ZEN One Signature

ONE to rule your home audio

Only DAC you’ll need (Bluetooth + USB + S/PDIF)

ZEN One Signature

Our ZEN One Signature takes the DAC stage from the ZEN DAC V2, adds S/PDIF inputs (optical and coaxial) alongside the USB port, stirs in Bluetooth technology from the ZEN Blue V2 and seasons the pot with Signature-grade circuit enhancements to create a delicious audio brew.

The result? The ZEN One Signature is a pure DAC (no built-in headphone amp and volume control) that serves as a home audio hub for all your digital devices, from smartphones and tablets to PCs and Macs, disc players and audio servers to TVs and games consoles.

ZEN One Signature from iFi audio

Home Hub DAC

The ZEN One Signature is the first ZEN DAC to support all hi-res: DSD256, PCM384, MQA384kHz, Bluetooth 96KHz.

  • 96kHz Hi-Res Bluetooth: LDACTM, HWA/LHDC, aptX Adaptive/HD/LL, AAC
  • USB audio using 16 Core 2000MIPS XMOS low latency microcontroller (MQA decoder)
  • Fully balanced 4.4mm output

Purity of design, no headphone amp, no volume control. The ultimate DAC for all your home audio sources.

*LDAC and LDAC logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

HD Bluetooth

The next-generation HD Bluetooth technology in the ZEN One Signature ensures the best sound from every source.

Extensive high-definition codec support – aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LDACTM and HWA/LHDC.

High-gain antenna delivers extended Bluetooth range.

You’ll love it.

*LDAC and LDAC logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

ZEN One Signature from iFi audio

Discerning Digital

The ZEN One Signature offers the following to transform home music enjoyment:

  • True Native hi-res DAC – supports 32-bit/384kHz PCM and fully native DSD
  • Powerful 16-core XMOS processor – performs full MQA decoding (to 384kHz)
  • Upgraded GMT femto-precision clock and customised digital filter eradicate jitter and other forms of digital distortion
  • Coaxial S/PDIF digital outputs support 24-bit/192kHz PCM

Awesome Analogue

Balanced circuitry is what the ZEN series is famed for. The ZEN One Signature continues the tradition:

  • Balanced circuit design with Signature-grade circuit components delivers ultra-low distortion and exceptional sonic purity
  • 4mm Balanced and RCA single-ended analogue outputs – connect to an integrated amp, preamp, headphone amp or active speakers
ZEN One Signature from iFi audio

Signature Special

The Signature series always includes extra special additions:

  • Low-jitter femto clock crystal provides >20dB performance
  • 16 Core 2000MIPS XMOS low-latency microcontroller – 4x more processing power
  • C0G capacitors – high-linearity, excellent temperature/frequency characteristics
  • MELF resistors – high-precision and low-noise
  • Taiyo Yuden and Murata inductors – low-impedance power supply rails
  • High-gain antenna for extended range
MQA

Thanks to the XMOS 16 core tech, the ZEN One Signature is an MQA Decoder.

This enables you to play back MQA audio files and streams, delivering the sound of the original master recording. The LED glows green or blue to indicate that the unit is decoding and playing an MQA stream or file, and denotes provenance to ensure that the sound is identical to that of the source material. It glows blue to indicate it is playing an MQA Studio file, which has either been approved in the studio by the artist/producer or has been verified by the copyright owner.

MQA rendering technology (used in the original versions of some other iFi products) connects to an MQA Core signal and completes the final unfold of an MQA file. Core decoding is included in streaming services such as TIDAL, as well as select media players.

DAC (Digital-to-Analogue Converter)

DACs convert digital information, stored or streamed by computers, into music we can hear through speakers or headphones.

Every device that’s a source of digital sound has a built-in DAC (TVs, games consoles, CD players, phones, portable music players etc). Dedicated external DACs sound much better than standard DACs used in digital devices such as phones.

The Burr-Brown True Native® chipset means file formats remain unchanged or ‘bit-perfect’. This means you are listening to music as the artist intended in the format in which it was recorded.

