Snoopy8 Posted July 30, 2023 Posted July 30, 2023 1 hour ago, AussieMick said: I mean, M Scaler will take care of it, right? Then I could sell the Zen MK3 and AudioQuest Diamond USB I’m using and build some cash reserves. You have learnt that the quality of the streamer, its power supply and its USB output has a major SQ influence. No short cuts here. A better way to improve SQ is to get the Innuos Pulsar, with a Phoenix Lite Reclocker built in. I suspect (not having heard it) the Pulsar will beat the Zen + M Scaler combo. But getting the Pulsar will not help the cash reserves! As an aside, never understood why people use the M Scaler which is known to have high jitter. Yes, the designer claims that his DACs are immune, but why introduce a high jitter device into the music chain in the first place?
AussieMick Posted July 30, 2023 Posted July 30, 2023 2 minutes ago, Snoopy8 said: You have learnt that the quality of the streamer, its power supply and its USB output has a major SQ influence. No short cuts here. A better way to improve SQ is to get the Innuos Pulsar, with a Phoenix Lite Reclocker built in. I suspect (not having heard it) the Pulsar will beat the Zen + M Scaler combo. But getting the Pulsar will not help the cash reserves! As an aside, never understood why people use the M Scaler which is known to have high jitter. Yes, the designer claims that his DACs are immune, but why introduce a high jitter device into the music chain in the first place? Interesting take. The M Scaler to me doesn’t do anything at all that’s blatantly “hifi”. It adds a degree of sophistication, elegance and calm that a PhoenixUSB didn’t when I had it here. It made things cleaner and clearer and more transparent, definitely, and I’d love to own one, but I had to make a choice. As for high jitter measurements, the story is more complicated than that. Have a listen to Watts talking about the big picture. It’s very interesting, and goes quite a way beyond what the usual measurements look at. Fascinating stuff all round. Does the Pulsar let you hang USB storage off the back of it for direct access? It’s my only “I wish…” about the Zen.
Snoopy8 Posted July 30, 2023 Posted July 30, 2023 Just now, AussieMick said: As for high jitter measurements, the story is more complicated than that. Have a listen to Watts talking about the big picture. It’s very interesting, and goes quite a way beyond what the usual measurements look at. Fascinating stuff all round. I was interested in finding out more about the M Scaler and I did listen to Rob Watts; it felt like self justification. There are other upscalers, hardware and software, which have a lot less jitter. 8 minutes ago, AussieMick said: Does the Pulsar let you hang USB storage off the back of it for direct access? It’s my only “I wish…” about the Zen. The Pulsar has no internal storage, unlike the Zen, but does have 4 USB ports.
AussieMick Posted July 30, 2023 Posted July 30, 2023 (edited) 27 minutes ago, Snoopy8 said: I was interested in finding out more about the M Scaler and I did listen to Rob Watts; it felt like self justification. There are other upscalers, hardware and software, which have a lot less jitter. The Pulsar has no internal storage, unlike the Zen, but does have 4 USB ports. I put HQ Player through its paces and chose M Scaler. In my system there were two problems with HQP - it meant putting a computer in the system, which I try to avoid, and even on the “M Scaler” setting it just wasn’t the same. HQP better than no HQP certainly. I should add that the elegance of the M Scaler solution was also an important factor for me. Edited July 30, 2023 by AussieMick 1
eostre23 Posted July 30, 2023 Posted July 30, 2023 Qobuz is definitely the better sounding streaming platform on my Innuos Zenith. 1. Qobuz 2. Internal SSD 3. External WD Black HD
AussieMick Posted July 30, 2023 Posted July 30, 2023 2 hours ago, Snoopy8 said: The Pulsar has no internal storage, unlike the Zen, but does have 4 USB ports. It’s just such an attractive proposition then. I really like the Sense app and attaching my library on a drive is so simple. 2
Gryffles Posted August 9, 2023 Posted August 9, 2023 Any Zenith owners in Brisbane using a Phoenix? Ive got a Zenith II and thinking about it. Seems the only downside is the price but then @AussieMick mentioned he didnt like it? Whats the story fella?
AussieMick Posted August 9, 2023 Posted August 9, 2023 4 minutes ago, Gryffles said: Any Zenith owners in Brisbane using a Phoenix? Ive got a Zenith II and thinking about it. Seems the only downside is the price but then @AussieMick mentioned he didnt like it? Whats the story fella? I liked the Phoenix!!! At the time I had to choose between that and the M Scaler is all. Choices suck. If I could afford a PhoenixUSB I’d buy one immediately. If I could afford both USB and NET, I’d sell my Zen MK3 and buy a Pulsar! I’ve had a few streamers through the system and the Innuos machines are top of my list of preferences. Easily. 1
Gryffles Posted August 9, 2023 Posted August 9, 2023 Just now, AussieMick said: I liked the Phoenix!!! At the time I had to choose between that and the M Scaler is all. Choices suck. If I could afford a PhoenixUSB I’d buy one immediately. If I could afford both USB and NET, I’d sell my Zen MK3 and buy a Pulsar! I’ve had a few streamers through the system and the Innuos machines are top of my list of preferences. Easily. Thanks Mick. I'm thinking about getting one for my Zenith. Sorry, what do you mean by USB and NET? Yeah I;m a dummy with this stuff lol
AussieMick Posted August 9, 2023 Posted August 9, 2023 2 minutes ago, Gryffles said: Thanks Mick. I'm thinking about getting one for my Zenith. Sorry, what do you mean by USB and NET? Yeah I;m a dummy with this stuff lol PhoenixUSB is the USB reclocker, PhoenixNET is the network switch for ethernet. Cheers Mick 1
Gryffles Posted August 9, 2023 Posted August 9, 2023 Just now, AussieMick said: PhoenixUSB is the USB reclocker, PhoenixNET is the network switch for ethernet. Cheers Mick Understood, Thanks. So now Ive been reading about the Pulsar. Seems its the best option for those who only stream, like me. Hmmm, the thought of one box and not having to find a used Phoenix is appealing.
