Tech Lowdown
HIGH RESOLUTION BLUETOOTH DAC
The ZEN Blue is the world’s first Bluetooth receiver to support all the latest hi-res codecs to deliver the best-quality music streaming from smartphones, tablets, PCs and Macs to any audio system.
Now we present our V2 with a new antenna for even greater reach and the very latest crystal clock system for low jitter.
BLUETOOTH CODEC LEDS
CodecThe colour of the ‘iFi’ logo in the centre of the front display represents the file format received:
Format LEDSBC OffAAC YellowaptX BlueaptX HD MagentaaptX Adaptive GreenaptX LL RedLDAC CyanLHDC/HWA White
BREATHTAKING BLUETOOTH
- Supports all the latest 24-bit/96kHz capable Bluetooth audio formats
- iFi Bluetooth implementation avoids typical 40% quality drop found with standard Bluetooth
- Future codecs can be added ‘over the air’
- ‘Remembers’ up to eight paired Bluetooth source devices
- New aerial gives increased coverage up to 70-80%
- New and improved low jitter clock gives a >20dB better performance
Qualcomm aptX 
Qualcomm aptX HD
INSPIRING IMPLEMENTATION
- A state-of-the-art Qualcomm QCC5100 chip processes the incoming data
- The Qualcomm QCC5100 is a ‘system-on-a-chip’ Bluetooth solution, with all functions covered including D-to-A conversion as used by others BUT…
- …the ZEN Blue only uses the QCC5100 to ‘receive’ the signal…
- …thereafter the signal is sent to the ESS Sabre DAC chip and its Hyperstream architecture with Time Domain Jitter Eliminator deliver vanishingly low distortion and high dynamic range, which is then…
- …fed to the iFi analogue amplifier stage.
- Combined, Bluetooth audio sounds far better than the norm.
THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND BREATHTAKING BLUETOOTH
UPGRADED GMT
- NEW! Upgraded Global Master Timing (GMT) clock circuitry
- Even lower jitter performance
- Improved sonics
BALANCED ANALOGUE STAGE
- Balanced analogue circuitry design
- Outstanding components including C0G capacitors from TDK and a precision low-noise power supply IC from Texas Instruments
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Add high-quality Bluetooth reception to any audio system via user-selectable analogue or digital cable connections.
Analogue connections
- RCA stereo outputs connect to amplifiers, active speakers etc
- 4.4mm Pentaconn output enables balanced signal transfer to amps/speakers equipped with a balanced input - either a 4.4mm input, or XLR input via a 4.4mm-to-XLR cable
Digital connections
- Optical & Coaxial outputs connect to any external DAC, such as an external hi-fi DAC or an AV amp.
CONNECTION GUIDE
*Do not use a power supply higher than 5V
SPECIFICATIONS
| Power | DC 5V |
| Input | Bluetooth 5.0TM with AAC, aptX, aptX HD, AptX Adaptive, LDAC, HWA Codec |
| Output | Optical / Coaxial |
| Audio RCA L/R | |
| 4.4 Balanced Lineout | |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz – 20kHz <+0/-0.5dB (44.1kHz) |
| 1Hz – 44khz <+0/-3.0dB (>= 88.2kHz) | |
| Output Voltage @ 0dBFS | 2.05V (+/-0.05V) |
| Dynamic Range | 109dB (A) |
| Signal/Noise ratio | 109dB (A) @ 0dBFS |
| THD & N @ 0dBFS | < 0.0015% 10k Load |
| Output Impedance | < 50Ω |
| Power Consumption | < 2.5W |
| Dimensions | 158 (l) x 100 (w) x 35 (h) mm |
| Weight | 476g (1.05 lbs) |
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