(The Simplest Desktop and Gaming Audio Solution) ifi Zen DAC 3 - DAC Discussions

In a world of extravagant and convoluted audio solutions the ifi Zen DAC 3 arrives to make things simple. The Zen DAC 3 is an all in one DAC amp package that will upgrade any desktop or gaming audio. As simple as plug and play can get, and sporting an elegant build, the Zen DAC 3 might bring a new level of expectation to the market.

Affiliate links (This supports the channel, but you have no obligation to use)

**Want to participate in the live chat?**
Check the Twitch link below for the live stream schedule.

Follow on Twitch:

Follow on Twitter:

Gaming Channel:

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
1:05 The Build and Interface
5:31 Specs and Features (Pay Attention Gamers)
6:45 What's in the Box?
7:54 Sound Performance

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
#audiophile #headphones #reviews​ #zendac3 #ifi @iFiaudiochannel

[samuelviden]

I just got mine last week. Drives my Sennheiser HD 800 S really well in balanced mode, and the Xbass+ feature perfectly fills out the sub bass regions, especially for music. Fantastic for gaming as well ❤❤❤

[bentobox]

Still rocking my v1 since pre-pandemic days. The cable is too damn short but it's been old reliable for almost 4 full years. Super portable and drives a HD600/MDRZ7 well.

[mxracing]

Will this work well with the Sennheiser hd660s2 for gaming on pc ? Thanks 🎉

[mxracing]

Hi I have the Sennheiser hd660s2, I’ve just recieved this dac and wondered is it recommended for low gain or high gain with my headset, and also the balance port or the other, thanks in advanced, 🎉

[paulwoaert]

I understand the criterion of an easy plug & play, affordable and quality dac/amp.

For my part, I work with the iFi Audio Zen AIR dac / iFi Zen CAN (amp) duo. The Zen CAN (which I connect by RCA to the Zen AIR dac) adds greater clarity than the Zen Dac alone, its sound seems slightly less compressed I find. The multiple gain settings of Zen CAN, and the one increasing the bass, are more subtle (less radical) than those of the Zen DAC. But I have never tried the version 3 of the Zen DAC you are talking about.

I use my Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro 250 ohm headphone mainly (after many tests with Mezze, Sennheiser, or other Beyerdynamic models). Mainly with my MacBook Air M2. Note that the headphone outputs of MacBook AIR since M2 and M3 (so since 2022) are all compatible with high impedance headphones (I can confirm this myself) and the sound of these internal DACs of MacBooks is already extremely good and well defined, without even needing external headphone amps.

Furthermore, if we compare these affordable transistor amps with those that work with tubes, or even better if we compare them with those like the Massdrop Cavalli Tube HYBRID CTH (released about 5 years ago) which offer the advantages of both the tube and the transistors, what would be the difference ? The tube, they say, is said to create more sound warmth with tube or hybrid amps (= tube + transistors).

Coming back to the iFi Audio Zen DAC 3, there is also a lot of talk about the JDS Labs Atom DAC and Amp stack in its brand new version 2 which, it is often said, has the advantage of authenticity because it does not add anything to filter or embellish the audio source (as Fi Audio does) and has almost no distortion even at high volume. what do you think ?

[humain_humain]

So how is it compared ton GC7 or G8 or X4 for gaming ?

[mynamejot]

Thinking about ordering the zen dac v3 to pair with my Sundaras with a balanced cable. Do you think ill need the CAN stack to properly drive my planars? or should balanced mode on this be enough?

[arkl]

i have sound blaster g6 and ill buy hd660s2 it worth to upgrade to this dac? for better high bass?

[ryder]

If i use this with IEM for gaming do i need an AMP? or its better to get an dac/amp

[letscherletscher]

I have the previous version of it, but I want to switch to another model that allows me to switch between headphones and active speakers.

Is there a model that doesn't necessarily have to be iFi, but I would like the same quality? I was pleasantly surprised when I switched from the Fostex HP-A4 to the Zen DAC 2 with my Sennheiser HD 560S.

[ezrahsenseii]

I got mine today, pairing it with the beyerdynamic dt 900 pro x. 😁

[Hugo-ouce]

Great review! Quick questiong what is the output impedance?

[RaiOshynnCat]

These are starting to get interesting. I'm probably looking at it the wrong way but is it possible for something like this or the portable versions you've shown previously to work with a car stereo?

[Lukabuka]

is it possible to use a scarlet 2i2 with this as in hook them up together

[araya]

is it worth upgrading over the Zen dac v2?