iFi audio NEO Stream - Sweet Streams!

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Still no success. I'm no expert but I keep coming back to the fact my DAC is also a pre amp. The only setting on the pre amp that would seem to be the one that should be selected - eg ANLG, as opposed to USB which is the one I normally use for the Brooklyn DAC - gives a horrible rumbling sound from the speakers.

Edit - It's also worth noting ANLG is the setting on my pre amp that I normally use for my turntable.

That might explain it...

If the Analog input on your preamp is for a Phono input that can't be used for this purpose, the "rumbling" may be an indication that it is.

If that is the case then the only way to do this is like I showed in the video, direct RCA analog to you're amp, and volume controlled via the Software of the NS.

Cheers!!

 

[gryffe]

That might explain it...

If the Analog input on your preamp is for a Phono input that can't be used for this purpose, the "rumbling" may be an indication that it is.

If that is the case then the only way to do this is like I showed in the video, direct RCA analog to you're amp, and volume controlled via the Software of the NS.

Cheers!!

I've sussed it, and now got it using the Neo DAC. There are three settings for ANLG on the amp, two are for turntable use, one for Line Out and mine was set at P MC for Moving Coil. I changed the setting from P MC to Line.

9.2.14 Analog Input (Analog Input Mode) -
A pair of unbalanced analog inputs can be selected in addition to all available digital inputs.
As with other inputs, it can be routed via the analog stepped attenuator to both main outputs and headphones.
One of three modes can be selected: • LINE - line level input • P MM - phono preamp, for Moving Magnet cartridges • P MC – phono preamp, for Moving Coil cartridges.

I'll test the Neo DAC out fully tomorrow. It's 9pm now here in UK and don't want to annoy the neighbours next door, I'll wait till they are at work tomorrow

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I've sussed it, and now got it using the Neo DAC. There are three settings for ANLG on the amp, two are for turntable use, one for Line Out and mine was set at P MC for Moving Coil. I changed the setting from P MC to Line.

9.2.14 Analog Input (Analog Input Mode) -
A pair of unbalanced analog inputs can be selected in addition to all available digital inputs.
As with other inputs, it can be routed via the analog stepped attenuator to both main outputs and headphones.
One of three modes can be selected: • LINE - line level input • P MM - phono preamp, for Moving Magnet cartridges • P MC – phono preamp, for Moving Coil cartridges.

I'll test the Neo DAC out fully tomorrow. It's 9pm now here in UK and don't want to annoy the neighbours next door, I'll wait till they are at work tomorrow

Nice!!

I knew it had to be a setting, which is very much like my Parasound Preamp the mode can be selected in the same fashion. Glad you got it!

Cheers!!

 

[iFi audio]

I've sussed it, and now got it using the Neo DAC. There are three settings for ANLG on the amp, two are for turntable use, one for Line Out and mine was set at P MC for Moving Coil. I changed the setting from P MC to Line.

That explains a lot, thanks for sharing

 

[ctrlm]

The dealer has received my returned unit and tested it. Here is an excerpt from their response:

"Tested this last night before finishing up and got mighty frustrated through even the setup process so I can't imagine what you've gone through over the last few weeks! I've got confirmation that we can replace this for you so I'll have a new unit sent out to you."

Thank goodness I didn't get something along the lines of not being able to find a fault!

Exceptional service from Addicted to Audio, they received and tested it in super quick time and the replacement unit is already on the way. Here's hoping there is no issue with the new one.

 

[Currawong]

Until you get to the analog stage in the chain, digital audio has no sound—it’s all ones and zeros, and any data errors or loss would not drop a veil on your music. It would just lead to processing errors, which wouldn’t sound like music—it would sound like skips, stutters or silence.

This is simply not true. A digital signal transmitted electrically is one where above a certain voltage is considered a "1" and below a certain voltage is considered a "0". It has a set timing to those fluctuations. Such a signal can have various issues:

• Impedance mismatch in the physical components. This will cause reflections to bounce between components.
• Noise. This can be at a different frequency and is often carried through the ground plane. This is why a DAC with a non-isolating USB set-up can sound better if you use a DAP as a source (not connected to power) than a computer, because it wont carry noise over the ground plane. The noise can affect the analog output.
• Jitter. Mostly resolved in modern DACs these days, so usually irrelevant.
• USB protocol communications and interruptions between components causing the USB receiver to do more processing, produce more noise, and, depending on the design, affect the rest of the circuits in the DAC. This is why dedicated audio playback software often has an "exclusive" mode.

