Audiophilepure

The ZEN CAN 3 is iFi’s 2024 update to the ZEN CAN series. Priced at $229, this dedicated desktop amplifier features a similar Class A circuitry iFi designed for the flagship iCAN Phantom. It comes with XBass+, XSpace, Movie, and Game Modes. Unlike digital DSP adjustments, the ZEN CAN 3’s modes are done within analog circuitry, keeping sound manipulation purely analog. The amp is powerful enough for many cans and IEMs on the market, and we’ll also pair it with the ZEN DAC 3 to evaluate it in this review. Without further ado, here are the specs & highlights of the ZEN CAN 3 below.

Music lovers who want the best system available at any price should audition for this magnificent system. While 40K is not inexpensive, with modular components, you can write checks individually for the components and always step up listening to headphones completely. People who can write the check for the dCS mega system will be rewarded with the best listening system for headphones currently available. None better I know of, on the mark, and this system is future-proof. Every dCS component is upgradeable via firmware, making this a system that will be fresh and exciting years for years to come.

Consider the cost of an investment that will get you off the musical merry-go-round and last a lifetime. Moon Audio’s fantastic cables gave it more air and transparency, and added the final touches to start your listening session. The dCS Lina Master Clock and Bartók APEX is simply breathtaking and in my opinion is worth the money for your long-term enjoyment. A strong contender for our product of the year, I will surely miss this great system when it leaves, but I will always remember the sessions that brought joy to my soul.

It easily redirected all media playback, including Apple Music, Spotify, and even YouTube, through the SR11. Apple Music integration was seamless, with a signal path indicator that ensured sound played through the SR11 instead of my phone speakers.

macOS integration was equally impressive, allowing me to stream not just Apple Music and Spotify but also my FLAC collection from Foobar2000.

However, the SR11 struggled with my mesh network, causing frequent dropouts, though this issue disappeared when I switched to a single access point

The Aegis price starts at $3,499.99 USD and can go up depending on the extra options you go for. It isn’t a cheap amplifier by any means, but it is a very versatile and well-built amplifier as you will see in this review. You can find the Aegis dedicated page here. You can buy the Aegis from ZMF’s shop directly here. The Aegis – according to ZMF – will be shipped within a period of 2 to 5 business days for 120V customers – while all 230/240v units will ship directly from Cayin within ten days. In Europe you can buy the 220V version of Aegis with the obligatory CE Certification for €4.099 Euro from one of ZMF’s dealers. As the Aegis originally is a DIY amplifier, it still is possible to build it yourself. That is unless you have two left hands, like me.