PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING 1) Be kind and courteous to one another in the comments.it's fine to have different opinions, Remember that we are not all the same! 2) No URLs or # Please; It will be delete it automatically by UA-cam! 3) For Daily Content, News from the Audio World and my Blog Please visit my social accounts: linktr.ee/madaudio
I had Ifi Zen AIR Phono for over a year. I felt the need to upgrade because I started to feel "dryness" with Air . So I started testing and in them: CA Solo, Pro Ject Phono Box S2, Rega Fono MK5 and Gram Slee SE 2. Only when I connected the latest IFI ZEN PHONO 3 did I understand that the previous preamps did not have this TRANSPARENCY, smoothness, juiciness and softness with well-perceptible details that do not irritate the ear. ZEN 3 stayed with me and my setup and I am very very happy 😇 CXA81/MA Silver 100 7g/Cardas 101 Speaker/Cardas Iridium interconnect/MP-110h/Technics 1200 MK2/dope electronic & groovy balearic music 🌊🌊
There is no problem with your scent. I understood everything you said clearly. I appreciate your review. I’m trying to buy my first preamp. I deciding from the zen phono 3 and pro-Ject box s2 ultra. I have a Sumiko Reiner planing to upgrade the stylus to the Olympia or Moonstone. I listen to Salsa, Sade, Guadalupe Pineda, Miles Davis, Jose Jose, 80s music. Thank you for your suggestions. Have a good day/ evening.
Good review. Thank you. And you have a new subscriber here. Am I correct in interpreting your review, is that, if you have a Zen 2 there is no need to upgrade unless going to a MC cartridge? I have Zen 2 with Rega Planar 3 with the Exact MM cartridge, is there any benefit going to the Zen 3?
Thank you, a better versatility with MC cartridge is probably the bigger benefit, overall ZEN 3 will bring more transparency, details and imaging if this is what you are looking for. In my case with Argon Audio TT4 and 2M BLUE i was fine with ZEN 2 smoothness. It is subjective, hope this helps.
i have Audiolab 7000a, Technics SL1210GR(with AT-VM540ML) and Dali Oberon 5 speakers. Currently using the built in Phono spage in the 7000a. would you expect the Zen 3 to provide me a better sound if I use this instead of the built in 7000a? thanks
I spoke about it in my 7000a review, even the original ZEN Phono is far superior to the integrated 7000a phone stage! Just let me know if you have the chance to test it, absolutely worth to try out👍🏽
@@MadAudiofficial iniatial impressions using the Zen3 (on a well known vinyl) are very good. I beleive I am picking up new details. Immediate improvement in silent areas (I had some pickup noise before). So looks like a definate keeper :) - not tried the subsonic filter yet, not 100% sure on it's use tbh.
Ciao Mad avevo preso il Zen dopovaver vosto e rivisto varie prove ma nn mi aveva mai colpito ,sembrava andare meglio il phono dell'Audiolab 6000 .Avendo 2 giradisci ho optato per il Goldnote ,veramente eccellente .grazie per i video
Thanks for the review, i like your way of expressing the sound experience you have. If i only have MM cartridges, do you think the 3 is worth buying over the air version?
@klauskaan6320 I had Ifi Phono AIR for over a year. I felt the need to upgrade because I started to feel "dryness" with Air. So I started testing and in them: CA Solo, Pro Ject Phono Box S2, Rega Fono MK5 and Gram Slee SE 2. Only when I connected the latest IFI ZEN PHONO 3 did I understand that the previous preamps did not have this TRANSPARENCY, smoothness, juiciness and softness with well-perceptible details that do not irritate the ear. ZEN 3 stayed with me and my setup and I am very very happy 😇
Brother, that's great, but I have a question to ask. Is it easy for the ifi Zen Phono to jump from 2nd gear to 4th gear when adjusting the gain switch, for example? It takes a lot of care to fluctuate to 3rd gear.
I have rega p6 playing through integrated phono stage on gym moon 240i - into sonus faber sonetto 1 My cartridge is dynavector 10x 5 high input - would this match well or should I go moon 110 or rebar aria All suggestions welcome
@@peterdarroch2849 ok now i understand, you are using the internal MM input of your Moon integrated amp, i am not a fan of integrated phono stages but i didn’t test your amp! Btw the Dynavector is an MC cartridge with a recommended load impedance of 1 Kohms, something that you can’t properly have on the 240i since is coming with a input impedance of 47Kohm! For sure move to Zen Phono will change something, do you notice some how that your setup is bright or fatiguing? What about noise floor, is good?
