The iFi Zen Phono Review. $189 Magic Box vs Pass Labs, MoFi and Icon Audio! Make your Vinyl SING!
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- #IFIZEN #VINYL #HIFI
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Today I review the iFi Zen Phono Pre-Amp and boy did this one surprise me. I compare it against a Mobile Fidelity Studio, an Icon Audio PS1 MKII and a Pass Labs XP-15. The results shocked me to say the least.
This is something I can recommend all day, every day. It's a $189 phono pre amp that truly plays with the big boys in the phono pre-amp marketplace, and I have some pretty nice ones on hand here.
iFi makes some tremendous bang for the buck pieces and this one is astonishing for the price.
Enjoy!
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Got to agree here with this review.
I tested the Zen against the Mani, Graham Slee SE2,and the Rega Fono .
The Zen is unbelievably cheap for what you get sound wise, it's almost too good to be true.
Slam, bass, dynamics and it's so quiet noise wise!
What a bargain , well done the folks from iFi!
Just curious, did you test against the Rega Fono Mark II or III? I just got a Mark II used but I'm curious how it stacks up against the iFi.
on what cartridge did you compare the Mani? and on what setting did you put the Mani on? :)
What about having two and running as a monoblocks? Might improve even more
I have used the Schiit Mani for a number of years now and I have to admit that I still have no good reason to change. It just sounds great. It's amazing that it only cost me $129 retail!
I can only agree about the Zen Phono. I bought a Rega Planar 8 with a Hana SL cartrige and the Zen Phono. My plan was to upgrade the Phono amp when I could afford it. After a few weaks of listning on old and new vinyles I am more than pleased. The ifi Audio Zen Phono is amazing. 😁 👍 Douglas. Stockholm, Sweden
vinyls-boo! they are called records!
Great review! I'm ordering Zen Phono based on your review. Thx.
Thanks man, this is why I enjoy watching your videos. I'm trying to build a budget system with a non budget sound.
Schitt Mani, NAD and Pluto..Now the Zen! Thank you for an accurate and entertaining review! I'm using the Zen with a Yamaha CA-2010, Technics SL1210 MK II, Shure M97xE (NOS) going to my 30 year old Acoustic Energy AE2's (brilliant UK Phil Jones designer). Your review was spot on! Maybe upgrade a cartridge. Thank you! I've been an audiophile for 45 years and your reviews are some of the best. Greetings from Phoenix/Arcadia.
I got a Zen this week to replace the phono stage in my Klipsch "The fives" powered speakers (which is no slouch) and wow -big improvement. I agree with your assessment - punches waaay above its weight.
Looking in buying one to sit between my Teac tn-rb turntable and the Klipsch Sixes. Are you still happy with the purchase? :)
Yes, I like it. I think it sounds more punchy than the one in the Fives.
Do you switch it to line in or keep it in phono?
@@my540iyes - yes - the Fives have to be switched to line in when using the Zen. I used rca output but it also has a small balanced output.
@@timd7782 thanks thinking about getting the zen or the puffin
I think you should review the Schitt mani phono preamp - everyone loves it.
I think it’s been discontinued?
Not sold anyway..... I'm looking for it second hand .....
I’m seriously considering getting the zen, my system is very satisfactory, but I’d love to try it!
I have one and the Mani. I think the ifi is better cleaner and more modern design. Love the balanced out. The Mani still sounds really great. At first the iFi sounded a bit sterile to me in comparison. It’s awesome if it’s in remotely the league with these others.
I borrowed one of these from a mate, and to be honest it wasn't that bad. Unfortunately my system showed all it's downfalls but considering it's price it's not a bad investment for budget turntables and MC cartridges.
I thought I was getting great SQ from my Thorens TD150 into the phonostage of my vintage Marantz 2238b but this knocked it out of the park... unbelievable improvement for the price
I have a Audio-Technica AT-LP140XP with a Ortofon blue , I am using this ifi zen plugged into my onkyo tx-nr676 "CD" jacks.. I noticed it was pale using the MM selection switch "1", so i read a few reviews of people moving it to "2" MC High...what a difference..I'm new to the turntable audio,so this is my first set up , i hope this won't mess anything up!!
I have this IFI Zen hooked up to a technics TT with a $300 Audio Technica Shibata cart/stylus playing into a $4000 Prima Luna EVO200 integrated amp through the $2000 Wharfedale Lintons. The IFI fits in very nicely!
Thanks for the price info !
In your opinion, how does the zen stack up to the Schiit Mani 2? I'm in a bit of a quandry here and am cosidering whether it could actually be worth the $250 to replace the Mani 2 with this.
