Its not meant to be a giant killer, its meant to get you started as a first option beyond the built in output to your laptop, or as a secondary set up beside your bed. Let me know and apologies for the late response. - JDS Labs customer support is known to be excellent. Portable DAC with amplifier: iFi hip dac (9.5): slightly smaller than the Topping NX4 DSD, the hip dac is able to deliver an astounding 400 mW of power. Hey guys! It really is a testament to how far we have come as a hobby in such a short time span. More of the same applies here with the ATOM. You could use a 3.5mm interconnect or an RCA to 3.5mm (RCA to mini). Hook it up to studio monitors/speakers and use it as a preamp via its RCA Analog Outputs OR 4.4mm balanced output. No need to freak out! It’s definitely the most versatile out of these as well, and sounds fantastic to boot! The only thing that comes to my mind is the JDS Atom amp, which doesn’t have this build quality, power, or these features. Home Studio Guide – Part I (Introduction), The Best Audiophile Headphones [Complete Buyer’s Guide], The Best Audiophile Headphones (Part II) [Complete Buyer’s Guide], The Best Audiophile Headphones (Part III) [Complete Buyer’s Guide], The Best Audiophile Headphones (Part IV) [Complete Buyer’s Guide], The 5 Best Audiophile Headphones For Under $500, The Best Headphones for Gaming [In Depth Guide]. It really is amazing what you can purchase at the entry level nowadays, even compared to 5 years ago. I missed this website because i forgot to bookmark it. It just seems like everything has a bit more life to it. For only $200 you can get the iFi iDSD Nano BL which is, IMO, the best mobile DAC/amp at … I’m going to throw in the DragonFly Red as well here. The Zen being kind of in the middle of the 2. However, the iDSD retails for $600USD. Hahah! iFi’s new Zen is part of the reason why. The Troops. At the end of the article, in the ‘about the author’ section i saw your photo. Dragonflies don't come with USB decrapifiers and are volume controlled by DSP, which does terrible things for the dynamic range of the tracks you're listening to. As alluded to above, what you go with here depends on your unique situation, whether or not you want to use a separate DAC, whether you’ll be console gaming, your sound preference, etc., etc. Click on the desired image to enlarge it; Press ‘Alt’ or ‘Option’ and click the enlarged image; Select ‘Save image as’ Click Save; Windows I can’t remember since it’s been so long. Thanks for the reply. If the Zen is warm and more lush sounding, the Bravo Ocean + DragonFly Red is a little more open and crisp. It is a simple, beginner level, $129.99USD MSRP, piece of gear, and I think it lives up to that mark very well. So with that, let’s get into what’s in the box! Not the AudioQuest DragonFly Black but the forthcoming ZEN DAC from iFi that eschews the dongle in favour of a quarter-width aluminium chassis more becoming of a desktop rig.. ... My current desktop is senn HD 599, ifi zen dac, and streaming on Tidal HiFi. JDS ATOM – 9.3 Oz. Somehow i domt see this website during my google searches amd slowly i forgot about thism. This is unusual at this price point. Use it as a dedicated Amp (with separate DAC) on your desktop for music or gaming. As you can see, the Bravo Ocean behaves in a similar way to the ATOM and does pretty much all of the same things. Because it’s a combo Amp & DAC rolled into one, you can use it with a separate amp if you want later on down the road. So the differences between the Zen and K5 Pro aren’t that notable, but the difference between the DragonFly Red vs. the Zen and K5 Pro is. Requests? I remember the first time I heard an Objective 2. It is indeed kind of a tough call, but I think the K5 slightly edges the Zen because it is simply more versatile. as of now i am looking for a pre-owned zen dac and zen can. Of course not. With that said, the K5 Pro is the standout from this bunch because it can basically hook up to anything inside of your home studio or home theater listening environment and comes packaged as a combo all in one Amp + DAC. I think what you ultimately decide on is more a matter of warm vs. cool preference and what you hope to accomplish in your studio space. Please make sure to turn it off when not in use unless you want your house or apartment to burn down. Hey man! Please let me know how it goes. From features, to power, to sound quality, it is better. I would totally recommend the ZenDAC to a beginner, or someone needing an affordable back up piece of source equipment. It’s an extremely valuable asset to have if you’re listening to music or gaming, as it works in a variety of ways. Hook it up to your PS4 (with the help of an OL DAC + Optical) for gaming or any DAC that has an optical input. I bought the CD version of an album to experience the ultimate sound quality but thanks to the iFi Zen DAC I can now experience