iFi ZEN DAC Signature v2 USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier

A Source Component, Built to Feed Something Better

The iFi ZEN DAC Signature V2 is the converter half of a two-box desk system. It takes USB from your computer, converts it with a Burr Brown bit-perfect DAC, and hands the result to an amplifier over a balanced 4.4mm output or an RCA pair.

Formats are handled without compromise. PCM runs to 384kHz, DSD to DSD256, DXD at 353 and 384kHz, and MQA decodes on board. A front-panel LED changes color to tell you which format is arriving, so you can see when a stream is genuinely hi-res.

An Analog Volume Control, Not a Digital One

The volume control is analog, which means it attenuates the signal rather than throwing away bits to make it quieter. A rear switch takes it out of the path entirely when your amplifier is doing that job, and leaves it in when you want the ZEN as the preamplifier.

Power comes from the enclosed iPower2 supply rather than the computer's USB rail, which is the upgrade the Signature version is really selling. The chassis is 158 by 117 by 35mm and weighs 505 grams.

What the Balanced Output Buys You

The 4.4mm balanced output delivers 4.2V fixed, or 2V to 6.2V when the volume control is in play. The RCA pair gives 2.1V fixed and 1V to 3.3V variable. Balanced is iFi's recommended connection here, and the extra voltage is why.

Quiet Enough to Hear Past the Electronics

Signal-to-noise measures better than 116dB(A) at full scale on both outputs, dynamic range better than 116dB(A), and distortion under 0.0015%. Output impedance is 200 ohms balanced and 100 ohms single-ended, comfortably low for a line connection.

Power consumption is about half a watt at idle and two and a half watts working hard. The USB input is a USB 3.0 B socket, backward compatible with USB 2.0, so an older computer is not a problem.

Who Is This DAC Best For?

• You already own a headphone amplifier — the balanced 4.4mm output was designed to feed one, so your money goes into conversion rather than a second amp stage you would not use.
• You want the power supply sorted out — the iPower2 is in the box, so the converter is not living off whatever your laptop's USB rail is doing.
• You run active speakers — leave the output variable and the analog volume control runs them directly from the desk.
• Your library is mixed — PCM to 384kHz, DSD256, DXD and MQA all decode, and the front LED tells you which one you are hearing.
• If you plan to plug headphones straight in, choose differently — this model is line level only, with no headphone socket on the front. Pair it with one of our Headphone Amplifiers, which is exactly the system it was built for.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Run USB from your computer and connect the iPower2 to the DC socket. Out the back, use the 4.4mm balanced output into a headphone amplifier or active speakers if you can, and the RCA pair if you cannot. Then set the rear switch: variable if the ZEN holds the volume, fixed if the amplifier does.

Two boxes, one cable between them, and a desk that sounds like a system.

Pairs Well With

Building a desk system around the ZEN DAC Signature V2? These are the natural companions:

• Headphone Amplifier: The other half of the pair — see our Headphone Amplifiers.
• Headphones: The reason for the two-box approach — see our Headphones.
• Powered Speakers: Straight off the variable outputs — see our Powered Speakers.
• Interconnects: The 4.4mm balanced link is the one iFi recommends — see our Interconnect Cables.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which outputs does it have?

A balanced 4.4mm line output and a single-ended RCA pair, both switchable between fixed and variable level.

Which formats does it decode?

PCM to 384kHz, DSD to DSD256, DXD at 353 and 384kHz, and MQA. The front LED changes color to show which is playing.

What comes in the box?

The ZEN DAC Signature V2, an RCA cable, the iPower2 low-noise power supply, the manual and a warranty card.

Do I need drivers?

Windows machines need iFi's driver, which is a download from their site. Macs and most Linux systems recognize it as a standard audio device.

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

Mad Audio runs the Signature V2 with its matching ZEN CAN amplifier:

the Honest Audiophile stacks one into a full ZEN desk system:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about USB DACs, balanced connections, or two-box desk systems? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.