Your presentation is fantastic for me, so incisive, so intuitive just pleasure to follow every word , specially as I am familiar with both ifi combo (non HFM) and hifiman headphones. Bravo!
I had a Zen Can for a while and I really enjoyed the features and sound it shared with ifi’s larger, higher priced amps. Unfortunately, it did not like my Bifrost 2 and would only connect half the time so I returned it. I have and love the Aryas so not sure if this would give me much but I may still try it out for novelty with the thought that possibly my original Zen Can was just defective. Good stuff 👍🏻
I found I had to use additional EQ to get the bass I like. I decided to keep it and use it mainly via the rca connected to my Note 10+. It still has plenty of power that route.
Hi, I always ask to you when I need a suggestion. I have this combo with Sundara Headphone and I am really happy with the result. I also have the ifi Diablo and I'm quite happy with the result as well. I would like to upgrade the headphone to the next level buying the HE1000 Steath V3 but I am afraid my gear will not be able to make me appreaciate the headphone quality difference between the Sundara and the HE1000 Stealth V3. What do you suggest me? Sitting with my Sundara or giving a try to the HE1000 Stealt V3? Will my gear make me appreciate the higher leel of HE1000? Thanks again for your kindness in answering me. Alessandro.
HE1000v3 is actually a really good pick for a headphone that has great performance on less expensive and less powerful gear, but then scales up even more with a top end DAC and amp. You won’t get the best out of HE1000v3 with your current gear, but it might let you get the absolute best that your setup is capable of.
Thank you very much! You are always very helpful! Which can be the hifiman headphone model that brings out the best from my equipment and also my equipment brings out the best from the headphone itself? In few words the max value/quality hfm headphone model that makes sense to buy with my equipment? Arya stealth could be? Congrats again for your channel
I think it general it's aiming at the same target, but they're slightly different. I find the ZEN Signature to actually be a little more neutral/reference overall, while the Pro iDSD Signature is more lush in its presentation.
Hi, I have the Hifiman Edition XS and already a dragonfly cobalt as DAC. I am in between buying the ifi can signature or topping dx3 pro+ as DAC/AMP. Do you have any recommendations?
I'm considering this combination. I want to know do you think, this will mellow out the treble on the Sennheiser 800s or older 700s? I own the Hifiman he-400is and I'm currently testing out the Ifi Neo idsd.
Thank you for this video. Do you think there are better options in the same price range to drive Arya or the difference between this stack and more expensive dac / amp are marginal driving the Arya specifically? As per your comment in the video it seems you didn't like the Arya with this stack as much as you might have liked with other options (expensive ones or in the same price range). I appreciate your clarification about this specific point. Thank you again.
In this price range, this would be my pick from what I have heard. As far as more expensive options, while it sounds great on its own, comparing the ZEN CAN Signature to something like a Burson Soloist or SPL Phonitor SE, there's a sense of a bigger wider sound from the higher priced amps which makes the ZEN CAN feel a little congested by comparison and lacking in clarity by comparison. With DACs, the Arya is capable of "scaling up" very well, and can reveal so much detail in recordings, so again, there's a clear difference in the level of detail provided, and the sense of resolution between the ZEN Signature and standalone DACs costing upwards to $1000 or more.
I am thinking of getting this Zen Signature stack or a Schiit Jotunheim 2 (with the new improved ES9028 DAC module). Any idea what might be the better choice? (for Arya stealth)
They're basically the same. I think the Signature does like 0.1V more than the standard or something pretty small. These should have no problem with the new Arya's.
hey, so its possible to use the Zen Dac V2 with the Signarure Can HFM? Would that make a difference? I am using right now the newer Arya Stealth with the Zen Dac
So the ZEN DAC Signature is an upgrade on the ZEN DAC V2, but yes, you could definitely pair this with a ZEN CAN Signature for comparable performance to the ZEN DAC V2, less the balanced connection.
There are other internal improvements that iFi doesn't clearly list out to bring the ZEN CAN Signature in line with the other Signature models. I think it's essentially higher quality components, but with the same circuit layout, more or less.
hey I watched your video and manage to get them . but do you notice a tick sound when you change settings from HFM to XSpace and when HFM+XSpace to off ? Same goes to powermatch from 18db to 0db ?
