ZEN Air CAN

Clear Air.

The ZEN Air CAN is a powerful, hi-res home analogue amplifier that provides greater headphone enjoyment with any analogue source such as your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet, streamer or TV.

Key Features at a Glance

• Powerful Analogue Amplifier: Enhances headphone performance with improved clarity and volume from any analogue source, including PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet, or TV.

• Three Adjustable Gain Levels: Choose from 0dB, 9dB, and 18dB gain settings to match the sensitivity of your headphones or IEMs for optimal sound.

• S-Balanced Technology: Features both a 6.3mm single-ended socket and a 4.4mm S-Balanced socket for reduced noise and crosstalk, even with non-balanced headphones.

• XBass and XSpace Enhancements:

  • XBass: Adds depth and impact to bass frequencies.
  • XSpace: Expands soundstage for a live-concert feel.

• High-Performance Components:

  • Custom OV Series Operational Amplifier for ultra-low noise and distortion.
  • TDK C0G Class 1 Ceramic Capacitors for high stability and frequency-constant capacitance.
  • Texas Instruments Low-Noise ICs for superior bandwidth and output drive capability.

• Wide Compatibility: Works seamlessly with a variety of headphones, IEMs, and analogue sources.

• Hi-Res Audio Performance: Delivers detailed and immersive sound with minimal distortion (THD & N: 0.005%).

• Compact and Durable Design: Lightweight yet robust construction, designed for long-term use.

Amp it up

The ZEN Air CAN is an amplifier pure and simple. It simply takes an input signal from a source such as those mentioned above and creates a larger copy of the original signal before it’s sent to your headphones.

Think about listening to sound with your hands over your ears and then removing them!  Adding the ZEN Air CAN into your system is a little like that – back comes clarity of sound as well as volume.

Lots to gain…

The ZEN Air CAN comes with three gain settings so that it works well with every pair of headphones or in-ear monitors (also known as IEMs).

What is gain? Gain in audio terms refers to an amplifier’s ability to increase the amplitude (size) of the signal from the source (input) to the headphones or speakers (output).  More gain equals a stronger signal.

You will need to adjust the gain depending on the sensitivity of the headphones or iEMs you are using. For example, highly sensitive headphones need lower gain.

Play around with the settings. Trust your ears.

eSpecially for you

The ZEN Air CAN has two different headphone sockets – 6.3mm single-ended and 4.4mm S-Balanced.

There are basically two types of headphone – single-ended and balanced. In a nutshell, single-ended is the most common but the balanced option is often considered the better as it offers more power and control of the headphones.

At iFi, we know not everyone has balanced headphones, so we’ve created our S-Balanced technology. This gives you all the benefits of a balanced connection – lower noise, less crosstalk – but without the need for balanced headphones.

Sonic tailoring

The ZEN Air CAN boasts a couple of sonic tweaks, unique to iFi.

• XBass is analogue bass boost. In other words, it extends the bass response to suit different headphones.
• XSpace is an analogue headphone spatialiser. This opens up your music to give you the spaciousness of a live-concert atmosphere.

Technology Features

• As with many other iFi audio products, we’ve incorporated a custom OV Series operational-amplifier. This top-notch component contributes to the extremely low noise, low distortion (0.0001%) and wide bandwidth.
• TDK C0G (Class 1 ceramic) capacitors offer high stability and low losses for resonant circuit applications.
  Getting ever closer to the theoretical ideal of pure, frequency-constant capacitance, these capacitors reduce capacitor-induced distortion to vanishingly low levels.
  They are pricey but are a perfect addition to our products.
• Texas Instruments low-noise ICs offer great unity-gain bandwidth, very low noise and distortion, high output drive capability, Common-mode and Power Supply Rejection Ratios of over 100 dB, wide maximum-output-swing bandwidths and high slew rates.

In The Box

• iFi ZEN Air CAN Headphone Amplifier
• USB Power Cable
• Quick Start Guide
• iFi Warranty

Specifications

FAQ

• What is the ZEN Air CAN?
  The ZEN Air CAN is a powerful home analog headphone amplifier that enhances the clarity, detail, and volume of sound from any analog source, such as PCs, smartphones, tablets, or TVs.

• Who is the ZEN Air CAN designed for?
  It's perfect for audiophiles, music lovers, and anyone who wants to elevate their headphone listening experience, whether using high-sensitivity in-ear monitors (IEMs) or more demanding full-sized headphones.

• What makes the ZEN Air CAN unique?
  It features iFi's proprietary S-Balanced technology for reduced noise and crosstalk, adjustable gain levels to match any headphones, and analog sound enhancements like XBass and XSpace.

• How does the ZEN Air CAN improve sound quality?
  It amplifies the input signal, providing greater clarity, volume, and depth. The analog enhancements (XBass and XSpace) further tailor the sound to enhance bass impact or create a spacious, live-concert feel.

• What is "gain," and why does it matter?
  Gain refers to the amplifier’s ability to increase the signal's amplitude. The ZEN Air CAN has three gain levels (0dB, 9dB, and 18dB) to match the sensitivity of different headphones or IEMs, ensuring optimal sound without distortion.

• What is S-Balanced technology?
  S-Balanced technology allows single-ended headphones to benefit from the reduced noise and crosstalk typically associated with balanced connections, even if the headphones are not balanced.

• What headphone connections does the ZEN Air CAN offer?

  • A 6.3mm single-ended socket for most headphones.
  • A 4.4mm S-Balanced socket for headphones that support balanced output.

• Can I use the ZEN Air CAN with my existing equipment?
  Yes, it is compatible with a variety of analog sources, including PCs, Macs, smartphones, tablets, TVs, and more. It accepts RCA and 3.5mm inputs