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

Product Information

device can interface with your music collection or favourite streaming service, depending on the user’s preference, An ingenious part of the ZEN Stream’s design is the ability to select between ‘exclusive modes’ – individual settings that deliver fully optimised performance by focusing operation on one particular mode of use. An ingenious part of the ZEN Stream’s design is the ability to select between ‘Exclusive’ modes – individual settings dedicated to specific modes of operation to deliver the purest possible performance.

streaming – a great interface, strong flexibility and high-quality sound are all benefits, although Rooncompatible My first test was to just use the Zen Stream in my office, connected via coax to a DAC, sending music either from Foobar (via DLNA) or from my phone (both via DLNA and direct from the Tidal app). The setup was very easy. It was a case of plugging it in, turning it on, giving it a minute or so and away we go. 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 NEO Stream can be used in two ways: connect to an amp and speakers via the onboard DAC stage and analogue outputs, or connect one of the available digital outputs to an external DAC. In the latter mode, the NEO Stream acts as a ‘streaming transport’ or ‘network bridge’, like the ZEN Stream but with a higher level of ‘ultra-resolution’ performance.

By the way, I replaced the supplied PSU with iPower 12V, 1.8 A just to ensure better quality power supply to ZS. Disclaimer (Let’s get the legal stuff out of the way): Below are some updates from the Development Team; they are not official announcements or positions from iFi audio whatsoever; some or all of the info below could be subject to change without notification.***** What if I plug in my USB DAC but the ZEN Stream still says it’s not connected? Here are several possibilities: Integrated Airplay and Chromecast ensures easy streaming from Apple and Android devices. AirPlay is included at launch; Chromecast will be added as a free firmware update later this year.

The Wrap Up

MQA – the hi-res streaming technology, as used by Tidal’s ‘HiFi Plus’ tier – is comprehensively supported, with full decoding of MQA files up to 384kHz. This means that the full ‘three unfold’ decoding process can be performed internally, as opposed to only the final unfold in the manner of an MQA ‘renderer’. When the digital outputs are used to connect an external MQA-supporting DAC, both MQA passthrough and ‘first unfold’ are supported. The ZEN can provide sufficient current to power a single portable hard drive, a USB CD ROM drive or the matching ZEN DAC from its USB ports. It’s also possible to use a powered USB hub to run more than 1 hard drive from the system, or connect up keyboards, mice and other accessories. The music library feature maintains a database of content across connected external drives, connected network shares (all common protocols are supported) and the internal memory. There is no option to change the storage location of the database and it’s unclear how big of a library you’d need before the database filled the remaining space on the ZEN itself. And yet, as it was discovered by ‘head-fiers’ the Mixer type in Volume Options should be in the None position for the best SQ. Thank you for the demo sample provided by ifi audio through Qvinta-audio, their distributor in Russia. The DAC is supported by a 16 Core XMOS micro controller that possesses specs considerably in advance of what the iFi ‘needs’ to do its job. The argument is twofold; the first is that, in normal operation, this processor has a considerable amount of reserve capacity. The second is there is potentially some scope for future proofing too although iFi doesn’t go so far as to state that this is confirmed or guaranteed. As with most things we review on AVForums, ensure you choose something based on what the spec offers now rather than some idea of what it might do in the future.

For my setup the BEST sound came from this chain: NAS-->iFi Stream-->PontusII DAC-->Burson Soloist 3x (Pre-Amp) So the ZEN Stream basically covers all popular services, such as Qobuz, QQMusic, YT Music, J River, Audirvana, Foobar3000, VLC, MediaMonkey and many more. This is simply great and incredible for a streamer at this price level. Intended to be paired with the ZEN DAC, but at home in any system with a USB or coaxial input, the ZEN Stream (the ZEN hereafter) is a tiny, curvaceous unibody stuffed with clever tech to clean up the digital signal, output by a powerful 64-bit computer running a heavily customised version of the open-source Volumio operating system. It supports AirPlay, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, DLNA / PUNP and NAA and is Roon ready. Ifi make a big deal of their ‘Active Noise Cancellation II’ and ‘iPurifier’ technologies on the USB and coax outputs respectively. And ‘exclusive’ modes are said to improve sound quality by enabling only the required software and services for a given streaming task, reducing what Ifi calls ‘software jitter’. Bold claims indeed, so I reached out to Ifi who kindly loaned a sample unit to test. I recently found myself looking into replacements for my current streamer of choice, to take better advantage of my new Topping D90LE DAC. I’ve been using a Cambridge CXN V2 since late 2019, feeding the Musical Fidelity M6S DAC via coax. But that setup didn’t give me the ability to stream PCM at maximum possible resolution, nor DSD, and the new Stream Magic control app has some accessibility issues that make it quite frustrating to use. And the D90LE only has 1 coax input, which I wanted to use in preference to an optical connection for the Cambridge CXC CD transport which I will retain. 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!Most of the time I used the Zen stream connected to my wifi using the antenna. In a couple of minutes the connection was established but there were continuous drops caused by my old wifi modem so I recommend to anyone trying to use the zen stream to also use a good quality wifi modem. Changing to the wired mode via ethernet, i never experienced a drop of connection and the functioning was perfect. applications and the user interface, everything is fully optimised for seamless operation and excellent sonic Any DLNA-compatible streaming app – including iFi’s forthcoming Stream-iFi app – can be used to control Disclaimer: iFi Audio sent the ZEN Stream to me to be featured on Headfonia.com, it remains the property of iFi Audio at all time. Users of these hugely popular online music services can stream directly from the Tidal and Spotify apps.