I know everyone is already talking about the Truebass bass boost implementation, but I thought I'd chime in with my take on it. It sounds great for being a simple bass boost button without ever overpowering mids or highs and all without even muddying the bass at all. The kicker for me is that it allows you to use bass light headphones as daily drivers and if a bass heavy track comes out, you can hear it more fully instead of having to switch out your headphones to fully enjoy that song/album.
Not the same product but yup I use ifi hip dac with hd660s when not at my desktop and the bass boost on it is perfect for pretty much all songs except the already heavy bass songs
The manual for this DAC on the iFi Audio official website clarifies this interesting point about the Xbass+ button. : "Sonically-hindering DSP is NOT used for XBass+ systems. The Xbass+ systems use highest-quality discrete components and operate purely in the analogue domain. Hence all the clarity and resolution of the original music is retained".
Ifi have released a firmware update for the V2 that should now allow it to work with the ps5. Also major props for mentioning the whole MQA situation, the more consumers learn about it the more chance that we can get companies to stop buying into it
There are plenty of Zen Dac v1's at the used market at the moment for 70-100€, MONSTER value for everyone who wants to step into the hobby for even cheaper. The difference between the v1 and v2 are mostly just the MQA decoder, so the V1 is also a really good investment. Rocking Hifiman HE400SE and the Zen Dac V1, sounds amazing and the Truebass is the cherry on the top with these planars, love it.
What if I want something that can hook up to my PC and have standard speaker wire connections with my two bookshelf speakers and then also a headphone jack which will mute the speakers when I plug into it?
@@JonJonJonJonJon the only thing that I can think of is the Loxjie A30. But you have to manually switch outputs, I’m pretty sure. I’m not sure of anything that auto switches output without some sort of physical switch or digital menu control. There may be something out there, but I’m guess that you’ll have to pay a bit for an aio like that. Probably better luck looking at building a stack with a preamp that has that capability, but once again, way more expensive. There’s also stereo receivers, but unless you’re willing to shell out some good money, the headphone out circuits tends to be an afterthought and not very good.
@@JonJonJonJonJon I use a cheap class d amp for my speakers and just turn that off when I'm using my headphones from the zen dac. You can switch the output of the rca or 4.5mm balanced jack to ignore the volume control or include it. I set mine to ignore the volume control.
I still haven't found a way to replace my V1. Even with a Zen Can, I prefer the TrueBass on the Zen DAC to XBass on the Zen Can. Also haven't found anything that doesn't pair well with it. Great for those of us that like warm/smooth sound. Cool review 👍 ☕
I recently purchased the Zen Dac v2 and insane value for money. I don't have 600 ohm headphones so this is all I really need. To get a significant boost in performance you'd have to spend £500 like he said. At this price there's nothing better with the features on offer.
was choosing a dac/amp combo a while back when I got my sennheiser hD 660S from my wife. Doubted a lot between the zen dac and a topping (viewing Joshua's channel), nobody had a (decent) review up on the zen dac, but choose the zen dac anyways because of the looks. Man, it is great. I now have it hooked up on my new work-from-home office, connected via a docking station for the input, and outputing to my headphones and a pair of white Jamo PM 801 bookshelf speakers (thanks to Joshua and recovering audiophile's review). Looks stunning and really deliveres great sound for the money. I was about 159€ when I bought it from amazon france, but in Europe we always note the price with the taxes included ;)
Ah good, man! Glad you're enjoying it. I haven't got into Topping yet. Right around the time I was, there was a unit out that was frying headphones? So it made keep my distance until they got all that sorted.
@@tiredmask I'm still using these. I live in Belgium, centre of Europe. Schitt is more expensive over here, don't have of their things and don't see the need to change
I have my iFi Zen Dac connected with my Yamaha HS8, Hifiman Sundara, ATH-R70X, and the Moondrop B2. The Truebass is such a versatile and useful feature I can't even consider buying another DAC/AMP without it. The HS8 is known to be very flat and boring for audiophiles, but with Truebass I have the studio quality monitor with buttery smooth bass boost tonality. Sundara open back is also known for the heavy subbass drop but with Truebass it becomes a very pleasing headphone to listen to. Most importantly, I can connect the Zen Dac with my PS5 and laptop without needing to go back and forth EQing my audio, since some people are only listening to music on PC. I just wish they have a device selector. Great review brother spot on!
@@kokomisclam6625 the R70X is such a treat coupled with the truebass. The headphone can handle so much power and won’t hurt your ears, you can literally make it vibrate around your ear 😁 but do take care of your ears lol
@@pinoyxbox Yeah I've got the IDSD Black Label and would agree that the XBass is better. The 3D+ is also a cool effect at times. Especially when gaming
@@gabrielmoreno5775 Might be ok with low-bass planars. My Sennheiser 6xx are borderline ok with tubes and bass button. The Hifiman 4XX, also a planer, is too much, same with dynamic ones like Focal Elegia and Sivga Phoenix are too much, even without a tube amp for my taste (though my Elegia's are EQ'd up a bit to begin with). That said certain songs are fun with it, but for the most part, I find it just becomes too much and muddies the mids (though far better than most bass boost functions)
Adding a proper power source significantly improved sound clarity and quality even though it ran with power from the USB connection in my experience. I am using the upgraded wall wort from iFi I have the V1 which compares well with my $300+ DACs.
You mentioned at 7:02 that adding a ZEN Can (and thus returning total cost to above $400) makes it a completely different comparison and a different video. I'm curious what the other contenders would be and how they'd stack up? Perhaps something for a future video?
I think you got me started with your Aeon Open X review. Now I have a JDS El 2 stack with custom hollow knight and dark souls engraving, a darkvoice, an xduoo mt-602, a hip dac, a qudelix 5k, ZMF aeolus, aeon closed x, lcd2c, 6xx, er2xr, blessing 2 dusk, etc. What a rabbit hole
@@alfonsosaavedra8009 I wish I never bought that setup because it sent me down a very large rabbit hole upgrading gear once I heard it haha ... I went from that to spending $10,000 on audio equipment over a period of time. Once you hear that setup - you won't go back... So YES I recommend but also at the same time DON'T DO IT RUN WHILE YOU CAN HELP ME THEY HAVE ME HOSTAGE...
I saw Zeos losing his mind over this baby, but his content can be a bit odd at times hahhaa, I really appreciate you making this review, it helps to confirm this stuff
I have a JDS Labs Atom+ Stack and got this just to see how it sound out of curiosity. It definitely has a smoother sound which I prefer because at occasions with the JDS, some highs can sound too bright for me, which is never the case with the iFi. But as a tradeoff it doesn't reach that sparkle you can get with the JDS. After some A/B'ing I felt that the iFi has noticeably subtler bass than the JDS as well. With the JDS it's like you feel the bass, the kick, the oomf.. with the iFi you just hear the bass. It might be because I only have it powered via USB. Bought a regular PSU to see if the bass will improve. Overall I think the JDS sounds cleaner but can also be sharp occasionally. If it wouldn't be for the weak bass, I would keep the iFi, I'll see in a few days if it'll improve with the PSU.
