British company iFi Audio is one of my favorite makes of headphone amplifiers. Now iFi Audio is launching the ZEN CAN 3, a high-performance headphone amplifier with an xMEMS micro-speaker amplification mode, plenty of EQ modes including settings for gaming and movies, and up to 2,000mW output power.
The new iFi ZEN CAN 3 can drive IEMs with the latest xMEMS drivers, a speaker technology that looks set to be the next major innovation in headphone performance.
xMEMS speakers are made from silicon in a process that’s like producing computer chips. These next-generation speakers have close to zero phase shift and they vibrate up to 150 times faster than traditional drivers. By integrating this technology into the new ZEN CAN 3, iFi Audio claims listeners will notice more clarity and fidelity.
The iFi ZEN CAN 3 has two new analog EQ modes that are specially tuned for gaming and movies. Movie mode enhances dialog clarity while game mode makes low-level sound effects clearer.
As well as the two new EQ modes, the ZEN CAN 3 has plenty of additional EQ modes for tailored sound. XBass+ and XSpace options offer a more accurate bass response and a spacious sound field.
Another improvement with the ZEN CAN 3 is a boost in power for driving more difficult headphones with up to 2,000mW continuous output power which should be more than enough to drive any headphones on the market. The ZEN CAN 3 also has 0–18dB of adjustable gain with +6dB steps to match any headphones.
The ZEN CAN 3 has a refreshed design to match other ZEN 3 series products in the iFi Audio range. A two-tone design stands out and the revised volume meter and Sunlit Bronze hardware offer a contemporary look and feel. Finally, the buttons on the unit’s front panel are arranged in a smile-like formation which gives the ZEN CAN 3 a bit of character
iFi Audio has hand-picked premium electronic components for the ZEN CAN 3’s circuitry. Components have been sourced from Panasonic, TDK, MELF, Texas Instruments and muRata. The amplification stage uses iFi/AMR’s own ‘OV’ series op-amps. iFi says the amps outperform commercial chips that use low-grade copper and inexpensive aluminum bond wire.
Pricing & Availability: The new iFi ZEN CAN 3 is available from ifi-audio.com and costs $229 / £229 / €229.
The next launch from iFi Audio is the ZEN Blue 3, a hi-resolution Bluetooth DAC that brings wireless connectivity with lossless CD-quality audio transmission and audiophile-grade circuitry.
New to the ZEN Blue 3 are three innovative operation modes including Bluetooth RX, TX, and DAC. The unit uses Qualcomm’s aptX Lossless Bluetooth codec to receive or transmit lossless CD-quality and Hi-Res audio over Bluetooth, plus there’s a switchable low-latency mode for gaming and movies.
iFi Audio claims the ZEN Blue 3 is the world’s first wireless DAC that can both transmit and receive lossless CD quality without data loss. The new DAC uses the latest Bluetooth 5.4 with support for the aptX Lossless codec and AAC. There’s also support for Hi-Res 96kHz audio via LDAC and LDHC/HWA codecs.
The aptX Lossless comes under Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive codec which offers multiple codecs with different transmission speeds and bit rates. This means the ZEN Blue 3 can stream lossless CD-quality music from a mobile phone to a Hi-Fi system. Home cinema lovers can also enjoy high-quality audio using a pair of Hi-Res Bluetooth headphones when watching movies at home or playing games.
When the ZEN Blue 3 is in transmission mode for watching video content or gaming, there is a low latency button on the front of the unit. This is ideal for intense gaming sessions or movie nights. The low-latency mode resolves the delay issue between the video and audio so the sound is always in sync with video content.
The iFi ZEN Blue 3 has three new function modes: RX for receiving Bluetooth, TX mode for transmitting Bluetooth and a Wired DAC mode that bypasses Bluetooth so that the ZEN Blue 3 can function as a traditional wired DAC using USB-C or S/PDIF inputs.
iFi Audio says the ZEN Blue 3 has audiophile-grade circuitry instead of a System-on-a-Chip design. This means there are separate Bluetooth, DAC and Op-Amp chips for improved sound quality. A balanced line output offers users with a balanced audio setup significantly reduced signal noise and crosstalk between channels.
Like the rest of the ZEN 3 product range, the ZEN Blue 3 has an attractive two-tone front panel as well as a smiley button layout. As with other ZEN models, iFi says it has sourced premium electronic components from makers like TDK and Texas Instruments. The amplification stage uses iFi/AMR’s own ‘OV’ series op-amps, which iFi says can outperform commercial chips using low-grade copper and inexpensive aluminum bond-wire.
Pricing & Availability: The iFi ZEN Blue 3 is available from 9th July at ifi-audio.com for $299 / £299 / €299.
