IFI AUDIO – Tonezone Audio

IFI XDSD GRYPHON

saher — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 07:53:49 +0000

Fantastic Beasts. Here’s where you find them.

Portable DAC/amps tend to be compromised because they focus on a great digital OR a great analogue section. But not both. The xDSD Gryphon is different. Just like its mythical namesake, it is two beasts in one.

From the Ultra-Res digital stage using the Burr-Brown MultiBit at the core to the PureWave analogue power section pumping out 1,000mW and other things in-between, it takes serious headphones to tame the Gryphon.

Well-connected

Separate Bluetooth + DAC + amp stages: each optimised for maximum performance
Digital sources via USB, S/PDIF or Bluetooth
Analogue sources via 4.4mm or 3.5mm inputs

Brilliant Bluetooth. Hi-Res Wireless.

Using the latest QCC 5100 series Bluetooth v5.1 as the starting point, for wireless connectivity, the xDSD Gryphonis at the bleeding-edge when it comes to the latest formats:

aptX Adaptive and aptX HD
LDAC and HWA/LHDC
regular aptX and aptX Low Latency
AAC
SBC (plain vanilla Bluetooth)

Not only this but the above is on the iFi digital platform where each section is distinct. So QC5100 for reception > Global Master Clock for jitter > Burr-Brown for DAC conversion. More effort but that’s why our wireless gives wired a run for its money.

USB & S/PDIF. Wired to the nines.

In terms of wired connectivity, the xDSD Gryphon handles all the formats using a hybrid Burr-Brown DAC chipset which is the same as used in our £3,000 flagship, the Pro iDSD Signature.

Rest assured that all the following latest formats are catered for but most importantly, are pushed to their zenith.

On USB:

PCM (768/705.6/384/352.8/192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1 kHz)
DSD (512/256/128/64)
DXD (768/705.6/384/352.8kHz)
MQA (Decoder)

On S/PDIF

PCM (192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1 kHz)
DoP

Balance of Power

The xDSD Gryphon uses our PureWave amplification circuitry. It has 1,000mW at 32 Ohms. With a whopping max 6.7v output, bring on the high impedance headphones because the Gryphon will not break a sweat driving them.

This is plenty to drive all manner of headphones. The 4.4mm Balanced is the best for balanced playback. The 3.5mm S-Balanced will max SE headphones. And your premium high-sensitivity IEMs have not been forgotten either – iEMatch will cut out the hiss.

Tailored to your ears

XSpace adds back the cavernous sound stage of recordings.

XBass II reinstates the missing bass from open-backed headphones or for recordings that you hanker for bass slam. Under XBass II you can select ‘Bass’ and/or ‘Presence’ so that the upper midrange frequencies are correctly added back into your favourite recording.

iEMatch – is our proprietary tech which reduces the annoying hiss from high-sensitivity headphones without losing any dynamic range.

With digital sources, users can choose between three bespoke digital filters via the on-screen menu: Bit-Perfect, Standard and GTO (Gibbs Transient Optimised), each having a fine-tuning effect on sound.

OLED. Seen but not heard.

The OLED display and iFi’s CyberSync operating system combined, usher in a whole new world of user enjoyment – all information from format to battery life is there. Just as importantly, SilentLine technology means the display does not add noise into the system. It can even be set to off if preferred.

We use Qualcomm’s new QCC5100 Bluetooth processing IC in combination with proprietary circuits to create an audibly superior ‘Bluetooth engine’.

All the current high-definition Bluetooth audio formats are supported – Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive and aptX HD, Sony’s LDAC and HWA’s LHDC, regular aptX and aptX Low Latency, AAC (Apple iOS devices) and SBC (the ‘plain vanilla’ Bluetooth codec).

Of the 24-bit-capable codecs, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD support up to 48kHz, while LDAC and LHDC reach 96kHz.

iFi’s ‘Bluetooth engine’ can also be updated over-the-air, so future codecs may be added.

The Burr-Brown True Native® chipset means file formats remain unchanged or ‘bit-perfect’. This means you are listening to music as the artist intended in the format in which it was recorded.

At iFi we use Burr Brown extensively in our products having selected it for its natural-sounding ‘musicality’ and True Native architecture. Our experience with this IC means we know how to make the most of it.

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated)

MQA is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download. The xDSD Gryphon adopts MQA technology to receive and decode MQA audio and provide master-level sound.

Visit mqa.co.uk for more information.

It is a superior method to the traditional single-ended circuit approach. Balanced circuits reduce noise and crosstalk. Less Interference – clearer sound.

You normally find this set-up in products at the higher end of the price spectrum such as the Pro iCAN but iFi is now using this across its range to produce the best quality audio for all our customers.

The iFi exclusive S-Balanced technology made its debut in the original Pro iCAN. Since then, it has become a significant feature in across the iFi range and features as an integral part of the xDSD Gryphon.

