[hiplytragic]

Thanks for the updated info, appreciated.

Just to get a head start I will put an album on repeat as well later tonight just to see what happens. In general I really never have these kinds of issues (Lucky I Guess).

So many times it comes down to a tiny network hiccup that a streamer fails at overcoming (any) where a computer may play right through (how I do not know).

Out of curiosity do you have any other streaming services, Spotify?

Cheers!!

Other than Tidal I’ve got Apple Music but I don’t really use it due to airplay’s constraints.

I’ve gone through the network recommendations I found in boards such as giving a a fixed IP, using a network cable instead of Wifi. overriding DNS with 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 but none of these seemed as possible solutions to me and indeed they did not address the problem at all.

One hypothesis I now have is that albums tend to have the same encoding and bit rates throughout (e.g. flax vs mqa) whereas a playlist could have any number of variations on this. ***Maybe*** in switching encoding and firing different sub processes on the ZS triggers some sort of queue corruption bug and/or disconnects ZS from whatever device playback is being controlled from.

 

[iFi audio]

Other than Tidal I’ve got Apple Music but I don’t really use it due to airplay’s constraints.

I’ve gone through the network recommendations I found in boards such as giving a a fixed IP, using a network cable instead of Wifi. overriding DNS with 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 but none of these seemed as possible solutions to me and indeed they did not address the problem at all.

One hypothesis I now have is that albums tend to have the same encoding and bit rates throughout (e.g. flax vs mqa) whereas a playlist could have any number of variations on this. ***Maybe*** in switching encoding and firing different sub processes on the ZS triggers some sort of queue corruption bug and/or disconnects ZS from whatever device playback is being controlled from.

That very well may be and a good theory.

But it doesn't explain how when someone uses Roon this doesn't happen. I will be honest over the years with the Zen stream (as an owner before working at iFi) one thing is consistent when it comes to streaming services that the Zen works with and that's Tidal in some shape or form has always been a bugger to deal with. That is not excusing the Zen it's simply saying that if you go through 50 threads on the internet someone always has some issue with it somewhere, and always have.

It will be interesting if this issue disappears for you when we get our Tidal Max update as I have heard this theory before that going from MQA to Flac/PCM is causing this and it may well be with the processing done for MQA.

Let's do our testing and see what we find out, if it doesn't happen we will figure out something, even if I loan you access to other services it will help us find out if it's Tidal, Network, or Zen that's the issue

Cheers!!

 

[hiplytragic]

That very well may be and a good theory.

But it doesn't explain how when someone uses Roon this doesn't happen. I will be honest over the years with the Zen stream (as an owner before working at iFi) one thing is consistent when it comes to streaming services that the Zen works with and that's Tidal in some shape or form has always been a bugger to deal with. That is not excusing the Zen it's simply saying that if you go through 50 threads on the internet someone always has some issue with it somewhere, and always have.

It will be interesting if this issue disappears for you when we get our Tidal Max update as I have heard this theory before that going from MQA to Flac/PCM is causing this and it may well be with the processing done for MQA.

Let's do our testing and see what we find out, if it doesn't happen we will figure out something, even if I loan you access to other services it will help us find out if it's Tidal, Network, or Zen that's the issue

Cheers!!

I would love to be able to completely turn off MQA in favor of flac on ZS. Coming soon?

 

[iFi audio]

I would love to be able to completely turn off MQA in favor of flac on ZS. Coming soon?

One can only hope so!

Cheers!!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

@hiplytragic

As an update I started the Tidal playlist called Encore: New in Classical at 8 am this morning, it has been running perfectly (Knock on wood) with ZS connected via USB to My SMSL DO200 MKII, so it is switching between MQA PCM.

I have it on repeat and will see what happens here...

Cheers!!

 

[iFi audio]

@hiplytragic

Music has continued to play for me using Tidal Connect right up until my computer went into standby.

I then restarted it and it did stop after 4-5 songs with that same playlist, unfortunately, I was not here to see why, I had to run an errand. I am restarting the test at 1 pm using an album instead of a playlist that way there is no switching of MQA or bitrate, just to see what happens.

Using Renaud Capucon new album Les Choses

Will update later...

Cheers!!

 

[emmp]

I really think Ifi should fix the current Zen Stream before moving to a next generation streamer:

1. Stop random freezes during playback
2. Keep WiFI off after restarting so that we don't have to resort to SSH every time
3. Support Chromecast (regardless of how long it takes to convince Google to cooperate)
4. Upgrade to Volumio 3

This will really be a failure of a product for its price tag if its manufacturer abandons it in favor of a successor.

