ZEN Blue

Thank you to Dennis at Wirecutter on their guide to bluetooth receivers! Here’s a snippet..

“the iFi audio Zen Blue V2 was without question the best-sounding Bluetooth receiver we evaluated in our latest round of tests”

Click here to read the full review..

“THIS PRODUCT LOOKS AND FEELS QUALITY DON T HESITATE TO BUY The Difference of my music stream through my amp is amazing cd quality easy to set up in a minute out of the box”

” It has excellent range too which isn’t the case for lots of its competitors and it supports almost all the best codecs.”

“Lively timing and bass continuation throughout whether listening to BBC Sounds, Spotify HiRes or 24 bit streams. With a DAC this good, this thing really is a hifi separate in its own right rather than an accessory! Buy with confidence and enjoy…”

Sound quality from pc through this box to amp then speaker is excellent – no quality appears to be lost. The box is small enough to be inconspicuous on my CD player. Very easy to set up and use by us and friends who wish to use their phones to play music.

I expected good after reading the reviews, but wow!!!
Simple to set up, works with just about any type of Bluetooth, pairs with your gear very easily and quickly.
Oh and it has switchable audio out or a choice of digital outs (coaxial or optical) fantastic.
Small but sturdy, does exactly what you would expect/hope it would do, and sounds great!!

“I have a 1979 Sony Integrated amp and tuner with a slimline Pioneer cd player with a fantastic sounding DAC in it. I wanted a solution to expand my library but did not want to compromise on sound or looks. Everything is finished in beautiful brushed aluminium. The Zen looks right at home and I access it via my MotoG android phone which supports the very latest Bluetooth codecs. Best purchase I have made. No drop in sound quality especially via Tidal Hi-Fi. Codec used is aptx-hd. Absolutely awesome.”

“Hooked up to PC using Audirvana software playing Qobuz, connected to my Final Sonorous Headphones the iFi Zen DAC V2 sounds amazing. Much better sound than my previous A&K DAC or my older £1000 plus RME AD/DA converter. A great buy. Clear, realistic sounding instruments – I can hear all the lyrics – sounds wonderful when playing DSD files from my Library.”

Brings warmth to music when streaming from my cold aluminum” Ipad “, to my older Sony 5200es and and Definitive towers. Connected immediately, sounds great, and auto shuts off when no signal detected. Very inexpensive for the quality. Great for integrated’s or an av/r that does not have bluetooth.

I have a collection of over 3k iTunes on my iPod that I wanted to play through my home stereo. It’s an old rig of Audio Research, ML CLS ll, CAT, S Faber, etc… The sound quality coming though the iFi Zen Blue V2/Power Supply V2 is fantastic—better than anything I’ve expected. Highly recommended!

Rock solid performance and wonderful sound quality. Much better than the Audio Engine B1!

This is an excellent bit of kit. I found it very easy to set-up and link my various devices to stream music. I connected it to an old HiFi which wasn’t getting much use (Musical Fidelity Pre-amp (30 years old), Naim power amp (recent) and B&W speakers (recent-ish). I have to say it sounds very good considering it is operating over Bluetooth. It saves up to 8 devices and so various members of the family have linked to it also. Most of our devices are Apple and the codec it links to the Ifi with produces a good quality sound. The aluminium casing and connections are of really good quality and even the supplied interconnects are also nicely finished.

Overall I can’t fault it and it has revitalised an old hifi which is great. Good job IFI – you have produced a lovely quality item that works well at a price point that is entirely reasonable.

It just works! Easy to connect to and great range to the connectivity to produce cd quality sound. I can walk into different rooms and it doesn’t drop a beat and my walls are solid brick. Well worth the money.

Awesome product. I have tested this, the bludento, and audio engine boxes. By far the ifi zen is the top dog

Excellent Bluetooth receiver, bought to replace original version, small but noticeable improvement, the best BT receiver out there.Wi-Fi streaming is not an option for me at the moment, this is the next best thing, and I don’t feel I am missing out.Streaming Amazon music HD, LDAC, through Cayin valve amplifier and Dali menuet se speakers, sounds great to my old ears. Highly recommended.

