iFi was born in 2012 with one goal in mind: to produce ‘ultra-fidelity’ audio products that push the sonic envelope whilst still priced within the mainstream.
iFi audio is under our parent company, AMR, Abbingdon Music Research, which designs and produces top-end luxurious audio products. AMR saw in 2010 that customer demand for wireless and portable headphones was expanding as the whole audio dynamic was changing. Thus, iFi was launched.
iFi offers small but prodigious personal audio products thanks to the superior knowledge of AMR’s technology. Today, we are proud of our British (and international) roots. We continue to design and produce over 35 different products. We are headquartered in Southport, UK with distribution including retailers such as B&H and etailz with production overseas.
We source parts from around the world from manufacturers including AMOS (UK), GE Valves (USA), WIMA (Germany) and TDK (Japan).
ZEN DAC close up view of the front
iFi Zen Dac
Hot on the heels of the ZEN Blue hi-res Bluetooth streamer, iFi expands the ZEN family of desktop-sized audio products with the ZEN DAC – a USB DAC/headphone amp offering a level of specification and performance that belies its super-affordable.
Designed for home use – on a desk, perhaps, or in the living room – the ZEN DAC connects to PCs and Macs, or smart devices such as tablets of phones, via USB. Its hi-res digital-to-analogue conversation technology processes all forms of digital audio to a super-high standard, while the integrated analogue headphone amplifier delivers superb sound with all headphone types, from in-ear monitors to larger on- and over-ear deigns. Compared to simply plugging headphones directly into a computer or smart device, the ZEN Blue transforms the listening experience – sound is clearer, more detailed, more expansive and engaging, making the most of whichever headphones are connected.
As well as driving headphones, the ZEN DAC can be used as a USB DAC in a home audio system, with or without its volume control engaged. What’s more, whether you’re hooking up headphones, an external amp or active speakers, you have a choice of single-ended or balanced connection – a remarkable facility.
In common with other ZEN Series products, the ZEN DAC sports a sturdy, smartly finished aluminium enclosure. Even the rotary volume control is aluminium, giving a reassuringly solid feel. Behind the volume control resides an LED that changes color to indicate the sampling rate of the audio data received.
Please Note: If you are using headphones or IEMs with high sensitivity you will benefit from our Earbuddy or iEmatch (sold separately) to combat common noise they produce.