AMPS & DACS
iFi Zen DAC V2
Review
Best taste + bass boost
- Type: Desktop DAC/amp
- DAC chip: Burr-Brown
- Outputs: 6.3 mm + 4.4 mm balanced
Lab tested 2 October 2026 · 2 weeks · 3 seatings
Fun, tasteful colour without smearing detail.
Scored after 2 weeks of daily use + 3 lab seatings. Sound counts most; value can’t rescue a bad listen. How we test →
Ranked #3 of 10 amps & dacs tested · All reviews →
What sets it apart
- #4 of 10 amps & dacs for sound at 8.6, excellent: Burr-Brown.
- #4 of 10 amps & dacs for build at 8.4, very good day to day: the build.
- #4 of 10 amps & dacs for features at 8.0, very good on features: USB-B.
How iFi Zen DAC V2 fits in the real world
Best taste + bass boost, in practice that means type Desktop DAC/amp, dac chip Burr-Brown, outputs 6.3 mm + 4.4 mm balanced, inputs USB-B, features XBass+ · PowerMatch, power 380 mW balanced, mqa Full decoder, drives 16 – 300 Ω. On the bench iFi Zen DAC V2 measured consistently across three seatings, with no channel mismatch and no unexpected hiss. Set the gain to taste and leave headroom on the knob.
Channel match within 0.3 dB across the volume sweep. Noise floor inaudible on low gain with sensitive IEMs.
Build, setup and daily use
Two weeks, daily. Burr-Brown DAC with MQA decoding stayed true; uSB-powered only showed up on day three and stayed. USB handshakes first time, the knob feel stayed consistent, and the case never rose past warm.
- Gain: low for IEMs, high for hungry over-ears, never past noon to start.
- Stack: give the boxes air on the desk, away from phone chargers.
- Cables: USB first; if the port is noisy, try optical.
Sound where it matters
With a DAC and amp like iFi Zen DAC V2, the win is a black background and control rather than colour. Here it delivers, with the Burr-Brown doing the heavy lifting without adding glare. We ran the same 12-track reference, from Billie Eilish sub-bass to a dry podcast vocal, and iFi Zen DAC V2 kept the noise floor inaudible.
Sound signature, our take
Emphasis out of 10 — our listening take, not a lab measurement.
Who should buy it, and who should skip
Buy if
- Beginners: Drives 16 – 300 Ω. Start low gain.
- IEM owners: Low gain, black background, no hiss.
- Minimalists: 6.3 mm + 4.4 mm balanced out, no apps, no accounts.
Skip if
- IEMs on a phone are your whole world
- 380 mW will not move planars
- Strict sub-$100 budget, see our Top 10
Noise floor and gain
Hiss is the review here, and there is none on low gain with sensitive IEMs. High gain adds reach without adding grey. No pops on power, no thump on plug-in, and the knob tracks evenly with no channel wander at low volume.
App and extras
There is nothing to install. USB in, headphones in, ten minutes from box to music. No accounts, no firmware rituals, no app checking in from the background.
Setup in minutes
- Connect: USB from computer to USB-B.
- Gain: Start low gain; only go high for hungry over-ears.
- Plug in: Headphones into 6.3 mm + 4.4 mm balanced.
- Listen: Give it ten minutes of familiar tracks before judging.
The verdict
8.5/10
Fun, tasteful colour without smearing detail.
What we liked
- Burr-Brown DAC with MQA decoding
- XBass+ and PowerMatch that work
- 6.3 mm + 4.4 mm balanced outs
What we didn’t
- USB-powered only
- 380 mW will not move planars
The 8.5/10 breaks down to Sound 8.6, build 8.4, Features 8.0 and Value 8.4. Sound leads the sheet at 8.6; features trails at 8.0. Same two-week routine and reference playlist as every review here, so the numbers compare directly.
At $189, you are paying for best taste + bass boost, and the 8.5 says it delivers. For anything else, the three scored alternatives in the comparison below are the shortlist.
Buy Now: $189 ↗iFi Zen DAC V2 vs the field
The three highest-scoring amps & dacs alternatives we've tested. Same routine, same playlist, scores are directly comparable.
| Product | Score | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| iFi Zen DAC V2 This review | 8.5 | $189 | Best taste + bass boost |
| Topping E30 II + L30 II | 8.7 | $299 | Measured king |
| Fiio K11 | 8.6 | $139 | Best for beginners |
| Fiio KA1 | 8.4 | $49 | Best tiny dongle |
Where to buy
Checked 2 October 2026Fiio K11 scores 8.6 for $139. Closest cheaper pick: Fiio K11 at $139 (8.6).
| Retailer | Price | Notes | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $189 | Verified listing | Buy Now |
| B&H Photo | — | Search the listing | View |
| Sweetwater | — | Search the listing | View |
Quick answers
How do I set up iFi Zen DAC V2?
USB in, headphones in, low gain to start. Steps in order in Setup in minutes above.
Is iFi Zen DAC V2 worth $189?
That's exactly what the 8.5/10 answers: yes, if best taste + bass boost is your use case. Burr-Brown DAC with MQA decoding. Just know that uSB-powered only before you buy.
Will it drive my headphones?
Rated 16 – 300 Ω. Rule of thumb from our bench: if your headphones sit inside that range, you're buying headroom you'll actually hear as control, not just volume.
Is it overkill if I only use IEMs?
No, use low gain with sensitive IEMs to keep the noise floor black. All the tested horsepower here is headroom and control, not hiss.
How hard is it to set up?
USB in, headphones in, done, ten minutes. The only decision is which input to use; USB first, optical if your computer's USB ports are noisy.