the best quality through a music streaming service. It costs much lower than many desktop amps and if you pair it with the ZEN DAC, you get a strong setup for just $280. Check out this helpful image that I grabbed from one of my YouTube videos! Perhaps I can help. The specs say 280mw at 32ohms single ended, and 380mw at 50ohms from the balanced output. But the tonal balance seems fairly neutral, and detail is certainly acceptable. You have to keep in mind, this is $129.99USD! You pay about 280$, and you have a formidable desktop setup for your headphones. Iam so happy to interact again after alll these years. Instead of talking about it again (for the millionth time and boring everyone), I’ll just link you here: iFi Zen vs. FiiO K5 Pro vs. JDS ATOM vs. Bravo Ocean! The incredible spacing made it almost feel as if you were listening in a studio environment rather than through headphones. Features abound in all directions so let’s keep it simple with four to … The ZenDAC provides pretty much everything a beginner could ever need or want, at an MSRP of $129.99USD. This is a review and detailed measurements of the JDS Labs Element II DAC and headphone amplifier. Lol. i think you helped me with some IEM, i was just getting into the audiophile territory at that time. Sure, there are spectacular amps out there but there aren’t many options cheaper than this. It was the first time receiving a product from a company where I thought, “Technology is truly advancing at an almost alarming rate.” Times are much different now. I mean, think of it like this. It has RCA outputs, as well as a 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced output. Now, the most important question. The front plate is adorned with a gain and input buttons, a volume knob, and a ¼” output. I tried using E30 with both entry-level AMPs, like an JDS Labs Atom, or the Periodic Audio Nickel (Through a 2RCA to a 3.5mm cable), and even something like iFi’s xCan.I also tested whether E30 does a good job by pairing it with Wells Milo, and Audio-GD Master 19, and those powered headphones like HIFIMAN Arya, HIFIMAN Sundara, Kennerton Thror, Sennheiser … For Tidal, the Zen will light up Magenta as the indicator for Masters, and the K5 Pro will light Yellow which indicates anything over 48kHz. Change ), 64 Audio’s Tia Fourte – A Pure Powerhouse Of An IEM, Abyss Headphones Diana Phi – Video Review, ISN Audio C16 IEM Cable – Initial Impressions, Abyss Headphones Diana – The Original – “The Short Ones”. BUT, as many have mentioned, both of those amps are pretty dry/square/boring or bright-ish. If you’re going to run balanced cables, the Zen is my choice. Pretty nifty indeed! 5 years ago this would have cost $500USD I would guess. Objectivly, the Liquid Spark and JDS Atom are better than the Magni. Objective 2 video! Hello, for listening on Tidal exclusively, would you recommend K5 Pro or Ifi Zen Dac? K5 Pro seems like a nicer product overall. It does have an update to iFi XBASS to what they now call TRUBASS. I often see a lot of recommendations for stack setups vs the ifi Zen DAC (ie. It can drive power-hungry headphones with ease with great performance. You’ll see the comments on various Zen DAC videos and comparisons. The Zen is just a tad crisper. I previously had ath-m50x and QC15. Hook it up to anything in your home theater via its Coaxial input. Today, voilaaa…..! Right off the bat, the ATOM is the lightest out of this bunch, coming in at a modest 9.3 Oz. Your email address will not be published. Did I miss the mark on something? In his spare time, he likes to fish, paint, play guitar, pray, rap, make beats, take photos, record videos, graphic design, and more. Distortion is nearly negligible at 1kHz, 32Ω as well. Output it to a separate Amp via its RCA Analog Outs. Comments? Also, supposedly if you use a 5v DC power adapter with the ZenDAC, the output power doubles, vs using it strictly from USB. The ZEN can. Required fields are marked *, “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”, “Stu is determined to help you make sound decisions, and strives to deliver the best and most in depth content on the internet! Hey John! It’s extremely clean like Windex homie! Spreading the word to everyone you know also really helps gain traction. (324g) FiiO K5 Pro – 15.4 Oz. But i know that, you helped me irrespective of my numerous noob’s questions with lot of mistakes. It’s a bit lighter than the iFi Zen DAC/Amp, coming in at 436g vs. 491 for the Zen. I never had a clue that its the same person in that photo doing thise youtube videos. A dedicated transformer ensures mains isolation. I chatted with them and they seemed to care about me and took time to give advice - I felt Schiit was extremely well marketed and designed, but reviews about sound quality were not as unanimous as Element II or Atom - JDS Labs was very honest about Element II vs El Dac II + El Amp II. Great to have