You're a brave man for that call but you gotta call 'em as you sees 'em! Great comments.
Been looking for.a comparison between the ifi and the mofi. Thanks!!!
Question - what tubes are you using on your PS1? Reason I ask is because I also own a PS1, and found that the stock tubes my PS1 came with were atrocious. Drop some telefunken, Mullard, RCA Black Plates (my personal favorite and super affordable!), hell even some JJ 12AX7 into the PS1, along with some quality power supply tubes, and the PS1 will transform to another level! Not to take anything away away from the iFi Zen which is a spectacular punch above its weight class option, but when equipped with quality tubes, I've heard the PS1 compete and hang in there with an Allnic H-1202 and a Sutherland DUO.
My ifi zen blew away in all aspects compared to project tube pre.. and for my listening choice, I like the zen better than parasound jc jr.
parasound designer includes John Crul legendary phono amp designer.
Just an observation - you recommended a enhanced PS and provided a link. When I looked at it on Amazon it can in 9 or 15 V DC versions. Note - the manual with the Zen cautions to not attatch anything above 5 V DC. Am I missing something?
I just checked on Amazon. The iFi SilentPower iPower2 comes in 3 flavors: 5V, 9V and 15V. Perhaps they were out of stock when you looked. You want the 5V version.
Thanks for the great review Sr. I currently own the 225 Wharfedale connected to a Rotel 981 amp and Fluance RT 85 turntable but I think my weak link is my $60 phono preamp which has very little noise so I think I'm going to try something different. Gracias
The iFi Zen Phono preamp has not been available to buy for a loooong time. Maybe it's possible to pick a used one up on ebay, but that's about it.
In my system I found it slightly lacked detail and sounded veiled and so sent it back .The internal phono on my vintage Sony str 6055 sounded noticeably better. Great build quality though and sounds decent enough.
70s stuff had great designers.. My 7015 is 1 class receiver. The modern high end stuff is crap
Really happy with my Zen, and like being able to change the settings if I've got a quiet album pressing, and give it a boost. I bet I'd have to spend a load of cash to get any noticeable improvements over this.
I kinda wanna get one and compare it to my Cambridge audio phono.
Second that
Hey , thank you for this review. I was going to place an order for the Icon tube preamp like what you have to upgrade the Zen,
Ha!! You save me a few thousand buck.. Thank you sir, based on your review, your choices of music to compare the zen to your rig, is what I intend to lister to.
This review saved me time and effort as I may be returning the Icon.. I will just stick with my Zen…
I have the schiit Mani and while it's nice, I would not describe it using words that you used for the ifi zen. The ifi sounds like it would be more engaging, dynamic, quieter, and probably over all superior to the mani. I recently for a few months had a older yba phono preamp in my system and as I suspected far outclassed the Mani. So much more refined and realistic. It's time for an upgrade to get more out of my records, to be sure. I will keep this ifi in mind now. Thanks for the review.
I replaced my mani with the zen. It is an improvement in every way. I will warn you the Zen will sound a little sterile in comparison until you get some burning time on it and you upgrade the power supply. At least that was my experience in my system. When I first got it I was better in most ways but I wasn't sure I was going to keep it because it sounded to clinical/sterile. But now I've had it over a year now and I like it a lot.
Gonna try one vs my vintage Adcom built in phono
The Zen phone sounds better than the phone input on my Mac ma252 amplifier
Thanks for the review, very nice.
Went ahead and ordered it. I have the mani, a cheap tube phono amp- this will be nice to put in the rotation. Why not at $189?
Thanks for the great videos. Did you experience any noise coming from yours? Mine connected to my R8 produced a lot of background noise.
My unit is dead quiet
great review, this unit trumps the 'ol schiit maní imo. I got rid of mine.
Seems to be the prevailing opinion
Thanks for this review.
Hi Steve, how does it compare with the built in phono stage in the sprout?
Thanks great affordable choice! I have a ifi headphone amplifier and love it.
What about the Subsonic filter?
I wish I could try it b4 I buy it
I just ordered one. After I sold my ps audio separates with a built phono stage, I picked up a NAD pp2 phono preamp to use with a VPI HW19 turntable with an audio quest tonearm and an AT440mla cartridge. My Cambridge Audio Azur 840a integrated doesn't have a phono input. I never enjoyed the NAD compared to the PS Audio. It sounded flat and boring, and I've suffered through it for 14 years. I can't wait to try the zen phono. Digital streaming is still lacking for me musically. I hear clarity, but a wall of sound that doesn''t sound line music to me. I still remember the dimensionality and music that would touch my soul with analog. I hope the zen brings it back after 14 years of nad of nothingness
Great review! Thank you!
