[dsnyder]

I checked the online documentation, but could not find information on which DACs are supported (or which are not supported) at the USB output of the Zen Streamer.

My DAC is a T+A DAC8 DSD. I tested Volumio installed on Raspberry Pi4 with this DAC (connection via USB 2.0), it worked only partially: PCM output was possible up to 24/352, but DSD files (DSD64 and 128) were output as 24/352 PCM as well (or 32/352, the DAC display only shows the sample rate of the incoming signal).

The T+A DAC8 DSD has two seperate circuits for PCM and DSD signal, so only the PCM part was in use when fed from the Volumio player. With PC playback, the DAC circuit is switched automatically between PCM and DSD.

How would this DAC work with the Zen Streamer?

Thanks

I'm joining late, but in case your question has not already been answered, I can share my experience. While I don't have your DAC, the one I'm using supports 32-bit, 768 kHz PCM and DSD512. I have no problems with these rates using VitOS for Raspberry Pi 4, however, the ZEN Stream fails to function for PCM rates above 384 kHz and, because the Linux kernel iFi chose is 2.5 years old, it does not support native DSD for my newer DACs. As a result, via the ZEN, I'm limited to DSD128.

Practically speaking, these are not huge issues, however, this is a bit disappointing for a $399 streamer when a $75 Raspberry Pi does not have these limitations. Of course, the ZEN sounds better at the rates it does support, so there's that.

 

[dsnyder]

@iFi audio , it would be awesome if the Zen Streamer could add an additional output option for UPnP Renderers.

Interesting feature request; however, I don't think the processor in the ZEN Stream is going to work well for that. It's able to do a fine job receiving audio over the network and copying it to a locally attached USB or S/PDIF DAC. But asking it to do anything related to serving music or managing a library is going to compromise sound quality, performance, or both…from what I can tell.

 

[dsnyder]

Is it possible to connect with Telnet to Streamer?

Well, not telnet, but ssh works. Just follow these instructions: https://volumio.github.io/docs/User_Manual/SSH.html

Once you're in, you can do cool stuff like check the CPU temperature:

volumio@ifi-zen-stream:~$ awk '{printf("- CPU temp : %.1f'"'"'C : %.1f'"'"'F\n", $1/1000, 32+($1/1000)*9/5)}' /sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp
- CPU temp : 53.3'C : 128.0'F

 

[dsnyder]

If airplay is doing full cd quality bit rate than that should top Spotify at least until that one is going hires too
But for the hires enthusiasts getting expensive DACs and paying lossless streaming service subscriptions I feel like that solution won't be accepted though one can claim that hardly people might hear the difference in blind A-B tests.
So to satisfy the wish for the maximum possible resolution it seems Tidal Connect is the only losless service being supported down to the DAC currently on the Zen Stream

As far as I can tell, the ZEN Stream supports PCM up to 32-bits, 384 kHz out to a compatible USB DAC. If native DSD for your DAC happens to be supported in the fairly old kernel, DSD256 may be possible. Otherwise, you'll be limited to DSD128 via DoP. Loads of yummy texture from this album (originally recorded in DXD):

As long as you don't ask the ZEN Stream to be a media server, it's wonderful.

 

[dsnyder]

If I can bring it down to 9v I will try that tonight just for giggles.

No need to bring the voltages down to 9V. The ZEN Stream supports anything from 9V/1.8A to 15V/0.8A. Let us know how it goes.

 

[FooFighter]

Gosh
That's one of the most extensive issue handling threads I have read lately on headfi...
Hope these cases are exceptions here.
I haven't read such massive complaints for any other ifi products I had investigated before.
So let's hope it's just a bad production batch...

 

[dsnyder]

Gosh
That's one of the most extensive issue handling threads I have read lately on headfi...
Hope these cases are exceptions here.
I haven't read such massive complaints for any other ifi products I had investigated before.
So let's hope it's just a bad production batch...

