[Mr BubbaHyde]

I will ask the question and see if there are any tickets on this, thanks for reporting!

Cheers!!

 

[ali4ek]

Hello, my experience with 2.32.9, in case useful:

1) Was on 2.31.7, everything worked.

2) Checked "Update", saw 2.32.9 final (non beta) available, updated.

Right after the update the streamer wouldn't be able to share via AirPlay, it would keep asking for some AirPlay Code (?).
See below:

Chose Factory reset - insta bricked (haha).

3) OK, went to the unbricking tool:

Flashed 2.29.3, all good, chose Update, updated to 2.32.9.
Same exact issue, asking for the AirPlay Code...

4) Used the unbricking tool again, flashed 2.31.7, good as new, everything works.

I am actually really surprised how 2.32.9 is released as final with this glaring broken functionality...

 

[gr4phon]

Well, the Support shared the unbricking toolkit with me, and I went through it as explained in the accompanying illustrative video

I successfully restored it to 2.31.7 - as ali4ek.
It seems that the errors I was experiencing have been eliminated and order has been restored. And the whole system seems faster.

Moreover, the factory interface now works properly on both PC and Android, which I'm very happy about!
For me, the time counter on the player always stopped after a few minutes, but the music kept playing. Well, so far I've been listening to the local files for nearly two hours, jumping around the queue, but it seems to be ok.
I will test NAS, Tidal and dedicated modes later.

I think my ZS needed this kind of flashing, and now she's happy.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Well, the Support shared the unbricking toolkit with me, and I went through it as explained in the accompanying illustrative video

I successfully restored it to 2.31.7 - as ali4ek.
It seems that the errors I was experiencing have been eliminated and order has been restored. And the whole system seems faster.

Moreover, the factory interface now works properly on both PC and Android, which I'm very happy about!
For me, the time counter on the player always stopped after a few minutes, but the music kept playing. Well, so far I've been listening to the local files for nearly two hours, jumping around the queue, but it seems to be ok.
I will test NAS, Tidal and dedicated modes later.

I think my ZS needed this kind of flashing, and now she's happy.

Sometimes a brand new fresh start, especially after updates is the best medicine!

Cheers!!

 

[DK309]

Sorry for the trouble here.

Please start a ticket with our support team as they are best equipped to help you out.

If you happen to have 2 Red LEDS on the front of the Zen, please inform them that you need the unbricking tool and the firmware version before the Apple Airplay 2 update.

Keep in mind you do need a Windows PC or laptop to perform this reset, I have had folks have to borrow one as there is no option for us Mac folks to do this.

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

Please let us know how you make out!

Cheers!!

I had already sent a ticket. Liam at tech support promptly sent me the links to the refresh tool. The ZS was reset to v2.31.7 and everything is back to normal.

However...I first tried to do the refresh using Parallels and although it could connect to the ZS, the RKDevTool did not find the right "LOADER Device", instead it found a "MASKROM Device". Thankfully that update failed otherwise I could've caused an even worse problem for myself. Then I remembered I have a 15yo mini laptop with the original Atom CPU in storage, so I booted it up for the first time in 5 years and it worked great...so I can confirm a very outdated PC running XP is good enough to refresh the ZS.

Next, upon the initial refresh everything worked normal except the audio USB. No matter what I tried I could not get the USB audio to work. I even tried updating to v2.32.9 but still no USB audio. I refreshed the ZS back to v2.31.7 (it really is a fast process, just takes 1-2mins). On a whim, I decided to plug in my USB drive and it caused the USB audio to finally get recognized. I did two refreshes and getting the USB audio to be recognized was an issue both times...and in both times the solution was to attach a USB drive (to the top port).

Q1) AIRPLAY: while I was on v2.32.9, I also tried to use Airplay 2 with an Airplay 1 device and it wouldn't work with any of them (2012 & 2015 Macbook Pro and 2018 Mac Mini). At this point, there might not be backward compatibility, can you confirm if the Airplay 1 should still work?

