iFi ZEN Blue V2 – HiFi Bluetooth 5.0 Receiver Desktop DAC for Streaming Music to any powered speaker, A/V Receiver, Amplifier – Outputs – Optical/Coaxial/SPDIF/BRCA / 4.4 Balanced (UK Version)
| Dimensions: | 1 x 1 x 1 cm; 800 Grams |
| Manufacture: | Abbingdon Music Research |
| Reference: | ZENBLUE |
It’s good. The quality of listening to Spotify via this Bluetooth device is much better than using the built in Bluetooth module in my amp. I bought it before I got my new amp amp so technically don’t need it anymore, but as with many components in amps, they’re nowhere near as good as dedicated separate devices (E.g. phono stages etc), so I’m glad I have it and the corresponding improvement in audio quality. The DAC in this is pretty good and there’s a noticeable difference in listening quality when using Spotify from my iPad. I’m not 100% sure of the design (I think it might date a bit, though I’m sure some will like it), I wish it was simpler looking and a bit more elegant, and the female voice that announces you’re connected freaks me out every time I hear her but I bought it as it was one of the most respected in this price range.
Doesn’t have the edge on cd’s and vinyl for audio quality (in my set up at least, which is made up from high quality mid price separates – not quite audiophile level, but respectable), but still very good and recommended.
Easy to setup out of the box, easy to pair devices and upgrade to the latest firmware
I like the convenience of streaming music and would not describe myself as an audiophile but I do like decent sound. I’d been listening to Amazon music hd via an iPhone connected to the usb of my Marantz CD 6003 player. This was a significant improvement on the flat sound through the echo dot plugged in to my 20 year old teac amp. I bought the Ifi blue after reading reviews and was a little suspicious after researching the subject of codecs and AAC not being great from iPhones and set myself up to anticipate that I’d wasted 135 (bought from Richer Sounds). I think I took the plunge because I’d also bought a new pair of q acoustics 3030is recently (amazing sound with rich deep bass) and just wanted something that I thought would do them more justice. The Ifi was simplicity itself to set up and when I played music from my iPhone 13 via Bluetooth I was blown away. I really could not tell the difference between cd and the Ifi. I even flitted between sources to see if I could tell and I really couldn’t. It was, in my opinion, much better than the hardwired iPhone connection. It sounded more muscular and detailed. For good measure the range seems really good. I hung the washing in the garden and went up to the third floor of my house and the connection remained as rock solid as the build quality. A really great bit of kit and to my taste looks pretty good too. But ultimately the streamed music just sounds so much better.incredibly better. It genuinely brings a smile to my face.
Excellent piece of kit if you like good sound quality (has to be LDAC or sound not close enough to Hi-Fi) and don’t want to spend 500 on something like a Bluesound node2i. I use this for a bedroom system and link my Samsung S21, more than happy with Tidal and the LDAC connection from phone to device. sound quality. I believe there is a plastic case, shorter range version for 100, this device is a no brainer.
Easy to set up once the correct length cables are ordered separately.
I used the Optical out to a Beresford DAC.
The RCA Analogue outs work equally well direct to a Naim preamp.
Have previously been using Chromecast Audio.
No issues so far.
Excellent piece of kit.
Wanted to update my traditional separates hi-fi system to hi Res Bluetooth music, so researched the subject and this unit came up as the best in class and boy it does sound very good indeed..My Pixel 4a 5g connects using LDAC 96KHZ hi bit rate to the device and streaming using Tidal Master and Dolby Atmos tracks are exemplary..Highly recommended..
I have slotted this into my Arcam/Kef system. I did also purchase some decent interconnects for 50. The supplied cables are not very good. The end result is out-stripping many CDs for depth and space. A wonderful piece of equipment.
Sound quality from pc through this box to amp then speaker is excellent – no quality appears to be lost. The box is small enough to be inconspicuous on my CD player. Very easy to set up and use by us and friends who wish to use their phones to play music.
I expected good after reading the reviews, but wow!!!
Simple to set up, works with just about any type of Bluetooth, pairs with your gear very easily and quickly.
Oh and it has switchable audio out or a choice of digital outs (coaxial or optical) fantastic.
Small but sturdy, does exactly what you would expect/hope it would do, and sounds great!!
I have been thinking of adding a way of streaming music to my amplifier (used mainly for vinyl) and decided on this unit after looking at reviews. So far I have been nothing but impressed with the sound quality and ease of use. Great little piece of kit.
Sounds amazing going into my Ifi Zen can 6xx amp and way better than my Topping Dx3 pro that i was using as a bluetooth dac before getting this. A bit dissapointing that they have since released this with a seperate dac that i would have suited me more.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09MM3CNZ5?ref=myi_title_dp
Easy to set up and sounds very good for the price. Now able to play my iPhone through my Hi-Fi system. Seems very well made.
Only had this product a week but works really well and looks good.
Not too large (physically), and a good dynamic sound with better quality recordings. You can hear the difference between MP3 & wma/flac easily.
Excellent product, If you need to add bluetooth to your hi-fi system look no further! This little gem will not disappoint.
Overall I can’t fault it and it has revitalised an old hifi which is great. Good job IFI – you have produced a lovely quality item that works well at a price point that is entirely reasonable.
It just works! Easy to connect to and great range to the connectivity to produce cd quality sound. I can walk into different rooms and it doesn’t drop a beat and my walls are solid brick. Well worth the money.
Very good product. It connected to my phone very quickly.. it hasn’t lost signal so and appears to be very well made, with a nice weight to it. I would certainly recommend.
Super easy to install and the sound is brilliant.
Highly recommended.
Very easy to set up and sound quality is superb
A great streaming DAC with all the convenience of Bluetooth. Very easy to use with my set up, streaming from an iphone and connected to my Cambridge Audio amp via the digital output / coaxial cable. Works brilliantly with Amazon Music HD and Spotify. Recommended.
Quality product, great sound,works great with my av amp,as my hifi av amp didn’t have bluetooth, really useful item to have,all good.
Pairing is instant and trouble free. The sound is really good. I’ve been feeding my laptop’s audio to my Hi-fi through a 3.5mm to RCA cable for a long time. Now no need for that cable and the audio seems clearer and better quality.
Very pleased – cheaper than a streaming device too.
Both versions sound excellent, but the Blue 2 does have a smoother treble, and a more open, detailed sound. I compared both using an ifi Zen Can, using a balanced connection, and listened mostly with Sennheiser HD580, again in balanced mode.
Both versions of Zen Blue paired flawlessly with iPad, iPhone, and a Sony Digital player, with no loss of signal. Build quality is excellent.
Blue 2 is well worth the money imho.