Zen Blue - the ultra-affordable DAC from iFi audio

High-resolution Bluetooth DAC.

This ultra-affordable hi-res Bluetooth® DAC enables you to chillax in style. Just add smartphone, tablet, PC or Mac.

Chill. Relax. Enjoy.

You only achieve true ZEN when totally chilled. We’ve given you peace of mind (and pocket) with the ZEN Blue.

Whether you’re a Spotify, Amazon, Apple Music or Qobuz lover or totally prefer Tidal, the ZEN Blue will deliver fabulously flawless music to suit your mood via breathtaking hi-res Bluetooth®.

bt

Hi-res to the nth degree.

All current and future Bluetooth® audio formats are supported.

This includes Qualcomm’s aptX and aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, aptX Adaptive, LDAC and HWA/LHDC, hi-res Bluetooth® codecs created by Sony and Huawei respectively, AAC, Apple’s favoured format and SBC, the standard Bluetooth® codec.

Phew! This means every possible source device is covered, at the highest resolution Bluetooth® specification.

Not all Bluetooth is created equal.

Have utter confidence in the sound quality of the ZEN Blue.

It uses Bluetooth5.0®, the very latest version, and the newest Qualcomm 5100 chip to process all incoming Bluetooth® data.

There ESS Sabre DAC chip is there to ensure an extremely smooth digital to analogue conversion.

Banish standard ‘Bluetooth Blues’ with the iFi hi-res implementation.

Zen Blue - the ultra-affordable DAC from iFi audio

Enjoy. Your way.

Chill with the best of both worlds.

Analogue – connect via RCA to amps or active speakers or via the 4.4mm output to amps/speakers with a balanced input.

Digital – use the optical and coaxial connections to connect to anything with a built-in DAC and corresponding digital input; your TV, an AV amp or an external DAC in your hi-fi set-up.

Balanced design is special indeed.

The analogue output stage is balanced, not normally seen in DACs at this price point. Balanced means less noise interference/crosstalk. This equals more ZEN in our book.

It has RCA and balanced outputs at HiFi standard level; 2V SE and 4V BAL and thus is compatible with both HiFi and Pro systems.

All underpinned by high-quality circuit components such as C0G capacitors from TDK. All fed by a precision low-noise power supply from Texas Instruments to make this a rare entry-priced beastie.

Go and grab yourself one today. And ZEN out…

aptX

aptX Bluetooth transmission is found in most Android phones, media players, Apple computers (macOS on iMacs and MacBooks) and on higher-quality Bluetooth headphones. It is not available on iOS (iPhones and iPads use Advanced Audio Codec).

AAC

AAC is one of the most commonly-supported Bluetooth codecs in the wireless headphone and speaker markets. It’s also the default audio compression codec used by Apple’s iTunes and YouTube and is supported across both iPhone and Android smartphones.

Bluetooth 5.0®

This is the latest version of the Bluetooth wireless communication standard.

Its main benefits are improved speed and greater range – it’s faster and can operate over greater distances than older versions of Bluetooth. You can find out more here.

DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Converter)

DACs convert digital information, stored or streamed by computers, into music we can hear through speakers or headphones.

Every device that’s a source of digital sound has a built-in DAC (TVs, games consoles, CD players, phones, portable music players etc). Dedicated external DACs sound much better than standard DACs used in digital devices such as phones.

LDAC

LDAC is an audio coding technology developed by Sony, which allows streaming audio over Bluetooth connections up to 990 kbit/s at 24 bit/96 kHz (also called high-resolution audio).

It is used in Sony headphones, smartphones, portable media players, active speakers and home theatres.

LDAC is a lossy codec which means is discards some of musical info to make the file smaller.

ZEN

Zen emphasizes rigorous self-control, meditation-practice, insight into the nature of things and the personal expression of this insight in daily life, especially for the benefit of others. Discover more here.

Discrete ESS Sabre Hyperstream DAC chipset with time domain jitter eliminator, discrete oscillator and 112dB dynamic range for discerning listeners.

The iFi Bluetooth® implementation does not use a standard SOC (System On a Chip) as seen elsewhere. It uses a combination of quality elements to extract the most from each stage.

