I have both, and use it 90% of the time on my ps5. It performs significantly better than the V2 on PS5, but they sound pretty similar on PC. The V3 is more accurate with its spacial imaging, and has a warmer tone that I personally like more than the V2.
Basically its a NO. If you were in the market for a V2 then the V3 'may' be worth getting for that little bit more abobe MRRP (still debatable if it's actually 'a little bit' tho). BUT as a pure audio upgrade, no. Its a very very very minimal upgrade and was totally undiscernible to me with my Hifiman Sundara's and outputting to Q Acoustics M20 active speakers. However visually the V3 does look a lot more expensive and sexier I really do have to admit that. I have gold trim envy for sure....) But as I picked up a brand new V2 on a deal for literally 50% of the just released V3 I am not complaining too hard.
@@ZekeTrailblazer Thank you for this information regarding the sound of the zen dac 3 because this UA-camr of RNARexperience does not even address this fundamental aspect. He seems in fact to have no critical freedom in relation to his analysis of the zen dac 3 which he simply promotes. Obvious sponsorship !
what's the difference between ZEN DAC 3 and ZEN CAN 3? And what is exactly warmer sound? I like mid range and high range and bass of course, but not too much bass, i mean, not if bass going to the mid range.
Zen DAC is an all in one DAC/Amp whereas Zen CAN is a dedicated amplifier so you need to use a DAC to pair with it. Warmer sounds typically has a fuller and richer note weight, not as lean which can sound a little "cold" or "dry".
Situational, are you powering something that is power hungry? I do personally use the 5V to feed more power into my zen dac V3 but even on the USB cable it's sufficient to drive a lot of gears
I'd say the Scarlet has a touch more than the SE. SE's got leaner mid bass but better treble performance & detail retrieval compared to the scarlet mini hence the difference in price as well
@@bramdriessens5942 i am in a similar situation i own the dac 3 and dragonfly red. the zen dac easily has better imaging and a wider soundstage on my hd660s2
@@rnarexperience I have one and many other devices, first thing I do is take the stupid sticker out…..it’s like keeping the plastic on a new car seats…
Choosing to evaluate the new Zen DAC 3 by comparing it to the AIR version of the DAC 2 is a roundabout way of biasedly highlighting the new iFi Audio model, since it is obvious that the hardware advantages of the Zen DAC 3 over the Zen DAC AIR 2 have nothing to do with the fact that it is superior but with the fact that you are comparing it with a light version of the Zen DAC. The Zen Dac 2 (so the previous version) was made of metal, not plastic like you say. Only the Air model was made of plastic. Your comment stating that the Zen Dac 3 has the advantage of being made of metal compared to the Zen Dac 2 which is in plastic is therefore misleading : you describe an evolution which, on this precise aspect, does not exist ! It is as if, to enhance the advantage of the MacBook Pro M3 you were comparing it to the MacBook Air M2! It is incomprehensible. To summarize: this is of marketing strategy. In addition, you do not analyze the type of sound obtained by the zen dac 3 (which is the most important élément): its level of sharpness, analytical or not, its sound colorization, its spatial width, etc.
I've been comparing the Zen Dac V3 vs the Zen AIR DAC THROUGHOUT THE VIDEO~ Either watch the video again or keep hyperfocusing on your own misunderstanding and blow it out of proportion. Sound analysis may be important in some aspects and may be the most important factor for you, but I'm highlighting the differences of other components for anyone that is looking for an upgrade. Also your analogy of comparing with an older products, HAPPENS A LOT, so people can be aware of what they're going to get and know if they're going to get an upgrade, or something to wait and hold. Otherwise why would anyone compare the Fold 6 to the Fold 5, but hey, just by how you're commenting it's apparent my reasoning will never align with yours so you're welcome to find another video, somewhere else, that aligns with your point of view to the T.
@@rnarexperience I see that you have absolutely not understood my answer, which was nevertheless extremely explicit and detailed. You cannot evaluate the new zen dac 3 by comparing it to the AIR version of the zen dac 2. This makes no sense. You have to compare the zen dac 3 to the zen dac 2 (not to the AIR version of the zen dac 2). For example, you say in your video that the zen dac 3 is made of metal compared to the plastic of the zen dac Air, by showing side-by-side video close-ups of the metal (dac3) and the plastic (AIR dac), but the zen dac 2 (not AIR version) was also ALREADY made of metal. I still think that comparing a budget version of the Zen DAC 2 AIR version with the new Zen DAC 3 is a completely biased way of highlighting the Zen DAC 3. You have to compare the Zen DAC 3 to the Zen DAC 2, not to the Zen DAC AIR : the AIR is only used in your video to promote the Zen Dac 3.
Nice demo on variable vs fixed. I have the zen dac v1 and it sounds really good.
is this worth the upgrade over the V2?
I have both, and use it 90% of the time on my ps5. It performs significantly better than the V2 on PS5, but they sound pretty similar on PC. The V3 is more accurate with its spacial imaging, and has a warmer tone that I personally like more than the V2.
Basically its a NO.
