| Marque | IFI |
|---|---|
| Disponibilité des pièces détachées | Information indisponible sur les pièces détachées |
| Mises à jour logicielles garanties jusqu’à | Information non disponible |
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IFI Zen DAC | Convertisseur HiFi Numérique à Analogique sédentaire avec entrée USB 3.0 B/Sorties: 6,3mm asymétrique / 4.4mm symétrique/RCA - Upgrade pour Chaine HiFi
Nous ne savons pas quand cet article sera de nouveau approvisionné ni s'il le sera.
| Marque | IFI |
| Type de fixation | Dessus De La Table,Montage Sur Fiche |
| Type d'interface | RCA, USB |
À propos de cet article
- AMELIOREZ VOTRE SYSTEME -Grâce à ce DAC de haut vol à prix abordable, améliorez instantanément votre système hifi, ordinateur de bureau, casque, enceintes !
- FACILE A INSTALLER - Connectez simplement via USB3.0 (compatible USB2.0) voter ordinateur ou baladeur (DAP). Utilisez ensuite un casque, des enceintes actives ou un amplificateur via jack 6,3mm asymétrique / jack 4.4mm symétrique / RCA
- HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO - Redécouvrez vos chansons préférées sous un nouveau jour, bien plus détaillé et riche, grâce à la puce DAC Burr Brown True Native, capable de convertir tous les formats Hi Res jusqu'au PCM24/384, DSD256, DXD 384khz, et MQA (render) sans aucune modification du signal. Idéal pour utiliser Deezer, Spotify, Qobuz, Tidal ou Amazon Music.
- CONCENTRE DE TECHNOLOGIE - profitez de votre usique au maximum grâce aux: controleur de volume analogique, ajustement Powermatch pour casque et écouteurs, Truebass pour ajouter de la basse aux intras.
- DESIGN INTELLIGENT ET ELEGANT - Aluminum de qualité militaire, forme Zen, discrète et élégante. Les courbes arrondies et douces apporteront leur touche d'élegance à votre bureau ou chaine hifi.
| Nos prix incluent l'éco-participation sur tous les produits concernés. Vous voulez recycler votre appareil électrique ou électronique gratuitement ? En apprendre plus |
Les clients ayant consulté cet article ont également regardé
Description du produit
iFi est né en 2012 avec un seul objectif en tête: produire des produits audio " ultra-fidèles '' qui repoussent les limites sonores tout en restant à un prix courant.
iFi audio est sous notre société mère, AMR, Abbingdon Music Research, qui conçoit et produit des produits audio de luxe haut de gamme. AMR a vu en 2010 que la demande des clients pour des écouteurs sans fil et portables augmentait alors que toute la dynamique audio changeait. Ainsi, iFi a été lancé.
iFi propose des produits audio personnels petits mais prodigieux grâce à la connaissance supérieure de la technologie AMR. Aujourd'hui, nous sommes fiers de nos racines britanniques (et internationales). Nous continuons à concevoir et produire plus de 35 produits différents. Notre siège social est à Southport, au Royaume-Uni, avec une distribution comprenant des détaillants tels que B&H et etailz avec une production à l'étranger.
Nous nous approvisionnons en pièces dans le monde entier auprès de fabricants tels que AMOS (Royaume-Uni), GE Valves (États-Unis), WIMA (Allemagne) et TDK (Japon).
iFi Zen Dac
Chaud sur les talons du streamer Bluetooth haute résolution ZEN Blue, iFi élargit la famille ZEN de produits audio de bureau avec le ZEN DAC - un DAC USB / ampli casque offrant un niveau de spécifications et de performances qui dément son super-abordable.
Conçu pour un usage domestique - sur un bureau, peut-être, ou dans le salon - le ZEN DAC se connecte aux PC et aux Mac, ou aux appareils intelligents tels que les tablettes de téléphones, via USB. Sa technologie de conversation numérique-analogique haute résolution traite toutes les formes d'audio numérique à un niveau très élevé, tandis que l'amplificateur de casque analogique intégré offre un son superbe avec tous les types d'écouteurs,des moniteurs intra-auriculaires aux conceptions supra et supra-auriculaires plus grandes. Comparé au simple branchement d'un casque directement sur un ordinateur ou un appareil intelligent, le ZEN Blue transforme l'expérience d'écoute - le son est plus clair, plus détaillé, plus expansif et attrayant, tirant le meilleur parti des écouteurs connectés.
En plus des écouteurs, le ZEN DAC peut être utilisé comme un DAC USB dans un système audio domestique, avec ou sans contrôle de volume activé. De plus, que vous branchiez un casque, un ampli externe ou des haut-parleurs actifs, vous avez le choix entre une connexion asymétrique ou symétrique - une facilité remarquable.
En commun avec les autres produits de la série ZEN, le ZEN DAC arbore un boîtier en aluminium robuste et à la finition intelligente. Même la commande de volume rotative est en aluminium, ce qui donne une sensation de solidité rassurante. Derrière le contrôle du volume se trouve une LED qui change de couleur pour indiquer la fréquence d'échantillonnage des données audio reçues.
Remarque: si vous utilisez des écouteurs ou des IEM à haute sensibilité, vous bénéficierez de nos écouteurs ou iEmatch (vendus séparément) pour lutter contre les bruits courants qu'ils produisent.
