iFi Audio
iFi Zen DAC 3
$229Cheaper
Best Dac Amps · head-to-head
iFi Zen DAC 3 vs Chord Mojo 2
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. iFi Zen DAC 3 is cheaper at $229. Every spec and price links to its source.
Chord Electronics
Chord Mojo 2
$650
Which is better: the iFi Zen DAC 3 or Chord Mojo 2?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The iFi Zen DAC 3 is the cheaper at $229.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | iFi Zen DAC 3 | Chord Mojo 2 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $229 | $650 |
| Brand | iFi Audio | Chord Electronics |
| Released | — | — |
| Form factor | desktop | portable |
| Dac chip | Burr-Brown True Native | FPGA |
| Max pcm (kHz) | 768 | 768 |
| Max dsd | DSD512 | DSD256 |
| Max power mw | 300 | 600 |
| Snr (dB) | 113 | 123 |
| Thdn percent | 0.005 | 0.0003 |
| Balanced output | Yes | No |
| Headphone jacks | 6.35mm/4.4mm | 3.5mm/4.4mm |
| Digital inputs | USB-C | USB-C/Micro-USB/optical/coaxial |
| Weight grams | 456 | 185 |
Sources — iFi Zen DAC 3: ifi-audio.com (verified 2026-07-11). Chord Mojo 2: chordelectronics.co.uk (verified 2026-07-11).
What's the difference between the iFi Zen DAC 3 and Chord Mojo 2?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (10 of 11). Matching specs are omitted.
- Form factor: iFi Zen DAC 3 desktop vs Chord Mojo 2 portable
- Dac chip: iFi Zen DAC 3 Burr-Brown True Native vs Chord Mojo 2 FPGA
- Max dsd: iFi Zen DAC 3 DSD512 vs Chord Mojo 2 DSD256
- Max power mw: iFi Zen DAC 3 300 vs Chord Mojo 2 600
- Snr (dB): iFi Zen DAC 3 113 vs Chord Mojo 2 123
- Thdn percent: iFi Zen DAC 3 0.005 vs Chord Mojo 2 0.0003
- Balanced output: iFi Zen DAC 3 true vs Chord Mojo 2 false
- Headphone jacks: iFi Zen DAC 3 6.35mm/4.4mm vs Chord Mojo 2 3.5mm/4.4mm
- Digital inputs: iFi Zen DAC 3 USB-C vs Chord Mojo 2 USB-C/Micro-USB/optical/coaxial
- Weight grams: iFi Zen DAC 3 456 vs Chord Mojo 2 185
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
iFi Zen DAC 3
Two whitelisted testers (TechRadar, What Hi-Fi) reviewed the exact iFi Zen DAC 3. Both praise its refined, detailed and spacious sound, flexible connectivity and the USB-B to USB-C upgrade. TechRadar is enthusiastic and rates it near-flawless value; What Hi-Fi is noticeably cooler, finding the sound smooth but lacking verve and punch and not a clear step up over the V2. Neither outlet published lab measurements. (2 sourced reviews.)
Praised: Refined, detailed and spacious sound presentation; Flexible connectivity: 4.4mm balanced + RCA outputs, USB-C, fixed/variable output; Solid build and finish.
Flagged: Sound lacks verve, punch and rhythmic drive on energetic tracks; Needs good headphones and hi-res files to shine; disappointing with compressed audio; Not a clear step up over the previous generation, now in broad price parity with AudioQuest's DragonFly Cobalt.
Chord Mojo 2
All three whitelisted reviewers (What Hi-Fi?, TechRadar, Digital Trends) rate the Mojo 2 a standout portable DAC/headphone amp with musical, highly detailed sound that transforms laptop and phone audio; none ran instrumented lab measurements, though Digital Trends hands-on verified the ~8-hour battery life over about a month. All three flag the convoluted colour-coded control interface that requires the manual, and two call it too bulky to be truly portable and criticise the dated Micro-USB charging. (3 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Musical, highly detailed, reference-grade sound that transforms laptop/phone audio; Extensive inputs and can drive two pairs of headphones at once; Customizable lossless tone/EQ via the UHD DSP to tailor headphone sound.
Flagged: Convoluted, unintuitive colour-coded control interface that needs the manual; Too big and heavy to be a truly portable device; Dated Micro-USB charging port.