The Qualcomm chip routes the raw, digital Bluetooth® signal to a specialised Sabre DAC chip to convert the signal from digital to analogue – any jitter is eliminated using our GMT femto-precision clock system to deliver Bluetooth® that is a cut above.

It is a superior method to the traditional single-ended circuit approach. Balanced circuits reduce noise and crosstalk. Less Interference – clearer sound.

You normally find this set-up in products at the higher end of the price spectrum such as the Pro iCAN Signature but iFi is now using this across its range to produce the best quality audio for all our customers.

As with many other iFi audio products, we’ve incorporated a custom OV Series operational-amplifier. This top-notch component contributes to the extremely low noise, low distortion (0.0001%) and wide bandwidth.

TDK C0G (Class 1 ceramic) capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit applications.

Getting ever closer to the theoretical ideal of pure, frequency-constant capacitance, these capacitors reduce capacitor-induced distortion to vanishingly low levels.

They are pricey but are a perfect addition to our products.

A key advantage of the ESS Sabre DAC chip is its Hyperstream architecture with integrated Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, which delivers vanishingly low distortion and a high dynamic range.

Texas Instruments low-noise ICs offer great unity-gain bandwidth, very low noise and distortion, high output drive capability, Common-mode and Power Supply Rejection Ratios of over 100 dB, wide maximum-output-swing bandwidths and high slew rates.

Retailer

Apos Inc.

California
Distributor

iFi audio USA (West Coast)

California
Retailer

ListenUp

Colorado
Retailer

ListenUp

Colorado
Retailer

ListenUp

Colorado
Retailer

Music Direct

Illinois
Retailer

Gramophone

Maryland
Retailer

Gramophone

Maryland
Retailer

Gramophone

Maryland
Retailer

Gramophone

Maryland
Retailer

Gramophone

Maryland
Retailer

Audio Advisor

Michigan
Retailer

Bloom Audio

New Jersey
Retailer

High Definition Tape Transfers

New Jersey
Retailer

ListenUp

New Mexico
Retailer

Turntable Lab NY Storefront

New York
Retailer

Audio 46

New York
Retailer

Moon Audio

North Carolina
Retailer

AudioAdvice

North Carolina
Retailer

AudioAdvice

North Carolina
Retailer

Headphones.com

Oregon
Retailer

World Wide Stereo

Pennsylvania
Retailer

World Wide Stereo

Pennsylvania
Retailer

HIDEF Lifestyle

Pennsylvania
Distributor

iFi audio USA (East Coast)

Virginia
Retailer

USA-Audio Exchange

Virginia
PowerDC 5V
InputBluetooth 5.0TM with AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Low-Latency, LDAC, HWA/LHDC Codec
OutputOptical/Coaxial, Audio RCA L/R, 4.4 Balanced Line out
Frequency Response20Hz – 20kHz <+0/-0.5dB (44.1kHz)
1Hz – 44khz <+0/-3.0dB (>= 88.2kHz)
Output Voltage @ 0dBF2.05V (+/-0.05V)
Dynamic Range109dB (A)
Signal/Noise ratio109dB (A) @ 0dBFS
THD & N @ 0dBFS< 0.0015% 10k Load
Output Impedance< 50Ω
Power Consumption< 2.5W
Dimensions160(w) x 107(d) x 35(h) mm
6.3″ x 4.2″ x 1.4″
Weight (Gross)0.8 kg (1.8 lbs)

Best-sounding Bluetooth receiver

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..

Dennis Burger

(Click name to read original review)

Excellent Bluetooth DAC

“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”

Amazon

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Added true hi-fi Bluetooth to Linn system

” 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…”

Amazon

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Perfect to play from my laptop through my amplifier via Bluetooth

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.

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

What a superb bit of kit.

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!!

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

Believe The Great Reviews

“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.”

Amazon

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Great sounding, great value DAC Headphone amp

“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.”

 

Amazon

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Just brilliant

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.

Amazon

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Better than expected

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!

Amazon

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top notch

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

Amazon

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Excellent player and straightforward to set up

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.

Amazon

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Great Bluetooth connection for old hi-fi

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.