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PowerMatchL'étage d'ampli casque a un gain commutable, que iFi appelle «PowerMatch». Cela fait correspondre le niveau d'entraînement à la charge présentée par le casque, en ajustant la sensibilité d'entrée et donc la force du signal. Avec les types d'écouteurs haute sensibilité tels que les moniteurs intra-auriculaires, laissez PowerMatch à son réglage le plus bas pour des performances à très faible bruit. Mais si vos écouteurs sont une charge plus difficile - par exemple, les types sur l'oreille avec une impédance relativement faible - appuyez sur le bouton PowerMatch sur le panneau avant pour augmenter le niveau d'entraînement. |
Entrées et sortiesLe ZEN DAC propose des sorties symétriques Pentaconn 4,4 mm, à l'avant et à l'arrière - il s'agit d'un type d'interface relativement nouveau, conçu pour permettre un transfert de signal équilibré entre des produits compacts qui ne peuvent pas accueillir les connexions XLR traditionnelles. La sortie de 4,4 mm montée à l'avant se trouve à côté d'une prise casque standard de 6,3 mm à une extrémité - ainsi, les avantages des conceptions de casque symétriques sont pleinement utilisés, tout en pouvant également accueillir tous les types de casque, à la fois symétriques et asymétriques. La sortie de 4,4 mm à l'arrière permet la connexion à des amplis et des haut-parleurs actifs équipés d'une entrée symétrique - soit une entrée Pentaconn 4,4 mm, soit des entrées XLR via un câble de 4,4 mm vers XLR. Des sorties RCA asymétriques sont également fournies. |
En entrepriseUne fonction de circuit qui distingue ce DAC iFi et d'autres des conceptions concurrentes est la programmation interne de la puce XMOS par iFi. Alors que d'autres fabricants utilisent simplement le micrologiciel fourni avec la puce standard, qui n'est généralement pas optimisé pour un son de qualité audiophile, iFi programme son propre micrologiciel sur mesure pour augmenter la puissance de traitement audio. Le programme de développement logiciel interne d'iFi permet d'ajouter ou d'optimiser des fonctionnalités via des mises à jour du micrologiciel, ce qui permet d'adapter le ZEN DAC aux priorités de lecture de l'utilisateur et de garantir qu'il reste à la pointe du temps. Les utilisateurs peuvent même télécharger et installer différentes versions du micrologiciel iFi pour expérimenter différents filtres numériques s'ils le souhaitent. |
Master Quality Authenticated
Écoutez MQA dès la sortie de la boîte.
Pour les pistes MQA, connectez-vous simplement à Tidal (sur votre ordinateur ou téléphone) et définissez les options pour diffuser MQA.
Calendrier global principal
Pour toutes les entrées, les données sont envoyées au tampon mémoire. Ici, les fluctuations sont réduites pour éliminer toute transmission de gigue de source à la sortie DAC. Les données de la mémoire tampon sont en outre re-synchronisées par l'horloge Global Master Timing à faible gigue, qui conduite également le X-Core 200 et le FPGA.
Puce Burr-Brown
La section DAC est basée sur une puce Burr-Brown DAC largement utilisée par iFi, sélectionnée pour sa qualité sonore fluide et hautement «musicale» et son architecture «Vrai natif». Ceci, combiné à la puce XMOS utilisée pour le traitement d'entrée, permet à iFi de fournir une excellente qualité sonore dans toutes sortes de formats audio numériques
XBassII
Ce circuit iFi établi est une forme sophistiquée de «bass boost» qui améliore subtilement les basses fréquences sans brouiller les médiums - particulièrement utile avec les écouteurs et les casques à dos ouvert qui peuvent manquer de basses profondes. Il fonctionne entièrement dans le domaine analogique plutôt que de jouer avec le signal numérique via DSP et peut être activé ou désactivé via un autre bouton sur le panneau avant.
Les données audio PCM et DXD sont prises en charge jusqu'à 24 bits / 384 kHz, ainsi que des taux d'échantillonnage DSD de 2,8 MHz à 12,4 MHz (DSD256). Grâce à la conception Vrai natif de la puce Burr-Brown, le PCM et le DSD empruntent des chemins séparés - cela permet à DSD de rester «bit-perfect» dans sa forme native, jusqu'à la conversion analogique. De nombreux CNA qui revendiquent la compatibilité DSD acceptent les données DSD mais les convertissent ensuite en PCM; pour les puristes DSD, le ZEN DAC est une solution fantastique.
Section d'écouteur
La sortie
- 6,3 mm (UnBal): 1 V / 3,3 V max. (variable)
- Casque 12 Ohm - 300 Ohm
- Pentaconn 4,4 mm (BAL): 2 V / 6,2 V max. (variable)
- Casque 12 Ohm - 600 Ohm
Puissance de sortie
UNBAL:> 280 mW à 32R,> 36 mW à 300R
BAL:> 380mW @ 50R,> 70mW @ 600RO impédance de sortie: <1 Ω (UnBAL / BAL)
THD et N: <0,005% (125 mW @ 32R) SNR:> 113dBA (3,3 V UnBAL / 6,2 V BAL)
Consommation d'énergie: <1,5 W
Dimensions: 117 (l) x 100 (l) x 30 (h) mm
Poids: 491 g (1,08 lb)
Spécification technique
Entrée: prise USB3.0 B (compatible USB2.0)
Formats: PCM 44,1 / 48 / 88,2 / 96 / 176,4 / 192/384 kHz
2,8 / 3,1 / 5,6 / 6,2 / 11,2 / 12,4 MHz DSD
DXD 353 / 384KHz
DAC: DAC Bit-Perfect DSD et DXD par Burr Brown
Section de ligne
Sortie: Audio RCA (UnBAL), 2.1V fixe, 1V / 3.3V max. (variable)
Pentaconn 4,4 mm (BAL) 4,2 V fixe, 2 V / 6,2 V max. (variable)
Zout: <= 100 Ohm (UnBAL), <= 200 Ohm (BAL)
SNR: <-116dB (A) à 0dBFS (UnBAL / BAL
DNR: <0,0015% à 0 dBFS (UnBAL / BAL) L)
THD + N: <0,0015% à 0 dBFS (UnBAL / BAL)
De la marque
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À Propos de iFi
Vous aimez la musique, c'est pourquoi nous créons des produits qui améliorent la qualité du son et éliminent le bruit, la distorsion et le sifflement.
Grâce à notre vaste catalogue d'appareils, vous pouvez faire entrer l'expérience live dans votre maison.
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Ce qui rend nos produits uniques?
Nos produits sont réputés pour leur son de haute qualité, leurs caractéristiques uniques et leur technologie innovante. Ils utilisent des technologies exclusives et des matériaux de haute qualité, et offrent une large gamme de produits, y compris des options portables.
Nos produits sont-ils de haute qualité?
Notre société utilise des composants de haute qualité et des circuits avancés dans ses produits, ce qui se traduit par une reproduction sonore nette et précise.
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Recherchez-vous des informations spécifiques ?
Informations sur le produit
Descriptif technique
Informations complémentaires
| Moyenne des commentaires client |
4,6 sur 5 étoiles |
|---|---|
| Numéro du modèle de l'article | ZEN-DAC |
| ASIN | B07YZK5MDS |
| Date de mise en ligne sur Amazon.fr | 15 octobre 2019 |
Politique de retour
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Comparer à des articles similaires
Commentaires client
Les avis clients, y compris le nombre d’étoiles du produit, aident les clients à en savoir plus sur le produit et à décider s'il leur convient.
