Hey friends! What do you think about the new setup?! I'm still tweaking things and playing with angles/lighting, but I think this will be the new spot for a while as I got tired of having to bring my laptop and Yeti into the other space + the way I had to set it up was super ghetto and not at all ideal. I tried a shotgun mic but didn't like the results. I may try one again in the future with a better camera body and higher quality shotgun, but I really love the scissor arm. :)
@@adrianmorrish8494 Yeah the next one is way brighter lol. Was using "warm" for this one, but the light needs to be closer for that. Still tweaking and trying different angles because of the glare on the background.
This review is exactly my observations specially regarding the power, i was driving it with my phone and it was driving more than adequately at 50 percent the power and over that it was over baringly loud. It sounded super clean and the xbass is like a loudness switch adds richness to the overall experience !!
Super reviews. I have a dragonfly cobalt and i would like to know you re opinion if getting a zen dac would be an upgrade. I ordered a zen stream and i would either stick the cobalt or buy a zen dac. Cheers!
Hey man thank you! Probably not an upgrade but the Zen is definitely more versatile. I mostly use my DF Red as a DAC so it for sure comes in handy a lot. Don't own the Cobalt but did a comparison awhile back: homestudiobasics.com/audioquest-dragonfly-red-vs-cobalt-vs-chord-mojo/
@@HomeStudioBasics , yep great comparison. I miself would not have bought the cobalt if it wasn’t for a great deal that made it comparable to the red. Like your take on audiophilia, don’t believe all the hype! 👍
If you use this DAC on your PC, lets say with a Sennheiser HD 560S, so you still need an AMP, or is the DAC enough? kinda new to the hobby. Thankful for any advice or clarification!
Although probably it is still upto the soundcard of your pc, I would say you would need an amp for headphones that have more than 150 ohms of impedance. I drive my 660s (150ohms) by my 2014 macbook pro and everything works fine. But I do get hard time if the song I am listening to has low recording volume.
Hey man Zen is Amp/DAC combo so don't worry about getting anything else with your 560S :) But yeah, you need both if that's what you're asking. DAC does the digital to analog conversion, amp amplifies for your ears (amongst other things). homestudiobasics.com/the-best-dac-chip-in-headphone-audio/ and here's the beginner guide :) homestudiobasics.com/what-is-a-usb-dac/
Thanks man was thinking about you wondering where you are. Do I ever cross your mind, in the warm sunshine? LMAO that just came to my head as I was typing: ua-cam.com/video/Q9JMwIQKwtc/v-deo.html
Is it good to use between my TV and stereo speakers? Or should I look for a different DAC? The audio source would be either a DVD or game console. That goes into my TV, then the dac and active speakers
Hey bro! Quick question! I ended up getting the HD6xxs and IFi Zen dac after watching your vids and other research and they were life changing, I was wondering if there is a way to use them as gaming headphones along with the ifi zen dac? And connect to an Xbox or PlayStation. Any info you have on this would be helpful!
Yeah man the V2 is compatible with consoles but I don't know about PS5 or the newer sex box. All you have to do is a firmware update for V2 and it's plug and play USB into my PS4. homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-zen-v2-upgraded/
@@HomeStudioBasics so I got rca to 3.5 mm jack and hooked that up to my monitor and my ifi zen dac v1 as well as connected an external power source but I’m not getting any signal. Am I doing something wrong?
Hey man, i finally got my Zen DAC V2 + HD 560S after digging your channel for quiet a while! I do have a question though: Are there any complete setup tutorials for newbies? I did install the software and everything but now im wondering which sample rate and bit depth to use in shared mode? (Advanced tab in the speaker properties) Default is 32 bit, 48000 Hz (Studio Quality). When i use this, my DAC LED color never changes whatever format im listening too (Qobuz vs Spotify). So i tried to get color changing to make sure its working. The only time its changing is when im listening to 24 or 32 bit with 192000 hz setting. When i do this, every listening session on my computer makes my DAC light white (Spotify, youtube, games, general use whatever). When i listen on Qobuz now, my DAC changes back to the out of the box yellowish green color, no matter what format im listening to on Qobuz (MP3, CD, 24 bit 96000 hz) Back to Spotify its white again. Is this right? I mean its weird! Shouldnt my DAC change colors when i change the quality on Qobuz from mp3 to hi-res? My output is on WASAPI Exclusive Mode and i tried Asio too. I searched the internet for days now, but i cant find help with this. Its pretty hard for a newbie like me to get everything right with the computer settings. I just wanna make sure i get the best possible sound experience out of my setup! I would really appreciate some help!
be very interested in your thoughts on the signature v2 to replace the topping e30. Want a 4v output dac aka balanced. Also thinking od the Topping d30 pro or the new topping E50 looks very interesting as long as it's not super clinical and cold sound rounding, any thoughts?
Yeah for balanced V2 is good. In fact, I'm all for Zens nowadays. Not that I wasn't before, but it's a great product. E30 had some QC issues not sure if they've fixed them but I liked that one as well because of the remote for PS4 on my couch lol. Haven't heard the e50 or d30 yet.
@@HomeStudioBasics thx yes the e30 dac is going fine, bought it used and tested. What I am wondering is if the very new zen dac signature v2 is worth look g at as it's nearly double the price of the standard v2. If ifi have need included some of their high end circuits, etc in it over what is used in the standard v2 then it may very well be worth he price as for a DAC that could satisfy my requirements (you know really satisfy, sorry that latest vid of yours seems to have got to me) esp as it also supports 6.2 v clean pre amp out for amps that can use the extra boost.
@@adrianmorrish8494 There's a video here on UA-cam where someone did the measurements for the Signature vs V2 and what he found was a small amount of difference as far as tuning being altered in the Sig. From his findings he suggested it really wasn't worth the x2 price difference some months ago. Now it's only around $110 difference but just be aware it is only a minor difference in tuning according to the measurement charts he shows. Hope that helps and you can find the video, I'd link if I remembered but sadly I don't...
@@PreacherwithoutaPulpit thanks I ended up replacing the e30 a couple months back with a great deal on a zen dac signature V1 with the power conditioner which btw makes a very ab audible difference to it and a previously loved zen can to go with it.
I can't decide between Zen v2 or the K5 Pro.. I hear the K5 pro is better? The most powerful cans I'll power are my DT990 250s. I am going to order the 560s I know I don't need an amp/dac but I want to bring the audio outside the motherboard
Hey man it's honestly a toss up as far as single ended sound, but if you are planning to run balanced then I'd go with the Zen. K5 Pro is a tad more versatile otherwise, but look here as well: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-fiio-k5-pro-vs-jds-atom-vs-bravo-ocean/
Hello! You always reply to me and I really appreciate it. My Tone 2 Pro died as I was updating it with the ST-Link Tool. I still have the e30(but the optical jack got stripped. Use it for the TV). I’m NOT going to buy another Tone 2. I wasn’t impressed with the MQA and I don’t use my Sundara’s any longer. Ok. Is this DAC good enough? I see it only has USB inputs. Maybe save up for an SMSL DAC? Thanks
Can't go wrong with a Zen!! But yeah if you need something with optical or coax the K5 Pro is still my best choice for versatility. homestudiobasics.com/fiio-k5-pro-amp-dac-review/
Hi Stu, what would be the music service you recommend? I am using Spotify, trialling Amazon music HD. I'm listening through Topping DX3 Pro+, ifi Go link, headphone is Focal Clear. Cheers
Hey man! It's basically a toss-up sound-wise, but K5 Pro is more versatile in every aspect except it can't run balanced. So that should factor in if you plan to run with balanced headphones. homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-fiio-k5-pro-vs-jds-atom-vs-bravo-ocean/ I will say it's kind of hard to decide between them even now because ifi just came out with the V2 which can plug right into a PS4. So it gained some ground in the versatility dept. there.
