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

[SHXMD]

Question to Compcond-I am late here and maybe off but Tidal Connect will not let me stream to two different devices at “the same time.”

I get an error message which says: “Another device has been detected” and it cuts me off.

Usually streaming on phone and come into house. Stream is “paused.” Turn on computer to set up next stream to home (stereo) optical/ Ethernet and get error message. (I must close phone stream out.)

I am streaming directly (as I understand it) from the external Tidal Connect.

 

[compcond]

Question to Compcond-I am late here and maybe off but Tidal Connect will not let me stream to two different devices at “the same time.”

I get an error message which says: “Another device has been detected” and it cuts me off.

Usually streaming on phone and come into house. Stream is “paused.” Turn on computer to set up next stream to home (stereo) optical/ Ethernet and get error message. (I must close phone stream out.)

I am streaming directly (as I understand it) from the external Tidal Connect.

Your Tidal subscription allows only one stream per user, as does mine. I can have 6 users, but it’s one per.

 

[compcond]

How does sound quality of ZS compare to Wiim Pro?

With the standard or IFi’s upgraded power supplies, very similar. With a linear PSU, the Zen craps all over the Wiim. When it works.

 

[twrr]

I wrote on the forum that the Volumio should be upgraded several times, the people representing ifi here do not take me seriously. I guess they think that bad publicity is better than none at all. They collect information for months for a new application, as they do not know how to make it themselves. ZS with this kind of software is at the level of a semi-finished product.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I wrote on the forum that the Volumio should be upgraded several times, the people representing ifi here do not take me seriously. I guess they think that bad publicity is better than none at all. They collect information for months for a new application, as they do not know how to make it themselves. ZS with this kind of software is at the level of a semi-finished product.

Yes you have, and I can assure you along with your support suggestions were seen and paid attention to.

There are several common issues going on for "some" folks but "not" for others, so any company must be careful to examine the issue fully before jumping on one persons suggestion. The Most common issue with all of these reports is "Tidal" and 98% of the time it's Tidal alone throwing the issues. I am sure if this was a company you ran you would look at that before you change an entire system. Especially when these reports are in the minority not in the overall.

This does not mean that it isn't important it just means we need closer examination.

Assuming that nothing is occurring based on your posts about Volumio would also not be correct. We read all comments and communicate them where needed.

Cheers!!

 

[compcond]

Yes you have, and I can assure you along with your support suggestions were seen and paid attention to.

There are several common issues going on for "some" folks but "not" for others, so any company must be careful to examine the issue fully before jumping on one persons suggestion. The Most common issue with all of these reports is "Tidal" and 98% of the time it's Tidal alone throwing the issues. I am sure if this was a company you ran you would look at that before you change an entire system. Especially when these reports are in the minority not in the overall.

This does not mean that it isn't important it just means we need closer examination.

Assuming that nothing is occurring based on your posts about Volumio would also not be correct. We read all comments and communicate them where needed.

Cheers!!

That the issue is Tidal is laughable as Wiim, also using Tidal connect, on the same networks, is rock solid. I've been complaining to iFi for 2 years and they haven't resolved the problem and, from your comment, I'm guessing Volumio hasn't either. Sad when iFi doesn't have native apps for any of these services and Tidal Connect is the only way to stream in full quality short of a Roon subscription.

 

[Vangelo]

That the issue is Tidal is laughable as Wiim, also using Tidal connect, on the same networks, is rock solid. I've been complaining to iFi for 2 years and they haven't resolved the problem and, from your comment, I'm guessing Volumio hasn't either. Sad when iFi doesn't have native apps for any of these services and Tidal Connect is the only way to stream in full quality short of a Roon subscription.

I think there are more variables between different setups.
Although I am now a Wiim convert, In my case I was using Tidal Connect in Mode 3 on my ZS with great success. Unfortunately, that's the only part of the ZS that was stable for me, and I had to use Ethernet connection.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

That the issue is Tidal is laughable as Wiim, also using Tidal connect, on the same networks, is rock solid. I've been complaining to iFi for 2 years and they haven't resolved the problem and, from your comment, I'm guessing Volumio hasn't either. Sad when iFi doesn't have native apps for any of these services and Tidal Connect is the only way to stream in full quality short of a Roon subscription.

I am not looking to be argumentative but I am also a Wiim owner and have been since it came out.

To say there has never been an issue with Tidal and Wiim is not true at all, there have been many hiccups with Tidal and complaints on this forum and others about it.

Keep in mind this, I and many many others have not had these issues with Tidal and the Zen Stream, that is of course using Roon and not using Roon. To say Wiim or Bluesound or any other streamer has not had issues with Tidal Connect is just not accurate. All one would need to do is look back through Firmware upgrade notes to see that almost every time some issue with Tidal has been addressed, and I am glad they have been, but still in all reality the issue is related in some way to Tidal.

Spotify, never
Qobuz, and Mconnect, Rarely.
Roon, Never

Tidal Connect has always had issues on multiple platforms.

This is not an excuse, and I wish it didn't happen for some folks, but we continue to try and address this, hopefully, one day "everyone" will have no issues.

Again, not trying to stir things up, but reality is reality, and we must be accurate in what we are trying to get across.

Cheers!!

 

[compcond]

Roon, Never

Tidal Connect has always had issues on multiple platforms.

This is not an excuse, and I wish it didn't happen for some folks, but we continue to try and address this, hopefully, one day "everyone" will have no issues.

What I'm saying is that I own two of these and have the same issues with both, then, replace one with a device costing 1/3 as much, and it's flawless. Different Internet providers, different routers, different switches, different DACs, same problem.

Saturday, the home unit dropped after every song; it was unusable. Yesterday, it worked flawlessly. Last week, the office unit was also dropping after every song.

For a device that has no native streaming apps, they had better support Tidal Connect.

 

[Snach]

Hello, does anyone have an idea how to make IFI stream natively support Burson Composer 3XP. Trying to switch to direct dsd ends up with a message that the DAC does not support native dsd which is nonsense. Also, Zen detects this dac as Buson, i.e. without the "r".
Any ideas?

 

[compcond]

Output DoP. It's still native DSD, just inside an environmentally friendly package.

 

[Currawong]

Part of the problem with TIDAL is that the Zen Stream and Neo Stream both use a version of Volumio that is no longer supported, itself based on a version of Debian that is so far out of support that it doesn't even get security updates. Even if it is using the latest version of TIDAL connected, it is not one that is updated by normal means (apt), so who knows what compatibility issues it has with the underlying system.

 

[compcond]

As these models are still being sold, there is a legal claim to be made for fitness of merchantability. In other words, they need to be able to perform the function for which they are sold. As they are sold as being Tidal Connect compatible, they need to work for that function, and need to be supported for a "reasonable" period after sale.

I'm not one to say "I'll never buy from this company again," but this is a really bad look for iFi and they're going on my list. Not that list. That list.

 

[TBMY]

Hi!

Anyone know when (or if) ZS will be updated to current (support) version of Volumio/Debian with plugins necessary??
Since ZS (and Neo Stream) is still sold, they must be updated to current!!

 

[twrr]

Never. They dont want to do that for reasons known only to them, they are still collecting data for their application instead.
By the way i tried two new ZS at my system trying to load complete external SSD drive with 300 gb of music. Same problem as with mine.

Can someone recommend another music player from which I can play music from an external disk, but which is stable in operation and sounds better than ZS?