It delivers the maximum performance from both single-ended and balanced headphones. The S-Balanced (single-ended compatible balanced) 3.5mm headphone output delivers the benefits of the balanced connection to single-ended headphones.

‘Negative feedback’ is used in amplifier circuits to compare the output signal with the input signal and correct errors, in order to control gain and reduce distortion.

For sound quality, this is positive; BUT commonly applied, one-size-fits-all ‘global negative feedback’ can also highlight different problems at the same time as solving others – corruption of the error signal, phase shifts, group delay and so on can all have a negative impact on sound quality.

We recognised that different parts of a circuit benefit from specifically optimised feedback loops and have developed a negative feedback system that is much more accurate than the usual approach. This incorporates multiple feedback paths instead of a global loop, each path optimised for a particular function and working synergistically with the others to deliver optimal overall performance.

Balanced, differential analogue circuit design has long been championed for its ability to reduce noise and cross-talk within the signal path by fully separating the left and right channels.

PureWave is a new, balanced, symmetrical dual-mono topology with short, direct signal paths. The name refers to the sonic purity it achieves thanks to exceptional linearity and infinitesimally low levels of noise and distortion.

The OLED in the xDSD Gryphon sports a SilentLine design. This ensures that there is no electrical noise to interfere with the audio signal.

The way its switches between settings has been engineered to ensure sonic transparency – FET-based switching is handled by a microcontroller, which only ‘wakes up’ when the user changes a setting, thus eradicating any sonically deleterious interference.

CyberSync is a software-driven volume control that operates in the analogue domain and the way it synchronises with any digital source to which the xDSD Gryphon is connected is very different.

It provides perfect volume synchronisation between the source and the DAC. It detects which operating system (OS) the DAC is connected to – iOS, Android, Windows, Mac OS or Linux – and instructs the source’s OS to bypass its software volume control. Whether volume is adjusted using the xDSD Gryphon’s rotary control or on the source device, CyberSync ensures the change is performed purely by the Gryphon’s superior analogue control chip, while also displaying the adjustment on the source device’s screen. Volume curves differ between operating systems and apps, but CyberSync ensures perfect synchronisation between the source device and the DAC every time.

Inputs	Wireless Wired (digital) Wired (analogue)	Bluetooth 5.1 (aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, LDAC, HWA, AAC and SBC Codec) USB-C S/PDIF co-axial Balanced 4.4mm Single-Ended 3.5mm
Formats	DSD PCM DXD MQA (Decoder)Bluetooth	DSD512/256/128/64, Octa/Quad/Double/Single-Speed 768/705.6/384/352.8/192/176.4/ 96/88.2/48/44.1kHz 768/705.6/384/352.8kHz, Double/Single-Speed DXD 384/352.8kHzUp to 96kHz
DAC		Burr-Brown
Battery		USB-C charging. BC1.2 compliant up to 1900mA charging current
Dimensions		123x75x19 mm 4.8″x3.0″x0.7″
Weight		215 grams 0.5 Ibs
Line Section
Outputs	Balanced S-Bal (SE)	6.7V max. (variable) 3.5V max. (variable)
Output Impedance	Balanced S-Bal (SE)	≤200Ω ≤100Ω
	Balanced S-Bal (SE)	<110dB(A) @ 0dBFS <110dB(A) @ 0dBFS
	Balanced S-Bal (SE)	<0.007% @ 0dBFS <0.015% @ 0dBFS
Headphone Section
Outputs	Balanced S-Bal (SE)	4.4mm Pentaconn 3.5mm SE
Output Power	Balanced S-Bal (SE)	>1000mW @ 32Ω >74mW @ 600Ω >6.7V max. @ 600Ω>320mW @ 32Ω >40mW @ 300Ω >3.5V max. @ 600Ω
Output Impedance	Balanced S-Bal (SE)	<1Ω <1Ω
SNR	Balanced S-Bal (SE)	<116dB(A) @ 0dBFS <115dB(A) @ 0dBFS
THD+N		<0.005% (1V @ 16Ω)

IFI Hip-DAC 2

saher — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 07:49:23 +0000

Shooting from the hip

The hip-dac2 replaces the inferior DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Convertor) and amp circuitry in smartphones, tablets, PCs and Macs to vastly improve headphone sound.

Connect your playback device via USB, plug in your favourite corded headphones or in-ear monitors and the hip-dac2 delivers a sound brimming with bold dynamism and fluid refinement.

The Burr-Brown DAC chip selected for for its fluid, highly ‘musical’ sound quality and True Native architecture, together with iFi custom circuitry, enables the hip-dac2 to deliver excellent sound quality across digital audio formats, including bit-perfect PCM, native DSD and MQA.

