MEASUREMENTS

I measured the iFi ZEN CAN’s and ZEN DAC Signature’s performance with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 As We See It¹). Looking first at the ZEN CAN, I measured two versions. One, labeled “6XX,” with the serial number 5501000735, included equalization for specific Sennheiser headphones. The other, labeled “HFM,” with the serial number 5312001087, included equalization for specific HiFiMan headphones.

Other than the equalization, the two versions of the ZEN CAN measured identically. The maximum gain for unbalanced input signals was 0dB, 6dB, 12dB, or 18dB, as specified, from the single-ended headphone output and 6dB higher in each case from the balanced headphone output. Both the balanced and unbalanced outputs preserved absolute polarity (ie, were noninverting). The unbalanced input impedance of both samples was >400k ohms at 20Hz and 1kHz, dropping to a still high 78k ohms at 20kHz. (I wasn’t able to measure the balanced input impedance, as the Pentaconn adapter cable I bought from Amazon had the wrong gender