[Homrsimson]

.

 

[endless402]

any idea when ifi will update their tidal connect? tidal has switched to flac streaming but ifi still showing MQA files.

i dont have any issue on my other dacs getting 24/96 through tidal flac "max" quality setting

 

[Mike Foley]

This article may be of help, regarding Tidal and the changeover to Flac.
https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/tidal-hi-res-lossless-flac-max-annoying/

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

any idea when ifi will update their tidal connect? tidal has switched to flac streaming but ifi still showing MQA files.

i dont have any issue on my other dacs getting 24/96 through tidal flac "max" quality setting

There are certainly discussions on how to proceed, but at the moment there is still a fair mix of MQA and FLAC on Tidal itself, I believe its only about 6 million tracks so far that have changed so it is more or less a waiting game if the track doesn't have MQA it won't trigger the MQA on the device like Qobuz straight FLAC but they do have some MQA albums so it is triggered.

Hope this helps

Cheers!!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

While we are waiting for the changeover here is an article from Stereophile...

https://www.stereophile.com/content/ifi-audio-neo-stream-streaming-da-processor

Cheers!!

 

[MagCinema]

This is my first post here but I have read EVERY post on this thread. I was just about to link to the Stereophile review but I see Mr BubbaHyde beat me to it. I, like the Stereophile reviewer also had a dud Neo Stream upon first purchase - the hardwired ethernet connection never got beyond "red" for signal strength although I have gigabit (confirmed) internet speed and switch - the playback dropped and stuttered constantly and my Zen Stream was fine using same connection. I have been living with the dropouts from Roon which have been getting more and more infrequent with each consecutive firmware update (currently 2.16.6). Even with the occasional dropout (1-2 per hour or so...), the Neo is the best streamer I have ever heard in my system feeding my PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream DAC via i2s. I truly hope that all the "bugs" will be worked out with my configuration soon as I continue to eyeball the "Holo Red" streamer and anxiously await the WAY DELAYED PS Audio "AirLens" streamer to audition against the Neo.

 

[DonaldM]

This is my first post here but I have read EVERY post on this thread. I was just about to link to the Stereophile review but I see Mr BubbaHyde beat me to it. I, like the Stereophile reviewer also had a dud Neo Stream upon first purchase - the hardwired ethernet connection never got beyond "red" for signal strength although I have gigabit (confirmed) internet speed and switch - the playback dropped and stuttered constantly and my Zen Stream was fine using same connection. I have been living with the dropouts from Roon which have been getting more and more infrequent with each consecutive firmware update (currently 2.16.6). Even with the occasional dropout (1-2 per hour or so...), the Neo is the best streamer I have ever heard in my system feeding my PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream DAC via i2s. I truly hope that all the "bugs" will be worked out with my configuration soon as I continue to eyeball the "Holo Red" streamer and anxiously await the WAY DELAYED PS Audio "AirLens" streamer to audition against the Neo.

I have no problems streaming with ethernet: no dropouts and signal strength is white. When using WiFi there are occasional dropouts, despite my WiFi signal is very strong. So I decided to use ethernet only. I cannot explain why your Zen stream is ok and your Neo stream is not, using the same ethernet cable. There is an option in the Ifi app to increase the buffer size (standard 32mb), maybe increasing this value to the maximum 64mb may help to avoid the dropouts.

 

[MagCinema]

I have no problems streaming with ethernet: no dropouts and signal strength is white. When using WiFi there are occasional dropouts, despite my WiFi signal is very strong. So I decided to use ethernet only. I cannot explain why your Zen stream is ok and your Neo stream is not, using the same ethernet cable. There is an option in the Ifi app to increase the buffer size (standard 32mb), maybe increasing this value to the maximum 64mb may help to avoid the dropouts.

Are you using Roon?

 

[DonaldM]

Are you using Roon?

