Meet the ZEN Blue 3 - the ultimate Bluetooth transmitter, receiver, and DAC boasting aptX Lossless. Keep watching to see how to set it up! #bluetooth #lossless #losslessbluetooth #dac #audiophile
The ZEN one Signature is still the favourable DAC for those that prefer USB audio. Using its Burr Brown DAC chip the ZEN one Signature can process higher quality USB audio than the ZEN Blue 3. The Signature also utilises higher quality components and circuitry than the ZEN Blue 3 too. It still covers high quality BT codecs; such as LDAC for example. The ZEN Blue 3 favours Bluetooth more than any other iFi device we've released. Giving you the means to receive OR transmit aptX Lossless audio, via Digital or Analogue inputs on the rear. This is a Bluetooth technology that will become even more common place over time but is available now with compatible source devices & headphones. The ZEN Blue 3 still goes up to 96kHz/24Bit (USB) and 192kHz/24Bit (Optical/Coaxial) though! The ZEN Blue 3 also has low latency mode too, so it's really got you covered for late night gaming sessions using your BT headphones too!
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Great to hear, I just put a deposit on a new zen one signature, I'll be picking it up in a little over a week; can't wait. It should be a considerable step up from pc toslink out to a yamaha a-s701 toslink 😂@iFiaudiochannel
We would love to read what you think about it! Feel free to join the community on our sub Reddit, or even the group on Facebook; iFi audio squad! Both are great places for talking shop!
I had a Zen Blue 2 and there was a popping in my speakers. I returned the product to the shop and I'm waiting Zen Blue e to arrive, I hope that this one doesn't have a popping in my speakers
Hi, this must have been a faulty unit if they have replaced the ZEN Blue 2 straight away. If this issue occurs with the next device then please reach out out our technical support team as they could work with you to identify what the source of the popping is
@iFiaudiochannel: thank you for your videos. i've tried to place an order for the Zen Blue v3 at a few places and they all say "coming soon" with no dates. I'm in the USA and can order from either a US web store OR a brick and mortar high end audio store. May I please ask when you will actually have the Zen Blue v3 at various USA web stores and brick and mortar stores please? Thank you in advance. Also: may i ask the estimate range of the new Zen Blue v3 please? would it be 100 feet or more? or would it be UNDER 100 feet please? i also noticed that the Zen Blue v2 (Verision 2) had an IMPROVED new antenna with a partially flat portion of the antenna and longer length, but strangely, this Zen Blue v3 has what appears to be the SAME ANTENNA as the Zen Blue v1 (i.e. original first version). this v3's antenna is COMPLETELY ROUND, so it appears to look exactly like the v1's antenna and doesn't look at all like the v2's partially flattened antenna. Might you be able to look into whether the v3's antenna is another improved antenna or not please? Or is it back to a standard v1's antenna? Thank you sir/madam in advance.
Yes, the ZEN Blue V3 has been very popular since release so stock has been sold out as quickly as it comes in. Keep an eye on our retailers websites for this stock. Alternatively, most retailers allow for an item to placed on back order, which would be sent out ASAP when it comes back into stock. The range of the device is around 10 metres (32 feet) but this depends on if there are any obstructions between the two points of transmission/reception. The Antenna that's included with the V3 is the same as the ZEN Blue V1 antenna.
Hi! No this is not advisable, as the rear outputs are sending out 'line level' audio, which is a higher output than headphones. You would be better connecting a ZEN CAN (Headphone amp) to the device, then plugging directly into the headphone amp. Or, you could transmit audio out to a pair of Bluetooth headphones using 'transmission mode', in nearly any Hi-Res Bluetooth codec.
When in TX mode the ZEN Blue 3 will transmit any audio received via RCA input, out as Bluetooth to a connected device. If your JBL 710 can go into a generic pairing mode as most Bluetooth devices will, then you can pair it with the ZEN Blue 3.
