iFi Audio
Southport, Merseyside, England, United Kingdom · founded 2012
One of the most influential brands in affordable desktop and portable personal audio: the ZEN DAC and hip-dac are frequent "first serious DAC/amp" recommendations for headphone listeners, and the iDSD line targets hard-to-drive high-end headphones.
iFi Audio is a British hi-fi electronics maker specializing in DACs, headphone amplifiers, DAC/amp combos, and portable/USB dongle DACs. Launched in 2012 by Abbingdon Music Research (AMR) to bring high-end AMR audio technology to more affordable, smaller, and portable products, iFi has become one of the most prominent names in the desktop and portable personal-audio space. It designs and manufactures 50+ products from its Southport, UK headquarters, spanning entry-level (ZEN Air), mainstream desktop (ZEN), and premium portable (iDSD, GO) lines. iFi is widely covered by the headphone/audiophile press and is a frequent awards winner (Hi-Fi Choice, VGP, Audio Excellence).
At a glance
- Type
- Manufacturer
- Founder
- Thorsten Loesch
- Founded
- 2012
- Headquarters
- Southport, Merseyside, England, United Kingdom
- Price range
- Budget → flagship
- Makes / sells
- DACs, Headphone amplifiers, DAC/amp combos, Portable DAC/amps, USB dongle DACs, Bluetooth DAC/amps, Streamers, Power/accessory products, Cables and adapters
- Known for
- Affordable desktop and portable DAC/amps, USB-C dongle DACs, Balanced/high-power headphone amplification, High-res PCM/DSD support (up to DSD512, PCM 768kHz), iEMatch and IEM-friendly output, Bringing AMR high-end tech to mainstream price points
- Website
- ifi-audio.com
Notable products
- ZEN DAC (and ZEN DAC 3) — Multi-award-winning affordable desktop DAC/amp; a defining product of the mainstream desktop segment
- hip-dac (and hip-dac 3) — Iconic pocket-flask portable USB DAC/amp for headphones and IEMs
- ZEN CAN (and ZEN CAN 3) — High-power all-analogue desktop headphone amplifier, up to ~2,000mW with EQ modes
- micro iDSD / iDSD Diablo / iDSD GR — Flagship high-power portable DAC/amp line; iDSD Diablo aimed at demanding headphones
- GO bar / GO bar Kensei — Ultra-portable dongle DAC/amp for on-the-go headphone and IEM use
- GO pod / GO pod Max — TWS Bluetooth adapter that converts wired IEMs into wireless earbuds with DAC/amp
Sources: iFi Audio — About Us · iFi Audio — official site · Abbingdon Music Research — Wikipedia · Thorsten Loesch — CEO and Founder at iFi audio (The Org) · iFi Audio — brand history, hifiratings.com · iFi launches most powerful audiophile DAC/Amp at High End Vienna 2026