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

[m usicguy]

Well its been a week since my reset firmware. And everything is working great again. Thanks ifs!!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Well its been a week since my reset firmware. And everything is working great again. Thanks ifs!!

Glad to hear that, and I will pass along your thanks

Cheers!!

 

[TBMY]

Can you explain please? because i can't get ifi stream to show wavs albums on album tab

I use ifi app to access albums on SSD and play songs. Works for me, have not done anything other than using default settings, besides organising albums as described.
Sure you have supported file system on SSD?

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I use ifi app to access albums on SSD and play songs. Works for me, have not done anything other than using default settings, besides organising albums as described.
Sure you have supported file system on SSD?

Agreed, file structure is important for sure.

Mine is posted somewhere in this thread but basically

Main folder CD Rips

Sub folders are Artist>Album and then individual tracks inside with album artwork attached.

Are these WAV files individual Tracks or Full albums ripped into WAV?

Cheers!!

 

[tald]

As I said before, loading a WAV album on the hdd and doing the search with iFi Streamer app, it does not appear in the results (I see the "no items" warning). Instead, the individual songs contained in the album appear further down. My hdd is the WD My Passport 2TB (formatted to NTFS).

Hi, did you solve this problem ? I also use external hdd and zen stream does not index wav albums. No problem with same disk with roon, bluos, jriver.

 

[tald]

Hi all,
So i bought two ZS units and very pleased with the SQ.
I use it with external SSD disk. Lan cable.
Most of my album on the disk are wav files albums, few flac.

I have few issues with it:
1. ZS won't index wav albums. same disk with roon, jriver and blueos: no problem. i open a ticket. (no problem with flac albums index).
2. ZS stop playing from time to time. its stop for 20 sec and then play again. maybe i should try change the ZS buffer size ?
3. All my files are PCM, 2 channels, 16bit, 44100hz. according to the manual the right led should be green but its always yellow. on the app the ZS recognize the files
as 16bit 44100hz but as said, led is always yellow.
TNX

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Hi all,
So i bought two ZS units and very pleased with the SQ.
I use it with external SSD disk. Lan cable.
Most of my album on the disk are wav files albums, few flac.

I have few issues with it:
1. ZS won't index wav albums. same disk with roon, jriver and blueos: no problem. i open a ticket. (no problem with flac albums index).
2. ZS stop playing from time to time. its stop for 20 sec and then play again. maybe i should try change the ZS buffer size ?
3. All my files are PCM, 2 channels, 16bit, 44100hz. according to the manual the right led should be green but its always yellow. on the app the ZS recognize the files
as 16bit 44100hz but as said, led is always yellow.
TNX

Thanks for opening a ticket, hopefully, our tech folks can get you sorted out.

Changing the buffer size may help, I have never had to but I have never used WAV files, so give it a try you can always go back.

Yellow is the proper color for 44.1, there was a change from the manual colors in a firmware update to be more in line with Tidal using Green to indicate MQA.

Cheers!!

 

[tald]

Thanks for opening a ticket, hopefully, our tech folks can get you sorted out.

Changing the buffer size may help, I have never had to but I have never used WAV files, so give it a try you can always go back.

Yellow is the proper color for 44.1, there was a change from the manual colors in a firmware update to be more in line with Tidal using Green to indicate MQA.

Cheers!!

Tnx Mr BubbaHyde. i will update.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Tnx Mr BubbaHyde. i will update.

Yes Please keep us updated!

Cheers!!

 

[REXNFX]

Yes Please keep us updated!

Cheers!!

When I tried ZS plus Zen DAC2 I found it a tad harsh, what is your favourite streamer+DAC combo or all in one? Budget $1500, thanks!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

When I tried ZS plus Zen DAC2 I found it a tad harsh, what is your favourite streamer+DAC combo or all in one? Budget $1500, thanks!

I have had an absolute ton of combos over the years, but I'll give it a whirl...

Right now my favorite all-in-one is the NEO Stream, not because I'm with iFi but because I love its sound.

Other combos I have really enjoyed...

Zen Stream and SMSL DO200 MKII (still have it connected right now)
Zen Stream and Denafrips ares II (Sold the Ares when I got the NEO) hope that says something
Zen Stream and RME ADI FS2 (currently not connected and stretching your budget, but endgame for most)

Before the Zen I struggled to fins a good streamer but mostly used a Raspberry Pi

Hope that helps,

Cheers!!

 

[twrr]

When I tried ZS plus Zen DAC2 I found it a tad harsh, what is your favourite streamer+DAC combo or all in one? Budget $1500, thanks!

the sound depends on the entire system and the room, but a good combination is, for example, Sbooster mk2 + ifi zs + teddy pardo dac, all together is approx. 100 0 euros used or instead of teddy parado, questyle cas 192d dac, it is approximately 1300 euros and a spdif cable, for example xlo 4.1 signature, taralabs rsc air 75... all together is less than 1500

 

[SHXMD]

Just a suggestion-did you let this combo burn in?

For Zen stream I use a small green computer lps 12 volt and Teddy Pardo connector. 285 plus 50.
Plus Pangea connector to lps another 50.

The SBooster has a great reputation just out of my price range.

 

[twrr]

I had that combo several months.
Teddy dac was supposed to be in my office at work but I gave up on that idea...

 

[rwelles]

Was there an update that was released today?