Description
iFi Audio ZEN CAN 3 Headphone Amplifier
The unrivalled clarity of the iFi Audio ZEN CAN 3 Headphone Amplifier envelops you with raw, unadulterated emotion.
Hear the crack of a voice, the crescendo of a chorus, the delicate whisper of a piano – every note and nuance is delivered with breathtaking precision.
The ZEN CAN 3 ignites late-night listening sessions with its ability to effortlessly drive headphones – from xMEMS-based IEMs to high-end planars – delivering up to 2,000mW output power through the same Class A circuitry found in our flagship iCAN Phantom.
Isolate yourself from the chaos of the outside world with our all-new analogue EQ-modes, allowing for full immersion during intense gaming and movie marathons.
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Features
Future-Proof Features
The ZEN CAN 3 now supports IEMs using xMEMS, an innovative micro-speaker technology pushing the boundaries of headphone performance.
- Ultra-fast mechanical response, 150 times faster than a typical dynamic driver
- Flat 2° phase response for more accurate sound reproduction
- +/- 1° phase matching for more accurate spatial sound
- Silicon speaker diaphragm, 95 times more rigid than plastic, for reduced speaker break-up and a less muddy midrange
By incorporating the pioneering xMEMS amplification first found in the flagship iDSD Diablo-X, the ZEN CAN 3 can deliver the voltage required for optimal operation of this cutting-edge technology, bringing the power of xMEMS to a whole new audience and ensuring that you are ready for the future as it happens.
Click here to read more about the xMEMS earphones application.
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 iPower2 boasts 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.
Specifications
| Input Voltage | DC | 5V/2.5A |
| AC 100-240V, 50/60Hz | ||
| Analogue Inputs | SE RCA L/R | 2.0V nominal @ 0dBFS, 1MegOhm Zin |
| SE 3.5mm | 1.0V nominal @ 0dBFS, 1 MegOhm Zin | |
| BAL 4.4mm | 4.0V nominal @ 0dBFS, 24kOhm Zin | |
| Max Input Level | SE RCA | 3.8V RMS |
| SE 3.5mm | 1.92V RMS | |
| BAL 4.4mm | 7.4V RMS | |
| Headphone Output Section | ||
| Output Impedance | BAL 4.4mm HP | <2 Ohms |
| SE 6.3mm HP | <1 Ohm | |
| Headphone Output (RMS) | BAL 4.4mm | >11.5V/2,000mW (@ 64 Ohms) |
| SE 6.35mm | >7.2V/1,600mW (@ 32 Ohms) | |
| Headphone Output (Max.) | BAL 4.4mm | >15.1V/385mW (@ 600 Ohms) |
| >6.2V/1,200mW (@ 32 Ohms) | ||
| SE 6.35mm | >7.6V/98mW (@ 600 Ohms) | |
| >7.2V/1,600mW (@ 32 Ohms) | ||
| xMEMS | BAL 4.4mm | >21Vpp, 22 Ohms, 11V DC bias |
| SNR | BAL 4.4mm | ≥125dB (7.3V 4.4mm Input 0dB @ 600 Ohms) |
| SE 6.35mm | ≥122dB (1.9V Input 0dB @ 600 Ohms) | |
| DNR | BAL 4.4mm | ≥119dB(A) @ 0dBFS |
| SE 6.35mm | ≥119dB(A) @ 0dBFS | |
| THD+N | BAL 4.4mm | <0.006% (@ 360 mW/2.4V 16 Ohms) |
| SE 6.35mm | <0.006% (@ 100mW/1.27V 16 Ohms) | |
| Line Output Section | ||
| Output Impedance | <200 Ohms | |
| Output Level | 4Vrms (0dB 200kOhm load) | |
| SNR | ≥125dB (7.3V 4.4mm Input 0dB @ 200kOhm) | |
| DNR | ≥119dB(A) | |
| THD+N | 0.006% (0dB 200kOhm load) | |
| General | ||
| Gain | 0dB, 6dB, 12dB, 18dB | |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz-200kHz (-3dB) | |
| Power Consumption | No Signal | ~5W |
| Max Signal | ~13W | |
| Dimensions | 158x117x35mm (6.2×4.6×1.4”) | |
| Net Weight | 495g (1.09 lbs) | |
| Limited Warranty | 12 months* | |
| * 12 months typical or as permitted/required by local reseller laws. | ||
| **Specifications are subject to change without notice. |
