iFi ZEN Air DAC Black Version – Premium High-Res Audio DAC with 6.3mm Output & MQA Playback (Black Version)

Just got mine today, sound is FULL & ALIVE, No worries about the presumed noise from not using overly expensive power supply, I have zero noise, although i am not a headphone user, nor will i be, i have quality, large 3 way bass reflex speakers, along with vintage sony amp, which are linked to my PC tower, not a gamer, only interested in Music sound, not a gamer. Read in one review that noise can happen if too many usb ports are in use, well I am using most of mine, yet zero interferance, thankfully. can't imagine ever having to climb higher up the price ladder with regard to quality music sound, now that i have this device. Super simple connection using supplied usb cable & in my case 2 RCA cables from my amp into the unit, i have previously always used twin phono from amp to a single 3.5 jack to system/sound card, already had twin phono to twin phono , so no need to buy anything. Had to restart PC for couple of my music players (Pot player + WMP) to output sound. Cannot imagine anyone requiring the bass boost, this device is FULL sounding. Had been looking at various expensive sound cards which are said to be a bit iffy with drivers, so very pleased to have opted for this gem at a 3rd the cost. Full, clear, well defined sound, yet smooth, no harshness at all, Fabtastic! Update since having it a few days:Although playing music fine i would keep getting Aidio rendered error when clicking on youtube videos, which i new was relating to the unit, as i'd previously never encountered that & having to restart computer to remedy the problem as suggested is just a nuisance i wasn't prepared to put up with, after searching online about it & pottering around i realized that changing usb port solved it, for a time, but came to conclusion that usb cable simply wasn't sufficient for the unit so opted to buy a 5v power supply & as i had no intention of paying for the high priced recommended power supply, got a basic one here on Amazon for £5.99, i had read that others had used a basic unit also with success, it arrived lastnight and all was well, no noise or anything, however i got up this morning and had no sound at all? even though it was working fine lastnight, i opted to troubleshoot sound on my win11 & after a couple of steps it opted to Reinstal driver which had it working again, so im not Positive i required the power supply, but feel better having it & hope this info is of use if anyone encounters similar. Really superb clear full sound, i've found myself playing lots of songs in my collection i hadn't for some time, as they all sound so Alive and renewed now, music enjoyment is greatly elevated:) Whatever you listen to. Well, yet another update, it seems that my issues were relating to win11 speaker properties/system, where you must deselect Exclusive box, or it will not allow more than 1 device to output sound, which is why i was getting an error attempting to play youtube video, when music was playing, also need to select highest audio output of 38400hz, as windows will default to far lesser output, so it now seems power supply was not required & usb would have been fine & not the cause of my issue. Does anything ever go smooth:) jeez