“Quality product, great sound, works great with my av amp, as my hifi av amp didn’t have Bluetooth, really useful item to have, all good.”

“This is exceptionally good performance. Distortion products are at -140 dB. Hook this up to your favorite high-performance DAC and the wireless link is as good as using USB! Of course, there is some latency involved but still, this is an excellent transport and best we have seen.”

Super.

With this unit, Bluetooth has really improved. Works flawlessly and sounds better than I expected.

Good quality and value for money

Very happy with purchase. Buy with confidence. I tried three other brands and returned them. I finally stopped looking and researching like a madman after I got this one.

Outstanding value for money this piece of kit. I’ve purchased several Bluetooth to hifi receivers over the years, but this one offers so many means of output both digital and analogue and ease of setup, it stands head & shoulders above all others I’ve bought.

It’s built like a tank and has nice grippy rubber feet that stops heavier leads pulling it out of position. The light in the front changes colour according to the Bluetooth codec connection, which is really helpful to maximize the sound quality – aptX, LDAC etc. etc. it also handles hi-res audio up to 88/96 kHz. Oh and the Bluetooth range is very good.

If you’re looking for an easy means of feeding your hifi from your mobile or other Bluetooth enabled device, look no further. Great sound, great value and the customer service people email you straight back. Result!!

I have this connected to a yamaha s500 and a pair of vintage kef chorale speakers and it sounds fantastic to my ears. The Bluetooth zen is easy to set up, well built and packed with quality components. I ” ummed and arghhd” about this purchase as there were many cheaper options, but no regrets. It really is rather good!

I’m not an audiophile so don’t come to me for specifications, but I’m enjoying the high quality a stereo equipment again that I’ve had for 30 years and haven’t used it since CDs went out of style. It’s like new to me again!

Just what I needed! We have a classic “hifi” with a quality DAC (as everyone should) but all the old sources (CD) are gone. Now I drive everything from Apple devices through iTunes/Music. But how? Until now, over wifi to a 15-year old Apple TV box. But Apple has discontinued any support for that usage model and it is done with me. So now what?

This device receives a high-res digital signal through bluetooth and outputs to your DAC through optical. It is simple and it works. It is easy to switch between source devices with the Pairing button on the front of the unit and bluetooth controls on your Apple device. (Not suggesting it is limited to Apple devices, but that is what I use.)

The only downside is “bonus” sounds coming through the speakers. First, Apple has more work to make it easy to control e.g., user interface sounds, text alerts, etc. routing through the bluetooth audio. There are various controls but lots of fiddling and I have not found the missing “never do this” checkbox. Second, the Ifi device features a languid female voice with an aussie (?) accent announcing bluetooth events. (“Pairing. Your device is connected. AAC.”) I tried to disable it and failed. But now we have grown to like her.

Wanting to stream from numerous device’s to my headphone amplifier made me consider several solutions and although the Zen Blue was not the cheapest option it was a match for my other IFI gear ( Zen Dac , Zen Can ) so I decided to continue my Zen Stack .

I have been using Bluetooth Headphones far before they were universally adopted but considered it a tool of convenience not really an option for good sound quality.

Holy crap the Zen Blue with LDAC rivals a wired connection.

I’m in love with this device

This Bluetooth receiver converted my ancient stereo seamlessly into a more modern unit. Long gone are the days of listening to vinyl and CDs. There is no USB hub so using my iPod provides continuous music through high end speakers. I love the convenience. Highly recommended.

Wanted to link my google home to an old stereo as the amp/speakers are excellent. The sound quality on this is amazing!

Not often you can find a British designed audio product that shines above the rest and truly is a steal.
A hardened analogue addict I purchased this missing link Bluetooth Dac to provide a bit of variety and play my FLAC ripped CD collection.

Expecting a ‘good enough’ result for the money I ended up spending many hours with a smile from ear to ear as the subtleness and sophistication of this DAC begun to shine through.

Having already abandoned a Topping DAC and dedicated power supply that weighed in at 5x the cost of the Zen Blue I thought a DAC would break the bank. The Topping worked for less than an hour before blowing up and I’m so glad I discovered IFI.

