iFi Audio ZEN DAC V2

This new low-latency XMOS microcontroller has greatly enhanced processing power. Compared to the current generation of eight-core chips, this new 16-core IC delivers double the clock speed (2000MIPS) and four times the memory (512KB), as well as the latest SuperSpeed USB standard. iFi’s in-house digital development team has programmed the XMOS firmware to optimise sound quality and ensure a perfect partnership with the Burr-Brown DAC.

The Burr-Brown True Native® chipset means file formats remain unchanged or ‘bit-perfect’. This means you are listening to music as the artist intended in the format in which it was recorded. At iFi we use Burr Brown extensively in our products having selected it for its natural-sounding ‘musicality’ and True Native architecture.

Hi-Res True Native® playback of all music formats from MP3 to DSD256, PCM384 and DXD384.

MQA Support.

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is supported through the USB with full decoding of MQA files up to 384kHz thanks to the processing power of the new 16-core XMOS chip. This means that the full ‘three unfold’ decoding process is performed internally, as opposed to only the final unfold in the manner of an MQA ‘renderer’.

Extensive jitter-eradication technologies are applied to the digital stage, including our GMT (Global Master Timing) femto-precision clock and the intelligent memory buffer.

TrueBass® – delivers genuine bass with realistic depth and definition.

Specification

• Input : USB3.0 B Socket (USB2.0 compatible)
• Formats : DSD256/128/64, Octa/Quad/Double/Single-Speed DSD DXD(384/352.8kHz), PCM(384/352.8/192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1kHz) MQA
• DAC : Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC by Burr Brown
• Output : Audio RCA (SE) — 2.1V fixed
• 1V / 3.3V max. (variable)
• 4.4mm Pentaconn (BAL) — 4.2V fixed
• 2V / 6.2V max. (variable)
• Zout <= 200 Ohm (BAL) <= 100 Ohm (SE)
• SNR < -116dB(A) @ 0dBFS (BAL/SE)
• DNR > 116dB(A) @ -60dBFS (BAL/SE)
• THD+N < 0.0015% @ 0dBFS (BAL/SE)