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

[Zaurux]

The Roon core stream on the bridge (so the ZenStream).
But for the SQ, the result can be correct from a laptop but inferior to a direct stream like with Tidal. Especially if you use your laptop at the same time. Without buying Nucleus, a nuc reserved for this use will be preferable.
There is still no application like "Tidal connect" for Qobuz.
There are also other solutions like HQPlayer to stream Qobuz... or transform the Zenstream as a squeezebox and stream with LMS

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Hi everyone, I've used Tidal Connect with the Zen Stream for 8 months. Rock solid. Now, I'm experimenting Quobuz with Roon, partly due to the suggestion of @Mr BubbaHyde, and it's been rock solid too. Not one single dropout or flaws of any kind and Roon is a fantastic platform. This brings me to a question, that reflects my ignorance about the way Roon operates. If I'm using my notebook as a Roon Core and the Zen Stream as a Bridge, what is the Zen doing other than transmitting the signal to the DAC in the best possible way? In this set up isn't the notebook doing the streaming proper? if so, wouldn't it make the biggest impact in SQ to have a dedicated, standalone, Roon Core (Nucleus or others)? Conversely, does the Bridge (Zen Stream) make any difference in the final sound quality? Cheers.

The Roon core stream on the bridge (so the ZenStream).
But for the SQ, the result can be correct from a laptop but inferior to a direct stream like with Tidal. Especially if you use your laptop at the same time. Without buying Nucleus, a nuc reserved for this use will be preferable.
There is still no application like "Tidal connect" for Qobuz.
There are also other solutions like HQPlayer to stream Qobuz... or transform the Zenstream as a squeezebox and stream with LMS

@Zaurux is 100% correct here, my very first Roon "Core" was an old 2009 iMac I had stripped and set-up only for Roon, I also used a Mini PC for about a year that I got off amazon for around 150 dollars, never had any issue with either of those.

In my "audiophile" quest for the best sound I purchased an i5 NUC and installed Roon "Rock" and since have never looked back, in fact I often forget it's in my system, and after a power disruption have completely forgotten about having to power it back up, lol... It's that reliable.

Many people will qoute others and say you shouldn't need a 3rd party software, and in a way they are right, however Roon brings so much to the table in addition to the Streaming end of it, that it's very hard to get away from after you have invested some years with it. The ability to adjust eq's for different setups, upsampling, and the fact that you can run multiple streams at once from a streaming platform make it very worthwhile for me.

I tell everyone the same thing, don't be fooled that you need expensive equipment to run Roon, you absolutely do not! I have never used a platform that offers as much as Roon does for the price. In fact it is now my yearly birthday present from my kids, Roon Renewal, lol

Cheers!!

 

[Vitor Goncalves]

@Zaurux is 100% correct here, my very first Roon "Core" was an old 2009 iMac I had stripped and set-up only for Roon, I also used a Mini PC for about a year that I got off amazon for around 150 dollars, never had any issue with either of those.

In my "audiophile" quest for the best sound I purchased an i5 NUC and installed Roon "Rock" and since have never looked back, in fact I often forget it's in my system, and after a power disruption have completely forgotten about having to power it back up, lol... It's that reliable.

Many people will qoute others and say you shouldn't need a 3rd party software, and in a way they are right, however Roon brings so much to the table in addition to the Streaming end of it, that it's very hard to get away from after you have invested some years with it. The ability to adjust eq's for different setups, upsampling, and the fact that you can run multiple streams at once from a streaming platform make it very worthwhile for me.

I tell everyone the same thing, don't be fooled that you need expensive equipment to run Roon, you absolutely do not! I have never used a platform that offers as much as Roon does for the price. In fact it is now my yearly birthday present from my kids, Roon Renewal, lol

Cheers!!

Thank you very much for both responses, including @Zaurux . I'm quite happy with the sound quality using my PC and the Zen Stream. Buying a NUC would be for the sake of convenience. Given that many models are discontinued, what are the key specs I should look for in a new NUC so I won't have problems using Roon with the Zen? Thanks again and sorry for being a bit offtopic

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Thank you very much for both responses, including @Zaurux . I'm quite happy with the sound quality using my PC and the Zen Stream. Buying a NUC would be for the sake of convenience. Given that many models are discontinued, what are the key specs I should look for in a new NUC so I won't have problems using Roon with the Zen? Thanks again and sorry for being a bit offtopic

In terms of the NUC most reccomend getting at least an i5 or i7, the reasoning for that is based on the amount of processing you think you will need.

