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  1. J

    iFi Audio Neo Stream - The Official Thread

    I suspect you are playing the Devil's advocate here. The beauty of this hobby is there are an enormous number of options and choices. If the sound quality from an iPad via USB to a DAC works for you then that's all that matters. Some people love very expensive dedicated streamers from Lumin or...
  2. J

    iFi Audio Neo Stream - The Official Thread

    Yes, that's meant to work but you wouldn't need a streamer in this scenario and you could spend the difference on a better DAC. I have a direct USB cable connection from Roon Core to my DDC and have removed my streamer altogether.
  3. J

    iFi Audio Neo Stream - The Official Thread

    Yes, it does look like a truly great product - especially the fibre implementation. Having to use mConnect HD might be a small price to pay....or Qobuz might actually sort out their own app with a Connect feature!
  4. J

    iFi Audio Neo Stream - The Official Thread

    I wonder what that would do to the sound quality, the DAC in an iPad isn't terrible but it is limited. It's worth a try of course.
  5. J

    iFi Audio Neo Stream - The Official Thread

    If the Neo Stream uses the same software as the Zen Stream (which I believe it does) then there is native support for Qobuz. You have to use a UPnP client like mConnectHD on the iPad which, in my opinion, is an awful user interface and user experience. Hopefully, ifi will sort out their software...
  6. J

    iFi Audio Neo Stream - The Official Thread

    I can confirm that you were right! Roon is brilliant, I wanted to be indifferent to it but it has transformed how I use the Zen Stream and also supports my Sonos gear in the family areas. With this in mind I may just evaluate the Neo Stream against my current stack (Zen Stream, Gustard U18 DDC...
  7. J

    iFi audio ZEN Stream - The Official Thread

    In the Zen Stream settings what do you have your mixer type set to?
  8. J

    iFi audio ZEN Stream - The Official Thread

    I'm glad you asked! A range of inputs, not just USB, full galvanic isolation for all inputs and outputs. A fully isolated power supply using IEC. Option for clock in, internal clock out and clock passthrough (wishful) and a good range of outputs including USB but not powered (not all DACs...
  9. J

    iFi audio ZEN Stream - The Official Thread

    Or maybe it's time for an ifi DDC?
  10. J

    iFi audio ZEN Stream - The Official Thread

    Thanks for a genuine response. I did like the iPurifier3 in my system but it has been made redundant by the much cheaper Douk U2 pro. I also have a Gustard U18 on order to evaluate.
  11. J

    iFi Audio Neo Stream - The Official Thread

    I've done it! I've ordered a second-hand NUC from eBay to try Roon. If I get on with Roon, it will remove the barrier to evaluating the Neo Stream against the Zen Stream - Ares II combo.
  12. J

    iFi Audio Neo Stream - The Official Thread

    I'm really pleased to hear that improving the interface is on the roadmap, I am sticking with my Zen Stream for now and I am certain to fall down the Roon rabbit hole sooner rather than later :)
  13. J

    iFi Audio Neo Stream - The Official Thread

    Yes, and that's the problem. Bubble UPnP and others look like they were last updated in 2002. Awful UX and UI. This is what forces people to use Roon or buy an Innuos or Auralic product. If the software isn't at least half as slick as the Tidal or Spotify native apps then it's a disappointing...
  14. J

    iFi audio ZEN Stream - The Official Thread

    I have an iPurifier3 into my Ares II. Are you saying this is as robust as a dedicated DDC such as the IRIS or Gustard U18?
  15. J

    iFi Audio Neo Stream - The Official Thread

    This makes me want to cry! The inclusion of the Optibox is a master stroke as it takes all the Ethernet reconditioning and WiFi concerns off the table. The all-in-one DAC and Network Transport makes USB cables, DDC's and USB purifiers irrelevant. If ifi can just sort out their awful software...
  16. J

    iFi audio ZEN Stream - The Official Thread

    And just like that ifi throws a curve ball with the Neo Stream. The included Optibox takes away any concerns about Ethernet versus WiFi. The integrated streamer and DAC removes any concern about needing a DDC to reclock the USB. Is this a game-changer? I think it might be. I was seriously...
  17. J