I spent ages deciding wether to buy another hifi separate cd player or to move into the 21st century and get a DAC. My old Technics CD player was really good but I hadn’t used it for a long time and when I recently plugged it in it finally decided to start skipping and jumping. I thought the way round this would be to carefully clean the laser mechanism which I did. Sadly it didn’t make any difference. Even though the Technics was in first class condition it had this fault and I tried everything to sort it out to no avail. So at that point I was faced with the choice of buying a new CD player which would cost me between £250-£400 or biting the bullet and moving over to the new way of working. I looked at lots of price tags from the sort of £60 small metal box gadgets up to the sort of £500 semipro range and for my purposes I decided I only wanted to spend up to about £200 so again having reviewed the market, I decided to make the move buy this particular model. I’m so glad I did because the sound quality is absolutely mind blowing. It’s fantastic and far better than I ever remember my technics CD player being. The other good thing is that I can play my PC games using this device as the sound processing unit. Now whilst the DACs and the electronics on motherboards are okay most of the time for a lot of people, if you want to move to a really, really high end sound you need to buy either a very good soundcard, which itself can cost between £200-£300 or an external device like this particular model. So, that was the two things I needed - high-quality CD rips and excellent sound for PC based gaming. So this device fitted the bill 100% for both I and I can’t complain at all at the price of £99. It is amazing. So what do you get for £99 well basically in the box there’s a few stickers some super small printed instructions. A guarantee card a QuickStart guide the dac itself and probably the shortest USB cable that’s ever been produced. I was expecting a fairly decent, but nothing out of this world unit and to be honest I wasn’t disappointed because if you imagine a small sky Q type box which is very very well made that’s the sort of thing you get yes it’s plastic but it’s extremely nicely put together. It’s got a lovely volume control knob which is spun aluminium the sockets are gold plated it looks really good even though it is plastic so when you hold it it’s got a nice dimpled tactile feel and everything about it feels high-quality apart from the material which high grade is plastic. The unit itself is a lot smaller than I expected. It’s about 6 inches long by about 4 inches deep and an inch and a half high. It sits on your desk and it’s so small you can forget about it so if you are short on space, this is the perfect unit for you, but don’t let that make you think it’s not really good because it is. I love it as I said sound quality build quality both brilliant it plugs in it just plays no configuration needed. Literally USB goes into PC and in my case RCA outputs straight to my hi-fi amp and it works instantly I didn’t have to do a thing. Windows 11 automatically recognised it and set that up as my new audio device and it’s just a case of turning up the volume knob and time Bobs your uncle so really, really love it everything about it is perfect if I had to knock any marks off it would be like half a mark or maybe a bit less for the USB cable that is included it is so short, it’s about a foot long, which for all intents and purposes is pretty useless so my advice would be if you can. Id buy this unit by a USB cable at the same time. It’s not a standard do a bit of research get yourself a decent USB cable, and apart from that you should be cooking with Gas! Also, the device has something called extra-base which is like a low frequency boost but it’s not muddy. It’s really solid. It gets the base pumping and it worked across a range of music types so that kind of sealed the deal for me. I certainly will be hoping this thing lasts me for a long long time. Not sure how long the guarantee is probably only 12 months but if it stays as good as it is now I’m going to have a happy time with this unit enjoy!

Excellent device that runs from USB power to provide proper HiFi sound from MacBook, iPhone, etc. Use with ordinary wired headphones plugged in to get Dolby Atmis Spatial Audio or connect to HiFi amp.

I have an A320M motherboard with a DAC that is sub-par and an amp that doesn't make my HD560s's loud enough, even though they have such a low sensitivity. This DAC/AMP solved that issue as it gets loud without power-match and ear deafeningly loud with it on while having no noticeable distortion. The XBass+ is a cool feature to have especially with songs that seem to lack the low end on open back headphones like my 560s. It does however produce audible distortion in vocals on some songs that already have a good low end presence without it on like "All of this" by Jorja Smith. Haven't experienced clipping sound or the DAC going to "sleep" as mentioned by other comments. I am using the latest drivers on IFI's site and the 7.4C firmware with the GTO filter(cant really hear much of a difference though from how it was before I installed any firmware). The volume knob feels really sturdy and the build quality is decent even though it is plastic. All in all, very satisfied with the product!

This Headphone amp/dac is well build and feels nice to hold the quailty of the sound is top notch. While the input selection isn't great for it. I got it primarily for my PS5 to output to headphones, Mixer and Studio monitors. It does what it needs to and I can't recommend enough. When it comes to audio needs for PC/Gaming or just general audiophile stuff. Do you're research before buying. Little PSA for anyone when I got this I plugged straight into my PS5 and work straight away and I would suggest getting a difference USB B type as the one that comes in the box is extremely tight and I've read horror story of the ports being damaged. I had an hold Premium cable laying around and used it with no issues but Please do source an alterative to the one that comes with it. There is no power connector with it and will power of USB with no issues

A real upgrade to an onboard PC DAC, and much more detailed & energetic than any budget DAC. You will only hear the benefit with top end headphones or a very precise amp/speaker setup. My PC's DAC is great for general high quality sound, but the Zen Air allows my audiophile headphones to work at their full potential when listening to the best sound files.

