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

[luiswu]

Good to hear! Thanks for the update!

I have gone through similar situations with codecs, sometimes when dealing with Bluetooth my own personal opinion is best is not always best if somehow the experience gets ruined. I have posted this many times about striving for higher codecs in Video, the lip sync always seems to be an issue, but SBC...spot on!

I suppose one day this will all come together but in most cases get the best most rock solid signal and be content for wireless, wired?.. Yes always if possible for me lol.

The GO Pods and Go Blue really changed my thoughts on BT but it's not quite there yet...


Cheers!!

Hello, would it be possible to connect the Ifi Zen Stramer to the USB C output that has a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet adapter?

 

[Lvivske]

Apologies but I can't help much there as I have never used PLEX, hopefully, someone who has can provide guidance for you.

Cheers!!

DLNA media server is a Zen source mode, my problems arent with Plex

 

[lexx21]

Im not trying to be a smart "other word for butt" here, but with 137 pages of problems with this thing, why dont you just go with a pi2aes? Seriously, your time spent on working to fix this is actually worth money, money ifi SHOULD have spent getting their code right.

Reading through this thread REALLY put me off buying any ifi audio equipment. They expect you to be the beta testers.

Like I said, not trying to be a smart you know what, but there are other FAR less time consuming and frustrating options here. I just want everyone to be able to revel in the beauty of music, not pull out your hair getting a piece of equipment working.

 

[mwhals]

Im not trying to be a smart "other word for butt" here, but with 137 pages of problems with this thing, why dont you just go with a pi2aes? Seriously, your time spent on working to fix this is actually worth money, money ifi SHOULD have spent getting their code right.

Reading through this thread REALLY put me off buying any ifi audio equipment. They expect you to be the beta testers.

Like I said, not trying to be a smart you know what, but there are other FAR less time consuming and frustrating options here. I just want everyone to be able to revel in the beauty of music, not pull out your hair getting a piece of equipment working.

There are more people like myself that have had no problems with the streamer or any ifi audio equipment. Those with problems are more likely to post about them than those that have zero problems.

 

[SHXMD]

Interestingly I decided to add another streamer to my system to have basically two different structures and separate Qobuz and Tidal Connect (constant issues). The streamer cost 5 times a ZS.
I then added their DAC because of a different structure. In the cleanest and clearest connection it drops stream and risks damaging my speakers.

They knew about the firmware issue for 4 months before I bought it. At least according their community support. I just did not see it.

I am about to be told to wait for the patch.

These are hardly perfect mechanisms in all our unique settings.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

The only thing that cannot be disputed is that "all" streamers have issues for "some" folks, I have yet to find one that doesn't have an issue one way or another.

I would always encourage someone to find what works for you and what you listen to and how you listen to it. We wish we could say everything is perfect but we all know that's not true. I started this thread before I even worked for iFi in hopes of helping folks work through issues be it network or Zen or the device controlling the Zen.

Sometimes the fix is simple, sometimes not, but we are here to help.

Cheers!!

 

[GuiltyRocker]

The only thing that cannot be disputed is that "all" streamers have issues for "some" folks, I have yet to find one that doesn't have an issue one way or another.

I would always encourage someone to find what works for you and what you listen to and how you listen to it. We wish we could say everything is perfect but we all know that's not true. I started this thread before I even worked for iFi in hopes of helping folks work through issues be it network or Zen or the device controlling the Zen.

Sometimes the fix is simple, sometimes not, but we are here to help.

Cheers!!

The only issue I had with the ifi was at the beginning many firmwares ago, it froze while updating and then a slight issue with Roon, as it was not recognizing USB, only coax. So far I have no issues whatsoever, it is a fantastic little streamer and I really like it. The world is just very pessimistic and entitled lately, no offense to anyone, but it's true.

 

[luiswu]

The only thing that cannot be disputed is that "all" streamers have issues for "some" folks, I have yet to find one that doesn't have an issue one way or another.

I would always encourage someone to find what works for you and what you listen to and how you listen to it. We wish we could say everything is perfect but we all know that's not true. I started this thread before I even worked for iFi in hopes of helping folks work through issues be it network or Zen or the device controlling the Zen.

Sometimes the fix is simple, sometimes not, but we are here to help.

Cheers!!

Hello, would it be possible to connect the Ifi Zen Stramer to the USB C output that has a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet adapter?

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Hello, would it be possible to connect the Ifi Zen Stramer to the USB C output that has a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet adapter?

To my knowledge the USB C on the rear is only for software resets and has no other functionality.

Cheers!!

