An Incredible Desktop Digital-to-Analog Converter for Music Enthusiasts

iFi is a very well respected name in home and personal audio. We reviewed the iFi Hip-Dac2, and we were so blown away by the device that we scored it a solid 10/10. Next up is the Zen Dac V2. So can it compete with its portable partner on a desktop level?

The iFi Zen Dac V2 is, as you might imagine, the upgrade to the original Zen Dac. For $159, you get extra features that elevate the V2 above the original. Let’s find out if this desktop beauty is worth another 10/10 score…

iFi Zen DAC V2

The iFi Zen DAC V2 offers several upgrades to the original model. This time, with full MQA decoding and a 16-core XMOS chip, the latest desktop DAC/headphone amplifier from the brand builds upon the success of the OG to bring an improved device that still carries that signature sound quality and craftsmanship from iFi. A worthy addition to any desktop audio setup.

Rated power output

Balanced: >380mW @ 50 ohms; 70mW @ 60 ohms. Unbalanced: >280mW @ 50 ohms; 36mW @ 60 ohms

Processor

XMOS 16-Core

Supported Audio Formats

Up to 384 kHz PCM, up to 12.4 MHz DSD, up to 384KHz DXD, MQA

Supported Hi-Res Audio Formats

FLAC, WAV

Dimensions

158x117x35 mm

Weight

491 grams

Inputs

USB 3.0

Pros

• Incredible sound reproduction
• Small footprint and low weight
• Multiple output options
• Full MQA decoding

Cons

• No XLR headphone out
• No power supply in the box

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In the Box

When you open the box for the Zen DAC V2, you’ll find:

• The iFi ZEN DAC V2 desktop amplifier
• USB Type-B lead
• RCA to RCA lead
• Device literature

You might notice that there is no power supply included in the box, somewhat inexplicably. More on that later in the review.

A Familiar Face

Looking at the Zen DAC V2, you would be hard-pushed to find anything different from the original Zen DAC in terms of its appearance. The only difference, on the exterior, is the inclusion of a tiny V2 stamp on the rear of the new model, which differentiates it from the OG device.

However, the design remains beautiful, with gorgeous craftsmanship as per all of iFi’s audio components. In terms of shape, we have a fairly flat elliptical form factor, and the chassis comes entirely in sturdy aluminum material. The front and rear fascias both use a brushed metal finish, while iFi houses the rest of the body in navy blue aluminum with a matte finish.

In terms of dimensions, the Zen DAC V2 measures 160 x 117 x 35mm, and it weighs a mere 491g. So, it won’t take up much space on your desk or shelf, or wherever you decide to place it to best serve your needs. While this isn’t meant as a portable model the same way the iFi Hip-DAC2 is, it’s still compact enough to move around easily.

To the front of the Zen DAC V2 you’ll find (from left to right) the Power Match button, the True Bass button, volume dial with light ring and power LED, the 6.35mm unbalanced headphone out, and one of the two 4.4mm balanced Pentacon outputs.

Spin the Zen DAC V2 round, and we’ve got (again from left to right) the second Pentacon 4.4mm balanced output, a power output switch, RCA ports, a USB Type-B port, and the power input for when you use mains power. So, not much of an appearance/material upgrade in terms of the device’s looks.

Internals Upgraded to Beat the OG Zen DAC

Most of the upgrading has taken place where you and I can’t see it (easily). The capabilities of the Zen DAC V2 show an improvement over the original Zen DAC model, with tuned-up features to bring the device into 2023.

iFi has upgraded the DAC with a 16-core XMOS chip, which is a significant upgrade to the original’s 8-core chip. This doubles the clock speed of the device. Not only that, but it also means that the V2 model can fully decode MQA files. The previous model could only render them, but now the Zen DAC can decode the file fully; a task previously carried out by the source device, such as a computer playing Tidal.

Other than that, the Zen DAC V2 remains unchanged from the original. It still supports PCM file types (44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192/352.8/384), DXD (384/352.8), and DSD (64/128, it can now also support 256-bit DSD audio signals). It still works as a headphone amplifier and a DAC. Basically, it still does pretty much everything you would expect compared to the original Zen DAC, This time it just improves upon an already excellent device.