I have noticed a very subtle audible sound when switching modes, but I didn't find it particularly bothersome personally. If it is causing an issue, you might want to reach out to iFi and see if the level of "tick" that you're hearing is expected and within the spec.
Yup, same with the zen dac, it will output on both balanced and single ended output at the same time. Variable mode is your best bet if you want to attach speakers to it.
There's definitely a bigger difference in the sound between the two versions of the ZEN CAN than the ZEN DAC V2 vs Signature V2. While I hear stronger resolution in the DAC Signature V2, and it's sound signature leans more towards a reference tuning, the ZEN DAC V2 should pair nicely with the ZEN CAN Signature HFM.
Hey, so the only really HIFIMAN specific aspect of this stack is the HFM filter, and without it, it still provides really strong performance. My only concern would be whether or not the 0dB Powermatch setting would be low enough output to run the IEMs without any hiss.
@@BloomAudio I see. I understand the product better now. Thank you for the explanation. As for the hissing, I intend to go to my local audio store to try
Your presentation is fantastic for me, so incisive, so intuitive just pleasure to follow every word , specially as I am familiar with both ifi combo (non HFM) and hifiman headphones. Bravo!
I had a Zen Can for a while and I really enjoyed the features and sound it shared with ifi’s larger, higher priced amps.
Unfortunately, it did not like my Bifrost 2 and would only connect half the time so I returned it.
I have and love the Aryas so not sure if this would give me much but I may still try it out for novelty with the thought that possibly my original Zen Can was just defective.
Good stuff 👍🏻
Hi there. Could you comment if you are satisfied with Arya sound and this combo, in case you have tested already? Thank you.
Great rundown!! Thanks for this, just got my Zen DAC SIgnature V2 today, haven't decided on a new amp yet so this was very helpful!!
Cheers!!
I found I had to use additional EQ to get the bass I like. I decided to keep it and use it mainly via the rca connected to my Note 10+. It still has plenty of power that route.
are these worth the upgrade over the Zen Dac V2?
Hi, I always ask to you when I need a suggestion. I have this combo with Sundara Headphone and I am really happy with the result. I also have the ifi Diablo and I'm quite happy with the result as well. I would like to upgrade the headphone to the next level buying the HE1000 Steath V3 but I am afraid my gear will not be able to make me appreaciate the headphone quality difference between the Sundara and the HE1000 Stealth V3. What do you suggest me? Sitting with my Sundara or giving a try to the HE1000 Stealt V3? Will my gear make me appreciate the higher leel of HE1000? Thanks again for your kindness in answering me. Alessandro.
HE1000v3 is actually a really good pick for a headphone that has great performance on less expensive and less powerful gear, but then scales up even more with a top end DAC and amp. You won’t get the best out of HE1000v3 with your current gear, but it might let you get the absolute best that your setup is capable of.
Thank you very much! You are always very helpful! Which can be the hifiman headphone model that brings out the best from my equipment and also my equipment brings out the best from the headphone itself? In few words the max value/quality hfm headphone model that makes sense to buy with my equipment? Arya stealth could be? Congrats again for your channel
Does the Signature Dac sound like the idsd Signature ? Are they meant to share the same characteristics ?
I think it general it's aiming at the same target, but they're slightly different. I find the ZEN Signature to actually be a little more neutral/reference overall, while the Pro iDSD Signature is more lush in its presentation.
Hi, I have the Hifiman Edition XS and already a dragonfly cobalt as DAC. I am in between buying the ifi can signature or topping dx3 pro+ as DAC/AMP. Do you have any recommendations?
I'm considering this combination. I want to know do you think, this will mellow out the treble on the Sennheiser 800s or older 700s? I own the Hifiman he-400is and I'm currently testing out the Ifi Neo idsd.
Thank you for this video. Do you think there are better options in the same price range to drive Arya or the difference between this stack and more expensive dac / amp are marginal driving the Arya specifically?
