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

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Thanks for the kind words @brandtacious I appreciate it!

In regards to the display within the menu, I believe there is something amiss here on our end, even I have "low" wifi signal in the display, when as the troubled poster pointed out see screenshot...

In terms of Tidal Connect, it is fairly well documented that it can be very "very" finicky at times on different network systems, why this I don't think anyone has really gotten to the bottom of but there are options out there.

MConnect is a program for android and IOS that may show if it is your network or Tidal itself. Simply download it sign into your Tidal account and try streaming to the Zen from there.

Let us know!

Cheers!!

 

[Lvivske]

Just bought ZS and Power Elite, arriving Wednesday. Do folks find a difference in sound wired vs. wireless? Is wireless simpler?

Big difference between wired and wireless. Huge. (depending on your system and networking components, terms and conditions may apply)

 

[Daniel4IEM]

I am glad to hear that!

Again apologies for any issues, I know folks have had issues at times but never to your extent, very odd.

If you have a Windows PC (Needed) I will post a link to the refreshing tool provided by support. This "Completely" refreshes and restores a ZS by reinstalling all needed initial firmware.

Sometimes repeated resets and reinstalls can compound and this Tool cleans everything and starts you fresh.

Hopefully, you won't need it...

https://mega.nz/file/LY8yGb7K#Q3FU5AsLiM4GP9zp08uybmugQM9W-atqoElQxeSfjEs

Cheers!!

Got to the upgrade firmware step but keep getting this failure message

Does this seem like the right image? ZenStream_MCU_V2.31.7_Rock_3328_20220426.img

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Got to the upgrade firmware step but keep getting this failure message
Does this seem like the right image? ZenStream_MCU_V2.31.7_Rock_3328_20220426.img

I am not quite sure off the top of my head.

Here is a link to my personal folder that I have had for a while, tell me if this works for you to refresh.

https://mega.nz/folder/LTh0XDCI#yn1StZC5S4TFw3qyYI8xmg

Sorry for the delays in answering, life, and all that...

Cheers!!

 

[Daniel4IEM]

I am not quite sure off the top of my head.

Here is a link to my personal folder that I have had for a while, tell me if this works for you to refresh.

https://mega.nz/folder/LTh0XDCI#yn1StZC5S4TFw3qyYI8xmg

Sorry for the delays in answering, life, and all that...

Cheers!!

Thanks! Unfortunately, not even able to install driver with that approach

 

[mjstealey]

Thanks! Unfortunately, not even able to install driver with that approach

The downloaded files may not yet be fully extracted to the local disk - I ran into this and was prompted to re-extract the files.
Once I did that the rest of the process went smoothly - YMMV ...

 

[Daniel4IEM]

The downloaded files may not yet be fully extracted to the local disk - I ran into this and was prompted to re-extract the files.
Once I did that the rest of the process went smoothly - YMMV ...

that fixed, but unfortunately I get this again

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

that fixed, but unfortunately I get this again

Is this using a windows PC or Bootcamp? Sorry I am a bit confused at what I am seeing.

Cheers!!

 

[Daniel4IEM]

Is this using a windows PC or Bootcamp? Sorry I am a bit confused at what I am seeing.

Cheers!!

sorry I should have clarified that. this is using Parallels. If you think that's the reason for failure I can pickup a cheap new PC later today and give that a try

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

sorry I should have clarified that. this is using Parallels. If you think that's the reason for failure I can pickup a cheap new PC later today and give that a try

I would be pretty sure that is why.

Now that being said I know there are folks who got this to work, but many things in the iFi universe require Windows (Yes as a Mac user I don't like that either)

Years ago I picked up a Windows PC on Amazon, one of those simple Mini PCs just for this purpose, (Look up BMAX mini PC) as others in the industry often don't have Mac programs so for audio use a cheap Windows PC has come in handy many many times.

Sorry...

Cheers!!

 

[Daniel4IEM]

I would be pretty sure that is why.

Now that being said I know there are folks who got this to work, but many things in the iFi universe require Windows (Yes as a Mac user I don't like that either)

Years ago I picked up a Windows PC on Amazon, one of those simple Mini PCs just for this purpose, (Look up BMAX mini PC) as others in the industry often don't have Mac programs so for audio use a cheap Windows PC has come in handy many many times.

Sorry...

Cheers!!

All good- if this solves the problem it's worth it, plus I need it to update firmware etc. on my Audio-gd DAC and DDC as well.

Just ordered this BMAX unit

 

[GuiltyRocker]

What output do you guys prefer on the Zen Stream? I keep reading that Coax out is cleaner and has a darker background than the USB out. What is the deal?

 

[Lvivske]

What output do you guys prefer on the Zen Stream? I keep reading that Coax out is cleaner and has a darker background than the USB out. What is the deal?

Likely depends on synergy with your DAC.

Coax has the IFI iPurifier features (reclocking?) while USB has noise cancellation and if the dac has a sync mode for usb it would probably give it an edge

I prefer USB but when I enable my dac to reclock both inputs, they are virtually tied

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

All good- if this solves the problem it's worth it, plus I need it to update firmware etc. on my Audio-gd DAC and DDC as well.

Just ordered this BMAX unit

That should work just fine for your needs! Nothing fancy just does some of the jobs that only Windows does (Sadly lol)

Cheers!!

 

[GuiltyRocker]

Likely depends on synergy with your DAC.

Coax has the IFI iPurifier features (reclocking?) while USB has noise cancellation and if the dac has a sync mode for usb it would probably give it an edge

I prefer USB but when I enable my dac to reclock both inputs, they are virtually tied

Interesting, I'm using a Chord M Scaler which then feeds into a Chord TT-2 via Dual Coax. It does have Async via USB and the USB port is galvanically isolated.