@@peterdarroch2849 if you have the possibility to test ZEN phono 3, please let me know what you think about it, try the MC high input with 1Kohm impedance! Ifi products are easily accessible and with Amazon you can send them back if you are not happy with! But i am sure you will, just let me know please, i am also interested👍🏽
Man, I understand you have accentuated noise for demonstration purposes but I do believe you have a problem with RFI, EMI and mains hum in your system. Sort out your cables, separate low level signal cables from mains cables and use shielded cables where possible. Use balanced connections from the (MC) cartridge to the phono stage and the phono stage to your amp.
Also, if you don't mind me saying so, I'm not in the least bothered by your Italian accent but there are a couple of things that really hurt my ears and one of them is 'knobs'. The k in knobs is silent, like in 'know, 'knife', 'knit', 'knock', 'knight' etc. So it's pronounced 'nobs'. Also, knobs are the things that you tend to turn to adjust. The push only things are called buttons.
PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING
1) Be kind and courteous to one another in the comments.it's fine to have different opinions, Remember that we are not all the same!
2) No URLs or # Please; It will be delete it automatically by UA-cam!
3) For Daily Content, News from the Audio World and my Blog Please visit my social accounts: linktr.ee/madaudio
I had Ifi Zen AIR Phono for over a year. I felt the need to upgrade because I started to feel "dryness" with Air . So I started testing and in them: CA Solo, Pro Ject Phono Box S2, Rega Fono MK5 and Gram Slee SE 2. Only when I connected the latest IFI ZEN PHONO 3 did I understand that the previous preamps did not have this TRANSPARENCY, smoothness, juiciness and softness with well-perceptible details that do not irritate the ear.
ZEN 3 stayed with me and my setup and I am very very happy 😇
CXA81/MA Silver 100 7g/Cardas 101 Speaker/Cardas Iridium interconnect/MP-110h/Technics 1200 MK2/dope electronic & groovy balearic music 🌊🌊
Thank you very much for sharing your experience & Setup with us👍🏽
Bruh! Your English is so good!
I wish my Italian was 1/4 as good!
Nice review too!
Grazie!!
@@mathtrixmusiclix4248 Thank you very much, you are some of the few to say this usually I receive some critique about my Italian accent!
@@MadAudiofficial nah brother. You’re the best!!🇨🇦
There is no problem with your scent. I understood everything you said clearly. I appreciate your review.
I’m trying to buy my first preamp. I deciding from the zen phono 3 and pro-Ject box s2 ultra. I have a Sumiko Reiner planing to upgrade the stylus to the Olympia or Moonstone. I listen to Salsa, Sade, Guadalupe Pineda, Miles Davis, Jose Jose, 80s music.
Thank you for your suggestions.
Have a good day/ evening.
@@PedroLopez-yo7nr Thx for sharing, i love Salsa, i still dance Cuban Salsa when i have time👍🏽
Very good explanation of your findings. It makes sense. Thank you!
Thx for watching 👍🏽
🤗 THANKS MAD,FOR SHARING THIS FOR THE AUDIO COMMUNITY 💚💚💚
Thx for watching 👍🏽✌🏽
@@MadAudiofficial WELCOME 🤗
Thanks for your advice - I have the 2m Blue and was in two minds regarding whether the upgrade would be worth the expense - I have my answer now 🙂
Good review. Thank you. And you have a new subscriber here. Am I correct in interpreting your review, is that, if you have a Zen 2 there is no need to upgrade unless going to a MC cartridge? I have Zen 2 with Rega Planar 3 with the Exact MM cartridge, is there any benefit going to the Zen 3?
Thank you, a better versatility with MC cartridge is probably the bigger benefit, overall ZEN 3 will bring more transparency, details and imaging if this is what you are looking for. In my case with Argon Audio TT4 and 2M BLUE i was fine with ZEN 2 smoothness. It is subjective, hope this helps.
i have Audiolab 7000a, Technics SL1210GR(with AT-VM540ML) and Dali Oberon 5 speakers. Currently using the built in Phono spage in the 7000a. would you expect the Zen 3 to provide me a better sound if I use this instead of the built in 7000a? thanks
I spoke about it in my 7000a review, even the original ZEN Phono is far superior to the integrated 7000a phone stage! Just let me know if you have the chance to test it, absolutely worth to try out👍🏽
@@MadAudiofficial Thank you for your quick reply. Zen 3 ordered :D
@@daveparker862 please keep me updated as soon you get this ✌🏽💪🏽👍🏽
@@MadAudiofficial iniatial impressions using the Zen3 (on a well known vinyl) are very good. I beleive I am picking up new details. Immediate improvement in silent areas (I had some pickup noise before). So looks like a definate keeper :) - not tried the subsonic filter yet, not 100% sure on it's use tbh.
