iFi Audio ZEN Air Blue 2 - Bluetooth DAC Receiver

Lossless Bluetooth for the Stereo You Already Own

The iFi ZEN Air Blue 2 gives an amplifier without Bluetooth a wireless input, and it does it without throwing data away. Bluetooth 5.4 and aptX Lossless carry CD-quality audio from a phone or tablet to a pair of RCA sockets on the back of your existing system.

The codec list covers whatever you own. aptX Lossless, LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, plain aptX, AAC and SBC are all supported, so an iPhone, an Android phone and a work laptop each connect at the best quality that device can manage.

Three Stages Instead of One Chip

Reception, conversion and amplification are handled separately. A Qualcomm QCC3095 takes the Bluetooth, an ESS Sabre DAC converts it, and custom op-amps drive the output. That is the opposite of the single all-in-one chip most cheap receivers use.

Two antennas come in the box, a short one and a long one. Use the short one when the unit sits in the open beside your amplifier, and the long one when it has to reach a phone through a wall or from the far end of a room.

What the Measurements Say

Signal-to-noise measures 109dB(A) and dynamic range 110dB(A) at full scale. THD+N stays below 0.005% into a 10k load. Output is 2.1Vrms with an impedance of 51 ohms or less, which any line input will be happy with.

It Will Run in the Car as Well as the Rack

Power input accepts anything from 5 to 12 volts DC, and the unit powers on by itself when voltage arrives. That covers a USB brick on a shelf and a vehicle's accessory socket equally. The chassis is 158 by 100 by 35mm and weighs 305 grams.

Frequency response runs 10Hz to 20kHz when the source is 44.1kHz, and widens to 20Hz to 40kHz at 96kHz, both measured within 3dB. The higher-resolution codecs are doing real work rather than badging a stream that was resampled anyway.

Who Is This Bluetooth DAC Best For?

• Your amplifier has no Bluetooth — one RCA lead adds it, and the system you already like keeps every box it has.
• You want the wireless link to be lossless — aptX Lossless carries CD quality intact, so the convenient way to listen stops being the worse way.
• Everyone in the house has a different phone — LDAC, aptX and AAC are all on board, so guests connect at their device's best quality without being told to.
• You want it in the car or the workshop — 5 to 12 volt input and automatic power-on mean it wakes with the ignition and needs no button pressed.
• If you also want to send audio out, look at the ZEN Blue 3 — the Air Blue 2 is a receiver only. Our iFi ZEN Blue 3 adds a transmit mode for feeding Bluetooth headphones from a wired source.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Screw on an antenna, run an RCA cable from the ZEN Air Blue 2 to a free input on your amplifier or a pair of powered speakers, then supply power over the USB-to-DC cable in the box. Pair your phone once and it reconnects on its own from then on.

After that, your phone is simply another source.

Pairs Well With

Adding the ZEN Air Blue 2 to a system? These are the natural companions:

• Integrated Amplifier: The box the RCA output is looking for — see our Integrated Amplifiers.
• Powered Speakers: A two-box wireless system, complete — see our Powered Speakers.
• Interconnects: A decent RCA pair for the short run — see our Interconnect Cables.
• Bookshelf Speakers: The other half of a compact setup — see our Bookshelf Speakers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Bluetooth codecs does it support?

aptX Lossless, LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC and SBC, over Bluetooth 5.4.

What comes in the box?

The ZEN Air Blue 2, a 1.2m USB-to-DC power cable, a short antenna, a long antenna, a quick start guide and a warranty card.

How do I power it?

Anything from 5 to 12 volts DC. A USB charger works, and so does a vehicle supply, where the unit powers on by itself.

What does it connect to?

Any line input: an integrated amplifier, a receiver, a preamplifier or a pair of powered speakers, through the RCA outputs.

What warranty does it carry?

iFi covers it for one year in the US. Register the product on iFi's website within 30 days of purchase to activate the cover.

See It in Action

Watch this product-focused video:

AV Atmos examines this model:

Why Audio Advisor?

• 40+ Years of Expertise — Since 1981, we've helped over a million music lovers find the right gear.
• 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee — Take your time. Listen, enjoy, and make sure it's right for you.
• Real Experts, Real Help — Our team is here to answer your questions at 800-942-0220, weekdays 9am–6pm EST.
• Free Shipping — On orders over $49, delivered to your door.
• Flexible Payment Options — Financing available so you can start listening now.

Learn More

Want to learn more about Bluetooth codecs, wireless streaming, or adding sources to an older system? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.