iFi audio ZEN Stream - Streaming elevated to a higher plane

[SHXMD]

I think you may be thinking about two different areas for music playback and mixing up the two, I will try to expand...

This is the area in the menu that pertains to USB drives connected to the Upper port on the back of the Zen...

There is nothing to fill in here, you simply connect the drive and it automatically scans it, a big hint is file structure, better to have things in folders, best is a structure like this,
Music (name) > Artist > Album > "files"

The other option is a "Network connected drive" This gets trickier and would best be handled by someone else, so let's say you have a Drive connected to a network switch with all your music stored there.

This is what you will see in that scenario...



SO depending on which one you are using the setup will be a bit different, but connected USB drives directly to the Zen should be plug and play, assuming your file structure is valid.

Hope that helps!

Cheers!!

Well, in reading through your other thread and 500 through here I was anticipating a battle.

I had it all prepped Extra SSD and thumb drive. No names, passwords or other.

Tried to get all information in advance.

As per my normal I was overdoing it.

Music scanned automatically under My Music-sitting there as I said I can see it but felt I need codes to open as a NAS.

I am an idiot-but after reading 1500 entries of problems-it just cannot be this easy!

Thanks also Mr Bubblehyde for sending me the image I was about to send you.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Well, in reading through your other thread and 500 through here I was anticipating a battle.

I had it all prepped Extra SSD and thumb drive. No names, passwords or other.

Tried to get all information in advance.

As per my normal I was overdoing it.

Music scanned automatically under My Music-sitting there as I said I can see it but felt I need codes to open as a NAS.

I am an idiot-but after reading 1500 entries of problems-it just cannot be this easy!

Thanks also Mr Bubblehyde for sending me the image I was about to send you.

Good to hear! Now enjoy a little!

Cheers!!

 

[SHXMD]

Good to hear! Now enjoy a little!

Cheers!!

Roger that!

S

 

[betula]

Some questions:

1, Why am I experiencing strong noise for a few seconds when the ZS is switched on but not yet connected to Tidal?
2, In setting 'nr1' why Tidal seems to play music yet I have no sound? Tidal only seems to work in exclusive mode, setting 'nr3'.
3, There is a huge sonic improvement between streaming from my laptop versus using the ZS (Tidal), but the sonic difference seems a lot less between ZS streaming vs. FLAC from laptop. Why is that?
4, What is the easiest way to use Qobuz with the ZS on a Windows computer?

That is it for now, all inputs are welcome. Many thanks!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Some questions:

1, Why am I experiencing strong noise for a few seconds when the ZS is switched on but not yet connected to Tidal?
2, In setting 'nr1' why Tidal seems to play music yet I have no sound? Tidal only seems to work in exclusive mode, setting 'nr3'.
3, There is a huge sonic improvement between streaming from my laptop versus using the ZS (Tidal), but the sonic difference seems a lot less between ZS streaming vs. FLAC from laptop. Why is that?
4, What is the easiest way to use Qobuz with the ZS on a Windows computer?

That is it for now, all inputs are welcome. Many thanks!

Hope to try and answer some...

1. I have not heard of that, can you describe your chain and the sound?
2. I know there is a slight lag in the progress bar to sound, which I believe is simply due to the MQA non-MQA process inside the ZEN, it is brief but I have noticed it. Also be sure when in AIO mode #1 to check your output setting in the menu, as it defaults to SPDIF.
3. The difference may just come down to settings in one's computer setup, not really my area of expertise.
4. The easiest way is to use a service, Roon or Audirvana until we get an actual Qobuz connect feature like Spotify or Tidal.

Hope that helps a little!

Cheers!!

 

[betula]

1. I have not heard of that, can you describe your chain and the sound?

It is a loud electric noise, reminds me to the noise on a plane. Once the ZS is connected to the Tidal server, the noise disappears.
The chain is in my signature, I use laptop with a Supra Excalibur USB cable.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

It is a loud electric noise, reminds me to the noise on a plane. Once the ZS is connected to the Tidal server, the noise disappears.
The chain is in my signature, I use laptop with a Supra Excalibur USB cable.

Interesting, Does this same noise appear on SPDIF or only USB?

Cheers!!

 

[betula]

Interesting, Does this same noise appear on SPDIF or only USB?

Cheers!!

Unfortunately I can't test that.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Unfortunately I can't test that.

Sorry, I would drop a line to our support to see if they have encountered this. I had a Denafrips (close to Musician) and do not recall this being brought up or happening.

I have however heard of a "noise being produced" before connection in Audio GD equipment. It had something to do with a "lack of" signal being present in that brand.

Please drop a line here...

https://support.ifi-audio.com/

Cheers!!

 

[betula]

I am just wondering, if there are any Tidal users who want to compare Tidal streaming versus their local FLAC library when it comes to sound.

My experience is that the sound quality is relatively close, but I am growing to prefer Tidal streaming more and more.
In my setup FLAC played from local drive sounds a bit brighter, slightly more spacious (although this is most likely a frequency deception), but also drier with less depth. The ZS with Tidal sounds warmer, more natural, the soundstage feels a little smaller but the background is even blacker.
The difference is not night and day, but present enough.

At first I preferred the brighter and more spacious sound of my local FLAC library, but now I think I prefer the warmer, smoother, and more rounded, more natural sound through streaming with that blacker background.

Is this all just the electronic noise I didn't realise is present in my system or there is more to it? Any similar experiences? Thanks!

 

[jjazzy]

I am trying to play hqplayer ‘DSD’ NAA playback on ifi stream, but only PCM 384khz maximum seems to work??

Does ifi stream only suppory pcm over NAA??

 

[MSXX]

I am trying to play hqplayer ‘DSD’ NAA playback on ifi stream, but only PCM 384khz maximum seems to work??

Does ifi stream only suppory pcm over NAA??

I think there is a setting you need to activate or alter in the ifi-web-access or ifi stream app. Otherwise it may force a pcm stream. I haven’t tried dsd myself but remember a saw a setting in the menu somewhere.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

In the app look under settings/playback options, there you will see the option you are looking for...

Cheers!!

 

[jjazzy]

In the app look under settings/playback options, there you will see the option you are looking for...



Cheers!!

Thanks will have a look there

 

[GuiltyRocker]

Did the last firmware update make the unit sound better?