iFi Audio ZEN CAN 3 Balanced Desktop Headphone Amplifier

iFi Audio ZEN CAN 3 Balanced Desktop Headphone Amplifier

 

Introducing the iFi Audio ZEN CAN 3 Balanced Desktop Headphone Amplifier, where innovation meets premium audio performance. Designed by iFi Audio, renowned for pushing the boundaries of high-fidelity sound, the ZEN CAN 3 sets a new standard in headphone amplification. Engineered with xMEMS micro-speaker technology, it offers unparalleled clarity and precision, making it ideal for audiophiles and enthusiasts alike.

Equipped with two new analogue EQ modes tailored for Gaming and Movies, the ZEN CAN 3 ensures every audio detail is optimised for your preferred entertainment. Movie mode enhances dialogue clarity, while Game mode sharpens low-level sound effects, giving you a competitive edge. With up to 2,000mW of continuous output power, even the most demanding headphones are driven effortlessly, providing an immersive listening experience that transcends expectations.

Beyond its powerful performance, the ZEN CAN 3 boasts a sleek two-tone design with Sunlit Bronze accents, setting it apart from conventional audio equipment. The intuitive smile-like button layout and updated volume meter add a touch of modern elegance to any setup. Crafted using premium components from Panasonic, TDK, Texas Instruments, and muRata, and featuring iFi/AMR’s ‘OV’ series op-amps, this amplifier ensures superior reliability and sound quality.

 

Features

• Two new analogue EQ modes for Gaming and Movies
• Up to 2,000mW continuous output power for hard-to-drive headphones
• Adjustable gain from 0-18dB with +6dB steps for optimal headphone matching
• Two-tone design with Sunlit Bronze hardware
• High-quality parts from Panasonic, TDK, MELF, Texas Instruments, and muRata
• iFi/AMR’s ‘OV’ series op-amps for superior performance

 

Crisp Footsteps. Clear Voices.

Have you ever experienced watching a thrilling scene only to struggle to hear what the characters are saying? This is a frustration shared by many, as streamed content often has dialogue that gets lost amidst background sounds and music.

Enter movie mode, an EQ specifically designed to address the clarity of dialogue in streamed content, enabling you to fully immerse in the narrative without straining to hear or decipher what is being said.

Game mode caters directly to the needs of those constantly seeking any
advantage they can get in competitive play.
Gamers understand the importance of hearing even the faintest sounds that can give away an opponent’s position or signal an approaching threat.

Game mode’s EQ enhances this aspect of gameplay by sharpening subtle, low-level sound effects, ensuring that every sound becomes more distinct and easier to pinpoint. Whether navigating through intense firefights or sneaking up on enemies, this heightened audio sensitivity allows you to stay one step ahead of opponents.

 

Prodigious Power.

With its impressive 2,000mW output power, the ZEN CAN 3 offers a significant upgrade to the way you experience music through headphones, with unprecedented clarity and headroom.

Its ability to handle dynamic peaks with ease means you can experience music as it was meant to be heard – vivid, immersive, and profoundly moving. It means more than just loudness – it’s about feeling the music resonate through you, stirring your soul and creating a connection that transcends mere sound.

Whether its planar magnetic headphones requiring more power to drive accurately, or high-impedance models that need ample current delivery, the ZEN CAN 3 rises to the challenge.

 

Superior Components. Class A Sound.

The ZEN CAN 3 features trickle-down Class A discrete balanced circuitry from our flagship headphone amplifier. Underpinning the circuitry are cherry-picked, premium components from Panasonic, TDK, MELF, Texas Instruments and muRata.

The amplification stage boasts iFi/AMR’s own ‘OV’ (Operationsverstärker) series op-amps, outperforming commercial chips that use low-grade copper and inexpensive aluminium bond-wire.

Performance of the ZEN CAN 3 is optionally upgradable by powering with an ultra-quiet power supply. The SilentPower iPower2boasts performance more than 10 times quieter than other audiophile solutions – ensuring the clarity you crave is never compromised.

 

DSP-Free Purity.

Unlike other audiophile offerings, all the ZEN CAN 3’s features are done with analogue circuitry, as opposed to Digital Signal Processing (DSP), where the audio signal is manipulated before being converted to true analogue sound.

