iFi Audio Zen Can is rated
out of
5 by
16.
iFi Audio Zen Can
Headphone Amp
£199
Disabled assistance
All products that are available to purchase on the Richer Sounds website can be delivered free to blind, partially sighted or those with a disability. Find out more
Please contact web after sales for more info.
For delivery of in-store only deals, please contact your local store for more details.
Ts&Cs apply - see our delivery page.
For delivery of in-store only deals, please contact your local store for more details.
Ts&Cs apply - see our delivery page.
Disabled assistance
All products that are available to purchase on the Richer Sounds website can be delivered free to blind, partially sighted or those with a disability. Find out more
Please contact web after sales for more info.
For delivery of in-store only deals, please contact your local store for more details.
Ts&Cs apply - see our delivery page.
For delivery of in-store only deals, please contact your local store for more details.
Ts&Cs apply - see our delivery page.
”If you’re after an affordable injection of clarity and detail for your wired headphones, iFi has it in the Can.” ’What Hi-Fi?’ – 5 Star review.
Maximise your headphones’ potential
With up to 52x more power than your smartphone or laptop’s output, the Zen Can has the power to bring your headphones to life. As well as improving your headphones’ power and dynamics, the Class A amp ensures beautifully smooth and detailed sound. Packed with premium components, such as TDK Class 1 ceramic capacitors and MELF resistors, the Zen Can puts sound first.
Balanced output
With its dedicated outputs, the Zen Can provides your headphones with a dynamic, punchy sound. You can choose between balanced and unbalanced outputs, giving the chance for higher spec headphones with balanced inputs to really shine.
Pump up the bass
Using passive and active components, switchable XBass enhances the bass response. Ideal for bass-light sounding headphones, the XBass setting applies additional bass, while colouring the rest of the sound as little as possible.
Precise headphone pairing, with selectable gain
With four stages of gain control, the Zen Can matches seamlessly with your headphones. By selecting the correct gain, you not only maximise the volume potential but also reduce distortion and maximise the volume control’s sensitivity.
Trio of inputs
With three inputs, it’s not just your laptop that can feed this headphone amp. Choose from 3.5mm, RCA phono and 4.4mm balanced inputs to connect to your computer, home hi-fi and studio mixer or other source.
Use as a professional-grade pre-amp
It’s not just headphones that benefit from this class-leading design. Thanks to its rear-mounted, 4.4mm balanced output, you can also use the Zen Can as a pre-amp with high-end active speakers or home hi-fi. Connect up to your power amp or active speakers and enjoy smooth volume control and three inputs.
Prise open the full potential of your headphones, with the iFi Zen Can.
Maximise your headphones’ potential
With up to 52x more power than your smartphone or laptop’s output, the Zen Can has the power to bring your headphones to life. As well as improving your headphones’ power and dynamics, the Class A amp ensures beautifully smooth and detailed sound. Packed with premium components, such as TDK Class 1 ceramic capacitors and MELF resistors, the Zen Can puts sound first.
Balanced output
With its dedicated outputs, the Zen Can provides your headphones with a dynamic, punchy sound. You can choose between balanced and unbalanced outputs, giving the chance for higher spec headphones with balanced inputs to really shine.
Pump up the bass
Using passive and active components, switchable XBass enhances the bass response. Ideal for bass-light sounding headphones, the XBass setting applies additional bass, while colouring the rest of the sound as little as possible.
Precise headphone pairing, with selectable gain
With four stages of gain control, the Zen Can matches seamlessly with your headphones. By selecting the correct gain, you not only maximise the volume potential but also reduce distortion and maximise the volume control’s sensitivity.
Trio of inputs
With three inputs, it’s not just your laptop that can feed this headphone amp. Choose from 3.5mm, RCA phono and 4.4mm balanced inputs to connect to your computer, home hi-fi and studio mixer or other source.
Use as a professional-grade pre-amp
It’s not just headphones that benefit from this class-leading design. Thanks to its rear-mounted, 4.4mm balanced output, you can also use the Zen Can as a pre-amp with high-end active speakers or home hi-fi. Connect up to your power amp or active speakers and enjoy smooth volume control and three inputs.
Prise open the full potential of your headphones, with the iFi Zen Can.
Connectivity
Analogue Input
3 (3.5mm/4.4mm Balanced/RCA Phono)
Headphone Output
6.35mm/4.4mm (Unbalanced/Balanced)
Pre Output
Yes - Balanced 4.4mm
XLR Balanced Outputs
Yes (4.4mm)
General
Manufacturer's Warranty
1 year
Audio
Frequency Response (Hz)
20 - 20,000
Dimensions
Dimensions WxHxD (mm)
160 x 35 x 117
Weight
Weight (KG)
0.52
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Anonymous from
Excellent sound, very clear
Bought a few days ago, very impressed with the power of this small gadget! Can’t really use anything like full volume, it would blow my head off! Does exactly what I wanted with my headphones but also great with my Triangle active speakers. Staff at Richers were very helpful as usual and talked me through the setup.. wouldn’t get that at Curry’s!!
