89%
ifi Audio ZEN Blue 3
Bring lossless Bluetooth to your Hi-Fi or headphones.
The ZEN Blue 3 is the world’s first Bluetooth DAC to send and receive CD-quality audio via aptX Lossless – and comes complete with a Hi-Res USB mode for desktop use.
Cut the Cord. Keep the Quality.
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 1,200kbps, aptX Lossless is the first and only Bluetooth codec currently capable of wirelessly sending and receiving CD-quality audio without losing data during compression.
Forging New Connections.
Whether it’s a late-night vinyl session without the speakers, enjoying your aptX Lossless earbuds while working on your laptop, or marathoning your favourite Netflix series on the TV via headphones, the ZEN Blue 3 offers new opportunities for listening enjoyment.
Versatility Breeds Possibility.
Even with all this innovation on show, the ZEN Blue 3 has even more tricks up its sleeve. Leveraging the capabilities of the Qualcomm QCC518x chipset paired with a dedicated ESS Sabre DAC and Hi-Fi circuitry, it outperforms most Bluetooth transmitters and receivers.
The ZEN Blue 3 is also able to function as a fully wired DAC, offering 96kHz/24Bit audio via USB-C, or 192kHz/24Bit audio via SPDIF, which can be output via 4.4 balanced or RCA analogue outputs.
aptX Lossless: 1200kbps
LDAC: 990kbps
aptX: 352kbs
SBC: 328kbps
Let That Sync In...
Whether you’re getting lost in a great movie or immersing yourself in your favourite video game, few things take you out of the moment quite like a delay in the audio. This is a notorious issue with other Bluetooth products, but for the ZEN Blue 3 this is simply another place to excel.
When using ZEN Blue 3’s Low Latency mode with a device receiver that supports aptX Low Latency, the time taken to send and receive audio is drastically reduced. When your eyes see it, your ears hear it – putting you right back in the moment, where you belong.
Balance in All Things.
Even with all this innovation on show, the ZEN Blue 3 has even more tricks up its sleeve. Leveraging the capabilities of the Qualcomm QCC518x chipset paired with a dedicated ESS Sabre DAC and Hi-Fi circuitry, it outperforms most Bluetooth transmitters and receivers.
The ZEN Blue 3 is also able to function as a fully wired DAC, offering 96kHz/24Bit audio via USB-C, or 192kHz/24Bit audio via SPDIF, which can be output via 4.4 balanced or RCA analogue outputs.
Audiophile Sound. Wireless Freedom.
Not ready to join the Lossless party just yet? Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. The ZEN Blue 3 extensive backwards compatibility ensures that all current major Bluetooth codecs are supported.
Bluetooth codecs supported: aptX Lossless, LDAC™, LHDC/HWA, aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC and SBC.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
Professional Reviews 89/100
Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
91/100
Build Quality
85/100
Features Connectivity
87/100
Value for Money
90/100
The ZEN Blue 3 makes Bluetooth feel properly hi-fi, combining clean, full-bodied sound with impressive detail, stable imaging and confident dynamics. The Sound Advocate highlights its near-wired wireless performance, while its aptX Lossless, LDAC and LHDC support, transmitter mode and balanced output make it an exceptionally versatile hub for modern systems.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Delivers clean, detailed, full-bodied Bluetooth sound with tight bass, stable imaging and strong composure on dense recordings.
Extensive codec support and reliable receiver/transmitter connectivity worked without dropouts in demanding environments.
Flexible DAC and output options, including balanced 4.4mm, RCA, optical and coaxial, suit both direct connection and future system upgrades.
&
Cons
aptX Lossless support is ahead of the current smartphone market, as compatible phone transmitters remain scarce.
The balanced 4.4mm connection requires an adapter cable rather than standard XLR cabling.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 91/100
Reviewers find the ZEN Blue 3 unusually accomplished for a Bluetooth-oriented component: rich and intimate in tone, rhythmically convincing, and notably composed with dense music. It combines strong clarity and detail with a clean, stable wireless presentation, though one listener still detected a slight Bluetooth edge.
Tonal Balance and Musicality
91/100
StereoNET heard a “luxurious tonal richness and intimacy” alongside a rhythmically tight, convincing presentation. The Audiophile Man similarly praised its disciplined balance, reporting no treble fizz or bloated bass, while Audiophilepure found satisfying bass weight and good balance as complex percussion accumulated.
Resolution and Detail
90/100
Reviewers consistently describe strong clarity, separation and insight. The Sound Advocate found detail markedly improved, StereoNET called the clarity and ease among the best it had heard from Bluetooth, and Audiophilepure noted convincing woody texture from the didgeridoo on its test track.
Digital Performance
92/100
The wireless implementation is a particular strength. Audiophile Heaven heard no audible self-noise, coloration, congestion or connection instability, while The Sound Advocate said the supported codecs worked without a hitch and came unusually close to a wired connection. What Hi-Fi also praised the unit’s composure when music became dense and demanding.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
85/100
The Sound Advocate speaks positively of iFi’s design, parts selection and build quality, and StereoNET describes an aesthetically pleasing package. The supplied reviews offer little detailed examination of the chassis, internal layout, or long-term durability.
Features Connectivity
87/100
This is a notably flexible Bluetooth transceiver as well as a DAC, supporting current codecs including aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, LDAC and LHDC/HWA. It provides USB, optical, coaxial and analogue operation, RCA and balanced 4.4mm outputs, digital outputs, transmitter capability, and an external-antenna connection; Bluetooth and USB playback are limited to 24-bit/96kHz, while optical and coaxial DAC inputs reach 24-bit/192kHz.
Value for Money
90/100
At $299, several reviewers regard it as a compellingly priced way to add high-quality wireless playback to a hi-fi system. The Audiophile Man calls its price “smile-inducing,” What Hi-Fi considers it sensibly priced, and StereoNET describes it as an affordable package with fine sound; Audiophile Heaven adds that some other iFi products offer a stronger price-to-performance ratio.
Reviews
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
Zoom out the map to see more dealers
Authorized dealers for ifi Audio ZEN Blue 3
- Acoustic Technologies — online and in-store — Montréal, Québec, Canada (website)
- Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Adorama — in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Advanced MP3 Players — online and in-store — Musselburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Apos Audio — online and in-store — Oakland, California, United States (website)
- ARK Audio — online and in-store — Borensberg, Östergötlands län, Sweden (website)
- Art & Voice — online (website)
and 128 more verified dealers