Great video again bro. Your experience of the V2 matches mine. Upgrading from the V1 to V2 I thought I noticed some clarity improvements albeit marginal. I haven’t yet been able to upgrade the FW on my V2 unit due to technical issues to compare it to the GTO FW that my V1 had been upgraded to as I’ve noticed one or two “differences” in my listening experiences which I want to pin down as I have a complicated setup. It’s freed my V1 up to be a portable device which is great as I can get the awesome Zen sound when I’m working away! Win win! On the style of vid yeah I’m always happy with your format. You always like to change it up and it’s fun almost not knowing how a vid is going to be presented to you on the day. The outro was not really my kind of music so I tended not to listen to it closely but I’m sure many do like it and it was a trademark of your videos so if you wanna put an outro back in then I’d be a big supporter of it as music lovers are a diverse bunch which is what I love. By the way I Managed to bag myself a Darkvoice recently and having fun tube rolling it. I still come back to the Zen DAC/CAN regularly though as it is my goto sound. Fed by the Zen DAC V2 the Darkvoice does sound pretty darn good though and has brought my HD6xx’s to life. Maybe something to look at in future bud!
Thanks man! I would like to listen to some tubes more. My friend has a Crack which I've demoed before (not his actual crack though lol). Zen is great though and it is kind of a go-to along with K5 Pro. I think those 2 are the most important entry/mid-level dacs still along with G6.
Yoyo great video! So Im looking for a good quality bluetooth receiver for my Yamaha HS50M monitors but cant really decide between the Audioengine B1 vs iFi Zen(v1 or v2). Any thoughts?
Hey man thank you! Haven't heard the B1 but have heard the D1. I remember the D1 being a pretty warm-ish sound. The Zen is fairly similar but perhaps a tad less warm. The Zen isn't a bluetooth receiver though haha. You may be thinking of the Zen Blue?
So this or the k5pro? Can you give some pros and cons? (Recent owner of k5pro and hd6xx and don't want to feel buyers remorse for not having the extra bass button 😅)
Just keep K5 Pro man it's great! homestudiobasics.com/fiio-k5-pro-amp-dac-review/ Here's my comparison/shootout: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-fiio-k5-pro-vs-jds-atom-vs-bravo-ocean/ To be honest, I don't use the bass button all that much. Sometimes. I'm a former bass head turned neutral homie. LOL. K5 Pros (lol): Everything. There's nothing I don't like about it. Could be a tad heavier, but that's a nitpick. Zen Cons: No inputs. Not as versatile as the K5 Pro but if you get the Zen V2 it does work with consoles so the race between K5 Pro and Zen is a photo finish but K5 Pro wins for me. Let me know if that helps!
@@HomeStudioBasics thanks man :). Enjoying the move to the 6xx after having the ath m50 for almost 10 years. I feel like I was deaf, but now I can hear... as you said, these could possibly be endgame headphones for the avg. music listener. Keep on making awesome content!!! You're the best 🤙
Nice! I had my M50 for 5 years before giving it away. Felt it was time for someone else to have a chance. Only fond memories! :) Thank you so much for the love my friend and will do..
Hmm. That's pushing it for sure now even with the console compatibility. Probably just go with K5 Pro at $150 as it's more versatile anyway. homestudiobasics.com/fiio-k5-pro-amp-dac-review/
Hey, what about the channel balancing? My zen dac v1 unit does suffer from a lower volume on the left chanel (the software and firmware are up to date). Did they solve this with the V2? Thank you!
I have topping e30 dac pair with topping a50s amp and use with hifiman ananda. But really want to taste the mqa. What is your opinion if i sell my topping amp and dac and get this ifi zen dac v2?
Thx for the review . but what do u recommend for the Sennheiser HD 560s Zen DAC v2 or fiio k5 pro . my main usage gonna be gaming then watching movies I don't listen to music a lot so I don't care about it . just want ask which one have wider sound stage and better imaging . and thx in advance
Hey man, it's a toss-up really. The K5 Pro is a bit more versatile so I recommend it more often. If you need those extra features, go for it. Sound-wise they are so close it really doesn't matter much to me. homestudiobasics.com/fiio-k5-pro-amp-dac-review/ Def keep me posted with questions. I see them quicker on the site :)
Was looking for a deal on zen dac But then out of blue got a used k5 pro for just 80$ so just can't let that go. Don't have any balance cable headphones so how's the deal??? Or should I exchange it with a zen??
Yeah man if you want to run balanced that's the only thin that the K5 Pro doesn't do. I keep mine around because of how versatile it is, but I also keep both.
Hey man, I need your help, I just bought the hifiman sundara and now I want to have a desktop dac/amp because my current gear is a DAP fiio m9 with a schiit magni 3 (the first version) and now I want to listen to music from my computer, not from the DAP. The thing is that I don't know if the zen dac v2 or the fiio K5 pro are an upgrade. In case I buy the zen dac would it be a good idea to use it with the magni 3? or should I go for a different dac/amp?
You could use the Zen + Magni if you needed more power. The K5 Pro + Sundara may be too much warmth so I would go for something a bit more neutral. Zen is like a cross between warm and neutral on its own. Not sure how it sounds with the Magni. Zen V2 is never a bad purchase. homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-zen-v2-upgraded/
I take you are familiar with the ASR measurements? What's your stance on this? Because I read contradicting things about the Zen (both versions) with regards to power and cleanliness. I guess for anything up to 300 Ohm including entry planars it's fine regardless of measurements?
your review help me lot. thank you. 2022 zen v2 and G6 which one better? i play fps game and watch movie but i don't want to use any g6 EQ. is g6 still good?
Definitely G6 for gaming or K5 Pro. G6 if you need a mic and I also think it's a bit better for spacing with the 3D button but I still use the K5 Pro with my ps3. G6 with PS4 as it's not compatible with PS3. I think the V2 is overpriced right now and edited the article to reflect that change: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-zen-v2-upgraded/
Hey bud! What’s the 4.4 balanced used for? CAn I buy an adapter for my headphone 3.5 and plug it there or my computer speaker? Which is a klipsch. Thanks
Hey man, it can do output to balanced monitors/speakers. The front input is for balanced cables only so no adapters for speakers or headphones. Which headphones do you have?
@@HomeStudioBasics I have a Bose headphones but should be getting my 6xx in a few days. The klipsch computer speakers are attached to the back of the zen v2 with a 4.4 adapter
Hello! I just bought a Zen Dac V2 and it does not allow me to control the volume of Windows 10 (on the OS), I can only do it from the Dac wheel. Please could you tell me if this can be modified? I already installed all the software and firmware versions and I couldn't fix the problem. Maybe there is some software or firmware that can fix the problem. Thanks!
I know this is an older vid but I really enjoy your reviews, I am entering into the audiophile world. My wallet is not particularly happy about it but oh well gotta pay to play lol. Okay, my question is how does this stack up against the K7?
Thank you! Hopefully coming out with some new videos here soon. K7 is a much better value. If you're interested in why I don't recommend the Zen anymore, definitely check these out: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-series/ and homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-dac-3-review/
I drive my HD660S balanced with this bad boy and I actually had to turn off the power match because of how loud it is. Couldn't even ramp it up to 10 o'clock without wincing. I know they are 150 ohm but I just can't imagine it not being able to drive 300+ ohm headphones with power match turned on.
Some friendly advice: try to move the camera up so it is either straight at you, or even looking down slightly. Looking up into anyone's nose is never ideal. Overall too dark and very distracting reflection in your glasses. Lastly, you sit quite still, so perhaps if you can on your camera, turn off the autofocus as it easily goes in and out.
Thank you for your Videos man, really informative. I never owned a DAC before so I have a question I use my very old Lexicon U22 for Music listening and with recording software like abelton using My midi interface as I am a pianist , I don't need mic inputs or record any instruments aside from MIDI. am I gonna benefit from using the iFi zen V2 or better just get a scarlett 2i2 3rd gen ??