Amazon

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the school of incremental gains reconvenes

“…this is still the best of its kind and is now that little bit better…”

 

AV Forums

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ZEN Blue V2 – “Best Bluetooth yet”

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

Amazon

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ZEN Blue V2 – “Best Bluetooth receiver on the market”

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.

Amazon

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ZEN Blue V2 – “Quality product, great sound…”

“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.”

Amazon

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iFi ZEN Blue – “exceptionally good performance”

“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.”

Audio Science Review

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Works great.

Easy to operate. Sounds good for the money. Well made.

Amazon

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iFi Zen Blue HiFi

Super.

Amazon

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Sounds great

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

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

Really easy to set up, great sound quality

Perfect device for connecting legacy hi-fi equipment to your smart device. Turned it on, pressed pair on my iPhone, music came out of the speakers. What more do you need? High quality. It’s got that too. You’d be hard pressed to tell streaming from CD

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

Great quality sound.

Hooked up to Musical Fidelity amp. Makes my old PMC floor standers the best blue tooth speakers around. All for just over £100.

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

Much more than expected

This little unit oozes quality. The build is really solid and it doesn’t have any cut corners things that stick out like so many other products. For the money it seems like it should cost at least twice as much.

Pairing is instant and trouble free. The sound is really good. I’ve been feeding my laptop’s audio to my Hi-fi through a 3.5mm to RCA cable for a long time. Now no need for that cable and the audio seems clearer and better quality.

Very pleased – cheaper than a streaming device too.

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

iFi very high quality superior to everything else on the market

The iFi Bluetooth receiver comes in an Aluminum case, with a solid yet compact appearance.
Quality, gilded and well-assembled connections are also protected by silicone plugs to prevent dust ingress.

The quality of the materials is also and above all internal as the sound that is emitted to the amplifier is of the highest quality and without any background signal (like most receivers of all other brands) the dynamics is complete and uses the latest high quality sound bluetooth transmission codec.

The reception is excellent, mine remains connected always, does not lose the connection and has a wide reception in a 70sqm apartment takes anywhere with any obstacle.

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

High end Bluetooth

Quality!

Amazon

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Great way to add Bluetooth to existing system!

This is the most reliable way to add Bluetooth to a system that supports LDAC I’ve found. This is my second unit. I’ve got one in my shop and one in the house so I can stream Apple Music and use LDAC to devices that don’t support Airplay2

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

Must have

Worth the money. I toyed going the more economical route first and ended up with this. I have a very hi end Denon amp and preamp pushing Klipsch lascala speakers and this is what I needed to get all the crisp hi and Lows that are needed. Pay the money you will not be disappointed. Five star all the way.

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

Its sound quality

Excellent!!!

Amazon

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This is amazing if you dont want to hook up to a computer.

Fantastic! It took 2 minutes to set it up. Super premium feel. Also love the purple rca cables!

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

Excellent sound!

I can’t believe this sounded this good for $130! Makes me think I need to upgrade my other digital sources.

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

Absolutely amazing!!

I DJ parties and such on the side. I wanted something simple but with great clarity and easy to use. If you have a newer phone that supports LDAC, get this! I have very high end Mackie SRM V class speakers that are bluetooth already. However, they are 4.2 version bluetooth and best bit rate is 16. This little gem in LDAC mode supports 32 bit rate and 5.0 bluetooth. The clarity is outstanding!

Read more…

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

Excellent Bluetooth receiver unit

Hi, I recently bought the Zen Blue unit to replace a dongle receiver that had to be used with my Cambridge CXA 60 amplifier the dongle was limited to which codecs could be used . The Zen Blue covers most codecs for present and the future so you can achieve a very high quality of sound if you use it with the correct components in your system. The difference was night and day when I connected the Zen Blue so much so that I bought another one for one of my other systems.

What I like about the whole Zen range is that they all compliment each other and look amazing as a stack system as can be seen in my photo the Zen Blue is pictured with the Zen Phono which again is a fantastic Phono stage both being highly recommended.

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

iFi audio ZEN Blue Bluetooth DAC, ZEN DAC, and iPower PSU

“In both the DAC and Blue, iFi Audio has delivered a pair of devices that are richly detailed, precise, and musically entertaining.”

