brjoon1021
100+ Head-Fier
I got iPower !
All models of the streamer are the same? No revisions ?
All models of the streamer are the same? No revisions ?
I have the zen streamer, I tried the a6's (both) from eversolo, similar digital/coax wise as the zen streamer, I tried hifi rose rs250, but nahh was still not that much better than the a6.Hello together,
please don‘t get me wrong I‘m a big fan of the ifi zen stream and I have 3 of them in use. I found out that powered with a good 12V LPS, a switch in front and a good LPS it is a hard to beat streamer / transport. (By the way I can recommend the Netgear GS108E).
Now my problem is to find an upgrade over the zen. I‘ve testet streamers up to 1k but didn‘t found a really better over all sounding solution that is worth the additional cost. Yes there are differences but always also downsides. I‘ve also tried to pimp the zen with DDC‘s like the Singxer SU6 but in my case (I need spdif/AES) it doesn‘t bring an upgrade worth the cost of 750€.
So that‘s why the question here: Can anybody recommend me a transport (or a DDC for the zen) which is clearly better than the ifi zen‘s spdif out?
About the Neo I‘ve read that as a pure transport there is no big difference, or am I‘m wrong here?
I‘m very grateful for all suggestions.
Greetings
for the money the Zen stream is a amazing device, but it is quite the shock how much better the eversolo a8 is, don't give it 5 minutes, really take your time. You don't want to go back after that.Thanks for this good advice, even though I was already afraid that you would have to spend well over 1k to get a significant jump. I'm going to test the A8 and for now I'm happy that I made such a good purchase with the ifi zens.
By the way, I'm starting to get the impression that the better sound in the higher-priced streamers is achieved via software and no longer with hardware. Above a certain price point, they usually all have an LPS, femto clocks, good components and nice housings installed, but overall they don't stand out all that much from one another. That's why I'm guessing that a lot of things happen via software.
And great congratulations and thanks to ifi for such an affordable piece of hifi.
Thanks very much! We appreciate it!Thanks for this good advice, even though I was already afraid that you would have to spend well over 1k to get a significant jump. I'm going to test the A8 and for now I'm happy that I made such a good purchase with the ifi zens.
By the way, I'm starting to get the impression that the better sound in the higher-priced streamers is achieved via software and no longer with hardware. Above a certain price point, they usually all have an LPS, femto clocks, good components and nice housings installed, but overall they don't stand out all that much from one another. That's why I'm guessing that a lot of things happen via software.
And great congratulations and thanks to ifi for such an affordable piece of hifi.
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On a personal note I "feel" there are differences and to my ears some are audible. I started streaming straight from a computer to DAC, then went the RPI route. Improving on this were certain hats and power supplies.Do they (the GODstreamers) have fpga before sending to the DAC ?
I really, really am having trouble suspending doubt that you can hear so much between streamers (as a transport) once that you take care of some obvious issues, which the ZS has done.
I would love to see someone prove that they can tell the difference between the ZS, Rose, Bluesonds, Wiim, Eversolo, etc... in a double blind A/B with every single variable in their favor: in their own system with their favorite music. Obviously, if there is some output volume disparity that would need to be accounted for.
I am willing to bet money that they cannot tell the difference. I am not an ASR guy but there is sooo much BS in HiFi that it is hard to ignore the smell.
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Yes you can… g*d why always that same discussion… just because you can’t hear it on your equipment it does not mean it is not there.Do they (the GODstreamers) have fpga before sending to the DAC ?
I really, really am having trouble suspending doubt that you can hear so much between streamers (as a transport) once that you take care of some obvious issues, which the ZS has done.
I would love to see someone prove that they can tell the difference between the ZS, Rose, Bluesonds, Wiim, Eversolo, etc... in a double blind A/B with every single variable in their favor: in their own system with their favorite music. Obviously, if there is some output volume disparity that would need to be accounted for.
I am willing to bet money that they cannot tell the difference. I am not an ASR guy but there is sooo much BS in HiFi that it is hard to ignore the smell. Confirmation bias is a really real thing.
First things first, Qobuz has to complete their work on Qobuz "Connect" then we can start to implement it on our devices.IFi please work with qobuz to get qobuz connect on the iFi devices
As for huge or even subtle differences between competently designed streamers...Will have to agree to disagree on that.
You can make a formal video showing that you or whomever can tell the difference
Believe me you can find an audio science review advocate (they love to fight) who would start a gofundme to get this set up to your liking and video the results. It would prove something, empirically, one way or the other.
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In my system, yes I can hear these differences when you know where to ‚listen‘ for. You can even hear differences in switches in front or lan cables, but in this case I think it is the electrical isolation and noise reduction. The Bits in Network systems always arrive. But the devices itself are generating noise which is transfered in the streamer or the cables pick up noise from the transformers and so on.Do they (the GODstreamers) have fpga before sending to the DAC ?
I really, really am having trouble suspending doubt that you can hear so much between streamers (as a transport) once that you take care of some obvious issues, which the ZS has done.
I would love to see someone prove that they can tell the difference between the ZS, Rose, Bluesonds, Wiim, Eversolo, etc... in a double blind A/B with every single variable in their favor: in their own system with their favorite music. Obviously, if there is some output volume disparity that would need to be accounted for.
I am willing to bet money that they cannot tell the difference. I am not an ASR guy but there is sooo much BS in HiFi that it is hard to ignore the smell. Confirmation bias is a really real thing.
I'm not aware if they are different versions. I bought 2 more for friends and the where all tha same I guess.I got iPower !
All models of the streamer are the same? No revisions ?
Issue a ticket with the serial number on iFi site. They will send a tool and firmware to flash. It can help!A friend of mine had purchased a 3rd hand iFi Zen Stream (which was operational) . Unknowingly he did hard reset the Zen, then disconnected the power.
Now the Zen cannot be turned of via the left button (long press) unless the power is disconnected. It seems to connect to wifi, even http://ifi.local had shown once or twice the configuration screen, but he could not check or update the firmware verdion (it hangs). One or twice he could listen to misic via the coax to his dac, this played for several seconds and stopped. The left indicator was white and the right one green.
Is it bricked?
Is there a way to unbrick?
Please advice.
Thanks