Within, the ZEN DAC certainly belies its budget pricing, and not simply by virtue of that balanced topology. In practice the ZEN DAC's maximum (headphone) power output can only be guaranteed with an external PSU because computer USB hub reserves can vary quite widely. Color zen alternative upgrade#You could use a simple plug-top PSU (such as that provided with the ZEN Blue DAC), with such devices available online for around £10 or so, but iFi Audio also offers two upgrade power supplies, the iPower and iPower X, at £49 and £99 respectively. The USB connection also carries 5V power for the ZEN DAC but there's a separate DC input on the back of the unit should you wish to upgrade with an aftermarket 5V/500mA supply. The sole input here is a USB 3.0 Type-B socket, of the 'double-decker' kind rather than the smaller USB 2.0 square design more common on USB DACs, and a suitable A-to-B cable is included. Also on the front panel are the headphone outputs comprising a standard 6.35mm unbalanced connection or a 4.4mm 'Pentaconn' type for balanced headphones. Most users are more likely to use the ZEN DAC's entirely conventional unbalanced RCA outputs that can be set to fixed or variable, the latter under the control of the front panel knob. Indeed, iFi Audio's preferred analogue output is the tiniest connection here, a little 2.5mm socket on the rear panel that can be broken out into a pair of balanced XLRs via a suitable (third party) adapter cable. Actually, make that triple functions as, due to its variable-level analogue outputs, it could even be used straight into a power amp or a pair of active loudspeakers, hilarious though the combination of this tiny unit and a hulking great power amp might seem. Indeed, the ZEN DAC stands just 30mm tall.ĭespite the toy-like dimensions, this is actually a potent and flexible digital device, both in its handling of data and its ability to fulfil its dual functions of DAC and headphone amplifier. They're clad in high-quality aluminium casework that not only looks good but feels remarkably substantial for products so compact. Color zen alternative Bluetooth#Built for desktop use, both the ZEN DAC and its Bluetooth counterpart, the ZEN Blue have a striking look unlike anything else in the company's range. Sitting at the 'even more affordable' end of the iFi Audio range, the compact ZENs show that building down to a budget doesn't mean the company cuts corners, whether on the engineering or industrial design. The most recent arrivals are the tiny pocket-sized hip-dac (£149), designed for music on the move, and the very affordable ZEN models, including the £129 ZEN DAC that we have here. It includes the striking-looking bamboo-clad, architect-inspired Aurora all-in-one network system alongside no fewer than eight DACs in the lineup. Headquartered in Stockport, Merseyside, and using a number of outside consultants as well as its own team to design and engineer its products in the UK, these days iFi Audio has expanded its catalogue, which now runs to some 30 components. After all, its excellent xDSD, was a 2018-19 EISA Award-winner, following on from the 2014-15 winning footsteps of the nano iDSD. And if anyone was labouring under the delusion that these were devices designed to tackle non-existent problems – you know, the old 'digits is digits' thing – the company has since expanded into making everything from complete systems to some of the most cost-effective DACs and headphone amps around. We've come a long way since iFi Audio was started as an offshoot of high-end brand Abbingdon Music Research, building its initial reputation with its 'Purifier' products, designed to clean up digital signals. With its eye-catching looks, flexibility, solid engineering within and a remarkably grown-up sound, this entry-level DAC from iFi Audio is a conspicuous hi-fi bargain
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