Holo Red and JPlay for IOS.
Sound to match Zen iFi Stream
After 4 years or so, I finally hit a brick wall with iFi's amazing sounding machine, and equally awful interface & software. I use only Tidal Connect (I have a FLAC library but rarely if ever use it now), and I send digital out via coax to my Meridian speakers which contain all the DAC I need (besides, they will accept only digital signal).
But I am at a loss regarding what to replace it with. I would like to get equivalent sound (same sound... that's probably not going to happen, sound signatures will always vary), but that spaciousness, black background, and balance are what made me fall in love with the Zen. But it has been unfaithful... (sorry for the drama).
I'm considering the Cambridge Audio line, but from the AXN10/CXN10 and up, they bring a bunch of doodads that I don't need and don't particularly want to pay for. All I need is coax out! (And great sound)
Does such a unicorn exist? One that has reliable connectivity?
Alternatively, I read about the Zen handling Roon well. I don't have Roon and would need to be convinced to spend that much money. But if it's the only way to get that sound...
Those who have had a Zen Stream but then found happiness elsewhere, how did you do it?
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- 21 posts total
I’m similarly suffering with my Zen Stream. 😖😖😖 I’d look at the Innuos PULSEmini paired with an upgraded LPS from LHY, Teddy Pardo, or SBooster. I’m sure it’s at least on par with the iFi performance wise, and it comes with their outstanding Sense app that is so good some have even dropped Roon. And very unlike iFi they offer excellent customer support. Best of luck. |
I actually had two iFi ZS streamers serving my two rigs, both powered with iFi iPower X. I replaced the streamer in my first rig with a WiiM Ultra paired with a Gustard U18, using DH Labs USB Mirage and HDMI 2.1 cables—and the improvement in sound was significant. The WiiM Ultra truly benefits from being paired with a DDC, and it synergizes well with the U18. I also tried pairing the ZS with the U18 but not impressed with the pairing. This combo—the Ultra and U18—has excellent synergy with my Harmony Micro DAC. The sound can be described as effortless, transparent, and depth-dealing. I believe it can outperform many higher-end streamers. For my second rig, I used the Cambridge Audio MXN10, which also sounds better than the ZS but still doesn’t match the performance of the Ultra/U18 combo. I’m currently in the process of upgrading it. Interestingly, a trustworthy reviewer who previously gave the ZS a high score of 9.5/10 has recently revised it down to 7.0 or 7.5, reflecting the increased competition. That says something. There are many choices at different price point. I will encourage you to look for recommendation(s) from persons that actually own the gears and have a substantial auditioning experience with them. |
Nice post timing! My iFi Zen Stream stopped working just tonight - I tried for hours to get it to be recognized by Tidal Connect and something bricked it. I tried everything to get it going again - which it had been working fine for years. Oh well... time to move on to something else. I need something as a stop gap and am hoping the upcoming Laiv streamer will be my next piece. |
@tubeguy76 Wha’s your budget, and are you looking for new or used? |
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