I have the V1 and I love it! But I wish it stopped playing on the speakers when you plug in headphones. Switching the speaker input every time on a daily basis is quite annoying. Sometimes I forget that the speaker is playing at the same time as the headphones and I end up blasting audio through the speakers at 2 am… 😅
Im lost you said it was a dac+amp but its called a zen dac meaning its just a dac? Then you mentioned the zen can being the amp. What?? I thought the zen dac was the dac+amp. So does that mean you can pair the zen dac and can to stack just to use higher powered drives?? But what about the amps of both the dac and can will they interfere?? Little help for the newbie looking to buy a dac+amp as a beginner.
Got mine a month ago and have the same issue as others. There is an awful channel imbalance. I switched back to my old dac and because I can't return the V2 it's collecting dust. Does anybody know if there is a fix for this, since I want the same amount of volume on each ear!!!
I purchased a soundblaster G6 based on your review of it. G6 or this? And would the schit stack be a good upgrade from either or not worth it? What would be a good budget friendly upgrade?
Nice to see this pop up on your channel! I got my Zen DAC v2 & Zen CAN stack when my Heresy decided to blow up.. on day one -_- That Schiit aside, iFi is doing good business! Love it on my 660S & Sundara's, real powerhouse!
I'm really new to this whole audio thing and I don't understand most of the thing said in this video, but I do feel like I need an amp or DAC (whichever applies) to power up my DT 770 Pro 80 ohm as the volume is too low when I plug it to my PC. Is this still worth buying and is all I need?
I'm looking for a headphone amp that has analog IN to use after the GoXLR in my chain (goxlr isn't quite giving enough juice for my HD 6XX). I previously had a Schiit Magni Heresy but it needs to be repaired and since I live in Canada, it's not worth the money/time to send it back to them for repair. So ideally something I can grab from Amazon. Any suggestions?
Got myself one of these awhile ago and while it's true that the sound quality, Truebass, and etc are amazing, I had to return it for a seemingly dumb reason. The Zen Dac overrides windows volume controls, and you're not able to control Windows volume through your keyboard/media control buttons. As I have my PC quite out of reach this is a deal breaker, I change volume frequently and it's a pain to have to stretch to reach the Zen Dac for volume changes. I'm surprised that most reviews don't cover this little nuisance that might or might not be a deal breaker for some. Also if anyone knows a good DAC or DAC/AMP combo that retains Windows volume controls, hmu as i really need a good option. I know audiophiles all want the volume controls on the DAC/AMP itself for the best sound quality but tbh im mostly listening to Spotify and watching TH-cam and I can't really tell a difference. Using the DT177x GO for now, planning on splurging on the DCA Aeon Noires soon if I get to save up.
if your source is just spotify and youtube. you probably don't need a more expensive DAC. Just get a decent sounding cheap DAC that works well with your needs. It is pretty common that whenever you use a dedicated DAC, the volume control will be done in the device itself as it overrides your pc. (can't find the right words for it but you get the point) You are using the DAC so it's common sense that the volume will be controlled on the device itself. Why else would they put a volume knob on the device. As for DAC that suits your need, you might want to try a dongle instead. It was my first external DAC, a CX PRO to be exact and it satisfied my needs for a while until i decided to upgrade.
@@evilkamatis542 hey thanks for the answer brother. it's the answer i needed to hear but at the time i was just looking for an excuse to find a higher end DAC to splurge on lol. As for windows volume control, what you said makes sense but for my specific use case, i really do need my keyboard volume controls (my PC is placed very far away from where i sit, and i have to use a wireless keyboard/mouse lol). I picked up the Fulla Schitt and it works great for this, still allows windows volume controls and sounds great! Also it's a got a mic input for my PC38x. Maybe this might help someone out there that has this extremely edge case scenario like myself.
There is one point that I don't understand. What advantage is there in plugging this iFi Zen Air Dac into the mains socket (5V adapter) rather than only via USB into the computer? If I connected this DAC via the mains adapter, I would still have to plug the DAC into the computer's USB port at the same time, so what is the difference or advantage in concrete terms? Also, I notice that the DC 5V adapter sold by iFi Audio (the "iFi Audio iPower", which is almost as expensive as the price of the iFI Audio Zen Air Dac!) has a function called "Active Noise Cancellation". When I connect only by USB cable the iFi Air DAC in my MacBook, I have no background noise in my DT-900 ProX headphones.
I personally run it USB bus powered always. I have done extensive listening using the ac adapter as well and I can't hear a single advantage in using it. I would skip it if it were me.
Have you tested to see if powering the DAC via USB only consumes more the computer battery ? Because if the power supply is rather outside the computer, therefore in the electrical sector of the wall, the laptop battery should be much less stressed. @@badseedtech
Hello! I just bought a Zen Dac V2 and it does not allow me to control the volume of Windows 10 (on the OS), I can only do it from the Dac wheel. Please could you tell me if this can be modified? I already installed all the software and firmware versions and I couldn't fix the problem. Maybe there is some software or firmware that can fix the problem. thanks!
Hey ladies and gents. I have the soundblaster G6. I primarily game but I want to spend money on upgrading my audio. Would it be worth the $ to go from the G6 to the Zen Dac V2, or rather save some money for a much more expensive set up like the JDS labs element 2? Mic input isn't a problem. My headphone upgrade path is PC38X --> DT 1990 Pro --> Audeze LCD-GX. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Yeah I think it is, because I bought the G6X about 2 years ago and I returned it because it sounded shouty to me. the EQ presets and software was honestly bad and made it sound bloated or muffled. The other thing I dislike was the audible hissing when using any headphones or iems. With the Zen v2 you can try and pick and choose which fw you'd like, changes the sound or compatibility on certain things like MQA support or Playstation consoke support. Also works on switch. Overall in my opinion and experience with the two id pick this one any day but make sure to get the power supply as that will improve volume and sound quality a bit further.
I have a Zen v2 in my office at work feeding an Asgard 3. Great little platform to run everything from. The A3 feeds a set of Mackie monitors and I've got the 1/4 inch on the A3, Zen, and the 4.4mm for when/if I have cans with me and want to use them instead.
I'm new to all this trying to learn. I have a pair of Razer Nommo Pro speakers. They are like the Rolls Royce of the Razer brand as far as speakers go. I also want to purchase a pair of Bluetooth Focal Bathys. I know the headphones already have a DAC inside them. Do I need a DAC/amp for the speakers sake? Can I connect the BT headphones to a BT compatible DAC/amp so everything is connected into one place. If so, any suggestions? I currently have a GSX 1000 and used to have pair of Focal Celestees, but discovered I'm just not a wired guy. Now I'm a bit confused on what to do. I wanna replace the GSX 1000 as well because I purchased it used and there is a weird problem with it where it randomly makes a loud 'thump' sound out of nowhere. The same sound you get when saving settings on it, but in this case it just randomly goes off out of nowhere and scares the shit out of me. I do like have the volume wheel right in front of me though from the GSX 1000. So what equipment would you get if you were in my shoes? Thanks.
i know u use the beyerdynamic DT 1990's they have a sensitivity level over 100 which is usually ok to be powered by your laptop or phone (or so im told im a noob so maybe i'm wrong) and i have this in my cart right now along with the headphones would u say i NEED this right now or is this something i can hold off on for a little while?