Try turning the volume knob on high gain without any music playing when it’s powered on. I can hear a slight static/disturbance on my band new V2 especially on the 4.4mm connector (HD 660S). The dealer tells me it’s a non issue and is common with most Pots. Can you replicate this with your unit?
I was also hearing some static noise on my IEMs this morning. Turns out that if I keep my palm on the dac , all noise goes away. How do I remedy this? It might be due to improper ground connection in the house wiring, but I have no way of changing my wiring right now. Any thoughts?
@@apoorvasharma7 Are you using just the USB or a good power supply? I've found in my house I have to use wall warts or apple phone chargers via my UPS to get rid of it. Hope that helps even though I'm very late to comment...
@@PreacherwithoutaPulpit It was just a lack of earthing in the particular plug. I connected the ups to a earthed socket and the scratchy pot noise went away
i don't see why not but dont' quote me. When it comes to mixers I'm all software so sorry I can't be of more help. Was thinking about trying one though.
Sry it's the first time I buy a dac and amp, will do I need a power supply cable when connecting it to my phone? And one more thing, how does the dac affect the sound quality when connected to an amp?, I mean the amp and dac have different sound signatures. Btw: You said that it is possible to connect the zen dac to ps4, is it also possible to connect it to a PS5? Also can you connect an amp to the zen dac when connected to a ps4/ps5? If possible, this would be AWESOME! 😎
Hey man not sure I'd use a Zen with a phone as it's more of a desktop homie. A DAC does the main conversion of digital to analog but it can have an effect on sound via it's DAC chip as well as other factors including filtering, power supply but most notably its analog output stage. The thing is, 99% of Amps and DACS sound really good so in my mind choosing in the budget to mid-fi category is like closing your eyes and just pointing at one. As for PS5 I'm not too sure about that but will ask the rep :)
Nice setup my guy maybe throw the mic above ya outta the way n drop a remix on the outro keep it original as always. Curious if the zen is as warm as the hip dac n comparison? N dope video on the 560s I'd said before love my 599 if I could breed it with the k702 n get that stage itd b on point.
@@HomeStudioBasics true story intimacy or staging pick your poison lol. Hip dac definitely a little too warm prefer nx4. Gosh I love my gear...I mean my sound. Jk love em both
HAHA! YOU TAKE THAT BACK! YOU EDIT YOUR REPLY. xD Nah man I mean it's all about the gear and arguing about it too. Can't forget about that. Just make sure everyone knows you're right and they're wrong. Lol.
I purchased this and if you I go past 12 o'clock it starts to distort. I don't think it is my files or headphones. I am using the USB to power it so that might be the reason Any suggestions besides it's me would be appreciated
So if I’m understanding you right, the Zen 2 fully unfolds the MQA file, which the original with only a firmware update could not do. Can you actually hear the difference?
@@Clout_chasing_boy then why tout it as an upgrade? I’ve read it is as well, but there are others who say differently. How do you know unless you try and listen to it decoded?
@@slinkybandinky2775 i have heard mqa on several occasion fully decoded. Its great. The only issue is the drm like qualities for unfolding it. Its marketing bs. Its not lossless. Qobuz is far better.
@@chefsteve8381 that is certainly plausible. I guess the bottom line is whether it sounds better. The original Zen changed colors when MQA was playing. Is that part of the scam?
Had cracking noises on the pc with the zen v2 ( by switching songs or start and pause a song/video) cracking and hissing on the ps5. The problem seems to be known on reddit ifi itself refers to a software update. Which doesn't help at all... I sent it back. The sound was clear in the highs & crisp, but the lows seemed more subtle to me than on my other devices.
So are v1 & v2 different? Does it makes sense to buy used v1 instead of v2? (V1 used Cost about 150$,in my country v2 is ~220$ or smth like that) I mean does it different in sound? I’m rly in far love with music and I’m playing games on pro lvl too,so they’re truly important for me,so I just want to know,would I get a sound that costs overpaying? Or even would I get better music & gaming sound?
Hey, sorry for the noob question, but do I even need a dac if I have a Raspberry Pi Streamer with HifiBerry OS and DAC2 HD Top Hat on it? Would it do any good to me?
Finally got my first stack, skipped the Zendac and got the Topping E30 for its preamp to use with my little xduoo hybrid amp. I have a Zen Can as my main amp linked I to it and to me it sounds really good with my 6xx's and hopefully will with my Sundara when I get it. I read 2 articles back to back the other day one saying the zen is great for higher impedence but no good for low I pedence headpho es, the next 100 opposite 🙄
@@HomeStudioBasics I've been reread ing the specs of the Zen Can, it can produce significantly more power to low impedence devices in SE compared to balanced and the reverse applies, is that normal? Also why does the topping L30 need 3.7v RMS to express maximum power, almost seems that the signal voltage governs the gain on it rather than the normal power supply to the opp amps or is it a discrete design and does that effe t such things, just when I thought I was getting my head around this stuff 😜
Thank you so much for this comment. I have never understood the "underpowered" bull sh** polluting the internet about this thing for the last few years. I'm fully convinced people's hearing is badly damaged.
Great review !!! I have a weird question. Do you have the power supply that comes with the signature ifi ? The one that if you want to buy separate comes around 130 $ . If you have it did you notice any improvements between having no power supply and just use it with only usb and using it with the power supply?
OK here we go the amp takes the AC and converts it to DC any electrical noise is totally removed at this point, so power purifiers do nothing, the only potential difference could be increased current pressure IF the amp dosent just regulate it.
@@HomeStudioBasics have you seen ifi now have a signature for hifiman, so if I have the 6xx and sundara I buy two then, sounds very reasonable to me 😂😂😁
Damn, I was hoping you'd compare these two amp-dacs. It doesn't sound like I need to upgrade from V1 to V2. Your channel helped me decide whether I should get HD600 and Zen DAC. I too have read some people online claiming this combo doesn't sufficiently feed the HD600, but I came to a conclusion those people must have their hearing completely destroyed. I run them balanced and usually listen to them turned to 1 o'clock. Plenty of volume there. The power match button is not needed. BTW, my 2nd hand HD600 sound more bassy than my brand new HD650 (yeah, I've got them too. I couldn't resist a good deal. It happened so quickly :-). I know the previous owner had the HD600 for a few years. Could this be the case of the "burn in" I keep hearing about? I can't really complain, both pairs sound amazing. It's just weird. :-)
It does not. Try to listen to classical music, which is usually recorded at lower volumes and bigger dynamic. But probably its enough for modern, loud and compressed music.
@@michaskuba3356 well, I believe you. But there is a very slim chance I'll listen to classic music. It's a good point, though. On the other hand, I will slap a compressor on a classic track in a heart beat. 😁
I'll be frank the only issue I had with both the intro and outro was the volume transition its a bit too loud for me but about the quality its really good just decrease the volume slightly!!
I'm in love with this device, but I still claim it does something funky with the DT 990 pro after 1-2 o'clock :) Have asked the manufacturer, that made me buy a crappy audio optimizer that makes it even worse...
Hm weird. A few people have mentioned this but I've had many Zens of differing flavors and types here and none of them have had that issue. In fact, the original has been here since 2019 and I'm about to get a couple more V2s (for giveaways) because I love the Zen so much.
Hey, just a little bit of info about people saying "it's underpowered". First of all, a headphone being loud enough does NOT necessarily mean it is powered enough. You seem to imply in your review here that simply because the volume output is good, that the headphone is adequately powered. My planars get loud plugged into an iPod shuffle but they don't sound good bro. Great and concise review other than that
i mean it might be low powered if youre running 600 ohm cans through them but considering most people top out at 300 then it should be fine. also this drives iems ootb without turning down the volume so that is a huge plus. kinda the achilles heel of my sp200
Yes exactly. It warms my heart all the comments I've been getting about "Why is everyone saying it's under-powered." Clearly it's not if your hearing isn't torched.
im having a hard time deciding if i want the zen or get the thx 789/Grace Design Standard DAC. somebody help me decide please! as of now i have a soundblaster g6 with the. spend the extra money on the 789??? i have the dt177x go by the way.