Pour calculer le nombre global d’étoiles et la ventilation en pourcentage par étoile, nous n'utilisons pas une simple moyenne. Au lieu de cela, notre système prend en compte des éléments tels que la date récente d'un commentaire et si l'auteur de l'avis a acheté l'article sur Amazon. Les avis sont également analysés pour vérifier leur fiabilité.
En savoir plus sur le fonctionnement des avis clients sur Amazon-
Meilleures évaluations
Meilleures évaluations de France
Un problème s'est produit lors du filtrage des commentaires. Veuillez réessayer ultérieurement.
L'audio est très bon, il y a sûrement meilleur mais 5X plus cher. Je manque de recul, le son me satisfait en écoute casque audiophile (Opp PM1 en symétrique).
Je l'ai acheté avec Ipower IFI 5V.
Je regrette le câble USB3 trop court (50cm) et l'impossibilité de l'éteindre d'où ma note.
Flac, DSD avec foobar.
Avec un bon casque vous serez conquis.
Sur votre hifi également.
Beau design.
J'ai contacté le service client qui me demande de faire des test avec N autres appareils, comme si le soucis venait du driver (Mac).
Franchement, je déconseille le produit vu le prix.
Meilleurs commentaires provenant d’autres pays
Ich habe mir den ifi Zen DAC u.a. wegen meiner guten Erfahrungen mit den älteren akkubetriebenen DAC/Amps "ifi iDSD Micro" und "ifi iDSD Nano" (beide sind nicht im entferntesten Micro oder Nano) geholt. Und war insbesondere an den symmetrischen Kopfhörer- und Line-Out Ausgängen des Zen interessiert. Die Firma ifi audio ist aber nicht unbedingt mein Favorit; sie verkaufen viele Strom-"Reiniger", USB-"Purifier", sündhaft teure Digital(!)-Kabel usw. und für einen derartigen Kabel-Klang-Esoterik-Voodoo bin ich als Physiker eher nicht empfänglich.
Zunächst das "Unboxing":
Das Teil ist schwer - richtig schwer für seine Größe (für uns Ältere; hat ungefähr den Fussabdruck einer CD-Hülle) und fühlt sich ausgesprochen wertig an. Man hat Metall in der Hand. Die Steckbuchsen und LED-Bohrungen sind passgenau und die Knöpfe sowie der Lautstärkenregler klicken und drehen ohne viel Spiel. Ausgezeichnete Verarbeitungsqualität. Das Design sieht man ja auf den Fotos - ist halt gewöhnungsbedürftig.
Eine Frage die praktisch seit der Ankündigung unklar war: Es ist kein 5V-Netzteil dabei. Im Manual (=eine Doppelseitige Pappe wie von ifi audio üblich ) steht was von Originalnetzteil für die 5V-Rundbuchse benutzen usw. Ein anderer Beipackzettel behauptet übrigens, dies sei der ifi xDSD... Der Lieferumfang beschränkt sich aber auf ein USB-A-zu-USB-B-3.0 Kabel und ein Chinch/RCA-Kabel (ebenfalls typisch ifi audio).
Damit kommen auch schon erste Teilpunktabzüge:
Das Netzteil braucht man nicht wirklich, da der DAC/Amp ja nur per USB-Eingang betrieben wird und somit immer per Strom versorgt wird (s.u.) - allerdings gibt es ja auch Quellen, die nicht viel USB-power liefern. Eine Netzteil-Beigabe wäre sicher nicht zu aufwändig gewesen bei dem Preis. Ärgerlicher ist aber, dass das USB-B-Kabel nicht richtig funktionierte! Ich hatte erstmal einige Frustmomente mit Linux- und Windows10-PCs und dachte eben an fehlenden Extra-Strom oder USB-2/3 Inkompatibilitäten. bis ich einfach mal andere USB-3.0-B und USB-2.0-B Kabel probierte. Das mitgelieferte Kabel war einfach nicht "datendurchlässig".
Sobald der Zen DAC per USB verbunden ist, ist er auch ON. Es gibt keinen On/Off-Schalter oder Switch im Lautstärkenregler. Das Signal-Licht hinter dem Regler (recht dezent) geht allerdings erst an wenn ein USB-Audio-Signal anliegt - es geht aber nicht aus, wenn die Quelle schon aus ist, solange noch Strom anliegt. Das ist natürlich von Vor- und Nachteil. Bei mir von Nachteil , da ich den DAC letztlich an einem powered USB-Hub/Switch betreibe, der zwischen verschiedenen Computern schaltet. Der Zen ist dann bei mir also immer an. Direkt an PCs angeschlossen ist das natürlich wiederum praktisch. Wenn man ein 5V-Netzteil mit Rundstecker anschliesst, signalisiert eine grüne LED, dass jetzt die externe Stromversorgung übernimmt und dem USB-Host wird kein Strom mehr entzogen.
Anschlüsse und Nutzung:
Das ist eigentlich das Highlight (für mich). Der Zen ist mit 6.3mm KH-Buchse und symmetrischem KH-Anschluss per 4.4mm-Pentaconn-Buchse sowie symmetrischem Line-Out ebenfalls per 4.4mm-Pentaconn auf der Rückseite ausgestattet. Daneben gibt es hinten noch die zwei Chinch-Buchsen. Der sym. und der single-ended-Line-Out sind beide aktiv und können per Schalter zwischen fixed Volume auf Line-Level direkt vom DAC oder eben Pre-Out vom Amp geschaltet werden. Im letzteren Fall wirken neben Volume auch Gain (="power match") und auch die recht dezente Bass-Anhebung auf die beiden Ausgänge. Die Line/Pre-Ausgänge werden NICHT inaktiv, wenn man Kopfhörer einsteckt (auch eine Frage die ich nicht beantwortet fand).
