[Mr BubbaHyde]

Qobuz is currently developing a "Connect" capability like those already deployed by Tidal and Spotify.

When will Qobuz develop "Qobuz Connect"? Does anyone have such information?

This has been in development for 2 years I believe, I know Qobuz is working hard to implement this feature. As they have pointed out in many posts they are not a large conglomerate company and things like this take time.

As a Qobuz supporter and fan, I myself can't wait for it, and we should be able to get it into our equipment not long after they release it.

I have heard thru sources that they are "beta" testing, so perhaps search the Qobuz forum to see how you might help or be part of that.

Cheers!!

 

[simonthepieman]

OK my PS Audio Dac Mkii is Here ! In the UK Mkii just arrived
Using Ifi Neo steam with its internet feed by optical (so isolated)

Then i2s ( PS audio pin out ) to Mkii

It’s frankly amazing compared to Mk 1 ps audio dac

So much more info, atmosphere, super smooth more effortless,
It literally seems like listening to my music again
Surprised as that’s such a cliche
But this upgrade seems it’s true
Burning in perhaps 100 hours so far
Brilliant and very pleased
Go Ted waiting for next FPGA update
Currently beta massive and 2.62


No neo glitches so far all seems great

 

[MagCinema]

OK my PS Audio Dac Mkii is Here ! In the UK Mkii just arrived
Using Ifi Neo steam with its internet feed by optical (so isolated)

Then i2s ( PS audio pin out ) to Mkii

It’s frankly amazing compared to Mk 1 ps audio dac

So much more info, atmosphere, super smooth more effortless,
It literally seems like listening to my music again
Surprised as that’s such a cliche
But this upgrade seems it’s true
Burning in perhaps 100 hours so far
Brilliant and very pleased
Go Ted waiting for next FPGA update
Currently beta massive and 2.62


No neo glitches so far all seems great

Thanks for update Simon! Congrats on your purchase and sonic improvements in your system. Burn-in time is REAL on PS Audio gear so keep us posted. I still am contemplating the AirLens....

 

[simonthepieman]

Thanks for update Simon! Congrats on your purchase and sonic improvements in your system. Burn-in time is REAL on PS Audio gear so keep us posted. I still am contemplating the AirLens....

Im not sure if it can be better than the Neo stream with its optical input gadget, but maybe???? both I2s out.
The amount of extra detail about the venue, instruments, voices etc etc etc is amazing and yet so nice no hardness what so ever,
the textures and depth of bass mega.
Note i feed the Neo stream via a Ps audio P15 power plant then a Ferrum Hypsos supply.
Typically Kimber power cords.
Now going to try QSA Fuses in a couple of units in the digital chain.

 

[MagCinema]

Im not sure if it can be better than the Neo stream with its optical input gadget, but maybe???? both I2s out.
The amount of extra detail about the venue, instruments, voices etc etc etc is amazing and yet so nice no hardness what so ever,
the textures and depth of bass mega.
Note i feed the Neo stream via a Ps audio P15 power plant then a Ferrum Hypsos supply.
Typically Kimber power cords.
Now going to try QSA Fuses in a couple of units in the digital chain.

The occasional "tick" I am hearing in my system is still bothering me - I assumed it was the iFi Neo because I was hearing the same audible dropouts with Roon others were reporting. After the recent firmware update for the Neo, the dropouts seemed gone but I hear an occasional "tick" still and had blamed the Neo. BUT it occurred to me that I recently unplugged my PS Audio amp from a Niagara 1200 (I bought a 3M AudioQuest Monsoon Power Cable) and went direct to my AC outlet on the wall. So, if plugging my amp back into the Niagara SOLVES the occasional "tick" (and doesn't negatively affect the amp sonically) - I will call the Neo "endgame" because like your comments, I also am experiencing all of your improvements in my room and am VERY satisfied for the money invested.

 

[Veovis]

Im not sure if it can be better than the Neo stream with its optical input gadget, but maybe???? both I2s out.
The amount of extra detail about the venue, instruments, voices etc etc etc is amazing and yet so nice no hardness what so ever,
the textures and depth of bass mega.
Note i feed the Neo stream via a Ps audio P15 power plant then a Ferrum Hypsos supply.
Typically Kimber power cords.
Now going to try QSA Fuses in a couple of units in the digital chain.

I watched an interesting live "shootout" between streamers on the Alpha Audio YT channel yesterday. The Neo Stream (used as streamer + DAC) was very much loved, but only without the optical converter. It had reportedly measured worse with the converter too. I had never bothered to A/B the sound with/without since I thought it would be stupid not to use the optical thingy when it's there. After taking it out of the system I doubt I will ever put it back again... Maybe it depends on the network, but in my case the NEO sounds better (easier on the ears, a certain edginess/flatness gone) with the ethernet cable directly connected from the switch (with linear PSU) to the streamer. Less cables to bother with is also a plus.

