Thoughts on the iFi Zen Streamer

@bkeske  @fuzztone Thanks for your comments. Just  the info I was looking for. I believe I will be just fine with the basic aspect to the app. Will just be getting into streaming. If that becomes a major music access I will likely one day move the Zen to a secondary system and purchase a more high end streamer. As some will know, and fuzz may recall from a past thread, I have been considering this move for over a year. 

I will purchase the iFi Zen.  Will be hooked up to my router via Cat8 ethernet cable. I recently got a Qobuz subscription and also have AIFF files on a hard drive. 

I bought the Zen Stream last summer. It was my first and only streamer which I use with a very good dac, the Musetec 005. I use it with JRiver to access local files from my server and stream internet files from Qobuz using an android app called Mconnect. The Ifi app, which is just access an internet, address/portal is limited.

Pros: very good to excellent sound quality. It has responded well to eithernet tweaking.

Cons: for novice streamers like me their is a learning curve. It took some time and struggle to set it up for Jriver. Now that I have it running it has been stable and easy.. You can get support on a Head-fi forum.

@dbb Thanks for the additional info. I am anticipating the curve, both with the device and the streaming service.

I have had the zen streamer for over a month running "Roon Exclusive" mode. FANTASTIC. Much more quiet vs direct USB out from imac (room core)

To all, I am about to move into a home which I have been working on over the last year. Have held off on getting a streamer until I move in and have internet installed. Not yet sure which unit I will purchase.

I remain thankful for all advise provided.

Mike