[Veovis]

Congratulations to the NEO Stream for winning an EISA award this year!!



https://eisa.eu/awards/ifi-audio-neo-stream/

We are very proud to say that this is our 6th EISA award in 10 years!!

And Thank You to all of you for your support!

Cheers!!

I wouldn't object to EISA's choice if iFi had finally fixed the NEO's fundamental flaws. The recent firmware update seems to have improved the problems I had with the unit, but strangely enough only partially (se previous post from a couple of months back). Over UPnP/DLNA the Neo still doesn't always behave correctly when one track leads into another. Latest example; Frank Zappa's recent Zagreb/Ljubljana live album (downloaded in 24/96 from Qobuz). When Chunga's Revenge (very long track) leads into Terry's drum solo (separate track) there's a very annoying "pop". No problems playing the same tracks directly through USB from the mac or using my 10+ year old Moon MiND 180 streamer. Now, to me one of the very least things you can expect a modern streamer to do is handle gapless playback absolutely perfectly. The NEO (or ZEN for that matter) doesn't.

So, the NEO is out of the system again. Really hope they finally resolve this issue soon.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I wouldn't object to EISA's choice if iFi had finally fixed the NEO's fundamental flaws. The recent firmware update seems to have improved the problems I had with the unit, but strangely enough only partially (se previous post from a couple of months back). Over UPnP/DLNA the Neo still doesn't always behave correctly when one track leads into another. Latest example; Frank Zappa's recent Zagreb/Ljubljana live album (downloaded in 24/96 from Qobuz). When Chunga's Revenge (very long track) leads into Terry's drum solo (separate track) there's a very annoying "pop". No problems playing the same tracks directly through USB from the mac or using my 10+ year old Moon MiND 180 streamer. Now, to me one of the very least things you can expect a modern streamer to do is handle gapless playback absolutely perfectly. The NEO (or ZEN for that matter) doesn't.

So, the NEO is out of the system again. Really hope they finally resolve this issue soon.

Thanks for your update...

Just an update I personally have addressed all of the issues you have mentioned (avid pink floyd listener) now sadly it is just the time it takes to implement these fixes.

Just know that I myself hope it goes very quickly for all of the NS owners.

Cheers!!

 

[Veovis]

Dark Side of the Moon was pretty much impossible to listen to over the NEO Stream last time I tried. Just so strange that so few people and reviewers seem to have picked up on this problem with both the NEO and ZEN Stream. Or maybe everybody and their grandmas only use Roon these days? (Those people seem to have their own problem with the NEO I have understood. But perhaps the problems are connected.)

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Dark Side of the Moon was pretty much impossible to listen to over the NEO Stream last time I tried. Just so strange that so few people and reviewers seem to have picked up on this problem with both the NEO and ZEN Stream. Or maybe everybody and their grandmas only use Roon these days? (Those people seem to have their own problem with the NEO I have understood. But perhaps the problems are connected.)

Here's why...

As I explained to tech reviewers will listen to playlists and specific tracks that they are familiar with, rarely will they listen to an entire gapless album, which is where this issue becomes more prevalent. So that is why they aren't picking up on the glitch.

I recorded an entire file of The Final Cut and 3 glitches or "drops" appeared and forwarded it to tech for analysis, so the problem is known and is scheduled for resolution. when I, unfortunately, do not know.

I am a Roon user and I can tell you most reviewers also use Roon, this issue is way less with Roon as well, and that has also been reported, as well as the Roon issue which seems to be almost non existent now (not saying it isn't but it's less)

Hopefully all of this will be gone and we can all enjoy the NEO in it's best light

Cheers!!

 

[Kiats]

I'll try to summarise properly tonight when I get home as I'm heading out the door for work, but just quickly when using WiFi I have used the following without any issue:

• AIO mode using web browser & app > AES to external DAC
• AIO mode using Airplay via iMac & iPad > AES to external DAC
• NAA mode > USB to external DAC
• NAA mode > I2S to external DAC

I'm pretty sure I've tried some of the above without issue via WiFi using the internal DAC via analog out as well, but I'll check this tonight.