The upgraded crystal clock eradicates jitter (digital distortion), using iFi’s GMT femto precision clocking system. This maintains the integrity of the digital signal until conversion to analogue and enhances sound quality.

MQA decoded

Thanks to the XMOS 16 core tech, the hip-dac2 is now an MQA Decoder rather than a Renderer only.

This enables you to play back MQA audio files and streams, delivering the sound of the original master recording. The LED glows green or blue to indicate that the unit is decoding and playing an MQA stream or file, and denotes provenance to ensure that the sound is identical to that of the source material. It glows blue to indicate it is playing an MQA Studio file, which has either been approved in the studio by the artist/producer or has been verified by the copyright owner.

MQA rendering technology (used in the original hip-dac among other iFi products) connects to an MQA Core signal (such as TIDAL) and completes the final unfold of an MQA file. Usually, the computer has carried out the decoding.

Power hungry? hip-dac2 it!

The hip-dac2’s amp circuitry, like the original, is of balanced (differential) design.

The circuitry incorporates a range of high-quality components, carefully selected for their performance in an audio context, including a custom iFi OV op-amp, TDK C0G class 1 ceramic capacitors, a precision low-noise power supply IC from Texas Instruments and a high-quality analogue volume pot.

The amp stage can deliver 400mW into a 32-ohm headphone load, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of headphone and earphone types with power to spare. Even high-impedance headphones are handled with ease thanks to output voltage of 6.3V into 600 ohms (from the balanced output).

Switchable sonics

The amp stage features switchable gain, which we call PowerMatch. This matches the level of drive to the load presented by the headphones, by adjusting input sensitivity and thereby signal strength. Use the lower setting with high-sensitivity headphone. If your headphones require more drive, use PowerMatch to increase gain.

XBass is another user-selectable feature – a sophisticated form of ‘bass boost’ that enhances low frequencies without muddying the midrange, particularly useful with earphones and open-back headphones that may lack deep bass. It operates entirely in the analogue domain rather than messing with the digital signal via DSP.

Get connected

There are two USB ports – Type A for audio data and USB-C for charging. The Type A port features a male connector to provide greater mechanical integrity than a USB/micro USB ports commonly found on other DAC/headphone amps.

Two outputs are provided – a 3.5mm socket for headphones with a single-ended cable/connector and a Balanced 4.4mm output enabling headphones equipped with balanced connectivity to take full advantage of the hip-dac2’s differential amp design.

In addition, the 3.5mm output benefits from iFi’s proprietary S-Balanced circuitry, cutting crosstalk and related distortion in half when used with regular, single-ended headphone connections – this is especially beneficial with high-sensitivity in-ear monitors.

Protect and serve

Both the original hip-dac and the new hip-dac2 sport a 102x70x14mm extruded aluminium enclosure, sufficiently robust to be ported around without fear of breakage.

However, some may wish to add further protection for the beautifully anodised metallic finish, whilst giving their beloved DAC/headphone amp a softer, suede-like feel – for them, the new hip-case is ideal.

Made from ‘faux suede’ in cool Dove Grey, with stitch detail and an embroidered iFi logo, the hip-case fits both the hip-dac and hip-dac2 like a glove, protecting it without hindering functionality.

Protect the hip-dac2 and let it serve you well.

The Burr-Brown True Native® chipset means file formats remain unchanged or ‘bit-perfect’. This means you are listening to music as the artist intended in the format in which it was recorded.

The XMOS 16-Core chip processes the audio data received via the USB digital input.

This new low-latency XMOS microcontroller has greatly enhanced processing power. Compared to the current generation of eight-core chips, this new 16-core IC delivers double the clock speed (2000MIPS) and four times the memory (512KB), as well as the latest SuperSpeed USB standard.

iFi’s in-house digital development team has programmed the XMOS firmware to optimise sound quality and ensure a perfect partnership with the Burr-Brown DAC.

Hi-Res True Native® playback of all music formats from MP3 to DSD256, PCM384 and DXD384.

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated)

MQA is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download. The hip-dac2 adopts MQA technology to receive and decode MQA audio and provide master-level sound.

Visit mqa.co.uk for more information.

XBass is an analogue headphone spatialiser. It opens up your music to give you the feeling of spaciousness experienced at a live concert.

It is a superior method to the traditional single-ended circuit approach. Balanced circuits reduce noise and crosstalk. Less Interference – clearer sound.

iFi’s exclusive S-Balanced® circuit delivers maximum performance from single-ended and balanced headphones alike.