you back on board! As you can see, the K5 Pro is a bit more valuable in a home listening environment because it can do a few more things. Dunno which one to buy. Please let me know down below or Contact me!! No longer does it require your kidney to achieve great sound, wheth… You purchase a pair of HD6XX for $200USD (or less if you buy them used) and the ZenDAC for $129.99USD, combine it with your laptop, and you are set. That is almost 6 times more than the ZenDAC. It was a really marginal difference though and could be my imagination. JDS Labs Atom vs FiiO K5 PRO (100USD vs 150USD) – FiiO K5 PRO is probably the best direct competitor to the Atom because it costs 150 USD, but it comes with a DAC, and can also act as a pre. Desktop: iFi Audio ZEN CAN. tangentially, THX AAA 789 vs. JDS Element (amp only) was pretty significant delta. Even despite my complaining every time a DAC hits the market (and for good reason), it truly is a good time to be alive. An MQA DAC and headphone amplifier that will talk to a Mac, a PC and a smartphone* for a hundred quid (ish)? This is a piece of gear that will work great with something like the Drop/Sennheiser HD6XX, or similar. My current desktop is senn HD 599, ifi zen dac, and streaming on Tidal HiFi. Considering there isn't too much information on actual use of Heresy vs The JDS atom besides the readings on paper i wanted some more information on these before i pulled the trigger. Use it in conjunction with pretty much any DAC via its RCA inputs and line input. Yeah I would say the Black Label is an improvement. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. I definitely remember your name – in fact, I was looking at it the other day and I said to myself “I know that guy from somewhere.” Lol. I went back and forth on a Master of “Come Together” by the Beatles (A song I’m very familiar with) through the AKG K702. ... iFi Audio is a UK-based manufacturers focusing primarily on DAC and Amps in various form-factors. Thats crazy. The JDS Labs Atom Amp is the best value. No worries man! The ATOM is certainly the most neutral, crisp, and clean sounding Amp out of this bunch. The Zen can be used balanced via it’s 4.4mm jack, so if that’s a priority, I’d go with it instead of K5 Pro. Wow man. Here iam reading Stu reviews again. An for my listening needs on 4.4mm BAL I did not go much past 1:00 Since it is a DAC, pairings will be slightly more complicated, so I introduced it in a few systems, including in a Wells Milo Amplifier, driving an Ultrasone Signature DXP Headphone, a JDS Labs Atom driving a pair of HIFIMAN Sundara Headphones, and a Periodic Audio Nickel AMP driving a pair of FiiO FH7 IEMs. I think it excels at those jobs. How does it sound? What did I help you with specifically? Your email address will not be published. (437g) ifi Zen – 18.1 Oz. The ZenDAC can also be used as a system DAC in combination with an external amplifier. Active Speakers: Which Are Best For YOU? I am excited to share my experiences of the zen dac from ifi audio. Mac. I had been getting a lot of spam so I had to run some filters and your message went into the trash and I didn’t see it for awhile. The reason being is because all four of these amps come in at similar price points, all are meant to be used on your desktop exclusively, and all have similar outputs and inputs, generally doing many of the same tasks that you may call on them for in the studio. It has 2 pairs of RCA Analogs (A pair of inputs AND outputs), so it can be used as just a DAC or just an amp. The image is a bit wider and has more room to breathe. This amp supports outputs at 32Ω, 150Ω, and 600Ω. In fact, this thing gets so hot that you can’t really keep your finger on it for more than a few seconds if it’s been on for a while. AMP/DAC Combo advice: JDS LABS Element II VS Atom/Topping D50 DAC - Desktop Hi, I have a LG V30 and a HRT Microstreamer dac/amp, while already having both ,I used to enjoy the sound directly from my laptop when using my headphones due to sound profile in the vocals. Check out the screengrab from my JDS ATOM vs. It was kindly sent to me by JDS Labs. With that out of the way, how’s build on each of these? OMG! You took your valuable time to give me long informative replys. The DragonFly does sound very open, airy, clean, and crisp. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The only real difference is that it’s a Class A Tube Hybrid Amp and thus gets extremely hot. The ZenDAC provides less options than the usual iFi Audio fare, but for the asking price, that is expected. His sense of humour, coupled with a knack for excellence and strict attention to detail are what allow him to stand out in an crowded industry. The open-back HD 599 is definitely my favorite in terms of sound stage and comfort, but wanted to upgrade my listening experience. All thoughts and experiences with the product are naturally my own. ( Log Out / i still cannot believe that this photo is you and it is the same person in the YouTube videos Topping DAC + JDS Atom/Schiit Magni) as they are considered more powerful, but for my easy to drive setup I think the ifi Zen is better for the price range. Regarding the Line outs I did find feeding into something like the JDS Labs Atom was an improvement over the native Zen Dac 6.5mm out. Listening out of the Zen is sort of like a warm hug, whereas the Bravo + Red is more akin to opening a window in your home and letting some air in. They also offer free shipping, the lowest price guarantee, a 2-year warranty, and a 30-day return. For the price you pay, this is a great performance. I’ve always perceived the DF Red to have very good sound staging and expansiveness throughout the frequency spectrum. As for the reasons why the K5 edges out the Zen? 789 was much cleaner, tighter, and more defined lower octaves. https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-dac/ Schiit Modi 3 dac review https://youtu.be/U6LPft7_x1A Atom DAC is built to pair with the enormously popular JDS Labs Atom Amp, adopting our latest XMOS based USB Audio Class 2 input stage with support for future firmware updates. Stu is determined to help you make sound decisions, and strives to deliver the best and most in depth content on the internet! Thats right. Honestly, i don’t remember the answers you gave me at that time. With the high gain option, this will be enough for most headphones, especially as this piece of gear will likely be used by beginners, and entry level headphones tend to be easier to drive. – Is It Worth Pursuing? The K5 Pro sounded slightly warmer and maybe a bit less expansive, while the DF Red sounded a bit more open and airy than the Zen. It also has the Coaxial Input for use with anything in your home theater. I should note that I live in Canada and the conversion of buying one of the mentioned stack combinations hits roughly $280 CAD before shipping, whereas I can get the ifi Zen on Amazon for $189 CAD. This is a much better connector choice than 2.5mm jacks, which are not as durable. The Zen is a bit more limited, but does support MQA and should be used as a desktop Amp/DAC primarily. Also planning to buy a closed back headphone in near future. I figure if I ever want to drive more eventual power hungry upgrades such as the Modhouse Argons, I could always use the RCA/balanced output on the ifi Zen DAC to a different/more powerful amp in the future. 789 is … All of that’s well and good, but how do these sound in relation to each other? Today we are having a look at the iFi Audio ZenDAC, their new entry level DAC/Amp combo unit. You should skip the iFi Zen, but no need to spend as much as the E30 and L30. Topping DAC + JDS Atom/Schiit Magni) as they are considered more powerful, but for my easy to drive setup I think the ifi Zen is better for the price range. If someone had just purchased their first pair of headphones that are something beyond a gaming headset, the HD58X or HD6XX, something like that, and asked me the fabled question of “do I need an amp or DAC?” I’d say, well, listen to your headphones from your computers built in output for a while, but after that, if the itch is there, give the iFi ZenDAC a try. I’ve always perceived the DF Red to have very good sound staging and expansiveness throughout the frequency spectrum. (264g) approximately. (516g) Knobs, buttons, and connections: JDS ATOM – Good, if a bit flimsy. It just seems like everything has a bit more life to it. I prefer a more balanced output, maybe acoustically good as well. Is it a giant killer? If you like a slight warmth the Liquid Spark is the way to go, both in sound, and as a warm place to rest your hand in winter. Before we get started, check out Apos Audio. I previously had ath-m50x and QC15. That is a system that would outdo a lot of more expensive set ups, especially from years past. As a newbie ‘audiophile’ who has gotten my feet wet due to the extra time indoors, I think this is the line that may have sold me on the ifi Zen Dac. The Zen and K5 Pro are definitely warmer and more laid back, with less expansiveness. If you have a decent source you can wait on the DAC. As you can see, the ZenDAC may not have all the typical iFi features, but it has everything you need, and even some stuff you don’t. Buttons on the front move around a bit inside of their respective slots. ( Log Out / After doing some research, I figured to enjoy my current setup (HD58X, VModa XS, Koss KPH30i, Phillips SHP9500) vs chasing that ‘end-game’ setup for now. By the time you’re finished reading this article, you should have a clear idea of what it is that might suit your needs best. I’m Canadian too, and think that the ZenDAC is a good deal up here. iFi Zen Blue Review (Popular) iFi hip-dac Review (Popular) iFi Neo iDSD Review (Demoed) JDS Labs.
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