iFi Audio ZEN Blue 3
iFi Audio's Zen Blue 3, successor to the Zen Blue 2, is a high-end Bluetooth receiver. It features a new Bluetooth chip, the QCC5181, the most advanced model in Qualcomm's 5100 series to date. This Bluetooth receiver chip enables it to support high-resolution codecs, SBC, AAC, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptative, aptX HD, LDAC and LHDC for lossless wireless transmission. It is also capable of transmitting streams wirelessly to Bluetooth headphones or earphones.
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iFi Audio's Zen Blue 3, successor to the Zen Blue 2, is a high-end Bluetooth receiver. It features a new Bluetooth chip, the QCC5181, the most advanced model in Qualcomm's 5100 series to date. This Bluetooth receiver chip enables it to support high-resolution codecs : SBC, AAC, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptative, aptX HD, LDAC and LHDC for lossless wireless transmission. It is also capable of transmitting streams wirelessly to Bluetooth headphones or earphones.
Added to this is an ESS ES9023 DAC chip with jitter eliminator, enabling a dynamic range of 112dB, as well as use of the ZEN Blue 3 as a USB DAC (24bit/96kHz). It also features an optical Toslink/coaxial input on 3.5mm jack (24bit 192kHz) and analog stereo RCA. iFi Audio has opted for a balanced circuit with stereo RCA, balanced 4.4mm jack and Toslink/coaxial optical output on 3.5mm jack. Not only does the Zen Blue 3 benefit from numerous technical improvements, it also boasts a new look to match the brand's other devices, and a much more comprehensive control interface on the front panel. All these features make it a device of choice.
iFi Audio's Zen Blue 3 supports the high-definition codecs SBC, AAC, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptative, aptX HD, LDAC and LHDC, thanks to its Bluetooth QCC5181 receiver chip, and is certified HWA (Hi-Res-Wireless Audio). The Zen Blue 3 is therefore able to receive CD-quality sound in wireless transmission (aptX lossless - 1200 kbps).
The Zen Blue 3 can also function as a wired DAC, thanks to its digital/optical inputs and ES9023 DAC chip. It supports 24bit 96kHz PCM streams via its USB input and 24bit 192kHz streams via its optical/SPDIF input via 3.5mm jack.
The Zen Blue 3 incorporates a MAX97220 amplifier chip, a CT5302 DSP and the brand's proprietary OV series OPAs. These OPAs deliver extremely low noise, low distortion (0.0001%) and wide bandwidth. The balanced circuit design also helps reduce noise, crosstalk and interference for a clearer sound.
IFI Audio ZEN Blue 3: a complete interface
1 ON/OFF button 2 Operating mode selection 3 Bluetooth antenna 4 Transmission mode & low latency 5 Brightness and Bluetooth pairing 6 Source selection 7 Display codecs and PCM format 8 Sampling rate kHz LED indication 9 Balanced 4.4mm jack output10 RCA input 11 Optical/SPDIF input on 3.5mm jack 12 DC 5V power supply port 13 RCA output 14 Optical/SPDIF output on 3.5mm jack 15 USB-C input 16 Bluetooth antenna connector
General
Power supply USB-C with DC 5V/≥0.5A
Energy consumption<1W
Dimensions 158 x 115 x 35mm
Net weight 447g
Package
1x iFi Audio Zen Blue 3
1x Pair of RCA interconnect cables
1x USB-A to USB-C
1x Mains adapterProduct typeBluetooth receiverBluetooth chipQCC5181DAC chipES9023DSPCT5302Amplification chipMAX97220OPACustom OV seriesInputsBluetooth
1x USB-C
1x SPDIF/ Optical via 3.5mm jack
1x RCA stereoOutputs1x Stereo RCA line output
1x Balanced line output 4.4mm jack
Bluetooth
Bluetooth standard Bluetooth 5.4
Supported Bluetooth codecs SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Lossless, aptX adaptative, aptX HD, LDAC, LHDC Supported sample rates USB: PCM 24bit 96kHz
Optical/SPDIF 3.5mm jack: PCM 24bit 192kHzOperating modesRX mode: Bluetooth reception
TX mode: Bluetooth transmission
DAC mode: Wired operation Output voltage Balanced 4.4mm jack: 4.1Vrms (0dBFS@1kHz)
RCA: 2.05Vrms (0dBFS@1kHz)Output impedance Balanced 4.4mm jack: ≤ 102Ω
RCA: ≤ 51ΩSNR109dBDNR109dB (0dBFS @ 1kHz) +ATHD+N< 0.005% (10Kohm de charge @20-20kHz)