iFiAudio Zen CAN Signature Balanced Desk-Fi Headphone Amplifier

Stupidly I, during the pandemic and despite being a loudspeaker lover, decided to "get into headphones." It hasn't gone well - they'll tell you it's cheaper than a two channel rig (objectively true), but won't mention that you'll go through five times the amount of "this didn't work for me" gear and will need at least 3 dedicated sets of >$500 headphones because they all have different flavors. The sweet spot in headphones for me is typically Sennheiser open backs, though I have owned two pretty expensive sets of ZMFs that I just didn't love. I've since backed away from high-end headphones - for me and my musicals tastes, the $500-$700 price point is perfectly fine and the things I can't get from headphones, regardless of price, are the things only speakers can deliver. The headphones I listen to most these days are the Sennheiser HD 660S2, Fiio's FT5 (not enamored with planar magnetics, but I love these), and Fiio FH7 IEMs. I listen predominantly to electronic music, experimental and avant classical, 80s indie rock and post punk, and some metal. I hate jazz, I do not enjoy "audiophile music." I do not believe you can measure your way to the right sound.I've been through a lot of headphone amps during this time including those manufactured by: Schiit (Magnius), Woo Audio, Feliks Audio, Fiio, an Audioquest Dragonfly Black, a Darkvoice (my great love), as well as the headphone outputs of some high quality speaker amps from Rega (my reference speaker amplification of choice) and Primaluna. My unquestioned favorite of all the dedicated headphone amps is the now sadly discontinued iFi Micro IDSD Black Label ($200 at time of purchase) - it has a sweet, smooth sound, is able to drive 300 ohm headphones without any issue, and it is portable! I'm still using it four years later.I recently decided to get off the upgrade train, moving away from boutique headphones, eliminating tubes for the most part (I'll never part with the Darkvoice and I've been on the Decware waitlist for over two years). In my office set-up, where I do most of my headphone listening, I decided to buy one dedicated headphone amp - my only criteria were that it be solid state, have adjustable gain and not be made by Schiit (the Magnius was, by far, the least pleasant sounding headphone amp I have ever owned). Knowing how great the Micro IDSD sounds, I went straight for the Zen Can Signature. The front-end of this system is a TEAC tape deck and an Audiolab CD transport running through a Schiit Bifrost 2 into a Rega Elex-R.No question in my mind, this thing is equivalent to the best headphone gear I've personally owned; at $300 it has been a bullseye. It's versatile, smooth and uncolored (some might say "musical" - I read this as "not overly analytic and hot in the treble," but both my systems tend to slew toward warm and laid-back, proper English hi-fi, so keep this in mind depending on your preferences. All of my headphones sound good out of this amp. The noise floor on the Fiio FH7 is absolutely unforgiving, the lowest gain setting on the Zen Can is dead quiet. The amp sounds as good as the headphone outputs of my reference speaker amps (Primaluna Evo 300 and Rega Elicit Mk 5); I presume unless you have extremely TOTL headphones, you will not hear the limitations of the Zen Can Signature (I'd sold the ZMF Atrium prior to owning the amp, so unfortunately could not listen to it with a flagship headphone and I doubt I ever will).The casework's industrial design is probably not to everyone's taste (I love it, it's futuristic without looking Chord ridiculous). It runs hot, though not tube hot, so beware of placement. I personally doubt you could do better for $300 from any manufacturer. Five stars from me.

Got this amp mainly for the customization it allows. The 4 setting gain you can't find on many. Also like that it's not tied to an app or anything else to use all it's features. I'm using it paired with campfire cascade headphones and it has plenty of power to spare. Build quality is excellent, knob and buttons are smooth and solid. Can't think of any negatives about it.

I did not think it would sound better than my topping amp but it does. I like it.

My NAD M10 has the ESS Saber DAC chip but doesn't have a headphone out' now it does. Unbelievable quality sound. I plan to run the 4.4 out into my Akai MPC1+ for Splicing as the Akai can break any song into Drums Bass Vocals and Melody......unlimited crystal clear signals through the affordable iFi Headphone Can. I will buy one of their DACs now.