About the iFi Audio ZEN CAN (Standard Edition)
Space-saving desktop amp that provides substantial power
The iFi ZEN CAN fits neatly into my home office setup with the ZEN DAC and Sennheiser HD560 S headphones (both sold separately)
Space-saving desktop amp that provides substantial power
I named the iFi Audio ZEN CAN standard edition the best desktop headphone amp for a small workspace. And it happens to be the one sitting on my home office desk, stacked on top of the iFi ZEN DAC V2. This solidly built amp fits into small places and feeds clean, robust power to your high-performance headphones.
It can drive headphones of all shapes and sizes, with impedance from 16 ohms up to 600 ohms. In unbalanced mode, this amp can deliver up to 1,600mW of power — a ridiculous amount of power for its compact size. I barely have to budge the center knob to get enough volume for most headphones.
Part of iFi's popular ZEN series
The ZEN CAN Signature is unapologetically ONLY a headphone amp. There is no DAC inside and there are no digital audio connections at all. It receives the analog audio signal from a separate DAC and has one job — powering your headphones.
Controls and headphone outputs on the front panel.
It's built to complement the ZEN DAC V2 in sound and design. They stack neatly together and connect via included RCA cables (or a balanced 4.4mm-to-4.4mm cable that's not included). The whole setup takes up very little space on a desk, but each piece looks and feels like a premium audio component.
Works with all types of headphones
On the front panel, there is a 1/4" stereo headphone jack along with a balanced 4.4mm headphone output. The latter is the new industry standard balanced connection that helps cuts down on signal noise and distortion. A growing list of headphones from multiple brands use it.
There's also gain button, so you can properly match up the power with your headphone impedance. But my favorite feature is their "sound control processing" button that adds extra bass or expands the soundfield (or both). Most headphones have benefitted from the extra low-end punch, and it's as tight and controlled as it is strong.
Suggested headphone pairings
While the ZEN products hold their own with many of the highest-end headphones, I found they really hit the sweet spot with a couple of Sennheiser models and one from Audeze.
Sennheiser HD 660 S: The HD 660 S has a more of a forward sound presentation than a lot of audiophile-grade headphones. And the sound REALLY leaps out at you when connected to the ZEN DAC/CAN stack. Still, within that immediate soundstage, you get layer upon rich layer of depth and detail.
Sennheiser HD 560S: This younger sibling of the 660 S is one of my favorite recent wired headphone releases. No balanced cable, but still feels like a natural combo with the ZEN gear. The extra power and bass boost helps them a lot. These 'phones are little more laid back than the HD 660 S. But they're still very well balanced with spot-on imaging — and just super-fun to listen to.
Audeze LCD-1 planar-magnetic headphones: Headphones with planar drivers are notoriously hard to drive, but the ZEN CAN signature handles the LCD-1 well. And the extra oomph from the "Xbass" button is a welcome addition to Audeze's already stellar sound.
Product highlights:
- Featured in our article: Best headphone amps for 2023
- desktop high-performance headphone amp with balanced and unbalanced connections
- better headphone sound from your PC, DAC, digital music player, iPhone®, and/or Android® phone
- power output up to 1,600mW
- compact design with sturdy metal chassis
- complements and stacks with other iFi Audio gear like the iFi ZEN DAC V2 digital-to-analog converter
- four rubber feet with no-slip grip
- same Class A discrete balanced circuitry as iFi's flagship Pro iCAN headphone amp
Balanced headphone amplifier:
- two front-panel headphone outputs:
- one unbalanced 1/4" headphone output (3.5mm mini to 1/4" adapter included)
- one balanced 4.4mm output
- iFi's dual-mono circuitry helps reduce crosstalk between the left and right audio channels
- TDK C0G (Class 1 ceramic) capacitors offer high-stability signal
- low noise floor for clear audio reproduction
- output impedance: 16-600 ohms (balanced); 16-300 ohms (unbalanced)
- output power (balanced):
- >1890mW @ 64 ohm
- >385mW @ 600 ohm
- output power (unbalanced):
- > 1600mW @ 32 ohm
- > 196mW @ 300 ohm
Front-panel controls:
- four-position gain switch to match impedance (0dB, 6dB, 12dB, or 18dB)
- sound control processing: XBass® for boosting bass and 3D Holographic® for expanding the soundfield
- power button and input selection button
- high-precision volume control dial
Back-panel analog connections:
- stereo unbalanced RCA inputs
- one unbalanced 1/4" stereo input
- one balanced 4.4mm input
- one balanced 4.4mm output for connecting a powered speaker or amp
- Note: do NOT connect balanced headphones to this output — the full signal could damage your headphones and/or hearing.
