iFi audio ZEN Stream - Streaming elevated to a higher plane

[SHXMD]

Thanks!

I finally found your message at entry 4774.

Will download mobile one as Qobuz connect may be awhile!

Thanks again!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Thanks!

I finally found your message at entry 4774.

Will download mobile one as Qobuz connect may be awhile!

Thanks again!

Please let us know how you make out with this, I am primarily a Roon user but always found MConnect to be a good app.

Cheers!!

 

[SHXMD]

Roger that!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Raise a Glass!!

The Abso!ute Sound has given the Zen Stream its...

2023 Editors’ Choice: Best Music Servers Under $10,000​

You can check out the article right here...

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/2023-editors-choice-best-music-servers-under-10000/

And get yours here! https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-stream/

Cheers!!

 

[jjazzy]

Raise a Glass!!

The Abso!ute Sound has given the Zen Stream its...

2023 Editors’ Choice: Best Music Servers Under $10,000​

You can check out the article right here...

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/2023-editors-choice-best-music-servers-under-10000/

And get yours here! https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-stream/

Cheers!!

Don't take it the wrong way, The device sound very very nice (but it is still quite buggy and instable at moments) please fix that, and than it will be a perfect product.

 

[rwelles]

Don't take it the wrong way, The device sound very very nice (but it is still quite buggy and instable at moments) please fix that, and than it will be a perfect product.

I have a much different experience with ZS. I use it wired as a Roon endpoint. I have not found it to be buggy nor unstable. It has been rock-solid for me. I hardly ever have to restart it or do any troubleshooting. The only time I've had a problem with it was fixed when I restarted my router.

This isn't to say you are wrong; just that not everyone has had problems with it.

 

[SHXMD]

Not to juice the guys in R&D but an Absolute Sound endorsement would seem tremendous impetus to bring out your own software for the Zen Stream.

I have had very few problems (I use Ethernet) which turned out to be related to my computer (Mac Mini M 1-screen lock time) and my age (pathway right in front of me why cannot I not see it).

Streaming Qobuz without MConnect and slightly friendlier USB drive would be fabulous!

 

[jjazzy]

One of the few problems, and this are a few I had, there are people with other issues. And don’t get me wrong, when it plays, it sounds nothing but amazing.

And I still own the device, because it is a real good sounding device, doesn’t mean it is issue free (which I personally think is a shame, because they can be adresses and it would make the device perfect)

- loosing connection at moments to dac (usb) so have to restart.
- loosing music scanned database, so meant I had to rescan Terabytes of music files again (happened a few times)
- smb issues, with synology NAS (and I think qnap too), I had to create a work around through a NFS share, because smb share still not working. Synology Smb works through windows and server OS. It is not the synology, because smb version 1, 2, 3 works fine. (And yes I tried the version smb version trick in the ifi app)

 

[verity]

my Ifi Zen streamer doesnt stay connected.
Im using mconnect and my streamer is no where to be found. I’ve also tried via Tidal connect, both with setting 1 and also The special tidal setting with the screw.
I also disconnected it, loosen all cables, restart etc multiply times.

this used to happen before and then I could use the Ifi App and restart from there but now the app only crach everytime I try to use it.
I open the app and there I have to select device, and when I press on Zen streamer the app shuts itself everytime. I erased the app and downloaded it again but it doent work.

Can someone please help.

My english isnt the best, hope you still understand.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

my Ifi Zen streamer doesnt stay connected.
Im using mconnect and my streamer is no where to be found. I’ve also tried via Tidal connect, both with setting 1 and also The special tidal setting with the screw.
I also disconnected it, loosen all cables, restart etc multiply times.

this used to happen before and then I could use the Ifi App and restart from there but now the app only crach everytime I try to use it.
I open the app and there I have to select device, and when I press on Zen streamer the app shuts itself everytime. I erased the app and downloaded it again but it doent work.

Can someone please help.

