[Mr BubbaHyde]

speaking of longevity, is it considered safe to be leaving the zen stream on 24x7? currently that is what I am doing with my ultrarendu and innuos statement. any reason to switch off the zen stream when not in use?

I have not seen anything saying it should be shutdown, but again it's early on. I would think being it's a streaming device that one should be able to leave it on. Personal preference could go either way!

Cheers!!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Hello,
new ifi Stream user here...
The device is nice, but the software is... i miss a lot!
So we will see, that further updates will bring.

Sound quality is absolute, an upgrade to my Rasperry with Volumio.
Then software updates will bring native Qobuz and Tidal integration, for me, this will be a keeper!

Right now, i use it with Audirvana Studio, and i say it again, SQ is top!

Nice to see someone else is enjoying it! and yes hopefully for those that need the software it is coming sooner than later! Personally my feeling is it would be a huge misstep not to compliment this device with something anything less than what it deserves!

Cheers!

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

speaking of longevity, is it considered safe to be leaving the zen stream on 24x7? currently that is what I am doing with my ultrarendu and innuos statement. any reason to switch off the zen stream when not in use?

I have not seen anything saying it should be shutdown, but again it's early on. I would think being it's a streaming device that one should be able to leave it on. Personal preference could go either way!

Cheers!!

Correcto! Nothing to worry about here.

 

[Louisiana]

Today I played around a little and compared the ifi stream with different Raspberrys Pi - both with Volumio and MoOde.
Some write that the ifi stream is just an RPi in the ifi case, that's absolute nonsense.
The ifi Stream is a clear update in sound quality compared to the Raspberry Pi and the Asus Tinker Board, definitely!
The bass has more punch and the soundstage is wider, I don't know why that is, but it is.

All in all, I am 100% satisfied with the ifi Stream, I just hope that there will be a lot more to do with the software, especially Tidal & Qobuz integration would be desirable.

I use mconnect on the iPhone to control the ifi Stream, it works wonderfully.

Audirvana Studio disappointed me a little because it first converts the audio stream to .WAV, I don't like that at all.

As you can see, source with mconnect:

And then with Audirvana Studio:

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Today I played around a little and compared the ifi stream with different Raspberrys Pi - both with Volumio and MoOde.
Some write that the ifi stream is just an RPi in the ifi case, that's absolute nonsense.
The ifi Stream is a clear update in sound quality compared to the Raspberry Pi and the Asus Tinker Board, definitely!
The bass has more punch and the soundstage is wider, I don't know why that is, but it is.



All in all, I am 100% satisfied with the ifi Stream, I just hope that there will be a lot more to do with the software, especially Tidal & Qobuz integration would be desirable.

I use mconnect on the iPhone to control the ifi Stream, it works wonderfully.



Audirvana Studio disappointed me a little because it first converts the audio stream to .WAV, I don't like that at all.

As you can see, source with mconnect:


And then with Audirvana Studio:

I am so glad someone else has commented that the SQ out of the ZS is better than some Raspberry Pi streams, I was stating this pages ago and will continue to do so, it is plain and simply better. I have yet to do some really hard tests on some of my Pi's but initially I said exactly what you are saying.

Glad your enjoying it!

 

[windplr]

Today I played around a little and compared the ifi stream with different Raspberrys Pi - both with Volumio and MoOde.
Some write that the ifi stream is just an RPi in the ifi case, that's absolute nonsense.
The ifi Stream is a clear update in sound quality compared to the Raspberry Pi and the Asus Tinker Board, definitely!
The bass has more punch and the soundstage is wider, I don't know why that is, but it is.

I would be surprised if the Zen Stream USB didn't sound much better than stock RPi (3 or 4) using the built-in USB for output. Especially the Pi3 are known for very poor audio quality as a streamer when using internal USB. I'd be interested in an RPi with an S/PDIF HAT, such as an Allo Digione, compared to the S/PDIF on the Zen. Another interesting comparison would be the Allo USBrdige vs Zen Stream USB.

 

[Louisiana]

I would be surprised if the Zen Stream USB didn't sound much better than stock RPi (3 or 4) using the built-in USB for output. Especially the Pi3 are known for very poor audio quality as a streamer when using internal USB. I'd be interested in an RPi with an S/PDIF HAT, such as an Allo Digione, compared to the S/PDIF on the Zen. Another interesting comparison would be the Allo USBrdige vs Zen Stream USB.

I had the Allo Digione Signature, as well as a RASPDIGI I2S streamer, I didn't even hear a difference to the normal Pi, so I sold everything again.
Also had different LPS...
I didn't expect anything from the ifi Stream, but as you can read, it was really a surprise for me.

ifi Stream beat them all, and no, i'm not paid from ifi

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I would be surprised if the Zen Stream USB didn't sound much better than stock RPi (3 or 4) using the built-in USB for output. Especially the Pi3 are known for very poor audio quality as a streamer when using internal USB. I'd be interested in an RPi with an S/PDIF HAT, such as an Allo Digione, compared to the S/PDIF on the Zen. Another interesting comparison would be the Allo USBrdige vs Zen Stream USB.