 

[brandtacious]

The only issue I had with the ifi was at the beginning many firmwares ago, it froze while updating and then a slight issue with Roon, as it was not recognizing USB, only coax. So far I have no issues whatsoever, it is a fantastic little streamer and I really like it. The world is just very pessimistic and entitled lately, no offense to anyone, but it's true.

The only issues I’ve had with the ZS were when my ISP changed out/upgraded my equipment, and I had to learn that the new stuff sort of affected the ZS in ways that my old internet service did not.
Short version is that now I regularly reboot everything much more often, routinely check for Tidal updates before opening Tidal, ALWAYS launch ifi.local and refresh it using password before launching Tidal, and no longer have any issues whatsoever.
I only use the ZS to stream Tidal, nothing else.
I very much enjoy the sound quality of the ZS streaming Tidal, and very much appreciate the reliability of the ZS streaming Tidal.
In my case, I simply have to make sure the equipment inputting to the ZS is calibrated or whatever the correct technical term for that is. When I do that, the ZS operates perfectly. When I haven’t done that, I have experienced issues.
With my old ISP, I didn’t need to reboot anything ever, and the ZS worked perfectly, as well. Now, it takes a few more checks before I fire everything up, but now that I’ve learned that, it’s a habit and it works perfectly.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

The only issues I’ve had with the ZS were when my ISP changed out/upgraded my equipment, and I had to learn that the new stuff sort of affected the ZS in ways that my old internet service did not.
Short version is that now I regularly reboot everything much more often, routinely check for Tidal updates before opening Tidal, ALWAYS launch ifi.local and refresh it using password before launching Tidal, and no longer have any issues whatsoever.
I only use the ZS to stream Tidal, nothing else.
I very much enjoy the sound quality of the ZS streaming Tidal, and very much appreciate the reliability of the ZS streaming Tidal.
In my case, I simply have to make sure the equipment inputting to the ZS is calibrated or whatever the correct technical term for that is. When I do that, the ZS operates perfectly. When I haven’t done that, I have experienced issues.
With my old ISP, I didn’t need to reboot anything ever, and the ZS worked perfectly, as well. Now, it takes a few more checks before I fire everything up, but now that I’ve learned that, it’s a habit and it works perfectly.

Thanks for the thoughts, appreciated!

This is something I have done for years (yes, I believe it makes a difference) but every Sunday morning I completely reboot (by powering off each piece, modem switches everything), this has I believe always made a difference for me.

With all the devices and different needs in my home, it has a heavy load and is cleared weekly in my case.

Cheers!!

 

[RickInHouston]

Im not trying to be a smart "other word for butt" here, but with 137 pages of problems with this thing, why dont you just go with a pi2aes? Seriously, your time spent on working to fix this is actually worth money, money ifi SHOULD have spent getting their code right.

Reading through this thread REALLY put me off buying any ifi audio equipment. They expect you to be the beta testers.

Like I said, not trying to be a smart you know what, but there are other FAR less time consuming and frustrating options here. I just want everyone to be able to revel in the beauty of music, not pull out your hair getting a piece of equipment working.

I had to 'tinker' with my pi streamer so much it almost became a full time job. I got pops, clicks and drop outs. I had to restructure from WiFi to Ethernet to improve connection to it. I was always updating and resetting. It blew.

My Zen Streamers are ROCK SOLID. Truly. My new Neo 2 is so much fun. Yes, I do have slight drops 3 or 4 times with my Go Pods during a 1.25 hour workout, but I've isolated the problem to my OnePlus Pad2 tablet. (UPDATE: A full factory reset seems to have helped greatly with dropouts).

I've found IFi one of the best buys in audio. You get loads of tech for a decent price.

That's been my experience.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I had to 'tinker' with my pi streamer so much it almost became a full time job. I got pops, clicks and drop outs. I had to restructure from WiFi to Ethernet to improve connection to it. I was always updating and resetting. It blew.

My Zen Streamers are ROCK SOLID. Truly. My new Neo 2 is so much fun. Yes, I do have slight drops 3 or 4 times with my Go Pods during a 1.25 hour workout, but I've isolated the problem to my OnePlus Pad2 tablet.

I've found IFi one of the best buys in audio. You get loads of tech for a decent price.

That's been my experience.

And of course, Thanks for continuing to support us, we do try, but as all products, not everyone of them is for everybody...name of the game...

Cheers!!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

For folks having Tidal issues, they have had an update on Android that I am hearing in several circles, that nagging issues (switching albums and changing tracks) have improved.

Be sure to update your Android version and let us know how it goes.

Cheers!!

 

[mssmsaidi]

Good advice, and very easy to follow. Nice work