The Zen Can by Ifi Audio is a headphone amplifier working in pure class A. Fully dedicated to this olny function, it has a fully analog headphone amplification circuit and is connected to your sources via 4.4mm jack connector (balanced), 3.5 jack mm and RCA (single-ended).

While looking a lot like the ZEN DAC from the same manufacturer - which is also equipped with a headphone amplifier function - the ZEN CAN stands out radically with a balanced / dual mono circuit in discrete components able to deliver a voltage up to 15V under 600 Ohms / balanced. In other words, the ZEN CAN is aimed at audiophiles who want to make sure once and for all that their audio installation is capable of driving all possible types of headphones, without distinction of power requirements or architecture (balanced/ single-ended).

Oversized power capabilities

IFI Audio ZEN CAN output stage has no less than four operational amplifiers mounted in FET mode (OV4627) working in a balanced / dual mono low impedance circuit. This allows the ZEN CAN to deliver formidable power to effortlessly drive the most difficult headset with a minimal distortion rate:

IFi Audio Circuit & features

In addition to the volume adjustable via a large and easy-to-access rotary potentiometer on the front, the ZEN CAN offers the full range of processing and correction tools developed by Ifi Audio in order to offer the best audio reproduction. XBass function, already present on devices like the Nano iCan which is designed to emphasize the low frequencies with a warmer reproduction while avoiding overloading the overall tonal balance.

It also features the 3D function, appreciated for increasing the impression of front / rear depth in the perception of sound spatialization.

Finally, the controls on the front panel allow the user to select the active input as well as to adjust the input stage gain (6dB; 12dB; 18dB; 24dB balanced / 0dB; 6dB; 12dB; 18dB unbalanced).

All treatment options can be activated and deactivated individually with ease using a menu (physical buttons) on the front panel. A microcontroller integrated into the circuit ensures that the activation and deactivation of treatments, as well as the passage from one input to another, is done silently and without any perceptible interference.

A final 200 Ohm (balanced) line output also connects the Zen Can to a power amplifier in order to allow many integration scenarios.