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In the world of high-quality audio, wired connections are prized. And that makes sense, as that’s what we’ve had for the longest time. However, we cannot ignore the fact that Bluetooth is out there, and that it offers a lot of convenience. Whether you’re looking to get sound from your phone into your audio setup, or beam it out to your headphones, the iFi Zen Blue 3 will cover all the bases.
iFi Zen Blue 3: the wireless goodies
That’s the new hotness here, of course. The iFi Zen Blue 3 can receive a bluetooth input – say, streaming music from your phone. It can also transmit back out, doing something like pushing your vinyl playback out to your Hi-Res bluetooth headphones. It relies on a lossless codec, which means you should be able to experience CD-quality music, even when it’s streamed from your phone.
They’ve also introduced a low-latency switch, which can help keep your audio and video synced. What this means is, if you’re watching a movie or playing a game, it should eliminate any delay. Keeping the audio and video in alignment is key, because you’ll notice – and be bothered by it once you notice it – when the dialogue doesn’t match up with the speaking actions.
But wait, it can also be wired!
That’s right – the iFi Zen Blue 3 does not throw away those trusty wired connections either. Around the back, you’ve got a USB-C connector, as well as optical and coaxial inputs. On the front, you can plug in a RCA connector, or a 4.4mm balanced connector. So, realistically, you could use this as your standard wired DAC, and totally ignore the wireless side. We don’t know why you would, but you could. Frankly, the value here is being able to wire it in to your audio setup, adding in wireless capability (both in and out) while still maintaining fidelity.
Wrapping things up
Now, for the sort-of-bad news: the iFi Zen Blue 3 is not available just yet. It will be released on July 7, 2024. So, not too much longer to wait. When it’s released, you can get it for $299, a $70 premium over the wired-only Zen 3. Check it out, and all the other products, at ifi-audio.com
iFi Zen Blue 3 Tech Specs
