iFi Audio is still pushing boundaries in digital and analogue, with the ZEN range getting a third-generation iteration this year. Having enjoyed the Best of 2022 iFi ZEN DAC 2 and the Highly Recommended ZEN CAN 2, it is time to listen with the ZEN Blue 3 Bluetooth module, which shares the ZEN form factor and footprint as the previous iterations.  The iFi Audio ZEN Blue 3 has the latest aptX Lossless and boasts USB-C input and Bluetooth transmission capabilities.

ZEN Blue 3 with ZEN CAN 3 on the desktop

Design

The iFi Audio ZEN Blue 3 is a high-quality Bluetooth wireless solution that receives and transmits Bluetooth streams. It has a Qualcomm QCC518x chipset supporting a Bluetooth receiver with a discrete (separate) ESS Sabre Hyperstream DAC chipset inside (ES 9023). The DAC supports 96kHz/24Bit audio via USB-C or 192kHz/24Bit audio via SPDIF. This Hyperstream architecture has the ESS Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, which claims to improve dynamic range in a low-distortion environment.

The ZEN Blue 3 ace card is that it can transmit Bluetooth as well. This is good if you do not have a headphone amplifier. You cannot receive and transmit at the same time, and why would you, if you think about it?

The ZEN Blue 3 has Bluetooth 5.4 that can carry the latest aptX Lossless codec, which can carry 1.1 – 1.2Mbps (megabits per second). This is enough to support CD-quality streaming (with some creative crunching). Of course, you’ll need a source (smartphone/tablet) with this capability, so an iPhone will not cut it; some Android phones do. Of course, if you’re transmitting from the Blue 3, you’ll need your headphones to support aptX Lossless if this is your game.  The Blue 3 supports a variety of other Bluetooth codecs, including LDAC (the Bluetooth codec from Sony that can carry 990kbps), aptX HD (576kbps (48 kHz sampling)), and iPhones-only AAC (320kbps).  aptX Adaptive technology is also supported.  This is the Qualcomm codex explainer if you’re confused, like me.

The ZEN Blue 3 can output via Bluetooth transmission, 4.4 balanced or RCA analogue outputs, and an S/PDIF output.

Quality

The ZEN Blue 3 is a lovely piece of kit that builds nicely on the aesthetics of the second-generation ZEN gear. The subtle horizontal styling across the front divides the top and bottom of the facia into two; it is classy and well-thought-out, and the lettering is easy to read with good eyesight. The matt finish on the light grey aluminium chassis has a solid feel.

The centre dial on the front displays the iFi logo in various colours, depending on the audio codec being received (or transmitted).  Next to it is an LED displaying the audio format received, which is either 44.1kHz or >88.2kHz.

At the rear, the Blue 3 has a white Bluetooth antennae.

In the Box

ZEN BLUE 3, power supply USB-A to USB-C Cable, RCA to RCA Cable, Quick Start Card, Warranty Card, iFi Sticker

Specification

Dimensions: 158 x 115 x 35 mm

Weight: 447g

Full details are on the company’s site.

Price: £299.00

Performance

Review Equipment

I’m ‘Bluetoothing’ to the ZEN Blue 3 with a Google Pixel 8 Pro.  In Developer Mode in the Pixel, you can select a preferred Bluetooth codec.  In my case, LDAC is accessible, and I can switch to aptX Adaptive if preferred.  I’m listening with the new iFi Audio ZEN CAN 3 via an iFi Audio 4.4mm balanced analogue output from the Blue 3. I’m using Meze Audio ADVARs, the FiiO FA19s and the Meze Audio 109 Pro.  I’m using the slightly over-the-top Mark Levinson No.5909 luxury wireless headphones.

Physically

Connectivity has been faultless throughout this review process

ZEN Blue 3 receives and transmits aptX HD AUDIO and LDAC from the Pixel 8

The ZEN Blue 3 couldn’t be simpler to set up; just plug it in, and my Pixel finds it immediately. I’m not a fan of the white Bluetooth antenna; it looks a bit cheap and should be black. The short iFi 4.4mm cable is perfect between the two units (see below). The centre codec illuminator is very cool: purple for an aptX Adaptive codex and cyan for an LDAC codex.

It is worth noting that the new two-tone front styling makes the writing a lot easier to read than the white writing on the metallic silver front of the old V2 DAC and CAN; this is very thoughtful.

