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iFi Audio Zen DAC 3 Desktop USB Hi-Res Balanced Headphone Amp Pre Amplifier

iFi Audio Zen DAC 3 Desktop USB Hi-Res Balanced Headphone Amp Pre Amplifier - Main image
$155.72 $229 In stock

Category: Desktop DAC

ZEN DAC 3

Amid the rush of everyday life, the ZEN DAC 3 is your escape to pure harmony.

This multi award-winning desktop DAC delivers high-end, Hi-Fi performance to your headphones and speakers - all in a simple, plug-and-play design.

Refined to Perfection

The award-winning ZEN DAC 3 doubles its high-resolution support to 768kHz, DSD512, and MQA decoding, continuing its legacy as WHAT Hi-Fi?’s Best DAC under £200 for four years. With USB-C connectivity, overvoltage protection, and reduced DC offset, it delivers superior performance and seamless usability.

Fresh New Look. Unleash Every Music Detail.

The ZEN DAC 3 supports sample rates up to 768kHz, ensuring compatibility with all high-resolution streaming formats for exceptional sound quality. With a built-in headphone amplifier and the ability to function as both a DAC and DAC/Pre, it’s your all-in-one solution for connecting headphones, amplifiers, or active speakers—perfect for home or office setups.

Powering Your Headphones

The ZEN DAC 3 is more than a USB DAC, it features a 390mW headphone amplifier with both balanced 4.4mm and SE 6.3mm outputs, compatible with a wide range of headphones.

Enhance bass with XBass+, a pure analogue mode perfect for IEMs or open-back headphones, while PowerMatch provides switchable gain for demanding headphones. For even more power, pair it with the ZEN CAN via a 4.4mm balanced cable to create a stacked ZEN system.

DACtivate your speakers and amplifier.

The ZEN DAC 3 features a Variable or Fixed output switch. In Variable mode, adjust volume using the knob when connecting directly to active speakers via our 4.4mm to XLR cable or RCA cables.

Use Fixed mode for connecting line outputs to a receiver or main amplifier. The ZEN DAC 3 is the most versatile USB DAC in its class, offering multiple usage options.

USB-C Powered, Upgradeable Performance.

The ZEN DAC 3, powered by USB-C, offers simple cable management with an upgrade option via its 5V power input. Pair it with the iFi iPower2, an ultra-quiet power supply featuring Active Noise Cancellation II, eliminating EMI and RFI noise for a cleaner, purer audio signal—over 10 times quieter than standard audiophile power supplies.

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Customer Reviews (4.8 / 5 · 5 reviews)

Matthew Z. ★★★★★

Connected my HD 600s and the balanced output immediately gave them way more headroom than my old setup ever could. The USB-C input is a welcome upgrade, makes plugging into my laptop feel clean and modern. Really opens up the soundstage on quieter recordings.

Ava X. ★★★★★

Finally found a DAC that makes my FLAC files sound genuinely three-dimensional—the XBass+ button adds just the right amount of punch without muddying the mids. Driving my 250 ohm headphones feels effortless now, and the USB-C connection means I don't have to hunt for special cables.

Robert ★★★★★

Switched from my old DAC and the difference in clarity is night and day — the balanced output really cleaned up the background noise on my HD600s. Plugged it straight into my desktop and it drives everything I've thrown at it with zero issues.