SoundStage! Access | SoundStageAccess.com (GoodSound.com) - iFi Audio Zen DAC 3 Headphone Amplifier–DAC

Most Popular Equipment

Details: Written by: Super User; Created: 01 February 2026

Why do you need a DAC? It’s a question I’ve asked—and answered—in the past, but it’s worth exploring again. The simplest answer to that question, of course, is that you need some component in your signal chain to convert streams of digital data into analog waveforms so they can be amplified and sent to your speakers. Of course, the speakers sitting in front of me right now, as I type this—a pair of SVS Prime Wireless speakers—handle that function on their own. As does the integrated amplifier in my reference system. So, again, I ask: why do you need a DAC? In other words, why would you purchase a standalone, outboard product such as iFi Audio’s Zen DAC 3 (US$229, CA$349, £229, €229)?

iFi Audio

I ask, because the most logical use case for this particular DAC is quite different from the iFi Zen One Signature I reviewed (then promptly added to my review system) back in 2022. While the Zen One Signature makes a lot of sense in my review system as a digital-to-analog converter, especially for use with all-analog review gear, the Zen DAC 3 is, by virtue of also being a preamplifier and headphone amp, more useful in a nearfield system in my case.

In fact, it’s seemingly the ideal solution to a problem I recently created for myself when I rebuilt my daily-driver PC by cobbling together the best bits from my old Maingear Vybe PC and my wife’s unused desktop. The new rig doesn’t have a good soundcard—nowhere near as good as the one built into the motherboard of my old PC—and it’s been difficult for me to easily and seamlessly switch between headphones and the aforementioned SVS active speakers without some fiddling.

Given my experiences with the Zen One Signature, as well as iFi’s dedicated Bluetooth receivers—which have consistently risen to the top of the pack in my Wirecutter guide to that category—I figured the Zen DAC 3 held the potential to be a good outboard soundcard for my system, allowing me easier volume control of my SVS speakers and auto-output switching when I plug in my cans. Plus, I just love the look of iFi’s Zen gear—the distinctive shape, the thoughtful accents, the little design touches such as the leather-like pebbled texture of the top of the faceplate of this one.

iFi Audio

It’s worth asking, though: what makes this Zen DAC 3 different from its predecessor, the Zen DAC 2, under the hood? There are two major upgrades, one of which I care about much more than the other. On the one hand, iFi Audio has upped the resolution of the DAC 3, meaning it can resolve up to 768kHz and DSD512 (which is twice the resolution of my Zen One Signature, as well). Far more appealing, in my opinion, is a switch to USB‑C connectivity for the digital audio input as well as power. The Zen DAC 3 has an input for a 5V power supply, but one isn’t included in the box. It sells separately for $80 if you want to plug power into the wall and have a preference for the iFi-branded solution.

Setting up and dialing in the iFi Zen DAC 3

Another major difference between the Zen One Signature and the Zen DAC 3 is that the latter only has the USB‑C input. No optical. No coaxial. No analog ins at all. And that’s yet another thing that makes it more appropriate in a nearfield or desktop setup, in my opinion. Back panel outputs are also straightforward, with your choice of line-level RCA or 4.4mm balanced out. For the duration of my review, I relied on the RCA outs connected to my SVS Prime Wireless speakers, which were in turn connected to an SVS PB‑1000 Pro subwoofer, with the speakers handling the crossover.

Into the front of the Zen DAC 3, I plugged quite a few headphones, including my AKG K361 and Audeze LCD‑2 cans, as well as my UE Capitol Records Reference IEMs. I don’t have balanced cables for any of the above, and I don’t need the extra gain I would get from such (especially given the Power Match functionality built into the Zen DAC 3).

iFi Audio

And there really isn’t much more to say about the setup of the Zen DAC 3, aside from the fact that the pack-in RCA cables, while gorgeous and beautifully built, are far too short to be of use to anyone, which is a shame. But it’s nice that iFi also includes a USB‑A to USB‑C cable in the box. It’s exactly long enough.

The only other function of the Zen DAC 3 we need to mention here is XBass+, a subtle analog bass‑boost EQ that’s toggled via a button just to the left of the delightfully inertial volume control knob.

Other than that, the DAC is as plug-and-play as it gets, so let’s plug and let’s play.

How does the Zen DAC 3 perform?

To be fair, there is one other massive aspect of the Zen DAC 3’s operation that affects day-to-day usage, but I couldn’t quite decide whether to address it here or in the setup section. Since I noticed it during critical listening, I decided it made the most sense to dig into it here.

While the DAC has both headphone output and preamp capabilities, it lacks one of the most critical functions of such a combo device, at least insofar as how I would want to use it. In short, plugging in a pair of headphones does not mute the preamp out. So if you’re using it in a desktop scenario as I am, the only way to get a truly private listening experience when switching from speakers to headphones is to turn the volume down on the former. Which is just weird, in my opinion.

