faceplant. Look kids, here's a good example of why you shouldn't be writing like an utter snob if you don't have the chops to back it up. (Yes that includes you, aspiring writers. Take some pity on your fellow humans, and maybe a course on how communication works.)

Let's not even get started with the "one million flies can't be wrong" type argument, that hat is so old that it has literally grown a beard and turned to dust.

I give this one about a gibberish out of 10.

How does one even disabuse something, let alone the public? If that was supposed to be disavow, well, epic faceplant. Look kids, here's a good example of why you shouldn't be writing like an utter snob if you don't have the chops to back it up. (Yes that includes you, aspiring writers. Take some pity on your fellow humans, and maybe a course on how communication works.)

Let's not even get started with the "one million flies can't be wrong" type argument, that hat is so old that it has literally grown a beard and turned to dust.

It would appear that you are ignorant to the fact that 'to disabuse' is a proper word, a transitive verb of the English language. You may wish to improve your knowledge of the language before chastising others for their diction. I will assume that English is not your native tongue for the alternative would be embarrassing, pitiful.

There's a missing 'not' in that sentence. Otherwise, I stand by it.

 

[raif71]

Is this a new Zen Dac https://www.hifinews.com/content/ifi-audio-zen-dac-usb-dacheadphone-amp ? Published few days ago, Aug 24th. As I was reading, noticed that the rear has a 2.5mm balanced out which is different than the unit reviewed here which uses 4.4mm balanced out. If it is a different unit, wonder what else is different. Thanks

 

[Taddpole]

Is this a new Zen Dac https://www.hifinews.com/content/ifi-audio-zen-dac-usb-dacheadphone-amp ? Published few days ago, Aug 24th. As I was reading, noticed that the rear has a 2.5mm balanced out which is different than the unit reviewed here which uses 4.4mm balanced out. If it is a different unit, wonder what else is different. Thanks

Rear picture looks identical to the one on here and in their pics the port looks same size as the one on front. Suspect they are just wrong.

 

[zjx1017]

Is this a new Zen Dac https://www.hifinews.com/content/ifi-audio-zen-dac-usb-dacheadphone-amp ? Published few days ago, Aug 24th. As I was reading, noticed that the rear has a 2.5mm balanced out which is different than the unit reviewed here which uses 4.4mm balanced out. If it is a different unit, wonder what else is different. Thanks

must be mistaken.rear is 4.4mm output.I have my 4.4mm -> XLR cable plugged in.