Does the ZEN really have that IP address? If not done as a DHCP reservation and maybe in combination with a short DHCP lease time, this could change to another address.
Hi @BeeKay - Thank you, but yes, that IS the URL for my Zen. If the mode switch is set to AIO, that URL alone brings up my configuration screen. I don’t think this is an artifact of Safari, but rather of the Zen.
How difficult it is to understand that the conffiguration website (ifi.local or you can access it with ip-address also) works ONLY in AIO mode. So it won’t open in Roon only mode.
Make the changes to settings in AIO mode and then switch to exclusive mode if needed.
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Sorry to hear you’re still having issues Glenn. Why don’t you make things a bit simplier for the moment and just use your Stream in AIO mode for a while. Then you can have a play with the ifi.local settings etc and enjoy your music through Roon, Spotify or whatever else takes your fancy.
Then at some point try Roon exclusive mode again. Just make sure to enable the USB output within Roon and you’ll be good to go.
Walmart claims to have the Chromecast Audio in stock, for $80.
Twice what I paid for mine, but still. OK streamer/DAC/preamp combo, but optical S/PDIF only as a simple streamer.
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Well, if looking for both “simple” and “bulletproof” as a Roon end-point / streamer, the best I’ve found is the Apple TV3. It has only a TOSLINK optical output, and it automatically resamples everything to 24/96, but it’s dirt simple. Hook up your Ethernet cable, connect the optical cable to your DAC, power it up, tell Roon to use it - DONE! Cost? About $10 on eBay used often with free shipping.
And it sounds very good.
Hi @Barry_Scotton -
Yes. I could do what you suggest. But I didn’t pay nearly $400 for features that I can’t use because iFi doesn’t let the purchaser know how to use them. Your final sentence “Just make sure to enable the USB output within Roon…” is my sticking point. I’ve been told on this forum that USB must be enabled in the Zen setup before it will work, and I can’t get to the setup screen with the Zen in Roon mode.
Am I missing something? Thanks for your help!
Glenn
Postscriptum - Maybe I am missing something - When I clicked the Device Info option in Roon, there was a panel to “configure device.” When that opened, the choice between SPDIF and USB WAS shown. I’ve enabled USB there and will test the setup anon.
Hey @Glenn_Young,
I’m sorry to hear that you’re struggling with the iFi Zen Stream. In reviewing gear for the Roon Store, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the functionality and features of their devices.
If you don’t mind me saying, it seems you’ve become frustrated with the Zen and that’s complicating getting it set to your preferences. It happens to the best of us, and it also happens to me. Take a short break and come back to it refreshed - it’ll help.
The Zen stream has to be on AIO (All in One) mode to adjust settings. That befuddled me too at first. We generally recommend leaving it on AIO for easy access to the settings page. That’s what I’ve done with all the iFi devices I’ve reviewed. There’s no downside to that.
You can find great help and setup videos on iFi’s YouTube page - they created an entire series for the Zen stream. We also created a brief setup guide that may be helpful.
Be patient and kind to yourself and the device while figuring things out. You’ll enjoy the experience a lot more. That’s a great little streamer, once you get it dialed in I think you’ll like it.
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Hi Jamie -
Yes, one can get “so close to the forest that we can’t see the trees.” Yet the issues that I’ve experienced with my iFi product have been continuous since its purchase. I am not a technological retard. I have hosted a call-in radio show about computers and technology; I have designed, modified, and built audio equipment for decades; I write online reviews of audio products and am paid for it.
The iFi Zen Streamer is not a simple audio product because of its capabilities. With versatility comes the necessity of user configuration. I understand that.
Yet a consumer should not have to avail themselves of a half-dozen YouTube videos to get their product to work (nor yet have to spend days in a user forum relying on the generous advice of others).
The iFi Zen Streamer is a singularly difficult product to configure. Those who claim otherwise may have been fortunate with their setups. But not everybody is so fortunate. The volume of internet traffic regarding setup of this iFi product confirms my statements.
The device could have been engineered for a simpler user experience, but it is what it is. That being the case, it is the unequivocal responsibility of the manufacturer to provide a comprehensive user manual, either on paper or via the internet. This, iFi has failed to do.
I’d said my piece on this product. Others are welcome to disagree with me, but I believe this post to be factual.
Glenn Young
iFi hasn’t failed to provide documentation. It’s right there on the product page. Your feelings on the rest are your valid opinions and I won’t argue against them. I certainly never said nor inferred that you’re mentally deficient. Just trying to help.
Glenn this is what I have pointed you too before, and having done two beta updates in the last week I have had to use the Device Info button both times too switch it back from its default SPDIF mode (though the latest beta has broken configure settings in Roon only mode)
It is the easiest way to switch things back around for interface and a few other settings.
Hopefully you can get over some of your quite reasonable irritation with the iFi and start enjoying it once it is stable in your setups.