Instead, the ZEN CAN 3 leverages the natural advantages of analogue circuitry: it maintains the integrity of the sound, introduces less phase shift and distortion, and boasts a more natural-sounding adjustment of frequencies.

iFi’s signature analogue bass enhancement, XBass+, is designed to make bass hit harder without compromising the clarity of the midrange – perfect for when you’re listening with IEMs or open-back headphones that lack bass response.

XSpace recreates the expansive soundstage of speakers, transforming headphone listening from confined and ‘inside your head’ to natural and spacious. This technology makes music come alive, offering a concert-like sound experience without losing any detail or resolution – all achieved through the innovative design of our circuitry.

 

xMEMS

xMEMS speaker technology implements both actuation and diaphragm in silicon producing the world’s fastest and most precise speakers for IEMs. With these next-generation speakers, there’s virtually no phase shift and they are close to 150 times faster than regular mechanical drivers. By integrating this technology into the new ZEN CAN 3, listeners can enjoy superior clarity and fidelity during listening sessions to reach a new dimension of audio quality.

 

Refreshed ZEN Design

The ZEN CAN 3 follows the recent design refresh found with other ZEN 3 series products in the iFi range. Its modern two-tone design stands out among the hi-fi ‘black boxes’ while the revised volume meter and Sunlit Bronze hardware adds to a premium look and feel. Finally, the buttons on the front panel are arranged in a smile-like formation which injects character into the ZEN CAN 3.

 

	Sonically superior – richer, deeper. The XBass® analogue bass correction system corrects for the missing headphone/speaker bass response.
	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.
	A Tokyo Cosmos Electric Co. (TOCOS) multi-track potentiometer is used. This has close channel matching tolerance for optimal performance (always use above 11 o’ clock).
	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.
	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.

 

Specification

• Analogue Inputs: Balanced 4.4mm; Single-Ended 3.5mm; RCA
• Analogue Output: Balanced 4.4mm
• Headphone Outputs: Balanced 4.4mm; Single-Ended 6.35mm
• Output Power (RMS): Balanced 2,000mW @ 64Ω; Single-Ended 1,600mW @ 32Ω
• Output Impedance: Balanced <2Ω; Single Ended <1Ω
• THD+N: Balanced/ Single-Ended <0.006%
• XMEMS: >21Vpp (Balanced 4.4mm), 22Ω, 11V DC Bias
• SNR: Balanced >125dB; Single-Ended >122dB
• DNR: Balanced/Single-Ended 119dBA @ 0 dBFS
• Line Output Level: 4Vrms (0dB 200kΩ load)
• Line Output Impedance: <200Ω
• Frequency Response: 10Hz-200kHz (-3dB)
• Dimensions: 158 x 117 x 35mm (6.2 x 4.6 x 1.4”)
• Net Weight: 495g (1.09 lbs)

 

Package Includes

• iFi Audio ZEN CAN 3
• 3.5 to 6.35mm Adapter
• RCA Cable
• Power Adapter
• Instruction Card
• Quick Start Guide

 

About iFi Audio 

iFi Audio is an award-winning audio tech company dedicated to enhancing your music enjoyment. With a mission to improve sound quality and eliminate noise, distortion, and hiss, iFi Audio offers a wide range of products that cater to headphones, speakers, portable audio devices, phones, and TVs. By doing so, they aim to deliver studio-quality audio that allows you to experience music as the artists intended.

Since its establishment in 2012, iFi Audio has been driven by the love of music and a commitment to making a difference in people's lives. With over 50 meticulously designed and manufactured products, they ensure every detail meets their high standards. Sourcing parts from around the world, including Germany, the USA, and Japan, they bring together global expertise to create exceptional audio devices.

At the heart of iFi Audio's business are its customers. They prioritise delivering the highest quality audio wherever you are, whether in the comfort of your home or on the go. Their distribution centre in the USA serves renowned retailers such as B&H and etailz, expanding their global network and reaching more music enthusiasts.

iFi Audio takes pride in its eco-friendly practices, using recyclable materials like aluminium, paper, and recycled plastics for its products and packaging. They strictly adhere to environmental standards, ensuring their components are hazardous toxins-free.

With a focus on Class A analogue circuitry and maintaining the audio signal's integrity, iFi Audio's products offer exceptional performance without compromising environmental sustainability. They believe that how a product looks, performs, and impacts the environment all matter, and they strive to deliver audio solutions that meet these criteria.

Experience the difference of high-quality audio with iFi Audio and immerse yourself in the joy of music.