Ciao Mad avevo preso il Zen dopovaver vosto e rivisto varie prove ma nn mi aveva mai colpito ,sembrava andare meglio il phono dell'Audiolab 6000 .Avendo 2 giradisci ho optato per il Goldnote ,veramente eccellente .grazie per i video
Goldnote è un altra categoria di prezzo, io ho venduto il PH-10 purtroppo e sono rimasto con il Parasound JC3+
Thanks for the review, i like your way of expressing the sound experience you have. If i only have MM cartridges, do you think the 3 is worth buying over the air version?
Thank you very much, never tested the Air unfortunately!
@klauskaan6320 I had Ifi Phono AIR for over a year. I felt the need to upgrade because I started to feel "dryness" with Air. So I started testing and in them: CA Solo, Pro Ject Phono Box S2, Rega Fono MK5 and Gram Slee SE 2. Only when I connected the latest IFI ZEN PHONO 3 did I understand that the previous preamps did not have this TRANSPARENCY, smoothness, juiciness and softness with well-perceptible details that do not irritate the ear.
ZEN 3 stayed with me and my setup and I am very very happy 😇
Brother, that's great, but I have a question to ask. Is it easy for the ifi Zen Phono to jump from 2nd gear to 4th gear when adjusting the gain switch, for example? It takes a lot of care to fluctuate to 3rd gear.
Any idea how to change load from 100pf (default) to 200pf
Afaic since 100pf is default, pressing that button selects 200pf
Nice Review.. Enjoy..
Thank u👍🏽
I have rega p6 playing through integrated phono stage on gym moon 240i - into sonus faber sonetto 1
My cartridge is dynavector 10x 5 high input - would this match well or should I go moon 110 or rebar aria
All suggestions welcome
Why would you like to replace your phono amplifier?
@@MadAudiofficial
No I am using phono for MM only in integrated Moon 240i
Wondering if this is a good upgrade
@@peterdarroch2849 ok now i understand, you are using the internal MM input of your Moon integrated amp, i am not a fan of integrated phono stages but i didn’t test your amp! Btw the Dynavector is an MC cartridge with a recommended load impedance of 1 Kohms, something that you can’t properly have on the 240i since is coming with a input impedance of 47Kohm! For sure move to Zen Phono will change something, do you notice some how that your setup is bright or fatiguing? What about noise floor, is good?
I find it warm and detailed - noise floor really quiet - only need to turn volume up higher than previous MM cartridge - which was Linn Adikt
@@peterdarroch2849 if you have the possibility to test ZEN phono 3, please let me know what you think about it, try the MC high input with 1Kohm impedance! Ifi products are easily accessible and with Amazon you can send them back if you are not happy with! But i am sure you will, just let me know please, i am also interested👍🏽
Man, I understand you have accentuated noise for demonstration purposes but I do believe you have a problem with RFI, EMI and mains hum in your system. Sort out your cables, separate low level signal cables from mains cables and use shielded cables where possible. Use balanced connections from the (MC) cartridge to the phono stage and the phono stage to your amp.
Yes many noise problems, was as you said an accentuated test, btw PRO-JECT PHONO BOX RS2 review is coming with a full balanced setup!
Also, if you don't mind me saying so, I'm not in the least bothered by your Italian accent but there are a couple of things that really hurt my ears and one of them is 'knobs'. The k in knobs is silent, like in 'know, 'knife', 'knit', 'knock', 'knight' etc. So it's pronounced 'nobs'. Also, knobs are the things that you tend to turn to adjust. The push only things are called buttons.
No problem at all, thx for the advice on this👍🏽
@@MadAudiofficial Ciao da Atene, Grecia.
@@MadAudiofficial Btw for a higher end fully balanced stage from the same stable you could check out the Musical Fidelity M6x Vinyl.