There is a weird audio volume bump from 120clock to 1oclock on the dial knob, also popping noise when pausing or playing audio and the imaging is off for my headphones that other amps haven’t ruined
I'm looking for a dac/amp with this featureset and after a couple days of searching I have noticed that this exact model keeps popping up. I can get my hands on one for a good price so I'm curious how you guys feel about this thing now that it's been two years. For reference I've been running a Fiio E10k for many years because that was all I could get my hands on back then. My headphones are the DT 770 Pro and the Fidelio X1. I was able to borrow an old Konnect 6 for a couple weeks almost 7 years ago and it made my DT 770s sound incredible. I've been chasing that dragon ever since.
Hey Brian, love the straight-forward reviews. 18 mo later, is the zen still the great value with a new price of $200 - Any new competetitors you'd suggest?
What the the actual advantage of balanced output? I have a X3 DAC/AMP currently (also a Dragonfly Red for music listening and travel) and switch between Tygr 300Rs (any chance of a review of these) and HD6XX (so chill to listen to). Would the balanced output provide any real noticeable benefit for these headphones?
Probably the last device to double down on support for MQA. I know a lot of people who have said they jumped the Tidal ship after Apple released Hi-res audio and Amazon music got cheaper.
im new to headphones , just got the dt 1990 pro and having a hard time understanding if this Dac would work or if like you mentioned its too "difficult to drive headphones" like do these headphones need a stronger dac? cause that Dac seems powerful... and what am i even looking for? is it how many ohms can a dac handle? that lets me know whats or which is necessarily needeed ?
Just a quick correction. The V2 Zen Dac will work with the PS5 but only if you install the latest version of ifi's GTO firmware. Great right? Well the GTO filter basically applies the MQA filter to EVERYTHING you put through the dac. Not ideal. My advice for both the Zen 1 and 2 is to install the Limoncello firmware. It removes all the MQA crap from the dac and opens up DSD256 content (in the event you actually own any DSD albums?)
Hey man…just ran across your review and liked it. You know your shit and quickly kicked the reviews ass. No wasted words or bullshit. Brevity is impressive. You didn’t say useless shit to prove how smart you are…which shows how smart you are.. Matt in Texas
Would any DAC discussed here make audio coming out of a desktop PC also sound better the same way you say it will make audio sound better coming from the Macbook laptop? I can't figure out if the onboard audio on my motherboard (ASUS Crosshair Hero VIII) is any worse than an external DAC. If I buy a DAC, I want/need to make sure it's going to sound better than my current setup: USB output into 3.5mm headphone jack Y-split out to Left & Right powered M-AUDIO BX5a studio monitors.... so many things to choose from, sheesh!
So is this significantly better than the Fulla Schiit 3? I have that connected to my Philips SHP9500 open-back headphones. Overall seems like a pretty beginner setup. I'm not a huge fan of the Philips, they're relatively cheap & provide okayish audio, but lack bass and a bit of clarity (not sure if that's the right term). I use this setup for everything when I'm using headphones, otherwise I just use my Samsung soundbar if I don't need to use headphones.
The situation is like this. I have a pair of earphones SENNHEISER HD560S , I am using your ifi audio zen dac v2+ ipowerX I normally use PowerMatch to increase the volume gain~ I usually rotate the volume arrow to the 12 o'clock position ~ about 50%? But because of the difference in the default volume of the application in windows~ I sometimes have to reduce it to below 50%~ Yesterday, when I turned on tidal, I forgot to set the volume to 25% (I use 25% normally when using tidal) So I played music at 50% volume~ I immediately noticed it and took off the earphones right away~ I heard the high volume for about 0.5~1 second~ but the earphones have played the high decibel volume for at least 3~5 seconds~ Is this? Could it cause my HD560S to be damaged?
You'd be hard pressed to seriously damage the drivers after such a short exposure. Headphone drivers can take way more volume than most of us are ever going to use, so don't stress. If you do notice anything out of the ordinary with the sound over the next 2 days, contact the retailer you bought it from, or Sennheiser, and report the issue if it's within warranty. If you can't hear any difference, they're fine
I have the Beyerdinamic 250 Ohm 990 Pro and Im curious to purchase the PowerSupply for the Zen Dac will I notice any difference ? seems like USB Port is not having enough power to drive this headphones.
I’m looking for a more budget friendly dac/amp I was originally gonna go with the schiit fulla 3. Do you think the ifi Zen dac is a better buy then that? Do you think I should get the v1 zen dac or v2?
Hello! I use Marantz PM 6006 + Dali Oberon 3+ Cambridge dac Magic 100. I listen to Spotify streaming and Flac files from my laptop. If I sell Cambridge Dac Magic 100 and buy Ifi Zen V2 or Topping E30 (Smsl Sanscrit 10th MKII) do I get more quality? What do you recommend? Thanks.
I've recently purchased a pc with Z490 Gaming Edge mobo and Z906 speakers. I've got HD598SE headphones, Astro A40 and I'm considering beyerdynamic 990 Pro. I mostly use PC for games, then work then music/TH-cam/movies. Also have PS5 and Series X. Would this make a significant difference to headphone and speaker sound quality from PC? Console use would be a bonus but admit I love PS5 3D Audio with Arctis 7p already. Thanks for any thoughts!
So if I could afford a schiit stack, should I go with the zen stack or the schiit? Looking for my beginner set up. Sounds like you recommend the zen because of the price and what you get for it
Would you say this is on par or slightly better than the schiit stack?. I bought it in your recommendation but it has developed the knob hiss which is very annoying. I have since accumulated a few planar cans and want to go in further down the rabbit hole.
In the case I'm using it with a cellphone (cellphone as my source of music, TIDAL, etc.), will I need to plug to a power suply in that case, or cell will provide enuff power? Thanks
You mentioned several headphones that the iFI Zen DAC v2 could handle and I didn't quite follow all of them as you said but could you be more specific about the Sennheiser HD 600S2?
I'm planning of buying an ifi zen dac and a lake people g103-S amp, to drive a pair of dt880 600 ohms. Now should I save up a little more so I can get the zen dac v2 instead of v1? Btw: What cables do I need to connect the zen dac to an amp? (Also what cables to connect them both to my phone!) And does the amp or dac control the volume, sry I'm new to the audiophile world. Now also I don't want my dac or amp to change the sound profile of the headphones, so does the zen dac do that? Because if so then maybe I should get an soncoz la-qxd1 dac instead, I read that one is neutral.
Hey, sorry for the noob question, but do I even need a dac if I have a Raspberry Pi Streamer with HifiBerry OS and DAC2 HD Top Hat on it? Would it do any good to me?
I'm a beginner and a lil confused. By getting this do I still have to buy another dac or amp? Or is this a 2 in 1 type thing. I also dont know what the two extra left and right cable things are at the back for so if somebody can explain that would be great
Been hooked since the last 2,5 years on your vids Bryan, awesome review again. I’ve been asking Joshua Valour to do a review of the Topping MX3 DAC/AMP, which I own. It cost just $129. It’s got the same headphone power output as the iFi Zen DAC but also has a built in amp for passive speakers. I’ve got them hooked to some Q Acoustics 3020i’s and a HD58X, and that’s a sub $500 dollar desktop BANGER of a system. Would absolutely LOVE to see a review of them. Cheers from the Netherlands!