I suffered the same problems as a few other buyers here, namely - 1. Click/ pops/static when changing songs and between songs..also on pause. 2. Slow to change songs and cutting off beginning of songs when skipping tracks. 3. Disconnects when PC resumes from sleep mode (you have to physically unplug DAC and plug back in). I wasted a full day messing around with various firmware versions after reading suggestions from other users facing similar problems with this model on different audio forums. I came to the conclusion (as these issues have been ongoing for a year or two now) that this is unlikely to be sorted by firmware updates. To me, it seems like it's probably a hardware problem...it just doesn't seem to be properly shielded from all the noisy components you find in a PC, even though it's external). So why not 1 star then? Well, iFi are aware of the problems with this model and they handled the refund to my satisfaction without delay. Good customer service in that respect..but a product that maybe shouldn't have made it past quality control in it's current state?

Where do I begin. When I put my computer to sleep and turn it on again, the DAC isn't recognised and I have to unplug/plug in the USB cable again. The quarter inch jack at the front is terrible quality, I have to finesse the headphone jack constantly to get a full, clear sound. Otherwise one ear will be silent or the whole sound will be muffled. There is TONS of electronic whine and noise, this thing isn't shielded well at all. If you jack up the sound to drown out the whine, the sound quality is decent. Overall though, I like this thing less than the old unit it was supposed to replace. If my return window hadn't just closed, I'd want a refund. Oh well...

Any of these are going to greatly improve the sound over plugging your headphones directly into the mini-jack on a computer. Listening was done with a few different headphones but mostly with beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X Closed-Back Studio Headphones. Music source was a laptop connected to the DAC/Headphone Amp via USB. If an external power supply was included, I used that. If not, power came via USB. I've kept notes on my impressions brief and included comparisons amongst the DAC/Amp's in this list. They are listed below in my order of preference with my favorites at the top. If you want flowery vocabulary I'm sure in depth reviews are available out there on the web. Headphones make the greatest difference in sound - spend more on them, if necessary. The DAC/Amp is secondary but does add its own flavor to the music. --- iFi Zen DAC V2 | Desktop Digital Analog Converter (Listening only with "TRUEBASS" off.) Very good. Slightly better than the FiiO K7. Better vocal clarity and slightly fuller bass. I ended up comparing this with the FX-Audio DAC-X6 head to head, which continued to surprise me as I put it up against significantly more expensive competitors. Across several hours and many pieces of music, I prefer the iFi... but the difference is infinitesimal. Possibly the iFi has a little more punch to the bass? Maybe a bit more space ans separation? If you're working to a budget, get the FX-Audio and put the extra cash towards better headphones. FX-Audio DAC-X6 Mini HiFi 2.0 Digital Audio Decoder DAC This thing is good. Surprisingly good. I ended up putting it head-to-head with amps costing three times its price. Slightly warmer sound, with slightly less detail in the vocals than the iFi Zen Air, but more space in the music, and more enjoyable to listen to. Slightly better clarity than the Topping. FiiO K7 Full Balanced HiFi DAC Headphone Amplifier This is indeed better than the K5 version. Vocals are more lifelike. And a particular emphasis on the mid-treble heard in the K5 is absent. There is more separation between the instruments. Very close call with the iFi V2, with my preference going to the iFi for better vocal clarity and slightly fuller bass. iFi Zen Air DAC Not quite as good as the V2, but close. Closer than the FiiO K5 is to the K7. There is, again, a comparative emphasis in mid-treble and the vocals get a bit lost. The sound is slightly thin compared to rivals at this price point. FiiO K5 Pro Headphone Amps Portable Desktop DAC and Amplifier Not quite as good as the K7, but at half the price one cannot really complain. Vocals are not quite as lifelike and there is more mid-treble - but not in a good way. Topping DX1 Mini Stereo DAC Headphone Amplifier Combo Very good little unit. Bass is slightly overemphasized. Fosi Audio K5 Pro Gaming DAC Headphone Amplifier I thought this unit was DOA. Turns out that you must long press the volume knob to turn it on. (Short press to select input.) Not terrible, but not as musical as the others in this test. Also, the only one with bass and treble knobs. And only a mini-jack - no 1/4" jack. Pro-Ject Head Box S2 Digital This DAC/Amp had an issue that makes it unlistenable. The sound is very nice... but... there's some faint static. Only in the music, not in silence. A faint crackling.... Can't have that.

