Zen DAC V2 | Desktop Digital Analog Converter with USB 3.0 B Input only/Outputs: 6.3mm Unbalanced / 4.4mm Balanced/RCA - MQA DECODER - Audio System Upgrade (Unit only)

Any of these are going to greatly improve the sound over plugging your headphones directly into the mini-jack on a computer. Listening was done with a few different headphones but mostly with beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X Closed-Back Studio Headphones. Music source was a laptop connected to the DAC/Headphone Amp via USB. If an external power supply was included, I used that. If not, power came via USB. I've kept notes on my impressions brief and included comparisons amongst the DAC/Amp's in this list. They are listed below in my order of preference with my favorites at the top. If you want flowery vocabulary I'm sure in depth reviews are available out there on the web. Headphones make the greatest difference in sound - spend more on them, if necessary. The DAC/Amp is secondary but does add its own flavor to the music. --- iFi Zen DAC V2 | Desktop Digital Analog Converter (Listening only with "TRUEBASS" off.) Very good. Slightly better than the FiiO K7. Better vocal clarity and slightly fuller bass. I ended up comparing this with the FX-Audio DAC-X6 head to head, which continued to surprise me as I put it up against significantly more expensive competitors. Across several hours and many pieces of music, I prefer the iFi... but the difference is infinitesimal. Possibly the iFi has a little more punch to the bass? Maybe a bit more space ans separation? If you're working to a budget, get the FX-Audio and put the extra cash towards better headphones. FX-Audio DAC-X6 Mini HiFi 2.0 Digital Audio Decoder DAC This thing is good. Surprisingly good. I ended up putting it head-to-head with amps costing three times its price. Slightly warmer sound, with slightly less detail in the vocals than the iFi Zen Air, but more space in the music, and more enjoyable to listen to. Slightly better clarity than the Topping. FiiO K7 Full Balanced HiFi DAC Headphone Amplifier This is indeed better than the K5 version. Vocals are more lifelike. And a particular emphasis on the mid-treble heard in the K5 is absent. There is more separation between the instruments. Very close call with the iFi V2, with my preference going to the iFi for better vocal clarity and slightly fuller bass. iFi Zen Air DAC Not quite as good as the V2, but close. Closer than the FiiO K5 is to the K7. There is, again, a comparative emphasis in mid-treble and the vocals get a bit lost. The sound is slightly thin compared to rivals at this price point. FiiO K5 Pro Headphone Amps Portable Desktop DAC and Amplifier Not quite as good as the K7, but at half the price one cannot really complain. Vocals are not quite as lifelike and there is more mid-treble - but not in a good way. Topping DX1 Mini Stereo DAC Headphone Amplifier Combo Very good little unit. Bass is slightly overemphasized. Fosi Audio K5 Pro Gaming DAC Headphone Amplifier I thought this unit was DOA. Turns out that you must long press the volume knob to turn it on. (Short press to select input.) Not terrible, but not as musical as the others in this test. Also, the only one with bass and treble knobs. And only a mini-jack - no 1/4" jack. Pro-Ject Head Box S2 Digital This DAC/Amp had an issue that makes it unlistenable. The sound is very nice... but... there's some faint static. Only in the music, not in silence. A faint crackling.... Can't have that.

I've owned this DAC for over 6 months now and listened to it daily, so I'll get right into sound impressions. What I initially noticed was how tonally balanced this DAC sounds. Bass is slightly dark, like a wave of warmth washing over you, but retains a good amount of texture and rumble. Mids aren't recessed or forward, just right where they belong. They come off as slightly dry at times, but this can either be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the music. Highs are well controlled and nicely balanced - very detailed with nothing missing but there's a slight grain present. The V2 sounds open despite having a slightly hazy background. Textures and transients have snap and lots of detail. The soundstage is moderately wide with good depth - not the best but not the worst. There's even some slight saturation effect at signal peak levels, like how the distortion in a tube amp alters the sound. Overall these effects combine into a fun sounding DAC, a tastefully done wall of sound that keeps you engaged. The DAC begs to be turned up, but beware of listening fatigue. I have no issues with the build quality, everything feels great and works as it should. I don't use the bass or matching features, but they sound good for what they are. The power supply is the weakness on this DAC. Don't bother with the overpriced iFi iPower brick, pick up a $35 Meanwell power supply instead. What really helps this DAC is an LC power filtering stage in between the power supply brick and the DAC itself. You can build this yourself if you're so inclined and you'll be rewarded with snappier bass and a clearer, less grey background.

Been using this DAC for a few years now, and I have to say this is one of the best purchases I have ever made. I just turned it off for the first time in a long time and I forgot how massive of a difference it makes. The bass boost feature it has is absolutely perfection as well. It boosts the perfect ranges. I absolutely recommend this to anyone that is looking to improve their music listening experience.... your mind will be blown how much of a difference it makes.