At iFi we use Burr Brown extensively in our products having selected it for its natural-sounding ‘musicality’ and True Native architecture. Our experience with this IC means we know how to make the most of it.

We use Qualcomm’s new QCC5100 Bluetooth processing IC in combination with proprietary circuits to create an audibly superior ‘Bluetooth engine’.

All the current high-definition Bluetooth audio formats are supported – Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive and aptX HD, Sony’s LDACTM and HWA’s LHDC, regular aptX and aptX Low Latency, AAC (Apple iOS devices) and SBC (the ‘plain vanilla’ Bluetooth codec).

Among the 24-bit-capable codecs, aptX HD supports up to 48kHz, whereas aptX Adaptive, LDACTM, and LHDC can reach 96kHz.

iFi’s ‘Bluetooth engine’ can also be updated over-the-air, so future codecs may be added.

*LDAC and LDAC logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated)

MQA is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download. The ZEN One Signature adopts MQA technology to receive and decode MQA audio and provide master-level sound.

Visit mqa.co.uk for more information.

It is a superior method to the traditional single-ended circuit approach. Balanced circuits reduce noise and crosstalk. Less Interference – clearer sound.

You normally find this set-up in products at the higher end of the price spectrum such as the Pro iCAN Signature but iFi is now using this across its range to produce the best quality audio for all our customers.

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.

Vishay MELF resistors – complex, costly but superior.

These metal electrode leadless face resistors have excellent accuracy, stability, reliability, and pulse load capability. They provide optimal power rating and pulse load capability. They show some of the lowest noise and distortion of any resistor available in the market, period.

Panasonic OS-CON caps totaling 5,410uF give very-low Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR), excellent noise reduction capability and frequency response characteristics. In addition, OS-CONs have a long-life span and its ESR changes little even at low temperatures since the electrolyte is solid.

They are not often found in products costing <US$1000.

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.

muRata control-type, low-ESR high-Q multi-layer capacitors. The ‘ESR control’ aspect of the Murata is something special. Their noise suppression abilities are impressive.

We use ELNA Japan Silmic II capacitors for the power supplies.

The primary constituent of the newly developed dielectric is silk fibre. This material was believed as unfathomable as an aluminium electrolytic capacitor. The new material beats silk fibre and mixes it with Manila hemp fibre to provide the dielectric to an aluminium electrolytic capacitor used for high-grade music. The result is second-to-none superior acoustic properties and excellent linearity.

Extensive jitter-eradication technologies are applied to the digital stage, including our GMT (Global Master Timing) femto-precision clock and the intelligent memory buffer.

The low-jitter crystal clock has been updated to provide >20dB better performance

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Hifi Solutions

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Amsterdam
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A10Audio/Room4Music

Amsterdam
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This product is currently out of stock and unavailable.

PowerDC 5V (centre pin +ve)
Digital inputsUSB3.0 Type B (USB2.0 compatible)
S/PDIF (coaxial, TOSLINK optical)
Bluetooth 5.1 (aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, LDAC, LHDC/HWA, AAC and SBC codec)
FormatsPCM
DSD
DXD
MQA
Bluetooth
44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192kHz
2.8/3.1/5.6/6.1/11.3/12.3MHz
352.8/384kHz
Decoder
96kHz
ChipsetBit-Perfect
Qualcomm
DSD & DXD DAC by Burr Brown
QCC 5100 Series
Analogue outputsCoaxial, Audio RCA L/R
4.4 Balanced Lineout
Frequency Response5Hz - 80kHz ±3dB
Outputs4V / 2V max. (BAL/UnBAL)
Output Impedance≤72Ω/36Ω (BAL/UnBAL)
SNR-105dB(A) @ 0dBFS (BAL/UnBAL)
THD + N<0.002% @ 0dBFS (BAL/UnBAL)
Power consumptionNo Signal ~0.7W/Max Signal ~1W
Dimensions158 x 100 x 35 mm
6.2" x 3.9" x 1.4"
Net weight485g
1.1 lbs

“One of the best on the market!” (Review in Hungarian)

“Sensational wireless playback capability, one of the best on the market!”

