iFi ZEN Blue | Desktop Bluetooth Streamer
Our Take
The iFi Zen Blue combines easy setup with excellent performance in a wireless streamer. While it won't provide the lossless delivery of some higher end Bluetooth streamers, it provides incredible quality and resolution at a low price. You can read more about the Zen Blue in our iFi Zen CAN Review. Learn how to setup ZEN Blue here: https://youtu.be/l-aKrJ-iwQE |
From iFi Audio
You only achieve true ZEN when totally chilled. We’ve given you peace of mind (and pocket) with the ZEN Blue. Whether you’re a Spotify, Amazon or Apple Music lover or totally prefer Tidal, the ZEN Blue will deliver fabulously flawless music to suit your mood via breathtaking hi-res Bluetooth®.
All current and future Bluetooth® audio formats are supported. This includes Qualcomm’s aptX and aptX HD, LDAC and HWA, hi-res Bluetooth® codecs created by Sony and Huawei respectively, AAC, Apple’s favoured format and SBC, the standard Bluetooth® codec. Phew! This means every possible source device is covered, at the highest resolution Bluetooth® specification.
Have utter confidence in the sound quality of the ZEN Blue. It uses Bluetooth5.0®, the very latest version, and the newest Qualcomm 5100 chip to process all incoming Bluetooth® data. There ESS Sabre DAC chip is there to ensure an extremely smooth digital to analogue conversion. Banish standard ‘Bluetooth Blues’ with the iFi hi-res implementation.
Chill with the best of both worlds. Analogue – connect via RCA to amps or active speakers or via the 4.4mm output to amps/speakers with a balanced input. Digital – use the optical and coaxial connections to connect to anything with a built-in DAC and corresponding digital input; your TV, an AV amp or an external DAC in your hi-fi set-up.
The analogue output stage is balanced, not normaaly seen in DACs at this price point. Balanced means less noise interference/crosstalk. This equals more ZEN in our book. It has RCA and balanced outputs at HiFi standard level; 2V SE and 4V BAL and thus is compatible with both HiFi and Pro systems. All underpinned by high-quality circuit components such as C0G capacitors from TDK. All fed by a precision low-noise power supply from Texas Instruments to make this a rare entry-priced beast. Go and grab yourself one today. And ZEN out…

Specs
Power: | DC 5V |
Input: | Bluetooth 5.0TM with AAC, aptX, aptX HD, 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) |
I wanted to connect Pandora's phone app to a vintage Cambridge SoundWorks desktop FM radio and CD player, but wasn't sure how to do it. After a lot of research on the subject I pulled the trigger and purchased the iFi ZEN Bluetooth streamer. Hooked it up, connected via Bluetooth to my phone, and voila! Music! I was impressed - audio quality was superb! I mean, really good! At least as good as a factory CD. Have had zero issues - it just plain does what it's supposed to do, which is connect the phone to the Radio/CD player and sound terrific. Fair price, too!