iFi ZEN Air DAC 2: A Balanced DAC Upgrade

The iFi ZEN Air DAC 2 exists to fix the weak point in most computer and phone audio: the built-in DAC. It sits between a source and a pair of headphones, converting digital audio with more resolution and driving power than an onboard chip ever will, and it does it for a genuinely low price.

This second-generation model is built around a newly chosen Cirrus Logic DAC, selected specifically for dynamics rather than raw spec-sheet numbers. It decodes PCM up to 384kHz and DSD256, and the amplification stage has been overhauled to add a balanced 4.4mm Pentaconn headphone output alongside the standard 6.3mm jack.

That balanced circuitry is where the real upgrade sits: iFi rates the 4.4mm output at up to 484mW RMS into 64 ohms, up to 300% more drive than the previous ZEN Air DAC. Distortion stays low too, with THD+N rated at 0.0011% on the 6.3mm output and 0.0015% on the balanced 4.4mm.

Two analogue controls on the fascia let you shape the sound without touching software: XBass+ boosts low frequencies for extra weight, and PowerMatch raises gain for harder-to-drive headphones. A new midnight blue finish with a metal fascia and a dedicated power button round out the physical upgrades, and the whole unit weighs just 315g.

Plugged into a laptop for an evening of music, the balanced output gives efficient headphones noticeably more separation than a 3.5mm jack manages. For gaming, the same dynamics that flatter music make footsteps and directional audio easier to place.

The ZEN Air DAC 2 is aimed at anyone who wants a real upgrade over onboard audio without stepping into four-figure territory. Between the new Cirrus Logic DAC, the balanced output, and the added drive power, it covers the fundamentals a desktop DAC needs to get right.