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

[SiF123]

Why waste energy typing this out? There are a million and one streamers - sell iFi and buy Holo Red or Mano or, or, or...

Why waste energy responding to this, with examples that cost twice as much!!!!!

 

[George Hincapie]

Why waste energy responding to this, with examples that cost twice as much!!!!!

£1K is nothing for a streamer, but if money is an issue then go Pi4 with Ropieee and a LPSU.

 

[SiF123]

So you would spend £1K on a product that has an equivalent SQ as one of less than half? But if intelligence is an issue, maybe you should try education.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

So you would spend £1K on a product that has an equivalent SQ as one of less than half? But if intelligence is an issue, maybe you should try education.

That is certainly not productive or needed here...

Please...

Cheers!!

 

[twrr]

How is the volumio upgrade progressing?

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

How is the volumio upgrade progressing?

Only rumors but I think they are talking about it over here...

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ifi...ng-elevated-to-a-higher-plane.958391/page-343

As I have stated here in the past, I know of no such thing, but I also know the new Volumio (Not the one in the Zen Stream) works fairly well on the Raspberry Pi.

Lots of Volumio info here...

https://community.volumio.org/

Cheers!!

 

[twrr]

I know, ihave Pi4 with Pi2Aes and it works fantastic, entire ssd with 512 mb loads in a second

 

[saloco]

Thanks!

I only pay for hifi teir - if/when I upgrade my DAC I will explore mqa I suppose.

ZS firmware is 2.31.7 (from April 2022). "Check updates" button indicates I'm "already on the latest version'. This version has been the only version available since purchase.

Hi guys jsut an update in the hope it helps others and somehow magically gets me a solution.

I've tried Tidal connect from a windows desktop - and get the same outcome "failed to connect to server" after I select the ZS.

I've tried from my partner's I Phone on the Tidal app - when I select the ZS, it seems to just time out and "appears" to connect, but then nil playback ever happens... BUT - it seems to see and connect tot he ZS work over airplay (indicated by a yellow left light on the ZS) - unfortunately for some reason the sound didn't come through the amp though (which I didn't investigate further).
The Tidal app (android) connects flawlessly via Chromecast to my tv and I can play/stream no worries through my stereo that way (this was my 'old' setup before deciding to 'upgrade' to a dedicated streamer.
I downloaded Spotify (jut to see if that works). Spotify connect (android App) seems to work flawlessly with the ZS.
I did b2b listening between Tidal over Chromecast and Spotify connect over ZS - and i couldn't hear any difference (potentially spotify a whisker 'better' to my ears).
Of course - when Tidal connect did work, it was night and day difference compared to the chromecast option.
So - Tidal seems to 'stream' no worries to other products (chromecast and apple airplay), but not to the ZS.
Spoitify works, but only has 320kps and so isn't an improvement.
I'm at a loss - anyone got any ideas at all?
IFI Tidal Android not a good mix

 

[saloco]

Hi guys jsut an update in the hope it helps others and somehow magically gets me a solution.

I've tried Tidal connect from a windows desktop - and get the same outcome "failed to connect to server" after I select the ZS.

I've tried from my partner's I Phone on the Tidal app - when I select the ZS, it seems to just time out and "appears" to connect, but then nil playback ever happens... BUT - it seems to see and connect tot he ZS work over airplay (indicated by a yellow left light on the ZS) - unfortunately for some reason the sound didn't come through the amp though (which I didn't investigate further).
The Tidal app (android) connects flawlessly via Chromecast to my tv and I can play/stream no worries through my stereo that way (this was my 'old' setup before deciding to 'upgrade' to a dedicated streamer.
I downloaded Spotify (jut to see if that works). Spotify connect (android App) seems to work flawlessly with the ZS.
I did b2b listening between Tidal over Chromecast and Spotify connect over ZS - and i couldn't hear any difference (potentially spotify a whisker 'better' to my ears).
Of course - when Tidal connect did work, it was night and day difference compared to the chromecast option.
So - Tidal seems to 'stream' no worries to other products (chromecast and apple airplay), but not to the ZS.
Spoitify works, but only has 320kps and so isn't an improvement.
I'm at a loss - anyone got any ideas at all?
IFI Tidal Android not a good mix

And one more update!!
It finally is working!

Hooray!!

So what did I do? (Note I don't know which of these,or combo of these tripped it to work).

I reset the ZS (again).

Went through the usual setup stuff, but this time i changed the name of "ifi" to "hifi" (note I had tried this previously).

I unplugged spdif and plugged in usb connection to my DAC. Went into ifi.local, and changed the output to suit.

Wullah! It now works!

Once working I changed back to spidf connection (sounds ever so slightly better on my system) and it continues to work.

For how long I don't know- but for now I'm glad I have the magic ZS/tidal connect combo filling my home with sweet sweet vibrations.

Love hate relationship with the ZS that much is certain.

 

[iFi audio]

And one more update!!
It finally is working!

Hooray!!

So what did I do? (Note I don't know which of these,or combo of these tripped it to work).

I reset the ZS (again).

Went through the usual setup stuff, but this time i changed the name of "ifi" to "hifi" (note I had tried this previously).

I unplugged spdif and plugged in usb connection to my DAC. Went into ifi.local, and changed the output to suit.

Wullah! It now works!

Once working I changed back to spidf connection (sounds ever so slightly better on my system) and it continues to work.

For how long I don't know- but for now I'm glad I have the magic ZS/tidal connect combo filling my home with sweet sweet vibrations.

Love hate relationship with the ZS that much is certain.

That's good to know that your ZEN Stream finally works as intended. Not sure how changing the name of your device would help, but I'm glad that you can enjoy it after all the trouble

 

[saloco]

Perfect timing ifi audio!

Similar level of support through the support ticket I raised.

friendly Joke but kind of not jokes.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

And one more update!!
It finally is working!

Hooray!!

So what did I do? (Note I don't know which of these,or combo of these tripped it to work).

I reset the ZS (again).

Went through the usual setup stuff, but this time i changed the name of "ifi" to "hifi" (note I had tried this previously).

I unplugged spdif and plugged in usb connection to my DAC. Went into ifi.local, and changed the output to suit.

Wullah! It now works!

Once working I changed back to spidf connection (sounds ever so slightly better on my system) and it continues to work.

For how long I don't know- but for now I'm glad I have the magic ZS/tidal connect combo filling my home with sweet sweet vibrations.

Love hate relationship with the ZS that much is certain.

When you changed the name, did you not have to type hifi.local? Or am I missing something?

At one time when I changed names on my units to ZSone and ZSTwo I had to type that name before .local

Thanks!!

Cheers!!

 

[iFi audio]

Perfect timing ifi audio!

Similar level of support through the support ticket I raised.

friendly Joke but kind of not jokes.

OK, so I take it that you're happy, yes ?

 

[rfprice]

I've had the ZS since Dec. and haven't noticed many of the quirks that I noticed in the beginning.

But yesterday I tried the USB output for the first time and nothing is happening. The DAC recognizes that the DS is connected but there is no sound, as if it's muted. I've tried both sockets. The USB on the DAC is fine, my computer connects no problem. Am I missing something obvious? Thanks.

 

[Vitor Goncalves]

I've had the ZS since Dec. and haven't noticed many of the quirks that I noticed in the beginning.

But yesterday I tried the USB output for the first time and nothing is happening. The DAC recognizes that the DS is connected but there is no sound, as if it's muted. I've tried both sockets. The USB on the DAC is fine, my computer connects no problem. Am I missing something obvious? Thanks.

Have you set the playback options to USB in the Zen App (in AIO mode) and click save?