All of the above is well-known and, where relevant, the effects are measurable.

 

[guyp2k]

Have a question about the SC optical input, in my environment I have 10Gb switch w/ SC SFPs however, whenever I run a fiber patch cable from the switch to the NS no connectivity. Is the optical/rj45 box a requirement to attach fiber to the NS or should I be able to bypass the optical converter?

Would love to eliminate the additional cable and box in my audio chain.

 

[gryffe]

I posted the other day about wanting to hear the DAC in the Neo as opposed to my Mytek Brooklyn DAC that I had been using since acquiring the Neo a couple of weeks ago. I do love the sound of my Mytek DAC, but after a couple of days exposure to the iFi DAC I must say it sounds terrific. For anybody contemplating buying the Neo who doesn't already have a DAC I would say that you are not only getting a terrific streamer, you are getting an amazing DAC too.

 

[iFi audio]

This is simply not true. A digital signal transmitted electrically is one where above a certain voltage is considered a "1" and below a certain voltage is considered a "0". It has a set timing to those fluctuations. Such a signal can have various issues:

• Impedance mismatch in the physical components. This will cause reflections to bounce between components.
• Noise. This can be at a different frequency and is often carried through the ground plane. This is why a DAC with a non-isolating USB set-up can sound better if you use a DAP as a source (not connected to power) than a computer, because it wont carry noise over the ground plane. The noise can affect the analog output.
• Jitter. Mostly resolved in modern DACs these days, so usually irrelevant.
• USB protocol communications and interruptions between components causing the USB receiver to do more processing, produce more noise, and, depending on the design, affect the rest of the circuits in the DAC. This is why dedicated audio playback software often has an "exclusive" mode.

All of the above is well-known and, where relevant, the effects are measurable.

This

Thanks Amos!

 

[qsk78]

an amazing DAC too.

Well, I found its DAC section somewhere at the level of ZEN DAC Signature v2...I did not expect any magic here...
NS is a very capable streamer first of all, I think.
I agree that it may work if you don't have any stand-alone DAC at home.
I doubt that it can compete with a good `1000 USD desktop DAC...It could not compete with Composer 3XP, not at all...

So, I would be happy if ifi drop the DAC section in NS completely and make it as a pure streamer let's say 300 USD less in price)

 

[gryffe]

Well, I found its DAC section somewhere at the level of ZEN DAC Signature v2...I did not expect any magic here...
NS is a very capable streamer first of all, I think.
I agree that it may work if you don't have any stand-alone DAC at home.
I doubt that it can compete with a good `1000 USD desktop DAC...It could not compete with Composer 3XP, not at all...

So, I would be happy if ifi drop the DAC section in NS completely and make it as a pure streamer let's say 300 USD less in price)

Guess it's all about system synergy as well. It sounds great on my system

 

[George Hincapie]

I have a very specific use case in mind: Denafrips Pontus2 DAC, I2S input, streamed via HQPlayer up-sampling. The Pontus 2 R2R DAC internally up samples to 32x PCM anyway, so moving this up-sampling outside the box to HQPlayer I can get a theoretical benefit using better (or at least more computationally intensive) up-sampling algorithms. Both the USB and I2S inputs support this sample rate input. Denafrips has a notoriously poor USB implementation (compared to other custom USB implementations, such as Unison USB w/ Schiit). I find USB in on the Denafrips to be noticeably less resolving than AES or I2S. So I've stayed with I2S as the input. But most DDCs only support 8x PCM on I2S. Finding a streamer / DDC that supports 16x and/or 32x PCM over I2S would be very for this particular use case.

I'm certainly not advocating for up-sampling as the greatest audio option. it is fun, and does interesting things to the music. But it can also have noticable downsides.

The obvious answer is for you to buy a Hermes or Gaia DDC and use a Pi4 with LPSU or Sonore Optical Rendu with same into DDC then I2S into your DAC. Simples.

 

[Nationalizer]

To anyone having problems with the Coaxial digital output from NS, sound stopping for a second or stutters, I fixed my issue by simply changing the digital cable. I was using a very old one and when I hooked up one from Van den Hul, the issues stopped altogether. No hiccups in the last two days.

 

[srkbear]

Hi folks! For those who are early adopters, there’s a new beta 2.15.19, that has fixed the audio dropouts for me, as well as the network LED colors.

 

[innocentblood]

does the neo stream update the firmware automatically even when it is in Roon mode? or do I need to be in AIO mode to manually trigger the update via the app?