Innuos owners. Chime in

@thyname ... good information. I noticed Esoteric, and T&A as your system. The statement would obviously be a good match.

Thread is getting a bit long so I’ll mention again.

Pass Labs xa-25

Herron line stage VTSP-3A RO-3

Schitt Yggdrasil

The Zen mk3.. not Zenith will be replacing my MacBook pro as server/ripper.. Considering the listed components will the Zen be a good match, or perhaps cross over to a Zenith. Without the Phoenix. My budget allows me to go so far. Zenith might be a squeeze of a purchase.

J

I am using a Frey 2 power cord and a Tyr 2 usb with a Zen 3 and Line Magnetic DAC.

The sound is good but not as good as my analog system

I have a Zenith MK2 sitting on Ingress Engineering roller blocks.  I'm using it with a 0.6m Wireworld Platinum Starlight 8 USB cable into a Matrix X-SPDIF 2 and a 0.7m i2s cable into my PS Audio DSD DAC.

I've been using Roon for a number of years; I think Sense SQ is much better in every respect.  I'm disappointed with the Sense to Tidal integration because few of my personal playlist were ported over, and some of the Tidal playlists don't show up correctly.  On the other hand, all of my Qobuz playlists were ported over.  

For critical listening in my basement music room, I use Sense.  I run Roon core from a mac-mini for whole house and backyard stereo, and when I want to listed to one of my Tidal playlists in my music room.  

Sense integration issues aside, I'm quite happy with my Zenith setup.

I'm hoping the sound will be better with the Zen mk3. The MacBook pro is a little dry on the highs. Though all other aspects of SQ are really good!

I am myself guilty of impatience @jred , but I think you are a little ahead of yourself as you have yet to receive your ZEN. Just take your time, enjoy what you (will) have, then proceed with upgrades down the road if so inclined, curious, and if budget allows. The ZEN will undoubtedly be a very substantial upgrade as a server / streamer compared to a general purpose computer. You are doing everything possible to prepare for it, including getting the cables and peripherals, thinking about wiring, and so forth. Sometimes we just have to learn to be happy, even for just a while, and enjoy what we have, without thinking too much for what can be better, woulda shouldas