[SHXMD]

Bubba and IFi-Well I gave up waiting for Qobuz Connect and as opposed to adding Mconnect or Jplay (various complaints) added a used Aurilac mini with linear power supply.

Proved a challenge to set-up for those having trouble with Zen stream.

Got totally frustrated and asked to return it. Then noticed when very close to unit/stereo that an “infinity hot spot”
heretofore unknown appeared. The Aurilac hot spot actually disappeared. My suspicion was my Roku (hardwired!) was producing what appeared as a “ competitive hot spot”.

So Aurilac hot spot seen at 3-5 feet but infinity only seen at 1-2 feet from unit.
Attempted connection at 3-5 feet greater than 12 times.

Moved Tiny Roku unit 8 inches away.
Aurilac mini then completed set-up and then allowed Wi-Fi.

I mention all of this only because of comments about WiFi and Zen stream (mine is hard wired) and this may be another answer which I don’t recall reading during my 375 page review.

Streaming Qobuz at Hi-Res is better than people indicated even using Toslink optical (at 192.)

Waiting…on Qobuz Connect!

Happy Holidays!

Sean

 

[iFi audio]

Bubba and IFi-Well I gave up waiting for Qobuz Connect and as opposed to adding Mconnect or Jplay (various complaints) added a used Aurilac mini with linear power supply.

Proved a challenge to set-up for those having trouble with Zen stream.

Got totally frustrated and asked to return it. Then noticed when very close to unit/stereo that an “infinity hot spot”
heretofore unknown appeared. The Aurilac hot spot actually disappeared. My suspicion was my Roku (hardwired!) was producing what appeared as a “ competitive hot spot”.

So Aurilac hot spot seen at 3-5 feet but infinity only seen at 1-2 feet from unit.
Attempted connection at 3-5 feet greater than 12 times.

Moved Tiny Roku unit 8 inches away.
Aurilac mini then completed set-up and then allowed Wi-Fi.

I mention all of this only because of comments about WiFi and Zen stream (mine is hard wired) and this may be another answer which I don’t recall reading during my 375 page review.

Streaming Qobuz at Hi-Res is better than people indicated even using Toslink optical (at 192.)

Waiting…on Qobuz Connect!

Happy Holidays!

Sean

Thanks for posting this!

There have been so many times in private I have been told similar stories, and even had things like this happen in friends' homes.

It is difficult here in a forum setting to diagnose connection issues of any kind, most folks take the hard line that there is nothing wrong with my wi-fi or internet, but you just never know until you know. With so many devices in our homes now absolutely anything can be interfering sometimes. We have folks using VPNs for various reasons, firewalls, yada yada, you know what I mean there.

Perhaps I never had issues because I am lucky, perhaps it is because I don't run any of that, plain ole internet and Wi-Fi, lol

The story is you just never know what can actually be wrong, so best to examine everything in a situation sometimes, even if it seems silly!

Cheers, and Happy Holidays to you as well!!

 

[SHXMD]

Well apparently David Craff of Qobuz posted on or about Dec 4 that Qobuz Connect will launch in 2024.

He also noted that Qobuz had been in touch with the hardware manufacturers. Presumably hopefully IFI.

This “announcement” was noted in another manufacturer thread (WiiM on December 4).

Hopefully the Connect will be compatible with and executable in the IFI products!

Happy Holidays!

 

[Flm09]

Yeah

 

[cheznous]

I’ve enjoyed the Zen stream but having tried the Wiim Pro using my Denafrips DAC I have decided to stick with the Wiim.
The Zen could work fine for a while then I was forever having to go from position 5 to 1 and change the input back to USB as it kept defaulting to SBDIF despite never using optical.
The Wiim just works everytime and the app is far superior.
Hopefully the Wiim Ultra next year will add USB as I have to use coaxial on the Pro.

 

[iFi audio]

I’ve enjoyed the Zen stream but having tried the Wiim Pro using my Denafrips DAC I have decided to stick with the Wiim.
The Zen could work fine for a while then I was forever having to go from position 5 to 1 and change the input back to USB as it kept defaulting to SBDIF despite never using optical.
The Wiim just works everytime and the app is far superior.
Hopefully the Wiim Ultra next year will add USB as I have to use coaxial on the Pro.

I completely agree on the App aspect for the Wiim, for me the lack of a Computer App (Yes, I know they have a beta one is not good enough).

I'm glad you found something that works well for you, sometimes depending on the DAC the USB just doesn't stick and it defaults to Spdif, as an example with my SMSL and with any of my iFi Dacs this did not happen, but I do recall it happening when I had my Ares. It has something to do with USB reporting.