Did you happen to test this with PC gaming? Looking to get a pair of DT900 Pro X and can’t decide on a DAC AMP. I don’t need mic input. Is this a good option? Or Mayflower ARC Mini? Something else? Too many choices!
No optical audio input is a huge miss imo. The K5 pro has that and it's old as dirt & in the same price range so for anyone looking for that port the ZenDac is basically non existant. No excuses for not having it.
I see your point. Would have gone a long way here. I’m not sure iFI even takes gaming into consideration, but they definitely should going forward. Do you have any gear that’s non-gaming related that would use optical?
this is true, although how many people actually use SPDIF these days? technically speaking it's inferior to USB anyway, not that there's a noticeable difference between the two, just USB measures slightly better.
@@shanksisnoteventhatstrongbruh more options are never a bad thing, you're right there. I just don't think that it's a deal breaker for that many people, especially given the feature set it already has at such a low price point (especially relevant to the cheaper but basically identical V1, which imo 99% of people should be be looking to buy over the V2)
okay, I'm coming form a generic gaming headset. I'm thinking of grabbing this dac/amp and pairing it with some DT1990's. Will be used as a bit of an all rounder, I mainly play competitive shooters but also want them for music/general media consumption. Good choice or better headphone options out there? Thanks!
if you have a quiet house then open backs are fantastic for shooters. I can pinpoint exactly where someone is behind a wall when most of my friends can't even hear them (as long as the game has good audio design lmao) you definitely won't regret it especially coming from a gaming headset
Just got my schit stack last month with my hd58x. Can't say I regret it even after watching this but I will be recommending this amp fax to friends that like my set up but don't want to spend that much. Might even get my gf this for her bday with a good pair of headphones if that's what she wants. Looking forward to the next video!
Hello, I am planning on buying a ifi zen dac v2 and ifi zen can stack for hd600. does it provide enough power to drive it nicely? and is there a big difference if i run a ifi zen dac v2 and ifi zen air can stack or an ifi zen air dac and ifi zen can stack?
Hey buddy Im lookin to upgrade my audio setup for playstation5 (maybe in the future pc, so thinking alteady about to buy something for pc as well). Im almost only playing fps and open world. Would you recomment the ifi amp and dac with the beyerdynamicdt 1990 for the playstation? Will that work ? And do i need both? I mens amp and dac? Kind regards michael
Im trying to get into good audio and with the specs i don't understand the power, will this be able to drive the Sennheiser HD 600 (300 ohm) headphones?
I currently have both a DT-880 (80 ohm) and an HD599. I have been eyeing a Hifiman HE-400se as an expansion. For a long time I have been looking at a Schiit Hell ass a simple, all in one, DAC/Amp (especially as it also has a mic input, and a 3,5 out for powered speakers). However, it hasn't been in stores in the european store in over 2 years. Which sucks, so I have been eyeing alternatives, and my eye fell on the Ifi Zen as it gets praise for being an entry level DAC/amp. But I am scratching my head with how it treats powered speakers (does the output switch off when you insert a headphone like the Schiit does?) and is it powerfull enough to drive the low sensitive Hifimans (at 91 dB/w)?
Any1 know if I can plug basic speakers into this as well as headphones at the same time? My speakers just use 1 3.5mm jack rather than a left and right jack. I currently have the Sound Blaster X4 and love how I can switch between my speakers and headphones easily. Wondering if it's worth upgrading to this or not.
How would this do for running a Mac Mini into a stereo receiver? Also, any recommendation for an Apple app to use for playback? My biggest issue is that it must play gapless. Enjoy your stuff!
You are what got me into understanding what a DAC/AMP was and got a Schet Heil. Good to see the future is getting better.
Why the Schet Heil over the Zendac?
@@Backyard_Brouhaha i watched a lot or reviews on it. No reason as I didn’t know about the other one. However I have since moved on to a Fiio K7
I wish EVERYONE spoke like this guy, no stuttering "ums/ers" no bullshit, direct clear and complete sentences. It's so refreshing!
I know everyone is already talking about the Truebass bass boost implementation, but I thought I'd chime in with my take on it. It sounds great for being a simple bass boost button without ever overpowering mids or highs and all without even muddying the bass at all. The kicker for me is that it allows you to use bass light headphones as daily drivers and if a bass heavy track comes out, you can hear it more fully instead of having to switch out your headphones to fully enjoy that song/album.
Noice!
Not the same product but yup I use ifi hip dac with hd660s when not at my desktop and the bass boost on it is perfect for pretty much all songs except the already heavy bass songs
The manual for this DAC on the iFi Audio official website clarifies this interesting point about the Xbass+ button. : "Sonically-hindering DSP is NOT used for XBass+ systems. The Xbass+ systems use highest-quality discrete components and operate purely in the analogue domain. Hence all the clarity and resolution of the original music is retained".
Ifi have released a firmware update for the V2 that should now allow it to work with the ps5. Also major props for mentioning the whole MQA situation, the more consumers learn about it the more chance that we can get companies to stop buying into it
Ah NICE on the PS5. That’s great to see.
Really?! Can you please send a link
Oh, would this work with the Switch? As, I was thinking of getting the JDS Labs Atom DAC.
Any chance with the Xbox or back of the TV like the CX?
Does ifi hip work too?
There are plenty of Zen Dac v1's at the used market at the moment for 70-100€, MONSTER value for everyone who wants to step into the hobby for even cheaper. The difference between the v1 and v2 are mostly just the MQA decoder, so the V1 is also a really good investment. Rocking Hifiman HE400SE and the Zen Dac V1, sounds amazing and the Truebass is the cherry on the top with these planars, love it.
Agreed the V1 I picked up is mine blowing and for sub 100 shut up and take my money if you find it sec hand pull the trigger
Where can you find it at that price point? I'm in Europe
What if I want something that can hook up to my PC and have standard speaker wire connections with my two bookshelf speakers and then also a headphone jack which will mute the speakers when I plug into it?
@@JonJonJonJonJon the only thing that I can think of is the Loxjie A30. But you have to manually switch outputs, I’m pretty sure. I’m not sure of anything that auto switches output without some sort of physical switch or digital menu control. There may be something out there, but I’m guess that you’ll have to pay a bit for an aio like that. Probably better luck looking at building a stack with a preamp that has that capability, but once again, way more expensive. There’s also stereo receivers, but unless you’re willing to shell out some good money, the headphone out circuits tends to be an afterthought and not very good.
@@JonJonJonJonJon I use a cheap class d amp for my speakers and just turn that off when I'm using my headphones from the zen dac. You can switch the output of the rca or 4.5mm balanced jack to ignore the volume control or include it. I set mine to ignore the volume control.
Bought the Zen dac v2 a couple of months ago. Absolutely no regrets. Great review as always
You have chosen wisely 😁
The real "pro" point with the IFI is the totally clean background you get from it. Great review.
Awesome work bro! I’m loving the Zen DAC v2 as well.
Just bought one of these a week ago. Happily surprised to see you cover it.