 

[greenblured]

iiwi reviews (youtube) did a review of the Volumio Rivo streamer some months ago. In the comment section Volumio commented on the Ifi Zen Stream.

 

[jameshsu88]

iiwi reviews (youtube) did a review of the Volumio Rivo streamer some months ago. In the comment section Volumio commented on the Ifi Zen Stream.

Now I know why the update releases are so slow

 

[SHXMD]

This is very interesting particularly in view of Volumio’s start in 2013 self described on their current Website with an overwhelming emphasis (and ongoing over time) about “being free and open source for Linux” and Rasberry pi.

What appears clear in their quoted comments above is they wanted to through their “OEM project” to generate licensing/copyright fees from the hardware manufacturers to particularize to the individual devices.

Interesting twist from “free and open source” to the public to throttling use by hardware manufacturer's through licensing/infringement/copyright rules.

 

[jameshsu88]

This is very interesting particularly in view of Volumio’s start in 2013 self described on their current Website with an overwhelming emphasis (and ongoing over time) about “being free and open source for Linux” and Rasberry pi.

What appears clear in their quoted comments above is they wanted to through their “OEM project” to generate licensing/copyright fees from the hardware manufacturers to particularize to the individual devices.

Interesting twist from “free and open source” to the public to throttling use by hardware manufacturer's through licensing/infringement/copyright rules.

I think it's quite common practice for open source to want to charge/request money for commercial use purposes

 

[mjstealey]

This is very interesting particularly in view of Volumio’s start in 2013 self described on their current Website with an overwhelming emphasis (and ongoing over time) about “being free and open source for Linux” and Rasberry pi.

What appears clear in their quoted comments above is they wanted to through their “OEM project” to generate licensing/copyright fees from the hardware manufacturers to particularize to the individual devices.

Interesting twist from “free and open source” to the public to throttling use by hardware manufacturer's through licensing/infringement/copyright rules.

This model is not that uncommon anytime there is an expectation of support, or some other value added service, associated to the underlying FOSS
- Free: DIY projects by folks that are comfortable digging through reams of code and can navigate the issue submission/tracking/release system
- Not free: Software pre-loaded onto a third party commercial piece of hardware and expecting regular updates and/or some level of support if things go pear shaped

RHEL's model also comes to mind when thinking about the free vs. not free support/subscription paradigm

 

[SHXMD]

I hear you both and have no reason to majorly disagree other than the following items: 1. Couching yourself as always small and pulling for the little guy (as long as the big guys pay off). 2. “Free” no longer means “free”. 3. Management of “Free Market through litigation” 4. I looked at the Volumio software through SOTM and did not care for the OS-(personal preference, I understand).

I have never had a problem with my hardware or software but I rarely push the IT envelope.

Personally I would hate to give up my streamer as my warranty has not even expired.

 

[iFi audio]

I really think Ifi should fix the current Zen Stream before moving to a next generation streamer:

1. Stop random freezes during playback
2. Keep WiFI off after restarting so that we don't have to resort to SSH every time
3. Support Chromecast (regardless of how long it takes to convince Google to cooperate)
4. Upgrade to Volumio 3

This will really be a failure of a product for its price tag if its manufacturer abandons it in favor of a successor.

Thanks for this, a few questions...

1. Source when having "freezes"

2. I believe this has been discussed but I will pass it along again, it may be broadcasting but not active if an ethernet cable is connected.

3. We are still trying...

4. Discussed at length in this and other threads, but we are not using "full-blown" Volumio, so this is not possible, as we never have used the full version.

Hope this helps,

Cheers!!

 

[iFi audio]

iiwi reviews (youtube) did a review of the Volumio Rivo streamer some months ago. In the comment section Volumio commented on the Ifi Zen Stream.

That is an interesting comment, my understanding was our version of the Zen Stream software was developed "with" Volumio at the time which would have been 2020 possibly at this point.

Here is the whole comment for clarity.

I often watch iWii as he is a great reviewer!

For context here is another group of comments from the same video...

And one more from the top comments...

These posts were meant to show that not everyone experiences a streamer unit in the same way, some have issues some don't, why and how this is can come down to many factors, not just the product, so it is important to keep this in mind and if a particular unit does not work in your environment return or sell is the best route.

For those with a ZEN Stream or NEO stream all info on what "open source" products were used can be found by clicking here...

http://ifi.local/static-page/credits

If this link doesn't work try here...

http://ifi.local/plugin/system_controller-system

Cheers!!