Connectivity has been faultless throughout this review process.  The power switch does need to be pushed for a second to power things up; the CAN3 needs a brief tap to fire it up.

iFi Audio ZEN CAN 3

…plenty of space and melancholy in Lang Lang’s Liszt, My Piano Hero, Liebensraum

ZEN Blue 3 connected to CAN 3 with 4.4mm iFi balanced cable rear shot

The ZEN CAN 3 came with the ZEN Blue 3 and is an excellent desktop companion at £229. It has the same aesthetics, and the volume control is beautifully smooth. The CAN 3 features the XBass, XSpace, and xMEMS earphone technologies if you have the proper earphones and a balanced output if you have such headphones.

The Blue/CAN 3 combination is articulate and accurate, with plenty of detail in the Meze Audio 109 Pros. I have no complaints at all at this stage.  For example, listening to the beautiful guitar intro to Beck’s Morning (Qobuz 24 bit, 96kHz) is clear, and the bass folds into the track with control.  There’s plenty of space in the 109s.  The same space is in Noah Kahan’s Stick Season (Qobuz 24 bit, 96kHz), though this is a similar type of track, notwithstanding the added pace.  Turning to some classical music to change things up a bit has a similar outcome with plenty of musicality and melancholy in Lang Lang’s Liszt, My Piano Hero, Liebensraum (Qobuz 24 bit, 96kHz).

Blue 3 Tx to Mark Levinson No.5909

The Blue 3 also offers Bluetooth Transmission. I’m not so clear about the advantages of this. I can only imagine you can use this feature if you’re listening to your stereo late at night, or you could connect it to your TV for the same silent viewing without disturbing your family.

Either way, these Mark Levinson No.5909 headphones have their characteristic-rich and full sound, and the Blue 3 does a great job of translating the music to the headphones. I’ve been using desktop Qobuz USB-B (Atlas Mavros cable with GRUN) into a ZEN DAC V2 with RCA out into the Blue 3 and transmitting to the 5909s, but this could easily be an optical output from a TV for some silent headphones listening in a busy house.

The Penguin

This paragraph has been written post-review.

Watching TV with headphones is a fantastic experience in terms of its immersiveness…

Having pondered the Bluetooth transmission and why you would use it, I realised I could take the optical feed from my LG lounge TV, put it in the ZEN Blue 3 and throw the sound to the Mark Levinson No.5909 headphones.  Process-wise, this was simple.  I put the optical signal from the TV to the optical input in the Blue 3 and paired the 5909s after switching the Blue 3 to Tx mode.  The lip sync was out; a play with the Low Latency button on the front panel corrected this problem.  Volume control was simple, with the Blue 3 offering volume control with the input button, a long lean for up and a short one for lower volume; I also used the volume control on the 5909s for comfort. Watching TV with headphones is a fantastic experience in terms of its immersiveness, and The Penguin is a visceral experience.  Plot spoiler for S1 E7: the scene with the kettle boiling is so real; when the door opened, it was so quiet I lept out of my skin, not to mention the beating Sal takes from Oz.

NuPrime 5V Power Dual Supply

ZEN Blue 3 with ZEN CAN 3 with NuPrime 5V linear power supply

…improves the presentation and space in the [Meze Audio] 109 Pros…

I have the dual-output NuPrime LPS 205 5V 2Amp linear power supply on hand.  It is quite expensive (£449), but the improved power supply to both the Blue 3 and CAN 3 improves the presentation and space in the 109 Pros and offers all the detail needed in such circumstances.  I would advocate for a cost uplift in this desktop combination if you have the budget and want more from this iFi Audio solution. As is often the case, you can feel a slightly cramped soundstage when you take a positive upgrade like this away.

Musical Interlude

Here’s the Musical Interlude FiiO FA19 Playlist 

Thoughts

The iFi Audio ZEN Blue 3 is an extremely user-friendly desktop (and other) companion if you need it. In my home, I have a Naim Uniti Star and Naim NAC-N 272 in various rooms, and they both have Bluetooth pairing options anyway. The Marantz CD50n has the same, so I would not really need a Blue 3.  With my Reference iFi Pro iDSD, critical listening excludes Bluetooth with the data optimisation despite the sound being half decent.  I can see a place for a Blue 3; I cannot think anything could be much better than this Blue 3 for its ease of use and resolution. A matching ZEN CAN 3 offers a perfect companion, pitching this combination at a price point significantly below the Chord Electronics Poly/Mojo 2 partnership. However, the MoJo 2 has other advantages, notably proper HiRes credentials (WiFi access). However, the TV experience has opened my eyes to TV watching with headphones.

Overall

Overall, this is an excellent package, especially as I have never considered or experienced the transmission option.  In my position, I would consider purchasing one of these for TV/headphone watching and as part of a combination with the excellent ZEN CAN 3.

Where to Buy

iFi Audio ZEN Blue 3 Balanced Hi-Res Wireless Bluetooth DAC at Future Shop* here

*This is a sponsored link