IFI ZEN STREAM 3

Network streamer designed to handle digital audio streams and connect to an external DAC, leaving digital-to-analogue conversion to the latter. The architecture separates streaming and network management functions from the conversion path, with the aim of limiting interference generated by operating system processing and maintaining the digital signal in the most suitable condition for subsequent processing.

Support for JVCKENWOOD’s K2 technology processes the signal to reconstruct some of the harmonic content lost during digitisation. This section is complemented by a femto-precision clock, used as a timing reference to reduce jitter and maintain stable timing of the digital stream.

Noise management is handled by several dedicated systems. The USB outputs use Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology, while the coaxial S/PDIF output incorporates the iPurifier system to reduce electromagnetic interference along the digital connection. These solutions are designed to keep the different stages of the signal path separate and reduce interference introduced by the power supply and digital processing.

The power supply section uses polymer and ELNA Silmic II capacitors, selected to contribute to power supply stability and noise reduction. The Exclusive Modes also allow unnecessary operating system processes to be disabled during playback, reducing software activity that is not essential to the streamer’s operation.

The device supports high-resolution files and streams up to PCM 384 kHz and DSD256. Source and streaming service management is handled by the iFi Nexis app, which allows the system to be configured, Bluetooth pairing to be performed and services such as Tidal, Spotify and Qobuz to be accessed. The app also allows network-connected storage devices such as NAS units and USB HDDs to be managed, as well as supporting over-the-air device updates.

The integration of network connectivity and management of different sources allows the streamer to be used as a digital interface between the home network, streaming services and an external DAC, keeping data management functions separate from signal conversion.

Technical specifications:

• Maximum supported resolution: PCM 384 kHz; DSD256 (11.3 MHz)
• Digital inputs: Wi-Fi; Ethernet (RJ45); 2 × USB-A
• Digital outputs: 2 × USB-A; coaxial S/PDIF
• Power supply: DC 9 V/1.8 A; 15 V/0.8 A
• Supported streaming services: Tidal; Spotify; Qobuz
• Control app: iFi Nexis
• Audio technologies: K2 (JVCKENWOOD); ANC (USB); iPurifier (S/PDIF); femto-precision clock
• Components: polymer capacitors; ELNA Silmic II
• Storage support: NAS; USB HDD
• Software features: Exclusive Modes
• Bluetooth: available, for Wi-Fi pairing
• Dimensions: 158 × 100 × 35 mm
• Net weight: 578 g