Während der 4.4.mm-KH-Anschluss ja wohl klar in seiner Funktion ist (alle meine KHs und IEMs, die balanced Anschlüsse unterstützen haben bei mir auch symmetrische Kabel (meist 2.5mm 4-Pol)), ist das beim 4.4mm Line-Out evtl. eher schwerer nachzuvollziehen. Der 5-polige Pentaconn 4.4mm-Anschluss hat einen großen Vorteil gegenüber zB 2.5mm 4-pol Buchsen: der 5.Ring ist Masse/Shielding. Es können also aktive Komponenten zB per 4.4mm-zu-2mal3-Pol-XLR-Kabeladapter mit korrekter Erdung angeschlossen werden. In meinem Fall hängt ein einfacher aber symmetrischer Röhren-Kopfhörerverstärker (Loxji P20) so an diesem Ausgang. Leider ist es auf dem Markt üblich, solche 4.4mm-2XLR-Adapter mit nur den 4 symmetrischen Signalen belegt (ohne Verbindung des 5. Rings/1. XLR-Pins) anzubieten. Voll belegte Adapter habe ich zB nur auf der amerikanischen Mutterseite von amazon gefunden: "4.4mm to Dual XLR Male Balanced Audio Headphone Adapter Silver Plated Cable 1 FT 0.3M by Youkamoo".
Man kann gerne über die Sinnhaftigkeit von symmetrischen Anschlüssen diskutieren, aber der Röhrenamp braucht nunmal 2-XLR-Input um vernünftig zu funktionieren. Damit ist für mich der primäre Kaufgrund für den ZEN DAC erfüllt.
Die üblichere Nutzung ist sicherlich der Anschluss von Aktivboxen (über Chinch). Allerdings werden die - wie erwähnt - nicht stumm geschaltet bei KH-Nutzung (und umgekehrt), sodass man weitere Regler braucht.
USB-Audio:
Tja da kommt der zweite Punktteilabzug; Der Zen wird am win10 PC treiberlos als USB-Audio-Device mit Samplingraten von 44.1 bis zu 384 kHz erkannt - allerdings alles nur in 32bit. Klingt erstmal nicht schlecht, aber ich habe Android-basierte Geräte, die mit den Bittiefen nicht zurechtkommen. Ich hätte mir ein bisschen Abwärtskompatibilität mit USB-Audio1 gewünscht (geht bei anderen ifi-Geräten ja auch). An einem Linux-PC unter Ubuntu 18.04 funktioniert er ebenfalls. Am win-PC wird der Zen unter Audirvana als MQA-fähig erkannt und Tidal-Tracks auch entsprechend abgespielt. MQA ist für mich zwar ebenso fragwürdiger Voodoo wie das esoterische Kabelgedöns... aber wer's mag. Ich selbst habe nur ein Tidal-Probeabo und nutze eigentlich Qobuz(Studio) oder Spotify(Premium).
Aber auch ansonsten ist er eigentlich erstaunlich anschlussfreudig:
An Apple iPod/iPhone(SE und 5c)/IPad-mini läuft er mit dem Apple CCK problemlos - sogar ohne Extra-Strom ?!?!? ... zumindest zeitweise. Ich habe aber das CCK eigentlich immer unter Strom damit die Apple-Geräte nicht anfangen zu meckern.
An meinem eigentlichen Android-Smartphone (LG v30) ging er ebenfalls problemlos und ohne Zusatz-Strom (das LG ist aber auch ein sehr guter Strom-Versorger) mit einem USB-C(OTG)-zu-USB-B-Kabel. Genauso gut funktioniert er an deinem Fiio M9-Android-DAP per USB-C. Diese mobilen Lösungen sind aber wohl eher nicht die klassischen Nutzungszenarien für das Gerät (erwähnte ich schon wie schwer das Teil ist/bzw. wirkt ?).
An einem Nvidia-Shield-TV funktioniert er auch super als USB-Audio-Device (mit fest 192kHz als Hi-Res-Gerät). Auch ein Chromebook mit ChromeOS unterstützt ihn als usb-2-audio-device.
Das wichtigste... der Klang:
Tja, ... ich bin etwas verwöhnt. Ich höre eigentlich primär über recht gute DAC/Amp-Kombis wie zB einem RME ADI-2 DAC + THX 789-Amp und mit einer Ehefrau-verärgernden Vielzahl von recht hochwertigen Kopfhörern wie Beyer T1, T5p(2), DT1990pro oder Sennheiser HD660s, Neumann NDH20, Sendy Aiva usw. Der Zen-DAC ist eigentlich für einen anderen Arbeitsplatz vorgesehen. Ich schwanke noch etwas (wie gesagt ... erst zwei Tage) und will ihn nicht mit wesentlich teureren Geräten vergleichen. Bei den ifi iDSDs war die Auflösung zwar super, aber die Höhen manchmal etwas zu harsch und unangenehm. Das ist hier eher nicht so... aber besonders toll klingt er nicht; etwas schlecht aufgelöst ist er zB. Aber das kann man natürlich auch als entspannend empfinden... mal relativierend: er ist ganz gut für den Preis. Sehr gerne höre ich an dem Zen-DAC zB die Tin P1 planaren IEMs, den HD660s oder den Thieaudio Phantom Magnetostaten. Auch der DAC-direkt-Ausgang ist ziemlich gut.
Leistung: An dem symmetrischen Ausgang treibt er recht problemlos die meisten KHs auch mittlerer Sensitivität/ höheren Ohmzahlen (zB. eben jenen HD660s). Aber auch mit "power match" = high gain ist er nicht wirklich kraftvoll. Der Gain-Sprung ist auch nicht wirklich enorm. Der Beyer T1 (der ganz ausgezeichnet am ifi iDSD Micro läuft) geht hier gar nicht - ist aber auch kein Wunder bei 600 Ohm (der ZenDAC ist empfohlen bis max. 300 Ohm).
Insgesamt muss ich aber nochmal sagen, dass ein symmetrischer KH-Verstärker/DAC mit wertigem Äusseren und edeln Innereien von einer renommierten Audio-Firma für den Preis wirklich ein Schnäppchen und somit zu empfehlen ist ... wenn das Nutzungsszenario stimmt. Als kleine Schreibtisch-Lösung durchaus zu empfehlen.
P.S. (28.10.): Ich habe von 4 auf 5 Sterne aufgewertet. Nicht weil ich nicht weiterhin ein paar Mängel sehen würde, sondern nur aus Fairness, weil eine andere Rezension auftauchte, die völlig unqualifiziert 2 Sterne vergibt.
