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

Product Information

In comparison to the Pi set up I currently have at home, there are some very positive things to be said about the Stream. The first major benefit is the fact that it is just plug and play, even though RopieeeXL is pretty straightforward to install and use, it does still take time to set up. As far as cost, the Stream is more expensive than the Pi set up, but it is not really that much more expensive when taking everything into consideration. The Pi4 (8G) costs around 80€, a case is around 20€ (depending on what you choose of course), an SD card is another 15€, then the power supply is around 10€, so the total in hardware is around 125€ (depending on your choice of case). We then need to add the time to set it up, which probably takes around 30 mins when you know what you are doing but if it is your first time, you will need to add multiple hours of research before getting it up and running. Roon is not officially supported but Roon users report that iFi ZEN Stream is perfectly working with Roon Bridge or something like that. By the way, I replaced the supplied PSU with iPower 12V, 1.8 A just to ensure better quality power supply to ZS. Now, in the ZEN Stream’s Linux ALSA (audio system), we want the best sound, so we employ the most direct bit-perfect mode whenever possible. There was no data conversion at all. The disadvantage is that it will not have sound if the format is not supported (or not stated correctly). What a letdown! Users of these hugely popular online music services can stream directly from the Tidal and Spotify apps – simple, seamless and effective.

Hotel California” – The Eagles (Detail of the strums, instrument placement, the vocals are completely on-point!) The unit comes bundled with an iFi iPower 9V or 15V DC supply (both work), a short Ethernet cable of good quality, the WiFi antenna and a plastic screwdriver for the modes switch. ZS essentially can become the Core of your home system whether you're streaming or not, use Roon or any other services. ZS will either improve the existing setup and the signal in your home system or it will become the center of communication uniting every gadget and service that lives "its separate life".The set up was just as easy as in my office, especially because I use a cabled connection as I said, so I didn’t even need to worry about WiFi. As I have two D10s, I connected one to the Zen Stream and the other to the Pi, although I already know the Pi well enough to not have to test things side by side. possible sound quality, working in perfect harmony with iFi’s in-house software development. From the device

Bridge software, making in suitable for a Roon environment, and full Roon Ready certification is in the Till then the ZEN Stream is still the most inclusive and user-friendly network streamer in the market with a price to performance value that is absolutely very hard to beat and as such it gets our highest recommendation.Stream straight from Spotify/Tidal apps with Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect § Roon, DLNA and NAA compatible There’s not much to report sound wise. The ZEN is a network bridge that takes digital audio and offers it up to a DAC of your choice. It shouldn’t impart any sonic character of its own, and it doesn’t. I tried the DLNA exclusive mode to see if I could validate the claims made in preference of using the ZEN in its ‘all-in-one’ mode, but I couldn’t. Even running the ZEN digitally into a Focusrite Clarette+ 8Pre interface, recording the output and comparing it against an original high-resolution PCM audio file, there was absolutely no difference what-so-ever. The Claret is renowned for being extremely flat, with conversion as close to a straight-wire approach as it gets and the equal of digital converters at any price. I don’t have an audio analyser to measure the ZEN Stream, but if I were a betting man I’d say the exclusive modes cannot be objectively validated. First of all when I switch the ZS on, there is an audible noise (a bit like a plane before take off) until the streamer connects to the Tidal server. This noise never occurs later on, even if the server connection gets lost, only after switching the ZS on. I was told, this is not a common problem and most likely it has something to do with my DAC. I use a Musician Pegasus, and another member has experienced similar noise with his Denafrips DAC. The DAC designer is the same, so it might have something to do with the DAC design and is not the ZS's fault. Ifi will look into it and might come up with a remedy in a future firmware. sound quality, building a system from dedicated audio components remains the best route to sonic satisfaction – well-known single-board computer, which can be used as a music streaming device. After all, an audio streamer is

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.Described as a ‘Wi-Fi audio transport’, the ZEN Stream acts as a bridge between your Wi-Fi network and your audio Beneath the unassuming casework sits some serious horsepower in terms of both technologies and components: That covers all of the connections, which are quite a few, so I will touch briefly on what this unit is aimed to do. I need to leave the Zen Stream on 24/7. Like with many DACs, it does not hurt the ZS to be on nonstop. This way I can avoid the noise and initial frustration to connect to the server after each switch on. Users of these hugely popular online music services can stream directly from the Tidal and Spotify apps.