Formats supported	DSD PCM DXD MQA	256/128/64, Quad/Double/Single-Speed 384/352.8/192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1kHz 384/352.8kHz 384/352.8kHz
Digital Inputs	USB 3.0 Type ‘A’ (USB2.0 compatible)
Headphone Outputs	Balanced S-Balanced (S-E)	4.4mm 3.5mm
Power Output (@1% THD)	Balanced S-Balanced (S-E)	400mW@32Ω; 6.3V@600Ω 280mW@32Ω; 3.2V@600Ω
Battery	Lithium-polymer 2200mAh	Approx. 8 hours
Power System	Charging via USB-C, BC V1.2 compliant up to 1000mA charging current and 6.3 volts
Power (max)	<2W idle, 4W max
Dimensions	102 x 70 x 14mm 4.0″ x 2.8″ x 0.6″
Weight	125g (0.28 lbs)

IFI Go Blu

saher — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 07:18:54 +0000

Superior sound. Unbound.

Wireless headphones or earphones of any kind integrate Bluetooth processing, D/A conversion and amplification onto one, standard ‘off the shelf’ chip. There is a ceiling to the sound quality that can be achieved.

Team good corded headphones or in-ear monitors, with a separate, high-quality portable DAC/headphone amp, and your sound quality will beat any pair of wireless headphone or earphones hands down.

Using the GO blu means no compromise on sound quality.

Pair the GO blu to your Apple/Android. Connect your favourite corded headphones to the GO blu and then tuck it away – it’s so petite it will slip into your running gear or suit pocket. It’s also gorgeous enough to show off by leaving it on the table at your favourite coffee shop!

GO blu. Go beyond.

With its lightweight, soft-touch polymer enclosure (great for Bluetooth reception, unlike signal-blocking metal), copper-coloured trim and ChronoDial watch crown-style control, the GO blu is a pleasure to use wherever you go.

iFi has even incorporated a high-quality chip-based (CMOS-MEMS) microphone, enabling hands-free calls, voice chat for gaming and access to voice assistants such as Apple Siri and Google Assistant.

Further flexibility is provided by the USB-C charging port, which doubles as an audio input enabling USB connection from source devices that don’t offer Bluetooth connectivity. Hi-res PCM audio data up to24-bit/96kHz is supported when the GO blu is connected in this way.

HD Bluetooth 5.1

The way iFi implements Bluetooth is anything but ‘run of the mill’ and despite its diminutive size the GO blu is no exception.

The use of Qualcomm’s latest four-core QCC5100 Bluetooth processing chip ensures that every current high-definition Bluetooth audio format is supported.

aptX Adaptive and aptX HD
LDAC and HWA/LHDC
regular aptX and aptX Low Latency
AAC
SBC (plain vanilla Bluetooth)

This means that every possible source device is handled at the highest audio resolution its Bluetooth specification allows – no other pocket-size DAC/amp delivers such comprehensive codec support, or such high-quality sound over Bluetooth.

The GO blu is Bluetooth v5.1-compliant, ensuring the best possible range, stability and performance, and its ‘Bluetooth engine’ can be updated over the air.

hour battery

That’s Paris to New York +

Three. Unique. Stages.

Bluetooth. DAC. Amplifier.

Most pocket-size Bluetooth DAC/headphone amps incorporate all-in-one ‘system on a chip’ solutions to deliver input processing, digital-to-analogue signal conversion and amplification. These are simple and cost-effective, but they cannot compare with expertly designed, individually optimised circuit stages when it comes to sound quality.

Uniquely for a device of this type and size, the GO blu’s clever design packs in separate Bluetooth + DAC + Amp stages, each engineered in distinct blocks to deliver the ideal combination of cutting-edge specification and superb sound. Others just don’t this level of execution.

The Bluetooth stage makes full use of Qualcomm’s latest four-core QCC5100 Bluetooth chip and supports every current high definition format.

This then feeds the DAC stage with a Cirrus Logic 32-bit DAC chip at its heart. This is coupled with a customised digital filter to minimise pre-echoes and ringing artefacts, and a precision clock system to ensure ultra-low jitter, thus reducing errors and distortion in the digital audio signal.

The amp circuitry benefits from symmetrical twin-mono signal paths and utilises iFi’s Direct Drive design concept – direct-coupled to ensure a clean signal path without distortion-inducing output coupling capacitors. The amp stage delivers up to 5.6V (twice the voltage of others) – considerably more power than other similarly sized devices – handling even relatively tough headphone loads with ease. To ensure signal strength suits the sensitivity of the connected headphones or earphones, auto-gain adjusts output up or down by 6dB.

Swiss Chronograph design & implementation

GO blu‘s ChronoDial is a masterpiece of precision engineering and, just like a Chronograph, it gives you precise, analogue volume control. You can use it to play, pause, and skip tracks forward and backwards and even activate the voice assistant on your Bluetooth-connected smart device. Here’s how it’s constructed:

Brass supporting column with anti-corrosion
Brass locking nut with anti-corrosion
Precision 304 stainless steel bearing
304 stainless steel main dial with beryllium cobalt copper coating
High-purity nickel push-button spring
Precision CNC machined AL6063 aluminium push button

GO Balanced

Whether you use balanced or non-balanced headphones, you get the least noise and best channel separation for the most enjoyable music.