If you were in the market for a V2 then the V3 'may' be worth getting for that little bit more abobe MRRP (still debatable if it's actually 'a little bit' tho). BUT as a pure audio upgrade, no. Its a very very very minimal upgrade and was totally undiscernible to me with my Hifiman Sundara's and outputting to Q Acoustics M20 active speakers. However visually the V3 does look a lot more expensive and sexier I really do have to admit that. I have gold trim envy for sure....) But as I picked up a brand new V2 on a deal for literally 50% of the just released V3 I am not complaining too hard.
@@ZekeTrailblazer Thank you for this information regarding the sound of the zen dac 3 because this UA-camr of RNARexperience does not even address this fundamental aspect. He seems in fact to have no critical freedom in relation to his analysis of the zen dac 3 which he simply promotes. Obvious sponsorship !
what's the difference between ZEN DAC 3 and ZEN CAN 3? And what is exactly warmer sound? I like mid range and high range and bass of course, but not too much bass, i mean, not if bass going to the mid range.
Zen DAC is an all in one DAC/Amp whereas Zen CAN is a dedicated amplifier so you need to use a DAC to pair with it. Warmer sounds typically has a fuller and richer note weight, not as lean which can sound a little "cold" or "dry".
Can i play music using usb type C @ the back from android then connect the rca output into mixer?
i have the zen dac v3 and just wondering is it worth buying ifi ipower or something like that to feed the power need of the device?
Situational, are you powering something that is power hungry? I do personally use the 5V to feed more power into my zen dac V3 but even on the USB cable it's sufficient to drive a lot of gears
Will ifi neo idsd 2 sound better than zen dac v3?
Any 200 DAC makes a huge difference from stock mini jack.
Random question but does the SE have more bass than the Scarlet mini in general ?
I'd say the Scarlet has a touch more than the SE. SE's got leaner mid bass but better treble performance & detail retrieval compared to the scarlet mini hence the difference in price as well
@@rnarexperience do you prefer the SE over the SM and why ?
Now a days dongle dacs give this much of power (300 mw). Why should one go for this heavy and bulky device for double the price of a dongle dac
I have the zen dac 3 and the dragonfly cobalt. The zen dac is easely 2x better with my denon ah d9200 and sennheiser hd660s2.
@@bramdriessens5942 i am in a similar situation i own the dac 3 and dragonfly red. the zen dac easily has better imaging and a wider soundstage on my hd660s2
Take that sticker out instead of complaining about it!
Buy one and take it out yourself
@@rnarexperience I have one and many other devices, first thing I do is take the stupid sticker out…..it’s like keeping the plastic on a new car seats…
Choosing to evaluate the new Zen DAC 3 by comparing it to the AIR version of the DAC 2 is a roundabout way of biasedly highlighting the new iFi Audio model, since it is obvious that the hardware advantages of the Zen DAC 3 over the Zen DAC AIR 2 have nothing to do with the fact that it is superior but with the fact that you are comparing it with a light version of the Zen DAC. The Zen Dac 2 (so the previous version) was made of metal, not plastic like you say. Only the Air model was made of plastic. Your comment stating that the Zen Dac 3 has the advantage of being made of metal compared to the Zen Dac 2 which is in plastic is therefore misleading : you describe an evolution which, on this precise aspect, does not exist ! It is as if, to enhance the advantage of the MacBook Pro M3 you were comparing it to the MacBook Air M2! It is incomprehensible. To summarize: this is of marketing strategy. In addition, you do not analyze the type of sound obtained by the zen dac 3 (which is the most important élément): its level of sharpness, analytical or not, its sound colorization, its spatial width, etc.
I've been comparing the Zen Dac V3 vs the Zen AIR DAC THROUGHOUT THE VIDEO~ Either watch the video again or keep hyperfocusing on your own misunderstanding and blow it out of proportion. Sound analysis may be important in some aspects and may be the most important factor for you, but I'm highlighting the differences of other components for anyone that is looking for an upgrade. Also your analogy of comparing with an older products, HAPPENS A LOT, so people can be aware of what they're going to get and know if they're going to get an upgrade, or something to wait and hold. Otherwise why would anyone compare the Fold 6 to the Fold 5, but hey, just by how you're commenting it's apparent my reasoning will never align with yours so you're welcome to find another video, somewhere else, that aligns with your point of view to the T.
@@rnarexperience I see that you have absolutely not understood my answer, which was nevertheless extremely explicit and detailed. You cannot evaluate the new zen dac 3 by comparing it to the AIR version of the zen dac 2. This makes no sense. You have to compare the zen dac 3 to the zen dac 2 (not to the AIR version of the zen dac 2). For example, you say in your video that the zen dac 3 is made of metal compared to the plastic of the zen dac Air, by showing side-by-side video close-ups of the metal (dac3) and the plastic (AIR dac), but the zen dac 2 (not AIR version) was also ALREADY made of metal. I still think that comparing a budget version of the Zen DAC 2 AIR version with the new Zen DAC 3 is a completely biased way of highlighting the Zen DAC 3. You have to compare the Zen DAC 3 to the Zen DAC 2, not to the Zen DAC AIR : the AIR is only used in your video to promote the Zen Dac 3.