iFi Audio ZEN Signature V2 Set - DAC / Headphone Amplifier

iFi Audio ZEN Signature V2 Set - DAC / Headphone Amplifier

The ZEN Signature V2 set by iFi Audio comprises of the ZEN DAC Signature V2 and your choice of the ZEN CAN Signature 6XX or the ZEN CAN Signature HFM. Both ZEN CAN options perform excellently with any headphones, but the 6XX has a function designed specifically for the Sennheiser HD 6XX headphones, while the HFM version has a function designed for use with a range of HIFIMAN headphones.

What iFi Audio say

The Zen Signature Set comprises of both the Signature V2 DAC and your choice of the Signature CAN 6XX or HFM along with a high-performance 4.4mm Pentaconn cable (worth £69.00) to connect them together. When used in tandem, the two ZEN Signatures make a fantastic, desktop-sized headphone system for both digital and analogue sources, further extending the reputation of iFi’s ZEN Series for delivering exceptional performance and versatility at remarkable prices.

iFi has reworked the award-winning ZEN DAC and ZEN CAN to create step-up Signature versions delivering even higher levels of performance, alongside an associated ‘crowd design’ initiative.

Sporting a smart new livery, the 158x35x100mm aluminium enclosure is finished in deep Space Blue – the colour iFi uses to differentiate special Signature editions of its products – rather than the grey finish of the regular ZEN Series devices. This is complemented by dark grey front and rear panels (silver-coloured on the standard versions) and blue controls. The differences, however, are so much more than skin-deep.

The new Signature edition DAC takes the original ZEN DAC's excellent platform, removes the headphone amp stage and upgrades the fully balanced circuitry to create a DAC for those who wish to maximise pure sonic performance in return for an additional £120 outlay.

The new Signature edition ZEN CAN 6XX and HFM further improve sound quality with enhanced circuit design while maintaining the versatile features of the ‘regular’ version and adding something special– a custom EQ setting precisely tailored across the entire frequency response curve to make the most of popular headphone models.

Features

• ZEN DAC Signature V2
  
• Enhanced, purist audiophile design
• End-to-end True Differential balanced circuitry
• Fully balanced 4.4mm output desktop DAC/ preamp
• Full MQA renderer up to 32bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256
• Boutique high-end components
• Simple functionality
• ZEN CAN Signature 6XX or HFM
  
• ActivEQ is an exact match with the HD 6XX headphone
• End-to-end True Differential balanced circuitry
• Adjustable gain to match other headphones
• XSpace analogue headphone spatialiser
• 4.4mm balanced output

Pure DAC

In comparison to the ‘regular’ ZEN DAC, the Signature edition is a specialised, purist design. Without the built-in headphone amp, its sole purpose is to feed an external amp, whether this is a headphone amp or an amp and speakers. This simplification of its circuitry provides the opportunity to upgrade the signal path and critical components within it; while the existing ZEN DAC introduced the benefits of fully balanced circuit design at an extraordinarily low price point, the Signature edition further ups the ante with its enhanced true-differential balanced topology.

Various key surface-mounted circuit components have been upgraded to high-end devices, including Panasonic OS-CON and Elna Silmic II capacitors, while the circuit has been refined to ensure short, direct signal paths for optimal signal purity. This results in even greater sonic detail and expression.

The ZEN DAC Signature’s digital stage retains the True Native DAC architecture of its award-winning sibling, delivering bit-perfect PCM (up to 32-bit/384kHz), native DSD (up to DSD256) and DXD, plus MQA – the hi-res streaming technology, as used by Tidal’s ‘HiFi’ tier. The sample rate of incoming audio data is indicated by a multicoloured LED residing behind the aluminium volume control

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 analogue form.

Connectivity

Aside from the removal of the integrated headphone amp and associated front-mounted outputs, the Signature edition’s connectivity is the same as the regular ZEN DAC. The USB Type B input supports the ‘SuperSpeed’ USB 3.0 standard, as well as USB 2.0 for backwards compatibility. It is asynchronous, meaning that the data rate is regulated solely by the ZEN DAC Signature’s specialised audio clock circuitry for accurate, jitter-free data transfer from the source device.

