iFi audio ZEN Stream

Discussion in 'Product Announcements' started by iFi audio, Jun 25, 2021.

  1. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    I don't own a Mercury. I have a Pi2AES that I only just now figured out how to get the I2S working reliably. I'm using the 24V SMPS from my Ferrum Oor to power it, which might not be optimal for it. I can definitely tell it has great potential with the Wavedream in I2S, but there is a hardness to the sound that I think is coming from the way I power it. The NEO Stream doesn't have that, even with the default PSU. The NEO stream is also $1k more so it'd better :D
    Once I figure out a better way to power the Pi2AES I will revisit the comparison.
     
  2. Josh Schor

    Josh Schor Friend

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    thanks Clemmaster, yes please post results when you have figured out the power supply question
    best,
    Josh
     
  3. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    Thanks a lot ;)
     
  4. Josh Schor

    Josh Schor Friend

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    IFI can you please help me with the following.
    Is there a difference in the streaming sound quality between the zen and the neo? The differences with the Neo is a lot of inputs and outputs, a screen, volume control , a fancy case and a dac. If I do not need any of those will the sound be the same with the zen stream.
    best,
    josh
     
  5. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    NEO Stream's I2S output and optical network input make it a different product that will make better sound than ZEN Stream. But these features aside, some our customers with both these devices say that NEO Stream sounds better already. If you have a DAC with I2S input, that alone will make a big difference.
     
  6. HotRatSalad

    HotRatSalad Friend

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    Thinking of picking one of those up since I can't build another Pi2aes without getting gouged hard on a pi4.. $150 now really ?

    My main use will be playing files through USB and coax out to bifrost 2 and gungnir sometimes. Concerns are library updating and file retrieval and how the ifi/volumio software address flac and cue files. If I remember correctly there was no cue support with volumio so there probably isn't in the ifi customized version ?

    Currently using pi2aes and moode and would like similar results.
     
  7. caute

    caute Lana Del Gayer than you

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    I'll buy this if you still have it, and it works with a Pi2AES!

    Edit: dam I keep replying to old af posts.
     
  8. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    If I may ask, why not :) ?
     
  9. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    Exit stage left....
    hm actually, I don't have a Zen Stream so not sure why I typed that.... maybe I meant ZEN DAC Sig V2?
    I've lost track of the best iFi product that would benefit from the 15V iPower.
    please advise.
     
  10. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    @iFi audio I'm borrowing a Zen Stream right now and using it to stream Tidal and Qobuz with BubbleUPNP. With the Pi2AES and MOode os, when you play an album, it plays almost immediately. With the Zen Stream, a dialog box pops up the says "Adding to playlist" which takes longer the more songs I just asked it to play. ie for one song it's a couple seconds, for an album, it's more like 10 seconds, and for a long playlist it's quite a while.

    Is this how it should function or am I doing something wrong here? I have it set to the DNLA specific mode, I thought that would fix it, but it sill happens. And if I hit the "library" button before it finishes "adding to playlist" it doesn't even wind up playing the album/songs.

    This seems like it must be something I'm doing wrong... here's a picture of the dialog box that shows up anytime I play anything on my Samsung S10e

    thanks!

    [​IMG]
     
  11. zottel

    zottel Friend

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    Oooh, if BubbleUPNP is adding stuff to a playlist, does that mean that the Zen Stream supports OpenHome? I’ll have to try that.

    EDIT: Yes, it does! How great is that?
    EDIT2: More or less, it seems, can’t use Qobuz with either the Lumin or Linn apps, though I’m not sure if this is a change in the apps since I used them with BubbleUPNP server or something that the Zen Stream doesn’t support. I’ll have to look into that a bit more.

    @rhythmdevils In my test with the Lumin app from an iPhone, adding an album took less than a second. That doesn’t really help you, of course, maybe @iFi audio can say more about the actual issue.
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2023
  12. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    I have no idea, but I'll gladly ask internally what might be the issue.
     
  13. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    Also folks ...

    https://ifi-audio.com/canjam_nyc_2023/

    iFi to Release Diablo X, First DAC to Support xMEMS Technology, at CanJam NYC 2023
    iFi will be presenting the Diablo X alongside Singularity Audio's In-Ear Monitors. These both feature xMEMs tech to push the boundaries of IEM and headphone performance.