I still haven't found a way to replace my V1. Even with a Zen Can, I prefer the TrueBass on the Zen DAC to XBass on the Zen Can. Also haven't found anything that doesn't pair well with it. Great for those of us that like warm/smooth sound. Cool review 👍 ☕
I recently purchased the Zen Dac v2 and insane value for money. I don't have 600 ohm headphones so this is all I really need. To get a significant boost in performance you'd have to spend £500 like he said. At this price there's nothing better with the features on offer.
Bought this for about a year ago and never been so pleased. Especially after you install the GTO-filter. It will definitely not let you down!
was choosing a dac/amp combo a while back when I got my sennheiser hD 660S from my wife. Doubted a lot between the zen dac and a topping (viewing Joshua's channel), nobody had a (decent) review up on the zen dac, but choose the zen dac anyways because of the looks. Man, it is great. I now have it hooked up on my new work-from-home office, connected via a docking station for the input, and outputing to my headphones and a pair of white Jamo PM 801 bookshelf speakers (thanks to Joshua and recovering audiophile's review). Looks stunning and really deliveres great sound for the money. I was about 159€ when I bought it from amazon france, but in Europe we always note the price with the taxes included ;)
Ah good, man! Glad you're enjoying it. I haven't got into Topping yet. Right around the time I was, there was a unit out that was frying headphones? So it made keep my distance until they got all that sorted.
@@badseedtech yea L30 it was haha
Hey I just got the 660s and was wondering if ur still using the same ones or if u think it’s better I get the schiit stack
@@tiredmask I'm still using these. I live in Belgium, centre of Europe. Schitt is more expensive over here, don't have of their things and don't see the need to change
@@dwazeke ok thank you I’m really excited for my 660s to arrive! Just was worried about the amp and dac or if I even needed one tbh
I have my iFi Zen Dac connected with my Yamaha HS8, Hifiman Sundara, ATH-R70X, and the Moondrop B2. The Truebass is such a versatile and useful feature I can't even consider buying another DAC/AMP without it. The HS8 is known to be very flat and boring for audiophiles, but with Truebass I have the studio quality monitor with buttery smooth bass boost tonality. Sundara open back is also known for the heavy subbass drop but with Truebass it becomes a very pleasing headphone to listen to. Most importantly, I can connect the Zen Dac with my PS5 and laptop without needing to go back and forth EQing my audio, since some people are only listening to music on PC. I just wish they have a device selector. Great review brother spot on!
Wait, there is an update of ifi Zen Dac v2 for PS5 compability?
I got R70x and B2 Dusk too 😳 cant wait for my v2 to arrive - my first dac ever!
@@kokomisclam6625 the R70X is such a treat coupled with the truebass. The headphone can handle so much power and won’t hurt your ears, you can literally make it vibrate around your ear 😁 but do take care of your ears lol
Once you try the iFI BASS Boost(TrueBass) on their Dac/Amps it's hard to go back to anything else. It's pretty addicting if you're a Bass lover
For me Xbass>true bass. Subtle but full.
@@pinoyxbox Yeah I've got the IDSD Black Label and would agree that the XBass is better. The 3D+ is also a cool effect at times. Especially when gaming
Have you guys paired it with tubes and hit true bass just saying you’ll smile
@@gabrielmoreno5775 i have tubes and its bloated as fuck lol
@@gabrielmoreno5775 Might be ok with low-bass planars. My Sennheiser 6xx are borderline ok with tubes and bass button. The Hifiman 4XX, also a planer, is too much, same with dynamic ones like Focal Elegia and Sivga Phoenix are too much, even without a tube amp for my taste (though my Elegia's are EQ'd up a bit to begin with). That said certain songs are fun with it, but for the most part, I find it just becomes too much and muddies the mids (though far better than most bass boost functions)
Adding a proper power source significantly improved sound clarity and quality even though it ran with power from the USB connection in my experience. I am using the upgraded wall wort from iFi I have the V1 which compares well with my $300+ DACs.
You mentioned at 7:02 that adding a ZEN Can (and thus returning total cost to above $400) makes it a completely different comparison and a different video. I'm curious what the other contenders would be and how they'd stack up? Perhaps something for a future video?
I would be really interested to see you cover the full Zen stack and how you think it sounds compared to competitors.
If you have EQ settings (via softwared) on your PC do those EQ tweaks carry over to the DAC or is only sending the flat signal to the DAC?
Why is it $189.00 when it was $159.00 before? Trying to find one on sale but not looking so good….
I think you got me started with your Aeon Open X review. Now I have a JDS El 2 stack with custom hollow knight and dark souls engraving, a darkvoice, an xduoo mt-602, a hip dac, a qudelix 5k, ZMF aeolus, aeon closed x, lcd2c, 6xx, er2xr, blessing 2 dusk, etc. What a rabbit hole
Just bought the iFI Zen DAC v2 & Sennheiser HD560S as my first leap into the audiophile world I'm excited for them to show up!
How is this setup going for you? I’m thinking about going the same route
@@alfonsosaavedra8009 I wish I never bought that setup because it sent me down a very large rabbit hole upgrading gear once I heard it haha ... I went from that to spending $10,000 on audio equipment over a period of time.
Once you hear that setup - you won't go back... So YES I recommend but also at the same time DON'T DO IT RUN WHILE YOU CAN HELP ME THEY HAVE ME HOSTAGE...
I saw Zeos losing his mind over this baby, but his content can be a bit odd at times hahhaa, I really appreciate you making this review, it helps to confirm this stuff
Anime girls intensify
@@johnlocke2694 THICC waifus
I have a JDS Labs Atom+ Stack and got this just to see how it sound out of curiosity. It definitely has a smoother sound which I prefer because at occasions with the JDS, some highs can sound too bright for me, which is never the case with the iFi. But as a tradeoff it doesn't reach that sparkle you can get with the JDS. After some A/B'ing I felt that the iFi has noticeably subtler bass than the JDS as well. With the JDS it's like you feel the bass, the kick, the oomf.. with the iFi you just hear the bass. It might be because I only have it powered via USB. Bought a regular PSU to see if the bass will improve. Overall I think the JDS sounds cleaner but can also be sharp occasionally. If it wouldn't be for the weak bass, I would keep the iFi, I'll see in a few days if it'll improve with the PSU.
@@henrygg295 have you tried the mayflower arc?
@@thejessejames623 nope, just the JDS and iFi
I have the V1 paired with my DT 1990's, it's a great combo and the truebass button is magical.
I have the V1 and I love it!
But I wish it stopped playing on the speakers when you plug in headphones. Switching the speaker input every time on a daily basis is quite annoying.
Sometimes I forget that the speaker is playing at the same time as the headphones and I end up blasting audio through the speakers at 2 am… 😅
make it a habit to turn the volume down before turning on your setup. saves me from jumpscares
Is it able to run the Sennheiser hd600?
Ordered this just today as my first ever dedicated Amp or a DAC and this video came out so recently from you. Thanks, BadSeed Tech!
You’ll love it bro!
@@LorenzoFrausto I do hope that. I'll post my findings tomorrow.
@@primeshmohanty7701 looking forwards to it 👍🏽
@@primeshmohanty7701how was it ?
Im lost you said it was a dac+amp but its called a zen dac meaning its just a dac? Then you mentioned the zen can being the amp. What?? I thought the zen dac was the dac+amp. So does that mean you can pair the zen dac and can to stack just to use higher powered drives?? But what about the amps of both the dac and can will they interfere?? Little help for the newbie looking to buy a dac+amp as a beginner.
hellou ,
my sound is pretty low... for games like tarkov and so on, so i wondered if this also makes my system/ headphones louder?