The GO blu boasts a Balanced 4.4mm output enabling headphones equipped with balanced connectivity to take full advantage of the GO blu’s balanced amp design.

In addition, the 3.5mm output benefits from iFi’s proprietary S-Balanced circuitry. This cuts crosstalk and related distortion in half when used with regular, single-ended headphone connections, this is especially beneficial with high-sensitivity in-ear monitors.

Both outputs are gold-plated to resist tarnishing and thereby maintain optimum contact quality.

X-factor. Inside and out.

With XBass to add back lost low-end grunt and XSpace to widen the soundstage, the GO blu is small on the outside but mighty on the inside. You will be immersed in its majestic musicality.

Even phone calls are ‘clear Voice capture’ using Qualcomm’s ANC technology. Clear, crisp and no annoying echo.

The X-factor doesn’t stop with the sound. The GO blu has a watch crown-style control and is made with hi-tech components. It weighs in at a super featherlight 26grams or 0.06lbs.

It will be your ‘go-to’ music device.

We use Qualcomm’s new QCC5100 Bluetooth IC in combination with the Cirruc Logic 43131 as DAC to to create an audibly superior ‘Bluetooth engine’.

Of the 24-bit-capable codecs, aptX Adaptive and aptX HD support up to 48kHz, while LDAC and LHDC reach 96kHz.

iFi’s ‘Bluetooth engine’ can also be updated over-the-air, so future codecs may be added.

The latest Cirrus Logic CS43131 is an advanced ‘minature’ DAC that is at the heart of the newest range of iFi mobile devices.

Advanced 32-bit oversampled multi-bit modulator with mismatch shaping technology
Dynamic Range of 130dB
THD+n of -115dB

It is a superior method to the traditional single-ended circuit approach. Balanced circuits reduce noise and crosstalk. Less Interference – clearer sound.

As with many other iFi audio products, we’ve incorporated a custom OV Series operational-amplifier. This top-notch component contributes to the extremely low noise, low distortion (0.0001%) and wide bandwidth.

An important aspect of the circuit design is its direct-coupled nature (no coupling capacitor is present), achieved without a conventionally applied DC servo.

DirectDrive® equals a direct signal path which means less signal degradation. This direct signal path is unequalled in audio and is the reason why the sound is so ‘true’.

XSpace is the iFi analogue signal improvement circuitry to get that ‘music’ back outside of your head for much better headphone enjoyment.

XBass is an analogue headphone spatialiser. It opens up your music to give you the feeling of spaciousness experienced at a live concert.

TDK C0G (Class 1 ceramic) capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit applications.

Getting ever closer to the theoretical ideal of pure, frequency-constant capacitance, these capacitors reduce capacitor-induced distortion to vanishingly low levels.

They are pricey but are a perfect addition to our products.

muRata control-type, low-ESR high-Q multi-layer capacitors. The ‘ESR control’ aspect of the Murata is something special. Their noise suppression abilities are impressive.

Chipset	DAC Bluetooth	Cirrus Logic CS43131 Qualcomm QCC 5100
Inputs	Wireless Wired	Bluetooth 5.1 ( AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, LDAC, LHDC/HWA Codec)USB-C (24/96)
Headphone Outputs	Balanced SE	4.4mm 3.5mm
Power Output	Balanced SE	245mW @ 32Ω; 5.6v @ 600Ω 165mW @ 32Ω; 2.8v @ 600Ω
Output Impedance	Balanced SE	<1Ω <1Ω
SNR	Balanced SE	111dB(A) @ 0dBFS 116.5dB(A) @ 0dBFS
DNR	Balanced/SE	>120dB(A)
THD + N	Balanced SE	<0.009% @ (6.5mW/2.0v@600Ω) <0.03% @ (100mW/1.27v@16Ω)
Frequency Response		20Hz – 45kHz (-3dB)
Battery		Lithium-polymer 450mAh approx. ~8 hours (depending upon volume and headphones)
Power System		Charging via USB-C, BC V1.2 compliant up to 1000mA charging current and 6.3 volts
Dimensions		54 x 34 x 13 mm 2.1′ x 1.3′ x 0.5′
Weight		27g (0.95 oz)

IFI ZEN BLUE V2

saher — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 07:29:27 +0000

Hi-res to the nth degree.

All current and future Bluetooth® audio formats are supported.

This includes Qualcomm’s aptX and aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, aptX Adaptive, LDAC and HWA/LHDC, hi-res Bluetooth® codecs created by Sony and Huawei respectively, AAC, Apple’s favoured format and SBC, the standard Bluetooth® codec.

This means every possible source device is covered, at the highest resolution Bluetooth® specification. And future codecs can be added with Over the Air updates.