Edit: I've also run NAA mode to analog out without any issue using WiFi.

Can I check what should the NAA option look like for i2S in HQPlayer.

The reason I ask is because even though I have plugged in the HDMI cable into the NS and in the Holo Spring, I don’t see the option in the pull down menu. I just see the internal USB DAC and the XMOS USB DAC only.

I know I have it plugged in and set up correctly since the i2S plays nicely when I am just using Roon to upsample from iFi NS into Holo Spring 3 KTE.

Thanks for your help!

 

[ctrlm]

Can I check what should the NAA option look like for i2S in HQPlayer.

The reason I ask is because even though I have plugged in the HDMI cable into the NS and in the Holo Spring, I don’t see the option in the pull down menu. I just see the internal USB DAC and the XMOS USB DAC only.

Thanks for your help!

Yes what you have there is correct. It confused me at first as well.

 

[DonaldM]

Thanks,
I’ll do it when back home

I am not able to send a dff file via PM. I could send it with wetransfer. As it concerns all files with dsd256 or more, you could try any file you like though. Dsd128 gives hiccups occasionally and files with a lower resolution are fine.

 

[Kiats]

Yes what you have there is correct. It confused me at first as well.

what option should I be seeing in the pull down box? Thanks!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I am not able to send a dff file via PM. I could send it with wetransfer. As it concerns all files with dsd256 or more, you could try any file you like though. Dsd128 gives hiccups occasionally and files with a lower resolution are fine.

If you send me a PM I will respond with an email for you to try, I use gmail so I should be able to get it that way even if it's a link

Cheers!!

 

[ctrlm]

what option should I be seeing in the pull down box? Thanks!

From memory it is this if you have set the NS to the Signalyst NAA function and the output set to digital:

It's confusing because you are not using the internal DAC but this is what comes up and works when using I2S to an external DAC. I'm not currently using the NAA function and I2S but I distinctly remember the option nominating this.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

This if you have set the NS to the Signalyst NAA function and the output set to digital:



It's confusing because you are not using the internal DAC but this is what comes up and works when using I2S to an external DAC.

I am glad you are still around for Signalyst issues, I don't think at this point in life I will ever figure that program out, lol

Cheers!!

 

[ctrlm]

I am glad you are still around for Signalyst issues, I don't think at this point in life I will ever figure that program out, lol

Cheers!!

LOL - I see you are still the main man 'round these parts. What's it like dealing with the audiophile general public on a daily basis?

I'm still using the NS but it is in my speaker setup and not as an NAA with my headphones. I run HQPlayer from MacBook to Spring 3 with powered Intona USB magic box in between these days.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

In general, the community here on HF is great, with very few exceptions, other Forums...Eh not so much LMAO

I am still enjoying it as well, although as you know I am a pretty basic guy mainly streaming from the major providers, so it would makes sense that I do not run into a ton of issues with that being all I do. I may have an issue with... Tidal but who doesn't lol

Hope you are well!

Cheers!!

 

[Kiats]

From memory it is this if you have set the NS to the Signalyst NAA function and the output set to digital:



It's confusing because you are not using the internal DAC but this is what comes up and works when using I2S to an external DAC. I'm not currently using the NAA function and I2S but I distinctly remember the option nominating this.

Thanks for taking the time! will give this a shot and see how it goes. Much appreciated!

 

[Kiats]

From memory it is this if you have set the NS to the Signalyst NAA function and the output set to digital:



It's confusing because you are not using the internal DAC but this is what comes up and works when using I2S to an external DAC. I'm not currently using the NAA function and I2S but I distinctly remember the option nominating this.

A big thank you! It worked! Thank you so much for your help!

Even on AIO, it works.

@Mr BubbaHyde : think we should bookmark this because I am sure more folks will use the i2S digital out from the iFi NEO Stream.