- 5-Volt DC power input
General info and specs:
- 5V adapter included
- frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz
- 6-1/8"W x 1-3/86"H x 4-5/8"D
- weight: 18 ounces
- warranty: 1 year
- Our 60-day money-back guarantee
- MFR # 311004-2
What's in the box:
iFi Audio ZEN CAN (Standard Edition) owner's manual
- Headphone amplifier
- 3.5mm-to-1/4" Adapter
- AC adapter with attached 48" DC output cord (DC output: 5V 2.4A)
- 20" RCA patch cable (stereo RCA plugs on each end)
- User Manual
- Warranty / Terms & Conditions
Reviews
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iFi Audio ZEN CAN (Standard Edition) reviews
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More details on the iFi Audio ZEN CAN (Standard Edition)
Features & specs
| Design | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Desktop/Component | |
| Built-in Rechargable Battery | No | |
| Built-in DAC | No | |
| Amplifier Output Specs | ||
| Output Power | 1890mW / 1600mW | |
| Output Impedance (Unbalanced) | 32-300 ohms | |
| Output Impedance (Balanced) | 64-600 ohms | |
| Audio Specs | ||
| Bit Depth (USB) | 0 | |
| Max Sampling Rate (USB) | N/A | |
| Bit Depth (S/PDIF) | 0 | |
| Max Sampling Rate S/PDIF | N/A | |
| S/N Ratio (Unbalanced, in dB) | 118 | |
| S/N Ratio (Balanced, in dB) | --- | |
| THD (Unbalanced) | 0.006%% | |
| THD (Balanced) | 0.0007%% | |
| Supported File Types | ||
| PCM | No | |
| DSD | No | |
| DXD | No | |
| MQA | No | |
| Inputs | ||
| Total Inputs | 3 | |
| USB | 0 | |
| Optical Digital | None | |
| Coaxial Digital | None | |
| 3.5mm Digital | None | |
| Stereo RCA Analog | 1 | |
| Stereo 3.5mm Analog | 1 | |
| Stereo XLR Analog | None | |
| Headphone Outputs | ||
| 3.5mm Unbalanced | None | |
| 1/4-inch Unbalanced | 1 | |
| 4.4mm Balanced | 1 | |
| XLR4 Balanced | None | |
| Other Headphone Outs | None | |
| Line Level & Digital Outs | ||
| RCA Line Out | None | |
| 3.5mm Line Out | None | |
| XLR Line Out | None | |
| Subwoofer Out | None | |
| Optical Digital Out | None | |
| Coaxial Digital Out | None | |
| Wireless Connectivity | ||
| Bluetooth | No | |
| Wi-Fi | No | |
| Apple-compatible | No | |
| Android-compatible | No | |
| General Info | ||
| Width (inches) | 6-1/4 | |
| Height (inches) | 1-3/8 | |
| Depth (inches) | 4-11/16 | |
| Weight | 1.14 lbs. | |
| Parts Warranty | 1 Year | |
| Labor Warranty | 1 Year | |
Product Research
Features
Overview: The iFi Audio ZEN Can is a fully-analog desktop headphone amplifier from the ZEN series that drives headphones far better than your smartphone, tablet, digital audio player, or laptop/desktop computer. It features both single-ended (unbalanced) and balanced inputs, plus 1/4" and 4.4mm headphone jacks. ZEN Can features the same Class A Discrete balanced circuitry that is found in iFi Audio's flagship Pro iCAN to deliver serious power to your headphones. The headphone amp comes with a 3.5mm-to-1/4" headphone plug adapter, a DC 5V power supply, and an RCA patch cable.
