iFi ZEN Blue 3 DAC QCC5181 Lossless Bluetooth5.4 Receiving/Transmitting Decoder HiFi Audio Device

iFi ZEN Blue 3 DAC QCC5181 Lossless Bluetooth5.4 Receiving/Transmitting Decoder HiFi Audio Device

Description:
- There are three operating modes: RX (Bluetooth receiver), TX (Bluetooth transmitter), and DAC (wired decoder).
  Bluetooth receive mode (RX): used to receive Bluetooth signals from smart devices and output them to the HiFi system.
  Bluetooth transmit mode (TX): used to transfer audio from a TV, set-top box, game console, or CD player to wireless headphones.
  Decoder Mode (DAC): used for playing high-definition music files through USB and S-PDIF connections.

- Using QCC5181 Bluetooth chip, supporting for Bluetooth 5.4 and aptX Lossless codec with a transmission bit rate of up to 1200kbps, lossless CD quality music can be wirelessly transmitted to high fidelity audio systems. 96kHz Hi-Res Bluetooth reception or transmission can also be achieved through LDACTM and LDHC/HWA codecs. Wide backward compatibility ensures that the device supports the current mainstream Bluetooth codecs on the market: for aptX Lossless, LDACT, LHDC/HWA, aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, and SBC.

- When using the device in TX (Bluetooth transmission) mode, you can use the aptX Low Latency button on the front and switch to low latency mode with one click. The time for sending and receiving audio will be greatly reduced, making the audio and video content more synchronized.

- Adopting HiFi circuit design, it has separate Bluetooth, decoding, and operational amplifier parts. By utilizing the functions of the QCC5181 chipset, combined with a dedicated DAC for ESS Sabre and high fidelity circuit, it outperforms ordinary Bluetooth transmitters and receivers. For HyperStream architecture of the DAC chip integrates a time-domain jitter eliminator, providing zero distortion and high dynamic range.

- A topology structure for audio circuits that completely separates left and right channels. Having numerous Hi-Res audio options, providing balanced circuits and transmission is equally important. Players using balanced audio systems are recommended to choose the 4.4mm balanced line output port to reduce noise and crosstalk in the signal transmission path. While ensuring audio resolution, avoid annoying background noise in the audio. ZEN Blue 3 can be connected to active speakers or amplifiers with volume control through 4.4mm>XLR or other similar balanced connections. It is not recommended to directly insert headphones to avoid device or hearing damage.

- Using an external antenna, the signal quality is good and the coverage range is wide. Please install the antenna before using the device to ensure effective reception and transmission.

- The circuit adopts high-quality components for Panasonic, TDK, TI and muRata. The amplification stage adopts customized "OV" series operational amplifiers with iFi/AMR, which have better performance than commercial chips.

Highlights:
- There are three operating modes: RX (Bluetooth receiver), TX (Bluetooth transmitter), and DAC (wired decoder).
- QCC5181 Bluetooth chip, supports Bluetooth 5.4.
- Can quickly start aptX Low Latency Bluetooth transmission, audio and video synchronization.
- Supports for LDAC and LDHC/HWA, achieving 96kHz Hi-Res audio transmission.
- For ESS Sabre DAC chip and high fidelity circuit.
- External antenna design, good signal quality, wide coverage range.
- Supports for aptX Lossless codec for transmitting lossless CD quality music.
- Balanced 4.4mm line output to reduce signal noise and crosstalk.
- HiFi circuit design, separate Bluetooth, decoding, and operational amplifier parts.

Specification:
- DAC chip set:
  Bluetooth chip: QCC5181
  DSP data signal processor: CT5302
  DAC: ES9023
  Amplifier: MAX97220
- Output voltage:
  Balanced 4.4mm: 4.1Vrms (0dBFS at 1kHz)
  Single-ended RCA: 2.05Vrms (0dBFS at 1kHz)
- Output impedance: ≤102ohms (balanced 4.4mm), ≤51ohms (single-ended RCA)
- SNR: 109dB
- Dynamic range: 109dB (0dBFS at 1kHz) + A
- THD+N: < 0.005% (10k load) at (20Hz-20kHz)
- Frequency response:
  RX (Bluetooth receiving) mode: 20Hz - 41kHz (LDAC)
  TX (Bluetooth transmitting) mode: 20Hz - 42kHz (LDAC)
- DAC (decoder) mode: 20Hz - 42kHz (96kHz at 0dBFS) at USB input; 20Hz - 90kHz (192kHz at 0dBFS) at S-PDIF input
- Power requirement: USB-C or DC5V/≥0.5A (central positive)
- Power consumption: ≤1W
- Product size: 158 x 106 x 35mm
- Net weight: 447g

Digital Input:
- RX (Bluetooth receiving) mode: Bluetooth 5.4
- TX (Bluetooth transmitting) mode: USB, optical fiber, coaxial
- DAC (decoder) mode: USB, optical fiber, coaxial

Analog Input:
- RX (Bluetooth receiving) mode: RCA
- TX (Bluetooth transmitting) mode: RCA

Digital Output:
- RX (Bluetooth receiving) mode: optical fiber, coaxial
- TX (Bluetooth transmitting) mode: Bluetooth 5.4
- DAC (decoder) mode: optical fiber, coaxial

Analog Output:
- RX (Bluetooth receiving) mode: RCA, balanced 4.4mm
- TX (Bluetooth transmitting) mode: RCA, balanced 4.4mm

MAX Supported sampling rate:
- RX (Bluetooth receiving) mode: 96kHz/24bit
- TX (Bluetooth transmitting) mode: 96kHz/24bit
- DAC (decoder) mode: 96kHz/24bit for USB, 192kHz/24bit for S/PDIF

Package Included:
- 1 x ZEN Blue 3
- 1 x USB-A to USB-C Transmission Cable (1.2m)
- 1 x Power Adapter
- 1 x RCA Cable
- 1 x Antenna
- 1 x User Manual