ifi AUDIO NEO STREAM
Following the success of the Neo iDSD, iFi has now treated us to a network variation simply called ifi Audio Neo Stream. This all-in-one device is as comprehensive as it is connected, incorporating almost all of the technologies developed by the brand, and is presented as THE cornerstone of any good system.
Founded in 2012, iFi Audio is a subsidiary of the legendary Abbingdon Music Research (AMR) group, known and recognized for its high-end Hi-Fi systems. As a younger brand, it targets a clientele of enthusiasts who may be less wealthy but are just as demanding.
While AMR focuses on “classic” home electronics, iFi Audio primarily targets modern audiophiles looking for compact, high-performance solutions that are equally suited to portable and stationary use.
And, from their first appearance at the HKTDC in Hong Kong, the Micro iCan and iDAC, respectively a headphone amplifier and DAC amplifier, caused a sensation: elegant, powerful, and affordable, they naturally rose to the top of the rankings for the best models of their kind, quickly propelling iFi into the spotlight.
This success has never wavered, so much so that the iFi catalog now includes not just two models, but around fifty. From high-end DAC/amp systems, with the Pro iDSD series, to iPurifier power conditioners and, of course, portable DACs, led by the GO blu and Go Bar.
It’s a huge catalog, spread across several levels, topped by the Pro range and recently completed by the Neo series, which is more accessible but just as powerful, like the model we’re looking at today, the Neo Stream.
A mix of the Pro iDSD and Neo iDSD, it takes its inspiration from the former for its network functions and from the latter for its iconic design, retaining many of the features that made its predecessors so appealing, right down to the LCD screen. An ultra-complete network player with a meticulous finish, advertised as a device “designed by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts,” we couldn’t wait to try it out!
Visually similar to the Neo iDSD, if not identical, the Neo Stream bears a clear resemblance to its predecessor, which is not to our displeasure, quite the contrary. Resolutely modern in style, it plays the sobriety and elegance card, reducing the controls to the bare minimum, preferring to replace the usual profusion of buttons with a multifunction control wheel.
A happy choice, supported by a control window with enhanced capabilities, which also benefits from welcome improvements, although it is not touch-sensitive. And while its size remains modest compared to Rose’s Korean players, the excellent central click wheel, notched and perfectly calibrated, guarantees effective handling: with just a few clicks, the Neo Stream switches between sources, completely freeing you from the need for a phone or remote control.
A perfectly balanced monochromatic design, enhanced by a CNC-machined monobloc chassis for a futuristic yet discreet look. So much so that it almost makes you forget its plethora of connectors, which are standard for a product of this brand: optical/coaxial jacks, unbalanced and balanced line outputs, dedicated and filtered USB ports. The Neo Stream even features an AES/EBU XLR output, in addition to an HDMI connector providing i2s support – quite a feat.
And if that weren’t enough, the Neo Stream goes so far as to offer no less than four different network inputs. Not content with supporting the unbeatable RJ45 port, the player also features an M12 port, usually reserved for automation professionals, as well as a mysterious connector called “Optical SC.”
This unique system sits between the Neo Stream and the router, multiplexing all incoming network streams into a single optical signal, which is regenerated, reclocked, and rebalanced to ensure supra-optimal transmission quality. This unique feature fits perfectly with iFi’s ideology of always being on the lookout for the slightest interference—whether physical, electrical, magnetic, or even digital.
Taking this leitmotif to the extreme, iFi has equipped its player with a complete suite of proprietary protections:
ANC II for USB ports, iPurifier for SPDIF outputs, SilentLine circuitry for the display, and even TI Low-ESR + Taiyo Yuden capacitors for the power supply stage. Even the classic DC transformer has been replaced by iPower X, a stabilized DC power supply known and recognized for the purity of its signal.
Finally, to complete an already idyllic picture, iFi has equipped its circuit with very high-end components. The ARM processor, the true brain of the device, has increased speed and memory, processing up to 12 times more signals per second, combined with an XMOS chip that has also been boosted for optimized DSD, PCM, and MQA stream decoding.
Downstream, we find the unbeatable Burr-Brown DAC from Texas Instruments. It is itself associated with two in-house GMT-compatible clocks. There are also a string of TDK ceramic capacitors, low-emission muRata modules and other Panasonic E-CPU chips, usually reserved for ultra-high-end models. The icing on the cake is that the Neo Stream even has a dedicated power controller, combined with a second module dedicated solely to RJ45/M12/SC inputs. What more could you want?
THE SETUP OF THE IFI AUDIO NEO STREAM
The iFi Neo Stream is very comprehensive, yet easy to use. Once connected to the power supply via the dedicated power supply—which can be substituted—comes the most important step: the network connection.
There are four options available, from the classic Wi-Fi network to the more surprising M12 port, not to mention the ever-reliable RJ45 and, above all, the famous optical connector! To take advantage of the latter, iFi provides a USB-powered box with an Ethernet port input and a fiber optic patch cord output.
And while the wireless connection requires you to go to a specific page to connect the player to the local network, this is not the case with the RJ45/M12/SC inputs, where a simple connection to the router will give you access to all your favorite sources.
Once this is done, you have two options: enjoy the built-in DAC and connect your amplifier or speakers via the RCA or 4.4 mm Pentaconn outputs; or connect a higher-end DAC via the numerous digital outputs. Note that for the most demanding users, iFi recommends the USB and HDMI outputs, which are the only ones capable of outputting a 32-bit/768 kHz signal.