As per your comment in the video it seems you didn't like the Arya with this stack as much as you might have liked with other options (expensive ones or in the same price range).
I appreciate your clarification about this specific point.
Thank you again.
In this price range, this would be my pick from what I have heard. As far as more expensive options, while it sounds great on its own, comparing the ZEN CAN Signature to something like a Burson Soloist or SPL Phonitor SE, there's a sense of a bigger wider sound from the higher priced amps which makes the ZEN CAN feel a little congested by comparison and lacking in clarity by comparison. With DACs, the Arya is capable of "scaling up" very well, and can reveal so much detail in recordings, so again, there's a clear difference in the level of detail provided, and the sense of resolution between the ZEN Signature and standalone DACs costing upwards to $1000 or more.
Thanks for the video. Please could you confirm if the zen dac signature v2 comes with 7.2 or later firmware? Regards
I have a SMSL M500 and sundara... should I get this one?
I am thinking of getting this Zen Signature stack or a Schiit Jotunheim 2 (with the new improved ES9028 DAC module). Any idea what might be the better choice? (for Arya stealth)
Jotunheim 2 is a better amplifier overall.
Is there any power/current difference between Zen Can V2 and V1, can these drive the new Arya's with 94 db sensitivity?
They're basically the same. I think the Signature does like 0.1V more than the standard or something pretty small. These should have no problem with the new Arya's.
hey, so its possible to use the Zen Dac V2 with the Signarure Can HFM? Would that make a difference? I am using right now the newer Arya Stealth with the Zen Dac
So the ZEN DAC Signature is an upgrade on the ZEN DAC V2, but yes, you could definitely pair this with a ZEN CAN Signature for comparable performance to the ZEN DAC V2, less the balanced connection.
is the normal zen can just the same as the signature can? with just EQ button for hifiman HP?
There are other internal improvements that iFi doesn't clearly list out to bring the ZEN CAN Signature in line with the other Signature models. I think it's essentially higher quality components, but with the same circuit layout, more or less.
@@BloomAudio how do you compare them in sound tho? Thanks for the reply!
hey I watched your video and manage to get them . but do you notice a tick sound when you change settings from HFM to XSpace and when HFM+XSpace to off ? Same goes to powermatch from 18db to 0db ?
I have noticed a very subtle audible sound when switching modes, but I didn't find it particularly bothersome personally. If it is causing an issue, you might want to reach out to iFi and see if the level of "tick" that you're hearing is expected and within the spec.
Can you output from the dacs balanced and single ended at the same time? Say, I had the balanced running to the dac and the RCA's to powered speakers?
Yup, same with the zen dac, it will output on both balanced and single ended output at the same time. Variable mode is your best bet if you want to attach speakers to it.
how different is dac v2 vs dac signature v2? and would the dacv2 work good with zen can signature HFM?
There's definitely a bigger difference in the sound between the two versions of the ZEN CAN than the ZEN DAC V2 vs Signature V2. While I hear stronger resolution in the DAC Signature V2, and it's sound signature leans more towards a reference tuning, the ZEN DAC V2 should pair nicely with the ZEN CAN Signature HFM.
@@BloomAudio TY .. just ordered the Amp through bloom
@@nukert658 Awesome! Thanks!
@@BloomAudio I have the Zen DAC v2. I'm thinking of getting the HFM bundle. Is that a waste of money. Should I just buy the HFM Sig CAN?
@@nukert658 Hey, how is it? Did the CAN Signature make a difference in sound quality? Did you pair it with the normal Zen Dac?
By the way, even I bought 4.4mm interconnect from Ali, 20$, it is so much better than my World Best Cable Mogami RCA.
As someone who does not own any HifiMan products, should I still consider this stack? I intend to use mainly IEMs via 4.4.
Hey, so the only really HIFIMAN specific aspect of this stack is the HFM filter, and without it, it still provides really strong performance. My only concern would be whether or not the 0dB Powermatch setting would be low enough output to run the IEMs without any hiss.
@@BloomAudio I see. I understand the product better now. Thank you for the explanation. As for the hissing, I intend to go to my local audio store to try