So if you want to smile like a Cheshire Cat do something about it and cheer yourself up in these strange times.
Highly recommended and so well priced for the money. It is solid, well built and looks like it will give plenty of hours enjoyment.

Excellent value for money and a very good quality of sound. Sits next to an expensive cd dac and shows its qualities very well in comparison. Great flexibility too in terms of its bluetooth connections. Would recommend it thoroughly.

Good quality, very solid product but small. Easy to set up. Really good sound quality connecting my iPhone or iMac to my hi-fi. only slight niggle is that a device has to be disconnected before another can be connected. Bluetooth seems reliable.

These days, many of us have a music library on our phones because of the ease of use versus putting CD’s in our CD player in our good sound system. The iFi Zen Blue Bluetooth receiver allows the best of both worlds. The convenience of our phone library and the sound of your sound system. The iFi Zen Blue receiver also has great range. I can play music on my system from 60 ft away in my house, too far to actually hear much, with no drop outs. Can’t recommend this unit enough.

I’ve used various ways to connect wirelessly to 2-ch audio setups using an IPhone as a streaming device. I’ve used Airport Express, AudioEngine B1 and iFi Zen Blue. I am extremely impressed with the iFi build and sound quality. The Bluetooth connection is also very stable. I’ve had some Bluetooth stability issues sometimes with the AudioEngine.

I’m using the IFi Blue with a pair of Legacy Audio Studio monitors and a Yamaha Advantage AVR in my electronics lab for background music and I am simply blown away with how quiet and clean this sounds. Didn’t think Bluetooth could sound this good.

Like the compact nature of the iFi Zen, its clear, rich, weighty bass sound and more importantly its value for money. The Bluetooth dac works perfectly with no loss of signal, and it’s serves my needs of not having cabling trailing along the living room floor from my laptop. Perfect!!

loved it all ,great unit , really comes into its own when you play flac or any music >44.1khz with subscription via Qobuz or Tidal

Great Value for money, the second Bluetooth receiver I’ve tried. Apple Music sounded good but I’ve been blown away by tidal!!

This streaming service really shows what this little box can do.

What an absolutely fantastic product from the people at ifi ! Steaming at the highest quality from Spotify into my Marantz amp, the sound produced through my Dali Lektor 2 stand mounts is quite unbelievable. I cannot recommend the Zen Blue highly enough.

An outstanding product in every way…spectacular sound and build quality. It couldn’t be easier to set up. This is exactly what I was looking for to bring streaming to my hi end audio system.

This little device is very well built, and the sound quality is superb. It’s better than the Audioengine b1, Bludento blt-hd, and Auris blueme.

I bought this unit for a relative, to link her smartphone via Bluetooth to a good quality mini hifi, the sort that costs around £300 these days. The sound quality is absolutely superb, and the unit itself oozes quality and robust construction.

It has a range of connections for wired digital and analogue connection to whatever you want to connect it up to, and is so good I am seriously tempted to add one to get a bluetooth connection to my own much more expensive hifi set up.

If you want a unit to add bluetooth connectivity to your audio, the only limiting factor with this product is going to be the quality of your smartphone or other bluetooth transmitting device. Its also nice its a UK company, particularly with our economy going through such a rough pandemic time.

Awesome little piece. Supports all the high res Bluetooth formats and most likely future ones. Well constructed which looks like a metal casing.
The internal DAC is awesome, music sounds beautiful using LDAC technology. My integrated amp tells me it’s receiving a 96khz signal.

I’m using Qobuz from an Android tablet and also my iPhone (acc only) for streaming. I also did an A/B test with my tablet wired with usb into my amp, and although it sounds a bit cleaner, the difference is minimal. Ifi easily could’ve sold this unit for $199. The only slight issue is that if you disconnect from it, you have to pair it again by pressing the front button.

Excellent piece of equipment, does exactly what I want it to do, I wanted to stream to my tube amp to keep audio equipment to a minimum. I can now listen to whatever I want via my system. The quality is excellent very pleased. Plus the price made it affordable pleasantly supprised how well it works.

Very happy with the performance. Works exactly as it should.

In addition to flac and wma and LDAC codec, I’m really happy with this DAC. Changed my whole listening experience. I still can adjust the volume from my phone but I suppose it’s not the best thing to do. In a pinch it works good. I don’t know about other combinations but using a good format and codec, I believe this is a winner.