D'une simplicité enfantine à mettre en service, cela ne sacrifie en rien la qualité incroyable de ce DAC. Étant habitué à du matériel très haut de gamme (très cher) , je suis surpris par les capacités hors normes de cet appareil au regard du prix planché. Il va révolutionner votre façon d'écouter les sons qui sortent de votre ordinateur. Aussi bien en jeux qu'en musique (streaming qualité HIFI). Associé à une petite paire d'enceintes actives aux alentours des 250€, le résultat est ÉPOUSTOUFLANT. La musique est ciselée, avec une dynamique impressionnante et pas un souffle. Même mon épouse à fait Wouah. Elle en veux bien pour son ordi portable maintenant. Passionné de Hi-Fi depuis 40 ans, je doit dire qu'au vu des éléments matériels utilisés sur la carte électronique, il n'est pas étonnant d'obtenir ce résultat. Mais l'obtenir à ce tarif, quel bonheur. N'hésitez plus. Si votre budget est serré, vous n'aurez pas mieux. Après comptez 800 à 1000€ pour passer au dessus, avec plein de fonctions que vous n'utiliserais jamais. Commandez avant la rupture... Ce sera peut être pour vous l'introduction au monde incroyable de la Hi-Fi 'High end'.

Perfect for the iPad

El IFI Zen Air DAC High Res tiene un sonido detallado, musical y natural. Las sibilancias de las voces, cuando las tienen, se suavizan. La imagen estéreo es coherente y equilibrada. No he escuchado, ni la falta de graves, ni las interrupciones entre canciones a las que hacen referencia algunas reseñas (quizás esto sea debido a no tener actualizado Windows o los controladores de audio). Nada más conectarlo el ordenador te lo reconoce, aunque halla que entrar en la configuración de sonido, hacer clic dos veces sobre altavoces IFI HD USB Audio y luego entrar en opciones avanzadas para seleccionar la velocidad de muestreo de 32 bits y 384000 Hz. En definitiva, un muy buen DAC a precio muy competitivo (99 euros) y que mejora ampliamente el sonido del ordenador aunque lo escuches en MP3. Para acabar, aconsejaría que si el DAC lo tenéis conectado al equipo de música y los agudos os suenan chillones o estridentes, incorporéis unas ferritas (filtros EMI), dos por cada cable doble, de la medida correspondiente al calibre del cable justo antes de la entrada de los altavoces. No os lo penséis, si necesitáis un DAC asequible y de calidad este es el indicado. Además llegó muy rápido, al día siguiente. En contra diría que la voz se oye más clara e inteligible en el DAC Magic 100.

