[Mr BubbaHyde]

Well, the 4.4mm connector works just fine with the Shanling, so either the iFi Zen products are out of spec, or both the IEM cable and the Shanling UA3 is out of spec.

Don't know which.

Thanks for letting me know, I do plan on at some point ordering those IEMs (not sure when) but I have looked at many cables such as that as well.

I ended up ordering the full set of Hart Audio Adapters and a few of their headphone cables as well for what I had, I have no issues with any of those.

Keep us updated if you find out anything additional.

Cheers!!

 

[GlenAppleton]

Thanks for letting me know, I do plan on at some point ordering those IEMs (not sure when) but I have looked at many cables such as that as well.

I ended up ordering the full set of Hart Audio Adapters and a few of their headphone cables as well for what I had, I have no issues with any of those.

Keep us updated if you find out anything additional.

Cheers!!

Just sent you a PM with my (limited) views on pairing them with the iFi vs. the Shanling.

 

[omegaorgun]

I hate my Zens Cans crackling potentiometer, gonna sell it, despite loving both the DAC and Can.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I hate my Zens Cans crackling potentiometer, gonna sell it, despite loving both the DAC and Can.

Is it still under warranty? If it is you should open a support ticket and get the issue resolved.

If it's not there is a product I have used forever called DeoxIT D5, which has never failed me with any sliders, or pots on both consumer and professional equipment. Not the cheapest thing in the world but very very effective!

Cheers!!

 

[GlenAppleton]

It's both the DAC and CAN 4.4mm connections, so it may very well be the cable (modular end). I have a Shanling UA3 coming on Saturday that also has a 4.4mm balanced port, so I'll see if it happens on that as well.

Just a follow up... I got a 3rd party 4.4mm (not modular) balanced cable this past weekend, and it has the same exact issue with the Zen 4.4mm connections. So far, 2 out of the 3 4.4mm balanced cables have issues with the Zen connections, but not the Shanling connection. So again, is it the cables that are out of spec / tolerance, or is it the Zen connections?

 

[noneuser]

Does anyone knows if the this original Zen DAC has enough power do drive a Beyer DT990 250Ohm?

 

[noneuser]

Does anyone knows if the this original Zen DAC (not the V2) has enough power do drive a Beyer DT990 250 Ohm?

 

[noneuser]

(sorry, double post )

 

[G-rig]

Does anyone knows if the this original Zen DAC (not the V2) has enough power do drive a Beyer DT990 250 Ohm?

It would be fine to start with, can add an amp later.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Does anyone knows if the this original Zen DAC (not the V2) has enough power do drive a Beyer DT990 250 Ohm?

As @G-rig said it should but you may want more, check out our calculator here for lots of headphones...

https://ifi-audio.com/home/headphone-calculator/

Cheers!!

 

[noneuser]

Thanks! Might add the Zen CAN later. I guess it would be a good match

 

[G-rig]

Thanks! Might add the Zen CAN later. I guess it would be a good match

Yeah those stacks are pretty good, given you like the retro look and form factor. I have the Zen DAC V1, and whilst I have thought about upgrading it is still fine and was only (A$200). Hard to get much else for that except for a D10s or something, but handy having the headphone out on the Zen in case you want to use it as a standalone option at work PC or something.

I added the massdrop AAA789 and sounds great together. Some people may not recommend iFi but the burr brown is still fairly musical/fun.. other options can be too clinical.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Thanks! Might add the Zen CAN later. I guess it would be a good match

I don't think I ever had a headphone or IEM for that matter that didn't work well with the CAN, for the money it is in All honesty one hell of an all-around amp.

Buy from somewhere with a great 30 day no questions asked return policy and you'll be in business!



Cheers!!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Yeah those stacks are pretty good, given you like the retro look and form factor. I have the Zen DAC V1, and whilst I have thought about upgrading it is still fine and was only (A$200). Hard to get much else for that except for a D10s or something, but handy having the headphone out on the Zen in case you want to use it as a standalone option at work PC or something.

I added the massdrop AAA789 and sounds great together. Some people may not recommend iFi but the burr brown is still fairly musical/fun.. other options can be too clinical.

I have loved Burr Brown "sound" for probably 30 years, even when doing op-amp swaps they never fail to give a great sound. It's probably what drew me in to the sound of iFi years ago

The drop amp can suffer from a sterile type sound "lifeless" as some say, but what it is fed plays greatly into that!

Cheers!!

 

[G-rig]

I have loved Burr Brown "sound" for probably 30 years, even when doing op-amp swaps they never fail to give a great sound. It's probably what drew me in to the sound of iFi years ago

The drop amp can suffer from a sterile type sound "lifeless" as some say, but what it is fed plays greatly into that!

Cheers!!

Yeh i used to have a Matrix M-Stage that was a pretty good 'starting-out' offering back in ~2008. It had plenty of grunt, probably not the smoothest.
I'm not over concerned about chasing the perfect combo (this amp with that DAC with these headphones but not those.. lol) but assumed the 789 is good enough quality and power for a general headphone amp. Maybe why i haven't bothered changing the ifi zen dac, as I've also heard it could be too clinical with other DACs like toppings etc. Seems quite good (enough) anyway, got some Drop 6XX coming so that should be interesting (and pair up fine hopefully).

p.s. I got a RME Adi2 FS but that's being utilised in another setup (with RPi4 & Active monitors).