Innuos Owners and Discussions Thread

[Gambit 1870]

13 hours ago, PKay said:

You should consider getting someone to put together a NUC in a heat sinking case (fanless) paired with a Matrix X SDIF 3. Significantly cheaper and it sounds amazing. Then you won’t need to worry about redundancy.  The Matrix has i2s out. 

Hey Pkay, 

To late, I have a Pulse inbound. Although that NUC does sound like something I would Diy though. 

[Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo]

Just wanted to thank everyone who has contributed to this Topic. I liked what I read, and now I like what I hear.

And I'm listening to more music, and different music, so that's also a win.

The interface is clear, and easy for a non-computer guy to use.

All good so far 

[Kirby66]

@Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo the UI (Sense App) is one of the things I like best about Innuos 

[Silver Audiophile]

Innuos Sense app is cool. For me, it's definitely the attention to detail design, and how the unit sounds. I love the warm, organic glow it brings to the table.

 

 

[Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo]

8 hours ago, Kirby66 said:

@Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo the UI (Sense App) is one of the things I like best about Innuos 

It's just easy, and it works. You can tell a lot of thought has gone into it.

[Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo]

6 hours ago, Silver Audiophile said:

Innuos Sense app is cool. For me, it's definitely the attention to detail design, and how the unit sounds. I love the warm, organic glow it brings to the table.

 

 

Yep, it sounds pretty good to me.

I need to rip a cd, and compare that against streaming and a downloaded Hi-Res file, to see if  I can hear the difference. The audiophile in me will probably win, and I will download Hi-Res files regardless LOL

[Kirby66]

@Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo Which model Innuos device did you get?

 

10 hours ago, Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo said:

Yep, it sounds pretty good to me.

I need to rip a cd, and compare that against streaming and a downloaded Hi-Res file, to see if  I can hear the difference. The audiophile in me will probably win, and I will download Hi-Res files regardless LOL

I did the comparisons back when I bought my first Innuos and they were interesting to conduct. I don't think I will ever be a solely streaming guy as I am a bit of a collector but I don't think I've purchased a CD in 3 years. The 'collector' is satisfied by downloading digital files from Qobuz (for me the cost of the Sublime subscription is offset by the discounts it offers) and storing them on my computer hard drive.

 

In the same way that vinyl pressings of the same original recording can sound very different so can CD's and digital files. The Innuos CD ripping function is very good and significantly better than the same CD ripped on my iMac. I read or was told early on that using the 'quiet' ripping mode on an Innuos was better than the 'fast' mode but I've never compared the results. The SQ of a track streamed vs downloaded and played from the HD will / can also be different and I've only recently reached a point that the streamed version is a good as the same file from the HD. Well matched switches, filters and ethernet cables are what got me there - the next switch upgrade may push the streamed SQ beyond the local file version which blows my tiny mind to be honest. But that's up to the individual, the rest of your system and the level of desire to chase the 'Holy Grail' 

 

On 13/09/2024 at 3:37 PM, Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo said:

And I'm listening to more music, and different music, so that's also a win.

That's the single greatest change that streaming has brought to me ... the pool is almost limitless. I listen to musicians and genres which I never would have before and they're all right there instantly.

[Silver Audiophile]

57 minutes ago, Kirby66 said:

@Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo 

That's the single greatest change that streaming has brought to me ... the pool is almost limitless. I listen to musicians and genres which I never would have before and they're all right there instantly.

I think you've nailed the strengths of the Innuos. A very good streamer, with storage and rip functions NOT inferior to CD or stored computer music files. The World of 60 million tracts is now your Oyster, music lover  

 

 

[Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo]

3 hours ago, Kirby66 said:

@Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo Which model Innuos device did you get?

 

 

Thanks for your reply

I like to own / collect my music as well

Got the Zenith

 

[eostre23]

Over here on the Zenith it's the streamed Qobuz content, then Tidal, followed by the internal files, then USB connected files in order of sound quality.

Very few vinyl rips sound better than this (streamed music).

Alternatively to the innuus cd ripping, you can always use EAC to make a 100% cd rip, plenty of guides for this online.

I'm interested to compare the sound quality to the new Zen NG.

Edited September 15, 2024 by eostre23

[Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo]

7 minutes ago, eostre23 said:

Over here on the Zenith it's the streamed Qobuz content, then Tidal, followed by the internal files, then USB connected files in order of sound quality.

Very few vinyl rips sound better than this (streamed music).

Alternatively to the innuus cd ripping, you can always use EAC to make a 100% cd rip, plenty of guides for this online.

I'm interested to compare the sound quality to the new Zen NG.

 

Have you tried the downloaded Qobuz HiRes files, and if so how do you rate them in terms of sound quality?

Thanks

[Kirby66]

3 hours ago, Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo said:

Thanks for your reply

I like to own / collect my music as well

Got the Zenith

 

Nice ... me too 

[eostre23]

1 hour ago, Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo said:

 

Have you tried the downloaded Qobuz HiRes files, and if so how do you rate them in terms of sound quality?

Thanks

 Yes, all streamed (Including Hi-Res) music is better.

Qobuz sounds best overalI In my system set up.

Edited September 15, 2024 by eostre23

[Kirby66]

57 minutes ago, Ahh- Schnoo Schnoo said:

 

Have you tried the downloaded Qobuz HiRes files, and if so how do you rate them in terms of sound quality?