Fantastic sound quality and beautifully made. Can’t go wrong with this product. Internal DAC is excellent.

This is a truly exceptional, and exceptionally well priced, device. Linked mine up to a vintage and expensive system and it really shone.
Your streaming device (fone) needs its Bluetooth setting up properly and switching to LDAC improves the sound.
Changed the way I listened to my hi-fi. Wonderful!

Amazing sound and superb build quality! Super easy to set up.

Sorry this always makes me laugh: You could mention “thickness”, “value for money” and “sound quality”
Thickness, huh, well I could, but then the dimensions are on the page somewhere else and I’m not sure it’s why you are reading the reviews?
Aaaanyway I like this item a lot, you could say the sound is thick, as in not thin or tinny I suppose. VFM not bad, there are lots of in and outputs – I use mine for a couple of different purposes and that’s without having to unplug anything…

This device solved a problem after I subscribed to Amazon Music HD to use with Sony WH1000MX2 (a great combination) but wanted the same quality on loudspeakers.

I had never heard of iFi before but you should read up, there is great pedigree!

Sound quality is excellent, i can’t listen often enough! Bluetooth pairing is easy but sometimes I need to reconnect manually by pressing one button (not a big issue but would like it automated).

Great presence, but balanced on top of a regular hi-fi separate (Cambridge Audio amp) it does stand out.

“It didn’t matter what we played, the sound was great each time… The levels of detail are exceptional, as well as composure… the iFi Audio ZEN Blue High-Resolution Wireless Streamer is hard to fault. It’s well priced, well put together and sounds amazing.”

Watch the full review here…

Cd (q). at

96khz at 24bit …bluetooth. optical…
Works perfect with my amp and hifi.

Fantastic little gadget that connects my vintage amp to my mobile phone. Simple to set up and use and sound quality is excellent.

“Those who think there is no future in Bluetooth audio need to take this little beauty out for a ride.”

“Pros:
Gets the very best out of your Bluetooth
Excellent bass end and mid-band
Detailed and exciting presentation
Balanced output facility

Cons:
Not at £129″

I highly recommend this device!

“Aptx Low latency and aptxHD, ASD worked phenomenally well, for the first time I was truly impressed with BT.”

“It seems to me to sound better than the USB lead I have been using hitherto.”

Click the link to watch the full review.

Easy to set up, good quality and wonderful sound.

Fantastic bit of kit does coax/digitl fibre, analogue bluetooth for 8 devices to your Amp.

Can you get better? Yes, but it will cost you so much more it isn’t worth it. For anyone but the elite audiophile you will be amazed.. This is the best you will do for anywhere near this kind of money.

Ifi ZEN Blue is a transmitter that with a number of supported codecs and filters will significantly improve the sound quality. Its advantage is that it supports Bluetooth transmission. This gives wide use in the home. You are not buying a device that still needs to be connected and disconnected from something.

Read more… 

I was looking for a Hi-Res Bluetooth DAC and based on the reviews I read in magazines this was the one to go for…… the reviewers weren’t wrong. The Zen Blue sounds great, looks good, and is really easy to set up.

If I had to find fault I would say the power and RCA cables are a little short, which could impact positioning.
It would also be good if you could turn off the unit without unplugging it and if the colour of the aerial was silver instead of white.

Have just bought new kit for playing vinyl and wanted something to add Bluetooth capability to stream on new system and read about this in a hifi mag. Really pleased with quality and how easy it was to set up.

Hi fi system

“This unit, with its small form factor, can handle any Bluetooth codec you’d like to throw at it.”

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Brilliant sound over Bluetooth with a device supporting LDAC and a quality source, approaching the quality of a wired connection in most cases. DAC is good, not the best out there though so its great to have the option of digital output too to use with a better DAC which doesn’t support Bluetooth, works perfectly in my setup. Versitile range of connections. Looks sleek too, definitely a well made product.

Click this link to read the full review

I like this very much. I bought it because I decided to replace my old iPad – which I used to stream Spotify to my Marantz NA7004 via (lossless) Airplay – with a Samsung tablet. The quality from my phone (Galaxy S8) using either AptX-HD or LDAC directly into my Musical Fidelity X-A1 amp is virtually indistinguishable.

