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

[savaloco]

Hey,
Just received my ifi Stream and having a couple of issues:
1) It does not see my DAC (Aune S9c pro) via USB.
2) I have quite a large music collection on my NAS and using the media server option only pulls in a fraction of it.

I have the streamer connected via ethernet and powered by a 12V LPS. It all looks like its playing but unfortunately I do not have an SPDIF cable at the moment.

Has anyone else had issues connecting the unit to their S9c via USB?
Will the Zen Stream be able to access 3 terabytes of music files from a NAS?

Thanks!

 

[Georgekrip]

I have the same problem after latest update dont reconing my usb

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Hey,
Just received my ifi Stream and having a couple of issues:
1) It does not see my DAC (Aune S9c pro) via USB.
2) I have quite a large music collection on my NAS and using the media server option only pulls in a fraction of it.

I have the streamer connected via ethernet and powered by a 12V LPS. It all looks like its playing but unfortunately I do not have an SPDIF cable at the moment.

Has anyone else had issues connecting the unit to their S9c via USB?
Will the Zen Stream be able to access 3 terabytes of music files from a NAS?

Thanks!

Hello, sorry you are having some snags...

In the menu under sources at the top, you don't see your USB dac listed as a choice in the dropdown box, the default is spdif and may need to be changed.

Any RCA cable can "in theory" function as a Spdif cable in a pinch just to verify that is where the sound is outputting.

I think you are the first to have that large of a library mentioned, and it may take time to fill in all files, I would suggest a rescan and leave the unit powered on for quite awhile.

Remember it must rescan on every power cycle.

Cheers!!

 

[twrr]

"I think you are the first to have that large of a library mentioned". No i mentioned that 20 times a but the developers at IFI for some reason are not able to make an update of Volumio as it was done with the original Volumio.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

"I think you are the first to have that large of a library mentioned". No i mentioned that 20 times a but the developers at IFI for some reason are not able to make an update of Volumio as it was done with the original Volumio.

Yes I remeber but I thought you were using an attached hard drive, there is a difference for me with a NAS and attached USB drive.

Sorry if got it wrong.

I have 70 gb on my NAS and it reads all no problem

Please make sure all files are playable and in proper formatting. I have had drives (attached to other units) where one file bring mislabeled makes the process stumble.

Cheers!!

 

[savaloco]

Hello, sorry you are having some snags...

In the menu under sources at the top, you don't see your USB dac listed as a choice in the dropdown box, the default is spdif and may need to be changed.

Any RCA cable can "in theory" function as a Spdif cable in a pinch just to verify that is where the sound is outputting.

I think you are the first to have that large of a library mentioned, and it may take time to fill in all files, I would suggest a rescan and leave the unit powered on for quite awhile.

Remember it must rescan on every power cycle.

Cheers!!

Hey Bubba,
Unfortunately the ifi streamer doesn't "see" the DAC on USB so I cannot set the option as desired. I've tried a few usb cables and power cycled both units but no luck.

I am coming from using my PC and FOOBAR so I will likely have to adjust my expectations re streaming interface. I do (did) most of my listening off of my NAS. I have also installed QNAP media server and PLEX as alternatives that may work. I just have to readjust.

Thanks for your input!

 

[savaloco]

Update

I was able to find a suitable cable for SPDIF and the streamer works quite well. I'm still acclimatizing to the sound but it is most definitely improved compared to using my PC feed the DAC. Warmer, more depth, smoother .... I'm frankly pleasantly surprised.

Plex seems to have solved the library issues so I have access to my entire library now as well. The interface is a bit clunky but it works!

USB still does not work with the AUNE S9c though and I wonder if the problem is hardware instead of software. Perhaps its the AUNE that is not playing nice. I also can't seem to play DSD files but I think that requires USB. Is that correct?

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Update

I was able to find a suitable cable for SPDIF and the streamer works quite well. I'm still acclimatizing to the sound but it is most definitely improved compared to using my PC feed the DAC. Warmer, more depth, smoother .... I'm frankly pleasantly surprised.

Plex seems to have solved the library issues so I have access to my entire library now as well. The interface is a bit clunky but it works!

USB still does not work with the AUNE S9c though and I wonder if the problem is hardware instead of software. Perhaps its the AUNE that is not playing nice. I also can't seem to play DSD files but I think that requires USB. Is that correct?

Glad to hear you are getting results with the Spdif that you enjoy!

I wonder about the Aune seems that it certainly should be recognized, you are using the bottom USB A, and only this for DAC connection correct? And yes on the DSD Direct over USB for Spdif it would be DOP

Cheers!!

 

[Big man on the Fox]

Hello,

Long time user of 2 ZenStreams. When running wired network connection, unit intermittently stops and tries a “wireless restart” even though I have wireless turned off, with no antenna connected. I get error message “wireless connection- Failed” message turns red.
I’ve tried various combinations of settings, but wireless turns itself on?

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Hello,

Long time user of 2 ZenStreams. When running wired network connection, unit intermittently stops and tries a “wireless restart” even though I have wireless turned off, with no antenna connected. I get error message “wireless connection- Failed” message turns red.
I’ve tried various combinations of settings, but wireless turns itself on?

Hello,

Perhaps the unit would benefit from the refresh tool, but if you could, I would report this to our support folks and see if they have encountered this before and have any direction for you.

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

Cheers!!

 

[Big man on the Fox]

Hello,

Perhaps the unit would benefit from the refresh tool, but if you could, I would report this to our support folks and see if they have encountered this before and have any direction for you.

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

Cheers!!

Dear Mr. BubbaHyde,
After much process of elimination, I have found problem is my wired connection to my EtherREGEN. My workaround is connecting wired to my mesh Eero. Problem solved!
Thanks for your help, now, and in the past!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Dear Mr. BubbaHyde,
After much process of elimination, I have found problem is my wired connection to my EtherREGEN. My workaround is connecting wired to my mesh Eero. Problem solved!
Thanks for your help, now, and in the past!

No problem at all, and Thanks I help if it all possible!

I will mention this to my tech friends, I wonder why that is happening...

Cheers!!

 

[AshGotem1412]

I am having some multi-second dropout issues with 88/96khz music and up with NAA over my 350Mbps (as measured by ifi.local) home Wifi. I also have a PI2AES with RopieeeXL that runs NAA off the integrated(tiny) wifi antenna on the Raspberry Pi 4 without a hitch. I think the author of HQPlayer has mentioned the NAA module on the Zen Stream is quite outdated. Will we ever see an update to that in the near future?

 

[luiswu]

Yes I remeber but I thought you were using an attached hard drive, there is a difference for me with a NAS and attached USB drive.

Sorry if got it wrong.

I have 70 gb on my NAS and it reads all no problem

Please make sure all files are playable and in proper formatting. I have had drives (attached to other units) where one file bring mislabeled makes the process stumble.

Cheers!!

I have 7TB on my NAS all in DSD 128 and it works perfectly... Well, it takes some effort and sometimes I have to take out the USB cable and put it back in and reboot for everything to work.
Server Twonky en WD NAS

 

[luiswu]

My DAC is a Topping DX3 Pro and a D10