Not all Bluetooth is created equal.

Have utter confidence in the sound quality of the ZEN Blue show leV2.

It uses Bluetooth5.0®, the very latest version, and the newest Qualcomm 5100 chip to process all incoming Bluetooth® data. The ESS Sabre DAC chip is there to ensure an extremely smooth digital to analogue conversion.

Banish standard ‘Bluetooth Blues’ with the ZEN Blue V2.

Enjoy. Your way.

Chill with the best of both worlds.

Analogue – connect via RCA to amps or active speakers or via the 4.4mm output to amps/speakers with a balanced input.

Digital – use the optical and coaxial connections to connect to anything with a built-in DAC and corresponding digital input – your TV, an AV amp or an external DAC in your hi-fi set-up.

Balanced design is truly special.

The analogue output stage is balanced, not normally seen in DACs at this price point. Balanced means less noise, interference/crosstalk.

It has RCA and balanced outputs at HiFi standard level; 2V SE and 4V BAL and is therefore compatible with both HiFi and Pro systems.

All underpinned by high-quality circuit components such as C0G capacitors from TDK and it’s fed by a precision low-noise power supply from Texas Instruments to make this a rare entry-priced beastie.

Plus we’ve improved our Global Master Timing (GMT) clock circuitry to give you an even smoother musical ride. It means >20db better performance for even more ZEN.

Extensive jitter-eradication technologies are applied to the digital stage, including our GMT (Global Master Timing) femto-precision clock and the intelligent memory buffer.

The low-jitter crystal clock has been updated to provide >20dB better performance

The iFi Bluetooth® implementation does not use a standard SOC (System On a Chip) as seen elsewhere. It uses a combination of quality elements to extract the most from each stage.

The Qualcomm chip routes the raw, digital Bluetooth® signal to a specialised Sabre DAC chip to convert the signal from digital to analogue – any jitter is eliminated using our GMT femto-precision clock system to deliver Bluetooth® that is a cut above.

Discrete ESS Sabre Hyperstream DAC chipset with time domain jitter eliminator, discrete oscillator and 112dB dynamic range for discerning listeners.

A key advantage of the ESS Sabre DAC chip is its Hyperstream architecture with integrated Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, which delivers vanishingly low distortion and a high dynamic range.

It is a superior method to the traditional single-ended circuit approach. Balanced circuits reduce noise and crosstalk. Less Interference – clearer sound.

Texas Instruments low-noise ICs offer great unity-gain bandwidth, very low noise and distortion, high output drive capability, Common-mode and Power Supply Rejection Ratios of over 100 dB, wide maximum-output-swing bandwidths and high slew rates.

TDK C0G (Class 1 ceramic) capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit applications.

Getting ever closer to the theoretical ideal of pure, frequency-constant capacitance, these capacitors reduce capacitor-induced distortion to vanishingly low levels.

They are pricey but are a perfect addition to our products.

Specifications

Chipsets	Qualcomm QCC 5100 Series (Bluetooth) ESS Sabre (DAC)
Input	Bluetooth 5.1™ with AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, LDAC, HWA Codec
Output	4.4mm Balanced 3.5mm S-Balanced (SE)
Frequency Response	10-48K (-2DB) under LDAC
Output Voltage @ OdBFS	2.05V (+/-0.05V)
Dynamic Range	109dB (A)
Signal/Noise ratio	111dBA/106.5dBA (BAL/S-BAL)
THD & N @ OdBFS	<0.009% (BAL 6.5mW/2.0V @ 600Ω) <0.03% (SE 100mW/1.27V @ 16Ω)
Output Impedance	<50Ω
Power Consumption	<2.5W
Dimensions	158 (I) x 100 (w) x 35 (h) mm
Weight	476g (1.05 Ibs)

IFI ZEN CAN

saher — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 07:22:53 +0000

Balanced to thrill

The ZEN CAN has trickle-down Class A discrete balanced circuitry from iFi audio’s US$1,699 flagship Pro iCAN. With 15.1v @300 Ohms on tap, it has serious power that will make even difficult-to-drive headphones thump to the beat.

Class A discrete output buffer from the flagship Pro iCAN using Op-Amp (OV2637A)
FET input avoids loading volume control – low distortion/noise
SE inputs (1M Ohm) ensures loading of the source so always in Class A operation
Output amplifier gain of four steps in +6dB perfect for headphone matching

Puts you at the venue. Not other way round.

Audio recordings are made for speakers and when played back on headphones, the sound is always driving you nuts by being only in your head.

Our 3D special sound circuit solves this:

Stereo image that is truly out of your head, in front with height, width & depth
Without colouration or loss of resolution
All analogue circuitry (i.e. without costly and complex digital signal manipulation)

Satisfies all listeners.

