[Atriya]

Those using the iPower Elite with the Zen Stream, I'm curious to know if you've upgraded the power cable from the stock cable and noticed any improvement. If so, which cable are you using? I looked at the iFi Nova, but it costs as much as the Elite itself (both cost $300).

 

[markush8]

Those using the iPower Elite with the Zen Stream, I'm curious to know if you've upgraded the power cable from the stock cable and noticed any improvement. If so, which cable are you using? I looked at the iFi Nova, but it costs as much as the Elite itself (both cost $300).

Go for an Audioquest NRG-Z3 which is great for 200,- or the cheaper Supra LoRad 2.5 MKII also very nice nice at 100,-

 

[smartplug]

Go for an Audioquest NRG-Z3 which is great for 200,- or the cheaper Supra LoRad 2.5 MKII also very nice nice at 100,-

You believe an expensive cable will turn your audio signal into exotic sound? ASR and Audioholics prove cable doesn’t do anything on signal between exotic and cheap cable other than taking your money and laugh at you because you believe on a word of a mouth.

 

[Atriya]

You believe an expensive cable will turn your audio signal into exotic sound? ASR and Audioholics prove cable doesn’t do anything on signal between exotic and cheap cable other than taking your money and laugh at you because you believe on a word of a mouth.

My hunch was that it depends on what the cable is being used with, which is why I asked if anyone using the Power Elite with the Zen Stream specifically, had noticed a difference from a cable upgrade, because that is the combination I'm planning to get.

IMO, @iFi audio does not do a good job of explaining how their products are best used in combination. It is quite easy to say that the best performance will be from using a iFi PowerStation followed by an iFi AC iPurifier followed by a iFi SuperNova power cable followed by a iFi iPower Elite followed by a iFi DC iPurifier. That may be true, but this multi-thousand-dollar combination most certainly does not represent a good price-performance ratio. There has to be redundancy in this chain, especially since most of the products advertise many of the same technologies (e.g. Active Noise Cancellation II).

As someone already planning to get the iPower Elite with the Zen Stream, it is unclear to me if additional iFi power products in the chain will bring any non-trivial benefit, and if so, which one is likely to bring the most of it.

 

[ctrlm]

Well after 9 or 10 months of trouble free use, the SPDIF out on my ZS has died. USB still works fine.

It still receives the upstream signal and the right LED shows that it's playing but no sound.

I did a complete factory reset and tried other cables - no go.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Sorry to hear That! Have you tried a complete reset as posted here? https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ifi-zen-stream-setup-tips-tricks.961425/post-16740713

Worth a shot if you haven't...

Cheers!!

 

[ctrlm]

Sorry to hear That! Have you tried a complete reset as posted here? https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ifi-zen-stream-setup-tips-tricks.961425/post-16740713

Worth a shot if you haven't...

Cheers!!

That's exactly what I did....but no joy.

I've brought the trusty Auralic Aries Femto (now 7 years old) out of hibernation for my speaker setup and the Zen Stream is now on HQ Player NAA duty in my headphone setup.

I need SPDIF out for the speaker setup as I use DRC with the MiniDSP DDRC-22D.

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

That's exactly what I did....but no joy.

I've brought the trusty Auralic Aries Femto (now 7 years old) out of hibernation for my speaker setup and the Zen Stream is now on HQ Player NAA duty in my headphone setup.

I need SPDIF out for the speaker setup as I use DRC with the MiniDSP DDRC-22D.

Damn, again sorry... That sucks!

I see your in Australia, it is still under warranty correct? Get it replaced bro!

Cheers!!

 

[ctrlm]

Damn, again sorry... That sucks!

I see your in Australia, it is still under warranty correct? Get it replaced bro!

Cheers!!

Whoa! Hold the bus - it's working. I just thought I'd test it again before taking it back on Monday and SPDIF is working fine in my desktop setup.

I'm going to leave the ZS as an NAA point with USB to my desktop DAC though as this episode made me try it out.....and I really like it compared to direct USB DAC connection to my Mac.

So still trouble free with one minor episode

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Whoa! Hold the bus - it's working. I just thought I'd test it again before taking it back on Monday and SPDIF is working fine in my desktop setup.

I'm going to leave the ZS as an NAA point with USB to my desktop DAC though as this episode made me try it out.....and I really like it compared to direct USB DAC connection to my Mac.

So still trouble free with one minor episode

That's great news!!

For me it depends on the dac, Some love the coax over usb, who knows, could be me lol!!

Glad your up n' running!!

Cheers!!

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

I found Zen Stream, only the choice for best bang for your buck.
And I am thankful to iFi for releasing such an amazing product for an amazing price.
Not to mention Zen Stream is also my first ifi product and I love it.

Thanks so much!

Whoa! Hold the bus - it's working. I just thought I'd test it again before taking it back on Monday and SPDIF is working fine in my desktop setup.

I'm going to leave the ZS as an NAA point with USB to my desktop DAC though as this episode made me try it out.....and I really like it compared to direct USB DAC connection to my Mac.

So still trouble free with one minor episode

Glad to hear you got it working again (or it started working again by itself perhaps?

Please do reach out again if you ever have trouble!

 

[applesnowleo]

Those using the iPower Elite with the Zen Stream, I'm curious to know if you've upgraded the power cable from the stock cable and noticed any improvement. If so, which cable are you using? I looked at the iFi Nova, but it costs as much as the Elite itself (both cost $300).

Forget the IFi power cables, I have the supernova and is not great lack’s realism, transparency and bass is strong but without control, for the 500 euros the supernova is selling, look at other brand for the zen, because there are better sounding power cables for less.

But as any other audio product never buy before listening first, what does not fit me could be perfect for you.

 

[applesnowleo]

My hunch was that it depends on what the cable is being used with, which is why I asked if anyone using the Power Elite with the Zen Stream specifically, had noticed a difference from a cable upgrade, because that is the combination I'm planning to get.

IMO, @iFi audio does not do a good job of explaining how their products are best used in combination. It is quite easy to say that the best performance will be from using a iFi PowerStation followed by an iFi AC iPurifier followed by a iFi SuperNova power cable followed by a iFi iPower Elite followed by a iFi DC iPurifier. That may be true, but this multi-thousand-dollar combination most certainly does not represent a good price-performance ratio. There has to be redundancy in this chain, especially since most of the products advertise many of the same technologies (e.g. Active Noise Cancellation II).

As someone already planning to get the iPower Elite with the Zen Stream, it is unclear to me if additional iFi power products in the chain will bring any non-trivial benefit, and if so, which one is likely to bring the most of it.

The ipower elite is great. Also try the sbooster, they are about the same price and sound very different, depending on your setup you could like one over the other better.

 

[smartplug]

Ifi stream was introduced on this forum a June 25 2021 and it say chromecast update later this year. This year is about to be over in several months and no news on chromecast. This features to me is important because it’s capable of casting different source much like airplay but in higher bandwidth and the reason I made a purchase mainly chromecast and not much on other features. If not for that advertised feature, I would never purchase it.

 

[Brubacca]

For the power cable people. I really like the Nordost Blue Heaven Power Cable. Made a noticeable difference in my system, but I use it on my Amp.

Isotek has an affordable cable that I have used as well.

The Nordost come up used on eBay from time to time. Makes it a bit easier on the wallet.