[Mr BubbaHyde]

Yep, major props to Bubba for all of this most helpful tips and tricks

Thank you my friend! I appreciate it!

 

[Clemmaster]

I just got a Mojo 2 and I'm having issues getting my Zen Stream to recognize it in Roon-only mode via USB.
It defaults to the SPDIF output and won't budge.

When I set the ZS to AiO, it does select the Mojo 2 via USB just fine. Is that a known behavior?

I'm on the latest "official" version 2.31.7.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I just got a Mojo 2 and I'm having issues getting my Zen Stream to recognize it in Roon-only mode via USB.
It defaults to the SPDIF output and won't budge.

When I set the ZS to AiO, it does select the Mojo 2 via USB just fine. Is that a known behavior?

I'm on the latest "official" version 2.31.7.

In Roon Ready mode the process for selecting USB/Spdif changed slightly...

With your dac connected and everything powered on in Roon Ready mode go to settings-audio in Roon and look for the ZS it should look like this

Click on Device info Above the name of your ZS You should see this...

Click on configure device...and this browser window will open...

From there you can make your changes and your Mojo2 should be good to go

I saved this page as a favorite in my browser for Quick changes... and is only for Roon Ready Mode.



Cheers!!

 

[markush8]

Two quick questions:
- how does burn-in time evolve? (Also in view of https://ifi-audio.com/faqs/how-long-should-i-burn-in-this-for/ )
- recommendations where to put it: is it necessary to put it on a horizontal position? Any suggestions what to avoid like placing directly next to a WiFi router or not on top of any other device?

 

[srkbear]

Stream is expensive from what you get. It has no app to support major music services. You have to use third party software. The promise of chromecast reason I purchase never materialized after more than a year since it was introduced. The updates are just bug fixing and not adding features. And as for the sound? Smooth sound overall but lacking the detail of crashing cymbals which I listen a lot. Everyone ear is different. Yes wiim will support mqa core on their next update which will be great on my mqa dac. Does stream allow you to cast on amazon app? No only if you use airplay. You know it wiim will support casting from amazon app as well as on their own app. Upcoming updates include mqa core, eq, roon and Dirac. Any company on earth can come close to their superior developer? Only you can answer that.

You know a cheaper streamer that is Roon Ready and has a USB interface?

 

[srkbear]

Wiim mini. It got tidal connect, Spotify connect, bit perfect and support amazon cast hd. It got apps that support major music stream, it got universal search if you have multiple services. It will have up coming mqa support and eq. More features are also on the way. Does it sound good? Absolutely if your using external dac.

You can’t really be comparing that toy to this unit, that has no USB output, tops out at 192, has no DSD capability and despite your hopes will likely never get MQA—the licensing fee costs are more than the price of the unit.

 

[srkbear]

Two quick questions:
- how does burn-in time evolve? (Also in view of https://ifi-audio.com/faqs/how-long-should-i-burn-in-this-for/ )
- recommendations where to put it: is it necessary to put it on a horizontal position? Any suggestions what to avoid like placing directly next to a WiFi router or not on top of any other device?

Burn in what? This is a digital network streamer—there is no sound produced from the ZS. It’s a Volumio-based micro computer.

 

[srkbear]

It tells me that I’m secure enough to trust my ears. Nothing wrong with that.
My hi-fi system is there to allow me to enjoy music, and that’s the most important thing. It’s meant to be fun, not an analytical exercise.

So you’d ignore the specs on a PC or an expensive flat screen TV and do what—trust your eyes? What criteria do you use to select your gear? Let’s say this—you are searching for some piece of audio gear on Reverb or eBay, and the seller says that he got it tested by a technician and is selling it as-is because the tech said the unit has an unexpected amount of noise or distortion (which is what measurements fundamentally measure)—would you feel compelled to buy it anyway to let your ears guide your choices?

Measurements aren’t everything for all audio components—they’re actually pretty sketchy for headphones and they’re just ok for amps. But for DACs, where their only function is to restore a digital sample to analog with as much faithfulness to the original as possible, measurements tell you 100% of the story. For streamers, where the signal exists completely in the digital realm and has no sound, measurements aren’t even an appropriate term—there’s not much to measure.

I don’t mean to be contentious; I just think with this thread being about a digital transport discussing measurements really makes no sense—but as long as we are discussing them we need to define them properly. Peace.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Can anyone recommend an integrated amp that has a USB DAC input to which the Zen Streamer can play Native DSD? My NuPrime IDA-8 and some others at which I have looked require Windows or Mac drivers for Native DSD playback over USB. Considering that Linux renderers and endpoint software's are the backbone of network music streaming, it is sad that so many integrated amps can only play DoP from Linux devices.

I gather the problem is that the integrated's DAC need its unique ID programmed into the renderer's kernel. Sooooo.... Which integrated amps' DACs have had their ID's programmed into the Zen Streamer kernel?

@Mike Rubin if you are still here, I remembered you asking this when I saw this Sabaj Integrated perhaps this can help your search...

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/325...8c10d1d814a80af56f8f41cf9f1f5&ck=in_edm_other

Cheers!!

 

[rlw6534]

—the licensing fee costs are more than the price of the unit.

Um... no. Why say stuff like that?

 

[smartplug]

You can’t really be comparing that toy to this unit, that has no USB output, tops out at 192, has no DSD capability and despite your hopes will likely never get MQA—the licensing fee costs are more than the price of the unit.

It’s nice by able to read on your dac 768k and brag about it but you’re not superman that you could hear more than 20khz. Usb does not make sound better than coax or optical. It just passing info. Your ear is not perfect and can’t be use as reference only measurements can. You don’t just want to admit you just wasted your money and got less in return. Is it 400 percent better?

 

[Mike Rubin]

@Mike Rubin if you are still here, I remembered you asking this when I saw this Sabaj Integrated perhaps this can help your search...

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3256804336898261.html?ug_edm_item_id=3256804336898261&pdp_npi=2@dis!USD!US $499.99!US $499.99!!!!!@214105d516595937423861001d54da!!edm&edm_click_module=alg_product_l1r2_1375904380&creative_img_ind=1&tracelog=rowan&rowan_id1=aeug_edm_41180_1_en_US_2022-08-10&rowan_msg_id=lbutCOWS_41180_$5ab8c10d1d814a80af56f8f41cf9f1f5&ck=in_edm_other

Cheers!!

Thanks for the tip. I will have a look!

 

[zolom]

Trying to spot any audio benefit of Roon only Mode vs. AIO on the ZS, but cannot hear any contribution.
Playing Tidal hifi + over Roon. Connected to Hugo2 via quality SPDIF coax. Amping my Stellia via iFi iCAN Pro.

Did I miss anything?

Thanks

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Trying to spot any audio benefit of Roon only Mode vs. AIO on the ZS, but cannot hear any contribution.
Playing Tidal hifi + over Roon. Connected to Hugo2 via quality SPDIF coax. Amping my Stellia via iFi iCAN Pro.

Did I miss anything?

Thanks

Try this experiment...

Go to Mode #1 AIO, turn off everything but Roon Ready inside the Stream app...

Now while listening to music toggle between Roon Ready and Not, see if you notice anything.

This is where I heard a slight difference in sound quality, I then switched to Mode#2 exclusive Mode and heard a further improvement in sound, it is subtle but to me it was present.

Cheers!!

 

[JMDM]

Apart from streaming 'ifi App' , what are the best other alternative solution via uPNP/Dlna ?
Free stuff to stream local USB files over wifi from an Android phone ..?

So that I can also try to see any difference in the exclusive mode(uPNP/DLNA)

Thanks