Three compact solutions for modern listening

The new ZEN Air series from iFi Audio is especially appealing for anyone who wants to improve an existing music system without making the move to a large or complicated hifi setup. With the ZEN Air DAC 2, ZEN Air Phono 2 and ZEN Air Blue 2, the range addresses three very common listening situations. One user wants better sound from a computer, laptop, tablet or phone. Another wants a quieter and more accurate phono stage for a turntable. Another wants to add wireless playback to a trusted amplifier or active speaker system without replacing everything. That is exactly where this compact series becomes interesting, because every model has a clear purpose and offers a practical upgrade path for everyday music lovers.

ZEN Air DAC 2 for computer and headphone listening

The ZEN Air DAC 2 is designed for listeners who feel that the standard output of a computer or mobile device is not doing justice to a good pair of headphones or active speakers. This second generation model is built around a Cirrus Logic DAC and supports PCM up to 384 kHz as well as DSD256. The headphone section has also been upgraded with a balanced 4.4 mm output, and iFi Audio states that this output can deliver up to 484 mW RMS. That makes it a strong option for anyone searching for an affordable DAC with headphone amplifier for home, desktop or compact hifi use. XBass+ and PowerMatch are also included, giving the user simple analogue control over low frequency weight and output level for different headphones.

ZEN Air Phono 2 for your turntable

The ZEN Air Phono 2 is made for listeners who want to take vinyl playback more seriously and move beyond the basic phono inputs often found in turntables or amplifiers. A phono stage plays a crucial role because the cartridge signal is very small and needs accurate amplification and equalisation before it can be used properly by the rest of the system. The ZEN Air Phono 2 supports both Moving Magnet and Moving Coil cartridges, which makes it suitable for a wide range of turntable setups and future upgrades. iFi Audio states that its RIAA equalisation is accurate within plus or minus 0.15 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. It also includes an intelligent subsonic filter designed to reduce unwanted low frequency rumble from record warp while retaining bass depth.

ZEN Air Blue 2 for wireless hifi convenience

The ZEN Air Blue 2 is the most obvious choice for users who want to add modern wireless playback to an existing amplifier, receiver or active speaker system. This Bluetooth DAC uses Bluetooth 5.4 and is powered by a Qualcomm QCC3095 chipset. iFi Audio lists support for aptX Lossless, LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC and SBC, making it compatible with a wide range of modern phones, tablets and computers. What makes it more interesting than a simple Bluetooth receiver is the internal architecture. Bluetooth reception, digital to analogue conversion and analogue amplification are handled in separate stages, creating a more considered signal path for home listening. For anyone looking for a lossless Bluetooth DAC for hifi system use, the ZEN Air Blue 2 is a very relevant upgrade.

Which ZEN Air 2 model belongs in your system

Those who mainly listen through a computer and use a capable pair of headphones will probably find the ZEN Air DAC 2 the most direct improvement. Those who want to bring more silence, precision and flexibility to a vinyl collection will be better served by the ZEN Air Phono 2 between turntable and amplifier. Those who mostly stream from a phone or tablet, but still want to keep using a trusted amplifier or speaker system, will likely benefit most from the ZEN Air Blue 2. The strength of the new ZEN Air series is not only that every unit remains compact and accessible, but also that every model solves a clearly recognisable problem. It helps users improve the sources they already enjoy and build a better hifi setup step by step.