Ace of XBass

Behind XBass is our active EQ circuit which meets a common gripe with headphones head-on, a lack of bass.

Open-back headphones in particular, let all frequencies (especially those precious bass frequencies that the drivers generate so little of) leak freely out of the back instead of trapping and redirecting them back to your ears.

XBass equalisation is a much more elegant solution to bass correction than seen elsewhere. It consists of active and passive components and its frequency response curve corrects their low-end response problems with precision.

Packed with premium goodness

Underpinning the Balanced and Active EQ circuitry are:

Panasonic ECPU capacitors
TDK C0G (Class 1) ceramic capacitors
iFi/AMR ‘OV’ ‘Operationsverstärker’ series op-amps
MELF resistors
Texas Instruments low-noise ICs
muRata capacitors and
Tokyo Cosmos Electric Co. (TOCOS) multi-track potentiometer, with exceptional channel matching (use above 11 o’ clock)

Majestic measurements

Output Power

ZEN CAN: 1,600W

Laptop Headphone: 30mW

A fully-discrete and balanced amplifier audio circuit. The full symmetric dual-mono headphone amplifier with gold-plated 4.4mm balanced connection. Premium engineering is more expensive but lowers the noise floor to a whisper-quiet levels.

Check out the tech note for the details.

Class A Discrete is a circuit that has come straight out of the iFi’s flagship headphone amplifier, the Pro iCAN, which at £1,699 is 11 times the price of the ZEN CAN.

TDK C0G (Class 1 ceramic) capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit applications.

Getting ever closer to the theoretical ideal of pure, frequency-constant capacitance, these capacitors reduce capacitor-induced distortion to vanishingly low levels.

They are pricey but are a perfect addition to our products.

Sonically superior – richer, deeper.

The XBass® analogue bass correction system corrects for the missing headphone/speaker bass response.

An ‘Out of Head’ listening experience. Our 3D Holographic® dual-analogue matrices place the artist with you in the room, not inside your head.

Specifications

Inputs	4.4mm Pentacon BAL RCA L/R Socket SE 3.5mm Jack SE	4.0V nominal @ 0dBFS, 24 kOhm Zin 2.0V nominal @ 0dBFS, 1 MegOhm Zin 1.0V nominal @ 0dBFS, 1 MegOhm Zin
Max Output	Balanced	>15.1V/385 mW (@ 600 Ohm) >11.0V/1890 mW (@ 64 Ohm)
	S-E	>7.6V/196 mW (@ 300 Ohm) >7.2V/1600 mW (@ 32 Ohm)
Output Impedance (HP)	BAL SE	<2 Ohms <1 Ohm
Zout	Line out	<200 Ohms
THD & N	Balanced S-E	< 0.0007% (4V out, 600 Ohm, 1kHz) <0.006% (@ 100 mW/1.27V 16 Ohm)
SNR	Balanced S-E	>120dBA (@ 15.2V) >118dBA (@ 7.6V)
Max. Input	Balanced RCA 3.5mm	7.4V RMS 3.8V RMS 1.92V RMS
Gain		0dB, 6dB, 12dB and 18dB
Frequency Response		20Hz – 20kHz (+0dB / -0.03dB)
Power consumption	No Signal Max Signal	~5W ~13W
Input voltage		DC 5V/2.4A AC 100 -240V 50/60Hz
Dimensions		160(w) x 117(d) x 35(h) mm 6.3″ x 4.6″ x 1.4″
Net weight		515g (1.14 Ibs)

IFI ZEN DAC V2

saher — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 06:28:47 +0000

16 core = hardcore.

Thanks to the 16 core tech, the ZEN DAC V2 is now an MQA Decoder rather than a Renderer only.

MQA rendering technology (used in the original ZEN DAC among other iFi products) connects to an MQA Core signal (such as TIDAL) and completes the final unfold of an MQA file. Usually, the computer has carried out the decoding.

Smooth and balanced.

A new and improved low jitter, crystal clock means >20dB better performance. The super-low noise performance means the ZEN DAC V2 will remain quiet even in noisy situations such as yachts or RVs.

The balanced design for the analogue stage – rare and not found at this price point – makes it pretty special and delivers the best sound quality, normally found in higher priced models.

The ZEN DAC V2 sports Pentaconn 4.4mm balanced outputs at both the front and back. On the front, there’s also the popular 6.3mm headphone socket.

Flexible.

Switch effortlessly between ‘variable’ and ‘fixed’.

Set to ‘Variable,’ use the ZEN DAC V2 as a pre-amp to feed a power amp or active speakers.

On ‘Fixed’ to bypass the volume control. Connect to an external pre-amp or integrated amp.

Power. Drive. Performance.

Our headphone amp has PowerMatch – switchable gain to perfectly match your headphones.

For IEMs, normally high-sensitivity, leave PowerMatch at its lower setting for hiss-free listening.