Date published: 2023-11-25
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Lee Ferris from
Powerful sound
Bought this after finding I needed a headphone amplifier for my Cambridge amp. Was recommended the Zen can by the sales team. It didn't disappoint. Powerful, clear sound. Easy to set up with great features including decibel selection. A must for anyone that need a headphone amplifier.
Date published: 2023-11-09
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Nenp from
Great features, great sound
Finally got around to purchasing a headphone amp. Not disappointed. Neat little unit.
Date published: 2023-03-02
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Big Tabs from
Competent, with Irritating Foible
I have the iFi Zen Can on a 14 day trial. It is going up against an old (1979) Technics SU-7100 integrated amplifier which I have been using as a ‘stand by.’ Source is a modded Arcam Alpha 9 c.d. player for compact discs (if you can remember them…). I do not use E.Q. on the whole when listening to music.
Headphones used include Hifiman Edition XS, Hifiman Sundara Stealth, Philips Fidelio X2HR and Cambridge Audio SE1 IEM.
The adjustable gain is useful as the Edition XS meed power.
The casing/unit feels weighty and solid. It is easy to setup. I gave the unit 24 hours of use before having a serious listen to allow for any placebo ‘burn-in’ period. The casing gets a little warm with use, but not overly so.
I found the XBass and 3D buttons unnecessary as the headphones I use have decent bass and soundstage.
My main issue is that the Single-Ended 6.3mm headphone output is on the right side of the volume pot. Therefore when headphones are plugged in, adjusting the volume is an awkward process if one is Right-Handed ! Poor design.
My other problem is that the sound quality is no better than what I am using already. I was hoping for a distinct improvement, but that has not happened. I have tried various styles of music, and get the same result.
The sound quality is very good, with clean space and minimal intrusions from extraneous hum etc.
Date published: 2023-02-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Anonymous from
A wise investment - great sound.
Having had a week to appreciate the Zen Can, I would happily recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their headphone listening or has an amplifier without a headphone socket (as with my NVA set-up).
The sound is clear, open, and well controlled. It's no longer a case of "it's late so I better use the headphones" - the quality is not far short of listening via the speakers, and allows more 'serious' analytical listening. I can also feed directly from the Rega Fono unit, meaning that the signal path is short and has less 'processing'.
The unit can run a little warm, though - so make sure it has space and be careful what you put on top of it.
Date published: 2022-07-14
Rated 5 out of
5
by
W Cargill from
Premium sound, build and features for a budget
I bought this product around about 2 weeks ago and am extremely happy with it, the amp is extremely well built with the entire chassis being made of aluminium, the build alone could easily could justify a significantly higher price, but even despite that you get a well built extremely clear and powerful amp without spending a fortune, my main recommendation for this product is to buy the IFI Zen DAC V2 as well as this amp, procure a 4.4 pentacon balanced connector and run this amp as a balanced dac amp stack, this sub 300 pound setup will work for a lot of people and in terms of money to sound quality I can say you would be hard pressed to find any combo that is better.
Date published: 2022-06-30
Rated 1 out of
5
by
shu48 from
Feels heavy as casing is metal, but has problems
Seems great for the money but has some problems. Wanting to know if I should exchange, return as faulty or if I can eliminate any of these problems myself. Have been trying to get some advice from Richer Sounds, but just come up against a brick wall. Have also tried to communicate with Ifi and even opened a ticket but no response their either.
It has a crackley volume pot and noise coming through headphones, unless I touch the casing. Have unplugged everything and even plugged in in a different room, as soon I plug the Zen psu into the wall, I get this problem. In addition to this, the 1/4 socket is not mounted to the front panel and is somewhat loose. I don't know if quality has gone downhill since all the rave reviews and 5 star what hifi rating. Nobody wants to give me any information or support with this. It's Sunday today. It will be returned tomorrow for a refund. I won't risk an exchange.
It sound OK. With some stuff, and at lower volumes my NAD sounds better. With some stuff, the Zen Can sounds a little better. The NAD sounds warm, and detailed, where the Zen Can is a little too bright at times. But the Zen is good for hearing detail in the highs. But it's less musical and some instruments sound less realistic. It is more powerful, and doesn't distort if you turn it up a bit, but it doesn't have much soul. Tbf on the Zen, my headphones are strict, and the NAD warms things up. But I'm not keeping something with a loose jack and dodgy volume pot or whatever is the problem. Looks like I won't be getting to the bottom of it.
It would be good value were it not for these issues. But I don't think you want a loose jack connector no matter how low the price. It's a shame because I really like the design of it overall and like the fact it's metal. If they'd told me these problems settle down I'd have kept it. If they'd said they don't have a bad batch, I'd have exchanged it. But there is just silence.
Date published: 2022-06-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
PaulW66 from
iFi Zen Can = VFM
Bought on the recommendation of the salesperson to go with the Sundara headphones. Really good advice. Well built and engineered, feels a well made bit of kit. Sound wise, it knocks the ball out of the park. It is never harsh and seems to suit the Sundaras. In my opinion, money well spent.
Date published: 2022-06-05
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