“If you are really forensic in your listening, the DAC is ‘detailed and fun’ where the Blue is ‘fun and detailed; in other words, the differences between the two are at best subtle, and in both cases the sound ‘works’ from an audio nut and a music lover’s perspective. Although both resolve a lot of detail in the midrange and beyond, neither leaves the bass wanting and both deliver a sonic performance that is inherently accurate from top to toe.”

“The ZEN devices put you in with the music and that makes them very hard to beat, especially at the price.

The best digital converters can keep very good company in terms of system, and using that criteria, both the iFi Audio ZEN Blue and ZEN DAC are very good digital converters thanks to a great sound in two very easy to recommend packages.”

Hi-Fi+

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Satisfied

For me he does his job perfectly. The things I appreciate the most are the ease and stability of the connection. Clearly the performance improves according to the signal source and the system used

Amazon

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Awesome Product Fixed My Issue !!!

I had an older stereo without an auxiliary or Bluetooth feature and the ifi zen was the perfect solution !!!

Amazon

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Amazing sound upgrade.

Amazing sound upgrade, even better than wired connection from my phone as DAC on this superior to phones’.

Amazon

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Incredible Sound

This allows me to update my 15 y/o receiver to wireless. The sound is incredible if you listen to Amazon HD. I use a One 8 5g to transmit. Almost as good as SACD. It has made my Klipsch speakers come alive again.

Amazon

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Great hi-quality Bluetooth

Worth it if you listen through Bluetooth.

Amazon

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Good Bluetooth dac

Good quality and value for money

Amazon

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The reviews are very much true

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.

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

Excellent value for money and excellent connectivity

Very easy to install and to pair with various devices (ipod, ipad, phones). The connection quality is stable. Once I hooked up the device, it never happened to me that the connection was interrupted. At the level of audio quality I would say that it is very very good for the price. Clearly, compared to more performing DACs you feel that it loses both dynamics and speed (above all), while at the sound level you only hear a certain imprecision on the very high frequencies (such as cymbals and drum cymbals, in which the sound, despite being pleasant, it lacks those crystal clear characteristics of high-end DACs). However I would say that it is well worth the price and, to find something significantly better, you have to spend at least 5 times as much.

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

Works very well!

The iFi Zen Blue HiFi Bluetooth Receiver provides excellent range and very good sound quality. Helps breath new life into older stereo equipment. No need to invest in an entirely new system just to gain Bluetooth capability.

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

IFi Zen Blue

I have always been dubious when it comes to digital music, especially bluetooth, and I prefer an analogue audio set up. I looked for a streamer to add convenience and to avoid using an aux cable to play Spotify through my cambridge audio axa35 amp. I plumped for this device based on the favourable reviews to cost ratio and after a week it has become one of the best pieces of audio equipment I’ve ever purchased.
My set up is the aforementioned amp hooked up to Q Acoustic 3020i’s, connected via QED Anniversary cable.
Set up is very easy. Connect the IFi Zen Blue to my amp via red/white rca cable (included), with the switch at the back of this unit switched to ‘analogue’.
I then found the device in my android phones settings and paired. Simple.
I then subsequently learned of switching the Bluetooth codec on my phone to the LADC protocol. In my phones list of Bluetooth devices, I clicked the cog next to this ifi device and switched on LADC Audio. Et voila, I am now enjoying Bluetooth streaming at 96kHz rate/32bits audio. Jargon aside, the evidence of this through my speakers is staggering when streaming via Tidal particularly.
My turntable aside, this whole set up wasn’t much more than £600 – not pocket change, but budget in audiophile terms, and having heard my dad’s Naim system, I know that although better is out there, it is expensive and slightly too marginally perceived to upgrade beyond this set up. I never knew Bluetooth could sound so impressive and detailed. I can’t recommend this device enough.
If there’s a drawback it is that it’s so easy to use that now my girlfriend has paired her iPhone to it to play all her ‘tunes’ but you can’t have everything.
Very easy 5 star recommendation.

