iFi Audio NEO Stream Network Audio Streamer

Recommended Component 2025 – Stereophile

EISA Award - Best Product 2023-2024 – Streamer

Take Your Hi-Res Streaming to the Next Level

The NEO Stream combines the latest version of iFi Audio's network streaming engine with its award-winning DAC stage to deliver a level of audio previously unattainable without spending far more. Just add your choice of amp and speakers. iFi's use of proprietary tecnology makes the NEO Stream distinctly different. There is no 'bought-in' platform and no specific control app. Relying on iFi's own streaming engine, the NEO Stream is fully optimized for seamless operation and excellent sonic performance.

"Recommended Component" Honors

Stereophile honored the NEO Stream by awarding it the magazine's coveted Recommend Component status for 2025.

According to Stereophile, "SM streamed MQA-encoded music from Tidal Connect using Roon, the 'Stream-iFi' app, and the galvanically isolated Ethernet connection. "Something just felt 'right' about the sonic product MQA achieves," he wrote. Using both the iFi's own DACs and separate DACs driven by the NEO Stream's AES3 digital output, SM concluded that NEO Stream's sound quality was beyond reproach and its versatility was impressive. 'It's particularly well-suited to those who are happy with their traditional hi-fi rigs and are looking to add state-of-the-art streaming to the mix.'"

Best Streamer Award, 2023-2024

The NEO Stream won a Best Product Award for 2023-2024 in the Streamer category from EISA (Expert Imaging and Sound Association). "Functioning both as an outboard DAC and digital transport, iFi Audio’s NEO Stream impresses with its versatility before beguiling with its sonic performance. Onboard conversion handles files to 768kHz PCM and DSD512, whether streamed from a home network, integrated service or connected hard drive, while digital outs range from optical to I²S.

"Such broad capabilities, plus app control and filter selection, make the NEO Stream irresistible to music lovers looking for an easy-to-use system add-on, as well as restless hi-fi tinkerers. A compact, futuristic design, which supports vertical or horizontal installation, adds to the appeal of a device that outstrips many costlier rivals."

"Highly Recommended"

"The iFi Neo Stream has accomplished what it wanted," reports audiophilia.com, March 24, 2023. "Small, light, and versatile, while only requiring an amp and speakers, it will attract many digital audio users with a limited budget. It exhibits high-quality sound at a low price, with many options and creative use of modern technology. Highly recommended on a job well done."

Custom DAC for DSD Purists

The NEO Stream's integral DAC stage takes your streaming enjoyment to another level. The four-channel True Native hi-res DAC design supports PCM 768kHz and DSD 512. A powerful 16-core XMOS processor performs full MQA decoding (to 384kHz).

Thanks to the DAC chip's four-channel True Native design, PCM and DSD take separate pathways and remain 'bit-perfect' in their direct-native form, right through to analog conversion. In the case of DSD, there is no conversion to PCM or application of multi-bit processing. This is unusual and makes the NEO Stream an excellent choice for DSD purists.

"A Stunner for the Money"

"If you are looking for a streamer and DAC, an all in one, and your budget is under $2k then I highly recommend taking a look at the iFi NEO STREAM. The DAC inside of this little silver box is a stunner for the money," reports Steve Huff, stevehuffphoto.com, November 16, 2022.

"I do not feel you can get a better streamer and DAC in one box for this kind of money."

New Low-Latency XMOS Microcontroller

The XMOS 16-Core chip processes the audio data received via the USB digital input. This new low-latency XMOS microcontroller has greatly enhanced processing power. Compared to the current generation of eight-core chips, this new 16-core IC delivers double the clock speed (2000MIPS) and four times the memory (512KB), as well as the latest SuperSpeed USB standard.

iFi's in-house digital development team has programmed the XMOS firmware to optimize sound quality and ensure a perfect partnership with the Burr-Brown chipset used in the NEO Stream.

State-of-the-Art Hi-Res Audio Support

Hi-res audio support is state-of-the-art with True Native® playback. It handles PCM data to 32-bit/768kHz, DSD up to DSD512 and single and double speed DXD.

Thanks to the Burr-Brown DAC chip's four-channel True Native design, PCM and DSD take separate pathways – this enables DSD, as well as PCM, to remain 'bit-perfect' in its native form right through to analog conversion. This is not the case with all DAC devices from other brands – even if DSD compatibility is stated, many such DACs convert DSD signals to PCM.

Unique Optical LAN

Connecting to your network router via cable rather than relying on Wi-Fi? The NEO Stream includes a unique option alongside its RJ45 and M12 ports – optical LAN. This is iFi's own technology. Connect the OptiBox transceiver to the router, and the NEO Stream to the OptiBox via an optical cable. Both the OptiBox and cable are included.

This method benefits from the highest quality digital audio connection possible between the router and the streamer. It provides ultra-fast data speeds of up to 10Gbps, bit-perfect transmission of ultra-resolution audio, and minimal degradation across distances of up to .6 miles! The LAN signal from the router is regenerated, reclocked and rebalanced by the OptiBox. true galvanic isolation is applied, with zero parasitic capacitance and inductance.

Engineered to Eradicate Noise and Distortion from the Audio Signal

The NEO Stream has been painstakingly engineered to remove noise and distortion from the audio signal. The USB ports use iFi's ANC II active noise cancellation technology and the S/PDIF outputs incorporate iPurifier technology, while the digital signal is regulated by iFi's femto-precision GMT (Global Master Timing) clock to eradicate jitter.

Circuit components with low ESR, high linearity and low noise mean great sound quality. Voltage regulators with high PSRR (Power Supply Rejection Ratio), low idle current and low dropout equal low power supply noise and a synchronous 1.2MHz high-speed power supply controller to improve filtering efficiency mean power supply noise is vanishingly low.

The NEO Stream has more clarity and texture, and a more dynamic and engaging performance – quite simply, you hear more of the music, just as the artist intended. And the retina-grade TFT display boasts SilentLine design, so no electrical noise interferes with the audio signal.

"Its Streaming Capability Is Top-Notch"

"What the iFi Audio NEO Stream provides as a package can be a mouthful to enumerate but at the end of the day, the company has proved that its streaming capability is top-notch. What is more, since it also has an elegant style and a rich tonality, it becomes a device that if within budget would uplift any listening setup," reports reviewer Aldous, headfonics.com, March 25, 2023.

"If you want to go beyond what the [iFi] Zen can deliver – in terms of connectivity, form factor, topology, and hardware, the Neo delivers a good bit of all of the above for the money," observes Dennis Burger, soundstagesimplifi.com, April 15, 2023. "And to be frank about it, it’s simply a sexier piece of gear, which is not an insignificant consideration."