Q2) UPGRADE NOTIFICATION: whenever I return to the iFi browser screen, I get a popup offering to upgrade to v2.39.2. How can I stop the popup notification?

Q3) CPU OPTIMIZATION: how does "optimize CPU usage during device operation" in v2.32.9 work?

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I had already sent a ticket. Liam at tech support promptly sent me the links to the refresh tool. The ZS was reset to v2.31.7 and everything is back to normal.

However...I first tried to do the refresh using Parallels and although it could connect to the ZS, the RKDevTool did not find the right "LOADER Device", instead it found a "MASKROM Device". Thankfully that update failed otherwise I could've caused an even worse problem for myself. Then I remembered I have a 15yo mini laptop with the original Atom CPU in storage, so I booted it up for the first time in 5 years and it worked great...so I can confirm a very outdated PC running XP is good enough to refresh the ZS.

Next, upon the initial refresh everything worked normal except the audio USB. No matter what I tried I could not get the USB audio to work. I even tried updating to v2.32.9 but still no USB audio. I refreshed the ZS back to v2.31.7 (it really is a fast process, just takes 1-2mins). On a whim, I decided to plug in my USB drive and it caused the USB audio to finally get recognized. I did two refreshes and getting the USB audio to be recognized was an issue both times...and in both times the solution was to attach a USB drive (to the top port).

Q1) AIRPLAY: while I was on v2.32.9, I also tried to use Airplay 2 with an Airplay 1 device and it wouldn't work with any of them (2012 & 2015 Macbook Pro and 2018 Mac Mini). At this point, there might not be backward compatibility, can you confirm if the Airplay 1 should still work?

Q2) UPGRADE NOTIFICATION: whenever I return to the iFi browser screen, I get a popup offering to upgrade to v2.39.2. How can I stop the popup notification?

Q3) CPU OPTIMIZATION: how does "optimize CPU usage during device operation" in v2.32.9 work?

Glad things are getting rolling now for you at least!

1. Yes airplay should still work with no issues, in terms of the new version for the moment until I get new info I suggest staying at 2.31.7 to avoid any issues.

2.For the "notification" you are getting it could be because of "auto" upgrade being enabled. Go to Settings-System- Scroll down to updates and look for the Auto Update and turn it off (Mine is off and I get no pop-ups.

3. CPU optimization is probably just some "functional" enhancements discovered for more efficiency, they rarely release details on those things, but I can ask.

Hope this helps,

Cheers!!

 

[ali4ek]

Next, upon the initial refresh everything worked normal except the audio USB. No matter what I tried I could not get the USB audio to work. I even tried updating to v2.32.9 but still no USB audio.

To make sure it's not something as simple as this: after the reflash or system reset, the default output in playback settings is SPDIF.
You did change it to USB Audio before trying, correct?

 

[WolfP]

Hi, my ZS is powered by the Topping P50, all connected to an IsoTek power bar. If I replaced the P50 with the SBooster BOTW P&P Eco MKII would I get any appreciable improvements? If the improvements are minimal, it is better to save money...

 

[pulsedriver]

Was on 2.31.7 and it worked without restarts for ""who knows how long" but did an upgrade to 2.32.9 with hope to resolve my "pink noise" DAC problem ..... After a couple of days of use it started to block on Spotify connect. It just stops playing. Meanwhile the streamer is working so I can restart from the app from my phone and it is up and running again.
I did a factory reset with no luck.

 

[MSXX]

Hi, my ZS is powered by the Topping P50, all connected to an IsoTek power bar. If I replaced the P50 with the SBooster BOTW P&P Eco MKII would I get any appreciable improvements? If the improvements are minimal, it is better to save money...

I can’t answer your question, sorry.

But what really works for me besides quality power is; a ifi Lan Isilencers at router and streamers end and also one usb Isilencer+ in one of the usb a ports and a ground conditioner ifi ground hog at the other usb a port - I use the spdif output audio.