On/over-ear headphones with relatively low impedance require more power – press PowerMatch to increase the level of drive.

Ace of Bass.

The ZEN DAC V2 boasts TrueBass. This proprietary tech is a switchable ‘bass boost’ operating in the analogue domain. There’s no DSP with iFi gear.

TrueBass enhances the bass but does not muddy the mid-range. Perfect for use with IEMs or open-back headphones which often lack bass.

The ZEN DAC V2 is the ultimate chilling machine. Tune in and ZEN out.

The XMOS 16-Core chip processes the audio data received via the USB* digital input.

iFi’s in-house digital development team has programmed the XMOS firmware to optimise sound quality and ensure a perfect partnership with the Burr-Brown DAC.

(* Also on S/PDIF on the NEO iDSD/Diablo)

The Burr-Brown True Native® chipset means file formats remain unchanged or ‘bit-perfect’. This means you are listening to music as the artist intended in the format in which it was recorded.

Hi-Res True Native® playback of all music formats from MP3 to DSD256, PCM384 and DXD384.

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is supported through the USB with full decoding of MQA files up to 384kHz thanks to the processing power of the new 16-core XMOS chip.

This means that the full ‘three unfold’ decoding process is performed internally, as opposed to only the final unfold in the manner of an MQA ‘renderer’.

Globally, MQA has become an important consideration for any comprehensively equipped DAC. It is available through for Tidal Masters, Audirvana and Roon.

Extensive jitter-eradication technologies are applied to the digital stage, including our GMT (Global Master Timing) femto-precision clock and the intelligent memory buffer.

The low-jitter crystal clock has been updated to provide >20dB better performance

It is a superior method to the traditional single-ended circuit approach. Balanced circuits reduce noise and crosstalk. Less Interference – clearer sound.

TrueBass® – delivers genuine bass with realistic depth and definition.

Everything from timpani to a bass guitar, to an electronic bassline, is conveyed with power and poise.

Specifications

Input	USB3.0 B Socket (USB2.0 compatible)
Formats	PCM (384/352.8/192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1kHz) DSD (256/128/64), DXD(384/352.8kHz), MQA (Decoder)
DAC	Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC by Burr Brown
Line Section
Output	Audio RCA (SE) — 2.1V fixed 1V / 3.3V max. (variable) 4.4mm Pentaconn (BAL) — 4.2V fixed 2V / 6.2V max. (variable)
Zout	<= 200 Ohm (BAL) <= 100 Ohm (SE)
SNR	< -116dB(A) @ 0dBFS (BAL/SE)
DNR	> 116dB(A) @ -60dBFS (BAL/SE)
THD+N	< 0.0015% @ 0dBFS (BAL/SE)
Headphone Section
Output Power (@1% THD)	4.4mm Pentaconn (BAL) 330mW@32 Ohm; 6.6V@600 Ohm; 16 Ohm – 600 Ohm Headphone6.3mm S-BAL (SE) 230mW@32 Ohm; 3.3V@600 Ohm 16 Ohm – 600 Ohm HeadphoneNote: Using 5v power. If powered from USB, power output may vary.
Output Impedance	< 1 Ω (BAL/SE)
THD & N	< 0.005% (125mW @ 32R)
SNR	> 113dBA (6.2V BAL/3.3V SE)
Power consumption	< 1.5W via USB power OR 5v DC (power supply not included)
Dimensions	160(w) x 117(d) x 35(h) mm 6.3″ x 4.6″ x 1.4″
Weight (Gross)	0.8 kg (1.8 lbs)

IFI AUDIO – Tonezone Audio

IFI XDSD GRYPHON

Fantastic Beasts. Here’s where you find them.

Well-connected

Brilliant Bluetooth. Hi-Res Wireless.

USB & S/PDIF. Wired to the nines.

Balance of Power

Tailored to your ears

OLED. Seen but not heard.

IFI Hip-DAC 2

Shooting from the hip

MQA decoded

Power hungry? hip-dac2 it!

Switchable sonics

Get connected

Protect and serve

IFI Go Blu

Superior sound. Unbound.

GO blu. Go beyond.

HD Bluetooth 5.1

hour battery

Three. Unique. Stages.

Swiss Chronograph design & implementation

GO Balanced

X-factor. Inside and out.

IFI ZEN BLUE V2

Hi-res to the nth degree.

Not all Bluetooth is created equal.

Enjoy. Your way.

Balanced design is truly special.

IFI ZEN CAN

Balanced to thrill

Puts you at the venue. Not other way round.

Ace of XBass

Packed with premium goodness

Majestic measurements

IFI ZEN DAC V2

16 core = hardcore.

Smooth and balanced.

Flexible.

Power. Drive. Performance.

Ace of Bass.

Line Section

Headphone Section