@@iFiaudiochannel Thank you very much. I contacted JBL support, and they told me that it does not support these high-resolution codecs, so, which dac would you recommend to use on the PC via RCA or USB, to connect via cable to the JBL 710? Thank you .
@@maikon426 If you are looking to buy a separate DAC for use with the JBL 710, any USB DAC from our range will work fine, as the speaker is powered so it doesn't require an amp stage powerful enough to drive speakers. Any of the various ZEN DACs would work well for this! Alternatively, if you already have the ZEN Blue 3, you could connect that to your PC via USB, set it to DAC mode, then use an RCA to 3.5mm cable to send Hi-Res audio up to 24Bit/96kHz 👍
@@iFiaudiochannel Without using Bluetooth, will I have better sound quality(usb)on the Zen Blue 3 or the Zen One Signature? Which would you recommend? Thanks.
In Tx mode, how can I determine which devices will pair at any given moment? How can I prevent a device that I do not want to pair from pairing short of disabling BT on that device, which may be connected to another device which is currently off? Principally, I would be connecting wireless headphones in Tx mode.
Great question. In TX mode, the ZEN Blue 3 actively seeks receivers purposefully in pairing mode, so anything not in pairing mode will not automatically connect. For example, having Bluetooth enabled on your phone won't mean devices automatically connect - you'd have to consciously put it in pairing mode. Same reasoning for this!
Receiver mode: The ZB3 sends received Bluetooth audio out to the analogue outputs on the rear, and to the S/PDIF digital output too. Transmission mode: The ZB3 transmits the signal received via the digital or analogue inputs on the back, out via Bluetooth to a paired Bluetooth receiver. DAC mode: The ZB3 sends digital audio received and sends it out to the analogue outputs. It can also transport digital audio received via USB and send it out via the S/PDIF output on the back. This mode can also receive analogue audio via the rear RCA inputs and send them out as digital audio via S/PDIF (to another DAC for example) The device really does open you to a world of connectivity with the right connections and mode!
ZEN Stream plays over the internet, so it plays PCM files up to 384kHz and DSD 256 without degradation in sound. It has no DAC inside it, so you will need an external DAC to connect it to. The ZEN Blue 3 plays over Bluetooth. Depending on the device you're using with the ZEN Blue 3, you'll be using different codecs to send the Bluetooth signal. Codecs determine the amount of data sent to or from the ZEN Blue, which closely relates to sound quality. If you have a phone or headphone that is aptX Lossless compatible, the ZEN Blue 3 can play CD Quality (44.1kHz/16-bit) with no loss in data; if you have a newer Android phone or headphone supporting LDAC, you can play Hi-Res 96kHz/24-bit but this will lose a bit of data. It has a DAC inside it, so you can play directly to a headphone amp or active speakers. Ultimately, the ZEN Stream may sound better, but it relies on internet and it's more complex to send up and use. The ZEN Blue 3 is convenient, quick, and can play to Bluetooth headphones and speakers, or make your current Hi-Fi setup effectively wireless!
ZEN One Signature is superior in terms of circuitry and USB playback, yes. ZEN One Signature supports PCM 384kHz, DSD256 and MQA in USB mode, whereas the ZEN Blue 3 is 96kHz over USB in DAC mode or 192kHz with S/PDIF input. Where the ZEN Blue 3 shines is Bluetooth - it can receive aptX Lossless, which the ZEN One Signature cannot do, and it can also transmit Bluetooth to a receiver (headphones, speakers etc) which the ZEN One Signature cannot do. Your use case will probably sway which product is best for you!
@@justanobody4983 Hypothetically, it probably could. However, there would be no interface or transport, so we're not sure exactly how you'd navigate file pathing or play/pause, etc. You could connect the HDD to our ZEN Stream, which will give you the interface to use as a transport and navigate file pathing - then connect the ZEN Blue 3 via USB to the ZEN Stream!
