[skrzyp]

I just received a second ZS (updated to the latest OS), and I am using it wired and playing from Audirvana and Spotify with no issues. I have been trying to attach a shared network drive from a local Mac, and have thus far been unsuccessful. I can successfully mount the drive on the ZS and start indexing the content, but each time the ZS hangs and I get a red status light and I have to restart. I have restarted and tried remounting and indexing the drive several times, but the issue recurs. Usually it hangs in the middle of the indexing process. If I disconnect the drive, the ZS seems to remain stable and can play from my other sources. My network is based on GB fiber, and all the relevant connections are wired, so I don't think it's a network issue.

Note that also I have a raspberry pi on my local network running the latest version of Volumio, and it can successfully mount and index the same drive (using identical network drive settings), and I have have been playing from it with no issues for weeks. For whatever reason, the ZS keeps having problems. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone that has experienced any issues using the ZS with a network drive. Thanks in advance!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

OK so i jumped on the Zen Stream as i've always been looking for a streamer to replace my JRiver PC which is not the most convenient. I received the Stream tonight.... and i'm sending it back. It doesn't do anything more than a RPI + Volumio solution. Just much more expensive.
The RPI + Volumio was a big disappointment for me for a simple reason : you can't shuffle your entire library ! That's such a basic feature that Volumio and clones were never able to do. So same disappointment with the Ifi Stream, i'm so disappointed that they used Volumio instead of developping their own proprietary app.
Another issue, i attached a USB drive with 60 000 flac and dsd files and the Ifi Stream only reports 11 000 files. I've tried rescanning the whole database several times but no, it doesn't want to index more than 11 000 files. Shame ! The same USB drive works perfectly with JRiver on a PC.
So this thing is expensive and useless. Very far from the all in one solution Ifi is advertising.
Another issue, none of the two leds on the front of the unit would turn on. They remain off all the time.

If both of your lights were out and it was actually functioning did you try pushing the button on the right. That's also the button to turn the lights on/off in case you want them off, as some do in a dark room. I would suggest taking a look at the manual, that's in there.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

"It doesn't do anything more than a RPI + Volumio solution. Just much more expensive."

This is so incorrect it's almost shameful to post it. Please send it back so we who have it and realise the benefit don't have to hear this short sighted kind of response.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I just received a second ZS (updated to the latest OS), and I am using it wired and playing from Audirvana and Spotify with no issues. I have been trying to attach a shared network drive from a local Mac, and have thus far been unsuccessful. I can successfully mount the drive on the ZS and start indexing the content, but each time the ZS hangs and I get a red status light and I have to restart. I have restarted and tried remounting and indexing the drive several times, but the issue recurs. Usually it hangs in the middle of the indexing process. If I disconnect the drive, the ZS seems to remain stable and can play from my other sources. My network is based on GB fiber, and all the relevant connections are wired, so I don't think it's a network issue.

Note that also I have a raspberry pi on my local network running the latest version of Volumio, and it can successfully mount and index the same drive (using identical network drive settings), and I have have been playing from it with no issues for weeks. For whatever reason, the ZS keeps having problems. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone that has experienced any issues using the ZS with a network drive. Thanks in advance!

I did have my SSD which is attached to my Roon Rock Core in the ZS as a network drive, but I made some changes and don't have it like that anymore. I do remember that I did it thru the ifi app, and I distinctly remember that I did not have to go drilling down into a very specific path, just the main folder not the subfolder. It did work fine for me, and I also did it in checking for someone awhile ago.

In all honesty I do not have a ton of files to worry about that type of thing, wish I could help more, but having 9 or 10 albums there is not a need for a hard drive of any size or consequence, lol

Again don't worry about drilling down to the subfolder.

Sorry Good luck.

 

[jasonmeister]

This problem is due to the bufferred playlist i think. ZS need time to unload the bufferred songs n reload the new songs. Solution is to try to play/click the new song again n click connect again. After that it isually workd fine.
Usually it does not stop streaming in the middle of the playlist.
Both playback settings at maximum.
Had my ZS in early July n switch on almost 24/7 . nearly 3 month now streaming from hdd, tidaln spotify. I am retired n listen to music all day n all night.
Enjoy.

Connection is lost mid-track. Buffer size 64mb, 50%.

Yes, I’ve attempted multiple settings and I am trying to understand why I’m having this experience.

No, I’m certainly not content with restarting a stream every 2-2.5 minutes, and I doubt anyone would be.

 

[genefruit]

OK so i jumped on the Zen Stream as i've always been looking for a streamer to replace my JRiver PC which is not the most convenient. I received the Stream tonight.... and i'm sending it back. It doesn't do anything more than a RPI + Volumio solution. Just much more expensive.
The RPI + Volumio was a big disappointment for me for a simple reason : you can't shuffle your entire library ! That's such a basic feature that Volumio and clones were never able to do. So same disappointment with the Ifi Stream, i'm so disappointed that they used Volumio instead of developping their own proprietary app.
Another issue, i attached a USB drive with 60 000 flac and dsd files and the Ifi Stream only reports 11 000 files. I've tried rescanning the whole database several times but no, it doesn't want to index more than 11 000 files. Shame ! The same USB drive works perfectly with JRiver on a PC.
So this thing is expensive and useless. Very far from the all in one solution Ifi is advertising.
Another issue, none of the two leds on the front of the unit would turn on. They remain off all the time.