I also put one ansuz ct2 darkz under the streamer with an ikea door stop - a la Darko - on top the balance the unit. And those things transformed the steamer to truly quality streamer competing with big bucks streamers.

 

[rwelles]

I'm having an unusual problem with my ZS using Roon. Several weeks ago, I started getting dropouts. I'm guessing that a firmware update to my Asus XT8 router caused it, but that's just speculation on my part.

I moved my music files from my NAS to a USB SSD connected to my Core (2020 Mac mini w/M1), that didn't help. My router has an adaptive QoS which I turned on and set Audio to the highest priority. That got rid of the dropouts to my wireless Hugo2Go.

Here's the strange part: my ZS is wired with a static IP and it still has dropouts!! Yes, dropouts with wired but not with wireless!

Any suggestions???

I thought about moving the ZS to wireless but the signal isn't strong enough in my equipment room.

I'm thinking of going from adaptive QoS to traditional. I don't know what ports to set on my Core and ZS. Anyone know the ports that are used in Roon? Is it the standard 6600?

I'm running 2.32.9 firmware on the Zs. Mac's software is all up to date.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I'm having an unusual problem with my ZS using Roon. Several weeks ago, I started getting dropouts. I'm guessing that a firmware update to my Asus XT8 router caused it, but that's just speculation on my part.

I moved my music files from my NAS to a USB SSD connected to my Core (2020 Mac mini w/M1), that didn't help. My router has an adaptive QoS which I turned on and set Audio to the highest priority. That got rid of the dropouts to my wireless Hugo2Go.

Here's the strange part: my ZS is wired with a static IP and it still has dropouts!! Yes, dropouts with wired but not with wireless!

Any suggestions???

I thought about moving the ZS to wireless but the signal isn't strong enough in my equipment room.

I'm thinking of going from adaptive QoS to traditional. I don't know what ports to set on my Core and ZS. Anyone know the ports that are used in Roon? Is it the standard 6600?

I'm running 2.32.9 firmware on the Zs. Mac's software is all up to date.

This is an odd issue that is happening more to some and none to others. It was happening to me but a simple replacement of a switch I had at my desk seemed to alleviate it "mostly"

This is being looked at by Roon and Our folks. Hopefully, we get some simple resolution as to why this started.

Am I correct in this was not happening with the previous firmware? Asking you to report it, Thanks...

Cheers!!

 

[rwelles]

It started happening during the previous firmware, the general release--I stay away from betas! I had hoped that the recent ZS update might solve it. But I had been running the older firmware for months without incident.

Now that I consider it more, it could have been a Roon update that started it.

Do you know what ports are used by the ZS and Roon?

 

[rwelles]

Thanks for pointing me toward Roon. Looks like there are others having the same problem. I've made a couple of changes based on a post I found there.

1. Switched from SPFID to USB.

2. Increased Audio Buffer to 64 MB and Buffer Before Play to 50%.

I'll report back to let you know how it goes.

Thanks again @Mr BubbaHyde for your invaluable service!!!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

It started happening during the previous firmware, the general release--I stay away from betas! I had hoped that the recent ZS update might solve it. But I had been running the older firmware for months without incident.

Now that I consider it more, it could have been a Roon update that started it.

Do you know what ports are used by the ZS and Roon?

I haven't wanted to say this "publicly" and it is only speculation on my part but after years of trouble-free Roon I too think that these little dropouts started not long after The "New Roon" came out, that is when I first started noticing it, and the dropouts maybe 2 or less per hour of straight listening.

They have gotten better for me so I believe it is being addressed slowly, and also needs to be addressed on our end, something is just "a bit off" from what it was if you get my meaning.

That being said, I have greatly reduced mine to a point that I barely notice them when they do happen, here what I did, this is just a recommendation and was provided by another user trying to address the issue as well.

I have since changed out any switches between my Modem/Router (Eero Mesh) to this...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086384H7C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

If you have any switches you may wanna give this a go being it is so inexpensive, This has made a difference for me.

Cheers!!