iFi audio ZEN Stream - The Official Thread

[jandidden]

Guys, new member here. I have an issue. Initial installation of the streamer went well, very good sound. Then switched it off to redo the wiring, and now the Android iFi app doesn't see the streamer. Funny thing is, on the PC it is present and can be used to play as before. It's only on the Android phone that is isn't, and the app wants me to 'add a new device'. What should I do?

Jan Didden

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

Hi @jandidden , is it connected wirelessly with your computer or are you using Ethernet?

try to reconnect it using the pairing button (hot-spot switch). If that does not help, start from the scratch following the instructions in the manual or in the instructional YT videos.

. See if it works. Which firmware are you on? It would not hurt to update it? You should not have to do it, but you can always reinstall the app. The app was updated a few times, but if your updates are not automated on your phone, then maybe you could do it manually.

 

[jandidden]

Hi @jandidden , is it connected wirelessly with your computer or are you using Ethernet?

try to reconnect it using the pairing button (hot-spot switch). If that does not help, start from the scratch following the instructions in the manual or in the instructional YT videos.

. See if it works. Which firmware are you on? It would not hurt to update it? You should not have to do it, but you can always reinstall the app. The app was updated a few times, but if your updates are not automated on your phone, then maybe you could do it manually.

Hi, it is connected wirelessly. I will try to set up from scratch. I was hoping to avoid it as it did 't go easy, needed several tries.
The device updated the firmware OTA after the first install so that should be good. IIRC it is on 2.28, does that make sense?

 

[jandidden]

Hi, it is connected wirelessly. I will try to set up from scratch. I was hoping to avoid it as it did 't go easy, needed several tries.
The device updated the firmware OTA after the first install so that should be good. IIRC it is on 2.28, does that make sense?

I did the setup from scratch, several times did not complete. At one point I saw an orange progress bar with caption 'connecting > streamer'. But it didn't complete and hung. The 4th time I was halfway through and connecting the phone to the streamer hot spot and all of a sudden the screen switched to the play screen and music started to flow when I clicked play. Call me flabbergasted.
Also noted that while playing the left light, next to the power button, remained red; I thought it should be white when connected?
Edit: it was playing from a locally connected SSD, but control was from the Android phone.

 

[jandidden]

I did the setup from scratch, several times did not complete. At one point I saw an orange progress bar with caption 'connecting > streamer'. But it didn't complete and hung. The 4th time I was halfway through and connecting the phone to the streamer hot spot and all of a sudden the screen switched to the play screen and music started to flow when I clicked play. Call me flabbergasted.
Also noted that while playing the left light, next to the power button, remained red; I thought it should be white when connected?
Edit: it was playing from a locally connected SSD, but control was from the Android phone.

That was short lived. Can't get it to come up correctly, not on the Android, not on the PC. It never gets through the process. Another evening wasted.
This is the 2nd unit I received. I'll just return it for a refund. Sorry.

 

[Jag1]

i was on my second unit after struggling with it for 2 months trying to get the connection to stabilize. it would not consistently stream Tidal or Spotify without dropping out. i sent my second unit back to TREO in Singapore and they are charging me a 50% restocking fee on a defective unit!! insult to injury. i have asked IFI to help in getting my money back from these guys. but so far no success, now out $600 and no Zen Stream. this product was brought to the market way to early, but it does sound good.

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

That was short lived. Can't get it to come up correctly, not on the Android, not on the PC. It never gets through the process. Another evening wasted.
This is the 2nd unit I received. I'll just return it for a refund. Sorry.

@jandidden please take a look at my PM. We will get the issue sorted.

 

[Northgraves]

A bug to report:
After playing a few tracks on Tidal, using Tidal Connect, I stop Tidal, click Home icon, and try to start a web radio.
Often, start getting this:



Doesn't matter which station, it will keep giving this message.

Fix? Shutdown menu, Restart.

Then it plays fine.

Firmware 2.29.8:

 

[Jag1]

yes i would get the message just, re-boot, re-boot, re-boot. still annoying.

 

[Northgraves]

yes i would get the message just, re-boot, re-boot, re-boot. still annoying.

Just not clear why the audio device is not cleanly released, often.

 

[Jag1]

still a work in progress, they Ifi should just give these to people free of charge to test until they are hassle free. i sent mine back to TREO in Singapore for replacement. they wanted to charge me a 50% open box fee on a defective unit. can you imagine? hey but it's Asia. i will a replacement grudgingly.

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

A bug to report:
After playing a few tracks on Tidal, using Tidal Connect, I stop Tidal, click Home icon, and try to start a web radio.
Often, start getting this:

View attachment 83075

Doesn't matter which station, it will keep giving this message.

Fix? Shutdown menu, Restart.

Then it plays fine.

Firmware 2.29.8:
View attachment 83076

Hi @Northgraves , Please check and change your Audio Mixer on the GUI /settings/general playback options /volume options. That should do the job if not then it's Tidal.

 

[Northgraves]

Hi @Northgraves , Please check and change your Audio Mixer on the GUI /settings/general playback options /volume options. That should do the job.

Hi, the mixer was changed from Day 1 to "None":


I don't think I want "Software" chosen, for sound quality reason.

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

This is a known issue/bug within the Tidal App. Their tech team knows about this issue and they are fixing the bug.

 

[Porteri]

Hello! Another newbie here Just unboxed and set up my Zen stream - which I intend to plus directly into my Marantz amp once I get going.

but I cannot get a decent wifi connection. The green led simply will not stay on - it has maybe gone on a couple of times then stays off.

message when I use the iOS app for setup is that my wifi is unstable.

I know this isn’t the case though - as I can run anything from a TV to an iPhone off it.

and the Zen is barely five meters away from the broadband modem.

Any thoughts?

 

[Gregadd]

Use the ethernet connection.

 

[Porteri]

Use the ethernet connection.

I gave that a quick try last night (not successfully in terms of getting the unit working but more experimentation might do it); however given the location of my modem and the stereo I’m going to need some new cabling … this is what I hoped to avoid going wireless

 

[Gregadd]

I gave that a quick try last night (not successfully in terms of getting the unit working but more experimentation might do it); however given the location of my modem and the stereo I’m going to need some new cabling … this is what I hoped to avoid going wireless

Is the supplied cable to short?
Did you use the default setting? You can switch to Tidal, etc. after setup.

 

[Porteri]

Is the supplied cable to short?
Did you use the default setting? You can switch to Tidal, etc. after setup.

I did use the default setting. The unit came with a short Ethernet cable. I bought a 1m coax to attach to my amp; if it DOES work via Ethernet I’ll need another 4m of one of either coax or Ethernet

 

[Gregadd]

I must confess I was unable to get it to work in wireless mpde.