I bought this unit based on great reviews on this site. Your review gave me additional information around the levels and outputs that was missing elsewhere. Great no-nonsense review. I am using the onboard DAC for now into the stereo amp for now but sounds great. I love your comments about the British sound and the classy British voice. So amusing as a Brit to hear this.
I've owned mine for over a year and I love it. When I stream from my phone it sounds great. Marantz wanted $99 for a bluetooth adapter, for $30 more I think I got a much better option
I bought one to replace an Outlaw audio bluetooth adapter, the range wasn't great and the sound was just ok. When I put in the Ifi zen to my Marantz preamp, it was either that or spend $100 on the Marantz adapter. Glad I opted for the Zen Blue, great sound for bluetooth.
when you play song over blutooth from phone. The bluetooth is not capable of Hi Res Lossless audio transfer than how can we sure that this bluetooth antenna on DAC will received Hi-Res Audio?
Bought the iFi based on your comparison. Sounds great hooked up to my Sansui 771. Question for you... I have way more playlists than my phone will handle and have saved a lot of them on jump drives to play through my USB port inputs in my car stereos. Are you aware of any devices that have digital to analog RCA converters with a usb input that can display the playlist and allow me to skip songs, etc,? My current laptop is not Bluetooth enabled.
I purchased the Audioengine B1 on Amazaon an hour ago… After seeing this, I cancelled the B1 and have now ordered the iFi Audio Zen V2. Please convince me I didn’t make a mistake! LoL
How do you compare it with dedecated CD player and vynil? It has only 50 ohms impedance does it sound compress bec. of the low impedance output? I hope you can answer my question. TIA🙂
Why take something like this apart ? I assume you purchased this because doing this would void the warranty. With that being said it gives people with the knowledge of electronic a better way to tell if this is a quality piece.
Please can you help me. My project bluetooth turntable doesn't pair up to my bluetooth speakers, I have 3 different bluetooth speakers, how can I solve this ?
It sounds just fine with AAC. I must admit, IMHO I do not like AAC so I use a old S7 mostly for streaming. Good units like the ZEN allow me to switch in and out of LDAC. Of coarse this is all subjective. Cheers
If you are an amazon or any other type of affiliate then you will get paid via their links. Understand, I only provide links to items I use or have used. So IMO keep it real. Cheers.
@@breakerbroke23 So an Amazon seller account or Amazon prime like buyer account .I buy from Amazon too I mean gadgets but I don't have a monatized channel
With amazon you need to apply to be an influencer, you will have to have video content to get ok'd. It can be hard to make the cut. Video content is the key. I looked at your ch, if you want to get some side hustle income you will need to get working on that ch.. Cheers
I just bought the Zen Blue for a vintage Pioneer SX-1050. The device literally took seconds to set up. Unfortunately, it uncovered a problem with my receiver.
Hi I have a technics hifi system would the blue ifi zen be good for it. Because the bluetooth receiver I currently have brought for cheap is not good it's called u green. When I connect it up I have to put my volume up to max on my technics and the sound is poor. But when I play my cd no problems. So do you think the ifi zen would solve the volume when I'm playing music .
I have had mine for 6 months now and have been very impressed and happy with the sound quality
finally , a decent review, with actual connection test (with that audible notification), and not just talk about some specs on paper! awesome.
This was the review I was looking for! thank you! that 2250b is beautiful!
Glad you liked it!
I bought this unit based on great reviews on this site. Your review gave me additional information around the levels and outputs that was missing elsewhere. Great no-nonsense review. I am using the onboard DAC for now into the stereo amp for now but sounds great.
I love your comments about the British sound and the classy British voice. So amusing as a Brit to hear this.
Thank you for the kind words, Cheerio my friend.
I've owned mine for over a year and I love it. When I stream from my phone it sounds great. Marantz wanted $99 for a bluetooth adapter, for $30 more I think I got a much better option
Thanks for watching
Cracking review mate! No stone unturned. Sold! 👍
That Marantz is sweet, can't beat that classic look. I have a Marantz av7005 preamp and it's a great sounding piece
Very good. Nice presentation of the innards. I have the v.2 and it's great.
I bought one to replace an Outlaw audio bluetooth adapter, the range wasn't great and the sound was just ok. When I put in the Ifi zen to my Marantz preamp, it was either that or spend $100 on the Marantz adapter. Glad I opted for the Zen Blue, great sound for bluetooth.
I honestly think you will be pleased with the Zen's performance. Cheers
it looks so simple made inside
Funny I have the xen blue hooked up to the exact same receiver. Brings old gear to the new age!
Yes it does!
Thankyou so much for your review!
Your Marantz sound great by the way!! 👍👍👊👊😁
when you play song over blutooth from phone. The bluetooth is not capable of Hi Res Lossless audio transfer than how can we sure that this bluetooth antenna on DAC will received Hi-Res Audio?
Clear concept and details. Thank you so much.
I think they are now doing a mk2 with an improved antenna.
And it's got its own built-in Limey status-announcements. Gave me a chuckle.
Yes, thank the Lord! Much better than a plastic Yank announcer.
You got my marantz
Bought the iFi based on your comparison. Sounds great hooked up to my Sansui 771. Question for you... I have way more playlists than my phone will handle and have saved a lot of them on jump drives to play through my USB port inputs in my car stereos. Are you aware of any devices that have digital to analog RCA converters with a usb input that can display the playlist and allow me to skip songs, etc,? My current laptop is not Bluetooth enabled.