Last but not least, the player features no less than four different phase settings, including the famous GTO (Gibbs Transient Optimized), specifically calibrated to suit the source used: Tidal Masters, Qobuz, Spotify, DLNA, or even NAA for access to a dedicated local server.
For ultimate convenience, the streamer offers hardware volume control, which is more refined and precise than that usually found on the source, as well as full compatibility with Roon, THE leader in local audio/network interfaces. The main question remains: what about sound performance?
THE SOUND OF THE IFI AUDIO NEO STREAM
Once connected to our usual test system—a Cayin DAC + amplifier combo—via the XLR AES EBU port, we listened to the Neo Stream for the first time using Qobuz, our favorite French HD audio streaming platform. And it’s clear that right from the start, the Neo Stream quickly took pole position.
In fact, the Neo displays a rare transparency, providing the Cayin DAC with an extremely solid foundation, allowing the AKM chips to really shine. Less high-end than an Aurender player, more compact than a Rose, and more accessible than Innuos, the little iFi nevertheless holds its own, even going toe-to-toe with its competitors.
This openness is confirmed with each listen, as the synergy of the XMOS ARM chips, combined with the circuit topology, produces a result of absolute purity, relegating our traditional Chromecast Audio, so practical but now far surpassed, to the background. Even when connected optically, Google’s device delivers a raw digital stream, making it impossible for it to achieve the level of separation and natural precision offered by the Neo Stream.
And for good reason: when connected via Toslink, the conclusion is clear:
the iFi streamer holds its own, even teasing the upper echelons of the Aurender with the same balanced sound, less warm than the iDSD Nano/Micro, more in tune with the new PRO series.
Similarly, it is interesting to note the surprising and real contribution of the OptiBox when used as a digital transport. Compared to the “classic” RJ45, the optical connection seems to free up the upper end of the spectrum, with more chiseled highs, a wider soundstage, and better grounding in the vocals.
This is mainly audible in streamer/DAC mode, connected via the iFi’s line outputs, which further enhances the level of a converter that has nothing left to prove. Already used in almost all of the brand’s DACs, the Burr-Brown chip reproduces every nuance and every sigh without exaggeration, imposing an almost military precision on its midrange, whether it’s a dedicated amplifier or a pair of active speakers—in our case, the KEF LS50 Wireless.
So, whether paired with our iHA-6 or our KEFs, it’s impossible to remain unmoved by this DAC, which magnifies the finest details as well as the worst pitfalls. But it’s in the silences that the little block is most deafening: even at (very) high volume, it’s impossible to discern the slightest noise or breath.
This fidelity quickly separates the wheat from the chaff, bringing back to life gems such as Dominique Fils Aimé’s “Birds” and Bela Fleck and the Fleckstones’ “Flight of the Cosmic Hippo.” Everything that has made iFi’s creations so successful is here: chiseled highs, tight bass, and perfectly defined mids, all highlighted by a soundstage of simply astonishing width. A delightful acoustic mastery, accessible at any time, enhanced by an increasingly comprehensive streaming offering, with our Qobuz and Tidal playlists playing one after the other on Roon, engulfed by the Neo Stream.
And for the most discerning, it will even be possible to play with the filters, which act directly on the signal interpolation. Personally, we stuck to BitPerfect mode, which is the most transparent, but we also recommend trying GTO (Gibbs Transient Optimized) mode, which, to our surprise, performs better on Roon than on Qobuz/Tidal.
It’s a subtle but real difference, which is more noticeable on the electro tracks we love, which are fuller and more dynamic in this particular mode, with a much more powerful overall sound, it has to be said.
Our most memorable moment? The introduction to “She Don’t Know” by Melody Gardot, enhanced by the iFi Neo Stream + iDAC6 + iHA6 + Audeze LCD-X combo, which plunges us into the heart of the streets of New York, where the horns of yellow taxis echo off the walls of the buildings. A real shock!
OUR CONCLUSION
The iFi Neo Stream is simply explosive! Not content with competing for the coveted title of best network player on the market at this price point—and easily rivaling many much more expensive models—this marvel of integration simply blew us away. A true gem of sound, excelling in all areas, both in form and substance, the player delivers a signal of absolute transparency accessible with a single click.
Author(s): Haja Randrianarison
Technical Sheet: ifi Audio Neo Stream
- Origin: China
- Price: €1,299
- Dimensions: 214 x 151 x 41 mm
- Weight: 1 kg
- Converters: Texas Instruments Burr-Brown
- Supported formats
- PCM up to 32-bit/768 kHz/DSD up to
- DSD 512/MQA Full decoder
- Network functions: Roon/AirPlay/Spotify Connect/Tial Connect/DNLA/UPnP/NAA operation/Stream-iFi
- THD/SNR: <0.0025% @ 0 dBFS/< -106 dB @ 0 dBFS
- Output impedance: Balanced <74 ohms/unbalanced <37 ohms
- Output voltage: 4 V RMS (4.4 mm)/2 V RMS (RCA)
- Frequency response: 20 Hz – 45 kHz (-3 dB)
- Power supply: DC 9 V/2.0 A, 12 V/1.8 A, 15V /1.2 A* (center pin +)
- Analog outputs: RCA/4.4 mm Pentaconn
- Digital outputs: Toslink/Coaxial/XLR AES/EBU/HDMI i2S/USB
- Digital inputs: RJ45/Optical SC/M12/USB
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