Just spitballing an idea here - if it's stopping at the exact number of files each time, can you identify which file/album it's stopping on? It's possible there is a special character in the file/album name that maybe Volumio is unable to process and is getting hung up.

 

[skrzyp]

I did have my SSD which is attached to my Roon Rock Core in the ZS as a network drive, but I made some changes and don't have it like that anymore. I do remember that I did it thru the ifi app, and I distinctly remember that I did not have to go drilling down into a very specific path, just the main folder not the subfolder. It did work fine for me, and I also did it in checking for someone awhile ago.

In all honesty I do not have a ton of files to worry about that type of thing, wish I could help more, but having 9 or 10 albums there is not a need for a hard drive of any size or consequence, lol

Again don't worry about drilling down to the subfolder.

Sorry Good luck.

Thanks - I may contact iFi support directly with this issue. The confusing part is that I'm using the identical network share parameters on both the ZS & my Raspberry Pi, and both are using Volumio -yet the ZS keeps freezing. It works fine with an attached USB drive. However, I really like the idea of centralizing my local music files on a server, so I'd like to get this working...

 

[sabloke]

Just spitballing an idea here - if it's stopping at the exact number of files each time, can you identify which file/album it's stopping on? It's possible there is a special character in the file/album name that maybe Volumio is unable to process and is getting hung up.

Mine scanned and found almost 13k files but it took a while. At the beginning I thought the same, that the number of files is limited, but after scanning overnight all files were there. It looks like scanning runs even when the small animation showing scanning process running has stopped. It needs to do this long process once only as I noticed that after adding new files scanning takes minutes.

 

[Back2mine]

Having great SQ success and compatibility using ZS between a Fidata X20 music server and a McIntosh C53 preamp/DAC . Best SQ achieved using a Lush 2 cable from ZS USB output and a ‘I.AM.D’ linear power supply to the ZS . I utilise the Zen app and all works well .

 

[sabloke]

If your Stream stops while streaming, don't blame it for it as your network is most probably the culprit. An old router that should have been replaced years ago is more likely to be the issue. Test by playing Paradise FLAC radio and if it runs for hours whithout a glitch, your network is fine. If it doesn't then get troubleshooting the network. Bear in mind that a gigabit internet connection means nothing if your downstream gear is not up to it. My internet connection is a mere 50/20 Mbps but the Wi-Fi router allows me to copy at 116MBps between two computes and that means audio, even DSD256, flows without a glitch.

 

[simon740]

Hello,

I see some problems with ZS but I will try it. I sell Node 2021 and now looking some streamer for my Ares II.
I have Ian Canada streamer borrowed from my friend, nice streamer. Good SQ.

regards,
Simon

 

[ClieOS]

Hello,

I see some problems with ZS but I will try it. I sell Node 2021 and now looking some streamer for my Ares II.
I have Ian Canada streamer borrowed from my friend, nice streamer. Good SQ.

regards,
Simon

Yep, try it for yourself first.

I have had my Zen Stream for awhile now and have it on my home Mesh network, streaming either local files or Spotify, never experience any issue myself.

 

[rudy49]

If your Stream stops while streaming, don't blame it for it as your network is most probably the culprit. An old router that should have been replaced years ago is more likely to be the issue. Test by playing Paradise FLAC radio and if it runs for hours whithout a glitch, your network is fine. If it doesn't then get troubleshooting the network. Bear in mind that a gigabit internet connection means nothing if your downstream gear is not up to it. My internet connection is a mere 50/20 Mbps but the Wi-Fi router allows me to copy at 116MBps between two computes and that means audio, even DSD256, flows without a glitch.

i tested mine with a direct ethernet connection to the router. failed. played local files. failed. played radio and failed. got new router and that did not help. latest firmware did not work very well. and its still has connection issues. i can still stream to my computer without network issues. i will be sending this back and will re-purchase again once all the issues have been resolved. time to cut my loses. i appreciate all the help in trying to get this thing to work.

 

[jasonmeister]

If your Stream stops while streaming, don't blame it for it as your network is most probably the culprit. An old router that should have been replaced years ago is more likely to be the issue. Test by playing Paradise FLAC radio and if it runs for hours whithout a glitch, your network is fine. If it doesn't then get troubleshooting the network. Bear in mind that a gigabit internet connection means nothing if your downstream gear is not up to it. My internet connection is a mere 50/20 Mbps but the Wi-Fi router allows me to copy at 116MBps between two computes and that means audio, even DSD256, flows without a glitch.

How can you be so confident that the network is at fault in cases where streams are interrupted?

Ok, you were not responding to me with the above comment, but dismissing Stream issues as ‘network problems’ would be silly in my case if you’ve read any of my previous posts.

I’m not posting about my issues to knock iFi or the ZS. I’d love for this thing to work flawlessly, but it simply isn’t.

All that said, I’ll try the radio channels and see if that plays continuously.

 

[sabloke]

How can you be so confident that the network is at fault in cases where streams are interrupted?

Ok, you were not responding to me with the above comment, but dismissing Stream issues as ‘network problems’ would be silly in my case if you’ve read any of my previous posts.

I’m not posting about my issues to knock iFi or the ZS. I’d love for this thing to work flawlessly, but it simply isn’t.

All that said, I’ll try the radio channels and see if that plays continuously.

Have you got another streamer working perfectly on your network?