Zen One Signature

Features

Overview: The ZEN One Signature is a stylish, compact desktop DAC (digital-to-analog converter) and Bluetooth adapter. It is housed in a charcoal gray aluminum enclosure with brushed aluminum front and rear panels. It has S/PDIF (coaxial and optical) and USB 3.0 Type B inputs, with balanced and unbalanced analog outputs. ZEN One Signature includes both USB (3.0) and RCA cables, and the super-quiet iPower 2 power supply.

Bluetooth 5.1: The ZEN One Signature borrows Bluetooth technology from the ZEN Blue v2 for wireless streaming of your favorite music. With Qualcomm's QCC5100 Bluetooth processing chip, ZEN One Signature supports the current high-definition Bluetooth formats, including Qualcomm's 24-bit/48kHz aptX HD and aptX Adaptive, Sony's LDAC (24-bit/96kHz), and HWA's LHDC (24-bit/96kHz). It also supports regular codecs aptX, aptX Low Latency, AAC (for Apple devices), and SBC as well. ZEN One Signature's Bluetooth processor can be updated over-the-air to keep the unit up to date when new codecs are released. The ZEN One Signature can store up to 8 paired Bluetooth devices. When the 9th device is paired, the oldest device in memory is deleted. A hinged high-gain Bluetooth antenna is included for maximum Bluetooth range.

Digital-to-Analog Conversion: ZEN One Signature is a pure Digital-to-Analog Converter that has no headphone amplifier or volume control. It converts your Hi-Res audio files in their original format, including PCM, DSD, and DXD. It can also fully decode MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) audio files. It uses a Burr-Brown "True Native" multi-bit chipset which sends PCM and DSD signals down separate pathways so each format remains "bit-perfect" all the way to its conversion to analog. The ZEN One Signature is compatible with the following audio formats:

• PCM: 384, 352.8, 192, 176.4, 96, 88.2, 48, 44.1 kHz
• DSD: 256, 128, 64 MHz
• DXD: 384, 352.8 kHz
• MQA (Decoder)

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) Decoder: The ZEN One Signature, like all iFi MQA-compatible DACs, can fully unfold MQA master tracks. MQA delivers the sound of the original master recording, so you'll hear the music exactly the way the artist intended. Using the 16 Core 2000MIPS XMOS low latency microcontroller the unit performs full MQA decoding (up to 384 kHz). You can listen to MQA audio files and streams on Tidal Masters, Audirvana, and Roon.

Front Display: The ZEN One Signature's front display with the iFi logo is backlit by an LED that indicates the sampling frequency received from the source. The LED color scheme is as follows:

Audio Format/Input LED: Beside the front display is a smaller LED that indicates the audio format and the sampling frequency being received from the music source:

Input Selector: On the front panel is a push-button Input Selector which cycles through the three inputs:

• Bluetooth: Receives wireless Bluetooth signals, up to 96kHz, from your digital audio player, smartphone, tablet, or computer.
• S/PDIF: Receives digital signals from a wide variety of digital sources, including TVs, CD/DVD/Blu-ray players, game consoles, and audio servers. Has optical (Toslink) and coaxial (RCA) inputs, and supports 32-bit/192kHz PCM and MQA.
• USB: Type B USB 3.0 port receives digital signals from your PC or Mac. Compatible with the "SuperSpeed" USB 3.0 standard, and backwards-compatible with USB 2.0. Supports 32-bit/384kHz PCM, fully native DSD, and full MQA decoding (to 384kHz).

Digital Output: The digital coaxial connector is both a digital input and a digital output. When the Input Selector is set to S/PDIF, the digital coaxial connection is an input. When it is set to Bluetooth or USB, the digital coax is an output.

Analog Outputs: The rear panel offers both balanced and unbalanced analog outputs. The balanced output has a 4.4mm Pentaconn jack, which can be used with 4.4mm-to-XLR or other balanced interconnects. This output can be used for an active speaker or amplifier. The unbalanced output is an RCA stereo pair.

Warning: The 4.4mm output should NOT be used for headphones, as the full volume output will likely damage your headphones or your hearing.

GMT Clock: To eliminate jitter and other digital distortion by more than 20dB, ZEN One Signature features a GMT (Global Master Timing) femto-precision clock and customized digital filter.

iPower2 AC Adapter: Bundled with the ZEN One Signature is the iFi-Audio iPower2 ultra-low noise power supply which has superior components and a thicker gauge of wire, compared to most AC adapters. iPower2 features Active Noise Cancellation II to cancel incoming EMI (electromagnetic interference) and RFI (radio frequency interference). Input: 100-240 VAC, 50/60Hz, 0.5A; Output: 5V DC, 2.5A

Specifications:

• Digital Inputs:
  • USB 3.0 Type B (USB 2.0 compatible)
  • S/PIDF [coaxial, optical (Toslink)]
  • Bluetooth 5.1
• Formats:
  • PCM: 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 / 176.4 /192 / 352.8 / 384 kHz
  • DSD: 2.8 / 3.1 / 5.6 / 6.1 / 11.3 / 12.3 MHz
  • DXD: 352.8 / 384 kHz
  • MQA Decoder
  • Bluetooth: 96 kHz
• Chipsets:
  • DAC: Bit-perfect DSD & DXD DAC by Burr Brown
  • Bluetooth: Qualcomm QCC 5100 Series
• Frequency Response: 5 Hz - 80 kHz (± 3dB)
• Outputs:
  • Balanced (4.4mm Pentaconn): 4.0 Volts
  • Unbalanced (RCA): 2.0 Volts
• Output Impedance:
  • Balanced (4.4mm Pentaconn): </= 72Ω
  • Unbalanced (RCA): </= 36Ω
• SNR: < -105dB (A) @ 0 dBFS (Bal/Unbal)
• THD+N: < 0.002% @ 0 dBFS (Bal/Unbal)
• Power Consumption:
  • No Signal: ~0.7W
  • Max Signal: ~1W
• Dimensions: Width 6.22", Height 1.371", Depth 4.178" (5.18" w/USB cable)
• Weight: 17.8 ounces