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Fulfilling the wishes of true audiophiles, iFi has announced two stellar additions to advance the listening experience – the innovative Zen Blue 3 digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and Zen Can 3 headphone amp. Emphasizing a holistic approach to wireless audio transmission, the Zen Blue 3 stands out as the first DAC capable of both transmitting and receiving lossless audio, whereas the Zen Can 3 brings xMEMS solid-state drivers for unmatched sound precision to the table.
Zen Blue 3: Superiority in Streaming
The Zen Blue 3 asserts itself as an extraordinary addition in the world of portable DACs with innovations like Bluetooth 5.4 and aptX Lossless with the adept magnification of the aptX Adaptive codec. iFi ensures Hi-Res audio up to 96kHz via LDAC and LDHC/HWA codecs. Not just limited to audio transmission, Wi-Fi 6 makes streaming hi-res audio directly to your headphones or earbuds possible.
Seeking to revolutionize the viewer/gamer experience, the Zen Blue 3 offers a low latency mode to offset any lag experienced during video streaming or gameplay. This resolves the irritating synchronization issues of audio and video that can mar a user's experience.
The Zen Blue 3 is more than just its wireless capabilities – it functions flawlessly as a traditional wired DAC, accommodating USB-C and S/PDIF inputs along with a balanced line out. iFi reiterates that it did not employ a purchased system-on-a-chip, they utilized distinctly sourced Bluetooth, DAC, and Op-Amp chips instead. This attention to detail particularly stands out in the amplification stage, where iFi employs its ‘OV’ series op-amp that outperforms many commercial chips created with lower-quality copper and inexpensive aluminum bond-wire. The impressive Zen Blue 3 is now available for purchase at $299.
Zen Can 3: xMEMS Headphone Amp
The Zen Can 3 headphone amp owes its crown feature to the inclusion of the high-performance xMEMS speaker technology. This technology demonstrates speedy performance that's close to 150 times faster compared to traditional drivers on compatible hardware. On top of that, it's power output has improved significantly, churning out a whopping 2,000mW of continuous power to run virtually all wired headphones.
For gaming enthusiasts and movie buffs, the Zen Can 3 offers two exclusive audio modes. The gaming mode accentuates background sounds for a heightened sense of immersion, while the movie mode enhances dialogue clarity. Similar to the Zen Blue 3, Zen Can 3's circuitry draws from various suppliers and uses iFi's own OV op-amps for that extra wow factor. The Zen Can 3 can be procured right now from iFi's official site for $229.
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