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

[kaushama]

It is just getting new firmware with some fixes for LED functions!

 

[iFi audio]

Soft reset did the trick! Thank you for your assistance and patience!

You are quite welcome, no problem!

The only thing the update (2.32.10) adds is Tidal Max support, being you are a Roon user they already have that, so no need to update if you don't want too.

I will report this and see why it happened, we are both the same in circumstances and I had no issue, but in all honesty I run no protection software, and am on MAC so there's that.

Cheers!!

 

[brandtacious]

You can do it by yourself, all you need is pc, usb c cable and dowloaded app with older version of firmware. It is not complicated but maybe you will need erase flash before wtiting new (old) one, not just overwrite with older version.

Hi twrr, thanks for your response! I don’t have a PC anymore since I retired - only an iPhone…

 

[iFi audio]

Same happened to me with Tidal. Didn’t show Tidal Connect. So, tried a BubbaHyde reset and bricked my 2nd Zen Stream. Is there somewhere I can send these 2 units for unbricking?!?!

Not sure if I saw this from you, My apologies...

What are the lights on the front of your unit saying?

Cheers!!

 

[brandtacious]

What lights are showing on the front of your unit, sorry you had trouble.

Do you have access to a Windows PC?

Cheers!!

Hi Mr BubbaHyde, thanks for your response!
It was showing light red on both lights, then it switched to no lights, and wouldn’t power off. (This was after I did the reset procedure.)
Since I had everything set up to reset the unit, I located my old ZS which has been sitting with no power for months to see if I could get that one working. I couldn’t. The left light on it switches colors from yellow and green to eventually white, and then does not power off.
With both, ifi.local does not load on my iPhone.
I do not have a PC since I retired a few years ago.
Bubba, the issues with mine started when I got a high speed fiber service installed by my internet service provider. Before that, the ZS was trouble free and provided many happy hours of Tidal streaming. Once that was installed at the house, though, only AirPlay would work, and that doesn’t sound the same at all.
Since I knew the issue came about not because of ZS, but because of something else, I ordered a second ZS. After doing your reset procedure to initialize the second ZS, it worked using AirPlay, which was better that no music, but I wasn’t getting the quality of sound I was used to with the ZS in my system.
After many months of AirPlay only, I stumbled across a solution that was posted by another ZS user and reposted by you regarding DNS settings of 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. I did that through ifi.local and BINGO - I had wonderful sounding music again!!! That is, until yesterday…
Anyway, I again ordered a new ZS which is scheduled for delivery tomorrow. Why? Once again, I know the issue is not a problem with ZS, but with something in my network. I have invested in a 15v LPS, the iFi Zen DAC Signature V2, the iFi

What lights are showing on the front of your unit, sorry you had trouble.

Do you have access to a Windows PC?

Cheers!!

 

[brandtacious]

Hi Mr BubbaHyde, thanks for your response!
It was showing light red on both lights, then it switched to no lights, and wouldn’t power off. (This was after I did the reset procedure.)
Since I had everything set up to reset the unit, I located my old ZS which has been sitting with no power for months to see if I could get that one working. I couldn’t. The left light on it switches colors from yellow and green to eventually white, and then does not power off.
With both, ifi.local does not load on my iPhone.
I do not have a PC since I retired a few years ago.
Bubba, the issues with mine started when I got a high speed fiber service installed by my internet service provider. Before that, the ZS was trouble free and provided many happy hours of Tidal streaming. Once that was installed at the house, though, only AirPlay would work, and that doesn’t sound the same at all.
Since I knew the issue came about not because of ZS, but because of something else, I ordered a second ZS. After doing your reset procedure to initialize the second ZS, it worked using AirPlay, which was better that no music, but I wasn’t getting the quality of sound I was used to with the ZS in my system.
After many months of AirPlay only, I stumbled across a solution that was posted by another ZS user and reposted by you regarding DNS settings of 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. I did that through ifi.local and BINGO - I had wonderful sounding music again!!! That is, until yesterday…
Anyway, I again ordered a new ZS which is scheduled for delivery tomorrow. Why? Once again, I know the issue is not a problem with ZS, but with something in my network. I have invested in a 15v LPS, the iFi Zen DAC Signature V2, the iFi

Apologies, I accidentally hit the “post reply” before I was done entering text!
The point I was trying to get to is that I have too much invested in ZS to switch to something else at this point.
When the new one gets here tomorrow, I know it will only play music via Airplay until I do the 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4 trick. And then I may need to call my internet service provider to get the other IP information in order to manually set the router static IP info so that I get great sound again.
I also need a solution, though, for unbricking the two ZS that I have sitting at my house bricked…

 

[iFi audio]

