06-Sep-2021, 18:36
@ismarketing - Worry not, I will keep this thread updated. Also @ogs expressed an interest in another thread, and I need to keep him happy.
I can provide an interim update. I mentioned in the 4th August post above just how I was surprised at just how similar the Zen Stream sounded to my sMS-200Ultra / tX-USBultra when feeding my MC3+USB. Which is interesting considering both the price difference between the two and the fact that one is feeding the MC3+USB via S/PDIF, and the other via USB.
I have now been able to spend some time with the ZEN Stream.
As a quick and simple A/B comparison between the iFi and SOtM kit was a little inconclusive, I decided to simply listen to one for a few days, then swap to the other, just to see if I noticed anything when casually listening and not consciously trying to notice anything. (if that makes sense)
This seemed to work. What I found is that in general, I enjoyed listening to pretty much everything when the iFi was feeding the MC3+USB. Much the same with the SOtM kit in play, except every now and again there might be something that was a little irritating or niggly in the sound. Revisiting the subject tracks with an A/B test, and I think yes, I do prefer the iFi - those occasional niggly sections of music do sound a little cleaner and little "fuller" with the iFi, so less irritating.
We are talking very fine margins here, but I have finally decided that with my ears and system, I prefer listening with the iFi in play.
All of the above is with the very specific use case of feeding a Mutec MC3+USB. This is important to me, but I guess of little interest to anyone else. Later this month I plan to try a few other things with the iFi. I was thinking of doing a direct comparison of the iFi feeding the Devialet direct via S/PDIF, in comparison to the SOtM / Mutec MC3+USB / REF10. I am thinking that I could set up both as Roon Zones, then I could run them simultaneously and compare each by a flick of the remote. I could even add RAAT streaming to the Devialet CI board into this mix, although I think CI board RAAT will always need to be played first as it will lose connection when the Devialet inputs are changed. (not sure about this, but I will find out when I try it)
I am not sure what the above will tell me, but I am interested to try and see what might be observed from the experiment. This is reasonably easy for me to do with my current set-up, so why not? Note that I am currently using the iFi in HQPlayer mode, I have not tried it with RAAT yet, but what I can say is that in HQPlayer mode the iFi has been absolutely 100% stable, not one drop out or issue, it just works. Even if you turn everything off then back on again, the iFi is there, connected, talking to HQPlayer and ready to go, zero hassle. Will this be the same with RAAT? Time will tell.
There are some other things I also want to try, for example the Zen Stream via it's USB output, these are on the to do list.
I shall update this thread as I when I get the time (and a quiet house) to try this stuff.
Meanwhile, I am very much enjoying just listening with the iFi in the chain, a good little product.
I can provide an interim update. I mentioned in the 4th August post above just how I was surprised at just how similar the Zen Stream sounded to my sMS-200Ultra / tX-USBultra when feeding my MC3+USB. Which is interesting considering both the price difference between the two and the fact that one is feeding the MC3+USB via S/PDIF, and the other via USB.
I have now been able to spend some time with the ZEN Stream.
As a quick and simple A/B comparison between the iFi and SOtM kit was a little inconclusive, I decided to simply listen to one for a few days, then swap to the other, just to see if I noticed anything when casually listening and not consciously trying to notice anything. (if that makes sense)
This seemed to work. What I found is that in general, I enjoyed listening to pretty much everything when the iFi was feeding the MC3+USB. Much the same with the SOtM kit in play, except every now and again there might be something that was a little irritating or niggly in the sound. Revisiting the subject tracks with an A/B test, and I think yes, I do prefer the iFi - those occasional niggly sections of music do sound a little cleaner and little "fuller" with the iFi, so less irritating.
We are talking very fine margins here, but I have finally decided that with my ears and system, I prefer listening with the iFi in play.
All of the above is with the very specific use case of feeding a Mutec MC3+USB. This is important to me, but I guess of little interest to anyone else. Later this month I plan to try a few other things with the iFi. I was thinking of doing a direct comparison of the iFi feeding the Devialet direct via S/PDIF, in comparison to the SOtM / Mutec MC3+USB / REF10. I am thinking that I could set up both as Roon Zones, then I could run them simultaneously and compare each by a flick of the remote. I could even add RAAT streaming to the Devialet CI board into this mix, although I think CI board RAAT will always need to be played first as it will lose connection when the Devialet inputs are changed. (not sure about this, but I will find out when I try it)
I am not sure what the above will tell me, but I am interested to try and see what might be observed from the experiment. This is reasonably easy for me to do with my current set-up, so why not? Note that I am currently using the iFi in HQPlayer mode, I have not tried it with RAAT yet, but what I can say is that in HQPlayer mode the iFi has been absolutely 100% stable, not one drop out or issue, it just works. Even if you turn everything off then back on again, the iFi is there, connected, talking to HQPlayer and ready to go, zero hassle. Will this be the same with RAAT? Time will tell.
There are some other things I also want to try, for example the Zen Stream via it's USB output, these are on the to do list.
I shall update this thread as I when I get the time (and a quiet house) to try this stuff.
Meanwhile, I am very much enjoying just listening with the iFi in the chain, a good little product.
1000 Pro - KEF Blade - iFi Zen Stream - Mutec REF10 - MC3+USB - Pro-Ject Signature 12
