Hi all, I set up my Zen Stream easily enough on the network (both Wi-fi and Ethernet) but my NAD M51 DAC doesn't seem to "see" the device, neither over S/PDIF or USB. If the issue was with a PC then I would guess that the driver needs to be installed/updated for the NAD DAC but is this relevant or even do-able on the Zen Stream?
iFi audio ZEN Stream - The Official Thread
- Thread starter AMR / iFi audio
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Did you mean that the Zen Stream does not see the NAD DAC?
Restart the NAD. Be sure that the NAD is powered, connected to the USB(for instance), selected the USB input and then power the Zen. Check the settings if this helped.
You can try doing Factory Reset on the Zen. This will likely return the unit to firmware v2.25. Also try also updating if that does not help.
I have NAD C510 and it gets recognized on both outputs.
Restart the NAD. Be sure that the NAD is powered, connected to the USB(for instance), selected the USB input and then power the Zen. Check the settings if this helped.
You can try doing Factory Reset on the Zen. This will likely return the unit to firmware v2.25. Also try also updating if that does not help.
I have NAD C510 and it gets recognized on both outputs.
Hi thanks for your response but no, the Zen Stream can see the NAD - it is there in the settings as "NAD stereo 2.0" or something like that (can't remember right now) but the NAD DAC doesn't seem to be receiving any input in either the SPDIF or USB. the DAC works fine with other inputs like my PC and Musical Fidelity CD player.
Oh I just did a firmware update on the NAD M51 and it is working now!
Great! Congratulations!
Please share some experience. What source will you use? How does it sounds? Can you compare it to other streamers?
And how is the M51 sounding? My C510 is said to borrow some tech from that M51 ....
Please share some experience. What source will you use? How does it sounds? Can you compare it to other streamers?
And how is the M51 sounding? My C510 is said to borrow some tech from that M51 ....
I am very happy it worked out well for you. It would be great to hear your experience as other user may find it very useful.
I have seen several youTube reviewers claiming significant sonic gains were achieved by using linear power supplies with the Zen streamer. One Zen Streamer user stated that the Zen Stream competed sonically to a Innuos Zen Mini even with the upgraded Innuos power supply, if this is the case, one has to wonder just how far the Zen Streamer will scale up with a excellent power supply. The reviewer, Hans Beekhuyzen feels that quality switching supplies sound better with digital devices connected on a network. Ifi offers the Elite switching power supply at $400. Has anyone compared the Ifi Elite switching ps to the factory supplied ps or a linear ps on the Zen stream?
The zen stream is essentially a pass-through device (you could call it a high quality transport) and as such just passes through the file sent to it.
The Zen Stream is capable of passing the DSD256.
The new firmware may help you out, so we would recommend to update it once it is available.
There are no deadlines for firmware updates. We work hard to provide them to you as soon as possible. I'll keep you posted.
@CJmJcB please go to our support system. You have a more detailed answer under your ticket.
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It's very easy to test without buying an expensive linear power supply (maybe more expensive than the streamer itself): Just use a 12V battery or a lithium ion jump starter for the car.
It happens that I have a noco booster 2000 and I used it to power the streamer --> I could not hear any difference in sound. A lithium battery is more linear than any linear power supply.
There are bunch of electronics in that battery/jump starter that may be the cause for even worse performance or no gain at all. I think that kind of comparison is not correct and the end results should not be compared to quality linear power supply. But it doesn't hurt to try.
I thought of that too, but if there were a difference then at least it would sound worse or different. But if it sounds the same I suspect the sourse have no impact on the digital delivery. After all, the streamer just passes the digital signal to the DAC, it's not doing anything to it.
As for everything else ..... it depends.
I think if you have a bad power supply in the chain it will ruin the rest. I will try in the near feature to exchange all of my power supply's with quality in one go to see if that changes the sound.
It is worth remembering that not all batteries are the same and they may give different results.
Also, see the results of our tests vis-a-vis battery.
from the graphic it results there is no difference between the battery and iPower elite because the variation is well below the digital signal voltages (0.4 V). The second source (which is not a battery) can alter the signal in the low frequency zone.
Do you have a similar graphic with the source that comes with the IFI Zen stream?
Do you have a similar graphic with the source that comes with the IFI Zen stream?
Another question (referred only to streamers connected to externals DAC's):
Considering that the streamer only passes the digital signal to the DAC is there any difference between the IFI Zen Stream and let's say a very very expensive Streamer (like one from Aurender) in terms of the signal that reaches the DAC?
I know the Aurender might have internal HDD's and a different interface etc. but I'm only interested in the quality of the signal that is transferred to the DAC.
Basically the DAC is receiving either zero or one (assuming the source is good enough and there is no jitter).
This being said, I don't understand how some people state that one streamer or the other can make the sound to be more or less lean, more or less bass or the stage wider etc ... The digital signal should either get to the other end or not. It should be like on a TV: you either get the digital image completely or when you have a bad signal you get undistinguishable dots.
Considering that the streamer only passes the digital signal to the DAC is there any difference between the IFI Zen Stream and let's say a very very expensive Streamer (like one from Aurender) in terms of the signal that reaches the DAC?
I know the Aurender might have internal HDD's and a different interface etc. but I'm only interested in the quality of the signal that is transferred to the DAC.
Basically the DAC is receiving either zero or one (assuming the source is good enough and there is no jitter).
This being said, I don't understand how some people state that one streamer or the other can make the sound to be more or less lean, more or less bass or the stage wider etc ... The digital signal should either get to the other end or not. It should be like on a TV: you either get the digital image completely or when you have a bad signal you get undistinguishable dots.
We do not have one. It will take us a few days, but I'll try to get you some more measurements.
The digital signal. That is a good question. Let's take a very simple set-up as an example. Source, streamer and a DAC. The source aims to send the file in its highest quality, streamer (as an extra device in that chain) aims to add as little distortions as possible to the DAC, which again often improves and converts the quality of the track.
In an ideal, perfect, studio-like environment, if the output on both of your streaming devices is digital there should not be any difference, as long as the input is exactly the same and both are bit-perfect. The difference comes along when it comes to the parts, interface, output quality, filters in ethernet, filters on outputs, inputs, built-in DACs, drives. Additionally, they are not always bit perfect and often do not have the same quality outputs. The source, the streamer's outputs, the dac - they will all play an important role. For instance, even though the high-res streaming platforms may offer the same file format, people tend to detect tremendous differences between them. The same analogy applies to the streamers.
What have Zen Steam owners reported by upgrading to the Elite switching power supply?
Hi!
I have a question that is not related to the power supply upgrade.
I wanted to know if the iFi app allows to stream Amazon Music HD without involving a Bluetooth transmission from a mobile device. Thanks
I have a question that is not related to the power supply upgrade.
I wanted to know if the iFi app allows to stream Amazon Music HD without involving a Bluetooth transmission from a mobile device. Thanks
@docvale
I am afraid it is a no for Amazon Music HD.
With the other apps, the Zen Stream can work without involving BT transmission from a mobile device.
iFi app works with the internet connection and not the Bluetooth signal. The Zen Stream is a network streamer. It works only over Wi-Fi or ethernet, so that the app.
I am afraid it is a no for Amazon Music HD.
With the other apps, the Zen Stream can work without involving BT transmission from a mobile device.
iFi app works with the internet connection and not the Bluetooth signal. The Zen Stream is a network streamer. It works only over Wi-Fi or ethernet, so that the app.
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