For instance if you think you will be getting into a ton of upsampling, or many "zones", different streams in different rooms as an example, you will need that power. In all honesty I am sure I can run an i3 with zero issues. As I said in my prior post, even a mini PC by Bmax or something like that barebones, will get your "music streaming" away from all other processes of a PC/Mac, and even that small step is a plus.

Just take your time and do your research, but as I said, Jumping into a Roon nucleus is an awweful lot of money, to what benefit, one can only speculate!

Cheers!!

Oh and you are not off topic, running Roon with ZS is the ultimate Tip!

 

[Vitor Goncalves]

In terms of the NUC most reccomend getting at least an i5 or i7, the reasoning for that is based on the amount of processing you think you will need.

For instance if you think you will be getting into a ton of upsampling, or many "zones", different streams in different rooms as an example, you will need that power. In all honesty I am sure I can run an i3 with zero issues. As I said in my prior post, even a mini PC by Bmax or something like that barebones, will get your "music streaming" away from all other processes of a PC/Mac, and even that small step is a plus.

Just take your time and do your research, but as I said, Jumping into a Roon nucleus is an awweful lot of money, to what benefit, one can only speculate!

Cheers!!

Oh and you are not off topic, running Roon with ZS is the ultimate Tip!

Thanks. I won't be running multiple zones and at the moment I'm not doing any upsampling. So, I suppose I don't need much RAM and I'm not sure about SSD, as this would be just for streaming with Roon

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Thanks. I won't be running multiple zones and at the moment I'm not doing any upsampling. So, I suppose I don't need much RAM and I'm not sure about SSD, as this would be just for streaming with Roon

If that's the case then simple is better...

I bought this Mini PC in late 2020, and it still works to this day, in fact, it now resides in my outdoor bar area, simply for running Roon and Spotify for my wife and kids. Don't know what you have available to you there but the Bmax treated me very well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08796NB62/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

It's a barebones PC, you can install your Roon and make it your core, so you access it with any other device, phone/pc/mac, whatever. Never let me down no matter what I did with it, including multiple streams, and at the time Roon was the only Program on it.

In the case of Building a Roon "Rock" then you would go the NUC route, and that's a whole other discussion.

Cheers!!

 

[Vitor Goncalves]

If that's the case then simple is better...

I bought this Mini PC in late 2020, and it still works to this day, in fact, it now resides in my outdoor bar area, simply for running Roon and Spotify for my wife and kids. Don't know what you have available to you there but the Bmax treated me very well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08796NB62/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

It's a barebones PC, you can install your Roon and make it your core, so you access it with any other device, phone/pc/mac, whatever. Never let me down no matter what I did with it, including multiple streams, and at the time Roon was the only Program on it.

In the case of Building a Roon "Rock" then you would go the NUC route, and that's a whole other discussion.

Cheers!!

If I go the NUC route, what are the specs I should looking for? Is Celeron ok, or should it be i5 or i7? any SSD and RAM requirements?

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

If I go the NUC route, what are the specs I should looking for? Is Celeron ok, or should it be i5 or i7? any SSD and RAM requirements?

I made a mistake, I do not have an i5, I currently have an i3 for my Roon "Rock"

Here are some links to start your search,...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083GH7KTX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q3HNC79/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I know I have a 250GB internal Samsung Evo for storage of FLAC files, but you can use whatever you'd like.

I have had this since the summer of 21 and experienced no issue at all with having this little NUC be my Roon core, You can also go to the Roon website and see what they recommend for your NUC build. I cannot tell you which way to go other than I have Zero issues with the performance of what I use this for. Very similar to what you are doing, except I do use it for multiple streams to different areas at the same time, and again have no issues.

I just wish I was buying it now with these prices, lol

Cheers!!

 

[Vitor Goncalves]

I made a mistake, I do not have an i5, I currently have an i3 for my Roon "Rock"

Here are some links to start your search,...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083GH7KTX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q3HNC79/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I know I have a 250GB internal Samsung Evo for storage of FLAC files, but you can use whatever you'd like.