They theorized that the cheap phone charger as power supply for the optical thingy may be the culprit. Has anyone tried upgrading that to a 5v PSU of decent quality? I have an SBooster 5v linear PSU lying around and may do an experiment this weekend.

https://alpha-audio.net/video-cast/...1030-cest-affordable-streamers-max-1000-euro/

Edit: Sorry, the link goes to part one of the shootout from April... It's easy to find the more recent one (featuring the NEO) on YT though.

 

[DonaldM]

I watched an interesting live "shootout" between streamers on the Alpha Audio YT channel yesterday. The Neo Stream (used as streamer + DAC) was very much loved, but only without the optical converter. It had reportedly measured worse with the converter too. I had never bothered to A/B the sound with/without since I thought it would be stupid not to use the optical thingy when it's there. After taking it out of the system I doubt I will ever put it back again... Maybe it depends on the network, but in my case the NEO sounds better (easier on the ears, a certain edginess/flatness gone) with the ethernet cable directly connected from the switch (with linear PSU) to the streamer. Less cables to bother with is also a plus.

They theorized that the cheap phone charger as power supply for the optical thingy may be the culprit. Has anyone tried upgrading that to a 5v PSU of decent quality? I have an SBooster 5v linear PSU lying around and may do an experiment this weekend.

https://alpha-audio.net/video-cast/...1030-cest-affordable-streamers-max-1000-euro/

Please try it out, I am interested in your findings.

 

[stoicar]

I use neo with farad 15v, router with farad 12v and optibox with ifi elite 5v. With and without is a big difference… and still prefer lan not optibox
Rest of chain is pbn liberty, audio gd he1 vacuum, audio gd master 2H with dedicated ac line.

 

[Veovis]

So what you're saying is that you prefer the NEO without the optibox even when fed by the better 5v PSU?

 

[stoicar]

So what you're saying is that you prefer the NEO without the optibox even when fed by the better 5v PSU?

Ifi elit is not farad but with lan the voice have more caracter and the placement of thinks in soundstage is more precise.

 

[iFi audio]

So what you're saying is that you prefer the NEO without the optibox even when fed by the better 5v PSU?

Ifi elit is not farad but with lan the voice have more caracter and the placement of thinks in soundstage is more precise.

These are very interesting observations.

In the sense that the NEO offers great flexibility in how you input your ethernet signal, direct optibox or even the M connector, I myself prefer the optibox and on the Zen stream, I prefer using the LAN iSilencer with that.

This is one of the reasons I prefer the NEo is a great opportunity for customization. I am now looking forward to trying the new iDSD 2 along with the NEO to see how the synergy with that combo is.

Cheers!!

Bubba

 

[Jingle525]

At the moment there are ongoing exchanges to attempt to address why this is happening for some and not others. I am not directly involved in the discussion but I am reporting every instance I hear of and also making suggestions to the team that is handling this.

I will continue to update this as I get any information on it. Once again apologies for these issues.

Cheers!!

Pls keep us posted on this. I am having the same issue. Tried everything too but no luck.

 

[ctrlm]

I watched an interesting live "shootout" between streamers on the Alpha Audio YT channel yesterday. The Neo Stream (used as streamer + DAC) was very much loved, but only without the optical converter. It had reportedly measured worse with the converter too. I had never bothered to A/B the sound with/without since I thought it would be stupid not to use the optical thingy when it's there. After taking it out of the system I doubt I will ever put it back again... Maybe it depends on the network, but in my case the NEO sounds better (easier on the ears, a certain edginess/flatness gone) with the ethernet cable directly connected from the switch (with linear PSU) to the streamer. Less cables to bother with is also a plus.

They theorized that the cheap phone charger as power supply for the optical thingy may be the culprit. Has anyone tried upgrading that to a 5v PSU of decent quality? I have an SBooster 5v linear PSU lying around and may do an experiment this weekend.

https://alpha-audio.net/video-cast/...1030-cest-affordable-streamers-max-1000-euro/

Edit: Sorry, the link goes to part one of the shootout from April... It's easy to find the more recent one (featuring the NEO) on YT though.

This subject is fascinating. I swapped between 2 different linear power supplies (Uptone JS-2 & Teddy Pardo) powering the opti-box last night and heard 2 very different and easily discernible presentations, it actually confused me how there could be such a difference? As it was late, I intend to do some more testing this week and check my sanity

 

[simonthepieman]

Ok another brief Update.

In the UK we have fuses in the mains lead as well as the equipment.

So FUSE Games . Qsa Yellow feeding P15. In Mains lead. SR Purple was in that mains lead.

So burnt in purple now in the Mains lead feeding the DAC MKii.

Plus a QSA yellow 5x20mm in the DAC rear fuse holder, not really sure which direction it’s supposed to be?

Anywho that’s a few changes which I’m sure needs to burn in Inc DAC etc

Note all Mains leads Kimber various ages.

Soon pre burn in HOLY COW !!!
Astounding everything improved, Imagery super wide! My speakers disappeared Before , Now it’s really as if they are not there Hard to believe when you see the pic, with a room full of effortless Music .

Big Active ATC’s. 150 . 150 liter cabinets

 

[simonthepieman]