同社のスティック型USB-DAC「GO link」が素晴らしい製品でしたので、PCオーディオ用に 据え置き型DACを検討しておりました。 結論から申しますと、これまた素晴らしいの一言(￣▽￣)・・・上を見ればきりがないですが、 比較的求めやすい価格帯でこれだけの高音質を実現できる技術力には、たいした耳を持って いない私でも感心してしまいます。 音楽や映画だけでなく配信動画であっても、粗末な録音状態でもなければとても自然でピュアな 音を出してくれます・・・動画主が目の前で話しているかのような錯覚も何度も体験しております ので、きっと私の環境だけの現象ではないと思います。 目に見えないベールを1枚剝ぎ取ったような、くっきりとした輪郭のある音に変身します。 使用スピーカーが13年も前から愛用しているパワードスピーカーのONKYO GX100HDで、 この機種はまだハイレゾという言葉もないような時代にアナログRCAの他に24bit/96kHz デジタル入力端子と光同軸入力端子を装備した国産PCオーディオの最先端を走っていた モデルと記憶しております。 故にバランス接続ができないため、ZEN DACではなくアナログ接続のAIR DACで充分と 判断して購入しました＾＾ もともとノイズ（可聴できる）とは無縁のスピーカーでしたが、AIR DACを介してさらに 透明感が増し淀みのないとにかく澄んだ綺麗な音を奏でてくれます。 ヘッドフォンはAKGのK701とオーテクのATH-AD900Xを所持していますが、ヘッドフォンの 鳴り具合も良いですが、スピーカーの音はさらに繊細な深みと切れ味があり圧倒されました。 それまでとの大きな違いはボリュームを絞ったとき、小さな音でも明朗に聴こえること・・・ 環境にも左右されるでしょうが、明らかに今までより小さく絞った音量でも耳で聴き分けられます。 「音が良くなった」という表現よりは「音が澄んだ」という感じ・・・高品位化したとでもいう のでしょうか・・・もの凄く自然でピュアな音がはっきりと耳に届きます。 まったくの無音の状態からいきなりパッと目の前で音が鳴り広がる感じ・・・澄み渡った空間から 突如湧き出る音の波・・・なんだかスピーカーが１ランクアップしたようで嬉しいですね＾＾ 購入と同時に、USBケーブルをエレコムのオーディオ用のものに、スピーカーにつなぐRCA ケーブルをモガミ2534に変更し、ついでにフェライトコアを主だった電源ケーブルにつけて 様子見をしてきましたが、私の総合評価は★5つ・・・大変満足しております(≧◇≦) 昔からオーディオはノイズとの闘いとよく言われておりますが、今回AIR DACにつないでみて そのことがよく解りました・・・故に、最初からホワイトノイズを発生するスピーカーは論外 だとも思います・・・今でもGX100HDを使い続けてる理由もそこにあるのですが。 良いことばかりではなく私の環境ではひとつだけマイナス面が・・・ 現在進行形で私の使用しているキーボードのメディアコントローラーというボリューム調整 機能が使えなくなってしまったことは痛かった・・・何気に重宝していたので＾＾；・・・ 最新のドライバーを入れても直らなかったので、今のところは音質とトレードしたと諦め ております・・・いつか修正して欲しいなぁ～ Xbass＋の機能はかなり効きます＾＾・・・リスニングではなく映画鑑賞などに特に お勧めです・・・迫力が映画館に近くなります。 今までBlu-rayプレイヤーで使っていたシアターモードなどは無理やり感があって、あまり 好きではなかったのですが、このZEN AIR DACのXbass＋を通してだととても自然でまさに シアター並みの迫力を演出してくれます。 私の使用しているPCスピーカーは全面にバスレフポートがあるタイプなのですが、例えば 爆破シーンなどでは部屋の中に風が舞います＾＾；・・・たった10cmのウーファーがビリビリ 躍動し、バスレフポートから信じられない量の風が巻き起こり、思いのほか冷たい風が吹き 抜けていくのです・・・もう13年も使っているスピーカーなのですが、今更の新発見なのでした。 しかし、ヘッドフォンの場合はモノによっては低音が歪む可能性もありますので、そこは 注意が必要です・・・レベル調整ができないのが残念なところですね＾＾； AD900Xは問題なかったのですが、K701ではソースによって歪が発生してしまいましたので、 映画鑑賞などはAD900Xが受け持ち、音楽鑑賞はK701という使い分けに落ち着きました。 メーカーが公式で表記している【ノイズをすり抜けて「Air」の中で呼吸しましょう】を 私の環境では体感できました・・・入門用据え置き型DACアンプという位置付け？ いやいや、私はもうこれで充分満足ですよ。とても優秀なUSB-DACだと思います。 私はこれ以上の高音質を聴き分けられるような聴覚は持っておりませんので、沼にはまり 込む前に、ZEN AIR DAK最高！と称賛させていただきます。 バランス接続端子を持たない古めのアクティブスピーカーをお使いの方には特にお勧め したい逸品でございます(￣▽￣)業界屈指のコストパフォーマンスです！ ・・・参考になれば幸いです。