Ahead of the Curve
Vinyl records are cut with Inverse RIAA Equalisation, requiring accurate conversion to ensure authentic playback. This conversion from grooves in your recording to the analogue signal feeding your system is a critical moment in the playback process, and a lack of precision can be devastating for the quality of your listening experience.
The ZEN Air Phono 2 adopts iFi audio’s highly accurate RIAA playback curve, within a remarkable +/-0.15dB tolerance. With this level of accuracy, you can rely on the ZEN Phono 2 to deliver true, accurate music playback, that faithfully represents the intent of the original artists and recording engineers.
\n
Everything Gained
Turntable cartridges come in two distinct types – Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC). While both designs turn analogue information on your records into an audio signal, the way they do this is quite different, and each required its own degree of amplification.
The ZEN Air Phono 2 is fully compatible with both. Simply switch the gain mode selector on the rear of the ZEN Air Phono 2 to the correct setting for your cartridge, and you’re ready to go.
\n
Full Bass. No Rumble.
Older records can become prone to warping, which introduces low-frequency rumble during playback. While subsonic filters are not uncommon in phono stages, they are disliked by enthusiasts as they remove bass frequencies while filtering warp.
Since 2012, iFi have been solving this problem with their in-house intelligent subsonic filter. By analysing how records are cut and replayed, their filter treats vertical and lateral groove information differently. Only record warp is filtered, without attenuating low bass, and without adding group delay.
The result is an uncompromised listening experience, even on warped records, that retains the full depth of bass that was present in the original recording.
\n
Details, Revealed
The noise floor of a typical phono stage is audible in a setup of even modest quality. This is because their noise floor is in fact louder than the low-level textures and detail of the music on your record. The result is a fundamentally compromised representation of the original song.
The ZEN Air Phono 2 stands apart from such phono stages. Boasting a super-silent noise floor with an EIN (Equivalent Input Noise) of -151dBV, the ZEN Air Phono pushes noise far below the music itself, revealing greater details and subtlety in your favourite records.
It achieves this through an innovative high-current power supply design, carefully isolated from the amplification stage. \u200b
\n
The Beauty of Symmetry
The Zen Air Phono 2’s circuitry boasts a symmetrical channel layout. By designing the circuitry in this way, the ZEN Air Phono 2 offers similar benefits to balanced circuitry, such as lower crosstalk and improved channel separation. This type of circuitry design is extremely rare in phono stages at this price point – and iFi reinforces this design with premium components, including custom OV series operational amplifiers.
The result for the listener is an audiophile-grade vinyl experience at an entry-level price point – performance without the price tag.
Pricing & Availability
The iFi ZEN Air Phono 2 is available to purchase at ifi-audio.com and dealers for £129/$129 USD/€149/$189 CAD.
About iFi
Established in 2012 and headquartered in Southport, UK, iFi audio is a globally recognised developer and manufacturer of high-fidelity audio solutions. Its product portfolio encompasses portable, desktop, and lifestyle devices designed to deliver exceptional sound performance through advanced engineering and innovative design. Guided by a ‘music first’ philosophy, iFi’s products have received numerous international awards and acclaim from professionals and enthusiasts alike, reinforcing its position as one of the leading brands in modern audio. www.ifi-audio.com
Appendix
General Specification
\nZEN Air Phono 2
Frequency Response
20-20kHz (±0.15dB)
Channel Separation
>75dB (1kHz, all modes)
Max. Output Voltage
6.5V RMS
Gain
MM 40dB; MC 64dB
Input Impedance
MM 47kΩ; MC1kΩ
Output Impedance
100Ω
SNR
MM (30db ±1dB) 86dB (A-weighted) re 1V
MC (64dB ±1dB) 40dB (A-weighted) re 1V
EIN (Equivalent Input Noise)
MM 6.5nV | /Hz (unweighted); -126dBV (A-weighted)
MC 0.6nV | /Hz (unweighted); -146dBV (A-weighted)
Total Harmonic Distortion
MM <-90dB / 0.005% re 1V
MC <-80dB / 0.036% re 1V
Power Requirements
DC 5V/1A (centre +ve)
Power Consumption
<1.8W
Dimensions
158 x 100 x 35 mm (6.2” x 3.9” x 1.4”)
Net Weight
323g (0.72 lbs)
Limited Warranty
12 Months*
![\"Ashley](\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/83c84fcd-2303-4349-bcb6-4590326d58a4/-/scale_crop/128x128/center/-/format/auto/\"){kind=avatar}