    iFi audio ZEN Stream - The Official Thread

    Hi Michael, Buffer changes are easy. Firstly you need to enable 'Full Settings Mode'. Head into http://ifi.local/ and select 'System'. Then select the 'Show Advanced Settings' dropdown and 'Full Settings Mode' - and click Save. The web interface will briefly reload. Head into 'Playback...
  18. J

    iFi audio ZEN Stream - The Official Thread

    Yes, I have my buffer set to 64MB with the maximum pre-load configured and connected by Wi-Fi (takes away all the madness around Ethernet isolation etc.) and my SQ is great. On a tangent, does anyone have any experience with adding a DDC between the Zen Stream and their DAC? I'm considering...
  19. J

    Streamer advise - Lumin / dcs / auralic / other ?

    @gleeds - that is fantastic information and that switch is a piece of art, especially with a built-in LPS! I've got two Cisco 2960s with SFPs spare that I could deploy for free, plus some spare Audioquest Cat6a cables. However, for the cost of a Lumin U2 Mini with an LPS plus that lovely...
  20. J

    Streamer advise - Lumin / dcs / auralic / other ?

    Hi Ozzy, I'm looking at the Lumin U2 Mini but I'm still carrying scars from last journey down the Ethernet chain improvements rabbit hole....can I ask, does the Lumin U1 have sufficient Ethernet isolation to make all the special black boxes, switches and cables irrelevant?
  21. J

    iFi audio ZEN Stream - The Official Thread

    Serious question to the experts. Assuming a stable quality WiFi signal, does the ifi Zen Stream have a high quality WiFi circuit to deliver interference free high quality audio?
  22. J

    iFi audio ZEN Stream - The Official Thread

    Thanks for confirming what I'm hearing as I type! I'm expecting an ifi Mercury 3 tomorrow and I'm excited to hear what difference that may yield!
  23. J

    Will a music streamer help me?

    Agree with Gregadd. Basically Tidal is great and Qobuz "might" have better quality music (debatable) but actually streaming Qobuz in high resolution is tricky and often requires additional third-party software. Tidal connect just works and the Tidal app can bypass the internal DAC of a...
  24. J

    Will a music streamer help me?

    Some great questions in there. The data stream from the Qobuz or Tidal servers via the Internet will be via many hops (routers and switches) in the path to your own ISP router. There is nothing we can do to optimise that path, above having a reliable ISP connection with sufficient bandwidth...
  25. J

    Will a music streamer help me?

    I hear you. I wear glasses and I've been through more headphones and earphones than I can shake a stick at. Whilst not as "audiophile" as over-ear open-backed headphones there are plenty of well-reviewed IEM's out there at various price points that are wired and pretty darned good. Personally, I...
  26. J

    iFi audio ZEN Stream - The Official Thread

    I've answered my own question and plugged an iPurifier3 into the Zen DAC v2 and it's made a really noticeable and positive improvement (to my ears!)
  27. J

    Will a music streamer help me?

    I agree with the comment above regarding wired headphones. I use Spotify from a Pixel6a to a pair of JBL ANC headphones at the gym and that's just great as it blocks the rest of the world out. But for hi-fi quality listening I have Tidal Premium, a Zen Stream connected to a Zen DAC v2 and then...
  28. J

    iFi audio ZEN Stream - The Official Thread

    Silly question time @AMR / iFi audio, if I may please? I've upgraded the USB cable between the Stream and the DACv2 (WireWorld Chroma 8) and I'm happy....but, I'm a tweaker and I love adding and testing. I suspect I know the answer but is there any benefit at all to introducing an iPurifier3...
  29. J

    Good mid-price audiophile switches

    Does anyone have any recommendations for a product similar to the Ediscreation FibreBox at a lower price point? I like the idea of having a single "black box" with an Ethernet In and Ethernet Out with the fibre media conversion taking pace neatly inside. My pair of 10Gtek converters work well...
  30. J

    Good mid-price audiophile switches

    That does look very good for more serious systems.

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