My english isnt the best, hope you still understand.

First things first...

Start a support ticket here so you can get that train rolling, and they may offer you different solutions as well.

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

Secondly a few tips...

1. I would make sure from within the iFi stream app menu that "hotspot" is disabled after setup if you used that method.

2. You can try my setup procedure listed in the first post of this thread ...

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ifi-zen-stream-setup-tips-tricks.961425/

3. Just redo your setup by doing a factory reset from the Zen Stream menu and following this video...



Hope this helps you out!

Cheers!!

 

[ProgNose]

my Ifi Zen streamer doesnt stay connected.
Im using mconnect and my streamer is no where to be found. I’ve also tried via Tidal connect, both with setting 1 and also The special tidal setting with the screw.
I also disconnected it, loosen all cables, restart etc multiply times.

this used to happen before and then I could use the Ifi App and restart from there but now the app only crach everytime I try to use it.
I open the app and there I have to select device, and when I press on Zen streamer the app shuts itself everytime. I erased the app and downloaded it again but it doent work.

Can someone please help.

My english isnt the best, hope you still understand.

Hi, have you tried the free version of mconnect or the purchased one? With the free version on my iPad it didn't work for me either, but with the one purchased from the app store it works without problems.
The iFi app from the app store often crashes after a few seconds, which is why I use the browser version via Safari. It runs absolutely stable. Maybe this would fix your problems.

 

[TheR0v3r]

Raise a Glass!!

The Abso!ute Sound has given the Zen Stream its...

2023 Editors’ Choice: Best Music Servers Under $10,000​

You can check out the article right here...

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/2023-editors-choice-best-music-servers-under-10000/

And get yours here! https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-stream/

Cheers!!

This

The iFi Zen Stream has delivered “real resolution” to my system. It is of the kind that Robert Harley wrote about like this:

But a hi-fi system that delivers real resolution sounds nothing like that stereotype. In fact, higher resolution renders greater tonal saturation, warmth, and instrumental body by virtue of revealing the timbral micro-structure, which only contributes to a sense of realism and life. Instrumental textures simply sound more like the real thing when the system accurately portrays the instrument's harmonic and dynamic structure in all its finely textured glory.

This is one of very few streamers (or reclockers) that actually makes a system sound BETTER rather than just different.

All of the sudden it became crystal clear to me that it’s an electrical bass guitar playing the lowest notes on “Flight of the Cosmic Hippo”

PS. The SPDIF out in particular is beyond reproach.

 

[Mike Foley]

I can’t argue with any of the above from @TheR0v3r .
The ZEN Stream is the most musically involving streamer I’ve had in my system. I forget about the sound, and just enjoy the songs.
I haven’t tried the coax output, only usb into the ZEN ONE. How do the two output options compare? I’m currently using the coax input on the dac for another source.

 

[TheR0v3r]

I can’t argue with any of the above from @TheR0v3r .
The ZEN Stream is the most musically involving streamer I’ve had in my system. I forget about the sound, and just enjoy the songs.
I haven’t tried the coax output, only usb into the ZEN ONE. How do the two output options compare? I’m currently using the coax input on the dac for another source.

The coax output sounds more direct and with more clarity than the USB output; music has a greater sense of dynamics, more details, better spatial presentation and an alluring immediacy.

In my system I’ve never been able to experience sound quality like this with USB despite trying reclockers, fancy cables and so on.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

The coax output sounds more direct and with more clarity than the USB output; music has a greater sense of dynamics, more details, better spatial presentation and an alluring immediacy.
In my system I’ve never been able to experience sound quality like this with USB despite trying reclockers, fancy cables and so on.

Although I completely agree with this statement, I would suggest trying one of our LAN iSilencers with the Zen, I found it brought the Zen closer to the performance of the NEO and Optibox combo, and made a great stride in the sound.

Just my two cents, but you could try one from someplace with a good return policy and see if it helps you!

Cheers!!