iFi audio ZEN Stream - Streaming elevated to a higher plane

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Does anyone ever get this error with Zen Stream using Tidal connect? (Windows 10 - PC app)


I've had the Zen Stream since last Thursday and it has worked on/off with Tidal connect but constantly throwing up this error, once it happens I have no way of solving it, turning the device on/off, reconnect to my network, factory reset the stream / fresh start, reinstall the Tidal app, clear the cache, nothing can resolve it so far. When you select the zen stream on tidal connect it puts up the error, changing tracks doesn't help, but then maybe you try again in a few hours or tomorrow it works for a while.

At this stage I really like the sound but the zen stream isn't working consistently enough for me with Tidal to keep it I think.

(You can also see a Bluesound Node I2 in the connect options, doesn't have the same problem, works fine)


I'm also going to contact Tidal incase its an error from their end.

I would take the time to reboot your network all the way down to the modem and see if the problem persists after that is done.

So often problems/issues like this come up and happen on one device and not another. I have gotten into a ritual of every Sunday morning rebooting my entire network and since I have been doing that, rarely do I have any issues.

If the issue persists after you reboot I would open a ticket with support so they might look into it further.

Cheers!!

 

[supersonic395]

For those using only a usb harddrive, does the drive need to be self powered? How is the reliability with just the usb drive playing flac files?

 

[AnotherBrick]

For those using only a usb harddrive, does the drive need to be self powered? How is the reliability with just the usb drive playing flac files?

I only use it with a portable usb hardrive (a 4TB WD passport (I think) so it gets its power from the ZS. Everything is rock solid with FLAC and DSD files.

 

[supersonic395]

I only use it with a portable usb hardrive (a 4TB WD passport (I think) so it gets its power from the ZS. Everything is rock solid with FLAC and DSD files.

Did you format the drive in any specific format first?

Assume it works flawlessly with the Zen Stream app via smartphone or tablet right?

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

For those using only a usb harddrive, does the drive need to be self powered? How is the reliability with just the usb drive playing flac files?

I do not believe there has been a clear-cut answer to this but it has been generally accepted that if the drive is like a Samsung (or the like) T5-T-7 SSD then no external power is needed. If it is a standard HDD, it is preferred that it has its own power source.

Did you format the drive in any specific format first?

Assume it works flawlessly with the Zen Stream app via smartphone or tablet right?

I have never had an issue with the Stream-iFi app for use in this way, it has always been rock solid for me.

Again while no clear-cut answer in formatting has been agreed upon it is generally agreed upon that FAT32 is best for this type of use, I am a mac user so it has cross-platform compatibility and is suitable for larger file types.

Hope this helps!

Cheers!!

 

[AnotherBrick]

Did you format the drive in any specific format first?

Assume it works flawlessly with the Zen Stream app via smartphone or tablet right?

It's a 3TB WD My Passport Ultra HDD (not 4TB which I said in the earlier post). Mine's formatted NTFS and not self-powered but it sounds like I'm lucky on both accounts. I'd like to go to an SSD but that's not a high priority.

I access the music using the ifi app on my iPad. To make it easy/easier and because of file limitations with other apps (I think the limit is 5,000 files), I have the files stored in folders by genre, artist, then song.

 

[supersonic395]

So is the iFi app limited to just 5000 songs?! I have 30K+ flac files ripped from my CD collection and was hoping to simply plug the HDD into the Zen Stream and simply set & forget

 

[AnotherBrick]

No, no. I'm not sure about ifi but other apps are BUT it's not that bad. It's 5,000 files per folder (and I think 5,000 sub-folders per folder) so you might have to reorganize a bit. I prefer using the genre folders.

Edit - and don't forget that if you have the songs in an 'album' folder it'll reduce the limit and if the 'album' folder is in an 'artist' folder, then it's even less. Using Mr. BubbaHyde's artist choice in an earlier post, a folder named 'Pink Floyd' could contain subfolders named for each album and then 6-12 songs/files in those folders, you would easily stay within most limitations (I seem to recall that JRiver and other PC programs have that limitation)

 

[supersonic395]

No, no. I'm not sure about ifi but other apps are BUT it's not that bad. It's 5,000 files per folder (and I think 5,000 sub-folders per folder) so you might have to reorganize a bit. I prefer using the genre folders.

Edit - and don't forget that if you have the songs in an 'album' folder it'll reduce the limit and if the 'album' folder is in an 'artist' folder, then it's even less. Using Mr. BubbaHyde's artist choice in an earlier post, a folder named 'Pink Floyd' could contain subfolders named for each album and then 6-12 songs/files in those folders, you would easily stay within most limitations (I seem to recall that JRiver and other PC programs have that limitation)

Ahh perfect then, I group by artist and then subfolders per each album

 

[AnotherBrick]

I did some googling and it looks like the limits are Windows based and not app based. FAT formatted disks have a 512 files per folder limit but FAT32 drives have a 65,534 files per folder limit and NTFS drives have a 4,294,967,295 files per folder limit.

No clue where I came up with the 5,000 limit (I caught something on a cruise ship, so I'm blaming brain fog due to a contagious disease).

 

[AnotherBrick]

@supersonic395

Since we're both using the ZS to power our HDD, we might both benefit from a bit more power. @Mr BubbaHyde recommends the iPower X elsewhere.

Note: I'm not going down the cable/power argument, just mentioning it. The stock power sounds fine to these worn-out old ears but ...

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

@supersonic395

Since we're both using the ZS to power our HDD, we might both benefit from a bit more power. @Mr BubbaHyde recommends the iPower X elsewhere.

Note: I'm not going down the cable/power argument, just mentioning it. The stock power sounds fine to these worn-out old ears but ...

Yes I do, just my opinion but the ZS sounds it's best using the ipower X, in another thread I found that the Elite performed better (to my ears) with the NEO Stream.

I would tell you to try both if you can, return the one you think is lesser, but many have shared the same sentiments on the X and the ZS.

Also think about other things you may be able to use them on but I would stay with the 12 or 15v, this is where most have seen audible differences over stock and even linear power supplies.

Cheers!!

 

[AnotherBrick]

This hobby is very like my Single Malt hobby (if it can be called that).

Not just older whiskey can taste better but the quality and shape of the glass will improve the flavour (and no doubt the chair I'm sitting in whilst drinking will as well).

 

[verity]

Yes I do, just my opinion but the ZS sounds it's best using the ipower X, in another thread I found that the Elite performed better (to my ears) with the NEO Stream.

I would tell you to try both if you can, return the one you think is lesser, but many have shared the same sentiments on the X and the ZS.

Also think about other things you may be able to use them on but I would stay with the 12 or 15v, this is where most have seen audible differences over stock and even linear power supplies.

Cheers!!

Why do You think ipowerX sounds better?
Whats the difference that made it better than Elite?

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Why do You think ipowerX sounds better?
Whats the difference that made it better than Elite?

The X to me had a cleaner presentation over the Elite, blacker background if you will.

When I think back to it, I remeber having the X for quite awhile before I got the Elite and when I switched to it I personally felt boo great improvement over the X, both were very good but paired with the ZS I found no big benefit to the Elite, hence why I recommended the X for the ZS, plus it saved major money,

Now that I am using the NEO Stream more I did the same thing, It comes with an X So I used it for over a month that way. I recently tried the Elite on that unit and there was a pretty substantial difference using the Elite on the NEO over the X. Much better Dynamics, and improved Bass definition and punch.

Call it Synergy, that's all I can call it!

Cheers!!