The new tablet (inexplicably) only streams using SBC codec, but even that’s pretty good. The IFI box is very solid and well-made and set up is extremely easy and quick.

The only glitch is that the light on the front is supposed to change colour according to which codec is streaming, but it doesn’t, although the lady announcer tells you each time you connect a bluetooth device. But I wouldn’t dock it a star for that minor issue. I thoroughly recommend it.

The best fun i’ve had in hifi for a long time.
A solid brick of lovely casework.
I have it connected to a Chord Hugo TT2 Pre/DAC via coax digital Siltech Golden River 2 £1700, used as a Bluetooth driver.
The Zen Blu would make products which cost thousands blush
Great fun ?

I’ve had SO many Bluetooth transmitters, receivers, converters, headphones and systems in recent years. To date they‘ve been patchy at best and a compromise every time.
This is the first “add on” that actually works. And oh boy does it work!! The set up is THE easiest I’ve come across. The compatibility was 100% and it’s as simple as plug and play.
BUT the difference is the sound – it’s awesome. I’m an audiophile and have 3 hifi setups around

Read more…

Sounds fantastic, simple to use and connecting every time an no dropouts. Really it’s like a CD player for streaming I haven’t had a CD player for 15 years Had gone from wired to Bluetooth gradually from devices because that’s the way it is now. Ifi has returned the hi fi to my system low lows hi highs all types of music sound better fuller and put a smile on my face. If you stream from a device just get one 😉

Superb sound quality. Easy to set up. Better build quality than expected for the price. Brought on the strength of What HiFi mag review and have not been disappointed. One very small point is I wish it had an on of switch instead of being on all the time. Worth every penny!

5star product easy set up, fantastic sound. Only negatives are no on/off switch and the lights on the panel are very bright.

Sonically superb

Watch it here…

GOOD: feature laden, price, overall sound quality, easy to use, attention to detail, it’s from Southport

BAD: nothing

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The Zen Blue Bluetooth receiver is the way to make the high audio quality of a modern phone or tablet audible on a sound system. Zen Blue supports all modern hi-res Bluetooth codecs and delivers audio quality that rivals that of a good USB DAC.

If you already have a separate Bluetooth receiver or an amplifier with Bluetooth at home, pay attention. There is a good chance that the iFi Audio Zen Blue can do something that your bluetooth receiver cannot.

Click this link to read the full review

Very good

“ZEN Blue proves itself as a very good home audio device from start to finish.”

Read more…

I bought this to let me connect my Sony phone to my hi-fi via LDAC. Connection is rock solid even with my phone set to ‘favour quality’ over connection stability from a distance of about 4m.

It sounds great, but it’s worth mentioning that I am connecting the ZEN Blue to a DAC, rather than directly into my amp.

Only negative is the flashing red and blue lights that come on whenever you disconnect your phone. They are very bright and take ages to stop.

Watch here:

Amazing quality and sound.. Simple to use and looks fantastic.. Recommend to anyone who wants a great sounding Bluetooth connection to an existing music system..

Having decided not to replace an expensive amp I decided to get a blue tooth DAC to replace a messy setup of laptop and tethered WiFi. I have been very happy with the results. The sound quality is excellent and it is the easiest piece of electronics I’ve set up in years.

Unbox, attach aerial, connect to amp with the provided cables, plug in, press the large button on the front, pair with phone and play music. Works equally well with iPhone and Android

I have older stereo equipment which is connected to my surround sound throughout my house, as well as my speakers out by the pool and on my patio. I purchased this product to connect my phone so I can use Pandora and Apple Music.

iFi Audio’s Zen Blue is a wireless DAC – specifically, it’s billed as a high-resolution Bluetooth streamer. This is a dedicated Bluetooth unit: it has a range of output options, but the only way it can receive a signal is from a Bluetooth device (smartphone, tablet, computer). Blessing it with a retail price of only $179 CAD, iFi is looking to put the Zen Blue into existing systems, be they traditional hi-fi’s, or powered speakers that lack a wireless option.