I believe I addressed this pages ago, but I'm a little off, so it may have been in the Roon forum, lol

As it relates to the Allo digione, again I would choose the Zen. Don't get me wrong they are in the same vein, it's just the ZS is flowing better! To me I can describe it only as more meat on the Bone. I don't mean bass just a beefier sound signature. And for sure a blacker background, no doubt. Also better soundstage for sure.

The ZS is closer to the Pi2AES than anything I've heard. Again even there I would take the ZS. There is really not much difference between those two at all but the ZS edges it out just by a hair.

Now here's something I do not understand. Those examples were coaxial/Spdif If Use the BNC of The Pi2AES to say my Gustard or BF2 I prefer the BNC over the ZS.

Why I don't know, all in all, all of this will be subjective. The thing that gets me is I am hearing what others are saying, and they are writing the same things that I am hearing!

Hope that helps, and I am also not being paid by iFi, If they offered I'd say no, but I'd be happy to beta test that App you say is coming!!

Did you hear that, @Sebastien Chiu !!!

 

[ahossam]

Mine has arrived! Setting up is easy just follow the manual. This device is what I'm looking for, being able to streaming Roon through wifi from across the room. Making my Denafrips a streaming DAC! Love it!

But this thing is running hot, a bit hotter than my amp. is it okay, to always leave it on?

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Mine has arrived! Setting up is easy just follow the manual. This device is what I'm looking for, being able to streaming Roon through wifi from across the room. Making my Denafrips a streaming DAC! Love it!

But this thing is running hot, a bit hotter than my amp. is it okay, to always leave it on?

We have been told in this thread that it is perfectly fine to leave on!

Cheers

 

[FooFighter]

Mine has arrived! Setting up is easy just follow the manual. This device is what I'm looking for, being able to streaming Roon through wifi from across the room. Making my Denafrips a streaming DAC! Love it!

But this thing is running hot, a bit hotter than my amp. is it okay, to always leave it on?

First Denafrips user is trying it - exiting!
Which connection port are you using on the DAC?
Are you perceiving any signature differences compared to direct USB connection to your DAC?

 

[skrzyp]

I am a bit skeptical that iFi is offering major technical audio advancements over the competition (e.g. PI2AES, SOtM, Sonore) in this area. The appeal of the Z Stream to me is that it represents a reasonably affordable, well-designed, flexible and presumably well-supported streamer from an established company, that will provide quality audio output to my DACs. I've spent lots of time messing with different DACs, dongles, software platforms, audio parameters and plugins for my Raspberry Pis over the past year, and I'm now very happy to let iFi handle this for me. I can't say that the Z Stream sounds far superior to my Allo USBridge for example, but it is a clear step up in build quality and presentation, and is far easier to use. So far I've tried it via coax & usb from my Mojo, Metrum & Rega Dacs playing from Audirvana, and using the USB-mounted local library. Sounds awesome all around. It does get pretty hot...

 

[ahossam]

First Denafrips user is trying it - exiting!
Which connection port are you using on the DAC?
Are you perceiving any signature differences compared to direct USB connection to your DAC?

I use DDC between ifi Stream and Denafrips DAC. ifi Stream --> USB connection --> DDC --> I2s connection --> Denafrips DAC.

As for the differences in sonic signature between direct to DAC connection or from Stream. I am not that far yet, I just received Stream today. I need to let my ear to get used to it.

 

[iFi audio]

The bass has more punch and the soundstage is wider, I don't know why that is, but it is.

Thanks for your feedback! Among other things, this is due to our tech meant to clean things up; lower jitter and provide clean power. Digital products are sensitive to such treatment

 

[rudy49]

Today I played around a little and compared the ifi stream with different Raspberrys Pi - both with Volumio and MoOde.
Some write that the ifi stream is just an RPi in the ifi case, that's absolute nonsense.
The ifi Stream is a clear update in sound quality compared to the Raspberry Pi and the Asus Tinker Board, definitely!
The bass has more punch and the soundstage is wider, I don't know why that is, but it is.



All in all, I am 100% satisfied with the ifi Stream, I just hope that there will be a lot more to do with the software, especially Tidal & Qobuz integration would be desirable.

I use mconnect on the iPhone to control the ifi Stream, it works wonderfully.



Audirvana Studio disappointed me a little because it first converts the audio stream to .WAV, I don't like that at all.

As you can see, source with mconnect:


And then with Audirvana Studio:

hopefully Mconnect will work better with the Zen Stream than it does with my Oppo 103. it can't find the Oppo half the time.