    [​IMG]

    Southport, England – iFi audio will be adding to its already extensive list of portable DAC audio products with the release of their Diablo X at CanJam NYC, February 25-26, 2023.
    iFi have partnered with xMEMS as an official DAC/headphone amp technology partner. The Diablo X is being released to support the brand-new xMEMS' ground-breaking solid state monolithic speaker technology.
    The Diablo X, when paired with In-Ear Monitors featuring the xMEMS' monolithic micro speaker, will provide audiophile-level resolution, creating lightning-fast transient response, near-zero phase shift, and +/-1° part-to-part phase consistency, resulting in the most natural sounding In-Ear Monitors with the most accurate time domain music reproduction. The result is a highly uniform and reliable driver that eliminates the need to match and calibrate.
    Just like the original iDSD Diablo, the Diablo X delivers reference level sound by using two BurrBrown DAC chips and a 16-core XMOS chip to process the data received via the USB and S/PDIF digital inputs, meaning the Diablo X can handle up to PCM 768, DSD 512, 2xDXD. It also provides full MQA decoding, like its predecessor.
    [​IMG]
    A Perfect Pairing
    iFi audio will be showcasing the Diablo X alongside In-Ear Monitors from Singularity Audio at CanJam NYC 2023. Singularity Audio will be releasing their xMEMS In-Ear Monitors, the first IEMs to feature xMEMS solid state speaker technology. Paired with the iFi Diablo X, the two become a perfect bundle, because one cannot be properly utilized without the other.
    “iFi audio is excited to be working with xMEMS as an official DAC/headphone amp technology partner,” said Victoria Pickles, Head of Partnerships for iFi audio. “xMEMS’ ground-breaking micro speakers offer great potential to push the boundaries of IEM and headphone performance. And our portable audio technologies are uniquely positioned to ensure this potential is fully realized. With specially optimized iFi DAC/headphone amps set for launch in 2023, it’s going to be an xCITING year!"
    More on xMEMS, Singularity Audio and CanJam NYC 2023 below
    [​IMG]
    xMEMs

    Founded in January 2018, xMEMS Labs is reinventing sound with the world’s first solid-state True MEMS speakers for TWS and other personal audio devices. xMEMS has over 90 granted patents and over 100 patents pending for its technology. The monolithic architecture implements both actuation and diaphragm in silicon resulting in unmatched part-to-part frequency response consistency and reduced speaker matching or calibration time at manufacturing. This innovative transduction mechanism has also produced the worlds’ fastest and most precise µspeakers, eliminating spring and suspension recovery of coil speakers which improves audio quality and sound field reproduction.
    For more information, visit https://xmems.com.
    Singularity Audio

    Incorporated in 2022, Singularity Audio’s mission is to create audiophile products Singular in design and purpose. From conception through design and fabrication, Singularity Audio products embody a purity in design, harmonizing advanced materials with an unwavering commitment to accurate sound reproduction.
    Singularity Audio’s first product is a flagship IEM which utilizes the fastest and most phase accurate µSpeaker available, the xMEMS Labs Montara Piezo-MEMS transducer. Using reductive principles, an elegant industrial design using a minimal number of components was realized. The outer shells are machined from titanium, with each IEM weighing <5 grams and under 19mm in length, resulting in featherweight IEM that the user will forget they are wearing, allowing them to be fully immersed in music.
    For more information, visit https://singularityaud.io
     
  14. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    So both the amp and the IEM has to have this xMEMs technology in order to work?
     
  15. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    This seems like the Zen's renderer is loading all listed tracks completely into memory before starting playback, rather than doing short read-aheads like Moode, Volumio etc. So it's likely a Zen feature rather than anything you're doing.
     
  16. Gazny

    Gazny MOT: ETA Audio

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    bias circuit for the Microelectromechanical system transducer
     
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
  17. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    To clarify, xMems is a specific type of a driver that some manufacturers are going to use in their products. This driver type has its own demands regarding amplification and requires a specific circuit to work. iDSD Diablo X has that embedded on top of its motherboard that already works with regular headphones and IEMs.

    In other words, iDSD Diablo X is just like its predecessor when we talk about regular loads, but it also drives xMems IEMs.
     
  18. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Thank you for clarifying! The way the copy was written, I thought the technology was embedded in the amp, and would work with any IEMs, until I read further down and it mentioned that the IEMs need the same tech.
     
  19. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    Folks, some xMEMs materials are to be found here:



     
  20. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    Yup, that's correct, xMEMs tech requires specific measures that (to my knowledge at this time) won't work with other IEMs.
     

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