The Zen Air DAC from iFi enables euphony fans similar maine to watercourse high-resolution integer files successful the champion quality. For example, euphony streaming services similar Tidal, Qobuz oregon Deezer connection a monolithic enactment of euphony digitized successful the champion prime possible. However, turning each those digits into glorious euphony you tin bask with headphones oregon an audio strategy needs a DAC (digital-to-audio converter).
The iFi marque present offers an implicit bargain successful the signifier of the Zen Air DAC, a superbly affordable small container of electronics that tin crook integer euphony files into superb analog audio. The Zen Air DAC tin straight thrust a brace of headphones oregon beryllium connected to a accepted audio strategy utilizing modular RCA phono connections.
As good arsenic handling the modular PCM integer files up to 384k, the Zen Air DAC decodes bit-perfect versions of DXD, and DSD files up to 12.4MHz. This clever small instrumentality renders MQA files, the high-quality integer euphony files arsenic streamed connected Tidal’s fantabulous Masters recordings.
MQA stands for Master Quality Authenticated. It’s a exertion that folds euphony into compact integer files promenade capable to watercourse easy portion inactive retaining the nuance and quality of the archetypal maestro portion recordings, conscionable arsenic it was intended to beryllium heard erstwhile it was mixed successful the studio.
The Zen Air DAC renders alternatively than unfolds MQA. An MQA ‘renderer’ similar the ZEN Air DAC (and, indeed, astir MQA-compatible DACs) performs the last unfold; the anterior stages are performed by the bundle moving connected the computer, tablet oregon smartphone.
A DAC that offers ‘full MQA decoding’ gives the enactment of performing each signifier of the unfolding process successful the DAC itself. The adjacent exemplary up successful the iFi scope – the ZEN DAC V2 – offers afloat MQA decoding, arsenic bash the different much costly models successful the iFi range. Full MQA decoding requires much processing powerfulness than basal rendering.
The Zen Air DAC is simply a compact instrumentality astir the aforesaid size arsenic a paperback book. Its ammunition is made of high-quality polycarbonate alternatively than metal, similar the much costly Sen models. There’s a ample measurement knob connected the unit’s fascia, a 6.35mm headphone jack, a Power Match fastener and a power that turns connected the XBass+ feature. An LED connected the fascia alters colour to bespeak the benignant and prime of the integer record being decoded. For example, the LED turns purple erstwhile an MQA record is being rendered.
At the rear of the portion there’s a stereo brace of RCA phono sockets for connecting to an amplifier. A USB-B socket is besides included for hitching the Zen Air DAC to a computer, smartphone oregon tablet. The portion tin usually tally with USB power, but a 5V powerfulness proviso whitethorn beryllium needed erstwhile utilized with definite smartphones oregon tablets that don’t person capable powerfulness to thrust the Zen Air DAC. The powerfulness proviso isn’t included, but a suitable benignant is casual to find connected Amazon.
So wherefore would you privation to bargain a Zen Air DAC? Why not usage your machine oregon smartphone to play euphony from your favourite streaming service? The abbreviated reply is the Zen Air DAC represents a monolithic upgrade from the benignant of soundcards recovered successful astir computers oregon successful the audio output signifier of astir smartphones.
At the Zen Air DAC’s bosom is an XMOS 16-core processor that feeds a Burr-Brown DAC to decode integer signals. The analog output from the DAC includes an OV2637 OP-amp, a constituent taken from the much costly models successful the Zen range, which person ultra-low distortion. Even the components utilized successful the Zen Air DAC see high-end TDK C0G ceramic capacitors. In different words, you’re getting a spot of a bargain here.
As already mentioned, determination are a mates of buttons connected the fascia of the Zen aerial DAC. The Power Match fastener alters the headphone output for listening with high-impedance headphones that request much powerfulness to play astatine an acceptable volume. The 2nd fastener is the XBass+ power which is simply a small similar a loudness fastener connected an amplifier and provides much bass heft erstwhile needed.
Now let’s determination connected to the dependable quality. I’m going to commencement with my verdict. The Zen Air DAC is 1 of the champion DACs for the wealth I’ve ever heard. Yes, you could compression a spot much show from a integer watercourse if you paid overmuch much for a high-end DAC, but I deliberation astir radical would conflict to archer the difference.
I tested the portion with Al Stewart’s Year of the Cat medium streamed arsenic a PCM record and MQA from Tidal’s Hi-Fi Tier subscription. For my money, In my opinion, Tidal is inactive the best-sounding of each the streaming services. I emotion its inclusion of MQA files and acceptable up a unsighted trial betwixt the PCM and MQA versions of the album; the MQA won hands down, adjacent though the Zen Air DAC lone renders alternatively of afloat unfolding MQA files.
The wide dependable from the Zen Air DAC is creaseless and mellow but inactive with the indispensable onslaught and wound erstwhile needed. The dependable consecutive from the headphone jack is stunning and fulsome. I tried respective headphones, from inexpensive dynamic types to custom-fit IEMs. The results were fantabulous and it’s bully to spot that iFi has utilized an analog measurement power alternatively than a integer assortment that tin degrade quality.
Verdict: The iFi Zen Air DAC is simply a superb small device. The mode it handles and decodes astir integer files with poise and elegance is genuinely astonishing astatine this terms point. You could walk overmuch much connected a high-end DAC, but for astir radical who privation to watercourse euphony from a machine to a brace of headphones oregon a euphony system, the Zen Air DAC is simply a genuine bargain. The instrumentality would beryllium perfect for usage connected a table portion typing distant astatine a machine oregon connecting a PC oregon Mac to your hi-fi system. At this price, you can’t spell wrong. Highly Recommended.
Pricing & Availability: The iFi Zen Air DAC is disposable present and costs $99 / £99 / €99.
More info: www.ifi-audio.com