If you donāt currently hear any difference between the Zen DAC and the Zen Can, with the EQ off, itās hard to see why youād need or how youād benefit from something with even more power. The bass differences with the EQ on are different EQ profiles, nothing to do with āunderpoweringā. Some people are of the opinion you need ridiculous amounts of power for this, well beyond the level you actually listen at becauseā¦ reasons.
You do need to consider headroom, peaks are higher than the average SPL, and if you are using EQ you need to add that boost as well. So the actual number for loudness/power you should be looking at would be quite a bit higher than indicated for the average SPL. I donāt think something with a max power output of 6.42mW as suggested by that chart would be āenoughā. But you donāt necessarily need something with crazy amounts of power for these either.
If you get a balanced cable (I use OpenHeart and FAAEL, $10-15 from AliExpress, they also do 4.4) you will get 3x the power out of the Zen DAC. Also, are you powering the Zen DAC with USB or a discrete 5V power brick? I believe it will give you about 50% more power if you use the discrete power adapter rather than just using USB power.
On the Zen Can you seem get lower distortion on the balanced out, but no power increase. As @Kkk posted, it runs out of current with lower impedance headphones but it would be so loud at this point I donāt think that would be a limiting factor. 3V / 500mW into 18 ohms @92dB/mW would be 119dB, and it looks like it even goes a little higher than that if you split the difference between the 16 and 20 ohms.
If you are using both Iād also use a balanced cable between them. I donāt know, but it is possible that this could also affect the ultimate power output, the balanced in would be double the voltage. Itās probably also cleaner, iFi do recommend using it if you have the output on the DAC.
if your running the Zen DAC v2 feeding balanced into the Zen CAN you can get upto 6.2v input signal.
I like the little ifi Zen stack, use it a lot but I just use it fixed and not in variable modeā¦ Not the last word in power or detail but I enjoy the sound and love that Xbassā¦
Got one of those Openheart balanced cables also, good valueā¦ I make my own cables and even those cost me more lol.
I think thereās a bit of FoMo going on, really any dedicated desktop amp is likely enough to enjoy the XS for a great many people. The Zen gear isnāt the perfect match made in haven for low impedance cans (when coupled also with lightly inefficient drivers) but itās not like itās a horrid sound or your missing out on that much.
Each to their own but I enjoy the XS on all my gear but I like the little Zen stack and my hybrid tube amp the most so far.
As to the cables Iāve ordered from AliExpress right after placing the order for my XS. I expected them to come a few days ago but there is still some delay. One of them is balanced cable to connect Zen DAC to Zen Can, and one is balanced for the headphones.
Yes, exactly. I will definitely share my experience once I got the cables.
And thank you both for helping me fight my FoMo : ) I think I can get calm now : )
Your on the right track my friend, going balanced between dac and amp is a very worthwhile improvement and will allow you to extract the most/best of the iFi Zen stack/headphone/s.
I had the XS and compared them with the Clear Mg, so not the OG Clear but fairly close.
I said a few weeks ago that I didnāt think it was a fair comparison because the Clear Mg is $1500 MSRP vs. $500 for the XS, but the XS punches high above its price point but doesnāt outshine the Clear Mg for me, nor would I expect it to.
The XS has a larger soundstage (although soundstage isnāt as important to me) and I noted how much acoustic guitar sounded crisp and delightful. Ultimately the XS didnāt do anything offensive to my ears but lacked the low end punch the Clears are known for.
I ended up returning them but they are still an easy recommendation assuming you can live with the build quality and drive them properly.
thanks for the reply I mustāve missed that og posting
so seems like a better value than a $900 new og clear
I like low end punch but I can throw it on my zen stack or get something like a lokius for that
might mod the headband if itās an issue
Hmmm well I have the Focal Elex and the Edition XS.
I cannot part either can. Theyāre different animals - I wouldnāt be able to forgo one for another. I think they both compliment each other and are different enough.
I would not directly compare between a pair of Focals and a pair of egg-head Hifimans, or consider either one as to be an alternative of the other.
Focals offer better dynamics, punchiness, are more detailed, sound a bit closed in with a smaller stage yet still encompassing, more intimate in the mids, and overall, just too exciting. Built better too. The Focals are an upgrade to Senn HD6X0 lineup.
The XS would sound laid-back, with some relaxed mids, some missing detail, much wider and open, better timbre. Built a bit worse. The XS is an upgrade to the He4X0 lineup.
So the value for money may be one thing - the sound characteristics is, well, another.
EDIT: Also adding here, the bass is a step up on the Focals. Dynamic drivers still do bass at a different level than planars - the good open back dynamic driver headphones.
Hello everybody, i have one question, after month of use Edition XS, i canāt listen to DT 1770/1990 for long period of time now, so my question is there any closed back alternatives of Edition XS? I need second pair with similar sound signature. In under 500-600 budget.
Maybe i should try Hifiman HE-R7DX or Dekoni blue by Fostex as closed back? I know they are cheap, but i started to believe in new budget hifiman headphonesā¦ or maybe something else to try?
Ahhhhh hahahah yeah now youāre going down the rabbit hole.
Well thank the XS for a near-fatigue free listening experience.
My thoughts here would be - itās hard for closed backs to come close to this kind of an attribute.
Iāve turned my closed to opens, like my EMU Teak is now open back, my M1060C is open too (took off cups from both).
Itās going to be tough to find the right closed-back for longer sessions, if any in the first place.
Letās see if someone else can come up with suggestions. IMHO itās going to be hard to find an closed back like that. No closed backs fit that bill, at least not for me.
Understood, maybe new beyerdynamic DT 700 can provide fatigue free experience? Because edition XS is the first headphones to work with them for 8-9 hours without fatigue
Itās tough for closed backs to do this - thatās why Iāve quit IEMs, for many years now, in favor of earbuds or some apple earpods style earphones. Closed back will always close in the sound and air pressure and cause fatigue. There will be very rare exceptions.
I hope that someone could share thoughts on this but I think Dan Clark Aeon Closed X are very good for long sessions. I initially was about to order them if they were available but then I got into the hype with XS. There was someone on this thread that actually own them and he also ordered XS. He said he will compare them but not sure if I missed it somehow.
Just to clarify that Iāve never actually tested them. Just know that they are extremely comfortable and sound very spacious for a closed back. They are still on my radar as purchase in future (good closed back).
I know itās not going to have a similar sound signature, but a good compliment that you could get for that price, and still be fatigue-free would the Focal Elegia. That can often be found on Adorama for, I think, $399? Someone can correct me if Iāve got that price wrong. But they run it dirt cheap a lot.
The Smsl sh-9 is not balanced. The XLR connector is just there for convenience (and to fool people). You wonāt get any extra power from it.
After ASR measurements Smslās power rating with 3W at 32 Ohm seem to be wrong too. It only measured with 1.7W. Still he says it drives his Ether CX well. (23 Ohm, 92dB)
