iFi Zen Stream: Setup, Tips, Tricks...

[Zaurux]

Thanks for letting us know. We'll look into how make any previous firmware versions available. If it's possible, we'll make it happen!

It's up to you to decide whether you open up the ability to write from USB-C with the "right" script.

 

[iFi audio]

It's up to you to decide whether you open up the ability to write from USB-C with the "right" script.

If only it was this easy

 

[Zaurux]

With the OTA process, you can insert an intermediate selection?

Update firmware :

- Firmware 1 [ ]
- Firmware 2 [ ]
- Firmware 3 [*]

 

[iFi audio]

With the OTA process, you can insert an intermediate selection?

I'm not into the coding part, so I'd have to ask our R&D about that and I will. Thanks for your feedback!

 

[Currawong]

Thanks for letting us know. We'll look into how make any previous firmware versions available. If it's possible, we'll make it happen!

I'd like to see this too. The "Roon Ready" firmware has been a regression in functionality. Previously, the S/PDIF and USB devices were separate devices in Roon. Now, I only have the Zen Stream as a single output.

 

[iFi audio]

I'd like to see this too. The "Roon Ready" firmware has been a regression in functionality. Previously, the S/PDIF and USB devices were separate devices in Roon. Now, I only have the Zen Stream as a single output.

Point taken Amos, we're looking into how to make that possible. Thanks!

 

[HirkEukvic]

Does anyone have a guess why my Zen Stream would be showing up for Roon but otherwise is invisible on my network? It's directly connected to my router (wired connection) but my router UI can't see anything connected to that port and the iFi app doesn't see it either. I'm running Qobuz > Roon > Zen > S/PDIF out to Sony HAP-S1.

Mind you, the music still plays, but anytime I want to adjust the settings I have to turn the hotspot feature on. I'm on the latest firmware in AIO mode.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Does anyone have a guess why my Zen Stream would be showing up for Roon but otherwise is invisible on my network? It's directly connected to my router (wired connection) but my router UI can't see anything connected to that port and the iFi app doesn't see it either. I'm running Qobuz > Roon > Zen > S/PDIF out to Sony HAP-S1.

Mind you, the music still plays, but anytime I want to adjust the settings I have to turn the hotspot feature on. I'm on the latest firmware in AIO mode.

You should always be able to see the iFi app in #1 AIO, it's when in other modes that that it's not visible.

May I ask what setting you are adjusting? It might help figure this out. As a Roon user I have never had the need to adjust anything inside the iFi app, especially now that it's Roon Ready, I am now running in #2 Roon all the time now.

Cheers!!

 

[HirkEukvic]

You should always be able to see the iFi app in #1 AIO, it's when in other modes that that it's not visible.

May I ask what setting you are adjusting? It might help figure this out. As a Roon user I have never had the need to adjust anything inside the iFi app, especially now that it's Roon Ready, I am now running in #2 Roon all the time now.

Cheers!!

Really it's just a setup question. It just arrived this morning and I've been fiddling with it on breaks from work. I don't expect to ever use the iFi app after setup because it's crashy, at least on Android. My router still can't see the Zen Stream but I was able to at least get the browser portal working.

I've noticed only one other weird thing so far: For some reason my DAC/amp won't read the DoP signal through the coaxial input, so I can't play DSD directly from Roon. DSD natively (it's made by Sony) I'm going to guess it just doesn't know what to do with DoP over coax.

That said, I only own one album in DSD so I don't consider it a huge loss. I unfortunately can't do USB out as a fix because the HAP-S1 has no USB in (it's a pretty odd beast that way, but it's got an onboard NAS if I ever feel like buying DSD again. Which I likely won't because no artists I listen to record in DSD).

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Really it's just a setup question. It just arrived this morning and I've been fiddling with it on breaks from work. I don't expect to ever use the iFi app after setup because it's crashy, at least on Android. My router still can't see the Zen Stream but I was able to at least get the browser portal working.

I've noticed only one other weird thing so far: For some reason my DAC/amp won't read the DoP signal through the coaxial input, so I can't play DSD directly from Roon. DSD natively (it's made by Sony) I'm going to guess it just doesn't know what to do with DoP over coax.