Read more…

Distance and clarity as advertised. We use it for our outdoor pool area. The unit is mounted inside with the rest of the audio equipment so it has to receive the signal through a wall and still works perfectly from all areas around the pool.

I purchased this item with my own money for use with a quality meridian f80 portable and an enthusiasts static hi fi system of high quality .

Firstly let me comment on the excellent build quality..way above what you might expect at this price point and the excellent easy set up.

Sound quality used with the f80 was really good with no discernable difference between this unit and cds played through it when steaming Amazon hd. It was connected using an optical digital cable so it was using the excellent on board dac in the f80. This is an excellent result.
When connected to the static hi fi I have to confess I was not expecting the result I got. I tried it through my own chord 2 qute dac and also through its own on board dac via the analogue output directly into the amplifier.

It was compared to a dedicated music steamer also feeding the chord dad…a real test.
Well the music streamer was better but it was by a worryingly small degree and the sound quality through the chord dac was both engaging with depth and sparkle…that and suddenly having access to Amazon’s vast library has made for a great experience. Honestly unless you compared the two sources back to back you did not feel that you were missing out sound quality wise and I found myself listening seriously the whole evening without feeling the need to switch to the higher quality music server… a truly unbelievable result .

Sound quality through it’d own on board dac took a quality move down but again still very good but then when you consider the chord dac is many times the ifi price and chord dacs are at the top of their game this is still a great result.

Buy with confidence…I had a great surprise and you might too.

Simple to connect, brilliant sound from blue tooth, a well known lo-fi technology. There are so very many Internet radio choices out there — now I can tun in with way better sound. highly recommended. Listening now to Classic FM, UK site — CD quality audio. I am sooooo happy!

I’ve had this Bluetooth digital to analog converter connected to everything from a old 2009 Sony 5.1 box system to the premium vintage Adcom preamp at amplifier combination. Following purchase I took advantage of the firmware upgrade and was able to stream my tidal hi-fi and Masters subscription over LDAC.

Thanks to companies like I fi Bluetooth has now become a viable option for accessing large libraries of online music while maintaining quality reproduction. I would hate be without mine.

What if I told you Hifi results can be affordable, easy and good looking? It may be hard to believe but let me introduce you to the iFi Zen Blue, a bluetooth streamer/dac. This streamer is a great small device that offers an ease of use that some streamers seem to miss out on.

Plug it in via one of the outputs to just about any type of systems then pair it with your favorite device to splay from and you’re off to the races. I tend to be skeptical of devices like this that offer so much for so little. I am pleased to say that so far I am very pleased with it so far, so let’s get into the review.

Read more…

Best bluetooth DAC I’ve used. All the inputs / outputs one could need. No buzz / crackling like other BT receivers I’ve used. Looks great too. Minor niggle if using with multiple previously paired devices, appears to have to be put into pairing mode again by long-pressing button on front, even if other device has disconnected.

Not sure if this is BT standard related or device specific. Clever use of colour coding to indicate connection type / bit-rate. Stylish & fits in with high-end kit. A little pricey but with flac sources, all you could need. Highly recommended.

Brilliant

“A must for any Bluetooth user… Genuinely brilliant.”

Click here to read the full review

“Want an easy way to add Bluetooth connectivity to your traditional stereo system? Just buy iFi’s new Zen Blue.”

“If you’ve already got a good DAC, it makes sense to try that with the Zen Blue.”

“The Zen Blue is a terrific product.”

Pleasently surprised at the quantity of this IFi Blue Zen receiver .have only had a few days. So will be able to give a better review later,very easy to pair up ,I’ve paired to a couple of android devices,push button for a few secs and it finds device,very solid and smart design,sofar very happy with it .using with Marantz music center just select aux 1,2 or 3 , Recommend

“iFi has built the best Bluetooth interface I’ve ever seen and they only want £130 for it. The result is unquestionably a Best Buy”

Read more: ZEN Blue Review

Read more: HifiEinsNull ZEN Blue Review

This extraordinarily ambitious wireless DAC has James Parker re-evaluating exactly what Bluetooth is capable of. Read our iFi Audio Zen Blue Review.