Change this one aspect of the Zen DAC 3, and it would frankly be the perfect external desktop soundcard. And I say that because, in part, it supports both ASIO and WASAPI driver protocols under Windows 10 and also functions like a champ and is plug-and-play on Linux (specifically Pop!_OS running the Cosmic desktop environment).

iFi Audio

As for sound quality, y’all know I don’t put much stock in differences between DACs once you get above the $50 level or thereabouts. Still, I’ve heard pricier DACs than that do some stupid stuff to the signal. So when I’m evaluating a DAC, I’m listening for stupid stuff.

What stupid stuff, exactly? Look, as much as I hate to be accused of SINAD reductionism, audible noise or distortion coming from a DAC is inexcusable. So I listen for such, preferably with headphones. And as clichéd as it may be, one of the best tracks to test for intrusions into or distorted modifications of the signal is “Speak to Me,” the first cut from Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon (24‑bit/96kHz FLAC, Pink Floyd Records / Qobuz). The original master, not the 50th-anniversary remaster, is a good test because there’s already a bit of hum and hiss in the track, and I’m accustomed to exactly how much of it there is. Plus, the heartbeat drum beat that kicks off the song steadily increases in level until a ticking clock joins in at around the 21-second mark, increasing the signal-to-noise in a way that lets you gauge the purity of the signal by ear alone.

If I skip forward to the second track, “Breathe (In the Air),” adjust the volume to a strong but comfortable listening level via my AKG cans, then skip back to the first track, I should start to hear the very first, barely audible heartbeat at pretty much exactly the one-second mark. Any additional noise, and I might not pick up on that first beat, in which case the heartbeat pattern starts at around the two-second mark. Not the end of the world, of course. And at quieter listening levels, you’re not going to hear that first beat anyway. Plus, you’re almost certainly not going to hear it through speakers. But through the Zen DAC 3’s headphone jack—the quarter-inch jack, mind you, not the balanced output—I heard that first beat faintly but unmistakably.

That test tells me far more than does iFi’s published ≥ 109dBA SNR specification (≥ 113dBA for the line-level RCA outputs). It tells me that there’s virtually no way noise is going to intrude upon my signal in any perceptible way to any meaningful degree.

Now, in my experience, most modern DACs don’t create any audible noise. But with the Zen DAC 3, there’s a potential source of hissy intrusion that doesn’t necessarily come from the DAC/HPA itself. As mentioned above, this one doesn’t come with a power supply, since it draws power from the same USB‑C connection used for digital audio input. From my experience with the Zen One Signature DAC, I didn’t anticipate this being a problem, as iFi has really good power filtration baked in. But my new Frankenstein PC has an even filthier power supply than my old one. So I at least remained open to the possibility that the USB-C connection would add some hiss or grit and grain.

Borrowing the power supply from my Zen One Signature and plugging it into my SurgeX series-mode power conditioner, though, resulted in no improvements to the noise floor, which is no real surprise because it didn’t sound like there were any improvements to be made. Still, it’s nice to know that iFi has clean power covered. That definitely hasn’t been the case with all USB-powered DACs I’ve reviewed in the past in this price class.

iFi Audio

What else am I listening for, though? Because surely it can’t be as simple as that. Indeed, most DACs these days deliver way more dynamic range than anyone actually needs, and as such, way less noise than anyone can hear. But some of them do straight-up silly things with their reconstruction filters that color the sound in a way that’s not to my liking.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that my preferred reconstruction filter for a DAC is a simple linear-phase sharp roll-off filter. It’s my preferred filter because it most accurately reconstructs the original analog waveform. Technically correct is, after all, the best form of correct.

The Zen DAC 3, however, does not rely on such a filter. It features iFi’s Gibbs Transient Optimised reconstruction filter, which the company details in a white paper on its website. Simply put, I’m highly skeptical of the need for such a filter, and indeed, Monty Montgomery explained to my satisfaction why such timing-obsessed filter designs are silly in an old video titled “D/A and A/D | Digital Show and Tell.” Look it up on YouTube and learn more than you ever thought you needed to know about reconstruction filters.

So I sort of think iFi’s proprietary filter design is as unnecessary as the MQA decoding baked into this one, although not quite as dishonest. But I don’t begrudge the company for it. It’s tough to stand out and make a buck in today’s audio market, especially if you’re making DACs.

Let the marketing folks do their marketing spin, I say.

My only concern is whether or not the filter does any audible harm to the signal, the way, for example, the Topping E30 does with one of its filters. To my memory, the E30 features four or five pretty competent reconstruction filters and one that introduces audible colorations, including a significant amount of intermodulation distortion. And it just so happened to be some form of transient optimized filter if I’m remembering right. So I’m always suspicious of such.

Spoiler warning: much as I roll my eyes at iFi’s language in describing the need for this solution in search of a problem, when I played my 96kHz and 192kHz warble test tones through the DAC 3 at screeching volume, I didn’t hear a bit of IMD. Not the faintest whiff of an ounce of it.

Those are test tones, though. What about music? I hate to lean on the same reference albums over and over, but I know of few albums that shine a brighter light on issues with reconstruction filters than Andrew Bird’s Echolocations: River (16/44.1 FLAC, Wegawam Music Co. / Qobuz).

