iFi audio ZEN DAC and CAN Signature Review

In this article we look at the iFi audio ZEN DAC and CAN Signature units, selling for $249 each.

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Meet the iFi audio ZEN DAC Signature and the ZEN CAN Signature AMP for DROP.

“A new ZEN Signature series for DROP? What on earth are you talking about?” is probably what you will say if this news hasn’t reached you yet. But yes, it’s true, there’s a special version of the ZEN DAC and CAN available right now! This article was supposed to be somewhat of an iFi audio ZEN DAC & CAN Signature review premier, but it seems there are some videos on Youtube already (which I haven’t watched at all).

The Signature Series units are the premium versions of the of the original ZEN products, and the ZEN CAN Signature has an extra twist. Its EQ curve is tuned to work perfectly with the (Mass)Drop Sennheiser HD 6XX.

These units will first be sold exclusively on Drop for very short times in July and August. Then in a few months, the normal production run will be available via iFi audio directly. As it is a premium version, it’s more expensive than the regular version. DROP at the moment is showing a $249 price for each unit, but we can’t confirm what will be the price in a later stage.

ifi audio zen Signature

iFi audio

Belonging to the group AMR (Abbingdon Music Research Group), which is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the UK, iFi audio is a manufacturer of several DACs and amplifiers, as well as other accessories for computer & home audio. We already reviewed many different iFi products before this one, like the Nano iOne, the Nano iDSD Black Label, the xDSD, the xCAN, the ZEN BLUE and the Hip-Dac.

iFi audio has a very open and charming online communication which makes things a lot easier for us and the end clients. They pay attention to their products, but they also make sure their fans are happy and they do so by interacting with the audio community. I would like to say a special thank you to the iFi audio team for doing this preview of the ZEN Signature DROP series with us.

Time to check out the new units!

ifi audio zen can Signature

iFi Signature Series explained (by iFi audio)

iFi ZEN DAC Signature

One of the most talked about USB DACs on the market today, the transportable ZEN DAC can be powered by mains or via the connected source device. Bit-perfect hi-res audio support includes PCM to 384kHz, native DSD and MQA, coupled to fully balanced analogue circuit design – nothing anywhere near the price comes close.

This exclusive Signature version elevates the ZEN DAC’s performance with upgraded circuitry from iFi’s flagship Pro Series. Like a tuned-up version of an already highly prized sports car, the ZEN DAC Signature is truly something special.

ifi audio zen can Signature

iFi ZEN CAN Signature

iFi’s recently launched ZEN CAN is a remarkably capable yet affordable desk-top size analogue headphone amp. This exclusive Signature version upgrades the concept still further and includes a unique feature – a selectable EQ setting specifically designed to optimize performance with one of the most successful high-quality headphones on the market, the (Mass)Drop x Sennheiser HD 6XX.

This EQ circuit, called ActivEQ, calibrates the signal to match the HD 6XX’s frequency response characteristics, thereby tailoring performance to precisely fit the headphones like a made-to-measure suit. What’s more, its active design does this without adding the distortion commonly associated with passive equalization circuits. So basically this Signature AMP has 2 extra settings (the HD6XX and 3D) which you can use separately or combined.

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