Hi Mr BubbaHyde, thanks for your response!
It was showing light red on both lights, then it switched to no lights, and wouldn’t power off. (This was after I did the reset procedure.)
Since I had everything set up to reset the unit, I located my old ZS which has been sitting with no power for months to see if I could get that one working. I couldn’t. The left light on it switches colors from yellow and green to eventually white, and then does not power off.
With both, ifi.local does not load on my iPhone.
I do not have a PC since I retired a few years ago.
Bubba, the issues with mine started when I got a high speed fiber service installed by my internet service provider. Before that, the ZS was trouble free and provided many happy hours of Tidal streaming. Once that was installed at the house, though, only AirPlay would work, and that doesn’t sound the same at all.
Since I knew the issue came about not because of ZS, but because of something else, I ordered a second ZS. After doing your reset procedure to initialize the second ZS, it worked using AirPlay, which was better that no music, but I wasn’t getting the quality of sound I was used to with the ZS in my system.
After many months of AirPlay only, I stumbled across a solution that was posted by another ZS user and reposted by you regarding DNS settings of 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. I did that through ifi.local and BINGO - I had wonderful sounding music again!!! That is, until yesterday…
Anyway, I again ordered a new ZS which is scheduled for delivery tomorrow. Why? Once again, I know the issue is not a problem with ZS, but with something in my network. I have invested in a 15v LPS, the iFi Zen DAC Signature V2, the iFi

Wow I am sorry for all these issues you have had.

Do you know if your new fiber service included any type of "security" or "protection" type of program with the service? I wonder if the Zen is being blocked, when this happens using the Stream-iFi app you can load the first screen but when you select the ZS icon the app closes.

Android Phone or iPhone and Browser do you currently use on it? Or do you use the Stream-iFi app?

The units can certainly be sent in to be refreshed, you can log a ticket by using this link...

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

I also have fiber service but have not seen this issue before.

Cheers!!

 

[iFi audio]

Apologies, I accidentally hit the “post reply” before I was done entering text!
The point I was trying to get to is that I have too much invested in ZS to switch to something else at this point.
When the new one gets here tomorrow, I know it will only play music via Airplay until I do the 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4 trick. And then I may need to call my internet service provider to get the other IP information in order to manually set the router static IP info so that I get great sound again.
I also need a solution, though, for unbricking the two ZS that I have sitting at my house bricked…

When you get your new ZS please follow this video to the "T" wired connection and all, even if it's not where you are going to p[lace it and you are going to use WiFi do this first.



Once that is done and the app or ifi.local is functional you can add your wifi info and disconnect the LAN cable.

Cheers!!

 

[brandtacious]

Wow I am sorry for all these issues you have had.

Do you know if your new fiber service included any type of "security" or "protection" type of program with the service? I wonder if the Zen is being blocked, when this happens using the Stream-iFi app you can load the first screen but when you select the ZS icon the app closes.

Android Phone or iPhone and Browser do you currently use on it? Or do you use the Stream-iFi app?

The units can certainly be sent in to be refreshed, you can log a ticket by using this link...

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

I also have fiber service but have not seen this issue before.

Cheers!!

Hi again Mr BubbaHyde, I’m sure it has something like that - some [helpful?!?!] type of security nonsense that’s keeping ZS out - before the install of fiber I had ZERO issue using my ZS!!!
Once I did the 8888 8844 trick my problem was solved until doing the update yesterday. By the way, when the update installed, it kept the 8888 and 8844 DNS settings in ifi.local. But only Aiaplay was available, not Tidal Connect…
I use Windstream as my ISP, and currently have the Nokia WIFI Beacon 6 router…
iPhone 12 / Safari is what I use.
Thank you as always for your patient and kind assistance! I will log a ticket to send in two ZS units to get refreshed. It’s also highly likely I’ll be back here Saturday to either confirm that I’m up and running again with Tidal Connect using the old 2.31.7 with 8888 and 8844 DNS settings, OR asking for help in terms of what I need to ask Windstream help in order to set static IP to on iFi.local in order for my new 3rd ZS to work and stream hi res music instead of Airplay!

 

[iFi audio]

Hi again Mr BubbaHyde, I’m sure it has something like that - some [helpful?!?!] type of security nonsense that’s keeping ZS out - before the install of fiber I had ZERO issue using my ZS!!!
Once I did the 8888 8844 trick my problem was solved until doing the update yesterday. By the way, when the update installed, it kept the 8888 and 8844 DNS settings in ifi.local. But only Aiaplay was available, not Tidal Connect…
I use Windstream as my ISP, and currently have the Nokia WIFI Beacon 6 router…
iPhone 12 / Safari is what I use.
Thank you as always for your patient and kind assistance! I will log a ticket to send in two ZS units to get refreshed. It’s also highly likely I’ll be back here Saturday to either confirm that I’m up and running again with Tidal Connect using the old 2.31.7 with 8888 and 8844 DNS settings, OR asking for help in terms of what I need to ask Windstream help in order to set static IP to on iFi.local in order for my new 3rd ZS to work and stream hi res music instead of Airplay!