Amazon

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super nice

super nice

Amazon

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Amazing quality of sound from this kit

What I like is how easy this was to set up and connect with an old Denon amplifier that was gathering dust
This Bluetooth receiver works with any Bluetooth enabled device like a mobile phone or iPad. Pairing up devices is very straightforward
The impressive thing is that the Bluetooth receiver is incredibly secure and strong.
Was not expecting much from this device however I can honestly say it has exceeded my expectations
Great value for money in my opinion

Amazon

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Update that classic separates system without changing out any components!

Audiophile friend recommended this and I bought it. No regrets. Best Bluetooth sound I have ever experienced

Amazon

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Excelente

Top

Amazon

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solid product

was exactly as advertised

Amazon

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Love it!

It isn’t the best but for the money it’s great. You start paying more and start getting diminishing returns. This is a great little find!

Amazon

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Great upgrade for retro hifi

I’ve had bluetooth devices previously, but this device updates my quality retro hifi system (audiolab nad, talisman, tannoy, surround etc). Music sounds engaging again from amazon playlists

Amazon

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Wow….

Best thing I have bought in ages. Once I worked out how to enable LDAC in Android (step 1 in developer options, step 2 go to the cog next to your Bluetooth connection once paired), this is an amazing product. Good bye cables, you are so last decade!

I use it with a headphone amp and an AV receiver. To save switching between digital and analogue output (as the switch is at the rear) I just use a pair of rca Y splitter cables and it still sounds great.

Amazon

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Great quality, great sound.

Excellent way to get the highest quality Bluetooth music from your phone to your hifi. Rock solid connection and, unlike the cheaper receivers, can use the LDAC codec.

Only negative is it would benefit from a power switch.

Highly recommended.

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

Fantastic DAC!

My unit arrived today and I hooked it up to my old Pioneer A/V receiver. Simple hook up instructions and the iFi Zen Blue recognized my IPhone and Mac Book Pro without any hesitation. Sound – phenomenal! The Weeknd, Charles Mingus, Efterklang, Playboi Carti and Hilary Hahn all sound so much better with proper stereo separation. The Dac inside this unit rocks! I was deciding between this one, The Auris Blume HD and the Blue Dento. I’m glad I chose this one.

Amazon

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Monster piece of kit

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!!

Amazon

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Great sounding Bluetooth dac

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!

Amazon

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Enjoying my old stereo again

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!

Amazon

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audiophile-grade source to drive audio/hifi with your devices

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.

Amazon

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Simply incredible

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

Amazon

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Works great

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.

Amazon

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Excellent

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

Amazon

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A real stunner

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.

Amazon

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Very nice piece of equipment!

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.

Amazon

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Excellent product

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.

Amazon

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Allow’s for great sound when using your smart phone

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.

Amazon

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Amazing Bluetooth sound

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.

Amazon

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Would definitely recommend this beauty.

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!!

Amazon

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that it works very well

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

Amazon

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Epic Value!!!

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.

Amazon

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Awrsome Sound and Build Quality

This is a very high quality product whose build quality is excellent. The device is surprisingly heavy and sturdy for its size and provides excellent sound quality surpassed only by its ease of operation and connectivity. One review lamented the absence of a power switch. But the unit goes to sleep in between uses rendering the need for one superfluous. All in a all a great product that provides high quality Bluetooth sound transmission. A+++

Amazon

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Excellent audio…Excellent value!

OMG what a device, what a value! When you see and hold it in your hands for the first time you just know it is a quality piece of audio equipment. Heavy all metal case and premium guts…even the included RCA cable rivals my Monsters. Took less than 5 minutes to hook up and stream Amazon HD from my Samsung S8.

Bottom line: this is way, way underpriced for what it does. It took my older high end analog receiver gloriously into the digital age!

Amazon

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Excellent Paired with Zen CAN!

My small £70 tube amp failed on me and I thought I’d take a gamble on this, together with the Zen ‘CAN’ to drive my headphones for watching the tV is listening to music on TIDAL. I was actually sick of seeing it in ‘Top 10’ reviews and I would immediately skim over it, since he design didn’t appeal to me and it looked tacky.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s got a great build quality and the sound through Bluetooth 5.0 streamed from TV and ipad (Tidal) is the crispest I’ve ever heard. Let’s remember though that the Zen CAN is in the chain though too! Signal is seemingly free of latency. It did take me a while to get it working due to the fact that I needed to switch it to ‘analogue’ on the back.