I’m planning on using this in my system from RT85 with the orto blue going into this then rca into my axa35 and xlr when I get a freya and parasound power amp into my elacs currently at the b6.2 looking into either the unifi or the debut reference
Nice to hear and with a 3000 $ cartridge 😮
I'm sold thanks
Hi There I have an audio technica AT LP 120 with a built in pre amp. I want to get the info zen. I read a review that this preamp does little difference with this turntable. Do u recommend taking out the built in pre amp or just going for it and getting this one. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thank u.
you can update your budget system a lot better if he use the iotaVX integrated amplifier and ideally the power amplifier,
integrated I think is $500 power amplifier $200
you should try Tom Evans phono stage a fantastic very low noise 108db just superb, I don't know about the basic model that's about £500 I have the microgroove plus Mk 2 £1000
he does a lot more expensive model what is a preamp as well.
Newb here....Is it too much (overkill) for my Fluance RT85 and budget Edifier bookshelfs? Can I use this as my only preamp with some powered speakers? I don't have a seperate receiver nor do I want one.
Would this work with my s22 ultra? I tried connecting via USB-c and the volume was so low on my receiver compared to Bluetooth.
Looking forward you in depth view on pass lab XP15
Does your vinyl now blow away your digital?
Now test the IFI Zen Air Phono :)
I would like to hear your thoughts on the Mani (vs the ifi zen). I bought the zen with the upgraded power supply based on this review and it sounds bright to me (very) relative to the mani. Not sure if it needs some burn in to mellow out or what but hoping it balances out soon.
Do you have an Audio-Technica cartridge?
what is the setting on the Mani and the Zen iFi when you compared it and on what cartridge?
i have one love it and i do recommend test all ifi zen series product , zen dac v2 with ipower or power x power supply is fantastic same like zen blue v2 fantastic bluetooth receiver best value on market z ifi zen series is seriously on of the best hi-fi series for everybody who want to star building his first hi-fi set , incredible value
i have a question did you connect the zen phono on the sprout 100, i get a horrible hum when i did this ?
So did I understand correctly that you can buy a upgraded DC power supply /cord ? If so does anyone have a link ? I currently have a simaudio moon 110lp v2 preamp and DC24v separate Linear power supply .. but it would be nice to have something different,my moon preamp is to forgiving with some of my 90s rock records !
Zen vs mani please
I have both. The zen is isolating singers voices a little better, places'em right in the middle of the soundstage. When it comes to Instruments the many separates a little better. Overall theres no clear winner. The mani offers a little smoother, sound, for voices, a better tonality.
The ifi and the zen are both exzellent, bang for the buck. I use the manis smoothness to calm down my klipsch heritage Monsters on a vintage Transistor amp. And i Use in another chain the ifi zen to make my BBC spendors more exciting on a highend tube amp. I really like the zen and the mani. No clear winner.
I still prefer the Edwards Audio MM phono for the price
So how good is the IFI Iphono 3?
I'm not going to agree or disagree with you but you know it's funny how subjective this Hi-Fi is because quite a few reviews I've seen of it seem to indicate that it's not that open sounding and it kind of is a bit muffled and it just kind of has like a transistor radio vibe about it when listening to records. I will say I don't buy into any of it because you got to try stuff right and everybody hears different.
I do know it's big brother the iPhono3 is a real cracker of a product and probably in my top three favorite stages I've ever heard.
Thank you for the vide. Why do you need this if you have sprout 100?
I have really enjoy your channel. Your turntable reviews are really entertaining and helpful. That said, please be careful about reviewing for manufactures that have difficulty keeping these items in stock. So you review it and we can't even think about purchasing it. What's the point? If reviewers declined reviews for manufactures that have a track record of running out of stock (as Amazon states: currently unavailable. We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock" tell the companies like ifi "no" please!
Couple of months ago I bought this for $150 usd. I’m using this instead of the phono stage on the Yamaha rn803
And how does it sound over the rn803 now...
I had this unit for 3 weeks then locked unto it's solid state sterility
I just got one at USD154
Too many variables involved in this. Tubes used, cables, cartridges, tone arms and turntables Why so vague?.... I have the Ifi, and it isn't as great as you say it is. It's a great budget choice, but nowhere near the level you rate it.
ifi vs mofi for me mofi destroyed ifi zen phono
I believe you were in shock and out of your mind comparing it to the Pass labs. The only way it could be superior is if you're going by bang for the buck. Not by sound quality. And I see how well you take care of your records Christ and you want to tell other people what they should listen to
Please, please, try as hard as you can : DO NOT USE YOUR HAND TO SPEAK ! Its distracting, your mesage doesnt arrive. !