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Showing 1 of 123 conversations about:
Zeos
648
Jul 14, 2020
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So I was sent an advanced set of these (the CAN and DAC signature) from ifi. I have a bit of a love affair with the ifi Zen DAC Combo since for $130 prime shipped I don't think you can do better even CLOSE in that price range. So a $500 stack version was interesting but I thought it would gut the foundation of that cheap diamond in the rough. Luckily for me I came to realize the amp on its own for $250 works on so many things, not just the 6xx, and does a DAMN good job powering everything. So if you skip the DAC half, if your OCD can handle that, the CAN part is perhaps the finest thing ifi currently makes. The 3D / 6xx button isn't quite as universal as the Bass boost on the ZEN DAC combo, but is has similarly addictive properties if you find the right headphone... I firmly believe my HD600 (not just 6xx) have never EVER sounded as good on a Solid State amp before. And unlike other ifi magic switches these are subtle. I don't feel like I am cheating on my audiophile goals or ruining someone else's goals of neutrality/uncolored sound above all. THAT SAID, the dac is also a pretty wonderful piece of kit. I saw that they added a $90 option for a 4.4 jumper to go between the two (which FEELS pricey) but I couldn't find anywhere else. So all my assumptions are based on just RCA feeding the Zen CAN Sig from the Zen DAC Sig. With its dedicated volume knob I can 100% see this being the go-to USB dac for Powered speakers or desktop power-amp users (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!) as it sort of dominates the facade with that knob, which you can bypass, but who doesn't want a nice knob. I haven't been asked to return them yet. So I will probably have some cables made to access the Balanced sides of the Dac and CanAmp to assess some more. ifi really has come quite the way in terms of price to performance and this right now sits atop their hierarchy of products in my book. The 789 is going to be a distant memory if amps like this pop up. Thank you for coming to my TED TALK, here is the review where I curse and wave my hands around. (Please Note the Dates are SLIGHTLY OFF due to ifi delaying the launch and not Drop, for the first time ever) https://youtu.be/QLH4bMvaMag
Jul 14, 2020
kellhound1
9
Jul 14, 2020
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ZeosHey look, another product Zeos is promoting full throttle! I guess we HAVE to buy it now.
Jul 14, 2020
gtjwolf
112
Jul 14, 2020
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ZeosAlso just a heads up on amazon there is a listing for a 4.4mm to 4.4mm interconnect for about $23, there could be more out there but this is all I saw so far at a quick glance: https://www.amazon.com/Balanced-Silver-Plated-Headphone-Adapters/dp/B08279BFXS/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=4.4mm+male+to+4.4mm+male&qid=1594733485&sr=8-6
Jul 14, 2020
Zeos
648
Jul 14, 2020
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kellhound1I hope other reviewers find it as amazing as I do. #ShillHypeMaster2020
Jul 14, 2020
MusicIsGreat
205
Jul 14, 2020
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ZeosUnder 500$, not impossible but hard to beat for a separate DAC and amp . You can build your own 4.4 mm interconnect for less than 12$ however it requires you have the soldering hardware. In any events, this is a heck of a good deal specially for HD XXX headphone owners (including 600 and 650). Other headphones like Shure shr1540 and shr1840 could really take advantage of that combo.
Jul 14, 2020
Zeos
648
Jul 14, 2020
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MusicIsGreatI still don't know if that button could fix the 1540. That is the saddest, nicest headphone.
Jul 14, 2020
Iddqdk
22
Jul 14, 2020
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ZeosI just want a dac/amp that fits UNDER my desk, like a K3 or so .. But this design really makes it hard to function in the same way 😬 Also, subscribing to your channel is perhaps the worst thing I've ever done to myself .. I'm sooo broke just 1½ month later 💸💸💸 I do love my hd58x and hd660s tho 😅
Jul 14, 2020
Victorfabius
105
Jul 14, 2020
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ZeosLow volume listener here. How’s the channel balance on low levels with the Zen Can? I recognize that low impedance/high sensitivity IEMs/cans aren’t the market for this product. Still, I have to ask: Is there hiss?
Jul 14, 2020
ifiaudio_Vince
115
iFi Audio
Jul 14, 2020
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ZeosHi Zeos, "I still don't know if that button could fix the 1540. That is the saddest, nicest headphone." The 1540 already has boosted bass and extra upper midrange/lower treble energy. It is a poor match with the SRH-1540. The SRH-1540 would need a completely different EQ. The SRH-1840 on the other hand would seem (on paper) a reasonable match for this EQ.
Jul 14, 2020
Mehoron
63
Jul 14, 2020
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You're so edgy kellhound.
Jul 14, 2020
Zeos
648
Jul 14, 2020
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IddqdkI mean anything will mount under your desk with enough Velcro or Blue-Tac.. Anything.
Jul 14, 2020
Zeos
648
Jul 14, 2020
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VictorfabiusI personally with my IEM's couldn't hear any hiss. The multiple gain controls help with really sensitive IEMs
Jul 14, 2020
Iddqdk
22
Jul 14, 2020
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ZeosI'll see how it goes with the K3 and that 3M Low Profile Adhesive Dual Lock Reclosable Self Adhesive Fastener Tape you recommended 😬 God I love the internet 🙌
Jul 14, 2020
postwarscars
1367
Keyboard Club Member
Jul 14, 2020
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ZeosThis statement really bothers me: "The 789 is going to be a distant memory if amps like this pop up." This is a unit that is $50 cheaper than the 789 and designed (and marketed...) to almost specifically run a single pair of headphones. Why would this, in any way, obsolete something like the 789, which can specifically run nearly all headphones (excluding electrostats, for obvious reasons)? Specialized products ultimately tend to fair worse than universal ones, but that's really a whole other conversation.