Sorry to see you go but Thanks for giving it a go!

Cheers

 

[audiogeekery]

Hello all!
I am an Ifi Zen stream user into a Bifrost 2/64 via spdif. Using Roon and Qobuz, along with a local library.

Just wanted to see if I am alone here but I’ve been using an ancient 2011 desktop PC to stream and it sounds glorious. Grain-free and straight to the Zen.

Switched to an Intel NUC i7 and the sound is super grainy and thin. So much glare.

No changes in the system, other than the core.

My question is: do the hardware of the cores make a difference with the Zen stream? Since it’s all wireless and no DSP is applied, it should make zero difference.

Just wanted to put this out there and apologies if it’s been asked before.

 

[iFi audio]

Hello all!
I am an Ifi Zen stream user into a Bifrost 2/64 via spdif. Using Roon and Qobuz, along with a local library.

Just wanted to see if I am alone here but I’ve been using an ancient 2011 desktop PC to stream and it sounds glorious. Grain-free and straight to the Zen.

Switched to an Intel NUC i7 and the sound is super grainy and thin. So much glare.

No changes in the system, other than the core.

My question is: do the hardware of the cores make a difference with the Zen stream? Since it’s all wireless and no DSP is applied, it should make zero difference.

Just wanted to put this out there and apologies if it’s been asked before.

Hmmm,

When I switched to my Roon Rock I immediately perceived a better sound (Cleaner for sure). I would double-check things like possibly Software volume control on the Zen, and also make sure all your settings within Roon are the same. I have honestly never heard anyone say this after changing to a NUC.

Let us know how you make out, I am sure others may chime in as well.

Cheers!!

 

[audiogeekery]

Hmmm,

When I switched to my Roon Rock I immediately perceived a better sound (Cleaner for sure). I would double-check things like possibly Software volume control on the Zen, and also make sure all your settings within Roon are the same. I have honestly never heard anyone say this after changing to a NUC.

Let us know how you make out, I am sure others may chime in as well.

Cheers!!

Thanks so much for the speedy response!

To clarify: it’s not a dedicated ROCK but it is a much newer piece of hardware.

For the optimal settings with Roon to the Bifrost: would Device volume be best?

 

[iFi audio]

Thanks so much for the speedy response!

To clarify: it’s not a dedicated ROCK but it is a much newer piece of hardware.

For the optimal settings with Roon to the Bifrost: would Device volume be best?

My bad, when most are speaking of a NUC they mean a Rock, My apologies.

I always had my Zen set to Software Volume "None". What is your chain like, do you need Software volume control?

Most here also use None, but you can try each one and see if it gets you closer to where you were.

Cheers!!

 

[audiogeekery]

My bad, when most are speaking of a NUC they mean a Rock, My apologies.

I always had my Zen set to Software Volume "None". What is your chain like, do you need Software volume control?

Most here also use None, but you can try each one and see if it gets you closer to where you were.

Cheers!!

My chain is the NUC playing Roon > Zen Stream > BF2 > preamp with volume and amp. I would assume that would mean leaving the setting to “Device volume”? Or “none” lol.

Thanks again for the help but let me know if this makes sense

 

[iFi audio]

My chain is the NUC playing Roon > Zen Stream > BF2 > preamp with volume and amp. I would assume that would mean leaving the setting to “Device volume”? Or “none” lol.

Thanks again for the help but let me know if this makes sense

Yes in the Zen Stream menu, Volume = None

In Roon settings for the device, Volume should be set to Fixed being you have Volume control elsewhere.

Hope that helps.

Cheers!!

 

[audiogeekery]

Yes in the Zen Stream menu, Volume = None

In Roon settings for the device, Volume should be set to Fixed being you have Volume control elsewhere.

Hope that helps.

Cheers!!

Many thanks!

This is what I have been using so maybe it’s a matter of using a new power supply or plugging NUC direct to router.

Ahh this hobby! Lol.

Thanks again.

 

[iFi audio]

Many thanks!

This is what I have been using so maybe it’s a matter of using a new power supply or plugging NUC direct to router.

Ahh this hobby! Lol.

Thanks again.

No problem, hope you get it sorted.

Perhaps it's in the OS settings as well, check those as well although Roon should have exclusive access so not sure there.

Let us know if you find it!

Cheers!!

 

[werryslow]

Most of the time the reason why wifi sounds better, is because ethernet puts electrical dirt in the ifi stream, which translates in harshness in the audio

I notice the same thing in my configuration WiFi sounds more transparent and lively. Greetings Werryslow