Andras Rev

(Click name to read original review)

“The ZEN One Signature features a very clear, precise and warm sound signature”

“I like the aesthetic of the ZEN One Signature. It is well built. The ZEN One Signature features a very clear, precise and warm sound signature which is something I really enjoy!”

James Clatworthy

(Click name to read original review)

“One of the best deals I’ve seen in this price range!”

“Continues the iFi sound with a very clean presentation! The details are quite clear but not at all fatiguing. I really like the connection options. The ZEN One Signature is one of the best deals I’ve seen in this price range!”

Matt Coykendall

(Click name to read original review)

Best Value Standalone DAC

“The iFi ZEN One Signature is a wonderful selection for those looking for an inexpensive way to add digital capabilities (including MQA) to their two-channel system.”

HI-FI Trends

(Click name to read original review)

HI-FI Trends’ Best Sounding: iFi Audio ZEN One Signature

“Its ability to capture the essence and emotion of music is exceptional, and it also boasts an impressive range of connections and wireless sound capabilities. It also has USB DAC capability.”

HI-FI Trends

(Click name to read original review)

Best DAC Award 2022 from Headfonia!

“To me, the ZEN One Signature proves itself as a very good home audio device from start to finish. Considering the competitive price and the clean output, I think this is one of the best all-in-one solutions from iFi. You can basically do anything with it. It has all the important features of a modern sole DAC with every possible input and great wireless performance.”

Berkhan - Headfonia

(Click name to read original review)

Product of the Year from SoundStage!

“It pains me to type this as much as it likely pains you to read it, but all I can say is that I think I’m going to buy my review sample.”

Dennis Burger, SoundStage!

(Click name to read original review)

The ZEN One Signature – AV Forum’s Best HiFi Products of 2022

“Another year, another untouchable digital product from iFi. The ZEN One Signature combines a useful spread of connections with a performance that genuinely warrants the term viceless.”

AV Forums

(Click name to read original review)

A very complete solution to listen to your music

“Each element that integrates the circuit helps it to have an excellent performance.

Extremely easy to use!, The sound seemed warm and very clear, you can hear many details of the instruments.

A very complete solution to listen to your music, movies and video games with great clarity, warmth, naturalness and clean sound and impressive ease of use” (translated)

Lorely Music

(Click name to read original review)

“…an absolutely brilliant affordable DAC.”

” Something that the One Signature is extremely effective at is avoiding the ‘etched’ presentation that some DACs generate in the pursuit of detail.

“Everything sounds both tonally correct and usefully detailed but there’s no emphasis on any part of the music that puts undue attention on it.”

“With the linear power supply in particular, the One Signature is capable of performance that is pretty much as good as it gets for the asking price and combining this with the additional flexibility of more inputs makes this an absolutely brilliant affordable DAC.”

Ed Selley, HiFi Critic

(Click name to read original review)

Tremendous!

machina4k

“It’s the best DAC you can buy today! It’s a $349 USD DAC that really sounds like a $1,000 USD DAC, this DAC is tremendous, it has an incredible sound! Tremendous natural sound, balanced, you’re going to hear your music in the purest sense! Sound via Bluetooth with LDAC code is wonderful” (translated)

Click here to watch the full review..

Machina4K

(Click name to read original review)

ZEN One Signature receives an Editors Choice!

“It combines a decent selection of inputs that should cover off most requirements people might have while offering an absolutely exceptional level of performance competitive with anything I’ve heard under £500.”

You can read the full review here..

Ed Selley

(Click name to read original review)

Amigos HiFi review of our ZEN One Signature!

For this price, the ZEN One Signature connected to Roon via USB v.3.0…nothing beats it right now!

The Zen One Signature is a top product at a ridiculous price.

Best DAC for less than €500? Come on, this question has an easy answer, iFi Audio Zen One Signature. Ask me something more difficult. (translated)

You can read the full review here..

