ZEN BLUE 3

DAC

The wired world is changing. Where once cables were king, Bluetooth audio is now carving out a place for itself, and with the advent of Lossless Bluetooth audio, the gap between wired and wireless audiophile options is narrower than ever.

The ZEN Blue 3 brings these two worlds together in spectacular fashion. Building on the resounding success of the ZEN Blue range, we took everything that made them great and dared ourselves to do more.

Adding aptX Lossless was our ‘small step’. Our ‘giant leap’ came when we added USB DAC capability, and Bluetooth transmission. With USB, optical and even analogue inputs available, there have never been more ways to connect to the music you love, while enjoying the freedom of wireless Hi-Res audio.

The ZEN Blue 3 offers wireless audio that is free of compromise by incorporating Lossless Bluetooth audio, courtesy of Qualcomm’s Flagship QCC518x Bluetooth audio chip and the aptX Lossless codec.

Offering a maximum bitrate of 1,200 kbps aptX Lossless is the first and only Bluetooth codec currently capable of wirelessly sending and receiving CD-quality audio without losing data during compression. For instance, if your phone supports aptX Lossless, you can stream high-quality lossless music from your phone to your hi-fi system.

Not ready to join the Lossless party just yet? Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. The ZEN Blue 3’s extensive backwards compatibility ensures that all current major Bluetooth codecs are supported: aptX Lossless, LDAC™, LHDC/HWA, aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC and SBC.

• Chipsets:
  • Bluetooth: Qualcomm QCC518x Series
  • DSP: CT5302
  • DAC: ES9023
  • Amp: MAX97220
• Inputs:
  • RX Mode: Bluetooth 5.4 (aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX, LDAC, LHDC/HWA, AAC, SBC)
  • TX Mode: USB, Optical, Coaxial, RCA L/R (Analogue)
  • DAC Mode: USB, Optical, Coaxial, RCA L/R (Analogue)
• Outputs:
  • RX Mode: Optical, Coaxial, RCA L/R, Balanced 4.4 mm
  • TX Mode: Bluetooth 5.4 (aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX, LDAC, LHDC/HWA, AAC, SBC)
  • DAC Mode: Optical, Coaxial, RCA L/R, Balanced 4.4 mm
• Maximum Supported Sample Rate:
  • RX Mode: 96 kHz / 24 Bit
  • TX Mode: 96 kHz / 24 Bit
  • DAC Mode: 96 kHz / 24 Bit (USB)
• Output Voltage:
  • Balanced 4.4 mm: 4.1 Vrms (0 dBFS @ 1 kHz)
  • Single-Ended RCA: 2.05 Vrms (0 dBFS @ 1kHz)
• Output Impedance:
  • Balanced 4.4 mm: ≤ 102 Ω
  • Single-Ended RCA: ≤ 51 Ω
• SNR: 109 dB
• DNR: 109 dB (0 dBFS @ 1 kHz) +A
• THD+N: < 0.005% (10K Load) @ (20-20 kHz)
• Power Supply Requirement: USB-C or DC 5V / ≥ 0.5A (centre +ve)
• Power Consumption: < 1 W