Anyone else feel like it’s the Wild Wild West?

@baylinor Thanks a lot for the tip of uninstalling the app to get it to recognize the streamer again.  I didn’t think of that, and all the suggestions I got involved rebooting everything starting with the router, but I’m traveling so that’s not an option right now.  I do have a TP-Link AC2600 and a Wireworld Starlight 8 Ethernet cable so once I get home I’ll be going hardwired from that and hopefully that’ll be the end of this digital horror show.  Argh. 

Yes, at first I did the same thing, running around to disconnect the router for 5 minutes, and the extender and the bluesound, as was recommended and it was a waste of time and really didn't even work. Uninstall and reinstall app can be done in a couple minutes from your chair and always worked. You are welcome, you helped me in the past too.

My conclusion after buying streamers and testing them is that the USBridge Signature with Shanti PS is awesome in  it's price range.  Innuous Zenith MKII ended up in my system.  

Those of you eschewing this technology will eventually wish you'd done it sooner.  $5K for a streamer and $10K for a DAC (might even be less) is not a lot compared to other components.

Jerry

@soix 

There are two long running threads on Headfi involving the Zen Stream with many helpful people that are both long time users and tech savvy in terms of it's operation and the software.  Once of the thread involves setup and reset procedures for the unit.  An iFi employee also participates in both threads.  You might find it helpful to go the the tips and tricks thread and follow the procedure for doing a full factory reset before switching from WiFi to hardwire. That way you start with a clean slate. 

Any source other than digital streaming is just nostalgia. A good streamer with a good external DAC would beat any vinyl or CD at any price point. If you are claiming otherwise you are not living in reality, that is just admiration to nostalgia.  Collecting CD or Vinyl is sort of useless fool’s errand. When you have access to 30 million songs, what is the point of accumulating physical Vinyl or CD etc. Young generations will not have luxury of having big houses and listening rooms. Speaker technology is advancing very rapidly, bookshelf speakers are becoming extremely good. Devialet for example has great product for younger generation. Our 200 lbs speakers will turn to relics of past or collectible items. Digital is future, adopt and move on.

Sounds like a lot of hot wind from someone who's using motivated reasoning to justify the cash he's poured into his system. Otherwise, why the white hot put down instead of just stating what you prefer?

30 million songs at my fingertips and I can care less for about 29,999,000 of what's out there and worrying and fretting about the size of some future generations room size? You should write copy for streaming services. 

As for myself, I only listen for my listening pleasure and could care less how others do theirs. Not here to impress others, but simply to share.

All the best,
Nonoise