iFi Audio introduces NEO Stream music streamer/DAC
To this end, iFi says it has developed its own streaming engine, purpose-built to deliver flexibility and performance with a quad-core ARM Cortex processor and Linux-based operating system, which enables it to evolve over time ensuring users are not locked into a specific platform. It comes Roon Ready, will work with any DLNA/UPnP-compatible streaming app such as BubbleUPnP, mconnect, Audirvana etc, and can be used to control the NEO Stream and access audio content from online services and DLNA-certified network storage devices. It can stream directly from the Tidal and Spotify apps, has Integrated Airplay streaming from Apple devices and can operate as an NAA (Network Audio Adapter) in conjunction with Sygnalist HQPlayer software, which means it can direct packets of audio data received over wi-fi or Ethernet straight to the connected DAC without applying processing.
iFi says its Stream-iFi app is a simple tool to aid initial setup of the NEO Stream and initiate streaming from local storage devices and claims it can be used: “in two ways: connect to an amp and speakers via the onboard DAC stage and analogue outputs, or connect one of the available digital outputs to an external DAC. In the latter mode, the NEO Stream acts as a streaming transport or network bridge, like the ZEN Stream but with a higher level of ultra-resolution performance.”
The NEO Stream’s integral DAC stage is based around a Burr-Brown chipset and it can be positioned horizontally or vertically on the supplied stand with its display flipping automatically to suit the user’s preferred orientation. The retina-grade TFT colour display is a two-incher and it comes with an OptiBox optical LAN transceiver and optical cable; USB A-to-USB C cable; Ethernet cable; analogue RCA cable; iPower 2 power supply and aluminium stand for vertical orientation.
Available to buy now for £1,300, you can find out more about the NEO Stream here .
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WiiM Ultra, System Audio Signature 5, Monitor Audio Studio 89, Volumio Rivo, SVS Ultra Evolution Nano, iFi Audio ZEN Blue 3 and much, much more
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