Wenn das hier bei einer Kauf-/Nichtkauf-Entscheidung hilft, gerne den "Hilfreich"-Knopf drücken, dann weiß ich wenigstens, ob es sich lohnt, das hier nach längerem Einsatz des Zen DACs auch mal upzudaten...
Update 01.11.: Ok, es gibt scheinbar Interesse an Updates... ifi empfiehlt den Zen DAC für 12-300 Ohm KH, Wenn ich aber sehr(!) sensitive IEMs einstecke (zB TFZ Galaxy T2;16 ohm), höre ich deutliches Grundrauschen und Interferenzen sobald ein USB-Audio-Signal anliegt (auch wenn nichts gespielt wird, die Lautstärke auf Null ist und auch bei Verwendung externen Stroms). Das ist nur in der Amp-Stufe, der DAC-Line-Out ist sehr "sauber". Da ich natürlich nur "böse" Billig-USB-Kabel nutze und nicht zB das "iFi Audio Gemini3.0 Audiophiles USB-Kabel" für nur 589 EUR liegt das wohl an meinem Equipment :) ... und da der ZenDAC definitiv nicht für den mobilen Einsatz mit empfindlichen IEMs gedacht ist, sehe ich das nicht als Mangel - aber wissen sollte man es.
Another issue with the majority of entry level (or budget) DAC's is that they initially all sound the same or are similar. Only time consuming listening sessions with various hi-quality audio material can cut through most of the confusion and small differences begin to arise.
Now enter the iFI Zen DAC. I'm not going to describe the features, looks, and feel of this DAC 'cause so much has already been written about it (not to mention various You Tube reviews). It's built like a tank - so there!
Now let me get this right out of the way, and that is this Zen Dac can compete with DAC's that I've heard at $1000 - it's that simple. Sound-wise, from the moment you turn it on (and by the way, make sure you have the latest firmware which will be the case if you order one new now), you are greeted with a sound signature that is bold, with much depth. Bass is full, deep, and yet tight. The Zen Dac has this way of taking your music (and putting you right there with an authority that I find missing in many DAC's - now go figure?
Soundstaging is excellent with ample instrumental separation from left to right and from front to rear - but do take note that everything else you have in your music chain will either detract or add to the overall experience. Take classical music for instance - all of the instruments take on a weight that I've not noticed with most of the other DAC's I'm evaluating. High frequencies are pristine and instruments like strings take on an almost silky sheen. Midrange instruments like brass have that bite that sends chills up and down your spine. And bass - whether it be string bass, bass drum, kettle drums, or you name it, has an added (not necessarily artificial) weight to them that often defies description. Now it is important to keep in mind that the huge variable here is that my comments are based on my feeding it good source material - not the typical junk that many folks listen to. Feed the Zen Dac great (high quality) material and you will be rewarded with musical nirvana. Feed it horribly remixed or poor source material, and you'll soon want to turn it off to be sure. It let's you know what you're feeding it.
So am I impressed with this ZenvDac? Hell yes, I am and of the 6 budget DAC's I'm evaluating at the moment, the ZenDac is so far in the front that it's not even a fair comparison. A close second is the Soundavo HP-DAC1 - another outstanding unit (look it up on Amazon) - and I'm very impressed with that one also. Following that (in order of my preferences) are the Schitt Modi 3, followed by the Sabaj D3, and then the Micca OriGen G2, and last place (but still a very nice sounding unit) is the FX-Audio DAC-X-6. YMMV.
Folks, for some of you, just for a moment, put your nose-in-the-air standards temporarily aside and overlook the pittance that you'd expend for the ZenDac 'cause you will soon become hooked. I know I did...
Highly recommended, thus my 5 star conclusion. Do note that I'm comparing the cost of this unit with a performance level that punches far above its weight.
The gear I evaluated the Zen Dac with is/are:
1. USB connection to a Windows 10 desktop PC with 64 Gigs of RAM. Cables used were the upgraded Audioquest Pearl USB A to USB B.
2. Analog Cables used was a 1.5 foot run of World's Best Cables to a GoHiFiAudio S1 passive RCA Audio input/output switcher (which adds nothing and subtracts nothing while making comparisons). Cable used from the switcher to speakers is the Blue Jeans Cables LC-1 - a 3 foot run.
3. Speakers used to evaluate - which are all active speakers. They were the Edifier R2000DB's, the Edifier R1850DB's, the Edifier R1700BT's, and the Edifier 3000 Pro's. The reason I used all 4 is that they represent different levels of investment and accuracy.
Ben Herrmann
Fuquay Varina, NC
Also, I live in South Africa - and this unit was purchased via Amazon in the UK and swiftly delivered to me in Johannesburg in the new year, well before the world started locking-down due to the Coronavirus.
So, first some context. The love-affair with iFi started last year as I started to emerge from the false-premise that all digital music could not live up to the mesmerising sounds that I used to get from my vinyl & CD days. This was before I even knew such a thing as a dac or headphone amp existed. I’m 47 years old, and now I feel like a kid in a candy shop as I’m re-living and re-loving my music collection all over again.
It started with a birthday gift to myself last year. I splurged out on my first hi-end pair of headphones in almost 2 decades - the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 Ohm, which I bought from a South African distributor. This was huge for me, as they were not cheap for me, and they were the most ‘fancy’ set of cans I’ve had since I wore out my pair of Sennheiser HD 497s well over 10 years ago. The Sennheisers were eventually replaced by the Klipsch Image One, and then the Grado SR80e headphones - which were good, but I wasn’t in love.
Then one day, a colleague of mine, who happens to be quite the established audiophile, saw my disillusionment as I plugged my DT770s into my headphone jack socket on my MacBook Pro and was underwhelmed by what I was hearing. He suggested two things: “Try a headphone amp or dac, and stop using iTunes.” So I stopped using iTunes and upgraded to Amarra Luxe Pro (which is phenomenal, but buggy as hell). And then he said he would loan me his dac to try out. The next day he presented me with his iFi Nano iDSD dac (which I believe has been discontinued - please correct me if I am wrong people from iFi).