Yeah. I blame this on a batch of bad iPower supplies. Even in the case where some units seemed to be DoA, I wonder if the internal boot media was just trashed due to flakey power during initialization. Can definitely happen. The sad thing is that iFi has been my favorite power clean-it-up company. I have five AC iPower devices, the PowerStation, four iPower X adapters, another four of the original iPower, a couple of DC iPurifier2's, and I've forgotten what else. Never had issues like what we're seeing here before.

 

[dsnyder]

On sound quality, it's still too early for me to form a reliable opinion on the ZEN Stream (only been listening to the thing on and off since yesterday evening). Whenever I get a new toy in, it almost always sounds amazing. Expectation bias and stuff. If it's still blowing my skirt up after a couple of weeks, it's a keeper. LOL

Gun to my head now, gosh. I've never heard this little setup sound so good. I thought my little VitOS RPi4 builds were the cat's meow, but, as others have said, it's not close. The degree of impact a transport has on a DAC is somewhat DAC-dependent, but the ZEN Stream really seems to take the Khadas Tone2 Pro to another level. Let's see if I still think so in a week or two. If so, I'm definitely buying a 2nd ZEN Stream for my other system!

 

[tombrisbane]

Running mine into my TA-ZH1ES and it’s never sounded better. A much cleaner sound than I was getting out of my iPad, I’m guessing it just have had some interference/noise for there to be a difference. I have a Topping A90/D90SE on order as well so look forward to trying it out with that combo.

I was getting an occasional jump in tracks using wifi with Tidal - swapped to Ethernet and haven’t had that issue since. Didn’t experience it with airplay so may also just be Tidal related.

 

[stu667]

Hello,

I have read this topic with interest and ordered this unit. When I tried to set it up I had a cold sweat. It seemed dead or bricked. I was not getting the green light after 2 minutes on wired or wifi mode. So, I decided to scan for the IP adress of this unit and found out that 192.168.211.1 was wrong. In my case it was 192.168.1.18. I typed this in my browser and I was in

So, please check for the good IP adress and stop blaming the power supply

Hope this will help some of you out there.

 

[crowtree99]

No need to bring the voltages down to 9V. The ZEN Stream supports anything from 9V/1.8A to 15V/0.8A. Let us know how it goes.

Unfortunately I was mistaken, the spare lps I have is a fixed 5v one so not much use.
However the consensus seems to be that people who received a 12v ps are having no problems and those of us who received 9v ps are having issues.
Mine is already on its way back to Musicdirect who have been excellent in the return request.
When the new one arrives, if it has a 9v ps I might not even try it and go buy a 12v ps and request iFi provide a credit to pay for it.

Fingers crossed it arrives with a 12 ps from iFi though.

 

[crowtree99]

Hello,

I have read this topic with interest and ordered this unit. When I tried to set it up I had a cold sweat. It seemed dead or bricked. I was not getting the green light after 2 minutes on wired or wifi mode. So, I decided to scan for the IP adress of this unit and found out that 192.168.211.1 was wrong. In my case it was 192.168.1.18. I typed this in my browser and I was in

So, please check for the good IP adress and stop blaming the power supply

Hope this will help some of you out there.

Useful to know thanks but I think there are faulty ps as well, did you read about davids that is only delivering less than 6v now?

 

[tombrisbane]

Had a couple of skips again with Tidal using Ethernet and the Zen on AIO - have put it on the dedicated Tidal mode now and so far so good (2 hours with no skips).

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Had a couple of skips again with Tidal using Ethernet and the Zen on AIO - have put it on the dedicated Tidal mode now and so far so good (2 hours with no skips).

I honestly have not had one Hiccup with anything I've played, but for Complete transparency, I rarely ever get glitches of any kind, wifi or wired. Not to any of my RPi's, Cambridge, Computers, Zip zero nada, so I'm probably in the minority, lol

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Useful to know thanks but I think there are faulty ps as well, did you read about davids that is only delivering less than 6v now?

Your correct My PS is definitely not right on several levels...