Yes IT Will make your Sound stronger/luder and if I May say so better.
Got mine a month ago and have the same issue as others. There is an awful channel imbalance. I switched back to my old dac and because I can't return the V2 it's collecting dust. Does anybody know if there is a fix for this, since I want the same amount of volume on each ear!!!
I have this paired with the Zen Can. Sounds great with the Sennheiser HD560 S. It also makes a great preamp for powered monitors.
Debating on what to get with my HD560s either this possibly or a schiit stack or fulla/hel
I believe I tried v1, I enjoyed it, I can only imagine the upgraded version being just as quality
Should I buy this or the mayflower mk2. Mostly gonna be used for PS4/ps5? Headphones are dt 1990, sundara, 660s
I purchased a soundblaster G6 based on your review of it. G6 or this? And would the schit stack be a good upgrade from either or not worth it? What would be a good budget friendly upgrade?
I found G6 less expensive for me in my country. However, Im not sure if this will work out as good as ifi zen dac v2.
Please compare this side by side with FiiO K5 Pro
Nice to see this pop up on your channel! I got my Zen DAC v2 & Zen CAN stack when my Heresy decided to blow up.. on day one -_- That Schiit aside, iFi is doing good business! Love it on my 660S & Sundara's, real powerhouse!
Seeing price increases on this, now $189. Does the Atom/Schiit stack become a more sensible buy at this higher price?
I'm really new to this whole audio thing and I don't understand most of the thing said in this video, but I do feel like I need an amp or DAC (whichever applies) to power up my DT 770 Pro 80 ohm as the volume is too low when I plug it to my PC. Is this still worth buying and is all I need?
I'm looking for a headphone amp that has analog IN to use after the GoXLR in my chain (goxlr isn't quite giving enough juice for my HD 6XX).
I previously had a Schiit Magni Heresy but it needs to be repaired and since I live in Canada, it's not worth the money/time to send it back to them for repair. So ideally something I can grab from Amazon.
Any suggestions?
wish you had this vid out about 1.5 months ago, as I'm that far into my 3-4 month waitlist for a Schiit Fulla 4 :(
Going to be real sad when you get it and it bricks itself
Got myself one of these awhile ago and while it's true that the sound quality, Truebass, and etc are amazing, I had to return it for a seemingly dumb reason.
The Zen Dac overrides windows volume controls, and you're not able to control Windows volume through your keyboard/media control buttons.
As I have my PC quite out of reach this is a deal breaker, I change volume frequently and it's a pain to have to stretch to reach the Zen Dac for volume changes. I'm surprised that most reviews don't cover this little nuisance that might or might not be a deal breaker for some.
Also if anyone knows a good DAC or DAC/AMP combo that retains Windows volume controls, hmu as i really need a good option. I know audiophiles all want the volume controls on the DAC/AMP itself for the best sound quality but tbh im mostly listening to Spotify and watching TH-cam and I can't really tell a difference.
Using the DT177x GO for now, planning on splurging on the DCA Aeon Noires soon if I get to save up.
if your source is just spotify and youtube. you probably don't need a more expensive DAC. Just get a decent sounding cheap DAC that works well with your needs. It is pretty common that whenever you use a dedicated DAC, the volume control will be done in the device itself as it overrides your pc. (can't find the right words for it but you get the point) You are using the DAC so it's common sense that the volume will be controlled on the device itself. Why else would they put a volume knob on the device. As for DAC that suits your need, you might want to try a dongle instead. It was my first external DAC, a CX PRO to be exact and it satisfied my needs for a while until i decided to upgrade.
@@evilkamatis542 hey thanks for the answer brother. it's the answer i needed to hear but at the time i was just looking for an excuse to find a higher end DAC to splurge on lol.
As for windows volume control, what you said makes sense but for my specific use case, i really do need my keyboard volume controls (my PC is placed very far away from where i sit, and i have to use a wireless keyboard/mouse lol).
I picked up the Fulla Schitt and it works great for this, still allows windows volume controls and sounds great! Also it's a got a mic input for my PC38x. Maybe this might help someone out there that has this extremely edge case scenario like myself.
THANK YOU for showing a product thats actually available in Canada!
0:53 to 1:00
That just made my day. :D
PS.
Holy cow, dude. Thank you so much for just being honest and straight to the point. Subscribed.
There is one point that I don't understand. What advantage is there in plugging this iFi Zen Air Dac into the mains socket (5V adapter) rather than only via USB into the computer? If I connected this DAC via the mains adapter, I would still have to plug the DAC into the computer's USB port at the same time, so what is the difference or advantage in concrete terms?
Also, I notice that the DC 5V adapter sold by iFi Audio (the "iFi Audio iPower", which is almost as expensive as the price of the iFI Audio Zen Air Dac!) has a function called "Active Noise Cancellation". When I connect only by USB cable the iFi Air DAC in my MacBook, I have no background noise in my DT-900 ProX headphones.
I personally run it USB bus powered always. I have done extensive listening using the ac adapter as well and I can't hear a single advantage in using it. I would skip it if it were me.
Have you tested to see if powering the DAC via USB only consumes more the computer battery ? Because if the power supply is rather outside the computer, therefore in the electrical sector of the wall, the laptop battery should be much less stressed. @@badseedtech
Hello! I just bought a Zen Dac V2 and it does not allow me to control the volume of Windows 10 (on the OS), I can only do it from the Dac wheel. Please could you tell me if this can be modified? I already installed all the software and firmware versions and I couldn't fix the problem. Maybe there is some software or firmware that can fix the problem. thanks!
Hey ladies and gents. I have the soundblaster G6. I primarily game but I want to spend money on upgrading my audio. Would it be worth the $ to go from the G6 to the Zen Dac V2, or rather save some money for a much more expensive set up like the JDS labs element 2? Mic input isn't a problem.
My headphone upgrade path is PC38X --> DT 1990 Pro --> Audeze LCD-GX.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Yeah I think it is, because I bought the G6X about 2 years ago and I returned it because it sounded shouty to me. the EQ presets and software was honestly bad and made it sound bloated or muffled. The other thing I dislike was the audible hissing when using any headphones or iems.
With the Zen v2 you can try and pick and choose which fw you'd like, changes the sound or compatibility on certain things like MQA support or Playstation consoke support. Also works on switch. Overall in my opinion and experience with the two id pick this one any day but make sure to get the power supply as that will improve volume and sound quality a bit further.
I have a Zen v2 in my office at work feeding an Asgard 3. Great little platform to run everything from. The A3 feeds a set of Mackie monitors and I've got the 1/4 inch on the A3, Zen, and the 4.4mm for when/if I have cans with me and want to use them instead.
My Arete fresh reviews have a cable with a 3.5 jack
Should I use a 4.4 adapter of the 6 adapter?
Came for the review; had to comment on the beard! Best beard I’ve ever seen. You’re the beard champ!