After connecting it to my MacBook and listening to Miles Davis's & Cannonball Adderley's "Autumn Leaves", my ears melted into audio heaven. I couldn't believe it! It certainly made the music sound awesome like I'd never heard it before, but still struggled to drive my DT770s to a loud enough volume. Even my Grados took on a new lease on life through that little iFi. I begrudgingly had to return the Nano iDSD a few days later, and longed to return to that sound. But I couldn't just go out and purchase a dac - as I am a budget audiophile virgin, and I have a family to feed. So I waited some time before I could splurge again. I then got an impressive little Sabaj PHA3 tube headphone amplifier, which definitely improved the volume of my DT770s, but yet still something was missing. And then iFi released their Zen Dac. And, it seemed like a gigantic upgrade on the Nano iDSD for less money, and I bit the bait.
So, I've been living with the iFi Zen Dac for almost 5 months now, and I can honestly say that it has been one of my best friends during lockdown.
It's permanently plugged into my MacBook Pro's USB socket, which is great as it doesn't need external power - although it comes equipped with a 5 volt DC power input, but alas no power adapter. This may be a dealbreaker for some, but I plugged in my Sabaj power adapter into the unit and heard no noticeable difference in sound quality as opposed to using just the USB connection. Which is fine for me as my wall-socket already looks likes Medusa's hairdo with all the wires and things. I have connected the iFi's RCA outputs to the Sabaj amp (where the iFi becomes a pure dac), and sometimes switch between the plugging my headphones into the iFi or Sabaj just to hear the sound differences. Not too sure why, but my Hifiman HE4XX planar magnetic headphones sound a little better powered through the Sabaj, but for everything else the iFi is unbeatable. I have not tried any of my headphones on the balance output that the iFi Zen Dac comes standard with, opting to use the 6.3mm unbalanced port with a quarter-inch adapter that most headphones include as an accessory. Some say that the balanced output might be better for the planar magnetic headphones, but alas I will have to wait till I get a 4.4mm pentaconn adapter to verify this.
I'm not going to get into any of the fancy technical details of the iFi Zen Dac, mainly because I do not understand most of it. But it seems to be extremely high-specced and hi-tech for a dac costing under £130, and the build quality is truly astounding. Most other dac/amps in this price-range are made of plastic, but this is solid metal, and a nice hefty metal at that. They say it's military-grade aluminium - and it feels like it's built like a tank. I also love the retro look of the design - it's got soul.
I guess I should get into how the iFi Zen Dac sounds. Well, to my ears, utterly magical. I can only imagine how iFi's more expensive dacs sound if this little wonder already makes my ears joyous. Some say it has to do with iFi's love-affair with using the Burr-Brown Dac chip in their circuitry. And I love the TrueBass function, which really rounds of the bass nicely. If you're a reggae and dub lover, then you need the TrueBass button in your life. But it's not just the bass that is buttery, so too are the mids and highs. And as an amp it gets loud. My DT770s are already extremely loud at the 1 'o clock position on the volume knob (and what a lovely knob it is).
Currently I'm mostly streaming music from Deezer HiFi and Spotify Premium on my MacBook Pro, played through the Zen Dac, and I'm loving my music all over again. It really is that good. I'd love to get a second one so I can have one at home and one at the office, but my wife might divorce me if I buy any more audio toys LOL.
Commenté au Royaume-Uni le 9 mai 2020
Also, I live in South Africa - and this unit was purchased via Amazon in the UK and swiftly delivered to me in Johannesburg in the new year, well before the world started locking-down due to the Coronavirus.
So, first some context. The love-affair with iFi started last year as I started to emerge from the false-premise that all digital music could not live up to the mesmerising sounds that I used to get from my vinyl & CD days. This was before I even knew such a thing as a dac or headphone amp existed. I’m 47 years old, and now I feel like a kid in a candy shop as I’m re-living and re-loving my music collection all over again.
It started with a birthday gift to myself last year. I splurged out on my first hi-end pair of headphones in almost 2 decades - the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 Ohm, which I bought from a South African distributor. This was huge for me, as they were not cheap for me, and they were the most ‘fancy’ set of cans I’ve had since I wore out my pair of Sennheiser HD 497s well over 10 years ago. The Sennheisers were eventually replaced by the Klipsch Image One, and then the Grado SR80e headphones - which were good, but I wasn’t in love.
Then one day, a colleague of mine, who happens to be quite the established audiophile, saw my disillusionment as I plugged my DT770s into my headphone jack socket on my MacBook Pro and was underwhelmed by what I was hearing. He suggested two things: “Try a headphone amp or dac, and stop using iTunes.” So I stopped using iTunes and upgraded to Amarra Luxe Pro (which is phenomenal, but buggy as hell). And then he said he would loan me his dac to try out. The next day he presented me with his iFi Nano iDSD dac (which I believe has been discontinued - please correct me if I am wrong people from iFi).
After connecting it to my MacBook and listening to Miles Davis's & Cannonball Adderley's "Autumn Leaves", my ears melted into audio heaven. I couldn't believe it! It certainly made the music sound awesome like I'd never heard it before, but still struggled to drive my DT770s to a loud enough volume. Even my Grados took on a new lease on life through that little iFi. I begrudgingly had to return the Nano iDSD a few days later, and longed to return to that sound. But I couldn't just go out and purchase a dac - as I am a budget audiophile virgin, and I have a family to feed. So I waited some time before I could splurge again. I then got an impressive little Sabaj PHA3 tube headphone amplifier, which definitely improved the volume of my DT770s, but yet still something was missing. And then iFi released their Zen Dac. And, it seemed like a gigantic upgrade on the Nano iDSD for less money, and I bit the bait.
So, I've been living with the iFi Zen Dac for almost 5 months now, and I can honestly say that it has been one of my best friends during lockdown.
It's permanently plugged into my MacBook Pro's USB socket, which is great as it doesn't need external power - although it comes equipped with a 5 volt DC power input, but alas no power adapter. This may be a dealbreaker for some, but I plugged in my Sabaj power adapter into the unit and heard no noticeable difference in sound quality as opposed to using just the USB connection. Which is fine for me as my wall-socket already looks likes Medusa's hairdo with all the wires and things. I have connected the iFi's RCA outputs to the Sabaj amp (where the iFi becomes a pure dac), and sometimes switch between the plugging my headphones into the iFi or Sabaj just to hear the sound differences. Not too sure why, but my Hifiman HE4XX planar magnetic headphones sound a little better powered through the Sabaj, but for everything else the iFi is unbeatable. I have not tried any of my headphones on the balance output that the iFi Zen Dac comes standard with, opting to use the 6.3mm unbalanced port with a quarter-inch adapter that most headphones include as an accessory. Some say that the balanced output might be better for the planar magnetic headphones, but alas I will have to wait till I get a 4.4mm pentaconn adapter to verify this.