It exceeded my expectations. I listen through LDAC and coaxial digital out fed to the DAC in my CD player. I’ve done CD/IFI comparison for the same albums and, on my kit, the difference is audible but marginal. IFI has a slight ‘digital’ flavour to it while CDs sound softer and warmer, but you must really listen hard to notice this each time. Recommended if you’re not planning to buy a streamer and wish to use streaming services. Needless to say, it deserves lossless audio streams.

Connected to an Onkyo Integra, verified 20-20kHz band with sine wave generator and spectrum analyzer, perfect flat response without attenuation, audible distortions are not felt. Just a little annoyance the synthesis female voice announcing the bluetooth connection and disconnection.

Liked: bluetooth codec, ease of installation and operation, musical performance.

Very high level construction, excellent materials and assembly. As expected from a home like iFi.
Excellent sound, it made me think again about the possibilities of BT. Of course it has its limits and it is not even remotely comparable to even a decent cable, but comfort is certainly the reason why you buy a BT device.
Excellent value for money (high) price (low).
Definitely recommended

Just what I needed to stream my Tidal, Spotify and Amazon HD music to my 2-channel system. Don’t let folks convince you that Bluetooth is not for ‘serious’ audio listening. iFi has elevated Bluetooth to a higher level. Supports all of the basic and HD audio codecs including AptX HD and LDAC. I espeically liked that I can use the Zen Blue as a DAC via its built-in Saber DAC chip, or can connect to my external DAC via coax S/PDIF or fiber Toslink. Range is excellent with the Zen Blue staying paired with my phone from opposite ends of the house. I would suggest upgrading the power supply/brick to the higher caliber iFi iPower solution yielding even better performance.

Highly recommended if you’ve been looking for a lower-price but higher performing alternative to listen to your streaming services on your 2-channel rig.

I looked long and hard at getting an “audiophile” level bluetooth for my system.
After reading and comparing, I bought one of these.
Have not regretted it.
Love the fact that it has so many types of outputs, the sound is great and it really met my needs, checked all the right boxes.
Although not an indication of sound quality, this thing is pretty heavy for such a small piece of kit.
Back in the day, if a piece of hifi equipment was heavy, it was considered a good thing.
Well, this is heavy, and if just feels like quality.
Haven’t been disappointed yet.

Filled a hole in my audio system allowing connection of anything that ran on my phone to play on the big system. Bluetooth is solid and DAC is good for the price. Connected via SPDIF to my system DAC and the sound stage improved significantly. Only complaint are the big bright indicators. It helped to tape over the big LED indicating the type of connection. Since I only use an iPhone, it’s always the same.

I have been able to improve my sound quality and therefore PERFECT

I was looking for something that would enable me to listen to my iTunes library and Spotify from my iPad via my existing Meridian Hi Fi system, mainly as a short term measure before I take the plunge and buy a high quality network streamer or streaming based system.

I am using the SPDIF output from the Zen unit into a digital input on my Meridian 568.2 controller and 557 Power amp. The sound quality is excellent – I doubt in a blind listening test that I could tell it apart from a CD played on my Meridian 596 DVD player that I use as a CD transport. It really is that good.

Plus points: great sound quality, easy to set up, analogue and digital outputs, bargain price.
Negative points: The plug top power supply looks a bit cheap and cheerful, an upgrade is available at extra cost. The Bluetooth antenna is white rather than black so looks a bit odd against the rest of my system. But these are minor gripes really. Its a great bit of kit at a bargain price. Whats not to like?

No on off switch.

“I am not technical – so I can’t vouch for Zen’s technology, but I can tell you it sounds great and I can go anywhere in my two-story condo with my phone and the Zen stays connected. ”

“The Zen checks most of my boxes except MQA and that it is Bluetooth. Tidal Masters (MQA) sounds better than Spotify tracks on the Zen, so it is complementing the source.”

The Zen Blue iFi is a really interesting product among Bluetooth receivers. Beyond the excellent performance as a receiver and the possibility of connecting 7 devices, its versatility and the possibility of using or not using a dedicated DAC inside.

A beautiful piece of kit but unfortunately I can only stream AAC files from my iPhone. If you have Android then I thoroughly recommend the Zen Blue.