I would highly consider swapping out. They may even just send you a V2 if you ask nicely enough and ship back the V1. Someone just told me this. Another reason why I really like iFi.
Two questions Firstly, I want to pair this dac/amps with hifiman sundara in balance mode , is that a good match? Secondly, how do you charge this dac/amp?
Yes! Just get balanced 4.4 for your Sundara. No need for a charge as you can run it off bus power but some like to plug it into wall power as well. I think iFi provides a cable for that.
Hey. I revived my Tone 2 and update the firmware to V1.3. They’ve added a third setting to the GAIN section. Low/High/and now PREAMP. Check this out: ua-cam.com/video/yj__olZd1oc/v-deo.html
You don’t charge it at all. You can: 1. Run it off your Mac/PC 2. Run it off a Powerbank 3. Run it off an iPhone with a USB 3 dongle or 4. Run it off an android phone with type C cable.
iFi could have saved themselves a lot of headache by calling the high/low gain actually what it is instead of "Power Match". I wonder how many people can't figure that out for themselves while listening to the DAC. Granted I only own up to 150ohm HD 6XX and until I get the Sundara my hardest to drive planars are the OG HE4XX w/2.5mm at the cups, which are not hard to drive but to me I can't get past about 1 o'clock on high gain or with the "Power Match" turned on. I mean I of course can if I wanted to make my ears bleed from volume not quality of sound. I've tried it and yes it hurt but even maxed I could hear no distortion and it was extremely loud as in intolerably loud. Maybe I'm just trying to re-affirm my purchase but I've been trying to find a replacement with a BB DAC chip in it and unless I want to spend around $1k there's nothing with even close to the features of the Zen V2. If you buy the breakouts/splitters for that back 4.4 you then have two outputs on the back to use as either fixed or variable one of which is of course balanced. I want to find something better but also don't want to spend upwards of $1k...
Yeah they definitely have some strange terminology for things plus why did they just randomly up the price from $160 to $190? An extra $30 for console compatibility with the V2 was fine, but another $30 on top of that for no good reason is head scratching.
YES! I was waiting for someone to comment on that. Freaking love that movie. Roddy actually signed that poster. I met him at a wrastling convention in 2013 or 2014. Can't remember lol.
its actually really funny there are 2 version of the og zen dac if you have the later model of the v1 you basically have the zen dac v2 without the MQA so basically its a better zen dac v2 so yeah .....
i'm using K5 Pro with my HyperX Cloud II 24/7 thesedays sounds really good, made my cloud 2 sounding like it jump up another hundred bucks, tighter bass, warmer sound, more resolution to the mids unlike the thin sounding USB adapter now i just rest my Sundara to the side and wear them occasionally because its heavier and less comfortable, but they sound damn good gotta skip this ifi zen v2 and save for Fiio K9 Pro instead to pair with my Sundara while the K5 stays with the Cloud 2
Hey friends! What do you think about the new setup?! I'm still tweaking things and playing with angles/lighting, but I think this will be the new spot for a while as I got tired of having to bring my laptop and Yeti into the other space + the way I had to set it up was super ghetto and not at all ideal. I tried a shotgun mic but didn't like the results. I may try one again in the future with a better camera body and higher quality shotgun, but I really love the scissor arm. :)
looking good!
Dude, it’s fine with me either way. Except you seemed a little melancholy on this one. Hope things are well with you.
Good but I think the lighting is too low, see es to be behind and down onto you, probably varies with time of day/weather.
This set up is pretty good but the overall video is dark, also just a nitpick but if u can hide the mic that would be cool aswell.
@@adrianmorrish8494 Yeah the next one is way brighter lol. Was using "warm" for this one, but the light needs to be closer for that. Still tweaking and trying different angles because of the glare on the background.
The Shaggy Man Of Audio, emerges..... Enjoy your content, Introes and outros are all good....
Thanks man!
The whole Zen line has always seemed like great value to me. Enjoyed the video.
Thanks man! Love them! In fact, I'm going to try and get 2 more here lol.
4:24 “It’s not me, it’s you.” - Home Studio Basics, 2021
LMAO. 😅
Great review, the zen dac does struggle with planars and high impedance headphones thats why the zen can exists .
Thanks man! Still think that's overblown tho.
@@HomeStudioBasics the zen dac cannot drive my Argons or my DT880 600 ohm properly thats why i got the zen can.
Right, and I mentioned 600 ohm in the video lol.
This review is exactly my observations specially regarding the power, i was driving it with my phone and it was driving more than adequately at 50 percent the power and over that it was over baringly loud. It sounded super clean and the xbass is like a loudness switch adds richness to the overall experience !!
That wonderous volume knob reminds me of being 10 years old and turning on my Dad's 70s amplifier and putting on a record.
It's such a great knob!
@@HomeStudioBasics please stop saying that I am British u know what that means right I keep giggling like a kid 😂😂😂
@@adrianmorrish8494 such a smooth round knob. the best thing to caress
@@tosvus gdamn I thought those pictures had been removed, oh right the amp yeah, err looks good
Outro was cool homie. Distinctive touch!
Thanks friend !
is it worth getting ifi ZEN Dac V2 over Fiio K5 pro ESS?
This dude is an amazing reviewer
Thanks man!
Fine review. Thanks!
Thanks man! You in the market?
@@HomeStudioBasics I hope to be in a few months. The dentist is holding my wallet ransom for the time being.
Super reviews. I have a dragonfly cobalt and i would like to know you re opinion if getting a zen dac would be an upgrade. I ordered a zen stream and i would either stick the cobalt or buy a zen dac. Cheers!
Hey man thank you! Probably not an upgrade but the Zen is definitely more versatile. I mostly use my DF Red as a DAC so it for sure comes in handy a lot. Don't own the Cobalt but did a comparison awhile back: homestudiobasics.com/audioquest-dragonfly-red-vs-cobalt-vs-chord-mojo/
@@HomeStudioBasics , yep great comparison. I miself would not have bought the cobalt if it wasn’t for a great deal that made it comparable to the red. Like your take on audiophilia, don’t believe all the hype! 👍
Thanks man!
If you use this DAC on your PC, lets say with a Sennheiser HD 560S, so you still need an AMP, or is the DAC enough? kinda new to the hobby. Thankful for any advice or clarification!
Although probably it is still upto the soundcard of your pc, I would say you would need an amp for headphones that have more than 150 ohms of impedance. I drive my 660s (150ohms) by my 2014 macbook pro and everything works fine. But I do get hard time if the song I am listening to has low recording volume.
This is a dac amp combo. Unless you're using really hard-to-drive cans you'll be fine with just this
Hey man Zen is Amp/DAC combo so don't worry about getting anything else with your 560S :) But yeah, you need both if that's what you're asking. DAC does the digital to analog conversion, amp amplifies for your ears (amongst other things). homestudiobasics.com/the-best-dac-chip-in-headphone-audio/ and here's the beginner guide :) homestudiobasics.com/what-is-a-usb-dac/
@@HomeStudioBasics Thanks for the guide and clarification! I appreciate it!
should i buy this to my headphones that have 28ohms??
Yeah that will be fine. Also look at the Sensitivity rating I find that helps more in determining if a headphone needs a lot of juice from an amp.
@@HomeStudioBasics thanks bro
The old outro was fire, your rap was great. How are them grandkids? Don't give up.
Yeah, bring the rap-outro back!
Thanks man was thinking about you wondering where you are. Do I ever cross your mind, in the warm sunshine? LMAO that just came to my head as I was typing: ua-cam.com/video/Q9JMwIQKwtc/v-deo.html
Is it good to use between my TV and stereo speakers? Or should I look for a different DAC?
