Special Sounding Audiophile Dac Amp - Ifi Zen Dac v3 Review

[@JTB--]

XBass is the magic sauce in the IfI DAC/Amps.

[@ryanhostudio]

fun button activated

[@gdemirjian]

Love your videos. The Zen DAC series is best as a DAC/Preamp to a more powerful, more neutral amp. It has a balanced pre-out and the X-Bass and gain are fun to use in variable out mode. It is designed with Burr Brown to add to its tube-like sound characteristics. I had a Zen DAC V2 in line with my SMSL SH9 feeding my HD8XX and it was a uniquely wonderful experience with the X-Bass engaged.

[@ryanhostudio]

yeah the variable mode to send xbass to an amplifier is pretty sick trick to get bass boost on other amps!

[@ikaruga24]

This sounds like the solution i have been looking for all along. Could you please give a bit more info on that? Is this available only on the V3 version of the Zen DAC or does it exist in the entire series? I own the V1 Zen Dac for nearly 5 years now and i am loath to replace it because of the Xbass feature. My LCD2Cs are just pure magic with a balanced cable and the Xbass enabled. I can't turn it off. It is THAT kind of fun. With this feature being able to be "transferred" to another amp for more power (the LCD2C could benefit from that) perhaps i don't need to replace the Zen DAC and i can add something on top of it instead. Do you happen to know anything at all about this?

[@gdemirjian]

@@ikaruga24 The variable/fixed switch in on the back of all versions of the Zen DAC. Switch to variable and all buttons and knobs will work through the amp it is connected to.

[@ikaruga24]

@@gdemirjian Oh shoot! That simple? And to think i never even thought about this option! Thank you, the V1 has this feature so i will be using that for sure now.

[@topandrun126]

I had tried the ifi gryphon and love the way it sounds . I returned it because I find it did not have enough power to drive my headphones and i wish it had a desktop mode like some fiio so you don’t need to play on battery all the time you can bypass the battery if you want. Love that feature.

[@ryanhostudio]

yeah the ifi gryphon is definitely featured pack! I guess if you wanted unlimited power than it’s the ifi diablo for sure. Bypass battery would be nice to preserve the longevity of the battery!

[@topandrun126]

@ryanhostudio thank you I will check it out

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

they have different smoothness in their sound, their unique signature sound

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

so as 64audio and jhaudio

[@ryanhostudio]

yeah that smooth sound!

[@6643bear]

It’s great that they brought w got on/ off switch . Regards mark

[@audie-cashstack-uk4881]

Fiio k11 comes today cannot wait

[@ryanhostudio]

i wanted to review it because it looked really nice but apparently fiio already had enough reviews of it out so i didn’t get a chance

[@Bobthebuilder2235]

Hi, i have a 560s will this help wtih gaming/footsteps (for counter strike) as opposed to me onboard mobo audio? I have 0 idea about DAC's

[@ryanhostudio]

@@Bobthebuilder2235 hi it can make a small difference for sure, makes things better separated

[@Bobthebuilder2235]

@@ryanhostudio can you reccomend me one? I think I would want an amp/dac in one?

[@Cupcake-xw9jy]

would u recommend the zen dac v3 over the hip dac3 for gaming?

[@ryanhostudio]

Yeah the zen dac was made for desktop use makes more sense than portable hipdac3

[@Cupcake-xw9jy]

@@ryanhostudio Does it have a risk to damage my iems? thats why I was looking into the hipdac

[@nw6066]

New hifiman ef 499 is interesting to compare with this unit. Or even ef500 with more expensive dac/amp !

[@ryanhostudio]

wow they made it even more affordable curious to try it

[@miroslavpaulovic17]

If ZEN DAC 3 sounds more warm, that means treble are lower present and bass higher present? i want this DAC, but i want better trebles too, not lower. I have Audinst HUD MX2 now.

[@ryanhostudio]

yeah something like the topping dx3 pro+ is a little more neutral

[@miroslavpaulovic17]

@@ryanhostudio if i pairing some bright headphones with ZEN DAC 3? something like sennheiser HD600/660S2 or beyerdynamics DT 990/1990PRO. I prefer ifi manufacturer before Topping.

[@stiven_ph8656]

Can i use the usb type c @ the back as a audio source using android?

[@Grzegorz-j9q]

Yes

[@dentboxhero1717]

I picked up the Signature V2 instead.

[@ryanhostudio]

@@dentboxhero1717 good

[@rajasankar1245]

Feeling like sponsored video by ifi

[@ryanhostudio]

i wish i do this for free unfortunately, ifi only send me it to review and i send it back

[@jjphoenix4055]

Sabre dacs are all CRAP! So you can have your tiny uno and leave me with my zen dac v3 and ifi idsd neo 2. Your opinions are utterly irrelevant to me.