iFi Zen DAC review

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2020 winner. An accomplished budget digital-to-analogue converter Tested at £129 / $129 / AU$199

iFi Zen DAC review
(Image: © iFi)

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

The iFi Zen DAC is a great budget performer and offers a huge upgrade over the sound of a typical computer

Pros

  • +

    Balanced and detailed sound

  • +

    Good build quality

  • +

    Lots of features

Cons

  • -

    Nothing at this price

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

iFi has built a solid reputation for its well-featured, affordable digital-to-analogue converters. Thanks to a combination of features and sound quality that’s hard to better at the price, the Zen DAC is arguably one of its finest products.

This is a USB-only desktop product that takes power from the computer that’s connected to it. If you need optical or coax this product is not for you, though iFi makes a range of other products that will appeal.

Build

iFi Zen DAC build

(Image credit: iFi)

You don’t need to be near a mains outlet, so it’s possible to use this in the garden or away from the house. It’s not portable in the sense that the Audioquest DragonFly or Cyrus soundKey are – the Zen is about the size of a small paperback, so it’s too large for a pocket. It’s well built with a nicely finished aluminium case and precise-feeling controls.

There’s upgrade potential too, with iFi making an outboard mains power supply called the iPower X (£99/$99), which definitely improves the sound in all areas, but also moves the DAC into desktop-only scenario and a higher price segment.

While we would certainly recommend the upgrade for the future, we think the Zen DAC is a great performer as it is. It’s easy to set up and we get going in a matter of minutes, using the supplied USB cable.

Features

iFi Zen DAC features

(Image credit: iFi)

iFi has always tried to pack as much compatibility as possible into its products and this one is no different.

iFi Zen DAC tech specs

(Image credit: iFi)

Input USB3.0 (USB2.0 compatible)

Output Audio RCA

Output impedance < 1ohm

Dimensions (hwd) 3 x 10 x 11.7cm

Weight 0.8kg

Despite its budget nature, the Zen can handle PCM files up to 384kHz and up to DSD256. It can also decode MQA, which is impressive at this price.

As for outputs, there are 6.3mm and 4.4mm balanced Pentaconn jacks on the front, a stereo RCA line output on the back with another 4.4mm balanced option next to it.

The inclusion of balanced outputs is unusual at this price, but also points to the fact that the Zen’s analogue output stage has a fully balanced layout. There’s a choice of having a fixed or variable output through the line connections, which means that the Zen can operate as a digital preamp in a system if you want to use it that way.

While it’s commendable that iFi has gone to the trouble of implementing such a design, it’s also true that the bulk of price compatible kit that will be partnered with the DAC won’t be balanced or capable enough to make the most of it. Still, that hardly makes the inclusion of such outputs a negative.

Sound

iFi Zen DAC sound

(Image credit: iFi)

iFi has tried to optimise the sound for a wide range of headphones. There’s a button on the front that offers a choice of output levels to take into account the large difference in sensitivity between headphone types, and another that adds a degree of bass boost. This works subtly enough to be useful, adding extra weight and authority to thin or lean sounding cans.

Most budget digital-to-analogue converters aren’t particularly inspiring to listen to and don’t tend to offer much of a step-up over the soundcard of a computer. That’s certainly not the case here.

The Zen DAC clearly outperforms our MacBook Pro laptop easily, sounding clearer and more detailed. We listen to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and are impressed by the iFi’s expressive dynamics and its ability to reproduce the piano’s harmonic richness convincingly. The leading edges of notes are precise but not over etched, and there’s a good sense of authority to the sound.

Tonally, this is a well-judged unit, having just the right degree of smoothness at high frequencies to prevent low bit rate or thin-sounding music streams from getting annoying. We like the openness of the presentation and its generally even-handed nature.

We switch to Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly and the Zen responds with enough in the way of punch and rhythmic drive to keep us listening. There’s a good amount of insight, so we can follow Lamar’s flow, and a decent dose of composure to keep this dense recording sounding organised. Such things aren’t a given at this level.

Verdict

Compare the iFi with price rivals and it’s clearly up there with the best when it comes to sound quality. But it also offers a degree of versatility that those rivals don’t. If you’re looking for a well-built, budget desktop DAC, this iFi should be top of your list.

