iFi audio ZEN Blue 3

The ZEN Blue 3 is a desktop Bluetooth unit that works in three modes. As a receiver it streams from your phone into your hi-fi over RCA or a balanced 4.4 mm line output. As a transmitter it takes the sound of a TV, a computer or another hi-fi source (USB, optical, coaxial or analogue RCA) and sends it to Bluetooth headphones. As a wired DAC it converts USB up to 96 kHz/24-bit and optical or coaxial up to 192 kHz/24-bit. iFi says it is the first device that can both send and receive aptX Lossless, which carries CD-quality audio without data loss, using a Qualcomm QCC518x chip with Bluetooth 5.4; LDAC, LHDC/HWA, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC and SBC are supported too, and a low-latency mode helps with films and games when your headphones support aptX Low Latency. As in other iFi products, Bluetooth, the ESS DAC and the output stage are separate, with iFi's GMT clock to keep jitter low. It comes with an RCA cable, a USB cable and a power adapter, and weighs 447 g.

• Sends and receives aptX Lossless (Bluetooth 5.4)
• Also a USB, optical and coaxial DAC
• RCA and balanced 4.4 mm line outputs