Inputs: The ZEN Can features three total inputs, including balanced and unbalanced (single-ended) inputs. The balanced input has a 4.4mm Pentacon connector. Two single-ended inputs are provided, with 3.5mm and stereo RCA jacks. On the front panel, you can select the input by cycling through the RCA, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm inputs.
Outputs: The ZEN Can has two headphone outputs on the front panel, with a 1/4" (6.3mm) single-ended jack, and a 4.4mm balanced jack. A 3.5mm-to-6.3mm adapter is included for connecting headphones with a 3.5mm plug. In addition, a 4.4mm balanced output on the rear panel lets you connect an active speaker with a 4.4mm-to-XLR or other balanced interconnects.
Gain Selection Switch: The headphone amplifier lets you adjust the gain in four steps of +6dB to match your headphones. Starting with the switch at 0dB, you should increase the gain level until the volume level is comfortable and enjoyable. The 0dB setting is desirable for sensitive in-ear monitors, while the higher gain settings are recommended for higher impedance headphones where you can expand the dynamic headroom. The push-button switch cycles through the gain settings: 0dB, +6dB, +12dB, and +18dB.
Sound Controls: The ZEN Can features two of iFi Audio's proprietary sound controls. A single button on the front panel lets you choose one or both settings. The sound controls include:
- XBass®: XBass adds a measure of low-frequency correction to make the headphones sound more natural. No DSP, with its loss of resolution, is used for XBass, so the adjustment stays in the analog domain, retaining the clarity and resolution of the original music. XBass is particularly effective with open-back headphones that suffer from a loss of deep bass response.
- 3D Matrix®: 3D Matrix recreates a holographic soundfield that simulates listening to a pair of speakers. It produces a deep soundstage with a more immersive sensation than typical headphone listening. 3D, like XBass, uses no digital processing.
Specifications:
- Frequency Response:
- 20 Hz - 20kHz (+0dB / -0.03dB)
- < 10 Hz - 200 kHz (-3dB)
- Gain: 0dB, 6dB (2x), 12dB (4x), 18dB (8x) (S-E out)
- Inputs:
- 4.4mm Pentacon (balanced): 4.0V nominal @ 0dBFS, 24 kOhm Zin
- RCA L/R socket SE: 2.0V nominal @ 0dBFS, 1 MegOhm Zin
- 3.5mm jack SE: 1.0V nominal @ 0dBFS, 1 MegOhm Zin
- Max. Input:
- Balanced: 7.4V RMS
- RCA: 3.8V RMS
- 3.5mm: 1.92V RMS
- Max Output:
- Balanced:
- > 15.1V / 385mW (@ 600 Ohm)
- > 11.0V / 1890mW (@ 64 Ohm)
- > 6.0V / 1150mW (@ 32 Ohm)
- S-E:
- > 7.6V / 196mW (@ 300 Ohm)
- > 7.2V / 1600mW (@ 32 Ohm)
- Balanced:
- THD+N:
- Balanced: < 0.0007% (@ 4V out, 600 Ohm, 1kHz)
- S-E: < 0.006% (@ 100mW/1.27V 16 Ohm)
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio:
- Balanced: >120 dBA (@ 15.2V)
- S-E: > 118 dBA (@ 7.6V)
- Power Input: DC 5V/2.5A from included AC adapter (100-240V 50/60Hz )
- Power Consumption: ~13 watts (max signal); ~5 watts (no signal)
- Dimensions: Width 6.215", Height 1.373", Depth 4.63"
- Weight: 18.1 ounces
The iFi Audio ZEN CAN (Standard Edition) replaces these items
- desktop high-performance headphone amp with balanced and unbalanced connections
- better headphone sound from your PC, DAC, digital music player, iPhone®, and/or Android® phone
- upgraded iPower 5V adapter included for lower noise and distortion
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Customer Q&A
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Nice packaging, easy hookup. Sounds good even with AKG 240s. Waiting for the dac to go with this combo.
Clyde Lamar from Ephrata, PA