The audio source would be either a DVD or game console. That goes into my TV, then the dac and active speakers
We loved the review! But some fancy E-boy lighting would’ve helped this look abit better😅
Thanks! Still tweaking lighting as per pinned comment.
How does this compare to the SoundBlasterX G6
Is this a good pairing with the DT770 250ohm? how is the bass boost?
Hey man. Bass boost is really dependent on the song. Some songs it really works well, others it sounds terrible. 770 with Zen is fine.
@@HomeStudioBasics appreciate the reply man, thanks.
Hey bro! Quick question! I ended up getting the HD6xxs and IFi Zen dac after watching your vids and other research and they were life changing, I was wondering if there is a way to use them as gaming headphones along with the ifi zen dac? And connect to an Xbox or PlayStation. Any info you have on this would be helpful!
I think you can use the V2 with PS/Xbox but double check me on that.
Yeah man the V2 is compatible with consoles but I don't know about PS5 or the newer sex box. All you have to do is a firmware update for V2 and it's plug and play USB into my PS4. homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-zen-v2-upgraded/
@@HomeStudioBasics so I got rca to 3.5 mm jack and hooked that up to my monitor and my ifi zen dac v1 as well as connected an external power source but I’m not getting any signal. Am I doing something wrong?
Have any plan to review Apos caspian?? Looks pretty interesting 😍.
Yeah supposed to get one soon!
This or the topping d50s to pair with the a50s? Please and thank you.
Hey man haven't heard D50S yet :)
@@HomeStudioBasics Thank you for the reply and the honesty.
I ended up ordering the ZEN V2 because it's newer, has good reviews and extra features.
high distortion on 60% volume
what to do ?
Send back get a replacement there should be zero distortion (I've never had an issue).
Hey man, i finally got my Zen DAC V2 + HD 560S after digging your channel for quiet a while! I do have a question though: Are there any complete setup tutorials for newbies? I did install the software and everything but now im wondering which sample rate and bit depth to use in shared mode? (Advanced tab in the speaker properties) Default is 32 bit, 48000 Hz (Studio Quality). When i use this, my DAC LED color never changes whatever format im listening too (Qobuz vs Spotify). So i tried to get color changing to make sure its working. The only time its changing is when im listening to 24 or 32 bit with 192000 hz setting. When i do this, every listening session on my computer makes my DAC light white (Spotify, youtube, games, general use whatever). When i listen on Qobuz now, my DAC changes back to the out of the box yellowish green color, no matter what format im listening to on Qobuz (MP3, CD, 24 bit 96000 hz) Back to Spotify its white again. Is this right? I mean its weird! Shouldnt my DAC change colors when i change the quality on Qobuz from mp3 to hi-res? My output is on WASAPI Exclusive Mode and i tried Asio too. I searched the internet for days now, but i cant find help with this. Its pretty hard for a newbie like me to get everything right with the computer settings. I just wanna make sure i get the best possible sound experience out of my setup! I would really appreciate some help!
Bruh im a newbie too so i cant help but the creator just liked your comment and dipped lol
I will be in your shoes today when my hd560s and v2 arrive...
@@ducky-o7y Enjoy! I still love them since day 1 and have no plan to upgrade!
be very interested in your thoughts on the signature v2 to replace the topping e30. Want a 4v output dac aka balanced. Also thinking od the Topping d30 pro or the new topping E50 looks very interesting as long as it's not super clinical and cold sound rounding, any thoughts?
Yeah for balanced V2 is good. In fact, I'm all for Zens nowadays. Not that I wasn't before, but it's a great product. E30 had some QC issues not sure if they've fixed them but I liked that one as well because of the remote for PS4 on my couch lol. Haven't heard the e50 or d30 yet.
@@HomeStudioBasics thx yes the e30 dac is going fine, bought it used and tested. What I am wondering is if the very new zen dac signature v2 is worth look g at as it's nearly double the price of the standard v2. If ifi have need included some of their high end circuits, etc in it over what is used in the standard v2 then it may very well be worth he price as for a DAC that could satisfy my requirements (you know really satisfy, sorry that latest vid of yours seems to have got to me) esp as it also supports 6.2 v clean pre amp out for amps that can use the extra boost.
@@adrianmorrish8494 There's a video here on UA-cam where someone did the measurements for the Signature vs V2 and what he found was a small amount of difference as far as tuning being altered in the Sig. From his findings he suggested it really wasn't worth the x2 price difference some months ago. Now it's only around $110 difference but just be aware it is only a minor difference in tuning according to the measurement charts he shows. Hope that helps and you can find the video, I'd link if I remembered but sadly I don't...
@@PreacherwithoutaPulpit thanks I ended up replacing the e30 a couple months back with a great deal on a zen dac signature V1 with the power conditioner which btw makes a very ab audible difference to it and a previously loved zen can to go with it.
I can't decide between Zen v2 or the K5 Pro.. I hear the K5 pro is better? The most powerful cans I'll power are my DT990 250s. I am going to order the 560s I know I don't need an amp/dac but I want to bring the audio outside the motherboard
Hey man it's honestly a toss up as far as single ended sound, but if you are planning to run balanced then I'd go with the Zen. K5 Pro is a tad more versatile otherwise, but look here as well: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-fiio-k5-pro-vs-jds-atom-vs-bravo-ocean/
Hello!
You always reply to me and I really appreciate it.
My Tone 2 Pro died as I was updating it with the ST-Link Tool. I still have the e30(but the optical jack got stripped. Use it for the TV). I’m NOT going to buy another Tone 2. I wasn’t impressed with the MQA and I don’t use my Sundara’s any longer. Ok.
Is this DAC good enough? I see it only has USB inputs. Maybe save up for an SMSL DAC?
Thanks
Can't go wrong with a Zen!! But yeah if you need something with optical or coax the K5 Pro is still my best choice for versatility. homestudiobasics.com/fiio-k5-pro-amp-dac-review/
Hi Stu, what would be the music service you recommend? I am using Spotify, trialling Amazon music HD. I'm listening through Topping DX3 Pro+, ifi Go link, headphone is Focal Clear. Cheers
Do you think it has enough power for Beyerdynamics HD880 600 Ohm? Theoretically, nnbalanced out is for 12-300 Ohm...
hmh, so you say it's worth buying over the k5pro?
Hey man! It's basically a toss-up sound-wise, but K5 Pro is more versatile in every aspect except it can't run balanced. So that should factor in if you plan to run with balanced headphones. homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-fiio-k5-pro-vs-jds-atom-vs-bravo-ocean/ I will say it's kind of hard to decide between them even now because ifi just came out with the V2 which can plug right into a PS4. So it gained some ground in the versatility dept. there.
I’ve been am eyeing the cayin c9 any chance you will ever review it?
Perhaps man!
would 250 ohm be fine with this?
I personally prefer the toned down you, thank you for your review sir
My pleasure man thanks for stopping by!
Great video again bro. Your experience of the V2 matches mine. Upgrading from the V1 to V2 I thought I noticed some clarity improvements albeit marginal. I haven’t yet been able to upgrade the FW on my V2 unit due to technical issues to compare it to the GTO FW that my V1 had been upgraded to as I’ve noticed one or two “differences” in my listening experiences which I want to pin down as I have a complicated setup. It’s freed my V1 up to be a portable device which is great as I can get the awesome Zen sound when I’m working away! Win win!
On the style of vid yeah I’m always happy with your format. You always like to change it up and it’s fun almost not knowing how a vid is going to be presented to you on the day. The outro was not really my kind of music so I tended not to listen to it closely but I’m sure many do like it and it was a trademark of your videos so if you wanna put an outro back in then I’d be a big supporter of it as music lovers are a diverse bunch which is what I love.
By the way I Managed to bag myself a Darkvoice recently and having fun tube rolling it. I still come back to the Zen DAC/CAN regularly though as it is my goto sound. Fed by the Zen DAC V2 the Darkvoice does sound pretty darn good though and has brought my HD6xx’s to life. Maybe something to look at in future bud!
