iFi ZEN Stream – Network Audio Transport Streamer – Inputs: Ethernet/Wi-Fi/USB - Outputs: USB/SPDIF

Product Information

Amaranth” – Night Wish (The SIZE of the stage is huge, & when resolved properly, isn't just a "wall of sound" coming at you.) All this upgrading should give you the idea that the iFi Zen Stream is a VERY technically/sonically capable streamer... and software deliver excellent sound quality, and its price makes it an eminently affordable solution for high2

The second interesting feature is the ease of use of most apps and streaming music services with the zen stream. In a matter of seconds you can use tidal and spotify without losing audio quality unlike IFI Zen Blue and most bluetooth transmitters. Just notice that the compatible apps vary according to the device you use, for example with IOS you can use Youtube Music and Qobuz apps but not in an android device. Probably at first glance it is difficult to evaluate this device without fully understanding what it can do and what functionality it brings. Denafrips Ares II (kindly provided on a long term loan by the official distributor www.denafrips.eu) These are some of the factors behind why the ZEN Stream is at the cutting-edge handling PCM384/DSD256 on LAN and WiFi (802.11n, with 100Mbps on 5Ghz).

Come on, heal the noise

We first noticed the occasional Tidal hang-ups in November 2021, and we immediately alerted Tidal because we couldn’t find anything wrong on our end. Tidal verified that the problem was with their server’s retry logic, and they’ve just released an update to fix it. Right now, we’re implementing this change. The way my home audio network is set up is that I have a PC that acts as a server, with approximately 4tb of music. I then have a Raspberry Pi 4 that is running RopieeeXL and is connected to a Topping D10s, from which the analog output goes to an RCA switch (that feeds my headphone amps), the Coaxial output of the D10s goes to an SU-8 and the optical output of the D10s goes to a powered optical splitter, one side feeding various speaker set ups in different rooms and the other side running into an optical switch (allowing me to switch between multiple optical sources, such as Pi4, satellite TV, gaming console etc.) that then runs to the SU-8 and headphone amps also. Great news! Roon Ready certification has been completed for the ZEN Stream. We will be making a full a announcement complete with new firmware providing Roon Ready support for the Stream within the next couple of weeks. Integrated Airplay and Chromecast ensures easy streaming from Apple and Android devices. AirPlay is The settings and UI are accessible in Mode 1 (All-in-One) only. The Mode 1 (All-in-One) is universal for all cases and connections. If you use only one service, for example Roon, then it is better to select the appropriate exclusive mode to disable other unnecessary services.

The iFi ZEN Stream is branded, plug and play, easy to use, has a nice UI with a dedicated app, both USB and Coaxial outputs, USB input, it is wired and wireless, it has noise suppression circuits, it is competitively priced and there is continuous support through regular updates. The NEO Stream offers a connectivity array that is unique in a network music streamer at its price, both in breadth and specification, providing unparalleled versatility across a range of system configurations.iFi Audio is calling this WiFi audio transport “Streaming unleashed”, and that’s exactly what it is to me as this little unit is incredibly versatile. The ZEN Stream has one simple goal: to send music in a simple way from the Internet or your local storage to your DAC. And that with no loss of quality. Any DLNA-compatible streaming app – including iFi’s forthcoming Stream-iFi app – can be used to control the ZEN Stream and access audio content from online services and DLNA-certified network storage devices. I have kept the previous section relatively short because, as I said at the beginning, the use case will depend very much on each person's needs for the unit. Here I am going to focus on my uses for the Zen Stream and how it compares to my current system. Obviously, I'm a "Headphone guy"& NOT serious about speakers.. Those pitiful things!)​ Setup: iFi Power Station-iFi Zen Stream-Denafrips Pontus II-Burson Soloist 3x-Harmon Kardon HK-870-HiFiMan He6se v2 - Running off HK-870's 100w per channel speaker taps. (Yes, to ensure that there was NO question that I was getting the most out of the He6se v2, I A/B'd the Burson 8wpc EXCELLENT headphone amp's Balanced XLR-out against the HK with a speaker tap to XLR adapter cable, and the HK clearly won for dynamics and soundstage, volume-matched with a BAFX3370 decibel meter.) The output dialog box has also been updated to always show the USB output. It will also show whether or not it is connected.

iFi software developed with Volumio open-source as the starting point, then coded and optimised by us to achieve the purest streaming software bar none. Several different settings allow users to tailor the NEO Stream’s performance to suit their system and the way they like to stream. For example, users can select between Exclusive Modes – individual settings that optimise performance by focusing operation on one mode of use. There are specific settings for Roon, Tidal Masters, DLNA and NAA, as well as a general mode for multi-platform use. Thank you so much to BubbaHyde on Head-Fi for his testing, which provided a lot of light on the problem. We realised we couldn’t duplicate it since we thought others design USB DACs in the same way we do.Other USB DACs, on the other hand, do not (how frustrating)! They will announce some support resolution but not all. For example, it will tell the host it supports 24bit but not 32bit or vice versa. WiFi signal strength is strong and we didn't experience disconnections or any kind of lag even while streaming 192kHz/24bit material and then it is up to the user to decide whether LAN or WiFi yields better sound quality. HK-870-->HiFiMan He6se v2. (Major boosts in dynamic range, spacial placement within soundstage, and greater resolution.) HEDDPhone One came close and was much easier to achieve it's best as it sounded great just from the Burson Soloist 3x Performance amp. Oddly enough, while listening through the HK-870 gave way more power, it actually took a little away from HEDDPhone's clarity & separation. More good news. We have resolved the MQA first unfold issue with the beta firmware. We are in the final phase of certification with MQA right now. Expect all the MQA lights available, Magenta, Green and Blue.