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

[iFi audio]

For me, zs has great quality for the price. Products in this price range include roon ready, naa, nothing to say. The only thing is dsd512, especially for hqp users. The holo red will be a competitor at this price, but the zs is even cheaper.

Thanks, that's very kind of you. We also think that ZEN Stream offers a lot for its retail price and I hear you regarding DSD512. Thanks again!

 

[Vitor Goncalves]

For me, zs has great quality for the price. Products in this price range include roon ready, naa, nothing to say. The only thing is dsd512, especially for hqp users. The holo red will be a competitor at this price, but the zs is even cheaper.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Holo Red costs more than twice the price of the ZS. So does the Silent Angel MT1. As a Roon user, the question I ask myself is "SQ wise, how much better are these (great and more expensive) products, compared to the ZS (as a Roon Bridge)?". I can't answer this question because I don't own such streamers but my bet would be that beyond a certain level of transparency (for the lack of better word), such as the SQ you get with the ZS, the law of decreasing marginal returns strongly applies. But maybe I'm wrong. Cheers

 

[SHXMD]

I concur. I am streaming Tidal Connect directly from their server to my house ATT-Fiber Modem/Router->Cat 6-hardwired to switch box->Optical Moat->to Zen Stream.
Speed to ZS is 379 megs. Jitter varies but last .22. Streams are started by Wi-Fi in another room.

It sounds better than local CD.

Regarding managing the sound (local files or other) I’ll do that by my choice of DAC.

Many streamers appear as Pi clones even over $1000. (If not broken don’t fix it?)

Paying 800 for Holo red or 1200 for a Mano or 2500 for a Lumin seems exorbitant unless they are selling you other special functions you need.

It appears to me that is the direction they are heading and where is the profit on a 100 to 200 dollar streamer? Only WiiM knows.

I get it but I think it blocks people out of streaming to say a Streamer is 800 dollars.

So it goes.

 

[DancingSea]

A key for the ZS is how well it responds to upgraded external power supplies. I have a $500 Farad Super3 paired with my ZS and the sound quality is on par with a $3000 Aurender.

iFi is like that food truck in town with a gourmet chef. Incredible value.

Hopefully the Volumio warts can continue to be fixed.

 

[SHXMD]

I use the Small Green Computer 12 volt LPS at 189.

I look forward to their introduction of their own software (in development) and Qobuz Connect arrives.

Will be done.
S

 

[Vitor Goncalves]

I concur. I am streaming Tidal Connect directly from their server to my house ATT-Fiber Modem/Router->Cat 6-hardwired to switch box->Optical Moat->to Zen Stream.
Speed to ZS is 379 megs. Jitter varies but last .22. Streams are started by Wi-Fi in another room.

It sounds better than local CD.

Regarding managing the sound (local files or other) I’ll do that by my choice of DAC.

Many streamers appear as Pi clones even over $1000. (If not broken don’t fix it?)

Paying 800 for Holo red or 1200 for a Mano or 2500 for a Lumin seems exorbitant unless they are selling you other special functions you need.

It appears to me that is the direction they are heading and where is the profit on a 100 to 200 dollar streamer? Only WiiM knows.

I get it but I think it blocks people out of streaming to say a Streamer is 800 dollars.

So it goes.

To be honest, I use two streamers and both give me almost identical, and excellent, SQ. The Zen Stream via coax to the Hegel H120 and the internal streaming engine of the H120 proper (also Roon Ready). I'm keeping the Zen Stream because I like to have two sources, should one brakes (lol, I know this sounds silly), and also due to additional features like Tidal Connect (although I use Roon now 99% of the time).

With regard to power supply, I'm happy with the Ipower X 12v. I'm receiving the Ifi LAN silencer within the next couple of days, although I don't expect much (but couldn't resist testing this tweak )

 

[DancingSea]

I’ve had the included ZS power supply, the iFi Power X, and then the iFi Elite.

I cannot stress enough how much better the Farad is. A completely different league.

 

[SHXMD]

I bought the IFi LAN silencer also when I was going a different direction and have not used it.

Will complete my set-up and then try different spots-I too am not expecting much.

