iFi ZEN One Signature - All-in-One Media Hub - Bluetooth 5.1, Optical, USB, RCA. Full MQA High Res Audio DAC.

Product Information

The new ZEN Stream extends iFi's ZEN series by adding a compact streaming bridge. In contrast to the other devices unveiled recently, as part of the 2nd generation, the new ZEN Stream is a completely new development. The ZEN One Signature’s singular purpose is to take the digital audio signal from any device, via cable or Bluetooth, and convert it to analogue to feed an external amp and speakers (or headphones). Coupling high-quality internal components with iFi’s class-leading circuit design, it delivers a brilliant boost to sound quality however your devices connect to it. For many, the ZEN One Signature is the one and only DAC they will ever need in their home.

The iFi Audio ZEN One Signature has an all-metal housing including the front panel together with three buttons which are also made of metal. It seems iFi Audio has tightened up those buttons a bunch from let’s say the first ZEN DAC or the first ZEN CAN which did present small amounts of button rattle. The styling of the ZEN line is no longer anything new, as it has been around for quite some time, but it is still unique, standing out from other brands and models, with aesthetics that I actually like. It has a sort of retro/modern combination going on, which always attracts the eye to it (whether you like it or not), without being overly loud about it. Zen One Signature’s hi-res audio credentials encompass 32-bit/384kHz PCM over USB (192kHz over S/PDIF), all levels of DSD to DSD256, and single- and double-speed DXD. Thanks to that Burr-Brown DAC chip’s four-channel True Native design, PCM and DSD take separate pathways – this enables DSD, as well as PCM, to remain ‘bit-perfect’ in their native form right through to analogue conversion.When paired with the Echo Mk2, which is already warmer due to the nature of the tubes, I found the result to be nice but I wouldn’t say it is the best pairing I have heard with this amplifier. Things seemed to be a little too rounded off for my tastes. Again, I did not test the SPDIF port and only used the optical port but since most times both SPDIF and Optical ports are tied together I assume it should be able to reach the same 192k bit rate. Formats iFi Audio says that this is for two reasons. The first is their ‘innate musicality’ (and whatever your take on a statement of that nature, there is an argument that some of my favourite devices use this silicone). The second is that the models of DAC they use have ‘dual native’ architecture which handles PCM and DSD separately rather than either converting straight to PCM or using the same architecture for both streams. Having selected this, iFi goes about doing what it has done with all the other products we’ve seen. The DAC is not the whole story, merely part of it. The circuit that the One Signature employs is a collection of carefully chosen components that ensure, over the circuit as a whole. The components that make up the ZEN One Signature’s circuitry reads like a who’s who of the industry’s finest. Panasonic OS-CON and ELNA Silmic II capacitors and Vishay MELF resistors are just a few of the many top quality components that go into the ZEN One Signature. More usually found in products two or three times the price, they go to make the ZEN One Signature a class-leader at its price. Other devices in your audio set-up might come and go, but the ZEN One Signature DAC has been designed to be a future-proof “everything” DAC that can remain in your headphone or stereo set-up long into the future. It’s ready for any conceivable flavour of digital file, and its balanced topology makes it a viable contender for partnering with any number of high-end devices in your audio chain. Add stong Bluetooth performance to the equation along with compatibility with the latest hi-res codecs and you’ll be hard-pressed to want for much more out of your standalone DAC.

The ZEN One Signature’s hi-res audio credentials encompass 32-bit/384kHz PCM over USB (192kHz over S/PDIF), all levels of DSD to DSD256, and single- and double-speed DXD. Thanks to the Burr-Brown DAC chip’s four-channel True Native design, PCM and DSD take separate pathways – this enables DSD, as well as PCM, to remain ‘bit-perfect’ in its native form right through to analogue conversion.I have to say; I was quite impressed by the One Signature’s wireless performance. Through this amply resolving system, I didn’t feel like I was missing a lot of detail, nor did I want for a lot of depth or separation. The scope for improving your system’s sound quality expands further via the optical and coaxial digital inputs. Plug in your CD/DVD player, TV, set-top box, games console or any other device with a digital output and enjoy an instant upgrade in sound. The ZEN One Signature’s ‘digital engine’ is based around a Burr-Brown DAC chipset that iFi uses extensively, selected for its natural-sounding ‘musicality’ and True Native architecture. iFi’s experience with this IC means it knows how to make the most of it; but whilst intrinsic to the resulting sound, the creation of an exemplary DAC stage involves much more than the selection of a particular DAC chip.