Hello, you provide a link for the ... 1. ... The fitting optial cable snd 2. ... The fitting coax cable? Searched on Amazon and had no luck. Before I buy my second Zen Blue, I want to buy the right csbles beforehand. Thanks
Hello, can you provide a link for the ... 1. ... fitting optial cable and 2. ... the fitting coax cable? Searched on Amazon and had no luck. Before I buy my second Zen Blue, I want to buy the right csbles beforehand. Thanks
@@tinofuchs7496 Hi, Please log a ticket with the technical support team. Who you can reach via the 'Support' link on our website. They would need to know more about what set up you are using to recommend the correct cable lengths etc.
4 hours i try to conect it with eversolo dp -a6 and momentum 4 wireless headphones and nothing.a big nothing.i have conect dac eversolo with rca or optical and no sound comes to headphones from tx....waste of money?
Purchased this so I could use aptX on my wireless headphones. Have a Mac mini M2 and Apple TV 4K and thought it would be nice to bypass AAC. Too bad this POS is buggy as hell. I seriously regret making this purchase. I have recommended iFi to many and can no long do so in good conscience;
Hi, We're sorry to read about your experience with this device. I recommend contacting our technical support team as they will be able to identify the cause of the issue and offer assistance. You can contact them by logging a support ticket, here: support.ifi-audio.com/
I LOVE my Zen Blue 2. Optical out to my DAC, always on always ready to play videos and music.
Sounds like a powerful setup 🙌🎶
Looks great. What is the main difference with Zen One Signature who already has bluetooth.
The ZEN one Signature is still the favourable DAC for those that prefer USB audio. Using its Burr Brown DAC chip the ZEN one Signature can process higher quality USB audio than the ZEN Blue 3. The Signature also utilises higher quality components and circuitry than the ZEN Blue 3 too. It still covers high quality BT codecs; such as LDAC for example.
The ZEN Blue 3 favours Bluetooth more than any other iFi device we've released. Giving you the means to receive OR transmit aptX Lossless audio, via Digital or Analogue inputs on the rear. This is a Bluetooth technology that will become even more common place over time but is available now with compatible source devices & headphones. The ZEN Blue 3 still goes up to 96kHz/24Bit (USB) and 192kHz/24Bit (Optical/Coaxial) though! The ZEN Blue 3 also has low latency mode too, so it's really got you covered for late night gaming sessions using your BT headphones too!
Great to hear, I just put a deposit on a new zen one signature, I'll be picking it up in a little over a week; can't wait.
It should be a considerable step up from pc toslink out to a yamaha a-s701 toslink 😂@iFiaudiochannel
We would love to read what you think about it! Feel free to join the community on our sub Reddit, or even the group on Facebook; iFi audio squad! Both are great places for talking shop!
10/10 for design and features. Nice one iFi!
Thank you very much! 🙌
I had a Zen Blue 2 and there was a popping in my speakers. I returned the product to the shop and I'm waiting Zen Blue e to arrive, I hope that this one doesn't have a popping in my speakers
Hi, this must have been a faulty unit if they have replaced the ZEN Blue 2 straight away. If this issue occurs with the next device then please reach out out our technical support team as they could work with you to identify what the source of the popping is
@iFiaudiochannel: thank you for your videos. i've tried to place an order for the Zen Blue v3 at a few places and they all say "coming soon" with no dates. I'm in the USA and can order from either a US web store OR a brick and mortar high end audio store. May I please ask when you will actually have the Zen Blue v3 at various USA web stores and brick and mortar stores please? Thank you in advance. Also: may i ask the estimate range of the new Zen Blue v3 please? would it be 100 feet or more? or would it be UNDER 100 feet please? i also noticed that the Zen Blue v2 (Verision 2) had an IMPROVED new antenna with a partially flat portion of the antenna and longer length, but strangely, this Zen Blue v3 has what appears to be the SAME ANTENNA as the Zen Blue v1 (i.e. original first version). this v3's antenna is COMPLETELY ROUND, so it appears to look exactly like the v1's antenna and doesn't look at all like the v2's partially flattened antenna. Might you be able to look into whether the v3's antenna is another improved antenna or not please? Or is it back to a standard v1's antenna? Thank you sir/madam in advance.