Read more…

Amazon

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Perfect for streaming music from mobile device

Really well made, good quality RCA connections included. Looks good and small enough to be unobtrusive. I plugged it into my Rega amplifier and it was up and running within a minute. Paired to my phone it works perfectly sounds good and doesn’t drop out. Just what I wanted.

Amazon

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Works a treat.

I used this to connect my smartphone to my Hi Fi sending music files, some in high resolution. It has plenty of connections including optic so it’s very versatile. It got a rave review in Hi Fi World and is a steal at the price. The build quality is excellent as well!!

Amazon

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Best addition to my Stereo system ever!

This product breaths new life into my favorite stereo system. I can listen to all my digital music on my phone through my analog system!
Very good quality and easy setup … I was installed and paired with Bluetooth in 5 minutes.
Thank you !!!!
John L Speciale

Amazon

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Quality product, great sound, what a bargain !

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.

Amazon

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Fantastic

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.

Amazon

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best bluetooth receiver/dac under $200

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.

Amazon

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Beautifully built, top notch sound, great value and good to look at!

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.

Amazon

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Bluesound Node 2i killer

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.

Amazon

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Value in built & sound you’ll be impressed.

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.

Amazon

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Buy this if you are serious about sound

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

Amazon

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Test iFi Zen Blue, Zen DAC and Zen Phono: an incredible amount of HiFi for 150 euros

“The three test candidates of the Zen family from the British specialist iFi Audio provide impressive evidence of this… The iFi Audio Zen DAC earned the most laurels: It not only shines with its versatility as a USB DAC headphone amp, but also and above all with its fantastic, airy, natural sound – a real favorite killer.”

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LowBeats

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Recommend for Bluetooth

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.

Amazon

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Fantastic value for money.

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

Amazon

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Stunning

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!

Amazon

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You won’t be disappointed

Great quality unit. Sound is beyond what I expected from Bluetooth and the pairing process is painless. Using LDAC codec with Samsung S20 and it works perfectly. Great product

Amazon

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Very efficient service.

Excellent product.
Very easy to install and use.

Amazon

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A quality product

The sound quality is excellent and the unit is well built

Amazon

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Buy it, you won’t regret it.

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

Amazon

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Flexible / Versatile, sounds great

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…

Amazon

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Bluetooth but Better

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.

Amazon

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iFi Audio ZEN Blue High-Resolution Wireless Streamer Review

“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.”

Jabba Reviews

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iFi Audio ZEN Blue Review

“Unsurprisingly perhaps, iFi has done it again with the ZEN Blue. The company has packed an affordable option with fine-sounding tech and wrapped it in an aesthetically pleasing package”

StereoNET

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Conectividad Total por Bluetooth: Analisis iFi Blue DAC

Watch the full review here…

YouTube

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Sound and quality

Cd (q). at

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

Amazon

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Excellent sound and build quality and easy to set up

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

Amazon

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iFi Audio ZEN Blue Wireless Bluetooth DAC

“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″

Hifi Pig

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Get this!

I highly recommend this device!

Amazon

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Excellent Bluetooth DAC

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

Amazon

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Good sound via digital output

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

Amazon

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ZEN Blue & ZEN CAN – the impressive combo

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Gavin's Gadgets

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iFi audio ZEN Blue – Bluetooth DAC

“For less than PLN 700, the iFi Audio ZEN Blue Bluetooth DAC can significantly improve the Bluetooth signal by providing a substitute and a foretaste of audiophile quality in this form of wireless sound transmission. But in a very good style and with first-class sound. The advantage is also very easy operation and multi-functionality. Recommendation!”

Click the link to read the full review.

Stereo and Kolorowo - Underground

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Quality

Easy to set up, good quality and wonderful sound.

Amazon

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digital to your amplifier

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

Amazon

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Don’t underestimate what this is capable of!

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.

Amazon

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iFi Zen Blue Bluetooth DAC

As far as digital streaming is concerned, Bluetooth playback is no better than streaming through the Internet. However, in terms of the ease of setting, connection, and use, Bluetooth is the easiest way to listen to music in the era of mobile phones.