I have had this since the summer of 21 and experienced no issue at all with having this little NUC be my Roon core, You can also go to the Roon website and see what they recommend for your NUC build. I cannot tell you which way to go other than I have Zero issues with the performance of what I use this for. Very similar to what you are doing, except I do use it for multiple streams to different areas at the same time, and again have no issues.

I just wish I was buying it now with these prices, lol

Cheers!!

Have you noticed a real difference in SQ between using a NUC compared to a mini PC as the Core, assuming that the Zen Stream is the Bridge?

 

[Kiats]

Hi everyone, I've used Tidal Connect with the Zen Stream for 8 months. Rock solid. Now, I'm experimenting Quobuz with Roon, partly due to the suggestion of @Mr BubbaHyde, and it's been rock solid too. Not one single dropout or flaws of any kind and Roon is a fantastic platform. This brings me to a question, that reflects my ignorance about the way Roon operates. If I'm using my notebook as a Roon Core and the Zen Stream as a Bridge, what is the Zen doing other than transmitting the signal to the DAC in the best possible way? In this set up isn't the notebook doing the streaming proper? if so, wouldn't it make the biggest impact in SQ to have a dedicated, standalone, Roon Core (Nucleus or others)? Conversely, does the Bridge (Zen Stream) make any difference in the final sound quality? Cheers.

What I have done is to have a MacMini that does nothing but as a music centre, eg. Roon or Apple Music (using the iTunes Remote). The advantage is the processing power is focused on music and nothing else.

 

[bigjako]

Lately I've been having a weird issue with my Zen Stream / Roon setup and I'm wondering if anyone has experienced (and solved) this. Over the last week or so, every day I startup Room, the Zen Stream zone can't be found. I have to unplug and plug back in the Zen Stream before Roon sees it as a zone again (and it takes a good while for it to come back online and sync up, about ten minutes before I can actually listen to music again). It's powered the whole time and I've got it set to "exclusive Roon mode".

Any tips or should I just go straight to Tech Support?

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Lately I've been having a weird issue with my Zen Stream / Roon setup and I'm wondering if anyone has experienced (and solved) this. Over the last week or so, every day I startup Room, the Zen Stream zone can't be found. I have to unplug and plug back in the Zen Stream before Roon sees it as a zone again (and it takes a good while for it to come back online and sync up, about ten minutes before I can actually listen to music again). It's powered the whole time and I've got it set to "exclusive Roon mode".

Any tips or should I just go straight to Tech Support?

I don't believe this issue is directly related to the Zen itself. I have had to restart my mac sometimes in the last few months of updates from Roon as everything I have connected to it disappears, DACs directly connected to the Mac and also Raspberry pi's. It all just seems to go.

I am beta for the MAC OS, so I have been chalking it up to disagreements in the betas and Roon updates. Do you leave the ZS on all the time or power on and off at night or when not using it?

Cheers!!

 

[bigjako]

I have it on all the time, yeah. The Zen stream is connected to my network via ethernet and to my DAC via Coax. I don't think it's anything to do with Roon or MacOS because my other Zone (a soundbar in my bedroom) is always there. It's just the Zen that I 'lose' and the Zen is not connected to any Mac or PC. Roon is, yes, but I don't have any problems with Roon and my other Zone, just the Zen Zone.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I have it on all the time, yeah. The Zen stream is connected to my network via ethernet and to my DAC via Coax. I don't think it's anything to do with Roon or MacOS because my other Zone (a soundbar in my bedroom) is always there. It's just the Zen that I 'lose' and the Zen is not connected to any Mac or PC. Roon is, yes, but I don't have any problems with Roon and my other Zone, just the Zen Zone.

That being the case then try this, just to narrow down the issue.

The next time it disappears try rebooting the device that you are running Roon on, and see if the ZS is then present in the settings after the reboot.

There have been many instances of the unit having to be reset to connect to whatever source being used, Tidal connect yada yada...

The best I can say is that there are many things it could be, network drop/hiccup included, I was only relaying a similar experience in Roon lately, the answer from Roon was just reboot the core running Roon. Ideally, everything should just come back after any glitchy occurrence, but of course, this is not always the case either. I have personally made it a habit to reboot modems and routers every week to avoid hiccups. That does not mean this is the cause of your issue, I'm just pointing out that everything computer based even a streamer sometimes needs a reboot.

 

[bigjako]

Sounds good, thanks for your suggestion - I'll try that tomorrow when it happens again