No problems
Connects immediately
Sound quality brilliant
If lights bug you just stick tape over it
Just whish I could connect to it with optical cable from my IMAC to it
But for bluetooth streaming brilliant

I bought it for my old device, I no longer need to record cd.
The quality is very good, I don’t notice a difference with the CDs.
The bluetooth range is large, I can be in another room with the door closed without loss of quality.

Once paired with mobile devices, it automatically connects to the one with bluetooth enabled.
The device speaks in English and I see no way to do it in Spanish.
Very satisfied with the purchase.

This is my second iFi product I bought, one Bluetooth headphone connector( xCan)and this one I feed to my stereo. The bluetooth connects really well and works a little bit better than the headphone xCan. Both are great products. I turn it on with my stereo and it connects right away to my phone. I connect to my iPhone which uses an AAC codec.

I also connect to my NAD hi fi the optical connector, the sound is really great, But that uses my CDs DAC. The high end cd DAC sounds a little better, but not by much. Its a little hard to compare because i have to flip the switch from digital to analog on the ifi, so i have to move around the room.

I did also buy the 1Mii B06 pro for a cheaper system. I put them both on my good NAD system and connected them both to 2 different iphones streaming radio @ only 128bps. Easy to compare side by side. The sound was much better on.the ifi. The Mii was ok in comparison, but Definitely not as good

Good transmission quality

Is it Bluetooth streamer? Is it a DAC? Yes it is. iFi decided to present an unusual combination of the two. From the outside Zen Blue looks almost the same as already reviewed Zen DAC. It means that the body is completely made of thick aluminium and feels reassuringly sturdy. Front and back plate have brushed finish, while the rest of its curved body is painted gray…

I use this device to stream from my laptop and phone to my main audio setup, I mostly listen to Qobuz and the sound is fantastic. The sound quality, convenience, and price of this device combine for an excellent value!

For the price you cannot beat this bluetooth streamer.

Todo lo que esperaba

LED indicator for connection speed too bright and not possible to disable. I look the back off and put a piece of tape on the inside of the front panel. Otherwise very good

Clean high-quality sound and works flawlessly!
A great product at a great price!
Five Stars!

iFi rarely disappoints the audio world. I’m a proud owner of their Micro Black Label DAC/amp, and most audiophiles and headphone junkies will certainly be familiar with the brand. But now, it seems that iFi is trying to reach a new crowd; iFi has just released a weirdly affordable Hi-Res Bluetooth streamer, the Zen Blue, at $129. And the name seems fitting, since this thing is undeniably Zen in terms of sound and design. Why? Let’s find out in this iFi Zen Blue Hi-Res Bluetooth Streamer Review…

The Zen Blue was quite foolproof. The instructions were short & simple. The device practically sets itself up – the front panel lights tell you what is going on and the final link configuration that the device you are connecting to will permit. It was up and running with perfect audio fidelity as a wireless audio extender for my Bluesound Vault 2i in just a couple of minutes Rarely have I ever encountered an advanced electronic device such as this that worker so flawlessly and effortlessly. Thumbs up!

I am very impressed with the sound quality of the Zen Blue. I chose to Zen blue because it supports all the latest Bluetooth codecs. If you have a device that supports LDAC you can take full advantage of the latest technology.

The Build quality is also very impressive it’s encased in an aluminum chassis and has a premium look and feel. I like the fact that it lights up different colors to indicate which codec is being used at that time. I have used a few high-end Bluetooth receivers and I can say this is absolutely the best one so far.

I am A picky audiophile and am very pleased with the sound quality of this Bluetooth DAC. Excellent zero distortion, silky smooth, sonic characteristics. Highly recommended. Great range of codecs. Zero apparent error correction.

I only have one gripe. Like a lot of DACS of this size, there is NO POWER BUTTON. I have no idea why something as cheap and simple as adding a power button was not included, but it’s a pain in the rear and will require a switched power strip or similar, unless you unplug it when not in use, every single time. 4.5 stars due to this issue.

Highly Recommended for price point for a Hi-Res – Bluetooth receiver . This iFi Blue is of Audiophile sound quality especially being a bluetooth Reciever that’s receiving a bluetooth streamed Codec .