That said, I only own one album in DSD so I don't consider it a huge loss. I unfortunately can't do USB out as a fix because the HAP-S1 has no USB in (it's a pretty odd beast that way, but it's got an onboard NAS if I ever feel like buying DSD again. Which I likely won't because no artists I listen to record in DSD).

As far as setup goes, I always point people to the first post in this thread to have a 98% of the time foolproof way to do the setup first time.

I also only have one true DSD album, and not one of these endless DSD created files I see around, and it definitely works on COAX thru Roon it is DSD 64 Roger waters album, but again only one I have currently.

Also with the newest software any switching in Roon from Coax to Cox is done in a new way, and also in all honesty I do not like the hotspot mode for any setup or use, it has caused many small glitches and issues over the past year, I recommend disabling it from within the ifi.local or in the App.

So my best advice would be do the first setup method listed in the first post, it wont take long and your issues may be fixed right the, take your time, and let me know!

Cheers!!

 

[HirkEukvic]

As far as setup goes, I always point people to the first post in this thread to have a 98% of the time foolproof way to do the setup first time.

I also only have one true DSD album, and not one of these endless DSD created files I see around, and it definitely works on COAX thru Roon it is DSD 64 Roger waters album, but again only one I have currently.

Also with the newest software any switching in Roon from Coax to Cox is done in a new way, and also in all honesty I do not like the hotspot mode for any setup or use, it has caused many small glitches and issues over the past year, I recommend disabling it from within the ifi.local or in the App.

So my best advice would be do the first setup method listed in the first post, it wont take long and your issues may be fixed right the, take your time, and let me know!

Cheers!!

Well, I followed your instructions and the reset was successful. For whatever reason it didn't fix the DSD issue. My guess is the problem is with my DAC because it doesn't seem to like certain input methods using optical input from my TV's Chromecast, either (as I recall it wouldn't accept raw digital and would only tolerate pure PCM). I've decided it's not a big loss because I don't even own any DSD native audio (I bought a classic rock remaster in DSD before I knew the ins and outs of how DSD actually works).

 

[Currawong]

Point taken Amos, we're looking into how to make that possible. Thanks!

Funnily enough, I did a factory reset because something went haywire yesterday, and it reset to the old version!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Well, I followed your instructions and the reset was successful. For whatever reason it didn't fix the DSD issue. My guess is the problem is with my DAC because it doesn't seem to like certain input methods using optical input from my TV's Chromecast, either (as I recall it wouldn't accept raw digital and would only tolerate pure PCM). I've decided it's not a big loss because I don't even own any DSD native audio (I bought a classic rock remaster in DSD before I knew the ins and outs of how DSD actually works).

I'm glad it was successful! I would have to look further into the DOP issue. Mine has always been set to DSD Direct, and I have had no issues with the album I have.

What firmware version are you on now?

All I see about DSD and your Sony is that it seems it can only accept DSD 64, if thats the case and your file is higher than DSD 64, use Roon's DSP to reduce the files to that rate, see if that works!

Cheers!!

 

[iFi audio]

I'm not sure whether this was posted before, but Jay did something cool about our ZEN Stream versus his Innuos

 

[HirkEukvic]

I'm glad it was successful! I would have to look further into the DOP issue. Mine has always been set to DSD Direct, and I have had no issues with the album I have.

What firmware version are you on now?

All I see about DSD and your Sony is that it seems it can only accept DSD 64, if thats the case and your file is higher than DSD 64, use Roon's DSP to reduce the files to that rate, see if that works!

Cheers!!

It looks like it won't allow DSD direct if I use coaxial out. I see in the iFi documentation that it has to convert DSD to PCM 192 if it uses the SPDIF route. I've had to do numerous workarounds with this Sony system because of its lack of a USB in. Unfortunately (or fortunately) it has a pretty good DAC and is a serviceable amp for passive bookshelf speakers in addition to having an onboard NAS, so I'd need several pieces of equipment to replace it.

In short, the lack of DSD is just a minor annoyance I can deal with. I don't see DSD taking over like MQA is trying to do, so I'm not concerned about missing any parties, so to speak. Not that the Sony can read MQA either (but I'm a Qobuz subscriber so that's also irrelevant).

Oh and I'm hearing a noticeable difference in sound quality from the Zen vs. using an optical out from a Chromecast. iFi strikes again (for me at least--I'm a fan of their sound and this is the third piece of iFi equipment I own).