Ifi Zen Air DAC Review - What does $100 get you?

The ifi Zen Air DAC promises some serious performance in both sound quality and feature set. So at $100, is it a good buy?

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#ifi #headphones #hifi

[kibikibikom]

Does this sound the same as ifi zen dac v2?

[eichelbergergary]

very nice review. I bought this to use with desktop PC use to loudspeakers for digital music library. It works great and I am very happy with the purchase. Thanks for addressing the firmware update issue; i had to do the same and it works perfectly now, eliminating the sound delay issue.

[shankrl]

Thank you so so much. I just got the 660S and holy shit the "DAC" problem has given me a day of researching do I need one, what one etc, wish I found this video first. Thanks :)

[hakerk]

I've bought this amp for my beyerdynamic dt 770 pro 80 ohm. Amazing amp. I was missing bass in my headphones and this amplifier made the picture completely balanced for me. At first it seems like there’s a lot of it, but then I get used to it, and now I don’t want to listen my music without it. Also I was missing volume, this problem also solved.
Using this amp with XBass and Power Match buttons always on, and turning off for rare tracks.
Mainly using my setup for listening music, while working on macbook, like: jan blomqvist, boris brecha, artbat. Also trance, hip hop, d&b.

Thank you so much for your review and recommendation!

[peter]

Hi, first of all, thanks for the review! Now I'm looking to buy my first dac/amp and I'm looking at either this Ifi Zen Air Dac or the FiiO K3s (New K3). They are both 100-. Don't know if you have used the K3s but which one would you say is better?

[PrototypeOnyx]

How does this stack up to the Topping DX1?

[eoe]

Does that work for a bayerdynamic 1990 Pro & 1770 Pro?

[chronicmayhem]

The Zen air and Uno are $20 apart, which do you suggest between the two?
I use Sennheiser 560s, and mostly game and watch videos.

[Raichi-]

I have this thing, and it is my best purchasing for audio gear!
I realize that in this hobby, maybe I can change headphones so many times but I don't need to change DAC AMP frequently. That is why I bought this because it can drive my HD660S which is my favourite headphone ever!

[euso]

Is it worth it to upgrade to this DAC from the Sound Blaster Omni? I use a Sony MDR 100AAP and an AKG K240 mk2. My biggest issue with my Omni is that the output impedance is 19 ohm, which might interfere with the frequency response

[joshbatt]

Hi Joe, I looking to upgrade from the Astro a40 tr with the mix amp pro. I've heard a lot of rave about the Penrose for having the best sound but I have also heard it has its fair share of issues. Do you have any recommendations for headphones below $500 that have the same sound or better sound than the Penrose for gaming?

[shaunbrady]

Does it come with the 6.3 to 3.5 adapter?

[fredmacattack]

How does it work for gaming headphones?

[vladtheinhailer]

@4:48 I came to your video SPECIFICALLY to see if the Ifi Zen Dac could power my Sennheiser HD560S headphones and you confirmed it will! TY sir.

[catalin]

Newbie here, with the RCA out, if I leave me speakers plugged in but at 0 volume on the knob, not effectively turned off since that can't be done, will it affect the power to the headphones?

I want to get this for my 6xx as well as having a one cable solution for both my laptop and pc when swapping over from one to another.

[vc]

Joe, I may have missed this answer. Perhaps not. Does the front panel volume control (knob) also adjust the volume level on the RCA output(s)?

[cringekid]

I bought this and paired with 560s and I really like the quality of sound. Sometimes I hear some popping sound but its not always. I went from cloud 2 to 560s with this dac and feels my audio game is in another level.

[totidokkan]

will my bayerdynamic 900 pro x ( 48 ohms, 100 sensitiviry) benefit from that? I know that many ppl have high ohms headsets so I'm wondering my case

[danielh]

Hi Joe, I'm looking to get a setup together, speakers + amplifier, headphone amp + dac and at some point upgrade headset. I feel like you're knowledgeable about all these. Are you at all familiar with the dx3pro+? Been doing my research and it seems a lot of people agree it's a buy once and never look back type of thing which appeals to me. If you are familiar, do you consider it to be a superior purchase for an extra 100 EUR?
I'm going to be building some Overnight sensations speakers (seems super fun), buy a cheap amp (aiyima a07) and am thinking of a headphone amp with DAC to use for the speaker DAC and headphone amp. I'm currently using the closed back h6pro for gaming (gsx300 bundle, excellent review btw), will look for a good set of openbacks later for more immersive games and music listing. I'm enjoying the h6pro and will just keep those for the excellent mic and good sound in my multiplayer games :)

[rupertpallett]

I'm having trouble getting my Ifi Zen Air DAC to work, do I need a streamer?