iFiNEO Stream - Ultra-Res Network Audio Streamer and Hub - MQA Decoding & True-Native DSD - SilentLine TFT Display - Fully Balanced Analogue Circuitry - Active Noise Cancellation

I originally bought this just to be a streamer along with my Brooklyn dac+ however in trying out the built-in DAC I found out it sounds much better than the Brooklyn dac plus! And it's half the cost! Very pleasantly surprised quality build as well software is a little buggy but hopefully future updates will take care of the issues

I was looking forward to buying this once I heard that it accepted a fiber optical input and had an I2S output for my DAC. So I finally decided to give it a try. I had been using a PS Audio Directstream DAC w/Bridge II for nearly 2 years. I figured it should be pretty easy to hear differences with a separate box streamer. After some issues with the fiber input (I had to buy another brand of SFP due to compatibility), I was ready to do the comparison. Both were done through Roon and the Bridge on the PS Audio has been reported by many to be noisy. But I run a full fiber optic LAN as compared to copper. After a few weeks of A/B'ing them, I decided to differences were far too slight to spend $1400+ with tax on this streamer. It's also one of the ugliest components that I've ever seen. So I regret to say, it was returned. I noted larger audible differences while I was dialing in my LAN. What I've suspected for the past 2 years was that it wouldn't matter nearly as much which streamer or if it was a one or two box solution. And this proved to be the case. Fiber optics are so quiet and this pays off in both audio and video. I have several video streamers as well. Yes, stuff arrives bit perfectly but that doesn't mean interference or ground noise isn't being brought along with your signal when running copper. Fiber helped my setup immensely. This streamer, unfortunately did not.

After several updates, the functionality keeps deteriorating. They had me send it in to "unbrick" it, as I don't have access to a windows based computer to undo the update. They sent it back with the wrong updates installed (per the support tech I've been conversing with). Unit randomly, but often, resets itself while controlling it with the ifi.local feature from my tablet. They blame my network (?). Also, when I'm using the Tidal Connect feature, my phone looses connectivity with the streaming, when the phone screen times out. So the list of songs I have added to the Queue stops playing. I have to open the phone back up, and reestablish a connection, and start the song again. My warranty is about to end in December, so I'm guessing they'll wipe their hands of me then. This was a $1300+ mistake. I'm very disappointed.

I don't know where to start. I was very exciting to find something I thought would work for me as a add-on to my Auralic which gives me trouble from time to time. Surprised to find this unit was so tiny, but that was fine. The screen however, is so tiny and the letting even tinier that even with a big magnifier it cannot be read. Furthermore, it proved to be impossible to get it connected to the app on my iPad, because, again the tiny screen could not be read to fine what to do. Did the designers never heard about auto-connect??Hours of futile trying, I finally packed the whole thing up and am sending it back. And all I wanted was a streamer to stream files from my SSD to my preamp, with a working app to see what I'm doing. Too much to ask for?? I am sure this is a very worthwhile machine, if you can find a way to get it going, and the sound, I am sure is going to be great. I just do not have the patience to ruin my eyesight and my sanity on something that could have been designed so much better.

Sounds perfect. Definitely in the upper tier. You won’t find anything as good for less than 5k and it will definitely be taking up a lot more physical space as well. Clear, open soundstage. Works great with Roon, lots of input options. Highly recommend.

I did not buy this unit. I wanted to but without at least a toslink input it's too expensive. For those that don't want other connectivity like a cd transport or sound from your tv etc it's great, but without one, it limits the great sounding onboard DAC. I guess if's idea of gaining connectivity is to add the iStream but it also has a DAC, and one of them is redundant. This does not gel with me.

This box does everything! An outboard DAC is optional, the burrbrown DAC sounds fantastic!