Yes, the ZEN Blue V3 has been very popular since release so stock has been sold out as quickly as it comes in. Keep an eye on our retailers websites for this stock. Alternatively, most retailers allow for an item to placed on back order, which would be sent out ASAP when it comes back into stock.
The range of the device is around 10 metres (32 feet) but this depends on if there are any obstructions between the two points of transmission/reception.
The Antenna that's included with the V3 is the same as the ZEN Blue V1 antenna.
Does zen blue 3 and zen dac 3 work with sony Google tv via usb mode? And does it support Dolby atmos via usb or optical?
Can I connect the headphones directly to the balanced output?
Hi!
No this is not advisable, as the rear outputs are sending out 'line level' audio, which is a higher output than headphones.
You would be better connecting a ZEN CAN (Headphone amp) to the device, then plugging directly into the headphone amp. Or, you could transmit audio out to a pair of Bluetooth headphones using 'transmission mode', in nearly any Hi-Res Bluetooth codec.
Can I connect it via RCA to the PC, and transmit via Bluetooth to a JBL 710? Thank you.
When in TX mode the ZEN Blue 3 will transmit any audio received via RCA input, out as Bluetooth to a connected device. If your JBL 710 can go into a generic pairing mode as most Bluetooth devices will, then you can pair it with the ZEN Blue 3.
@@iFiaudiochannel Thank you very much. I contacted JBL support, and they told me that it does not support these high-resolution codecs, so, which dac would you recommend to use on the PC via RCA or USB, to connect via cable to the JBL 710? Thank you .
@@maikon426 If you are looking to buy a separate DAC for use with the JBL 710, any USB DAC from our range will work fine, as the speaker is powered so it doesn't require an amp stage powerful enough to drive speakers. Any of the various ZEN DACs would work well for this!
Alternatively, if you already have the ZEN Blue 3, you could connect that to your PC via USB, set it to DAC mode, then use an RCA to 3.5mm cable to send Hi-Res audio up to 24Bit/96kHz 👍
@@iFiaudiochannel Without using Bluetooth, will I have better sound quality(usb)on the Zen Blue 3 or the Zen One Signature? Which would you recommend? Thanks.
In Tx mode, how can I determine which devices will pair at any given moment? How can I prevent a device that I do not want to pair from pairing short of disabling BT on that device, which may be connected to another device which is currently off? Principally, I would be connecting wireless headphones in Tx mode.
Great question.
In TX mode, the ZEN Blue 3 actively seeks receivers purposefully in pairing mode, so anything not in pairing mode will not automatically connect. For example, having Bluetooth enabled on your phone won't mean devices automatically connect - you'd have to consciously put it in pairing mode. Same reasoning for this!
Can I use ZB3 DAC mode as ADC (from RCA to Coaxial) or DDC(from USB to Coaxial)?
Receiver mode: The ZB3 sends received Bluetooth audio out to the analogue outputs on the rear, and to the S/PDIF digital output too.
Transmission mode: The ZB3 transmits the signal received via the digital or analogue inputs on the back, out via Bluetooth to a paired Bluetooth receiver.
DAC mode: The ZB3 sends digital audio received and sends it out to the analogue outputs. It can also transport digital audio received via USB and send it out via the S/PDIF output on the back. This mode can also receive analogue audio via the rear RCA inputs and send them out as digital audio via S/PDIF (to another DAC for example)
The device really does open you to a world of connectivity with the right connections and mode!
what's the main difference between zen stream and zen blue? which one was better quality of music?
ZEN Stream plays over the internet, so it plays PCM files up to 384kHz and DSD 256 without degradation in sound. It has no DAC inside it, so you will need an external DAC to connect it to.