Alongside the USB input is a stereo pair of RCA sockets for single-ended connection to an amp, plus a Pentaconn 4.4mm output – this relatively new interface type enables balanced signal transfer between compact products that cannot accommodate traditional, bulky XLR connections. When connected to an amp or active speakers equipped with a balanced input – either a 4.4mm Pentaconn input, or stereo XLR inputs via a 4.4mm-to-XLR cable – the full benefit of the ZEN DAC Signature’s balanced circuit design can be heard.

As with the regular ZEN DAC, the Signature edition’s outputs can be switched between ‘variable’ and ‘fixed’. The variable setting applies volume control to the audio signal, enabling the ZEN DAC Signature to act as a preamp to connect directly to a power amp. The fixed option bypasses the volume control, fixing the output at 4.2V (balanced) or 2.1V (single-ended) for connection to an external preamp, integrated amp or active speakers with their own volume control.

Dynamic Duo

The ZEN DAC Signature was designed alongside the ZEN CAN Signature, meaning optimal performance is available when used in tandem. Connect both ZEN Signatures with a 4.4mm Pentaconn cable and benefit from the true differential balanced topology for exceptional performance and versatility.

ActiveEQ - made-to-measure equalisation

This new feature, called ActivEQ, combines active and passive components to create a specific EQ curve to suit a particular pair of headphones, performed in the analogue domain without a hint of added noise or distortion. The first Signature model, the ZEN CAN Signature 6XX, features ActivEQ for the ‘Massdropx Sennheiser HD 6XX’ – a popular pair of high-quality headphones (more than 120,000 sold to date) based on the Sennheiser HD 650 and created exclusively for Drop.com. These headphones are renowned for the quality of their midrange performance but exhibit some quirks in the bass and treble regions, which can be seen in frequency response measurements.

When the ‘HD 6XX’ button is pressed, the ZEN CAN Signature 6XX calibrates its signal to complement the headphone’s response characteristics right across the frequency range, thus tailoring its performance to precisely fit the HD 6XX like a made-to-measure suit. The benefits of this ActivEQ curve are equally applicable to Sennheiser’s HD 650 headphones, which share the same sonic characteristics. This feature can be switched on or off; without ActivEQ engaged, the ZEN CAN Signature 6XX’s performance is adroitly balanced to make the most of all manner of headphones and in-ear monitors.

Fully Loaded

ActivEQ aside, the Signature edition sports the same impressive facilities as the regular ZEN CAN. In the centre of the front panel is smooth-acting volume control, flanked by several sockets and buttons. On the left, beside the power button and input switch, resides a control for selecting gain. Four settings in six dB steps – 0dB, 6dB, 12dB and 18db – enable 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.

To the right 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 Pentaconn 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 Pentaconn connector, and this output makes the most of them (it is particularly recommended for high-impedance headphones).

Next to the headphone sockets is a button to engage the ActivEQ mode, plus a further sonic tailoring option – XSpace. This analogue processing mode compensates for the ‘in-head localisation’ effect that can occur when using headphones to listen to music that was mixed using a pair of speakers, effectively widening the headphone soundstage to deliver a more spacious and speaker-like experience.

Around the back, the ZEN CAN Signature 6XX offers stereo RCA and 3.5mm single-ended inputs, plus a balanced 4.4mm Pentaconn input. A 4.4mm balanced output is also provided, to connect to power amps equipped with a balanced input.

Balance of Power

Like the regular ZEN CAN, the Signature edition features dual-mono, true-differential balanced circuitry – a topology usually reserved for high-end headphone amps – with a number of 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 DAC Signature, including the use of Panasonic OS-CON and Elna Silmic II capacitors.

The amp offers prodigious drive capability, delivering 1600mW (7.2V) into 32ohms from the single-ended output, with 15V+ available to loads of 300 ohms or more through the balanced output, ensuring it takes even current-hungry planar headphones in its stride. Delivering ultra-low distortion, rich sonic detail, engaging dynamics and the ability to drive all manner of headphones with ease, the ZEN CAN Signature 6XX is a truly transcendent headphone amp at a down-to-earth price.