I'm not going to get into any of the fancy technical details of the iFi Zen Dac, mainly because I do not understand most of it. But it seems to be extremely high-specced and hi-tech for a dac costing under £130, and the build quality is truly astounding. Most other dac/amps in this price-range are made of plastic, but this is solid metal, and a nice hefty metal at that. They say it's military-grade aluminium - and it feels like it's built like a tank. I also love the retro look of the design - it's got soul.
I guess I should get into how the iFi Zen Dac sounds. Well, to my ears, utterly magical. I can only imagine how iFi's more expensive dacs sound if this little wonder already makes my ears joyous. Some say it has to do with iFi's love-affair with using the Burr-Brown Dac chip in their circuitry. And I love the TrueBass function, which really rounds of the bass nicely. If you're a reggae and dub lover, then you need the TrueBass button in your life. But it's not just the bass that is buttery, so too are the mids and highs. And as an amp it gets loud. My DT770s are already extremely loud at the 1 'o clock position on the volume knob (and what a lovely knob it is).
Currently I'm mostly streaming music from Deezer HiFi and Spotify Premium on my MacBook Pro, played through the Zen Dac, and I'm loving my music all over again. It really is that good. I'd love to get a second one so I can have one at home and one at the office, but my wife might divorce me if I buy any more audio toys LOL.
I initially expected that it would be relatively easy to enjoy the full Hi-Res audio experience from MQA (Masters Quality Authenticated) files played from the Tidal app on my iOS devices. After a little bit of research I soon learned that MQA files require two stages of unpackaging and processing to unlock the Hi-Res sound. The first stage of the unpackaging is done by the Tidal App on your iOS device. The data is then passed on to the DAC (Digital to Audio Convertor), which is responsible for completing the final unpack and processing of the MQA audio file.
The removal of the 3.5 mm headphone jack from recent iOS devices resulted in the loss of the onboard DAC. You are therefore left with one of three choices to transfer your music from your iOS device. The first option is Bluetooth streaming but iOS devices automatically downsample the Hi-Res audio files to AAC format before transferring them, which naturally leads to a reduction in quality. The second option is to use the included Apple lightning to 3.5 mm dongle, which has an inbuilt DAC. This DAC however lacks the ability to reproduce Hi-Res audio. Attaching an External DAC is therefore the only option that will allow you to reproduce Hi-Res audio from an iOS device. If your choice of provider of Hi-Res “Masters” audio files is Tidal you are going to need a DAC that is MQA certified. Unfortunately most DACs on the market are not MQA certified and lack the capability to complete the final unpack and processing of the MQA audio file which is required to deliver true Hi-Res audio.
My initial research left me seriously doubting whether there would be any solution within my price range to enable me to deliver Hi-Res audio from my my iOS devices to my Hi-Fi. I therefore couldn’t believe my luck when an internet search brought up the recently released iFi Zen DAC for less than £130. It is such a beautifully designed DAC, with a full metal chassis that gives the Zen such a premium feel. The absolute killer feature of this DAC is that it is MQA certified. This means it can complete the unpacking process and output the Tidal “Masters” files in full Hi-Res audio to the device of your choice. RCA connections allow you to output to your Hi-Fi and there are also two 4.4 mm outputs to hook up a pair of headphones.
I connected my iPad Pro by purchasing a £7 USB-C to USB-B 3.0 cable (not to be confused with a USB-C to USB-B 2.0 cable, which won’t fit the USB-B 3.0 port on the Zen). To connect my iPhone I require a Lightning to USB-A dongle (Apple call it the Lightning to USB 3 Camera adapter) along with the supplied USB-A to USB-B 3.0 cable. A slightly less elegant solution but still incredibly simple.
I’d initially used my award winning Cyrus Soundkey DAC/Headphone amp (not MQA certified) to deliver audio from my Tidal app on my iPad to my amplifier, via its 3.5mm headphone output. The device has done an admirable job when coupled to my Senheisser Momentum headphones. However to say I was disappointed with the experience through my Hi-Fi was an understatement. Even at low to moderate volume my system really exposed the flaws in the outputted audio, which suffered from very audible distortion.
With the iFi Zen DAC I can use a vastly superior, balanced RCA connection to my Hi-Fi’s amplifier, instead of a sub-optimal unbalanced 3.5 mm connection. As soon as I play a “Masters” quality track on my iPad Tidal app the light on the front of the iFi Zen DAC goes purple (technically Magenta) to indicate it is receiving and processing an MQA authenticated file. As soon as I switch to playing one of the more usual standard “Hi-Fi” quality tracks on the Tidal app, the light on the front of the unit switches to green to indicate it’s receiving a lower bit rate file. It is really satisfying to be able to see as well as hear that the DAC is performing its magic on those Hi-Res MQA tracks.
In reality however by far the most important part of this review comes down to the sound quality. The iFi Zen DAC delivers were it really matters. I tested it with a wide variety of source material and really “cranked up” the volume and still the music remained absolutely crystal clear. I then cross referenced a “Masters”quality album streamed from the Tidal app on my iPad through the DAC with the CD version I owned, played through my £300 CD deck. The audio reproduction from the DAC was at least as good as that from my CD player.
The big difference however comes from the fact that I have unlimited access to millions of songs through the Tidal app. The iFi Zen DAC costs less than £130 and can reproduce these tracks to a level that is at least on par with my CD player. I bought the CD version of an album to experience the ultimate sound quality but thanks to the iFi Zen DAC I can now experience the best quality through a music streaming service.
It’s rare to find such a clever, elegant and technically sound product that perfectly matches your requirement. It’s even rarer to find it at such an affordable price!
Commenté au Royaume-Uni le 25 janvier 2020
I initially expected that it would be relatively easy to enjoy the full Hi-Res audio experience from MQA (Masters Quality Authenticated) files played from the Tidal app on my iOS devices. After a little bit of research I soon learned that MQA files require two stages of unpackaging and processing to unlock the Hi-Res sound. The first stage of the unpackaging is done by the Tidal App on your iOS device. The data is then passed on to the DAC (Digital to Audio Convertor), which is responsible for completing the final unpack and processing of the MQA audio file.