On LPS-cannot comment as I started out with it as opposed to wall wart.

Interested to hear about the LAN as I have 5 possible positions.

 

[yaps66]

For me, zs has great quality for the price. Products in this price range include roon ready, naa, nothing to say. The only thing is dsd512, especially for hqp users. The holo red will be a competitor at this price, but the zs is even cheaper.

+1 on DSD512!

 

[Wakalaaa]

Regarding streaming, my friend has a gustard A26, and I found that the support of the Chinese factory is zero. The A26's streaming is rubbish, no matter how good it sounds. It is often disconnected, and I can't even see it on roon. So my friend update firmware, but even the update program aslo rubbish. Originally I wanted to buy A26 to replace the current ZS and Gustard x18, but I have canceled this idea.. ..
I don't know if holo red will do this, but I would advise against buying a streamer made in China.
Finally, I want to say that the support of ifi has been done very well

 

[SHXMD]

Impressively poor-$1600 for streaming DAC and no support?

I have a IFi Hip Dac 2 which cost 189.

I had a problem with it when new. Ifi technical spent so much time trying to diagnose the problem I almost felt guilty asking. Finally, I could not load latest software and they asked me to send it in.

They located the problem but instead sent me a new one with latest software already loaded. Works great streaming in my vehicle. My idea of support.

 

[twrr]

@DancinSea

Have you compared Farad with Teddy Pardo or Sbooster maybe?

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

To be honest, I use two streamers and both give me almost identical, and excellent, SQ. The Zen Stream via coax to the Hegel H120 and the internal streaming engine of the H120 proper (also Roon Ready). I'm keeping the Zen Stream because I like to have two sources, should one brakes (lol, I know this sounds silly), and also due to additional features like Tidal Connect (although I use Roon now 99% of the time).

With regard to power supply, I'm happy with the Ipower X 12v. I'm receiving the Ifi LAN silencer within the next couple of days, although I don't expect much (but couldn't resist testing this tweak )

I have the iSilencer and I was thinking the same thing as you, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it made a difference, the Zen with it compares more to the NEO with the optibox, at least that was my impression.

Let us know what you think!

Cheers!!

 

[Vitor Goncalves]

Regarding streaming, my friend has a gustard A26, and I found that the support of the Chinese factory is zero. The A26's streaming is rubbish, no matter how good it sounds. It is often disconnected, and I can't even see it on roon. So my friend update firmware, but even the update program aslo rubbish. Originally I wanted to buy A26 to replace the current ZS and Gustard x18, but I have canceled this idea.. ..
I don't know if holo red will do this, but I would advise against buying a streamer made in China.
Finally, I want to say that the support of ifi has been done very well

I don't want to go off topic here, but, with due respect, you are making several mistakes in your statement about streamers made in China. First of all, most streamers are made in China, including the ZS. Made in China and being from a chinese brand is a different thing. However, some top notch streamers and DACs are from chinese companies (Holo, Matrix Audio, Silent Angel, to name a few). Gustard A26 has a reputation for being a great DAC, but it is not Roon Ready. Roon makes it clear that they don't recommend Roon End Points not certified by the company. So, maybe that explains your issues with Roon. The norwegian brand of my streaming amp took two years to achieve Roon Ready status, was heavily criticised for it, but did a great job and were always honest about it. I appreciate that as a costumer. Anyway, I agree with you about the iFi support. They were responsive and effective when I reached out to them. Lastly, the ZS is a flawless Roon Bridge (although the Roon Mode doesn't work in its current beta firmware version, but it does in AIO mode and in the current official firmware).

 

[DancingSea]

Regarding streaming, my friend has a gustard A26, and I found that the support of the Chinese factory is zero. The A26's streaming is rubbish, no matter how good it sounds. It is often disconnected, and I can't even see it on roon. So my friend update firmware, but even the update program aslo rubbish. Originally I wanted to buy A26 to replace the current ZS and Gustard x18, but I have canceled this idea.. ..
I don't know if holo red will do this, but I would advise against buying a streamer made in China.
Finally, I want to say that the support of ifi has been done very well

Don’t be frightened, but iFi and Hegel products are also made in China.