iFi audio ZEN Stream - Streaming elevated to a higher plane

[DBB1]

Have others found improved sound quality with 100 or so hours of break-in? Mine just seemed to suddenly improve by a notch or two.

 

[ClieOS]

BubbleUPnP works fine for me.

...
But I don’t think ifi will do this. One is the cost, and the second is that if it is updated, zen dac will become embarrassing.
...

Plenty of us do not use our Zen STream with Zen DAC. It is not a given.

 

[germe]

Have others found improved sound quality with 100 or so hours of break-in? Mine just seemed to suddenly improve by a notch or two.

100 hours ON or 100 hours playing? It should be exactly the same thing I guess!

 

[sabloke]

Listening Zen Stream - USB cable - Matrix Audio SPDIF-2 - I2S HDMI - Venus II DAC - Burson Soloist 3XP 3.5mm out - 7Hz Timeless IEM. Sounds absolutely spectacular, these little planar IEMs are a steal at the asking price of just over $US200. Even basic stuff like Paradise Radio Rock Mix (FLAC) sounds heavenly.

 

[Vonx]

Hello,

Would running the zen stream in NAA operation allow it to work with an AoIP solution like Dante with Dante Virtual sound card? Wondering if it's possible to pipe audio straight from my PC through LAN via AoIP to the zen stream so I can use it as a source in front for gaming / browsing as well.

I've been using Pi2aes as a streamer but would really like to have a good source for my bf2 that can be fed all the audio from my gaming PC (that isn't usb-to-spdif conversion, or a lynx type solution). Has anybody been able to set up something like this with the zen stream, or pi2aes for that matter?

 

[simon740]

Listening Zen Stream - USB cable - Matrix Audio SPDIF-2 - I2S HDMI - Venus II DAC - Burson Soloist 3XP 3.5mm out - 7Hz Timeless IEM. Sounds absolutely spectacular, these little planar IEMs are a steal at the asking price of just over $US200. Even basic stuff like Paradise Radio Rock Mix (FLAC) sounds heavenly.

Hello @sabloke
So ZS have Paradise Radio install on it?

regards,
Simon

 

[sabloke]

Hello @sabloke
So ZS have Paradise Radio install on it?

regards,
Simon

Yes, sort of. The steamer has a radio stations player and in the IFi selection menu, you will find several Paradise radio stations streaming FLAC, a few Naim ones, too. Best way to test your local network by streaming one of these. I leave them on all day, especially Paradise World and Paradise Rock.

 

[simon740]

Yes, sort of. The steamer has a radio stations player and in the IFi selection menu, you will find several Paradise radio stations streaming FLAC, a few Naim ones, too. Best way to test your local network by streaming one of these. I leave them on all day, especially Paradise World and Paradise Rock.

Ok. Yes I remember that Node 2021 had this too. Nice to hear that the ZS have this option.
Thank you

regards,
Simon

 

[rudy49]

i heard from TREO today in Singapore, they well go ahead with the refund for the defective Zen Steam that i returned, minus a 50% restocking fee! a restocking fee on what they determined to be a defective unit? really? watch out for these guys.

 

[Wakalaaa]

I use tidal mode sound fantastic,
Compare roon mode，if don’t use dsp, tidal mode has better bass . In my system, roon needs eq to get better bass.

 

[qsk78]

Is your Roon sitting on a dedicated ROCK (Roon OS) server?
I prefer Roon integration for both Tidal and Qobuz but my Roon is on NUC (ROCK).

 

[Wakalaaa]

Yes, I run Rock with non NUC

 

[Wakalaaa]

Before My mini pc use 12v LPS and run with ROCK.and ZS powered by ifi power X 12v, I found Rock sound so clean, the bass gone, i need eq
add 4db at 100hz.

 

[Wakalaaa]

today i try to run ZS alone with tidal mode, and powered by LPS not power X.
I find sound so good , more musicial
then ifi powerx.
Imo,ZS powered by LPS better then Power X, but my 12v Power X not enough power to drive my i3 PC,
When Open up the PC , Pc with
Shut down in few sec.

 

[germe]

Is your Roon sitting on a dedicated ROCK (Roon OS) server?
I prefer Roon integration for both Tidal and Qobuz but my Roon is on NUC (ROCK).

Roon integration for Tidal VS Tidal connect?