Even my own mother uses Bluetooth speakers to play music and listen to the radio at home. However, in addition to headphones, in addition to simple Bluetooth speakers, you can also choose iFi Zen Blue, which allows your home audio system to play music using Bluetooth.

And its performance proves that it is not just a toy, but should be regarded as a source device, which can allow your existing system to expand the Bluetooth function. It further confirms that manufacturers and engineers have achieved a level of Bluetooth that has never been imagined before, which is enough to make people appreciate music and be moved.

U - headphone

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ifi ZEN Blue: Even better sound for Bluetooth transmissions

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… 

TOUCHIT

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Good Bluetooth Dac

I really like this product, it is small and easy to place and simple to set up, it sounds very good, it should have a good dac, the only flaw I can find is that the power light is always on, it is a blue color and flashes insistently, otherwise it’s perfect. I connected it analogically with RCA cables to an old integrated amplifier

Amazon

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Nice nice nice….

Arrived today, immediately installed, excellent product: beautiful construction, excellent bluetooth range for me, connected in optical works very well especially with the ldac codec that I have on my mobile phone, but the beauty comes in analogue …. the built-in saber ess dac changes to better everything he receives, whether they are poor mp3s, flacs 24 bits, wav pcm everything takes on an astonishing airiness and completeness for the price and category of the object.

Connected to my listening chain (amp with 24/96 burr brown dac) it improved it substantially. The only note can be made to the “leddone” on the right, which flashes a little too much when it does not find the signal, but it is very passable given the performance.
Nice !, good IFI, 8+

Amazon

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Sounds Great, Built Well, Good Value, British Design.

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.

Amazon

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Awesome piece of kit for the price

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.

Amazon

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wonderful item of equipment

Hi fi system

Amazon

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ZEN BLUE FROM IFI ON YOUTUBE

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

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The Audiophile Man

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Fantastic Bluetooth, solid DAC

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.

Amazon

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Excellent product

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.

Amazon

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Exceptional

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 ?

Amazon

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Worth every penny – you’ll hear every note

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…

Amazon

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Just get one

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 😉

Amazon

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Great buy

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!

Amazon

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THE NEW IFI ZEN DAC AND ZEN BLUE: A KILLER ONE (AND SUPER AFFORDABLE) – TWO PUNCH!

“I absolutely loved my time with both the iFi Zen DAC and Zen Blue. The ability to move my music to anywhere in the house with the Zen Blue was a great benefit and the DAC performance of the Zen Blue was almost identical to the Zen DAC. So if you want to enjoy your music on a backyard deck, bedroom, or home office and don’t want to run cables, the Zen Blue will fill that gap quite nicely. As well, if you have a pair of powered speakers and are looking for a higher resolution source, the Zen Blue has you covered.”

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Headphone.Guru

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5star product

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

Amazon

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Quality product

Sonically superb

Amazon

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iFi Audio ZEN Blue REVIEW Affordable High Resolution Wireless Bluetooth Music Streaming HiFi DAC

Watch it here…

YouTube

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ZEN BLUE BLUETOOTH DAC FROM IFI

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

BAD: nothing

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The Audiophile Man

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iFi-Audio Zen Blue: Hi-res wireless streamer

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.

Best Product.nl

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iFi Audio Zen Blue – Wireless hi-res audio listening

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.

Computer! Totaal

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2 KILLER Audiophile Gifts for Fathers Day!

Watch here:

YouTube

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Good bit of kit.

Very good

Amazon

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IFI ZEN BLUE REVIEW

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

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Headfonia

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Great value way of adding high-quality bluetooth streaming to a hi-fi

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.

Amazon

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Budget IFI ZEN Blue DAC review. Bluetooth no longer sucks?

Watch here:

YouTube

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Quality build and sound.

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..

Amazon

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Excellent quality and very easy to set up

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

Amazon

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Good sound quality and it saved me money!

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.

Amazon

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Review: iFi Zen Blue, A Budget Bluetooth Streaming DAC

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…

Wall of Sound

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iFi ZEN Blue Hi-Res Bluetooth DAC Review

YouTube

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Excellent, as advertised.

Superbly built, lovely quality finish to it. Arrived well packaged, set up in minutes. Sound quality is great, from day one. Exactly as the other reviews.