I will be around for sure!

You are welcome! Sometimes it may just come down to initial setup to establish the ZS on the network, so please try the method I posted I have seen this fix many issues over the years. As you know your ZS was established on your previous network, and then the new problems occurred, so it may be that simple. We will get it figured out.

Cheers!!

 

[iFi audio]

I will be around for sure!

You are welcome! Sometimes it may just come down to initial setup to establish the ZS on the network, so please try the method I posted I have seen this fix many issues over the years. As you know your ZS was established on your previous network, and then the new problems occurred, so it may be that simple. We will get it figured out.

Cheers!!

@brandtacious

Just another thought, I recently (last few days) remember seeing that Tidal had updated it's app again, but iPhone users needed to completely uninstall the app and reinstall
to get it.

You may want to do that as well and see if anything changes for you, and before your new unit comes.

Cheers!!

 

[brandtacious]

Wow I am sorry for all these issues you have had.

Do you know if your new fiber service included any type of "security" or "protection" type of program with the service? I wonder if the Zen is being blocked, when this happens using the Stream-iFi app you can load the first screen but when you select the ZS icon the app closes.

Android Phone or iPhone and Browser do you currently use on it? Or do you use the Stream-iFi app?

The units can certainly be sent in to be refreshed, you can log a ticket by using this link...

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

I also have fiber service but have not seen this issue before.

Cheers!!

Hi again Mr BubbaHyde, I’m sure it has something like that - some [helpful?!?!] type of security nonsense that’s keeping ZS out - before the install of fiber I had ZERO issue using my ZS!!!
Once I did the 8888 8844 trick my problem was solved until doing the update yesterday. By the way, when the update installed, it kept the 8888 and 8844 DNS settings in ifi.local. But only Aiaplay was available, not Tidal Connect…
I use Windstream as my ISP, and currently have the Nokia WIFI Beacon 6 router…
iPhone 12 / Safari is what I use.
Thank you as always for your patient and kind assistance! I will log a ticket to send in two ZS units to get refreshed. It’s also highly likely I’ll be back here Saturday to either confirm that I’m up and running again with Tidal Connect using the old 2.31.7

When you get your new ZS please follow this video to the "T" wired connection and all, even if it's not where you are going to p[lace it and you are going to use WiFi do this first.



Once that is done and the app or ifi.local is functional you can add your wifi info and disconnect the LAN cable.

Cheers!!

i can follow that instruction until 1:16, where you plug the DAC into the ZS. My setup is in my living room, and my router is in my kitchen.
I could buy a 50 foot Ethernet cable, would that help?

 

[brandtacious]

@brandtacious

Just another thought, I recently (last few days) remember seeing that Tidal had updated it's app again, but iPhone users needed to completely uninstall the app and reinstall
to get it.

You may want to do that as well and see if anything changes for you, and before your new unit comes.

Cheers!!

Yes, I deleted and reinstalled the Tidal app yesterday (after it would only Airplay)…

 

[iFi audio]

Hi again Mr BubbaHyde, I’m sure it has something like that - some [helpful?!?!] type of security nonsense that’s keeping ZS out - before the install of fiber I had ZERO issue using my ZS!!!
Once I did the 8888 8844 trick my problem was solved until doing the update yesterday. By the way, when the update installed, it kept the 8888 and 8844 DNS settings in ifi.local. But only Aiaplay was available, not Tidal Connect…
I use Windstream as my ISP, and currently have the Nokia WIFI Beacon 6 router…
iPhone 12 / Safari is what I use.
Thank you as always for your patient and kind assistance! I will log a ticket to send in two ZS units to get refreshed. It’s also highly likely I’ll be back here Saturday to either confirm that I’m up and running again with Tidal Connect using the old 2.31.7

i can follow that instruction until 1:16, where you plug the DAC into the ZS. My setup is in my living room, and my router is in my kitchen.
I could buy a 50 foot Ethernet cable, would that help?

It is perfectly fine to take the ZS and set it right by your router so even a 12' LAN cord would work, don't buy anything. After setup is done even though you won't hear music Tidal or the Stream app will tell you it's playing by the elapsed time bar.

Having a DAC connected at setup is nice for verification but not necessary, you are familiar with when the unit is installed and functional as to how it works.

Having the LAN connected instead of doing WiFi or Hotspot is what's most important here.

I am going to check my iPhone app in a bit just to make sure we aren't chasing our tails and this is a Tidal issue.

Cheers!!

 

[iFi audio]

Well it's not Tidal so it must be network related somehow..

Just deleted and reinstalled...

Worth a shot!

Cheers!!