Josep Busquets

(Click name to read original review)

Thanks to Vivir Digital for their review!

The ZEN One Signature is aesthetically very nice! I like that it can decode MQA CDs through the optical input! The soundstage is wide, the bass has great presence! I have enjoyed live music more than any DAC I have tried so far!

You can read the full review here..

Vivir Digital

(Click name to read original review)

iFi Audio Zen One Signature Digital-to-Analog Converter

“It pains me to type this as much as it likely pains you to read it, but all I can say is that I think I’m going to buy my review sample. And yes, I know that’s the single most hackneyed way any writer can end a review, but the fact of the matter is that I occasionally review all-analog products, and I need a good DAC that can decode any and all meaningful digital formats.”

“iFi Audio makes the bold claim that this is the only DAC you’ll need. And I can’t speak for all my readers, but in my case that ended up being a true story.”

Find out why Dennis decided to buy the ZEN One Signature by reading the full review.

Dennis Burger

(Click name to read original review)

Best in Class

Let me be unequivocal here; for £350, the One Signature is a bargain, a bobby dazzler, a no brainer, whatever term you wish to use. You get a well judged set of inputs coupled with decoding that is sensationally good; balancing engagement, realism and the means to celebrate good recordings while flattering poor ones. This is the device that affordable amplifiers need in their lives and it is an unquestionable Best in Class.

Ed Selley

(Click name to read original review)

Another amazing appraisal from Headfonics

“With two separate and distinct outputs and four types of inputs you could for certain make the iFi Audio ZEN One Signature the centerpiece of your desktop or home audio setup unless you’re a pro and have a recording studio.”

Louis Gonzalez - Headfonics

(Click name to read original review)

ZEN One Signature by Headfonia

To me, the ZEN One Signature proves itself as a very good home audio device from start to finish. Considering the competitive price and the clean output, I think this is one of the best all-in-one solutions from iFi. You can basically do anything with it. It has all the important features of a modern sole DAC with every possible input and great wireless performance.”

Headfonia - Berkhan

(Click name to read original review)

A Captivating Digital To Analog Converter…

“I have to say; I was quite impressed by the One Signature’s wireless performance. Through this amply resolving system, I didn’t feel like I was missing a lot of detail, nor did I want for a lot of depth or separation.”
“Listening to TIDAL MQA tracks via Roon on the iFi DAC was pure pleasure, as the music just sounded warm, natural, and not overly processed. The somewhat laid-back perspective lets you “hear into” the music instead of assaulting you with a wall of sound, which can be fatiguing after a while.”

HiFi Trends

(Click name to read original review)

Swiss Army Knife of DACs

I have an ifi hip-dac so when I saw this with so many input sources I immediately bought one. I connect via USB and Bluetooth and as the One Signature supports LDAC as does my Samsung tablet and Samsung phone (many newer Android devices should do the same) the result is a high quality Bluetooth audio connections. I principally use Amazon Music Unlimited as my source on both PC / USB and Bluetooth and my very discriminating audio habit is impressed. Very musical and warm, not digital sounding. (I wanted a separate DAC rather than one integrated in an amp as DAC technology evolves.) And it’s a fine value too.

Amazon

(Click name to read original review)

Audio Magic!

We just had to publish this fantastic comment from a happy ZEN One Signature customer.  Thanks for your kind words, Jeff!

“I’m experiencing my Sansui 7070 like never before. Simply put-friggn-excellent audio! This thing never sounded this good! I thought it always did but the Zen One Signature is Audio Magic! Thanks!”

Jeff Patterson

(Click name to read original review)

ZEN One Signature – Universal Converter

Thanks to Davor Šuštić for this review in of the ZEN One Signature.  Sound quality comes out as a 10 – you can’t argue with that!

“…ZEN One Signature is an excellent representative of the category of devices that bring high-quality digital audio signal conversion to analogue to your home music system, both for wired and wireless music playback.”

bug.hr (Croatia)

(Click name to read original review)