Specifications:

• ZEN DAC Signature V2
• Input: USB3.0 B Socket (USB2.0 compatible)
• Formats: 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192 PCM, 2.8/3.1/5.6/6.2/11.2/12.4MHz DSD, 352.8/384KHz DXD, MQA
• DAC: Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC by Burr Brown
• Output: Audio RCA (SE) - 1V - 3.3V max. (variable), 2.1V (fixed) // 4.4mm Pentaconn (BAL) - 2V / 6.2V max. (variable), 4.2V (fixed)
• Zout: <= 100 Ohm (SE), <= 200 Ohm (BAL)
• SNR: < -117dB(A) @ 0dBFS (SE/BAL)
• DNR: > 117dB(A) @ -60dBFS (SE/BAL)
• THD+N: < 0.0011% @ 0dBFS (SE/BAL)
• Power consumption: 5V / 184ma, P= = 0.887W (on idle using include iPower)
• Dimensions: 117(l) x 100(w) x 30(h)mm
• Weight: 750g (1.65 lbs

• ZEN CAN Signature 6XX or HFM
  
• Input: RCA, 3.5mm (SE), 4.4mm (BAL)
• Outputs: 6.35mm, 4.4mm x2
• Gain: 0dB, 6dB, 12dB, 18dB adjust
• THD+N (A-weighting): 0.0066% (BAL), 0.0058% (SE)
• Max. Output Power (16 Ohms): 3.0V / 600 mW (BAL), 4.0V / 1000 mW (SE)
• Max. Output Power (300 Ohms): 5.1V / 756 mW (BAL), 7.6V / 196 mW (SE)
• Max. Output Power (600 Ohms): 15.2V / 385 mW (BAL), 7.6V / 98 mW (SE)
• SNR: 122 dB (BAL)
• Dynamic Range: -122dB (BAL)
• Frequency Response: (-3dB): 10 Hz - 200 kHz
• Zout (Headphone): 0.25 ohms (SE), 0.5 ohms (BAL)
• Zout (Balanced Line Out): 200 ohms
• Function Button: HD6XX/HFM adaption and/or XSpace; bypass
• IMD: 0.01%
• Max. Power Consumption: 13W / 2.6A
• Shipped with UK plugged power supply.
• Dimensions: 117(l) x 100(w) x 30(h)mm
• Weight: 850g (1.87 lbs)

About iFi Audio

iFi Audio is an award-winning audio tech company dedicated to enhancing your music enjoyment. With a mission to improve sound quality and eliminate noise, distortion, and hiss, iFi Audio offers a wide range of products that cater to headphones, speakers, portable audio devices, phones, and TVs. By doing so, they aim to deliver studio-quality audio that allows you to experience music as the artists intended.

Since its establishment in 2012, iFi Audio has been driven by the love of music and a commitment to making a difference in people's lives. With over 50 meticulously designed and manufactured products, they ensure every detail meets their high standards. Sourcing parts from around the world, including Germany, the USA, and Japan, they bring together global expertise to create exceptional audio devices.

At the heart of iFi Audio's business are its customers. They prioritise delivering the highest quality audio wherever you are, whether in the comfort of your home or on the go. Their distribution centre in the USA serves renowned retailers such as B&H and etailz, expanding their global network and reaching more music enthusiasts.

iFi Audio takes pride in its eco-friendly practices, using recyclable materials like aluminium, paper, and recycled plastics for its products and packaging. They strictly adhere to environmental standards, ensuring their components are hazardous toxins-free.

With a focus on Class A analogue circuitry and maintaining the audio signal's integrity, iFi Audio's products offer exceptional performance without compromising environmental sustainability. They believe that how a product looks, performs, and impacts the environment all matter, and they strive to deliver audio solutions that meet these criteria.

Experience the difference of high-quality audio with iFi Audio and immerse yourself in the joy of music.