The Innuos ZEN hardware
Contents
That was quite an intro and explanation surrounding the ZEN. It is necessary, given the somewhat complex position of the ZEN. People who use ROON or perhaps Aurender with a server know the principle, but the bulk of streaming people will not really know the principle of a separate media server.
There’s not a whole lot to say about the Innuos ZEN itself. It’s basically just a computer in a nice case with a wonderful power supply. Now we understood while talking to Innuos that the SuperMicro motherboard is not standard. We already noticed the low noise (see below), so we are not surprised. But it is special that Innuos has custom version made at SuperMicro. Anything unnecessary is taken off the motherboard. Add to that a clean power supply and the result is a much cleaner operation than a regular PC.
Audio and ‘normal’
On the rear panel we see two LAN ports and two USB ports. There is one usb port and one lan port for audio. The difference is not the filtering. With the LAN port, the audio port is in bridge with the regular port. We won’t get too technical on this, but let’s keep it simple and say that the ZEN can pass the network internally to the streamer. So the streamer has internet / network access through the ZEN. This should give better results than a standard connection (less network traffic ánd cleaner in terms of noise).
The USB port for audio is USB2. The other port is USB3. We agree that USB2 sounds better than USB3; quieter and smoother. This can also be explained simply by measurement: USB2 has less (high frequency) noise.
Ripping CDs
On the front panel there is only a slot for CDs and an on/off button. Ripping CDs is incredibly easy: insert the CD and the ZEN automatically starts ripping. It couldn’t be simpler.
The ZEN automatically rips in FLAC, but you can also choose WAV. FLAC is compressed with compression level 0. That sounds better than “5,” which FLAC normally chooses.
Thank you for the review and glad you pay attention to INNUOS. The ZENITH MK3 is an improved version of the ZEN (MK3) as tested here. ZENith mk3 comes with a 3 rail regulated power supply for the motherboard, SSD and USB connections. And you can hear that!
Both were released in 2018 and are still excellent. Also the top model was and still is the Statement, with a power supply in a separate housing; the same size as the streamer itself! Incidentally, all INNUOS- power supplies are designed by Sean Jacobs, one of the best in the business. They are ‘extremely low power streamers’, which benefits sound quality.
The ‘USB output’ can be improved with external add-on of the INNUOS PhoenixUSB.
CD ripping can be set to FLAC or WAV format; the latter should sound better without the compression.
In 2023, INNUOS released the PULSE and PULSAR, which no longer have an SSD and a CD ripper and are designed exclusively for streaming. The PULSAR has three independent power rails, one each for: 1) the operating system on APacer SLC memory, 2) the ‘USB output’ with a modular reclocker that can be replaced on request (in 2024), and 3) the motherboard.
The INNUOS Sense APP is highly appreciated by users for the perfect integration of your entire music library on SSD, NAS and TIDAL/QOBUZ.
I understand that you are busy with streamers, among other things, but I highly recommend testing the latest INNUOS PULSAR.
Good luck!
PS.
You wrote : ”It is not possible to stream from Tidal and Qobuz to UPnP clients”.
I can stream Tidal to clients ‘UPnP servers’ (INNUOS terminology) and SONOS speakers with my ZENith without any problem. This should work.
Maybe try: under SETTINGS > SYSTEM UPDATE, check if the latest version 2.4.7 is installed. You can also try to turn SETTINGS > UPnP > Sense UPnP integration on and off once and/or the same for the UPnP function.
CONTACT support available in the same SETTINGS menu is super helpful. If you are offered help, immediately ask if Nuno Vitorino will soon have a PULSAR available for ALPHA-audio ;-).