The ZEN Blue 3 plays over Bluetooth. Depending on the device you're using with the ZEN Blue 3, you'll be using different codecs to send the Bluetooth signal. Codecs determine the amount of data sent to or from the ZEN Blue, which closely relates to sound quality. If you have a phone or headphone that is aptX Lossless compatible, the ZEN Blue 3 can play CD Quality (44.1kHz/16-bit) with no loss in data; if you have a newer Android phone or headphone supporting LDAC, you can play Hi-Res 96kHz/24-bit but this will lose a bit of data. It has a DAC inside it, so you can play directly to a headphone amp or active speakers.
Ultimately, the ZEN Stream may sound better, but it relies on internet and it's more complex to send up and use. The ZEN Blue 3 is convenient, quick, and can play to Bluetooth headphones and speakers, or make your current Hi-Fi setup effectively wireless!
is this wireless or wired? Or both?
No Dsd ? No MQA ? So, Zen one Signature is better ?
ZEN One Signature is superior in terms of circuitry and USB playback, yes.
ZEN One Signature supports PCM 384kHz, DSD256 and MQA in USB mode, whereas the ZEN Blue 3 is 96kHz over USB in DAC mode or 192kHz with S/PDIF input.
Where the ZEN Blue 3 shines is Bluetooth - it can receive aptX Lossless, which the ZEN One Signature cannot do, and it can also transmit Bluetooth to a receiver (headphones, speakers etc) which the ZEN One Signature cannot do.
Your use case will probably sway which product is best for you!
Hi ifi interested in this. Just have a question on usb input. Can it decode straight from a storage device or phones and pc only?
Hey there! Good question, one I'll have to ask our engineers about. What kind of storage device were you thinking of using with the ZEN Blue 3?
@@iFiaudiochannel im thinking if it could decode straight from a external hard drive?
@@justanobody4983 Hypothetically, it probably could. However, there would be no interface or transport, so we're not sure exactly how you'd navigate file pathing or play/pause, etc.
You could connect the HDD to our ZEN Stream, which will give you the interface to use as a transport and navigate file pathing - then connect the ZEN Blue 3 via USB to the ZEN Stream!
@@iFiaudiochannel ahhhh. Ok thank you for the response
There's some info from retailers it has a game and movie mode?
Ah , that would be the ZEN CAN 3!
Where can we get the sdif coaxial? It is not a common connection.
Hey! A 3.5mm to RCA Coaxial cable would work for this, they should be available on most web selling platforms! 😊
@@iFiaudiochannel Ah, got it! Thanks.
Hello, you provide a link for the ...
1. ... The fitting optial cable snd
2. ... The fitting coax cable?
Searched on Amazon and had no luck. Before I buy my second Zen Blue, I want to buy the right csbles beforehand.
Thanks
Hello, can you provide a link for the ...
1. ... fitting optial cable and
2. ... the fitting coax cable?
Searched on Amazon and had no luck. Before I buy my second Zen Blue, I want to buy the right csbles beforehand.
Thanks
@@tinofuchs7496
Hi, Please log a ticket with the technical support team. Who you can reach via the 'Support' link on our website. They would need to know more about what set up you are using to recommend the correct cable lengths etc.
4 hours i try to conect it with eversolo dp -a6 and momentum 4 wireless headphones and nothing.a big nothing.i have conect dac eversolo with rca or optical and no sound comes to headphones from tx....waste of money?
Hi,
Please directly message us for support, or log a ticket with the technical support department.
Purchased this so I could use aptX on my wireless headphones. Have a Mac mini M2 and Apple TV 4K and thought it would be nice to bypass AAC. Too bad this POS is buggy as hell. I seriously regret making this purchase. I have recommended iFi to many and can no long do so in good conscience;
Hi,
We're sorry to read about your experience with this device.
I recommend contacting our technical support team as they will be able to identify the cause of the issue and offer assistance.
You can contact them by logging a support ticket, here: support.ifi-audio.com/