Thanks man! I would like to listen to some tubes more. My friend has a Crack which I've demoed before (not his actual crack though lol). Zen is great though and it is kind of a go-to along with K5 Pro. I think those 2 are the most important entry/mid-level dacs still along with G6.
Yoyo great video! So Im looking for a good quality bluetooth receiver for my Yamaha HS50M monitors but cant really decide between the Audioengine B1 vs iFi Zen(v1 or v2). Any thoughts?
Hey man thank you! Haven't heard the B1 but have heard the D1. I remember the D1 being a pretty warm-ish sound. The Zen is fairly similar but perhaps a tad less warm. The Zen isn't a bluetooth receiver though haha. You may be thinking of the Zen Blue?
@@HomeStudioBasics Hey, thanks for your answer and yeah I meant the Blue haha my bad. Appreciate it!
So this or the k5pro? Can you give some pros and cons? (Recent owner of k5pro and hd6xx and don't want to feel buyers remorse for not having the extra bass button 😅)
Just keep K5 Pro man it's great! homestudiobasics.com/fiio-k5-pro-amp-dac-review/ Here's my comparison/shootout: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-fiio-k5-pro-vs-jds-atom-vs-bravo-ocean/ To be honest, I don't use the bass button all that much. Sometimes. I'm a former bass head turned neutral homie. LOL. K5 Pros (lol): Everything. There's nothing I don't like about it. Could be a tad heavier, but that's a nitpick. Zen Cons: No inputs. Not as versatile as the K5 Pro but if you get the Zen V2 it does work with consoles so the race between K5 Pro and Zen is a photo finish but K5 Pro wins for me. Let me know if that helps!
@@HomeStudioBasics thanks man :). Enjoying the move to the 6xx after having the ath m50 for almost 10 years. I feel like I was deaf, but now I can hear... as you said, these could possibly be endgame headphones for the avg. music listener. Keep on making awesome content!!! You're the best 🤙
Nice! I had my M50 for 5 years before giving it away. Felt it was time for someone else to have a chance. Only fond memories! :) Thank you so much for the love my friend and will do..
can it drive the sundaras without an amp? on unbalanced.
Oh yea, easily. Only 25 Ohm and over 100dB sensitivity I think 103 IIRC.
@@HomeStudioBasics sundara is 94db and 37 ohm.
Its $190 now. Is it still worth at this price point or would you recommend something else?
Hmm. That's pushing it for sure now even with the console compatibility. Probably just go with K5 Pro at $150 as it's more versatile anyway. homestudiobasics.com/fiio-k5-pro-amp-dac-review/
Hey, what about the channel balancing? My zen dac v1 unit does suffer from a lower volume on the left chanel (the software and firmware are up to date). Did they solve this with the V2? Thank you!
Hey man! I didn't have any issues with imbalance on either of them.
What are your thoughts on mqa?
That's a sticky subject lol. Go to my community tab and scroll down until you see my post on MQA. :)
I have topping e30 dac pair with topping a50s amp and use with hifiman ananda. But really want to taste the mqa. What is your opinion if i sell my topping amp and dac and get this ifi zen dac v2?
Thx for the review . but what do u recommend for the Sennheiser HD 560s Zen DAC v2 or fiio k5 pro . my main usage gonna be gaming then watching movies I don't listen to music a lot so I don't care about it . just want ask which one have wider sound stage and better imaging . and thx in advance
Hey man, it's a toss-up really. The K5 Pro is a bit more versatile so I recommend it more often. If you need those extra features, go for it. Sound-wise they are so close it really doesn't matter much to me. homestudiobasics.com/fiio-k5-pro-amp-dac-review/ Def keep me posted with questions. I see them quicker on the site :)
Was looking for a deal on zen dac
But then out of blue got a used k5 pro for just 80$ so just can't let that go.
Don't have any balance cable headphones so how's the deal??? Or should I exchange it with a zen??
Yeah man if you want to run balanced that's the only thin that the K5 Pro doesn't do. I keep mine around because of how versatile it is, but I also keep both.
great review, question, how does this compare with audioquest dragonfly red? my hp are the k712 and hd650, thanks in advance!
Hey man thanks! DF Red is def more open, crisp, and sterile/clean sounding!
can Zen dac v2 drive The K712 pro and R70X？
R70x probably not but K712 was fine imo.
Bro, Zen v2 will be good combination with PS5 and akg k702?
Absolutely!
Hey man, I need your help, I just bought the hifiman sundara and now I want to have a desktop dac/amp because my current gear is a DAP fiio m9 with a schiit magni 3 (the first version) and now I want to listen to music from my computer, not from the DAP. The thing is that I don't know if the zen dac v2 or the fiio K5 pro are an upgrade. In case I buy the zen dac would it be a good idea to use it with the magni 3? or should I go for a different dac/amp?
You could use the Zen + Magni if you needed more power. The K5 Pro + Sundara may be too much warmth so I would go for something a bit more neutral. Zen is like a cross between warm and neutral on its own. Not sure how it sounds with the Magni. Zen V2 is never a bad purchase. homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-zen-v2-upgraded/
I take you are familiar with the ASR measurements? What's your stance on this? Because I read contradicting things about the Zen (both versions) with regards to power and cleanliness. I guess for anything up to 300 Ohm including entry planars it's fine regardless of measurements?
Hey man I specified in the video my exact stance on the Zen.
your review help me lot. thank you. 2022 zen v2 and G6 which one better? i play fps game and watch movie but i don't want to use any g6 EQ. is g6 still good?
Definitely G6 for gaming or K5 Pro. G6 if you need a mic and I also think it's a bit better for spacing with the 3D button but I still use the K5 Pro with my ps3. G6 with PS4 as it's not compatible with PS3. I think the V2 is overpriced right now and edited the article to reflect that change: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-vs-zen-v2-upgraded/
is there a way to get a laptop and ps5 outputting sound to this simultaneously ?
No not that I know of as it's mostly used as a preamp with other gear and outputs sound.
Hey bud! What’s the 4.4 balanced used for? CAn I buy an adapter for my headphone 3.5 and plug it there or my computer speaker? Which is a klipsch. Thanks
Hey man, it can do output to balanced monitors/speakers. The front input is for balanced cables only so no adapters for speakers or headphones. Which headphones do you have?
@@HomeStudioBasics I have a Bose headphones but should be getting my 6xx in a few days. The klipsch computer speakers are attached to the back of the zen v2 with a 4.4 adapter
You're going to be so happy! Just snag a pair of balanced cables for the 6XX. Bout $50 on amazon.
@@HomeStudioBasics anyone in particular you like? Does the one that come with ok? What would be the major difference? Thanks!!
Hello! I just bought a Zen Dac V2 and it does not allow me to control the volume of Windows 10 (on the OS), I can only do it from the Dac wheel. Please could you tell me if this can be modified? I already installed all the software and firmware versions and I couldn't fix the problem. Maybe there is some software or firmware that can fix the problem. Thanks!
I know this is an older vid but I really enjoy your reviews, I am entering into the audiophile world. My wallet is not particularly happy about it but oh well gotta pay to play lol. Okay, my question is how does this stack up against the K7?
Thank you! Hopefully coming out with some new videos here soon. K7 is a much better value. If you're interested in why I don't recommend the Zen anymore, definitely check these out: homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-series/ and homestudiobasics.com/ifi-zen-dac-3-review/
I drive my HD660S balanced with this bad boy and I actually had to turn off the power match because of how loud it is. Couldn't even ramp it up to 10 o'clock without wincing.
I know they are 150 ohm but I just can't imagine it not being able to drive 300+ ohm headphones with power match turned on.
Is it still good for you and should I get it?
