Zen dac vs schiit stack update#

I’ve been gaming with it since I received the comment below from “Ale” and having a blast! If you game and watch a lot of film, the Zen V2 is perfect. Just go here, use the dropdown, find Zen DAC V2, and follow the prompts!

Zen dac vs schiit stack update#

What’s even cooler is that iFi just released a firmware update allowing you to use the Zen V2 with your Playstation via USB slot. The subject of MQA has been a hotly debated topic of late, and let’s just say it’s kind of complicated. In that case, I would just go with the original. Listeners who don’t run Tidal may not need this one. If you do run MQA through Tidal, then yeah, it may be worth it to get the V2. There were a few instances where I felt like the V2 version was a tad more refined/clear, but it could have just been my imagination and/or a placebo in thinking the roughly $30 increase in price makes the V2 sound better. It’s mostly just some component upgrades and upgrading it to an MQA decoder rather than just a renderer.”

Lawrance, the rep iFi told me through email, They’re likely just word vomiting and/or trying to fill up blank space.

If you’re hearing is damaged beyond repair, sure, it may not have enough power.īut for people who value their ears, it’s just fine.īe wary of people who try and describe the sound of a DAC using lots of word salad. I’ve never had to push it past that for any reason, so the underpowered claims tend to be over-exaggerated. With power match on, you’ll be around 12-2 ‘o clock with most headphones. Some people (who will not be named) have accused the Zen of being underpowered, but I personally have always felt like that was a load of horse shit. In fact, I’ve demoed 50+ Amps & DACS at the time of this writing and there aren’t many I’d consider demonstrably better than a Zen – iFi’s Diablo included. I still believe this is one of the best purchases a budding audiophile can make when just starting out in the hobby. The sound of the original Zen was smooth and detailed with a touch of warmth – utilizing iFi’s favorite Burr Brown chip. Just plug it in and it’s ready to go immediately. I’ve always used bus power from my laptop. Keep in mind you don’t technically need a power supply to run the Zen. The back reveals the same RCA outputs, USB 3.0 socket, and DC 5V power jack. On the front, we’ve got a power match, TrueBass, a 4.4mm balanced input as well as your standard 1/4″ jack. The polygonal-inspired volume pot is still a dream to turn, and all connections feel solid and robust. I said it in 2019 and I’ll say it again, The Zen is one of (if not the best) built products I’ve ever tested and what’s astonishing is how well it’s built for the price.Ī lot of cheaper products have build qualities to match, but the Zen is rather hefty and durable coming in at just a shade over a pound (1.08 lbs.)

Power Consumption: No Signal – 0.5W, Max Signal – 2.5Wįirst, we’ll get into the build if you’re not familiar with this product.

Output Impedance: 113dBA (3.3V UNBAL/6.2V BAL).

Output: Audio RCA (UNBAL), 2.1V fixed, 1V/3.3V max.

DAC: Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC By Burr Brown.

Input: USB3.0 B Socket (USB 2.0 Compatible).

PowerMatch Adjustment for iEMs/ On & Over Ears.

Analogue Outputs: 6.3mm Unbalanced / 4.4mm Balanced / RCA.

Digital Inputs: USB 3.0B (USB2.0 Compatible).

Price: Check Amazon! | Check B&H! Features

There’s a new and improved low jitter clock with > 20dB better performance.The Zen V2 now uses the 16-core XMOS Chip which allows the product to fully decode MQA and run DSD256 on the same firmware due to the extra processing power of the chip.So right off the bat, the packaging and accessories are the same.Įverything is the exact same except for a few things: Just act like I included the RCA to RCA cable in the first picture. Limited 1-Year Warranty ifi Zen Amp/DAC V2 (Upgraded) IFi AUDIO Zen DAC Desktop USB DAC and Headphone Amp Let’s take a look at the specs and what’s in the box: In The Box Zen V2 (Upgraded) and find out what the differences are. Stuart Charles here, helping YOU make sound decisions leading to a beautiful audio experience that will make you fall in love with music ( NOT gear), all over again, so… Shout out to Lawrance and the folks over at iFi for their continued support in sending this demo unit!