icOn Zen – When Less Truly Is More
Sometimes, less is more — especially in high-end audio.
Many music lovers today use just one or two source components: a DAC for streaming or CDs, and perhaps a phono stage for vinyl. What they really need is a pure, transparent control unit that lets the music breathe — without adding distortion, noise, or coloration.
The icOn Zen was designed exactly for them. It delivers:
- Remote-controlled precision volume control with perfect channel balance
- Pure passive autoformer attenuation for a lively, dynamic sound even at very low listening levels
- Wide attenuation range ideal for high-efficiency loudspeakers and tube amps
- Balance control, clear display, and flexible connectivity (RCA & XLR)
- Smart options and personalisation, ready for future system expansion with an optional I/O Extender
The Essence of Simplicity
The new icOn Zen is the spiritual successor to our much-loved icOn 4 Zen, refined with experience from the acclaimed icOn 5 series. It keeps the musical transparency and effortless dynamics of its bigger brother, but at a much more accessible price.
Price: $2,990; £2,290 (ex VAT); EUR 2,590 (exVAT)
(It could vary slightly depending on the exchange rate at the time.)
That’s 30% less than the icOn 5 Dual and 45% less than the icOn 5 Single-Ended — yet it retains the same sonic purity and design philosophy.
Experience the Zen of Music
Elegant, minimalist, and musically transparent — the icOn Zen is more than a preamplifier.
It’s the missing link between your sources and your soul.
Limited Holiday Edition
The icOn Zen will be produced in a limited run of only 10 units for the coming holiday season.
As a special gift, the first two buyers will receive a battery power supply (worth $350) free of charge — for the ultimate in noise-free performance.
👉 Order now or contact us to reserve your Zen before the edition sells out.
£ 2,283 ex. VAT
After receiving your order we will confirm the expected delivery date and send you an invoice, please read the T&C for more information. 20% VAT is applied within the UK. If you order from outside of the UK you may have to pay local VAT, administration fee, import tax, or customs fees upon customs clearance.
Feedback from customer about the previous icOn 4 ZEN model:
Dear Pal,
I think by now I have a clear idea as to what I have got with your preamp. To cut the long story short – everything is great. Since I was always connecting my phonostage directly into the power amps, it was really easy to establish what – if anything – has changed with the introduction of the Zen. And the answer is: nothing. The only difference is a positive one – I can now listen to much lower volumes without any degradation in tone or dynamics. And that is not a small thing. Now, in addition to that, I can also connect a better DAC into the system, without being constrained by the need to use a DAC with its own volume control. And so I did, by, first, (re)introducing Metrum’s Pavane into the system, and then swapping it for Metrum Amethyst. Amethyst is a lesser DAC, of course, but then I can make use of Pavane’s balanced outputs to better effect where it really matters – in a headphone system in the office. So, all in all, I am really happy with what I have now.
Thank you very much again!
Alex
Features and technical details:
- 68 steps over an 66 dB attenuation range, from +3 dB to -63 dB
- Fine 1 dB steps across the entire attenuation range
- Unbalanced operation with custom autoformers by Dave Slagle
- Two inputs (1 RCA + 1 RCA or XLR), 2 RCA +1 XLR outputs (operating in parallel)
- Optional Input Extender for total of 5 inputs
- Improved linearity and transparency thanks to new, lower-inductance autoformers with 80% Ni cores
- Maximum input level: 6V RMS (17 Vpp, 18dBu)
- Less, than 0.001% distortion, 130 dB dynamic range, and +/-0.1 dB linearity from 20Hz to 20kHz
- Balance, mute and standby functions
- Favourite setting memory for start up*
- Smart stereo/mono operation for mono LP collectors (Left only, Right only or combined L+R mono, stereo)*
- Large (0.8") 2-digit orange display with 2 brightness levels and night mode (shows dB values or step numbers)
- Apple remote-compatible CNC machined IR remote controller (refurbished original Apple remote +$50)
- Precision optical encoder and touch button for manual control
- 90mm high satin-silver enclosure (W 124mm x L 260mm) with dark gunmetal CNC-machined faceplate
- Expandable input option: add the new (coming soon) Input Extender (+1 RCA & 2 XLR sockets) for $499
- 2 years warranty
- * These features are not available in other icOn models
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