YorkshireLee
Ex Member
I thought I'd create this thread as this new streamer deserves a mention.
The ZEN stream is the latest release from iFi audio - and priced at £399 it's the most expensive unit (to my knowledge) in the ZEN range.
What's more - it's not an integrated streamer/DAC like other units out on the market are, it's a stream transport.
On the back of the unit, there's an SPDIF output, two USB 3.0 "A" interfaces, both of which feature ANC II, a USB C interface for updates, a WLAN aerial and a LAN interface. It also has a little switch with five exclusive modes:
All-in-one (covers the based) and supported largely by most platforms, DLNA, NAA (network attached adapter), ROON and TIDAL (for TIDAL connect).
On the front of the unit, it's relatively straight forward - a power button, two LED's (one for network connectivity, one for stream resolution) and then a setup button.
Setup is a little complex if using wireless - let me explain.
Firstly - you have to put the device in setup mode. Connect via wireless to the SSID and brown to the local interface / GUI.
From here you select your network, set your device name / airplay passwords etc and then exit setup mode.
The unit then connects to your WLAN and you should then see the device as an airplay / network source.
What people sometimes do is rush ahead and switch to a mode first and foremost (other than mode 1 which is needed for the above setup) and then cannot enter setup mode. There was also a bug in an early revision of the software that meant a reset could brick the device...
You select your mode after setup has been completed. Note - this isn't an issue for wired connectivity!
Selecting the mode requires a restart. So for me, I use TIDAL a lot - I got the device on the network (and I get a visual validation as the LED turns from red to green) - then select the mode, power off and power on again. I can now see the device in TIDAL connect.
If you're using a DAC with USB input (such as in my stack, the iFi ZEN DAC V2) - this can be powered from the 5V 900ma output on the ZEN stream itself. I'm all up for one less power supply! You can however go straight out from COAX into your amp if that's your preferred route.
There's no analog side - so no headphones, no RCA. Remember, it's a transport only.
Now onto the sound - I've really enjoyed the iFi ZEN range right from the first time I got my hands on it. It's well built, attractive and discrete.
I wish they had a DAC which had optical/COAX inputs as at the price points they manufacture at, I am sure it'd be a hit!
I stream a lot with the Bluesound Node, with the Pro-Ject Stream Box S2, a Pro-Ject Stream DS2 Transport plus many other devices (audiolab 6000N Play, HiFI Rose) - so I have I think a good amount of listening time and exposure to make some judgements.
Firstly - the output is very clear. Comparing quiet moments in tracks, the noise floor on any output interface is very very low. I am guessing this is down to the iPurifier filters on the output stage but would welcome comment on this.
Comparing MQA to HiFi / CD quality streams, there's a little more timbre and the treble (in particular, you can really hear more forward presentation on Gregory Porter's "No Love Dying" and the opening gentle snare brush and smaller cymbal runs when compared to some of the devices mentioned above.
Depending on how you're listening, this forward presentation can almost be seen as bright - not harsh, just more detail in the treble which I find really interesting. I think this also has something to do with the DAC combination - as going into the back of different amps (with integrated DAC's), some of this detail fell away which made for a slightly more natural listening experience. However - when listening through a set of monitor headphones or something such as the Grado GS1000e, this detail and what it was doing became much more apparent. I very quickly found myself analysing and really listening to the music rather than sitting back.
When listening to tracks such as "Destroying Angels" by Bohren & Der Club of Gore (it's not heavy metal like you may think from the name) - I really enjoyed the natural decay with instrumentation here, something which I feel is otherwise lost or reduced in other combinations.
When integrating this into one of my main racks with some of my higher end speakers - it doesn't feel or sound out of place at all.
I think it's an astonishing little product and one that people venturing into streaming shouldn't be hesitant about having a play with or a demo. At £399 it really takes some beating.
What would I improve? The front of the unit has a laser engraved "Stream" which doesn't feel in-keeping aesthetically with the rest of the range.
Perhaps an app for configuration and to see what input/output data is being passed through the unit could be a nice touch - I always compare against BluOS controller which I think is a superb app and would love that type of experience with many of the streamers But that's just me I guess....
I haven't yet played with the NAA side of things, though my ROON core sees the device in there and streaming from the PC is easy, responsive and I've not had the unit crash on me yet when using it this way.
I have had the occasional lockup if the device has been on for a few weeks. But a quick power off/on again fixes this.
Link to iFi's website: ZEN Stream by iFi audio | The high-performance, flexible and affordable Streamer from iFi audio
The ZEN stream is the latest release from iFi audio - and priced at £399 it's the most expensive unit (to my knowledge) in the ZEN range.
What's more - it's not an integrated streamer/DAC like other units out on the market are, it's a stream transport.
