[Vitor Goncalves]

You do realize people use tube amp despite its high distortion and found them pleasing, nothing wrong with that. Honest sound can be boring and call them too polite so they look for unit that color the sound. You like your music not neutral but colors on it. I have both why I use the cheaper one? Plug it with good power supply just like stream and sound would change. You haven’t try it so you gave negative review.

I clicked "like" by mistake on your comment. Sorry about that. I strongly dislike your obssession with turning this forum on the Zen Stream into a Wiim Mini show case. I personally couldn't care less about it, just as I find the "church"of ASR kind of toxic to the discussion on HiFi gear and sound fidelity. As I've said before, I've been using the Zen Stream for 8 months, without any issues, with ethernet and mostly with Tidal Connect (recently also with Quobuz, via MConnect HD), either connected to the internal DAC of an Hegel H95, or to the Zen Dac Signature V2, via USB (all with fast and stable internet connection). The sound that comes out of my Revel M106 speakers is clean, detailed, with very correct timber. I like it. This forum has been very helpful to get more insights about the product, the setup, etc. I'm always keen to learn about problems other people may face with this product because I may have to deal with the same issues in the future, you never know. Are there better products out there? Sure. I may even try the new Innous Pulse Mini, but I wonder if it would make any audible difference at 3 times the price of the Zen, given the rest of my system, and the excellent result I get with the Zen. The set up is something that we cannot emphasise too much (unless you are an ASR follower). Products like the Wiim may be excellent for certain levels of sound fidelity along the chain, just as the Zen Stream may be perfect for my system and a more refined product can shine with very Hi-End gear and rooms with acoustic treatment.

 

[rlw6534]

I think people get hung up on the credibility factor that one (correctly functioning) digital transport can somehow sound different than another (at least without manipulating bits, which would be a serious flaw).

 

[smartplug]

I think people get hung up on the credibility factor that one (correctly functioning) digital transport can somehow sound different than another (at least without manipulating bits, which would be a serious flaw).

Everyone eardrum and brain translation on sound vary from person to person.

 

[rlw6534]

Everyone eardrum and brain translation on sound vary from person to person.

Absolutely agree with this, everyone has differences in hearing. What I struggle with is when someone claims they can hear a noticeable quality difference with, let's say, some of the less credible aspects of audiofoolery. When someone make ridiculous claims (because they obviously have better, golden ears than the rest of us?) do I believe anything else that they say? I understand that (some) people genuinely believe they can hear a difference, but is it really there? I try to gather information from multiple sources (including ASR) when considering a purchase but sometimes I'm not sure what to filter out...

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Absolutely agree with this, everyone has differences in hearing. What I struggle with is when someone claims they can hear a noticeable quality difference with, let's say, some of the less credible aspects of audiofoolery. When someone make ridiculous claims (because they obviously have better, golden ears than the rest of us?) do I believe anything else that they say? I understand that (some) people really believe they can hear a difference, but is it really there? I try to gather information from multiple sources (including ASR) when considering a purchase but sometimes I'm not sure what to filter out...

Don't understand it myself, but I made this video a while ago, just never mentioned it here, it is what it is, and I stand by my test 100%, no Tomfoolery!





Take it for what it's worth...

Cheers!!

 

[smartplug]

Absolutely agree with this, everyone has differences in hearing. What I struggle with is when someone claims they can hear a noticeable quality difference with, let's say, some of the less credible aspects of audiofoolery. When someone make ridiculous claims (because they obviously have better, golden ears than the rest of us?) do I believe anything else that they say? I understand that (some) people genuinely believe they can hear a difference, but is it really there? I try to gather information from multiple sources (including ASR) when considering a purchase but sometimes I'm not sure what to filter out...

Before high resolution became a mainstream, I was curious how much improvement over cd but upon hearing it based on my hearing it was improvement but nothing knock my socks off. Back in old days when the advent of dvd it was wow factor for me over vhs.

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

Hey guys,

Let's focus on talking about the Zen Stream. I'm sure the WiiM Mini has it's own thread on Head-Fi this kind of discussion can be moved to.

Thanks!

 

[rlw6534]

By far the most significant change in my lifetime was the introduction of the CD with the silent background and huge dynamic range (especially noticeable with some of the early CDs, such as my avatar). I use to initially set my stereo volume based on the hiss level of LPs and cassettes.

Seriously, though, the debate among "Golden Ears versus Meter Readers" has been around forever and certainly will continue.

 

[Hasse B]

Tried DNLA mode on my Zen Stream only (5) and there Qobuz works via MconnectHD but how do I get Spotify to work either directly or via MconnectHD?

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Tried DNLA mode on my Zen Stream only (5) and there Qobuz works via MconnectHD but how do I get Spotify to work either directly or via MconnectHD?

The exclusive modes are a double-edged sword on the Zen, so my suggestion for you would be to Run in mode #1 AIO and narrow down your uses thru the Stream-if app to accommodate your specific uses, you can always A/B exclusive vs. Specific modes to see if you are hearing a huge difference. This Panel is where you want to pick your specifics...

Cheers!!

 

[Hasse B]

I had an ambition to run DLNA but I might have to run All mode for Spotify to work. Maybe it will work with an upcoming update. Have to admit that I don't hear much difference between Spotify and Qobuz even though I have a pretty good setup. Waiting for Spotify to release a higher resolution.

 

[cheznous]

Ifi stream was introduced on this forum a June 25 2021 and it say chromecast update later this year. This year is about to be over in several months and no news on chromecast. This features to me is important because it’s capable of casting different source much like airplay but in higher bandwidth and the reason I made a purchase mainly chromecast and not much on other features. If not for that advertised feature, I would never purchase it.

But why post the same complaint ad infinitum. Move on guy.

 

[hash70]

Anyone else using tidal connect on a Samsung android tablet finding it isnt working?,it shows the zen stream when I press the tidal icon but nothing happens when I click play,if I try it on my iphone instead it plays absolutely fine

 

[Zaurux]

@iFi audio : Still no information about major evolutions (OS, kernel, application versions...) ?

 

[ainzz]

Anyone else using tidal connect on a Samsung android tablet finding it isnt working?,it shows the zen stream when I press the tidal icon but nothing happens when I click play,if I try it on my iphone instead it plays absolutely fine

Yes, having the same problem today. Tidal connect doesn't work on any of my Android products; phones and tablets. Really fustrating. Spotify connect works to can only assume it's a Tidal issue. Have you had it working since you posted? Are you having problems today? I note your location is also UK.