iFi Audio ZEN Air DAC 2

Balanced Output Arrives at the Entry Level

The iFi ZEN Air DAC 2 is the cheapest way into iFi's desktop line, and this generation brings the 4.4mm balanced headphone output down with it. A single USB cable from your computer feeds a bit-perfect Cirrus Logic converter, and your laptop's own audio circuit is out of the picture.

Two headphone jacks sit on the front. The balanced 4.4mm output delivers 5.57 volts and 484mW into 64 ohms, roughly three times what the first ZEN Air DAC managed. A 6.35mm single-ended jack sits beside it for everything else you own.

The Two Switches That Do the Work

PowerMatch changes gain to match sensitive earphones or harder-going over-ears, so neither ends up sitting at the wrong end of the volume knob. XBass+ lifts the low end with an analog circuit, and it works on the line output as well as on headphones.

Round the back, an RCA pair with variable gain runs to an amplifier or a set of powered speakers. PCM plays to 384kHz and DSD to DSD256, which covers what streaming services and download stores actually sell.

Quiet Enough to Hear Past

Signal-to-noise measures 118dBA on both outputs. Distortion sits at or below 0.0011% single-ended and 0.0015% balanced. Output impedance at the headphone jacks stays under 0.7 and 1.4 ohms, so sensitive earphones are not shaped by the amplifier feeding them.

It Lives Off the USB Cable

There is no wall wart to find room for. The ZEN Air DAC 2 draws about 0.55W sitting idle and around 3.55W working hard, all of it from the USB connection. The chassis is 158 by 100 by 35mm and weighs 315 grams, small enough to sit beside a laptop without taking the desk over.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Headfonics, in a July 15, 2026 review scored 8.5, said the ZEN Air DAC 2 "brings to the table a noticeable performance jump over the original model" and listed the "XBass effect on the line out" among its strengths.

The same review notes one thing worth knowing before you buy: "I would have liked to have seen a separate power input." The unit runs from USB alone, so a noisy computer port has no alternative to fall back on.

Who Is This DAC Best For?

• You are upgrading from a laptop headphone jack — one USB cable puts a real converter and a real amplifier in the chain, and the difference is not subtle.
• You already have balanced headphones — the 4.4mm output is fitted at the entry level now, so nothing has to be adapted or replaced.
• You move between earphones and over-ears — PowerMatch sets the gain for each, so quiet earphones stay controllable and bigger cans get what they need.
• You want the desk to stay tidy — it runs entirely off USB power, so there is no second cable and no adapter hunting for an outlet.
• If you own hard-to-drive planars, add an amplifier — Headfonics found this "Not a good model for hard-to-drive headphones." Use the RCA output into one of our Headphone Amplifiers and the ZEN Air DAC 2 still does the converting.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Plug the USB cable into your computer and the ZEN Air DAC 2 appears as an audio device. Headphones go in the front, balanced or single-ended. If you want speakers, run the RCA outputs to an amplifier or a powered pair. Set PowerMatch for the headphones you own and leave it.

One cable in, one pair of cables out, done.

Pairs Well With

Building a desk system around the ZEN Air DAC 2? These are the natural companions:

• Headphones: The reason the balanced jack is there — see our Headphones.
• Powered Speakers: Straight off the RCA outputs — see our Powered Speakers.
• Headphone Amplifier: For the demanding pair you buy later — see our Headphone Amplifiers.
• Interconnects: A tidy RCA pair for the run to your amp — see our Interconnect Cables.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which headphone connections does it have?

A 4.4mm balanced jack and a 6.35mm single-ended jack, both on the front panel.

What formats does it play?

PCM to 384kHz and DSD to DSD256, decoded bit-perfect by the Cirrus Logic converter.

Can it feed powered speakers?

Yes. The rear RCA output has variable gain, so it can drive powered speakers or a line input on an amplifier.

What comes in the box?

The ZEN Air DAC 2, a USB cable, a quick start guide and a warranty card.

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

t0my puts the ZEN Air DAC 2 through its paces on a desk system:

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