I'm new to all this trying to learn. I have a pair of Razer Nommo Pro speakers. They are like the Rolls Royce of the Razer brand as far as speakers go. I also want to purchase a pair of Bluetooth Focal Bathys. I know the headphones already have a DAC inside them. Do I need a DAC/amp for the speakers sake? Can I connect the BT headphones to a BT compatible DAC/amp so everything is connected into one place. If so, any suggestions? I currently have a GSX 1000 and used to have pair of Focal Celestees, but discovered I'm just not a wired guy. Now I'm a bit confused on what to do. I wanna replace the GSX 1000 as well because I purchased it used and there is a weird problem with it where it randomly makes a loud 'thump' sound out of nowhere. The same sound you get when saving settings on it, but in this case it just randomly goes off out of nowhere and scares the shit out of me. I do like have the volume wheel right in front of me though from the GSX 1000. So what equipment would you get if you were in my shoes? Thanks.
iFi says the Zen DAC does work with PS5, but only when powered separately by a 5v power supply.
i know u use the beyerdynamic DT 1990's they have a sensitivity level over 100 which is usually ok to be powered by your laptop or phone (or so im told im a noob so maybe i'm wrong) and i have this in my cart right now along with the headphones would u say i NEED this right now or is this something i can hold off on for a little while?
There is a weird audio volume bump from 120clock to 1oclock on the dial knob, also popping noise when pausing or playing audio and the imaging is off for my headphones that other amps haven’t ruined
Big difference with V1 version?
I'm looking for a dac/amp with this featureset and after a couple days of searching I have noticed that this exact model keeps popping up. I can get my hands on one for a good price so I'm curious how you guys feel about this thing now that it's been two years.
For reference I've been running a Fiio E10k for many years because that was all I could get my hands on back then. My headphones are the DT 770 Pro and the Fidelio X1.
I was able to borrow an old Konnect 6 for a couple weeks almost 7 years ago and it made my DT 770s sound incredible. I've been chasing that dragon ever since.
I've read that many units have had major channel imbalance issues. Has this been resolved now? I'm leery on getting one because of hearing about this.
Hey Brian, love the straight-forward reviews. 18 mo later, is the zen still the great value with a new price of $200 - Any new competetitors you'd suggest?
I also noticed the prices on most of the stuff went up. Have you ordered one? Finding a dac / amp set up is harder than choosing a set of headphones
6:38 mine just starting doing this too and its not even a year old. Cant go past 9 o'clock without static showing up. What gives?
What the the actual advantage of balanced output? I have a X3 DAC/AMP currently (also a Dragonfly Red for music listening and travel) and switch between Tygr 300Rs (any chance of a review of these) and HD6XX (so chill to listen to). Would the balanced output provide any real noticeable benefit for these headphones?
Probably the last device to double down on support for MQA. I know a lot of people who have said they jumped the Tidal ship after Apple released Hi-res audio and Amazon music got cheaper.
im new to headphones , just got the dt 1990 pro and having a hard time understanding if this Dac would work or if like you mentioned its too "difficult to drive headphones" like do these headphones need a stronger dac? cause that Dac seems powerful... and what am i even looking for? is it how many ohms can a dac handle? that lets me know whats or which is necessarily needeed ?
Would this work well with the DT 770 250 ohms? (curious as you mention that this will handle the DT1990 pro)
This vs K5 Pro if you're only using single ended headphones? Great video btw!
+1 on this. I'm actually also curious
Newbie question here, will it be able to power my DT 990 Pro without maxing out the volume, powering by just USB alone? FYI it's impedance is 300 ohms
Zen Air DAC just dropped!
Please review it sir, how it compared to Zen DAC v2 and which one should a beginner go for.
Just a quick correction. The V2 Zen Dac will work with the PS5 but only if you install the latest version of ifi's GTO firmware. Great right? Well the GTO filter basically applies the MQA filter to EVERYTHING you put through the dac. Not ideal. My advice for both the Zen 1 and 2 is to install the Limoncello firmware. It removes all the MQA crap from the dac and opens up DSD256 content (in the event you actually own any DSD albums?)
Where do you get that fw?
Hey man…just ran across your review and liked it. You know your shit and quickly kicked the reviews ass. No wasted words or bullshit. Brevity is impressive. You didn’t say useless shit to prove how smart you are…which shows how smart you are..
Matt in Texas
Would any DAC discussed here make audio coming out of a desktop PC also sound better the same way you say it will make audio sound better coming from the Macbook laptop? I can't figure out if the onboard audio on my motherboard (ASUS Crosshair Hero VIII) is any worse than an external DAC. If I buy a DAC, I want/need to make sure it's going to sound better than my current setup: USB output into 3.5mm headphone jack Y-split out to Left & Right powered M-AUDIO BX5a studio monitors.... so many things to choose from, sheesh!
So is this significantly better than the Fulla Schiit 3? I have that connected to my Philips SHP9500 open-back headphones. Overall seems like a pretty beginner setup. I'm not a huge fan of the Philips, they're relatively cheap & provide okayish audio, but lack bass and a bit of clarity (not sure if that's the right term). I use this setup for everything when I'm using headphones, otherwise I just use my Samsung soundbar if I don't need to use headphones.
HELP. I want to use my old Yamaha integrated amp (1998 vintage) with Polk RTA11-t speakers) again. Is this the best option? Thank you my friend
The situation is like this. I have a pair of earphones SENNHEISER HD560S
, I am using your ifi audio zen dac v2+ ipowerX
I normally use PowerMatch to increase the volume gain~
I usually rotate the volume arrow to the 12 o'clock position ~ about 50%?
But because of the difference in the default volume of the application in windows~ I sometimes have to reduce it to below 50%~ Yesterday, when I turned on tidal, I forgot to set the volume to 25% (I use 25% normally when using tidal) So I played music at 50% volume~ I immediately noticed it and took off the earphones right away~ I heard the high volume for about 0.5~1 second~ but the earphones have played the high decibel volume for at least 3~5 seconds~ Is this? Could it cause my HD560S to be damaged?
You'd be hard pressed to seriously damage the drivers after such a short exposure. Headphone drivers can take way more volume than most of us are ever going to use, so don't stress. If you do notice anything out of the ordinary with the sound over the next 2 days, contact the retailer you bought it from, or Sennheiser, and report the issue if it's within warranty. If you can't hear any difference, they're fine
I have the Beyerdinamic 250 Ohm 990 Pro and Im curious to purchase the PowerSupply for the Zen Dac will I notice any difference ? seems like USB Port is not having enough power to drive this headphones.
I’m looking for a more budget friendly dac/amp I was originally gonna go with the schiit fulla 3. Do you think the ifi Zen dac is a better buy then that? Do you think I should get the v1 zen dac or v2?
If you don’t care about mqa, save ur money and get the “1”
Does this also mean you think I should get the zen dac instead of the schiit fulla 3?
@@hissings if you don’t need optical input ifi is the way to go imo
Shud I upgrade V2 ...seriously or not a major upgrade ...SQ wise..is it wise grossly or only a bit nuances
Hello!
I use Marantz PM 6006 + Dali Oberon 3+ Cambridge dac Magic 100. I listen to Spotify streaming and Flac files from my laptop.
If I sell Cambridge Dac Magic 100 and buy Ifi Zen V2 or Topping E30 (Smsl Sanscrit 10th MKII) do I get more quality?