Jul 14, 2020
OrcaBrigade
118
Jul 14, 2020
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postwarscarsI happen to like my dedicated solutions... but I don't like having something that has a singular purpose unless it HAS to. Such as an energizer for my est cans. That being said... I also cannot agree with that very same statement you are having bothers with also. I quite concur with you in this regard. I know in terms of technical performance for the vast majority of devices out now, it's likely better to have a universal sort of design. Though in the case of the 6xx and literally any other pair of cans with an insane r value (not so much the 6xx but others of course) tend to benefit from an older design philosophy and a less universal path to them. Outside of the fun features on this specific amp... I too though must agree that one should likely just get the drop flavored thx amp. If they were willing to sell this at 200... maybe even 180, I could argue against it given specific criteria were met. Any how... I suppose I am done rambling now.. I just wanted to toss me thoughts in.
Jul 14, 2020
Victorfabius
105
Jul 15, 2020
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ZeosThanks for the reply. Do you happen to know the impedance and sensitivity of the IEMs you used?
Jul 15, 2020
Mehoron
63
Jul 15, 2020
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ZeosI think you should compare this with the heresy. This thing only outputs 1W and has a higher THD. The heresy outputs twice as much power with less noise and THD for half the price and I know the heresy has come across your desk. I'm a bit baffled to be honest. Maybe I need to go back and rewatch your review on this and see what's going on. By all accounts the heresy has better stats as a solid state amp and is half the price.
Jul 15, 2020
FatDoi
193
Jul 15, 2020
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postwarscarsalso the interconnect of only 4.4-4.4 is still very unpopular with other gears. so future upgrade or interchange can post challenge unless purchasing additional 4.4 to xlr cables... so i find this stack very limited for future proof
Jul 15, 2020
Zeos
648
Jul 15, 2020
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postwarscarsTo quote one of my favorite movies and Ed Harris.. "I don't care what anything was designed to do, I care what it can do!" And it took every headphone I threw at it and made them an adventure. Would I like the 3d? Would the 6xx profile somehow bring the Neumann more fun at the push of a button? What does balancing IEM's do with this thing. I'd love to see IFI put out a $500 version in a bigger box with just 10 Analog 3D profiles to switch through. It isn't the same as an EQ it was something else. Changing the "shape" of the sound and where things come from. Very weird and very unique and not just in 6xx. All that said you just leave the 3D button off and its a Clean, powerful headphone amplifier that is also balanced with a quality volume setup/gain functions. The 6xx things was a means to get more 6xx sold maybe? But in reality this thing stands well on its own.
Jul 15, 2020
Zeos
648
Jul 15, 2020
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VictorfabiusThey were the Thieaudio Legacy 3 Custom's. Not sure if that affects anything in the stats.
Jul 15, 2020
Zeos
648
Jul 15, 2020
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MehoronI recently reviewed the Geshelli Labs Erish and it too has low numbers. But when people in my Private Telegram chat got theirs they were taken aback by how well it powered EVERYTHING including mod-balanced 880 600Ω and they took it upon themselves to email Geshelli and ask if the power numbers were wrong. What they discovered is the Erish is actually a Current Mode amp and the figures will measure low but the change in architecture throws everything off. Basically the harder the headphone is to drive hooked to a current mode amp the harder it pushes. Which is why 600Ω cans were so good on it even through the WPC didn't correspond with that ability. I feel like this may be introducing a similar architecture to push as hard as it does off the small power brick and the low numbers shown. ifi would need to leak details of that magnitude tho so for now its only an assumption.
Jul 15, 2020
Mehoron
63
Jul 15, 2020
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ZeosThat's always the problem with getting measurements in this fashion a lot of the measurement equipment won't put a huge load on the boards, but I'm surprised they don't put component capability specs out there. It's not like that stuff isn't reasonably predictable. Electronics have gotten better at being efficient. It's a similar concept to what goes on in your PC. A 1000 watt PSU just means it's capable of going that high, it doesn't mean it's always pulling 1000W, that would be ridiculous. I get that. But the THD and noise floor measurements even at those low power numbers are pretty interesting as well. There has to be some magic going on where the more resistance that goes through the system the more other components are pulled down or brought up, or maybe it's just super simple. I'll keep and eye out for what this magic is, because I'm not nearly versed enough in electrical engineering to get into it more than that.
Jul 15, 2020
mrcrunch08
158
Jul 31, 2020
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ZeosThankfully this drop is over and has failed. Hopefully that means the people who don't mind the way this amplifies a signal won't get ripped off buying the "6XX" version for $250 and instead get the regular real unit for $169 though even then there are better options.
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Jul 31, 2020
Jallison
56
Aug 3, 2020
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ZeosAmazon delivered my set of general release CAN and I picked up a second DAC. I have had a few hours with the product I have to say on the CAN things worked mostly as you commented. Two surprises I had were plugged the Koss KPI30I into the CAN - never dreamed I would get that sound out of $30 phoned. But the star of the day for me was connecting the 660S the detail , imaging, sound stage improvements blew me away. The changes to the low and top end with out the loss of clarity. For $300 (there are games you can play loading up amazon cards to get $10 off each unit) for the CAN & DAC and $22 for a4.4mm interconnect cable. This is a great value! im still very unhappy about the Drop product process on these units!
Aug 3, 2020
FatDoi
193
Aug 6, 2020
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JallisonZen Can here in AU is A$270 ~ US$185.... way cheaper than the drop product @ AU$ 370 US$250 and looks exactly the same with same power output.... seems people are being ripped off... Drop brand ain't what it used to be
(Edited)
Aug 6, 2020
WordsandMusic
263
Aug 29, 2020
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ZeosSo the amp by itself is wonderful and with a DAC, the stack is extra wonderful? Is that the executive summary? Thanks.
Aug 29, 2020
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