Outstanding Bundle: Desktop DAC and Headphone Amp Tailored to HiFiMAN Headphones
The iFi ZEN DAC Signature V2 desktop DAC offers an even greater, purer listening experience than its predecessor. Just like the original, its sole purpose is to feed an external amp, be it a headphone amp, or an amp and speakers.
Unlike the original, the V2 model has a 16 core XMOS chip instead of an 8 core chip. This new and improved digital engine is more powerful than ever. iFi also upgraded the clock circuitry to enhance the purist audiophile design even further. Enjoy music without any distortion or coloration.
This special bundle from iFi pairs the iFi ZEN DAC Signature V2 desktop DAC with the iFi ZEN CAN Signature HFM Headphone Amplifier tailored to HiFiMAN headphones.
iFi ZEN DAC Signature V2 Desktop DAC
The ZEN DAC Signature V2 incorporates boutique parts and circuitry inspired by the £3,000 iFi Pro range. It sports a fully symmetrical, true differential balanced dual-mono signal stage with direct signal paths to ensure optimal signal purity. The new low jitter crystal clock delivers >20dB better noise reduction. The ZEN DAC Signature V2 will remain quiet wherever it’s used. Outstanding components including C0G capacitors from TDK, Panasonic OS-CON, and ELNA Slimic II capacitors complete the design.
A ‘Bit’ Special
The ZEN DAC Signature V2’s digital stage retains its True Native DAC architecture. It delivers Bit-Perfect audio up to 32-bit/384kHz and native DSD up to DSD256 as well as DXD. The iFi-programmed XMOS chip, which processes data received at the USB input, and jitter-eradicating, audiophile-grade oscillators, contribute to exemplary handling of digital audio signals as they are received, processed, and converted to analog form.
16 Core Means More
MQA is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. Thanks to the processing power of the new 16 core XMOS chip, the ZEN DAC Signature V2 is now a full MQA decoder, which enables you to play back MQA audio files and streams. The LED glows green or blue to indicate that the unit is decoding and playing an MQA stream or file, and it denotes provenance to ensure that the sound is identical to that of the source material. It glows blue to indicate it is playing an MQA Studio file, which has either been approved in the studio by the artist/producer or has been verified by the copyright owner.
Confidence-Inspiring Connections
You can trust in accurate, jitter free data transfer from your source device. The USB Type B input is asynchronous, meaning that the data rate is regulated solely by the ZEN DAC Signature V2’s specialized, and now upgraded, audio clock circuitry.
The full benefit of the ZEN DAC Signature V2’s balanced circuit design can be heard when connected to an amp or active speakers equipped with a balanced input. This can be either a 4.4mm balanced input, or stereo XLR inputs via a 4.4mm-to-XLR cable. A pair of RCA jacks provides a single-ended connection to an amp and a balanced 4.4mm output enables balanced signal transfer between compact products that cannot accommodate traditional, bulky XLR connections.
Crucial Combo
The ZEN DAC Signature V2 works well with both the iFi ZEN CAN Signature 6XX and the new ZEN CAN Signature HFM model. When used together, the two ZEN Signatures make a fantastic, desktop-sized headphone system for both digital and analog sources, further extending the reputation of iFi’s ZEN Signature Series for delivering exceptional performance and versatility at remarkable prices.
iFi ZEN CAN Signature HFM Headphone Amp
The original ZEN CAN, iFi's all-analog headphone amplifier, had the ability to drive tough headphone loads with a balanced circuit design, vanishingly low levels of distortion and exceptional sonics. The ZEN CAN Signature 6XX pushed this design even further with sonic tailoring specific to the MassDrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX headphone.
Now iFi has finely tuned a brand new ZEN CAN Signature to work with HiFiMan headphones – the ZEN CAN Signature HFM. This custom ActivEQ setting is expertly tuned across the entire frequency response curve to bring out the best in these already remarkable headphones.
iFi's ActivEQ
iFi's ActivEQ feature combines active and passive components to create a specific EQ curve to suit a particular pair of headphones. This is performed in the analog domain without adding any additional noise or distortion. The ZEN CAN Signature HFM features an ActivEQ finely tuned towards HiFiMan's planar headphones.
HiFiMan headphones offer remarkable transparency and present wide-open sound staging. The ZEN CAN Signature HFM enhances the texture of the deep bass and injects more immediacy into the upper mid-range.
One EQ, Many Models
Pressing the HFM button on the ZEN CAN Signature HFM calibrates its signal to complement the headphone's response characteristics right across the frequency range. This then tunes its performance to work with HiFiMan headphones.
Excellent results are found with the Sundara, HE-4XX, HE-400S, Edition X, HE-5 headphones to name but a few. As with previous ZEN CAN Signature models, this feature can be switched on or off. Without ActivEQ engaged, the ZEN CAN Signature V2 HFM's performance is cleverly balanced to bring out the best in all other headphones and in-ear monitors.
Gain, Gain and More Gain
The ZEN CAN Signature HFM has four gain settings in six dB steps – 0dB, 6dB, 12dB and 18db. iFi calls this PowerMatch. It enables the amp to precisely suit the connected headphones. Unity gain (0dB) is useful to ensure low noise with sensitive in-ear monitors, while the higher gain settings make the most of tougher headphone loads, delivering excellent dynamic headroom.
Nothing Beats Balanced
The ZEN CAN Signature HFM's circuitry is a balanced, symmetrical dual-mono design – a topology usually reserved for high-end headphone amps – with a number of key elements trickled down from the discrete Class A circuitry developed for iFi's flagship headphone amplifier, the Pro iCAN. Key components have been upgraded to enhance performance in line with the improvements made to the ZEN CAN Signature HFM, including the use of Panasonic OS-CON and Elna Silmic II capacitors.
Stay Connected
The ZEN CAN Signature HFM offers stereo RCA and 3.5mm single-ended inputs, plus a 4.4mm balanced input. There is also a 4.4mm balanced output so you can connect to power amps equipped with a balanced input.
There is a pair of headphone outputs – a 6.3mm output for headphones that have a standard single-ended connector (compatible with all headphones) and a 4.4mm balanced output for headphones offering balanced connection.
An increasing number of high-quality headphones and in-ear monitors either come so equipped or give the option of detaching the cable and upgrading to a 4.4mm balanced connector, and this output makes the most of them (it is particularly recommended for high-impedance headphones).
