[Bill Allen 2]

Being "curious" I also checked my Tidal Connect just a moment ago and here is the result Zen Stream to Gustard X16...



So I'm pretty sure my ZS is doing what I ask it to do, perhaps a re-run of your setup is in order...

Looks to me your setup is actually proving my point, you DAC should be reading MQA Studio then the correct unfold.

Instead it reads OFS 192KHz.

Try the free version of the mConnect App with Tidal and then take a look at what you DAC says.

 

[Bill Allen 2]

Here is a current review on MQA.
https://www.av2day.com/2021/05/mqa-vs-mqa-studio-files-on-tidal/
I too can easily hear the superiority of MQA Studio Files, I also find Tidal to offer the best overall quality with music streaming.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Looks to me your setup is actually proving my point, you DAC should be reading MQA Studio then the correct unfold.

Instead it reads OFS 192KHz.

Try the free version of the mConnect App with Tidal and then take a look at what you DAC says.

It was my understanding that anything less than a direct connection to the dac the dac will show OFS, again that's only my understanding.

I will not get into an MQA discussion as that's not for here Anyone who knows anything about MQA knows what it is, those in (or retired from the music business
) also know. And there are enough videos on the topic.

If the fact that your dac says OFS instead of MQA is preventing you from enjoying the music, well I am seriously at a loss for what to say there.

In fact I really don't know what to say about the serious digging into menu's, and stream rates, and how far your computer is from this or that, and what temperature it runs at. I think in that scenario none of you would be able to enjoy live music, and by live I don't me "Recorded Live" LMAO

BTW I'm tapping on these topics, but what I will chime in on is someone trying to crap on a perfectly good for what it does and it's price product, just cuz the scientific whatthehellever isn't jiving! lol

Peace my brothers as the Doobies said.. Ohh Ohh Ohhh "LISTEN" to the music...lol (I kill me)

 

[Bill Allen 2]

Talk a look at the MQA authorized 'Music Streamers' ... notice iFi is not listed in this category yet.
https://www.mqa.co.uk/playback-devices
For now I suspect the ZS is only receiving 'software unfolded' MQA from the Tidal app when using Tidal Connect.
What your DAC does with these unfolded MQA is

Roon and mConnect are authorized for MQA so they can pass straight through the ZS to MQA DAC's as do ripped MQA CD's.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Talk a look at the MQA authorized 'Music Streamers' ... notice iFi is not listed in this category yet.
https://www.mqa.co.uk/playback-devices
For now I suspect the ZS is only receiving 'software unfolded' MQA from the Tidal app when using Tidal Connect.
What your DAC does with these unfolded MQA is

Roon and mConnect are authorized for MQA so they can pass straight through the ZS to MQA DAC's as do ripped MQA CD's.

Are you good yet?

Why don't we talk about a much better issue? Pretty please??

After you "threw in the towel on computer audio" how did you listen you your stored music? That's the second time I asked that but you conveniently glance away from any question directed at you and ignore it. But yet are so well informed new tech and delivery systems.

For someone who gave up on it, acted like you had to try Roon because of "you guys", then admitted you had a Nucleus years ago and hated it.

Again I could care less about how you listen to your music, just don't insult my way. The topper of all this is you come at me with an MQA slant when MQA has long been proven not to represent by any stretch of the Imagination to represent the artists intentions, as if warner magically had all of the artists approve the dump of MQA titles they did. (FYI I enjoy MQA), what I don't enjoy is someone touting as the second coming.

As a retired musician/artist I could tell you a world of secrets about it and/or the industry, but that is not for here. The real crime is not whether the damn dac says OFS oR MQA it's did the artist themselves personally approve it, and does the pittance they get from streaming go up from it?? Don't get me started..

You came in here with 3 posts, responded to by members, including myself, that went ignored, while you continued to spew half truths and condemn the product. "not ready for prime time" "ifi shouldn't do this" and a link to their words on their website. Honestly I personally have had enough of your continued silliness.

What was it you said about "male ego's"

Sorry you don't like it, I do and I want to help people, not make them feel like they bought a half baked product, when they certainly did not!

See Ya!

I apologize to all that are here for Help or guidance with the new Ifi Zen Stream, now back to your regularly scheduled thread... Peace!

 

[windplr]

I'm going to do the Roon trial as soon as the ZS I ordered arrives. I'm interested in the sound quality as delivered by Roon to the ZS, and output to my DAC over usb. Music will be a mix of Qobuz cd and hi-res, and ripped flac CDs. If I like what I hear (and I think I will), I'll buy and put the Roon core on a headless box and be done with it.

 

[Bill Allen 2]

I don't think it was asking too much for you to try mConnect to verify MQA works correctly down that path, I can verify it works correctly with Roon ... so can you.

Don't get sore just because you mis-understand my position, I will respond later tonight after my golf game.

I

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

The issue is with Apple Music on a Mac running Big Sur. Apple Music is set to Lossless streaming. I'm streaming via S/PDIF output from ZS to my DAC. Only S/PDIF is connected. I can stream via the Spotify app on this Mac to the ZS, no problem. I just did it.

Hey bud, Some not so good news...

So I was at my studio computer today for a little while and got a chance to try to address the issue your having, the exact same situation is happening on my Studio mac. Now that is still under iTunes but "Tomato ... ya know, lol

So the exact same issue is present here's a couple screenshots...

As I said pretty much the same thing happens, So I am really not sure if this is on @iFi audio or on Apple, specifically Apple music Airplay compatibility.
We know that it works just fine from IOS, just not from the desktop. That's about as far as I can take it so I call on...

