It is an exceptionally clean streamer with a USB out for people who can't be bothered to tinker with Pi and clean power supplies, hats etc. There is nothing cleaner for the money that you can buy off the shelf and that is the point of this product and it's price point. Of course, to be able to appreciate the difference your gear needs to be revealing enough and the target audience is someone who is going to use it with a Zen DAC and some 500$ plus headphones. Z always says it- you can rarely hear the difference between DACs on a speaker system but put headphones and it shall be revealed in seconds...

I might be the right customer for such product. I don’t know, I can’t put my finger on streaming anyway, but all I know is I don’t wanna connect my computer to my dac, wanna use my own dac and don’t wanna pay for a dac I won’t be using. I also want jitterless output. Great review. Honesty is the best policy.

Feels like it should be more in line with other Zen pricing, $200 as an absolute maximum. Agree it makes no sense at $400.

Sorry new to your channel here. Actually your review dosent cover the only 1 thing I am looking for. How does it SOUND compared to other products like the bluesound, raspberry pi product or more high end streamers like innuos/melco? Thanks!

Too expensive for what it is… rather put a 100$ more for a proper streamer or much less for a Pi… don’t imagine they will sell much of these 💭

Refreshing to see a well done and diplomatic negative review.

Old guy moment. I'm totally lost. For $50 more I bought my Bluesound Node on sale, it gets my Qobuz and it includes a DAC. Thanks for your honesty in the review.

Only issue is that when someone only deals with cheap audio , he/her may not be able to recognise a components sounding several leagues higher. In my experience, the Zen streamer is that product.

" I cannot tell a lie". Kudos 🤘

What does it sound like, lots of talk about what it does but no mention of sound quality. How does it compare to the pi and an allo digione hat. if you are not actually listening to it then buy the cheapest thing that works for you no point really reviewing it the pi will do it cheaper for less. And yes if you listen on a decent system transports make a big difference.

I have two key takeaways from this video:

You can add a Hard Drive of Music to the USB input of the ifi Stream

AFAIK ifi is working on an app for the Stream and since I'm looking for a streamer I'm gonna wait and see what the app is like before making a decision.

Volumio’s own device is based on the Asus Tinker Board so may be a new case same device scenario

Taylor's cable wrap system is "tailor" made for your satisfaction

Im totally addicted to this channel. I may need an intervention soon.

Having said earlier on this comments thread that I might be the right user for such device I finally purchased the ifi zen stream and I am gobsmacked by its ease of use and the way it improves clarity, soundstage, and bass performance (coming from a direct laptop connection) Connected to bifrost 2 through usb and using Roon and Tidal this thing is simply amazing. Not cheap in cheap audio man terms but a very good value and truly hifi.

If you have a high end system and want to play Tidal this is the cleanest best audio performing way to do it

I came here for a sound comparison.

This is an overview.