Some friendly advice: try to move the camera up so it is either straight at you, or even looking down slightly. Looking up into anyone's nose is never ideal. Overall too dark and very distracting reflection in your glasses. Lastly, you sit quite still, so perhaps if you can on your camera, turn off the autofocus as it easily goes in and out.
cool thanks
Thank you for your Videos man, really informative. I never owned a DAC before so I have a question I use my very old Lexicon U22 for Music listening and with recording software like abelton using My midi interface as I am a pianist , I don't need mic inputs or record any instruments aside from MIDI. am I gonna benefit from using the iFi zen V2 or better just get a scarlett 2i2 3rd gen ??
Try turning the volume knob on high gain without any music playing when it’s powered on.
I can hear a slight static/disturbance on my band new V2 especially on the 4.4mm connector (HD 660S). The dealer tells me it’s a non issue and is common with most Pots. Can you replicate this with your unit?
I was also hearing some static noise on my IEMs this morning.
Turns out that if I keep my palm on the dac , all noise goes away.
How do I remedy this?
It might be due to improper ground connection in the house wiring, but I have no way of changing my wiring right now. Any thoughts?
Nope, mine is dead quiet.
It's not the pot directly you could change the pot to any expensive or cheap it wouldn't matter.
@@apoorvasharma7 Are you using just the USB or a good power supply? I've found in my house I have to use wall warts or apple phone chargers via my UPS to get rid of it. Hope that helps even though I'm very late to comment...
@@PreacherwithoutaPulpit It was just a lack of earthing in the particular plug. I connected the ups to a earthed socket and the scratchy pot noise went away
is this compatible on audio mixer using 4.4mm to trs cable?
i don't see why not but dont' quote me. When it comes to mixers I'm all software so sorry I can't be of more help. Was thinking about trying one though.
stack it with zen can, do you think it will improve the sound ? if yes, I will buy the zen can and stack with zen dac v2.
Hey man no just adds more power
@@HomeStudioBasics : btw, I'm listening Turnover - Good Nature album. this is really for me. awesooommmeeee...
FREAKING AWESOME ALBUM!!!!! You like peripheral vision?
@@HomeStudioBasics : yeeeesssssssss...
Sry it's the first time I buy a dac and amp, will do I need a power supply cable when connecting it to my phone? And one more thing, how does the dac affect the sound quality when connected to an amp?, I mean the amp and dac have different sound signatures.
Btw: You said that it is possible to connect the zen dac to ps4, is it also possible to connect it to a PS5? Also can you connect an amp to the zen dac when connected to a ps4/ps5? If possible, this would be AWESOME! 😎
Hey man not sure I'd use a Zen with a phone as it's more of a desktop homie. A DAC does the main conversion of digital to analog but it can have an effect on sound via it's DAC chip as well as other factors including filtering, power supply but most notably its analog output stage. The thing is, 99% of Amps and DACS sound really good so in my mind choosing in the budget to mid-fi category is like closing your eyes and just pointing at one. As for PS5 I'm not too sure about that but will ask the rep :)
Is this a step up from the e10k for someone who will specifically be using the hd600?
Hey man not really. There may be a marginal difference but I'd have to do a side by side and I don't have the E10K anymore.
@@HomeStudioBasics thank you for the comment. I settled in the fiio k5 pro in the end I think
fiio k5 pro ESS version next?
Yup should be coming soon!
Nice setup my guy maybe throw the mic above ya outta the way n drop a remix on the outro keep it original as always. Curious if the zen is as warm as the hip dac n comparison? N dope video on the 560s I'd said before love my 599 if I could breed it with the k702 n get that stage itd b on point.
Thanks man! Proximity effect though. It would just turn out sounding too far away again which is what I want to avoid. Zen is not as warm as hip no.
@@HomeStudioBasics true story intimacy or staging pick your poison lol. Hip dac definitely a little too warm prefer nx4. Gosh I love my gear...I mean my sound. Jk love em both
HAHA! YOU TAKE THAT BACK! YOU EDIT YOUR REPLY. xD Nah man I mean it's all about the gear and arguing about it too. Can't forget about that. Just make sure everyone knows you're right and they're wrong. Lol.
I purchased this and if you I go past 12 o'clock it starts to distort. I don't think it is my files or headphones.
I am using the USB to power it so that might be the reason
Any suggestions besides it's me would be appreciated
I don't get any distortion. Could be your imagination or a bad unit.
So if I’m understanding you right, the Zen 2 fully unfolds the MQA file, which the original with only a firmware update could not do. Can you actually hear the difference?
Lol mqa is a scam bro
@@Clout_chasing_boy then why tout it as an upgrade? I’ve read it is as well, but there are others who say differently. How do you know unless you try and listen to it decoded?
@@slinkybandinky2775 i have heard mqa on several occasion fully decoded. Its great. The only issue is the drm like qualities for unfolding it. Its marketing bs. Its not lossless. Qobuz is far better.
@@slinkybandinky2775 ifi paid lots to have the licence for mqa so ya gotta get your moneys worth by pushing it.
@@chefsteve8381 that is certainly plausible. I guess the bottom line is whether it sounds better. The original Zen changed colors when MQA was playing. Is that part of the scam?
Should I buy this or the mayflower mk2. It will be used mostly for PS4/ps5, my headphones are dt 1990, sundara, akg 702
I like the Zen for console but haven't tried the Mayflower.
Have to keep the bars at the end 🍻
Lol BARS!
Been a while brother!
Had cracking noises on the pc with the zen v2 ( by switching songs or start and pause a song/video) cracking and hissing on the ps5. The problem seems to be known on reddit ifi itself refers to a software update. Which doesn't help at all... I sent it back. The sound was clear in the highs & crisp, but the lows seemed more subtle to me than on my other devices.
So are v1 & v2 different? Does it makes sense to buy used v1 instead of v2? (V1 used Cost about 150$,in my country v2 is ~220$ or smth like that)
I mean does it different in sound? I’m rly in far love with music and I’m playing games on pro lvl too,so they’re truly important for me,so I just want to know,would I get a sound that costs overpaying? Or even would I get better music & gaming sound?
Hey, sorry for the noob question, but do I even need a dac if I have a Raspberry Pi Streamer with HifiBerry OS and DAC2 HD Top Hat on it? Would it do any good to me?
Finally got my first stack, skipped the Zendac and got the Topping E30 for its preamp to use with my little xduoo hybrid amp. I have a Zen Can as my main amp linked I to it and to me it sounds really good with my 6xx's and hopefully will with my Sundara when I get it. I read 2 articles back to back the other day one saying the zen is great for higher impedence but no good for low I pedence headpho es, the next 100 opposite 🙄
lol glad you're enjoying it !
@@HomeStudioBasics I've been reread ing the specs of the Zen Can, it can produce significantly more power to low impedence devices in SE compared to balanced and the reverse applies, is that normal? Also why does the topping L30 need 3.7v RMS to express maximum power, almost seems that the signal voltage governs the gain on it rather than the normal power supply to the opp amps or is it a discrete design and does that effe t such things, just when I thought I was getting my head around this stuff 😜
Has anyone else found that the zen sounds better using asio rather than wasapi ?
It drives my 300 ohm 6xx to ear damage levels and the 660s to explosion levels, so yes its got plenty of power !!!
Thank you so much for this comment. I have never understood the "underpowered" bull sh** polluting the internet about this thing for the last few years. I'm fully convinced people's hearing is badly damaged.
Good, im glad, if you want more power get a balanced 4.4mm cable for the headphones on ebay or Amazon
Great review !!! I have a weird question. Do you have the power supply that comes with the signature ifi ? The one that if you want to buy separate comes around 130 $ . If you have it did you notice any improvements between having no power supply and just use it with only usb and using it with the power supply?
OK here we go the amp takes the AC and converts it to DC any electrical noise is totally removed at this point, so power purifiers do nothing, the only potential difference could be increased current pressure IF the amp dosent just regulate it.
@@adrianmorrish8494 I see ..ok thx for replying
I thought he was just referring to the power cable (which you also technically don't need as it runs off bus power).