I bought the Zen DAC V2 in October 2021 and want to share my long-term user experience. It capably powers all my headphones (SHP9500, HD599, HE1000 Stealth, DT1990 Pro, Sundara, Edition XS, FT1) and yields a lively, quality sound experience. It's kept working while other DAC/amps (i.e. Hifiman EF400) bit the dust. I frequently pair it with my DT1990 Pro MK1 (Truebass on) because they're an audio match made in heaven. It's beautifully built and one of the best deals in audio. Five stars *****!

I bought This Amp/dac for powering up my ATH-M50X which this headphone dose not need a powerful amp but this zen dac v2 was not a joke. it was soo good to be true and the balance output was in another level of sound quality which it was perfect for a balance neutral sound headphones. I even tried a more power hunger headphones like the dt 770 pro 250ohm and this amp/dac really surprised me, it drove it with ease. I really recommend for everyone that wants a powerful amp/dac and dose not want to put a fortune on it. 10/10 product no problem or issue with, Just a reminder to anyone wants to use it on a console update the firmware for the device to the latest update

suchte eine externe Soundkarte zum Musikhören am PC, um die Störgeräusche durch den Netzstrom zu vermeiden. Dafür perfekt geeignet - duch USB-Anschluß null Störgeräusche und Hifi-Musikgenuss möglich!

I have given this little beauty 6 months on my desk before committing to a review. I chose this version instead of the Zen Blu V2 as I wanted to have a front facing headphone output to use my balanced 4.4mm IEMs at night. This tiny desktop DAC Amp is powered by my PC (using a 4-way Anker USB hub) as I wanted to see whether I would regret not buying the separate power supply. I don't regret it, it works really well, although I am sure someone will tell me that there might be a marginal improvement in sound quality if I do. I have the RCA outputs connected to my RuarkAudio MR1 Mk2 speakers and they have an output to a small Rel (Quake) subwoofer. Initial thoughts were 'wow'! I predominantly listen to BBC sounds and Amazon music but I do watch a few movies and stare at a lot of YT vids, and this system is absolutely perfect for it. Clarity is exceptional, the volume knob is perfect for reach and it feels great too, and the added bass-boost comes in great when I want to annoy the village. Oh, it's loud enough alright. I haven't had anything other than MQA codec passing through it so the light has always been green. I'm in my 50's, and the difference between some codecs is too subtle for my ears to detect despite having been a musician for many many years. I find the sound amazing. There are 3 'less than perfect' aspects to describe: Firstly, I sometimes leave my PC on, and after it switches back on after sleeping it reverts to PC speaker system. As I have the desktop 4-way USB hub it is not a problem as it just requires pulling out and reinserting but some commenters have found this a bit annoying. Secondly, there is no 'power' switch. If my PC stays in sleep mode it remains on, but if I hibernate the PC it does turn off. Again, not a deal breaker, and I prefer to have it turn off when I shut down as it would stay on if it had its own power supply. Finally, if you are listening with headphones, the output to speakers from the rear is still live and so I have to remember to turn my Ruarks off. It does mention this somewhere in the blurb, but I hadn't noticed until my wife told me to turn it down at 1am!! A weird setup, but it isn't a dedicated headphone amp and I can live with it. Regardless of these issues I'm more than happy with my setup. There was some annoying background noise coming from my sub initially but this has been resolved with the iFi iSilencer+ USB-A plugging directly into the USB hub. I wasn't sure it would work but it actually did. This system looks gorgeous, feels sublime, and sounds utterly brilliant. I can't think of anything that can do the job better for this price. I'm not being sponsored, these are my own words and not AI generated cos I wouldn't know how to! Will I get more iFi desktop stuff? I think that will probably happen in the future, I just don't know what, when, why, and how to tell the wife! Go on ... treat yourself, you know you want to.

Lo uso como dac en el pc,conectado al zen Can y he de decir que ya estaba contento con la versión 1.Que decir pues de la versión 2?Pues que es lo mismo pero más mejor?Pues si,mejor si,pero tampoco te va a volar la cabeza.Que este decodifica en vez de renderizar el mqa...vale lo que tú digas.Que es más potente y por ende mejor teóricamente?...Vaya,pues es que yo no noto mucho.A ver tengo unos buenos altavoces,un buen equipo,y este cacharrito(la versión anterior)Da un calidad de espanto.Sonido claro,cálido,buena calidad y separación..vamos que no voy a hacer un análisis de su firma ni de sus chips internos,hay muchos vídeos y análisis por ahí.El salto de ir a 'pelo' a esto ...No te lo crees.Tienes tidal máster?A por el.Qobuz?Tambien,a por el!Es que además te da un montón de opciones,salidas,mqa...nadie da tanto y tan bien por tan poco.De verdad.Ahora bien,que merece el v1 frente al v2? No Añadirle el ampli de auris zen can(los duros de verdad los mueve,pero no con la cultura debidda...tengo unos amiron home) y la cosa se vuelve estelar.Yo estoy encantado. Poco más que decir.Conparable a aparatos mucho más caros,y nada que envidiarles.

Fantastic DAC, brought great sound to both of my headphone monitors. Recommended