The song “Lazuli Bunting,” in particular, is a great test for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it’s infused with a droning background noise thanks to its heavy reliance on field recordings, as well as the burbling sounds of the L.A. River and, after a few seconds, Bird’s punctuated and reverberant hand-clapping followed by some choice fiddle-string plucking. So there are oodles of transients, as well as a lot of noise, the sounds of all of which can be changed audibly by a reconstruction filter that’s doing silly crap.

Beef all you want with iFi’s unnecessary filter design. I don’t care. It does no harm, and that’s all I’m concerned about. The result is just a pure and uncolored conversion of the digital signal into an analog waveform that’s a sheer delight to listen to. The decay of Bird’s hand-clapping in particular was simply delicious in my listening sessions, so much so that it dominates my scribbled notes. The purity of the tone of his fiddle also earned a lot of words in my barely legible chicken-scratching.

All in all, you can say what you want about iFi’s marketing language, but the company makes a damned fine DAC and headphone amp that’s overengineered, sure, but also simply lovely to look at, a pleasure to touch, and versatile enough to work with a variety of cans.

iFi Audio

Speaking of which, with both the AKG and Audeze cans, I found that they worked best with the Power Match feature turned on, and with my UI IEMs, I had to turn it off. But rather than being “an extra +6dB of gain to optimally drive your power-hungry headphones,” as the literature claims, I think turning Power Match off resulted in a 6dB gain cut instead. Potato/tomato? Not in my opinion. I say that because Power Match also affects the line-level RCA outputs, and with Power Match turned off, I couldn’t get enough volume out of my SVS Prime Wireless speakers, even with their volume turned all the way up.

Just something to consider. But turning Power Match off gave me much more precise volume control when using my IEMs, not to mention perfect silence with those incredibly sensitive things, so I’m glad it’s included. I consider this an essential feature of a good HPA.

One last button worth mentioning is the XBass+, which I seriously wanted to hate. The website says this feature “delivers a deep, tighter bass sound.” The manual claims that it “was uniquely designed to extend bass response to suit different headphones. It is a purely analogue signal circuit. Tip: Sonically-hindering DSP is NOT used for XBass+ systems. They use the highest-quality discrete components and operate purely in the analogue domain. Hence all the clarity and resolution of the original music is retained.”

Whatever. There’s nothing “sonically hindering” about DSP, and this is all just audiophile mumbo-jumbo. But there’s no denying that I dig the sound of XBass+ way more than I expected to—with all of my cans. With some music, it made no difference worth even mentioning. With other tunes, it added a subtle shelf that made my K361s sound a little more like K371s. I couldn’t find a single song in my collection that sounded worse with XBass+ engaged, nor could I find a pair of headphones in my collection that didn’t enjoy the bit of extra oomph. This is really a subjective thing, though, so your mileage may vary (and yes, I hate myself for typing that).

What other DAC/HPA/Preamps might you consider in this class?

Full disclosure, although I hinted at as much above: I am indeed currently shopping for a desktop DAC/HPA/preamp to connect to my PC, and I might also try to get in review samples of the other two units I’m considering purchasing.

The first is the Fosi ZH3, which sells for US$199.99 and features optical and coaxial inputs, RCA ins and outs, as well as XLR balanced outs (the latter of which I have no need for), in addition to USB‑C in and a front-panel LCD display.

The other desktop DAC/HPA/preamp on my potential wish list is the Schiit Gunnr (US$229). I really liked the Schiit Hel that I reviewed for another publication some years back, I like some of the new gaming-centric features of this one—such as the width and presence controls—and I just dig Schiit as a company. I don’t like that the headphone and line-level outputs are 3.5mm only, though, so I’d need a quarter-inch adapter for my AKGs and Audezes. But I really love that the volume knob is massive and top-mounted.

TL;DR: Is the iFi Audio ZEN DAC 3 worth the money?

I’ll admit, I’m a bit sad that the parallel output of the Zen DAC 3 makes it less than ideal for my use-case needs, because I love its look and feel, it sounds amazing, it drives the hell out of the headphones I use regularly, and despite myself, I even dig the XBass+ feature, ashamed as I am to admit that.

iFi Audio

I really just have to wonder what the engineers who designed this thing were thinking by not muting the RCA outputs when headphones are plugged in. Does it have something to do with iFi’s obsession with signal-path purity? Is the forward slash in “balanced headphone amp/preamp?” intended as an “or,” not an “and”? I probably could have asked, but I try to keep contact with companies to a minimum when I’m working on reviews.

At any rate, if you’re not concerned with the always-on RCA and headphone outputs, and you’re purely curious about whether the Zen DAC 3 delivers the goods in terms of performance, ergonomics, and reliability, I can assure you that it does. So if it fits your needs and you dig the cut of its jib, don’t let my peculiar setup needs dissuade you. This is another winner for iFi.

. . . Dennis Burger
dennisb@soundstagenetwork.com

Associated Equipment