What do you recommend?
Thanks.
I've recently purchased a pc with Z490 Gaming Edge mobo and Z906 speakers. I've got HD598SE headphones, Astro A40 and I'm considering beyerdynamic 990 Pro.
I mostly use PC for games, then work then music/TH-cam/movies.
Also have PS5 and Series X.
Would this make a significant difference to headphone and speaker sound quality from PC? Console use would be a bonus but admit I love PS5 3D Audio with Arctis 7p already. Thanks for any thoughts!
So if I could afford a schiit stack, should I go with the zen stack or the schiit? Looking for my beginner set up. Sounds like you recommend the zen because of the price and what you get for it
Would you say this is on par or slightly better than the schiit stack?. I bought it in your recommendation but it has developed the knob hiss which is very annoying. I have since accumulated a few planar cans and want to go in further down the rabbit hole.
Can you connect to laptop?
Good for gaming FPS games?
In the case I'm using it with a cellphone (cellphone as my source of music, TIDAL, etc.), will I need to plug to a power suply in that case, or cell will provide enuff power? Thanks
You must use a power supply or your phone battery will drain în a few hours. (5000mah maximum 4hours of tidal with off screen).
@@alexandrub2246 Thanx
You mentioned several headphones that the iFI Zen DAC v2 could handle and I didn't quite follow all of them as you said but could you be more specific about the Sennheiser HD 600S2?
I'm planning of buying an ifi zen dac and a lake people g103-S amp, to drive a pair of dt880 600 ohms. Now should I save up a little more so I can get the zen dac v2 instead of v1?
Btw: What cables do I need to connect the zen dac to an amp? (Also what cables to connect them both to my phone!) And does the amp or dac control the volume, sry I'm new to the audiophile world. Now also I don't want my dac or amp to change the sound profile of the headphones, so does the zen dac do that? Because if so then maybe I should get an soncoz la-qxd1 dac instead, I read that one is neutral.
I pay this or iFi hip-dac 2 ? Please let me know what good quality
Hey, sorry for the noob question, but do I even need a dac if I have a Raspberry Pi Streamer with HifiBerry OS and DAC2 HD Top Hat on it? Would it do any good to me?
Would you recommend the Zen v2 over the Hell 2E paired with an HD 660s ?
I'm a beginner and a lil confused. By getting this do I still have to buy another dac or amp? Or is this a 2 in 1 type thing. I also dont know what the two extra left and right cable things are at the back for so if somebody can explain that would be great
Been hooked since the last 2,5 years on your vids Bryan, awesome review again. I’ve been asking Joshua Valour to do a review of the Topping MX3 DAC/AMP, which I own. It cost just $129. It’s got the same headphone power output as the iFi Zen DAC but also has a built in amp for passive speakers. I’ve got them hooked to some Q Acoustics 3020i’s and a HD58X, and that’s a sub $500 dollar desktop BANGER of a system. Would absolutely LOVE to see a review of them. Cheers from the Netherlands!
Did you happen to test this with PC gaming? Looking to get a pair of DT900 Pro X and can’t decide on a DAC AMP. I don’t need mic input. Is this a good option? Or Mayflower ARC Mini? Something else? Too many choices!
Same problem here did you bought yet? If yes whats your experience so far?
@@jstsxgtzm9440 haven’t gotten anything yet. Put a Schiit Fulla on my Christmas list so I’ll probably just go with that.
No optical audio input is a huge miss imo.
The K5 pro has that and it's old as dirt & in the same price range so for anyone looking for that port the ZenDac is basically non existant.
No excuses for not having it.
I see your point. Would have gone a long way here. I’m not sure iFI even takes gaming into consideration, but they definitely should going forward.
Do you have any gear that’s non-gaming related that would use optical?
Yes, a small blueray player & an older radio unit but all my other optical audio compatible devices are game consoles.
this is true, although how many people actually use SPDIF these days? technically speaking it's inferior to USB anyway, not that there's a noticeable difference between the two, just USB measures slightly better.
@@LyK0sa Having more inputs is not a bad thing and you could conect your PC with USB and a console with optical
@@shanksisnoteventhatstrongbruh more options are never a bad thing, you're right there. I just don't think that it's a deal breaker for that many people, especially given the feature set it already has at such a low price point (especially relevant to the cheaper but basically identical V1, which imo 99% of people should be be looking to buy over the V2)
okay, I'm coming form a generic gaming headset.
I'm thinking of grabbing this dac/amp and pairing it with some DT1990's. Will be used as a bit of an all rounder, I mainly play competitive shooters but also want them for music/general media consumption. Good choice or better headphone options out there? Thanks!
if you have a quiet house then open backs are fantastic for shooters. I can pinpoint exactly where someone is behind a wall when most of my friends can't even hear them (as long as the game has good audio design lmao) you definitely won't regret it especially coming from a gaming headset
I know this video is old but I currently have The LCD GX & VzR Model One and want the best dac I can get right now what would that be no budget
Just got my schit stack last month with my hd58x. Can't say I regret it even after watching this but I will be recommending this amp fax to friends that like my set up but don't want to spend that much.
Might even get my gf this for her bday with a good pair of headphones if that's what she wants.
Looking forward to the next video!
You holding the zen dac like that really puts how big you are into perspective
Hello, I am planning on buying a ifi zen dac v2 and ifi zen can stack for hd600. does it provide enough power to drive it nicely? and is there a big difference if i run a ifi zen dac v2 and ifi zen air can stack or an ifi zen air dac and ifi zen can stack?
It works as expected on mac with apple music hi-res and go up to 192khz. But on iPad, the output fixed to 48khz.
Yeah because Apple
Hey buddy
Im lookin to upgrade my audio setup for playstation5 (maybe in the future pc, so thinking alteady about to buy something for pc as well). Im almost only playing fps and open world. Would you recomment the ifi amp and dac with the beyerdynamicdt 1990 for the playstation? Will that work ? And do i need both? I mens amp and dac?
Kind regards michael
Im trying to get into good audio and with the specs i don't understand the power, will this be able to drive the Sennheiser HD 600 (300 ohm) headphones?
I currently have both a DT-880 (80 ohm) and an HD599. I have been eyeing a Hifiman HE-400se as an expansion. For a long time I have been looking at a Schiit Hell ass a simple, all in one, DAC/Amp (especially as it also has a mic input, and a 3,5 out for powered speakers). However, it hasn't been in stores in the european store in over 2 years. Which sucks, so I have been eyeing alternatives, and my eye fell on the Ifi Zen as it gets praise for being an entry level DAC/amp. But I am scratching my head with how it treats powered speakers (does the output switch off when you insert a headphone like the Schiit does?) and is it powerfull enough to drive the low sensitive Hifimans (at 91 dB/w)?
You can check the specs on their website. I think it goes up to 112db
Any1 know if I can plug basic speakers into this as well as headphones at the same time? My speakers just use 1 3.5mm jack rather than a left and right jack. I currently have the Sound Blaster X4 and love how I can switch between my speakers and headphones easily. Wondering if it's worth upgrading to this or not.
How would this do for running a Mac Mini into a stereo receiver? Also, any recommendation for an Apple app to use for playback? My biggest issue is that it must play gapless. Enjoy your stuff!