My only gripe with the Zen DAC V2 is the lack of an XLR output for headphones/speakers. The 4.4mm balanced outputs are fairly niche, and having two of them feels like overkill to me. I would like to see one of those replaced with an XLR output (or at least include one as well) with the next generation of the device.

The Same Superb iFi Performance

Before we start upon how the device sounds, we should deal with powering it. iFi’s decision to omit the power adapter from the box isn’t an oversight. More, this is a conscious decision by the brand, which allows them to keep the price almost consistent with the previous model.

The Zen DAC V2, you see, is capable of receiving power from its source device via the USB input at the back. This is great; as long as your source device is powerful enough, and your headphones aren’t too demanding, you don’t need to plug the Zen DAC V2 into a mains source to deliver power. Of course, you can if you wish.

I requested that iFi send me a dedicated power source to see if it improved the sound any. Sure enough, there was a slight improvement in the sound quality when using a dedicated mains power supply, rather than powering the DAC using USB from my laptop. The most noticeable differences were an even tighter bass sound with a bit more oomph to it, and ever so slightly more detailing.

In general, I absolutely love the sound from the iFi Zen DAC V2 amplifier. Detailing is excellent for a start. Compared to the detailing without the DAC V2, there is a lot more detail present in the mix, which makes for a significantly more pleasurable experience when listening to music. Despite years of reviewing audio equipment, I am still often surprised when I notice new sounds in recordings I have been enjoying for over twenty years.

Bass reproduction is perfect. I noticed no muddiness when I was listening to bass heavy tracks. Bass has plenty of gusto, remains nice and tight, with no flabbiness to speak of, and at no point did the bass sounds overwhelm the mid and treble range elements. Those bass sounds are as punchy as you would expect.

Midrange frequencies retain warmth, particularly noticeable with acoustic instruments and vocals. The texture across the midrange remains balanced and crisp. I noticed nothing gritty in the audio when I was focusing on the mids. Treble is crystalline, with plenty of presence and edge, yet causing no fatigue or showing signs of any sibilance.

The Power Match and TrueBass features are excellent inclusions here, as with the previous version. By activating ‘Power Match,’ you effectively adjust the headphone amp’s gain. This results in an increase to the output, making it more suitable for over-ear cans, whereas the default setting is what you should use for IEMs. My over-ears have a spectacularly low impedance (they’re Audeze LCD-5s), so I did not need to use the Power Match feature during testing.

Additionally, I did not need to use the TrueBass feature. The idea here is that leveraging this feature results in enhanced bass that doesn’t bleed into the mids. So, if your headphones lack that bottom-end oomph, then this feature will come in handy. My headphones don’t lack bottom end (over ears OR IEMs) so this wasn’t a feature I needed. Really, I would have preferred a 3.5mm and XLR output here instead. But what do I know? I didn’t design these, and iFi didn’t design them specifically for me, either!

In general, the Zen DAC V2 has fantastic clarity across the entire frequency range. I played a wide variety of music through the DAC V2—bass-heavy hip hop, frenetic electronic music, acoustic folk music—no matter what I throw at the DAC V2, the sound enters my ears with what I would consider astounding reproduction.

Should You Buy the iFi Zen DAC V2?

If you don’t already own the original Zen DAC, and you are on the hunt for an audiophile quality desktop DAC/headphone amp solution, I can’t recommend the iFi Zen DAC V2 enough. You’re getting a very powerful DAC/amp, and one you’ll struggle to match at this price point. With excellent sound reproduction and immersive clarity across the entire frequency range, the Zen DAC V2 is a very welcome addition to any desktop audio setup.

iFi Zen DAC V2

The iFi Zen DAC V2 offers several upgrades to the original model. This time, with full MQA decoding and a 16-core XMOS chip, the latest desktop DAC/headphone amplifier from the brand builds upon the success of the OG to bring an improved device that still carries that signature sound quality and craftsmanship from iFi. A worthy addition to any desktop audio setup.