Summing up, as you can see – Zen Stream offers much, very much in the terms of functionality. While we may assume that most will use Tidal Connect (especially that they are coming back to the normal hi-rez files and phasing out MQA) or Roon-only modes and will forget about everything else here, it’s that additional NAA functionality that will definitely sparkle interest for many. We will get back to all this in the summary, because now it’s time for the most important part. The sound.
iFi Audio Zen Stream – does it have its own sound?
First things first, it should be quite obvious that when evaluating such a component in the audio chain as a dedicated digital transport, we should put it in a specific context. What I precisely mean by that is the fact that when connected to a DAC, such a transport will possibly – for many – take place of a pc or a laptop. On the other side it should be also compared to other similarly priced devices and possibly more expensive offerings on the market to get a bigger picture.
Moreover, let’s state one thing here for the sake of clarity – different digital transports (call it streamers if you like) do sound different. By that we also assume that – leaving some intricate technical aspects aside for a while – they have their own imprint on the sound that can be (more or less easily, more on that later) heard.
There’s also just another thing that should be mentioned here, before we come to the gist of the matter. When using the Zen Stream in NAA mode we obviously use it with the HQPlayer software. The latter one has so many possible options to tweak, not to mention various types of digital filters to choose from, that getting a common denominator here might actually be misleading. Therefore, it’s much better focus here on a general Zen Stream’s sonic signature instead. And what adding it would simply mean sound-wise, especially to a newcomers to the world of serious digital audio.
Zen Stream – listening sessions
After few days with the Zen Stream connected to a few various DACs (with different chipsets, ranging from ESS Sabre, through AKM to R2R solutions) it became obvious that there’s quite a difference between your usual computer acting as a digital signal stream source and a dedicated transport, like the small iFi Audio box. It may even be, in more transparent systems, a vast chasm between these two worlds.
Two most apparent, most noticeable aspects when moving from a PC as a source to Zen Stream will be the firmness of the soundstage and the general maturity of the sound. More notably, this is one of those devices that doesn’t change one certain aspect of an entire system’s audio reproduction, but rather impact it as a whole. While certain isolated objective characteristics will benefit too, the more you listen to a digital audio done right, the more likely is that you will assume that getting improvements in one, two, or more individual areas is not quite the point here.
I started my listening sessions with perhaps a bit unusual track for such purposes – “City of Gods II” by Alicia Keys. This particular song had a tendency to emphasize every last bit of the digital glare in the chain. Which, in turn would make it hardly listenable on a transparent amplifier-speakers system with the below-par digital front-end attached to it. Zen Stream passed the test with flying colours. What was apparent here was the clarity and firm rendition of Alicia’s voice without any unnecessary softening. And at the same time without any coarseness that would seem added as well.