Thanks

Downloaded Qobuz HiRes files sound great (assuming the original recording was good of course) - I have nearly 100 downloaded files in my Qobuz folder. It's also worth not getting too focussed about whether the file is HiRes or not. A brilliant recording in 'Red Book' or standard CD quality (16-bit PCM encoding at a 44.1 kHz sampling rate per channel) will sound way better than a poor recoding in HiRes. Initially I was seeking out HiRes because it was new to me and it seemed logical that it would always sound better but that's just not the case.

[Silver Audiophile]

28 minutes ago, Kirby66 said:

Downloaded Qobuz HiRes files sound great (assuming the original recording was good of course) - I have nearly 100 downloaded files in my Qobuz folder. It's also worth not getting too focussed about whether the file is HiRes or not. A brilliant recording in 'Red Book' or standard CD quality (16-bit PCM encoding at a 44.1 kHz sampling rate per channel) will sound way better than a poor recoding in HiRes. Initially I was seeking out HiRes because it was new to me and it seemed logical that it would always sound better but that's just not the case.

Even a humble single digital interconnect makes a profound difference. The DAC, pre amp, amp, speaker, other cables, synergies between components, and above all room acoustics matters. I'll take a old badly recorded red book CD song over a perfect recorded High Res file any day if I could nail all the above assets- without hesitation.

 

 

Edited September 15, 2024 by Silver Audiophile

[Gambit 1870]

Finally Australia post! 

[Gambit 1870]

So having spent a bit of time with the Pulse, I can definitely say that there is a huge change in what I'm hearing vs the Node. You would hope so right? 

 

The question I've been asking myself is how much is it the Pulse and how much is it that I've moved from a Coax input on my DAC to USB. 

Not having used USB before I have no baseline to compare. Once I get some more time to play I'll do some comparisons between the two. 

 

What I've noticed most so far with around 10 hours runtime. 

Increased sound stage 

Improved separation and detail

More holographic / 3 dimensional

More defined mids and bottom end is far punchier/solid

 

Overall the Pulse > La Scala > Vitus > Vienna Acoustic works pretty bloody well, I would probably say that the overall sound sits more on the neutral/warm side, still plenty of detail without sounding clinical or fatiguing(to my ears). I've actually found that I'm not cranking the volume as much as well, which I'm putting down to just having an overall better listening experience with this set up. 

 

Currently listening to Fear Innoculum album streaming from Qobuz and the track Invincible. It's an awesome track due to being really stripped back, some awesome snare/cymbal decay, cool baselines and super tight and punchy guitar and drums, especially the instrumental part from around 9 mins (yep another long Tool song). I use this track as a reference whenever I make a change. 

 

Jason

 

Edited September 22, 2024 by Gambit 1870

[frankn]

As far as I can work out, using USA pricing converted to AUD the Zenith NG with 2Tb of storage will be around AUD 29K maybe a bit more. 

Add extra for USB Pheonix Lite board or DDC (one or other, you cannot have both).  
If you currently have a Phoenix USB keep that and order the NG with only standard usb out. 
Currently, no upgrade path other than buying new unit and selling your old one. Likely that there are a few buyers for old units out there.  

[frankn]

What cables are ppl using for connections?

Currently I use a Lab-12 One that came gratis with the Zenith mk3 , using that bt the Zenith and the Pheonix USB then an older Paul Pang Audio USB cable from the Pheonix to the DAC. 
Am I likely to hear any improvements if I tried say a Curious Evolved USB  or go as far as a Sablon EVO ?  

[Silver Audiophile]

1 hour ago, Gambit 1870 said:

What I've noticed most so far with around 10 hours runtime. 

Increased sound stage 

Improved separation and detail

More holographic / 3 dimensional

More defined mids and bottom end is far punchier/solid

10 hours 

Still within the breaking in period. It will improve further again from here. 

When I got my Innuos new, it took a few weeks to transition into its signature sound. 

Form memory, I've never experienced a large transition during break-in as I did with my Innuos.

 

[Kirby66]

7 hours ago, frankn said:

What cables are ppl using for connections?

Atlas Mavros LAN to my Zenith then Altas Mavros USB from Zenith to Phoenix and another Altas Mavros USB from the Phoenix to the DAC.

 

Can't comment on the Lab-12 comparison but I was using a Curious Evolved USB prior to the Atlas Mavros and I found the Atlas to be a decent step up.

[Gambit 1870]

7 hours ago, Silver Audiophile said:

10 hours 

Still within the breaking in period. It will improve further again from here. 

When I got my Innuos new, it took a few weeks to transition into its signature sound. 

Form memory, I've never experienced a large transition during break-in as I did with my Innuos.

 

Good to know that there's further improvements. In saying that I'm pretty happy where it's at now. 

Also still running the factory tube in the DAC, so more gains possible with tube rolling. 

[Silver Audiophile]

8 hours ago, Gambit 1870 said:

Also still running the factory tube in the DAC, so more gains possible with tube rolling. 

Just wait till you install a triode balanced Mullard ECC81 (subtype 1552) from 1950-53. Not the easiest tube to obtain, contact me i might have a tube left. 

 

 

[Kirby66]

[Gryffles]

On 22/9/2024 at 9:45 PM, frankn said:

What cables are ppl using for connections?

Currently I use a Lab-12 One that came gratis with the Zenith mk3 , using that bt the Zenith and the Pheonix USB then an older Paul Pang Audio USB cable from the Pheonix to the DAC. 
Am I likely to hear any improvements if I tried say a Curious Evolved USB  or go as far as a Sablon EVO ?  

Sablon digital cables are very good with excellent price to performance ratio.

His LAN cables are a stand out product and all for $400 usd for a 1m cable inc shipping. 
Will spank cables far more expensive 

Edited October 11, 2024 by Gryffles