@Sebastien Chiu Can you take a look into any issues regarding Airplay in regards to specifically Apple computers, Big Sur and before

Hopefully someone will chime in and give us a direction, and if it's withing the ZS software get a fix rolling..

Sorry I couldn't help more...

Cheers!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I don't think it was asking too much for you to try mConnect to verify MQA works correctly down that path, I can verify it works correctly with Roon ... so can you.

Don't get sore just because you mis-understand my position, I will respond later tonight after my golf game.

I

Naaahh that's ok I'm good, no explanations needed

Enjoy your golf game, I would not download an app to check something that already has their own app.

Cheers!!

 

[ward09]

Hey bud, Some not so good news...

So I was at my studio computer today for a little while and got a chance to try to address the issue your having, the exact same situation is happening on my Studio mac. Now that is still under iTunes but "Tomato ... ya know, lol

So the exact same issue is present here's a couple screenshots...




As I said pretty much the same thing happens, So I am really not sure if this is on @iFi audio or on Apple, specifically Apple music Airplay compatibility.
We know that it works just fine from IOS, just not from the desktop. That's about as far as I can take it so I call on...

@Sebastien Chiu Can you take a look into any issues regarding Airplay in regards to specifically Apple computers, Big Sur and before

Hopefully someone will chime in and give us a direction, and if it's withing the ZS software get a fix rolling..

Sorry I couldn't help more...

Cheers!

I hope this gets a reply, my main source will be Apple Music and a Mac with Big Sur installed

 

[Bill Allen 2]

I too can verity that Apple Music on Big Sur will not connect to the Zen Stream.

The ZS does connect to Apple Music via iPhone, iPad, & 4K Apple TV (2017)

 

[Bill Allen 2]

Naaahh that's ok I'm good, no explanations needed

Enjoy your golf game, I would not download an app to check something that already has their own app.

Cheers!!

What I was trying to convey is that the Zen Stream when connected via "Tidal Connect" it is not passing MQA files to your DAC. (Your pictures verified the issue)
I have the same issue with my Technics G30, except my DAC reads LPCM 88.2/96kHz, your DAC reads OFS 192kHz.
The Gustard X16 like the Technics G30 are both fully authorized MQA DAC's, they both "will display" MQA (Studio) when they are connected to a MQA source.
This is not happening when using Tidal Connect, so clearly there is an issue.

I discovered Tidal streaming via mConnect correctly passes MQA though the Zen Stream, same success using my trial vision of Roon Core.
I was simply asking you to verify my findings on your DAC, obviously my choices of words did not covey my intentions, for that I apologize.

In 2015 I purchased a Sony HAP-Z1ES to detox from computer audio, in 2017 I added a PS Audio DirectSteam DAC to stream both Tidal (MQA) and music stored on the Z1ES using the mConnect app. Very cutting edge at the time and still functioning perfectly today. In 2018 I added the Technics SU-G30 and matching ST-G30 Music Server, excellent sounding gear but the Technics Software proved disappointing. Then in late 2020 came the announcement of Tidal Connect, and even simpler way to connect to quality music, and perhaps a better connection to the Technics gear. Enter the Dragon, the iFi Zen Stream.

Contrary to your interpretations of my words, I love this little device, it awesome and its sounding better everyday.
While the current software is a tad disappointing for my needs, I have every faith iFi will work out these bugs in the near future.

 

[Louisiana]

What I was trying to convey is that the Zen Stream when connected via "Tidal Connect" it is not passing MQA files to your DAC. (Your pictures verified the issue)

But that's because of the Tidal app, and not the ifi Stream.
Normally, if you select an output in the Tidal app, you can set that the app does not unfolding per software, which unfortunately does not work with Tidal connect.

See the last option, "Passthrough MQA", to disable softwaredecoding from MQA.

I use always Audirvana Studio, and everything works flawless with ifi Stream, also steaming MQA to my DAC

 

[rlw6534]

Looks to me your setup is actually proving my point, you DAC should be reading MQA Studio then the correct unfold.

Instead it reads OFS 192KHz.

Try the free version of the mConnect App with Tidal and then take a look at what you DAC says.

I thought OFS simply meant that the first unfold had already been performed by software allowing renderers to complete the process. The authentication has to be done prior to the first unfold at the source. You would need a full MQA decoder to authenticate at the DAC from the unmodified (not yet unfolded) stream. That's essentially the difference between full MQA decoders and MQA renderers. Isn't the final result the same?

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

Hi folks,

Currently gathering a list of the most discussed issues with the Stream so we can add them to our to-be-fixed bug list.

From what I gather (please let me know if I miss anything), the most recurring or biggest issues that need solutions are:

- Big Sur / Mac OS devices not being able to identify/see/use the device at all through Apple Music.
- Some cases of DSD not being translated correctly from the streamer to the DAC.
- Some cases of the Stream not working from Qobuz and with Chromecast.
- " When I add the ZS as an airplay endpoint from Apple's iOS Remote app (which I use routinely to play music in multiple rooms via airport express units), it sees & connects to the ZS but there is no indication that anything is being streamed and no sound is produced. After such an attempt, the ZS disappears from the airplay device list on all my apple devices until I restart it. It seems that airplay streaming is possibly app-dependent."
- "Streaming from TIDAL Connect to a S/PDIF DAC produces clipping distortion during loud passage (re: the Bruno Mars tracks)

No issues with TIDAL Connect to a USB DAC or Roon (USB or S/PDIF) for the same tracks."

Thanks for your continued discussion and crowdsourcing of solutions, and I'll continue chiming in where I can!