Pure performance

The specialist ZEN DAC Signature, enveloped in a Space Blue finish, now associated with iFi's Signature products, is designed to be a pure desktop DAC that takes no prisoners when it comes to performance. Its simplified circuitry provides the opportunity to upgrade the signal path and critical components within it. The existing ZEN DAC introduced the benefits of fully balanced circuit design but the ZEN DAC Signature further ups the ante with its enhanced true-differential balanced topology.

Various key surface-mounted circuit components have been upgraded to high-end devices, including Panasonic OS-CON and Elna Silmic II capacitors, while the circuit has been refined to ensure short, direct signal paths for optimal signal purity. This results in even greater sonic detail and expression. The iFi-programmed XMOS chip, which processes data received at the USB input and jitter-eradicating, audiophile-grade oscillators, contribute to exemplary handling of digital audio signals as they are received, processed and converted to analogue form.

The outputs of the ZEN DAC Signature can be switched between ‘variable’ and ‘fixed’. The variable setting applies volume control to the audio signal, enabling it to act as a preamp to connect directly to a power amp. The fixed option bypasses the volume control, fixing the output at 4.2V (balanced) or 2.1V (single-ended) for connection to an external preamp, integrated amp or active speakers with their own volume control.

Key Features

 Technical Details