Hi!, How does the sound quality compare to the bludento and the Audioengine B1?
Overall... The Zen is my favorite.
@@breakerbroke23 Yes I had the same question about the B1 so I will be trying the if ZenBlue
The only problem with this one is physically it is much more ugly than the B1.
How does it compare to the Audioengine B1, the BluDento BLT-HD and the Auris BluMe Receiver? I'm trying for best bang for the buck?
I am posting a video on this very subject and should have it out this weekend.
@@breakerbroke23 Thanks so much for your very quick response!
These units are so dang close in sound, check out this video. ua-cam.com/video/X4TBIRx9FWw/v-deo.html
Very nice , mate just give me a suggestion between audioengine b1 and ifi zen blue ? Regards
Zen.
I purchased the Audioengine B1 on Amazaon an hour ago… After seeing this, I cancelled the B1 and have now ordered the iFi Audio Zen V2. Please convince me I didn’t make a mistake! LoL
IMO..... You did the right thing. Cheers
How do you compare it with dedecated CD player and vynil? It has only 50 ohms impedance does it sound compress bec. of the low impedance output? I hope you can answer my question. TIA🙂
Hi, can I use the ifi zen blue directly with active speakers without another amp or stereo receiver ?
One thing I noticed is that Spotify sounded a little more analog when attached to my Pioneer SX 1050.
I sure hope so..... Cheers
very good review, thank you. What if compared with Ifi Zen Blue V2 ?
IMHO... They sound very much the same, the most notable difference is the V2 has better distance.
V1 and V2 are my top picks to date.
Nice receiver!
Which input did you use on your receiver. Thanks
AUX if you already use AUX you can use a tape input instead.
Thanks for your help. Very much appreciated.
@@breakerbroke23Aux input to rca or coax out did you use sir? Thanks
Why take something like this apart ? I assume you purchased this because doing this would void the warranty. With that being said it gives people with the knowledge of electronic a better way to tell if this is a quality piece.
Maybe so you don't have to?
Bluetooth does not support Hi-Res Audio so when you are sending Hi-Res from phone to this DAc via Bluetooth it is still a Lossy format.
Bullshit .
Please can you help me. My project bluetooth turntable doesn't pair up to my bluetooth speakers, I have 3 different bluetooth speakers, how can I solve this ?
Hi! What kind of Bluetooth antenna should I buy to boost the zen blue's coverage?
The red one
How does it sound connected to AAC codec?
It sounds just fine with AAC. I must admit, IMHO I do not like AAC so I use a old S7 mostly for streaming. Good units like the ZEN allow me to switch in and out of LDAC. Of coarse this is all subjective. Cheers
Can i connect this on mixer using 4.4mm to 6.35mm trs?
I believe so...
Hello,
I have enjoyed your reviews. So in your opinion is this better than the audio engine b1?
Yes.
Hi channel specific question if i upload a video before my channel is monetized and i put links to buy a product will i still get a paid a little.
If you are an amazon or any other type of affiliate then you will get paid via their links. Understand, I only provide links to items I use or have used. So IMO keep it real. Cheers.
@@breakerbroke23 So an Amazon seller account or Amazon prime like buyer account .I buy from Amazon too I mean gadgets but I don't have a monatized channel
With amazon you need to apply to be an influencer, you will have to have video content to get ok'd. It can be hard to make the cut. Video content is the key. I looked at your ch, if you want to get some side hustle income you will need to get working on that ch.. Cheers
Hey @breakerbroke23 - Can you recommend a cable to get this over to a Sonos system line in? Sorry for the sacrilege ;)
And purchased with the ref link - thanks!!
Sorry I didnt get back soon enough
@@breakerbroke23 sorry I purchased the device, but can I use a 4.4 to 3.5 adapter for a line in?
@@chineachinea yes you can
I just bought the Zen Blue for a vintage Pioneer SX-1050. The device literally took seconds to set up. Unfortunately, it uncovered a problem with my receiver.
Thats to bad, hope you get your problem resolved so you can enjoy that Zen. :)
BTW.. I would love to get a hold of a receiver like yours.
@@breakerbroke23 Fortunately, I had it restored by a guy out of Ann Arbor, MI and I think he’ll fix the problem at a reasonable price.
Hi I have a technics hifi system would the blue ifi zen be good for it. Because the bluetooth receiver I currently have brought for cheap is not good it's called u green. When I connect it up I have to put my volume up to max on my technics and the sound is poor. But when I play my cd no problems. So do you think the ifi zen would solve the volume when I'm playing music .
Yes, the ZEN will work properly. The ZEN has the correct line output level
@@breakerbroke23 Thank you
Tapping my toes...😃
you should listen to xduoo xq -50 pro .it sounds amazing for a bluetooth but when you connect it to a high end dac it will drop your jaw......
LDAC technology .....
Bluetooth LDAC ~900kbps, how it can play hi res 96khz and much more? Explain me, please. Guts looks very sad 😔
Shut up kestutis
Capasitor ist very cheap
What the bloody H are you talking about?
Its kind of like Radio+Stereo. Cool yes?
I stopped it because the LOUD music is terrible