AussieMick Posted August 9, 2023 Posted August 9, 2023 44 minutes ago, Gryffles said: Understood, Thanks. So now Ive been reading about the Pulsar. Seems its the best option for those who only stream, like me. Hmmm, the thought of one box and not having to find a used Phoenix is appealing. I agree. I have a very large classical CD collection I’d sell if I thought it’d get me close enough to a Pulsar.
Gryffles Posted August 9, 2023 Posted August 9, 2023 10 minutes ago, AussieMick said: I agree. I have a very large classical CD collection I’d sell if I thought it’d get me close enough to a Pulsar. Have you heard one Mick?
AussieMick Posted August 9, 2023 Posted August 9, 2023 21 minutes ago, Gryffles said: Have you heard one Mick? Sadly no. I can only imagine the glory it’s bring to my system! I’m sure the HMS/TT2 would gobble up the improvements over my Zen3. I can feel a trip to a dealer with my DAC and headphones brewing…
Cardiiiii Posted August 9, 2023 Posted August 9, 2023 @Gryffles I was told by Innuos the Zenith MKII power supply can be upgraded to that of the Zenith MKIII. Not sure how much it would cost or what benefit it would bring. I was also told by them that in terms of pure sound quality, in their opinion the Zenith MKII is ahead of both the Zen Mini III with LPS and the Zen III. 1
Gryffles Posted August 9, 2023 Posted August 9, 2023 5 minutes ago, Cardiiiii said: @Gryffles I was told by Innuos the Zenith MKII power supply can be upgraded to that of the Zenith MKIII. Not sure how much it would cost or what benefit it would bring. I was also told by them that in terms of pure sound quality, in their opinion the Zenith MKII is ahead of both the Zen Mini III with LPS and the Zen III. Yep that’s right. Still got your Zenith?
Cardiiiii Posted August 9, 2023 Posted August 9, 2023 Just now, Gryffles said: Yep that’s right. Still got your Zenith? Yes still got the MKII. Have reached out to the Aus DB to see what the power upgrade will cost. Will share details when I get them. 1
Gryffles Posted August 9, 2023 Posted August 9, 2023 2 minutes ago, Cardiiiii said: Yes still got the MKII. Have reached out to the Aus DB to see what the power upgrade will cost. Will share details when I get them. Is it just a capacitor swap or a whole new psu?
Cardiiiii Posted August 9, 2023 Posted August 9, 2023 1 minute ago, Gryffles said: Is it just a capacitor swap or a whole new psu? They said it's the whole PSU section.
AussieMick Posted August 9, 2023 Posted August 9, 2023 The new update has fixed the reconnecting lag when your phone/tablet screen goes to sleep. Brilliant. 2
Hydrology Posted August 9, 2023 Author Posted August 9, 2023 Blog update on today's FW update (2.4.5) https://innuos.com/2023/08/09/whats-new-with-innuos-2-4-5/?fbclid=IwAR3PblQpceS_hjpTqqp-YnQbrovara41_b5SbZ8gZ9OCF6E2hf0UpIFucDI 6
Peter Zapp Posted August 9, 2023 Posted August 9, 2023 2 hours ago, Cardiiiii said: @Gryffles I was told by Innuos the Zenith MKII power supply can be upgraded to that of the Zenith MKIII. Not sure how much it would cost or what benefit it would bring. I was also told by them that in terms of pure sound quality, in their opinion the Zenith MKII is ahead of both the Zen Mini III with LPS and the Zen III. I thought my "old" ZENmini MkII with Keces P3 and Phoenix USB was good enough. I now think my "new" ZENith MKII with Phoenix USB is better enough. 3
eostre23 Posted August 11, 2023 Posted August 11, 2023 Just thought I'd share my hiccup with the new 2.4.5 firmware update. The Innuos Zenith update would not go past the 100% 'module 5' screen when updating. Having left it overnight I shut down the unit via the correct screen procedure. On start-up it forced the Sense app on my windows laptop and I had to reconfigure the set up of The Zenith to 'Roon only' again and delete and re-install the Roon remote on my Windows 11 laptop. Initially it would not see the Zenith would show up in Roon but the USB HD Alsa connection would not connect. After a further hard restart of both laptop and Zenith it worked as before, Roon only', no forced Sense app implementation. I used the latest Roon backup I had saved and all is good again. Just to say it all could be me making a mistake in the update chain but it's pretty straightforward usually!
Kirby66 Posted August 11, 2023 Posted August 11, 2023 On 09/08/2023 at 1:30 PM, Gryffles said: Any Zenith owners in Brisbane using a Phoenix? Ive got a Zenith II and thinking about it. Seems the only downside is the price but then @AussieMick mentioned he didnt like it? Whats the story fella? Hey @Gryffles, I'm using a PhoenixUSB with my Zennith Mk3 and I love it. It was a distinct and immediate improvement when I took one on trial - needless to say it stayed right where it was (is)
Hydrology Posted August 11, 2023 Author Posted August 11, 2023 (edited) 32 minutes ago, eostre23 said: Just to say it all could be me making a mistake in the update chain but it's pretty straightforward usually! A 2.4.6 update was pushed out overnight to fix the bug with 2.4.5. Apparently though this bug only affected a small portion of the Innuos owners out there. Edited August 11, 2023 by Hydrology 2
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