@@HomeStudioBasics have you seen ifi now have a signature for hifiman, so if I have the 6xx and sundara I buy two then, sounds very reasonable to me 😂😂😁
I saw the shadow ....was waiting for them to pull the trigger...... LMAO
Damn, I was hoping you'd compare these two amp-dacs. It doesn't sound like I need to upgrade from V1 to V2. Your channel helped me decide whether I should get HD600 and Zen DAC. I too have read some people online claiming this combo doesn't sufficiently feed the HD600, but I came to a conclusion those people must have their hearing completely destroyed. I run them balanced and usually listen to them turned to 1 o'clock. Plenty of volume there. The power match button is not needed.
BTW, my 2nd hand HD600 sound more bassy than my brand new HD650 (yeah, I've got them too. I couldn't resist a good deal. It happened so quickly :-).
I know the previous owner had the HD600 for a few years. Could this be the case of the "burn in" I keep hearing about? I can't really complain, both pairs sound amazing. It's just weird. :-)
Lol yup, even without balanced you're not turning it past 1 or 2. The only reason to get V2 is if you want to use with PS4.
It does not. Try to listen to classical music, which is usually recorded at lower volumes and bigger dynamic. But probably its enough for modern, loud and compressed music.
@@michaskuba3356 well, I believe you. But there is a very slim chance I'll listen to classic music. It's a good point, though. On the other hand, I will slap a compressor on a classic track in a heart beat. 😁
I'll be frank the only issue I had with both the intro and outro was the volume transition its a bit too loud for me but about the quality its really good just decrease the volume slightly!!
I agree lol. I will fix that for next time. It's actually -5 dB but probably could come down a bit more. I suppose I mixed that beat rather loud idk.
I'm in love with this device, but I still claim it does something funky with the DT 990 pro after 1-2 o'clock :) Have asked the manufacturer, that made me buy a crappy audio optimizer that makes it even worse...
Hm weird. A few people have mentioned this but I've had many Zens of differing flavors and types here and none of them have had that issue. In fact, the original has been here since 2019 and I'm about to get a couple more V2s (for giveaways) because I love the Zen so much.
Hey, just a little bit of info about people saying "it's underpowered". First of all, a headphone being loud enough does NOT necessarily mean it is powered enough. You seem to imply in your review here that simply because the volume output is good, that the headphone is adequately powered.
My planars get loud plugged into an iPod shuffle but they don't sound good bro.
Great and concise review other than that
I think you're more referring to "synergy."
i mean it might be low powered if youre running 600 ohm cans through them but considering most people top out at 300 then it should be fine. also this drives iems ootb without turning down the volume so that is a huge plus. kinda the achilles heel of my sp200
Yes exactly. It warms my heart all the comments I've been getting about "Why is everyone saying it's under-powered." Clearly it's not if your hearing isn't torched.
but u know that v2 is like forever old?
idk
Bogos Binted?
i like it!!
Thanks man!
im having a hard time deciding if i want the zen or get the thx 789/Grace Design Standard DAC. somebody help me decide please! as of now i have a soundblaster g6 with the. spend the extra money on the 789??? i have the dt177x go by the way.
Hey haven't heard the 789. My overall rec is the K9 Pro though homestudiobasics.com/fiio-k9-pro-review/
My Zendac v1 used to plug in to play pubg mobile on my Sony 1Am2 that's awesome.
Nice!
@@HomeStudioBasics
Unfortunately can't update to link with Play Station like v2
I would highly consider swapping out. They may even just send you a V2 if you ask nicely enough and ship back the V1. Someone just told me this. Another reason why I really like iFi.
@@HomeStudioBasics
I don't think this will work in Malaysia. 😂
Two questions
Firstly, I want to pair this dac/amps with hifiman sundara in balance mode , is that a good match?
Secondly, how do you charge this dac/amp?
Good question.
My Tone 2 Pro has balanced out and 3.5mm too. The only difference I could hear was a gain boost
Do you have a opinion on if the hifiman sundara matches well with this dac /amp?
Yes! Just get balanced 4.4 for your Sundara. No need for a charge as you can run it off bus power but some like to plug it into wall power as well. I think iFi provides a cable for that.
Hey. I revived my Tone 2 and update the firmware to V1.3. They’ve added a third setting to the GAIN section. Low/High/and now PREAMP.
Check this out: ua-cam.com/video/yj__olZd1oc/v-deo.html
You don’t charge it at all.
You can:
1. Run it off your Mac/PC
2. Run it off a Powerbank
3. Run it off an iPhone with a USB 3 dongle or
4. Run it off an android phone with type C cable.
iFi could have saved themselves a lot of headache by calling the high/low gain actually what it is instead of "Power Match". I wonder how many people can't figure that out for themselves while listening to the DAC. Granted I only own up to 150ohm HD 6XX and until I get the Sundara my hardest to drive planars are the OG HE4XX w/2.5mm at the cups, which are not hard to drive but to me I can't get past about 1 o'clock on high gain or with the "Power Match" turned on. I mean I of course can if I wanted to make my ears bleed from volume not quality of sound. I've tried it and yes it hurt but even maxed I could hear no distortion and it was extremely loud as in intolerably loud. Maybe I'm just trying to re-affirm my purchase but I've been trying to find a replacement with a BB DAC chip in it and unless I want to spend around $1k there's nothing with even close to the features of the Zen V2. If you buy the breakouts/splitters for that back 4.4 you then have two outputs on the back to use as either fixed or variable one of which is of course balanced. I want to find something better but also don't want to spend upwards of $1k...
Yeah they definitely have some strange terminology for things plus why did they just randomly up the price from $160 to $190? An extra $30 for console compatibility with the V2 was fine, but another $30 on top of that for no good reason is head scratching.
Loving the They Live poster. John Carpenter is a master of his craft.
YES! I was waiting for someone to comment on that. Freaking love that movie. Roddy actually signed that poster. I met him at a wrastling convention in 2013 or 2014. Can't remember lol.
That's amazing! Love that guy. RIP.
Hi, is the zen Dac v2 a much better option over the fiio k3s? I am looking at buying an amp/dac for my ie300 and hd 700. Thank you.
Yes I'd get the V2 over K3 if I had the choice. I don't use the K3 that much although it's still a fine unit.
its actually really funny there are 2 version of the og zen dac if you have the later model of the v1 you basically have the zen dac v2 without the MQA so basically its a better zen dac v2 so yeah .....
Interesting!
Please lower the “music” volume. I listen with headphones..
Stuuuu
Stuuuuu
Stuuuuuuuuuu
ua-cam.com/video/Q9JMwIQKwtc/v-deo.html
@@HomeStudioBasics blocked in my country on copyright grounds.. 😂
LFO - Girl On TV
Bro… u gotta keep the bars! Maybe a twerk sesh every now and then! 💪🏽🙏😃
LMAO. BARS incoming on today's video!! (58X) so get READY!!! xD twerking soon lol.
Stu-Eeeeeeee!!!!!
HI Frank! Bashed any faces in today?
Not yet, but I would happily bash one for a pair of HD 650's.
LOL. We can arrange that. Meet me In NYC.
I do not need the zen - I got a fender deluxe reverb.
i'm using K5 Pro with my HyperX Cloud II 24/7 thesedays
sounds really good, made my cloud 2 sounding like it jump up another hundred bucks, tighter bass, warmer sound, more resolution to the mids unlike the thin sounding USB adapter
now i just rest my Sundara to the side and wear them occasionally because its heavier and less comfortable, but they sound damn good
gotta skip this ifi zen v2 and save for Fiio K9 Pro instead to pair with my Sundara while the K5 stays with the Cloud 2
hey, how are your grandchildren?
Hey man they are well! It's rainy today so we're staying inside even though they insist on playing outside in the pouring rain :)
MQA is a marketing scam. I would rather have Bluetooth 5.0 with LDAC support and a remote.
cool!
How are your grandchildren?
Annoying the crap out of me xD They're yelling and running around the house and I can't hear myself think.