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Thats a bummer that confugure settings in Roon only mode has broken with the latest beta as i only use USB out 
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Well avoid the betas for now in that case.
Hopefully they will sort it for the next full release, I guess they were trying to rush out Airplay 2 and ignoring everything else
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U think uve had hard with the zen stream,all of us who have had it from the start have nearly threw it out the window,as good as it sounds the software was disaster for a long time,not saying it great now but atleast it’s use able,I like the zen but I’d never buy any of there products again
I’m rather baffled by this whole thread. Just before Christmas I needed a Roon streamer for a new place in a hurry, ordered one from Headphone.com, and had it working as soon as I installed it on the target location, using WiFi only. There were a couple minor bumps with configuration/startup, which I resolved quickly by upgrading to the latest firmware. Nothing more onerous than what I’ve experienced with my multiple Linn systems (for which I sometimes need to call my Linn dealer) or Roon itself, or indeed with any of the other many gadgets/software I use, including Apple and Google gear/software.
What I do avoid, with any of these gadgets, is to do any more configuration than strictly necessary to get them working. For the Zen Stream, I don’t understand why anyone would care to set it in Roon-only mode, given that it works with Roon regardless. Generally speaking — I’ve worked in the software field for decades — features off the main use cases are typically less well designed or tested, so they should be avoided except if strictly needed.
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Fernando I think your experience is probably that of 80%+ of people who buy the Stream, but after a rocky first 9 months that the Stream had when it could be a software disaster, there are still quite a lot of people that struggle to get it going reliably from the off.
Mine runs on Ethernet in AIO mode, but I have turned off the services that I don’t want used and it works a charm, (besides when I update to dev and beta releases to test things out and they are always fixed relatively quickly).
I don’t know why the Stream does this to people, but it continues to happen and then people need to be walked through it in baby steps to get a working system and not return it. Then generally they are happy with it.
If the Matrix Mini-I Pro 3 was cheaper I would recommend that to anyone that needed a solution and not the Stream but it is three times the cost of the Stream and in fairness the Stream is a great little device that has some wonderful features
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I specifically BOUGHT the iFi Zen Streamer because it featured Roon RAAT rather than UP&P over Ethernet. It’s unrealistic to criticize me because I want the feature that I paid for - a feature that iFi used to advertise their own product. If you don’t want Roon mode, bully for you. I don’t want Wi-Fi. But if you paid for the Zen Streamer because you wanted Wi-Fi and then couldn’t get it to work, you might be as irritated as I am.
The iFi Stream “does this to people” because it is ill-engineered, poorly-documented, and because those who did get it to work out of the box have no sensitivity for those who encounter the myriad problems of the device. Yes - there ARE solutions that cost 3x the amount of the iFi Zen, but there are also solutions that cost ⅓ its price. Having spent “extra” for the Zen, it is reasonable to expect a more satisfying user experience.
What’s wrong with AIO mode? It supports RAAT.
Hi,
If I remember your post before buying I was one in favour of ZS. My sincere apologies if did not work for you as expected. I have pointed you to a 2500 posts thread only for ZS just to be aware that for others it was a bumpy road. I think I’ve got mine just 1 month earlier so I was aware. And still ZS for me does not work 100% but I just do not have the energy to take the setup from scratch (not yet).
I think only a Pi. I did want the ZS as I wanted an out of the box experience. And in the same price tag I had SOtM 200 and a Pro-Ject. If again facing the decision to buy I would go again for the ZS. It was not 100% plug and play but it was not something major.
100% true. And yes it is annoying but I have found the help I need in the threads from this forum and also people kindly taking from their time just to help, @Michael_Harris
You have a valid point but if the knob is there why not use it? It is an option, just like the wifi antenna that for me it is still in the box or the power supply that it is also still in my box. I still do not see why the knob is there if same settings could be done from the browser. Maybe they had just a big stock of screwdrivers? Or maybe for people that do not want to open the settings but that is not working as you still have to open settings to change to USB.
@jamie Thanks for your support and this reminder. It happens to get lost and frustrated after spending cash and things not working as expected. Your post proves this is a wonderful community with real support. I’m happy to be here.
@Glenn_Young If you need to tell your experience please do. If you need to take out your frustration please do so knowing there are people who read and want to help. Do not get mad when others do not understand as we all have different backgrounds, needs, time and ideas. That happens in a community. If we were not different we would not need a forum as we would be all the same, with nothing to share and learn.
I 100% think that after setting up and initial frustrations you will forget about the ZS, it will just simply work. And we all will be here for the next device 
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Well, there was this lengthy thread where many suggested you try a RPi with RoPieee (and RoonBridge on top) for a convenient solution. You decided against it although a minimal DIY job. 10 minutes with a screw driver that literally takes no skills.
And here we are again.
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