No. Audirvana

 

[MagCinema]

No. Audirvana

I appreciate your post/reply but others on this forum have reported the same issue with Roon/iFi Neo combo and have either sadly returned, sold or just left their Neo in the box until the next firmware releases. I was SO blown away by the sonics of i2s out to my DAC, I stuck with it after a "beta" firmware solved most of the issue of dropouts. Seems each successive Roon and Neo update reduces the occasional dropout. Since I am a vinyl guy too, I just live with an occasion "tick" as part of the HiFi hobby.

 

[srkbear]

There are certainly discussions on how to proceed, but at the moment there is still a fair mix of MQA and FLAC on Tidal itself, I believe its only about 6 million tracks so far that have changed so it is more or less a waiting game if the track doesn't have MQA it won't trigger the MQA on the device like Qobuz straight FLAC but they do have some MQA albums so it is triggered.

Hope this helps

Cheers!!

Unfortunately Tidal only had less than 10% of their catalog in MQA/hi res format to begin with, so they don’t have that far to go with the transition either way to be honest. However, I have an NS that I‘ve used with Roon since I bought it, so I have no clue where these issues are coming from to begin with. There’s legions of us over on the Roon forums who haven’t had a problem as well. Those with slower internet connections may have to tweak the buffering settings, but it doesn’t take much bandwidth to carry a 192/24 data stream—certainly far less than a 4K film.

Right now the only prevailing issue with Roon and Tidal is the need for an API update to accommodate the new “Max” tier, so that we’ll be able to access those files in Roon. That should be forthcoming with the next Roon software release. In the interim Tidal has left up the MQA files at least until their streaming partners have integrated the new Max tier—but I have little doubt that they’ll be anxious to phase out MQA altogether, to save all the existing licensing fees they’re paying out to offset bankruptcy debt!

 

[mekap]

This is my first post here but I have read EVERY post on this thread. I was just about to link to the Stereophile review but I see Mr BubbaHyde beat me to it. I, like the Stereophile reviewer also had a dud Neo Stream upon first purchase - the hardwired ethernet connection never got beyond "red" for signal strength although I have gigabit (confirmed) internet speed and switch - the playback dropped and stuttered constantly and my Zen Stream was fine using same connection. I have been living with the dropouts from Roon which have been getting more and more infrequent with each consecutive firmware update (currently 2.16.6). Even with the occasional dropout (1-2 per hour or so...), the Neo is the best streamer I have ever heard in my system feeding my PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream DAC via i2s. I truly hope that all the "bugs" will be worked out with my configuration soon as I continue to eyeball the "Holo Red" streamer and anxiously await the WAY DELAYED PS Audio "AirLens" streamer to audition against the Neo.

Hi
How to update ifi Neo Stream to version 2.16.6?
Do I need to press the reset button on the back of the ifi Neo Stream?

 

[mekap]

How to update ifi Neo Stream to version 2.16.6?
Do I need to press the reset button on the back of the ifi Neo Stream?

The question is not relevant, I understood how to do it, you can do it through a smartphone.

 

[srkbear]

Hi
How to update ifi Neo Stream to version 2.16.6?
Do I need to press the reset button on the back of the ifi Neo Stream?

Change the NS to AIO mode, browse to iFi.local on a browser on the same network. Go to system settings and select the system update option. It’ll check the server for any updates and do it automatically. If you want to try beta firmware, do so at your own risk—it bricked my NS previously. Browse to iFi.local/dev, go down to select the beta firmware enable button, it’ll flash the screen almost imperceptibly, but it’s active. Go back to iFi.local and select the system update again, and it’ll find the latest beta release and install it. But I would stay on the stable release if I were you!

 

[mekap]

Change the NS to AIO mode, browse to iFi.local on a browser on the same network. Go to system settings and select the system update option. It’ll check the server for any updates and do it automatically. If you want to try beta firmware, do so at your own risk—it bricked my NS previously. Browse to iFi.local/dev, go down to select the beta firmware enable button, it’ll flash the screen almost imperceptibly, but it’s active. Go back to iFi.local and select the system update again, and it’ll find the latest beta release and install it. But I would stay on the stable release if I were you!

Thanks for the help and detailed explanation.
I will not install beta firmware.