The overachieving ZEN Stream was just the beginning for iFi Audio. Their NEO Stream digital audio streamer does it all – digital and analog outputs, with the one-of-a-kind advantage provided by iFi’s optical LAN input.

iFi's new streaming hub counts itself as the only other mainstream digital audio streamer apart from Sonore to feature an optical LAN input. Stereophile writes "NEO Stream punches way above its retail price, bringing complex high-end audio down to earth". Headfonics raved about it.

Given light energy is the only way to completely isolate a system galvanically, with no electric potential between points, NEO Stream's optical LAN input is a class above its peers, and indeed punches way above its weight.

Indeed, you can confidently insert the NEO Stream into nearly any high-end, top-dollar system, knowing it will perform admirably without hindering flagship DACs from manufacturers like Denafrips, Holo Audio, or Matrix Audio. [See Product Desc. For More]

The I2S and AES/EBU outputs around back effortlessly transmit digital signals to your system through iFi's Roon Ready and Signalyst HQPlayer NAA modes. Alternatively, you can bypass a downstream DAC entirely and utilise the NEO Stream's balanced line output.

But let's start at the source. NEO Stream includes an OptiBox and the relevant cables to connect to the gigabit ethernet output from your router. Once done, iFi's OptiBox hooks up to NEO Stream and acts as an intermediary to completely block parasitic noise from your home's modem with its galvanic isolation.

Files up to DSD512 and PCM 768Khz are transmitted this way without bandwidth limitation. The transfer of digital data between NEO Stream and your DAC is regulated by iFi's GMT femto-precision clock and intelligent memory buffer.

GMT ensures your digital transmission between router, NEO Stream and DAC stays jitter-free, with designer Thorsten Loesch describing it to 6Moons as "intelligently and dynamically controlling the clock that drives the DAC chips and streams data from the memory buffer ... not a secondary PLL ... entirely new concept that completely blocks jitter".

NEO Stream isn't a run-of-the-mill streamer then, but rather applies iFi's proprietary technology and techniques to stand apart from others. Excellent phase-noise performance and low-jitter are key when transmitting I2S over HDMI, with the bit, master and word clocks derived more accurately than ever.

This is particularly important when using one of Signalyst HQPlayer's oversampling reconstruction filters with a Denafrips or Holo Audio NOS DAC, as timing accuracy becomes crucial, and even minor variances can have a significant impact.

NEO Stream is reflective of iFi's drive never to settle, coming up with original solutions at the digital input and output that makes these newcomers to streamers appear like veterans, delivering results not yet seen before at this price, availability or common use.

Also view iFi's other products here, or our other desktop devices here.

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iFi Neo Stream