iFi Audio ZEN CAN Signature 6XX Analogue Headphone Amplifier

ZEN CAN Signature 6XX by iFi Audio is an enhanced redesign of the original ZEN CAN, their all-analogue headphone amplifier, which boasted the ability to drive tough headphone loads, a balanced circuit design, vanishingly low levels of distortion and versatile sonic tailoring.

ZEN CAN Signature 6XX takes all this to another level. It further improves the sound quality with enhanced circuit design, whilst maintaining the versatile features of the regular version and adding something special – a custom EQ setting precisely tailored across the entire frequency response curve.

This new feature, called ActivEQ, combines active and passive components to create a specific EQ curve to suit the ‘MassDrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX’, which are a hugely popular pair of high-quality headphones with more than 120,000 sold to date, based on the Sennheiser HD 650 and created exclusively for Drop.com.

These headphones are renowned for the quality of their midrange performance but exhibit some quirks in the bass and treble regions, which can be seen in frequency response measurements.

When the ‘HD 6XX’ button is pressed, ZEN CAN Signature 6XX calibrates its signal to complement the headphone’s response characteristics right across the frequency range, thus tailoring its performance to precisely fit the HD 6XX like a made-to-measure suit.

What’s more, the benefits of this ActivEQ curve are equally applicable to the Sennheiser HD 650, which shares the same characteristics. It also has a positive effect on other Sennheiser models. The feature can be switched on or off. Without ActivEQ engaged, the ZEN CAN Signature 6XX’s performance is adroitly balanced to make the most of all manner of headphones and in-ear monitors.

Four gain settings in six dB steps – 0dB, 6dB, 12dB and 18db - enable the amp to precisely suit the connected headphones. Unity gain (0dB) is useful to ensure low noise with sensitive in-ear monitors, while the higher gain settings make the most of tougher headphone loads, delivering excellent dynamic headroom.

The XSpace analogue processing mode compensates for the ‘in-head localisation’ effect that can occur when using headphones to listen to music that was mixed using a pair of speakers. It widens the headphone soundstage to deliver a more spacious and speaker-like experience.

The circuitry of ZEN CAN Signature 6XX is a balanced, symmetrical dual-mono design, usually reserved for high-end headphone amps, with a number of key elements trickled down from the discrete Class A circuitry developed for the iFi Audio flagship headphone amplifier, the Pro iCAN.

Key components have been upgraded to enhance performance in line with the improvements made to the ZEN CAN Signature 6XX, including the use of Panasonic OS-CON and Elna Silmic II capacitors.

Delivering ultra-low distortion, rich sonic detail, engaging dynamics and the ability to drive all manner of headphones with ease, the ZEN CAN Signature 6XX is a truly a driving force to be reckoned with.

Features

• High-power, all-analogue headphone amplifier.
• Fully balanced, symmetrical dual-mono design.
• Custom HD6XX EQ setting.
• Four gain settings.
• XSpace analogue audio processing.
• Up to 52x more powerful than laptop headphone amps.

Specifications

• RCA: 3.5 mm (SE), 4.4 mm (BAL)
• Headphone Output: 6.35 mm, 4.4 mm
• Gain: 0 dB, 6 dB, 12 dB, 18 dB adjust
• THD+N (A-Weighting): 0.0066% (BAL), 0.0058% (SE)
• Headphone Out: 0.25 ohms (SE), 0.5 ohms (BAL)
• Balanced Line Out: 200 ohms
• SNR: 122 dB (BAL)
• Dynamic Range: -122 dB (BAL)
• Frequency Response: (-3dB): 10 Hz – 200 kHz
• Function Button: HD6XX adaption and/or XSpace Bypass
• IMD: 0.01%
• Max Output (16 ohms): 3.0 V / 600 mW (BAL), 4.0 V / 1000 mW (SE)
• Max Output (300 ohms): 5.1 V / 756 mW (BAL), 7.6 V / 196 mW (SE)
• Max Output (600 ohms): 15.2 V / 385 mW (BAL), 7.6 V / 98 mW (SE)
• Max Power Consumption: 13 W / 2.6A
• Dimensions: 117 x 100 x 30 mm
• Weight: 0.85 kg

More Information

• iFi Audio ZEN CAN Signature 6XX Headphone Amplifier