The removal of the 3.5 mm headphone jack from recent iOS devices resulted in the loss of the onboard DAC. You are therefore left with one of three choices to transfer your music from your iOS device. The first option is Bluetooth streaming but iOS devices automatically downsample the Hi-Res audio files to AAC format before transferring them, which naturally leads to a reduction in quality. The second option is to use the included Apple lightning to 3.5 mm dongle, which has an inbuilt DAC. This DAC however lacks the ability to reproduce Hi-Res audio. Attaching an External DAC is therefore the only option that will allow you to reproduce Hi-Res audio from an iOS device. If your choice of provider of Hi-Res “Masters” audio files is Tidal you are going to need a DAC that is MQA certified. Unfortunately most DACs on the market are not MQA certified and lack the capability to complete the final unpack and processing of the MQA audio file which is required to deliver true Hi-Res audio.
My initial research left me seriously doubting whether there would be any solution within my price range to enable me to deliver Hi-Res audio from my my iOS devices to my Hi-Fi. I therefore couldn’t believe my luck when an internet search brought up the recently released iFi Zen DAC for less than £130. It is such a beautifully designed DAC, with a full metal chassis that gives the Zen such a premium feel. The absolute killer feature of this DAC is that it is MQA certified. This means it can complete the unpacking process and output the Tidal “Masters” files in full Hi-Res audio to the device of your choice. RCA connections allow you to output to your Hi-Fi and there are also two 4.4 mm outputs to hook up a pair of headphones.
I connected my iPad Pro by purchasing a £7 USB-C to USB-B 3.0 cable (not to be confused with a USB-C to USB-B 2.0 cable, which won’t fit the USB-B 3.0 port on the Zen). To connect my iPhone I require a Lightning to USB-A dongle (Apple call it the Lightning to USB 3 Camera adapter) along with the supplied USB-A to USB-B 3.0 cable. A slightly less elegant solution but still incredibly simple.
I’d initially used my award winning Cyrus Soundkey DAC/Headphone amp (not MQA certified) to deliver audio from my Tidal app on my iPad to my amplifier, via its 3.5mm headphone output. The device has done an admirable job when coupled to my Senheisser Momentum headphones. However to say I was disappointed with the experience through my Hi-Fi was an understatement. Even at low to moderate volume my system really exposed the flaws in the outputted audio, which suffered from very audible distortion.
With the iFi Zen DAC I can use a vastly superior, balanced RCA connection to my Hi-Fi’s amplifier, instead of a sub-optimal unbalanced 3.5 mm connection. As soon as I play a “Masters” quality track on my iPad Tidal app the light on the front of the iFi Zen DAC goes purple (technically Magenta) to indicate it is receiving and processing an MQA authenticated file. As soon as I switch to playing one of the more usual standard “Hi-Fi” quality tracks on the Tidal app, the light on the front of the unit switches to green to indicate it’s receiving a lower bit rate file. It is really satisfying to be able to see as well as hear that the DAC is performing its magic on those Hi-Res MQA tracks.
In reality however by far the most important part of this review comes down to the sound quality. The iFi Zen DAC delivers were it really matters. I tested it with a wide variety of source material and really “cranked up” the volume and still the music remained absolutely crystal clear. I then cross referenced a “Masters”quality album streamed from the Tidal app on my iPad through the DAC with the CD version I owned, played through my £300 CD deck. The audio reproduction from the DAC was at least as good as that from my CD player.
The big difference however comes from the fact that I have unlimited access to millions of songs through the Tidal app. The iFi Zen DAC costs less than £130 and can reproduce these tracks to a level that is at least on par with my CD player. I bought the CD version of an album to experience the ultimate sound quality but thanks to the iFi Zen DAC I can now experience the best quality through a music streaming service.
It’s rare to find such a clever, elegant and technically sound product that perfectly matches your requirement. It’s even rarer to find it at such an affordable price!
BUILD QUALITY
The build quality is fantastic. It's actually probably better than the Micro iCan IHMO (which is the same chassis as the Micro iDSD), so you're basically getting that $500+ build quality and sound to match. I'd estimate that volume knob alone should cost at least 10% of the total price, so what they've accomplished here for this price is unreal.
BASS
I'm a full on basshead at home, quality and quantity. I use a Schiit Loki and bump the 20 Hz region by probably 15-20 dB with the XBass on my iCan and Loki (combined). The iCan XBass max setting is noticeably more powerful than the TrueBass here. However, the TrueBass is still fantastic and gives a bigger boost than I expected. I bought the Zen for use at the office, where I don't go full out basshead, so I will absolutely be satisfied by the boost it provides. I expect most people to be satisfied as well.
MIDS
Not much to say here. The other reviews praising this amp are accurate. It's clean, smooth, warm, detailed, etc. with a quiet background and absolutely improves the sound quality by all objective and subjective measures vs. a cell phone or motherboard.
TREBLE
This is where I miss the Micro iCan. There's something about the 3D switch that brings higher frequency sounds (e.g. symbols) forward in an unobtrusive way while also making the whole spectrum of sound seem more detailed and bigger. It's hard to describe, but if you have the money to go with a more expensive iFi product, I personally think their 3D tech is absolutely worth the cost of entry if you're not a "purist" and just want to have more options (i.e. fun) for changing the sound depending on the musical genre or headphones you're listening to. Aside from that, this absolutely takes some serious critical listening effort to notice differences between it and my more expensive DACs / amps. If iFi ever releases a Zen DAC with their 3D tech, I'd gladly buy it.
SOUNDSTAGE/IMAGING/DETAIL
Not much to say here either. You have to try really hard to notice differences between this little guy and the more expensive offerings I listed. The TH-X00 is known for having average imaging and soundstage in its price range though, so perhaps top-tier cans that excel in this section might have more noticeable differences.
To summarize, one of my favorite, and least favorite, things about audio is how subjective it is. It's interesting to apply logic to a person's subjective opinions. For example, if A is better than B and B is better than C, then A must be better than C. If you apply that kind of thinking to my review here, you could basically argue that this thing sounds like a setup many times its actual cost. The DAC section is easily on par with the Mimby, which people say sounds equivalent to the Bifrost Multibit, and the amp section easily competes with my iCan, so there you go. Save yourself a few hundred bucks and buy this. Use the money you save for better headphones.
Easy 10/10 in all categories.