SCORES

  • Sound 5
  • Build 5
  • Features 5

MORE:

Best DACs 2020

Read our iFi Zen Blue review

Read our Cyrus soundKey review

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


Read more about how we test

  • hybridauth_Facebook_100000759563588
    Personally, having lived with one on a PC for 6 months, using streaming media, along with a mains adapter - I think this Zen DAC is fantastic value for money.
    Reply
  • Gray
    hybridauth_Facebook_100000759563588 said:
    Personally, having lived with one on a PC for 6 months, using streaming media, along with a mains adapter - I think this Zen DAC is fantastic value for money.
    Certainly a friendly price - the sort l like to see.
    Anyone looking for a USB DAC would be mad not to consider it (it's quirky shape is not it's best feature though).
    Reply
  • djh1697
    Does the iFi DAC do a full MQA unfold? Does it support DSD?
    My March DAC will do DSD64, which is mind blowing! I use it as a Roon Endpoint, which I guess the iFi will also do?
    Reply
  • stefano-mbp
    iFi should clearly declare in the ZEN dac specs that it is only an MQA renderer, not a decoder, thus it will not be able to perform MQA unfolding if you don’t use a software to perform the first unfolding (like Tidal app, Audirvana, …).
    It is very disappointing this kind of misleading information by iFi.
    Reply
  • djh1697
    Roon does the first MQA unfold, so it should be able to produce full MQA?
    Reply
  • Moree Spingato
    How does this compare with Schiit Modius?
    Reply
  • pef99
    I've had one of these in my desktop setup since the beginning of 2020 (Dell desktop>iFi ZEN>denon DM41+Sub). I mostly listen to high res files via Qobuz (up to 24/96), as well as my own downloads on iTunes. It sounds fantastic both through my system and as a headphone amp. In the latter role it comfortably drives my Sennheiser HD 580's as well as a pair of AKG K 550's. The ability to use it it fixed or variable output modes is useful in this respect, as is the hi/lo gain button, which I usually leave on high. Even the Bass Boost button is useful, giving a subtle but through lift to the lower frequencies, though I rarely need it, The one thing I would say is that, though you can just run it from the USB feed from the PC, it does sound much better if you use an external power supply, giving the sound more solidarity and weight. It's even better if you use iFi's own low noise power supply; it really gave the sound more focus and weight, when I added it. A fantastic little unit! Looking forward to picking up aZen blue for my main Hifi, as i have balanced inputs on my amp. I'll probably try the new Zen Phono on my desktop system too, to replace the Rega Fono Mini I'm currently using...
    Reply
  • d1versify
    pef99 said:
    I've had one of these in my desktop setup since the beginning of 2020 (Dell desktop>iFi ZEN>denon DM41+Sub). I mostly listen to high res files via Qobuz (up to 24/96), as well as my own downloads on iTunes. It sounds fantastic both through my system and as a headphone amp. In the latter role it comfortably drives my Sennheiser HD 580's as well as a pair of AKG K 550's. The ability to use it it fixed or variable output modes is useful in this respect, as is the hi/lo gain button, which I usually leave on high. Even the Bass Boost button is useful, giving a subtle but through lift to the lower frequencies, though I rarely need it, The one thing I would say is that, though you can just run it from the USB feed from the PC, it does sound much better if you use an external power supply, giving the sound more solidarity and weight. It's even better if you use iFi's own low noise power supply; it really gave the sound more focus and weight, when I added it. A fantastic little unit! Looking forward to picking up aZen blue for my main Hifi, as i have balanced inputs on my amp. I'll probably try the new Zen Phono on my desktop system too, to replace the Rega Fono Mini I'm currently using...
    Hey man. I found a 5v/3a for 6 euros. You think I should get the official ifi one? Is it that much of a difference?
    Reply
  • djh1697
    I have to say that the choice of 5 stars for sound quality was premature by WHF, I purchased one of these DACs from a local retailer, and the service from the retailer cannot be faulted.

    However, there is a serious design flaw! When using Roon (or Tidal) playing an MQA track results in a popping noise when the unit switches to or from MQA mode. I spoke to iFi in Southport who said they are aware of the issue! I have raised a ticket with then, but if this is not resolved I will be taking the unit back for a refund, a great pity really!

    The power supply upgrade will not resolve the issue.

    A positive note, MQA does sound great, perhaps I'd place below a FLAC stream, maybe slightly higher than DSD
    Reply
  • Geepstar
    Ok, for a lot people it will be an upgrade. But 'strange' enough not for me. I have a RME Fireface UC, that doesn't do MQA or DSD, but I used Audirvana for testing (and next to in also an Ifi iDSD that just came out). Both the Ifi Zen Dac AND the Ifi had less detail and sharpness, while the RME Fireface is 'limited' to 192 kHz 24BIT and as I said, doesn't do MQA unfolding, but apparently the software unfolding (also tested on Tidal Master with same outcome) didn't do as much as just a better sound chip. And it wasn't just a little bit, it was quite a difference. Both on MQA and DSD64. Strange? Or does the RME is a different leage because it is a bit more expensive too?
    Reply