At a radical budget price, iFi delivers its “Zen DAC”, which is both incredibly versatile and clever.”

ZEN DAC Signature by iFi audio - A pure performance desktop ZEN DAC Signature by iFi audio - A pure performance desktop

I have three other very good quality DACs (including an OPPO and an Emotiva) but the balanced output of the Zen motivated me to go for it because my Sony MDR-1AM2 headphones accept balanced input and I was curious as to how much of an improvement in the sound quality I would achieve with the balanced connection. It turns out quite a bit. Denon AH-D9200 (balanced): Well this thing needs no power, so that's fine. I gets very V-shaped with the bass function haha. It sounds clean, but i prefer it on the Oor for the class A goodness (a bit less sharp).Since the Gustard X26 Pro has only 2 outputs (which i use for the Oor and Echo), i also wanted an integrated DAC, alongside For a long time I have been using the onboard DAC of my MacBook Pro to connect the analog output to my old Sony Integrated amp. Looking for better sound on a small budget I decided to get a Raspberry Pi and load it with the latest Moode Audio version. I needed a low cost external USB DAC to connect the Raspberry’s USB output to, and the iFi Zen DAC fits the bill beautifully. It works nicely with the Raspberry’s Linux OS, and the sound is heads and shoulders above what I had before. It’s rare to find such a clever, elegant and technically sound product that perfectly matches your requirement. It’s even rarer to find it at such an affordable price!” Compact enough to use as a USB DAC/amp on your work desk and stylish enough to use at home with your favourite active speakers or amp, it delivers a level of specification and performance that punches above its super-affordable price tag.

iFi ZEN DAC V2 - Desktop Digital Analog Converter With USB 3.

DSD is a very high-quality digital audio format that’s even better than CD quality. The higher the ‘DSD rate’ – DSD64, 128, 256, 512 and 1024 – the greater the amount of music information available, which means better sound quality. The iFi Zen DAC is a great budget performer and offers a huge upgrade over the sound of a typical computer” According to iFi, “The full benefit of the ZEN DAC Signature V2’s balanced circuit design comes to the fore when it is connected to an amp or active speakers equipped with a balanced input. This can either be a 4.4mm Balanced input or stereo XLR inputs via a 4.4mm-to-XLR cable.” After lengthy research I opted for the iFi Zen DAC and voila! What a difference! Whilst my hifi system would be considered modest (Denon, Nad, B&W etc.) I love it and the Zen Dac is a wonderful addition, bringing a fresh lease of life to my enjoyment of music. I would heartily recommend this DAC to anyone in a similar situation – a great product, beautifully made and capable of stunning results.

The Zen DAC clearly outperforms our MacBook Pro laptop easily, sounding clearer and more detailed. We listen to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and are impressed by the iFi’s expressive dynamics and its ability to reproduce the piano’s harmonic richness convincingly. The leading edges of notes are precise but not over etched, and there’s a good sense of authority to the sound. I swapped my iFi Zen Dac for the new iFi Zen Dac V2 because of the full MQA compatibility. Only now can the iFi Zen Dac show its full strength. Unbeatable from the price-performance ratio!

iFi audio ZEN DAC - Reviews | Headphone Reviews and iFi audio ZEN DAC - Reviews | Headphone Reviews and

The iFi ZEN DAC is well priced, the really good thing about this DAC is the audio quality it achieves! I really like the function that increases the bass!, The soundstage is bigger, with good separation of instruments and much more detail!” ( translated) The thing sthat surprised me is that the sound quality is actually much better than my older DAC. Clean sounding without any harsh qualities to the music. I have played high resolution music from ALAC and FLAC files up to 192Khz and I have played DSD64 and DSD128 music all with ease and excellent sound quality. DACs convert digital information, stored or streamed by computers, into music we can hear through speakers or headphones. The Topping DACs provide an excellent alternative to the usual actors in your review. The E50 (DSD/PCM and MQA audio decoding balanced and non balanced outputs) or it's cheaper sibling E30 are great budget DACs.And these 2 buttons: extra bass and extra amplification – depending which headphones used are paired with it – it might be super vital.