On the back of the unit, there's an SPDIF output, two USB 3.0 "A" interfaces, both of which feature ANC II, a USB C interface for updates, a WLAN aerial and a LAN interface. It also has a little switch with five exclusive modes:
All-in-one (covers the based) and supported largely by most platforms, DLNA, NAA (network attached adapter), ROON and TIDAL (for TIDAL connect).
On the front of the unit, it's relatively straight forward - a power button, two LED's (one for network connectivity, one for stream resolution) and then a setup button.
Setup is a little complex if using wireless - let me explain.
Firstly - you have to put the device in setup mode. Connect via wireless to the SSID and brown to the local interface / GUI.
From here you select your network, set your device name / airplay passwords etc and then exit setup mode.
The unit then connects to your WLAN and you should then see the device as an airplay / network source.
What people sometimes do is rush ahead and switch to a mode first and foremost (other than mode 1 which is needed for the above setup) and then cannot enter setup mode. There was also a bug in an early revision of the software that meant a reset could brick the device...
You select your mode after setup has been completed. Note - this isn't an issue for wired connectivity!
Selecting the mode requires a restart. So for me, I use TIDAL a lot - I got the device on the network (and I get a visual validation as the LED turns from red to green) - then select the mode, power off and power on again. I can now see the device in TIDAL connect.
If you're using a DAC with USB input (such as in my stack, the iFi ZEN DAC V2) - this can be powered from the 5V 900ma output on the ZEN stream itself. I'm all up for one less power supply! You can however go straight out from COAX into your amp if that's your preferred route.
There's no analog side - so no headphones, no RCA. Remember, it's a transport only.
Now onto the sound - I've really enjoyed the iFi ZEN range right from the first time I got my hands on it. It's well built, attractive and discrete.
I wish they had a DAC which had optical/COAX inputs as at the price points they manufacture at, I am sure it'd be a hit!
I stream a lot with the Bluesound Node, with the Pro-Ject Stream Box S2, a Pro-Ject Stream DS2 Transport plus many other devices (audiolab 6000N Play, HiFI Rose) - so I have I think a good amount of listening time and exposure to make some judgements.
Firstly - the output is very clear. Comparing quiet moments in tracks, the noise floor on any output interface is very very low. I am guessing this is down to the iPurifier filters on the output stage but would welcome comment on this.
Comparing MQA to HiFi / CD quality streams, there's a little more timbre and the treble (in particular, you can really hear more forward presentation on Gregory Porter's "No Love Dying" and the opening gentle snare brush and smaller cymbal runs when compared to some of the devices mentioned above.
Depending on how you're listening, this forward presentation can almost be seen as bright - not harsh, just more detail in the treble which I find really interesting. I think this also has something to do with the DAC combination - as going into the back of different amps (with integrated DAC's), some of this detail fell away which made for a slightly more natural listening experience. However - when listening through a set of monitor headphones or something such as the Grado GS1000e, this detail and what it was doing became much more apparent. I very quickly found myself analysing and really listening to the music rather than sitting back.
When listening to tracks such as "Destroying Angels" by Bohren & Der Club of Gore (it's not heavy metal like you may think from the name) - I really enjoyed the natural decay with instrumentation here, something which I feel is otherwise lost or reduced in other combinations.
When integrating this into one of my main racks with some of my higher end speakers - it doesn't feel or sound out of place at all.
I think it's an astonishing little product and one that people venturing into streaming shouldn't be hesitant about having a play with or a demo. At £399 it really takes some beating.
What would I improve? The front of the unit has a laser engraved "Stream" which doesn't feel in-keeping aesthetically with the rest of the range.
Perhaps an app for configuration and to see what input/output data is being passed through the unit could be a nice touch - I always compare against BluOS controller which I think is a superb app and would love that type of experience with many of the streamers But that's just me I guess....
I haven't yet played with the NAA side of things, though my ROON core sees the device in there and streaming from the PC is easy, responsive and I've not had the unit crash on me yet when using it this way.
I have had the occasional lockup if the device has been on for a few weeks. But a quick power off/on again fixes this.
Link to iFi's website: ZEN Stream by iFi audio | The high-performance, flexible and affordable Streamer from iFi audio
Input voltage | DC 9V/1.8A-15V/0.8A AC 100 -240V, 50/60Hz |
Input | Wi-Fi / Ethernet / USB HDD (Firmware updates via OTA and USB-C at rear) |
Formats | PCM384 DSD256 (MQA-fully compatible) |
Output | USB3.0 (Type-A Socket) x2 SPDIF (Coaxial) |
Power consumption | No Signal ~6W Max Signal ~10W |
Dimensions | 158 x 100 x 35 mm 6.2" x 3.9" x 1.4" |
Net weight | 578g (1.14 lbs) |