Amazon

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The best Bluetooth DAC

Want to have the best Bluetooth DAC with $130 budget ??
My definite recommendation is IFI.

Amazon

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Review: iFi Audio Zen DAC and Zen Blue – convenient and inexpensive

“When you consider the Zen DAC, you can’t help but be impressed.”

Bluetooth streaming is always a compromise in quality, but the Zen Blue eliminates the shortcomings to the maximum. It is – again – a very nice audio upgrade at a reasonable price.”

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Home Cinema Magazine

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Distance and quality as advertised.

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.

Amazon

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A hi fi perspective

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.

Amazon

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Ordered this after it received 5* rating on a well-known UK audio site — a well deserved rating!

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!

Amazon

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The iFi Zen Blue has made every device I’ve connected it to sound better

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.

Amazon

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iFi ZEN DAC / Blue

“…if starting this test the goal was to explore the true value of ZEN, the answer is that both devices are a first class opportunity, as for a very reasonable price, one can get an audiophile approach in a price range.”

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av mentor

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iFi Zen Blue Review

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.

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Hifi Chicken

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Great BT DAC

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.

Amazon

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Hifi

Brilliant

Amazon

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ZEN Blue Review

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

Click here to read the full review

Home Cinema Choice

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iFi Zen Blue 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.”

What Hi-Fi?

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Turn your existing Hifi Into a Hi-Res Music Streamer? – iFi Zen Blue Ldac Bluetooth Receiver Review

YouTube

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IFI Blue Zen Receiver

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

Amazon

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iFi Audio Zen Blue Bluetooth DAC Review

“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”

AVforums

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iFi ZEN Blue Review

Read more: ZEN Blue Review

Stereo & Video

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iFi Audio Zen Blue Review – Rhapsody in Blue

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

Top New Review

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Better than you expect

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.

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it works really well

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.

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Great

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

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Well done and well played

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

Amazon

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Perfect solution for listening to streaming services on your stereo

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.

Amazon

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Fantastic unit

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.

Amazon

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Does a great job for the intended purpose and the cost

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.

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The quality

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

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Great Solution for connecting Bluetooth music sources to your existing Hi Fi.

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?

Amazon

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Great product.

No on off switch.

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iFI ZEN DAC / ZEN Blue Streamer – the JVH test

“For those who complain that the Hificlube only writes about ‘impossible dreams’, this is your Zen moment.”

HIFI CLUBE

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iFi Zen Blue HiFi Bluetooth Receiver

“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.”

Axl's Catch Groove

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iFi ZEN Blue

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.

helpforshopping

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Superb on Android, not great with my iPhone

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.

Amazon

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Excellent product

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

Amazon

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Very satisfied.

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.

Amazon

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Works great, sound is much better than 1Mii B06 pro

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

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Synchronize to the first

Good transmission quality

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거치형 DAC 입문기 최강자! ifi Zen DAC / BLUE + iPower (+런칭기념할인)

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iFi Zen Blue review – say no to cables

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…

iiWireviews

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Great sound!

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!

Amazon

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Does what it says it would.

For the price you cannot beat this bluetooth streamer.

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Genial

Todo lo que esperaba

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excellent bluetooth connection

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

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Great Clean Performer!

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

Amazon

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iFi Zen Blue Hi-Res Bluetooth Streamer Review: Wireless can actually sound good

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…

Headphone Dungeon

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iFi Zen Blue Review – What Can Blue Do For You?

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iFi Audio Zen Blue – affordable Bluetooth streaming DAC – review

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iFi Zen Blue HiFi Bluetooth Receiver Desktop DAC/Adapter Review: This Intoxicating Wireless DAC Is A Bargain!

Hi-Fi Trends

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ifi audio Zen Blue review

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iFi audio ZEN BLUE & ZEN DAC Review

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Audiophile Sound From Your Phone To Home Audio System – IFI Zen Blue

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Sound quality is superb!

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!

Amazon

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Fantastic quality for the money.

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.

Amazon

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Incredible cost to performance ratio with one minor gripe

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.

Amazon

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iFi Zen Blue -HI-Res Bluetooth DAC Receiver-Quick Demo and Review of a true Audiophile BT Receiver

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 .

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