ifi Zen Can - MORE POWER!!!

I'm a big fan of iFi's Zen DAC V2, but can the Zen Can refine it's sound further. With a meaty output stage, it certainly promises to deliver more power for high impedance and inefficient cans such as the hifiman planar magnetic Sundaras. But can this class A amp offer A-grade performance?
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[AudioFixation]

Sorry for the mis-edit (is that a word?) - was watching the Olympics whilst editing 😁

[xxGSSDxx]

This video cleared my confusion if i needed the can, but for my usecase the DAC V2 is more than enough. thank you. :)

[RayCabrera]

Great review, as someone who owns the IFI Zen Stack Signature edition. Listening to both Sennheiser HD 6xx and Hifiman Sundara on them is a just great experience. I love the smooth rich sound I get from them and that bass button on the Can, it gives it just the right amount of bass needed when you want that extra thump in you music. Love this stack.

[Simon-frts]

Thanks for the review, I randomly purchased both of these (great price) to replace a failed old USB iBasso D2+ Boa DAC/AMP to power my old HD650's. I have to say, I am impressed. The power is more than enough, it really brings my old headphones alive. I am glad I got the Zen Can though, it makes a difference and I love the Xbass, so much better than the Truebass on the Zen Dac V2. I tried the 3D, but not impressed. Zen Dac V2, Zen Can and HD650 with Xbass is a great budget winning combo for me.

[Feemy]

6:33 I have this stack and Sundaras too. Using it with a pentaconn interconnect as opposed to RCA. Looking at your gain settings, I have it on the same (+6dB), but I notice your volume knobs are on 8 o'clock position for both the dac and amp. For me that is VERY low volume. I have to have Zen Dac at 12 o'clock and the Can at 2 o'clock for the Sundara to get pretty loud. Wondering how you got the volume output so loud at those volume settings in the video? 🤔

[paulwoaert]

The main difference between the iFi Audio DAC and CAN is that the CAN offers subtle levels to boost bass and sound amplification. With the DAC you only have one choice of bass boost : it’s sort of all or nothing. Whereas with the CAN you can increase the bass in a nuanced way. The same goes for increasing the volume. With the DAC the amplification button increases the sound significantly, but if you find it too loud you can’t modulate it (unless you don’t use this boost). With the CAN you can increase the sound amplification in degrees (6dB, 12dB or 18dB), you are not condemned to “loud or nothing at all”. Another point: when the volume is significantly high, the sound seems to me to maintain the same quality of definition, it seems less compressed with the CAN (a bit like high impedance headphones of 250 or 600 ohms which, compared to 32 ohm and even 80 ohm headphones, maintain their same richness and avoid saturation or compression). However, on let's say normal volume, the difference between the Zen DAC and the Zen CAN is far from obvious.

[scottd]

Great review and straight to all the points I was interested in knowing. I too have the Sundaras and about to grab a Zen CAN to add to the DAC V2. Oddly enough, I have also been thinking I need to grab some 650s!

[babaker]

Have you ever thought about listing albums / tracks that you are using for testing. I know you mention them in the video and that they are your personal taste but now that I am addicted to Apple Music I am always looking for suggestions. Thanks Love your channel.

[GeorgeWPush]

@2:23 Can you clarify what you mean about it not being a preamp? If im going out to an amp, when would I need preamp outs?

[m-zurowski]

Thank you man - wait, no -THANK YOU MAN for making this video!

[SubhobrataSarkar]

Thank you for the advice, i already bought the zen dac an i am soon to buy a HD650

[Justhavocman]

Hello, great review. Got a bit of a question for you, I am in a tiny pickle you see. I currently own the Zen Dac v2, there's a pair of Edifier R1280DB (rca back) and DT990 (6.35 front) plugged in. I am thinking of getting the Zen Can to make the Dac/Can stack but from my understanding i'd lose the rear out for my speakers since everything will be powered by the Can (connected to the dac via the 4.4mm balanced cable on the back). Is there a work-around to this?

[DurvalLacerda]

What those two accomplish together? What's the difference between using only one or only the other?

[manuchaves]

one question can I use the zen can and connect it as you say to a Topping D10s DAC with RCA cables and then I want to connect my headphones to the zen can with a balanced cable, will it work? and this zen can give me enough power in volume at 100% to my hifiman he400se with balanced cable? with the configuration I just mentioned.

[paulwoaert]

For use exclusively with headphones (in my MacBook Air M2), is the Zen AIR Can less efficient than the Zen CAN ? For example, is the XSpace function of the AIR equivalent to the 3D function of the more expensive Zen CAN ? The problem with the AIR version is that it does not include the RCA cables or the electrical adapter block (the 2 are included in the Zen CAN box). My intention is to connect the Can or Can AIR in my Zen DAC Air.
I would also like to know how is long the cable of the power adapter is included with the Zen CAN, this is an important detail for me.

[jk]

Im confused why would i need one over the other?

[donnydan]

Can someone help me to choose between ifi DAC or AMP for beyerdynamics 250ohms ?. i can only afford one of these. i watch at 09:47 that ifi DAC can provide up to 80% of performance out from your headphones. but can it really power up my 250ohms headphones if only using Zen DAC ?. sorry i still confused, maybe i missed smthing here ?.

*note: i use my headphones for daily works like video editing and gaming. and also i am more into treble and detail sound rather than big heavy bass lovers.

[andrehb]

Very informative, thank you. I'm beginner on a budget seeking a quality, entry-level DAC -- which I will use with my laptop-connected amplifier + speakers, very rarely with cans if at all (though having the option w the Zen v2 is a nice bonus) . With that in mind, do you think the Zen v2 is sensible purchase? Also considering the Modi 3E. Any thoughts at all would be appreciated, thank you

[edenight]

Hey, I was wondering about the zen can as an upgrade my pair of sundara, so thank you for your opinion. Did you try the balanced output to compare the can and the dac? I wanted to know if there was any audible differences :) (and about the se vs the balanced output of each device) Thx again for the review

[taipan]

Hi, superb review - thanks 👍👍
Did you ever manage to test the Zen stack with the DT990 600 ohms? I have and although I feel the volume was quite ok, I thought they struggled a little with bass and aren't as dynamic as they could be... I tried the stack with hifiman hs400se and they were no problem to drive and sound great but I'm not convinced you're getting 100% from the Zen stack with the Beyers. Any thoughts? Thanks again...