John Darko
iFi Audio has announced the third generation of its entry-level ZEN DAC. The simply-named ZEN DAC 3 offers a single USB-C input to output via single-ended RCA sockets, single-ended 6.4mm (for headphones) 4.4mm balanced (for headphones) and 4.4mm balanced for ‘all other hi-fi equipment’. The non-headphone outputs can be switched from line-level to a variable output mode for balanced pre-amplifier functionality.
In between, an XMOS chip plays USB-C host and hands off the signal to a Burr-Brown DAC chip, reportedly selected by iFi for its True Native design. PCM is supported up to 24bit/384kHz and DSD up to DSD256 with the full decoding of MQA still on the menu. As with many iFi DACs, DSD and PCM streams are afforded different signal pathways and the XMOS chip runs iFi’s own code, allowing users to “download and install different versions of iFi firmware to experiment with different digital filters should they so desire.”
The headphone amplifier section of the ZEN DAC 3 has iFi’s take on switchable gain, which it calls PowerMatch. From the press release: “This matches the level of drive to the load presented by the headphones, by adjusting input sensitivity and thereby signal strength. With high-sensitivity headphone types such as in-ear monitors, leave PowerMatch at its lower setting for ultra-low-noise performance. But if your headphones require more drive โ most on/over-ear types, for example โ press the PowerMatch button on the front panel to increase gain.”
Xbass shows up for those who need a bit more weight in the bottom end of their headphones but this isn’t done in DSP — it’s executed in the analogue domain.
Pricing? ยฃ229, โฌ229, US$229 or AU$229. At current exchange rates, Aussies get the best deal.
Further information: iFi Audio
