The iFi audio NEO STREAM DAC streamer offers features ranging from UPnP to Apple AirPlay, TIDAL Connect and Spotify Connect to Roon Ready Device certification.
iFi audio NEO STREAM Network Audio Streamer can also be used as a pure streaming bridge. In particular, iFi Audio notes that NEO STREAM Network Audio Streamer is not a solution based on an off-the-shelf streaming platform; This is not a purchased solution, but a platform developed in-house.
The Linux-based software runs on a quad-core ARCM Cortex processor and promises bit-accurate streaming using a wide range of protocols for variety and flexibility. NEO STREAM Network Audio Streamer can function as a DLNA certified UPnP streaming client, supporting the only real industry standard in this field. BlubbleUPnP, mconnect or Audirvana are just three solutions that the manufacturer recommends in this regard.
Additionally, there are TIDAL Connect and Spotify Connect, two streaming technologies that enable direct use with their respective apps – TIDAL and Spotify. Apple AirPlay is another widely used streaming platform, but, interestingly, Google’s equivalent, Google Chromecast, is missing. Network Audio Streamer is also designated as Roon-Ready.
The XMOS-based microcontroller ensures a reliable data connection, and ANC II active noise cancellation technology ensures smooth data transfer. This also applies to the USB port. For direct control of content playback via USB, iFi Audio also offers a separate Stream-iFi app.
For the DAC, the company relies on a particularly sophisticated, self-developed design it calls Fouc-channel True Native Hi-res DAC Design, which can handle Linear PCM data up to 32-bit and 768 kHz, DSD up to DSD512, but also MQA. and which is based on a 16-core XMOS processor and Burr-Brown DACs from Texas Instruments.
