Streamer/Server to replace Innuos Zenith

If you already have a Roon license, then why not go with a Intel fanless NUC? And add Fidelizer PRO.

You might want to talk to Benjamin from Mojo Audio about his Deja Vu Server. I ordered a refurbished used model with the latest JCAT USB and Ethernet cards, which I hope to receive in the next couple of weeks. He has a 45 full refund policy so you lose nothing by trying (except shipping). I look forward to seeing how it compares with the Innuos Zen MkIII that I am currently using. I was very impressed with the improvement in sound quality of the Zen after upgrading to Innuos 2.0.5 (didn't know about 2.0.6). Of course the Deja Vu with the JCAT upgrades is considerably more expensive than the Zen and Zenith. You will certainly have a very interesting conversation if you call him and he is very responsive.

Wolf Audio servers are reputed to be very good and worth a look, but you’d still need a streamer that I’d defer to the recommendations above.  I will say it seems odd that you’re having such an issue with the Zenith.  Have you checked the quality of your internet service or spoken to Innuos about the problem?  This seems like it should be fixable somehow.  Anyway, best of luck.

I am happy with my Small Green Computer (SGC) Sonictransporter i5 and MicroRendu streamer. This bundle has the UltraRendu. https://www.smallgreencomputer.com/collections/recommended-solutions/products/premier-server-player-combo-sonictransporter-i5-ultrarendu-7v-linear-power-supply?variant=12400215719970
The Sonictransporter is like the Roon Nucleus+ (my other suggestion) for less money. I plug an external ripping drive in to rip CDs; the ripper doesn’t need to be built in. I have a 2TB internal SSD for storage.

The Wyred4Sound server is the other one I considered. Darko gave it a good review. https://wyred4sound.com/products/music-servers/ms

Both are ROON servers. I’m committed to Roon. Aurenders get good reviews, as so others, but they run their own apps (ie, Conductor, for Aurender) and they are not Roon.

The Wyred would probably go in your rack (and does have more connection options, like I2S), but the SonicT doesn’t need to. I have it placed near my modem/router across the room, and run an ethernet to my DAC, and the Rendu takes the ethernet signal and feeds it to the DAC, https://positive-feedback.com/industry-news/sonore-microrendu-version-1-5/

Darko review of the previous gen Rendu: https://darko.audio/2017/01/classy-sonores-microrendu-takes-digital-audio-higher/

Hi jmphotography,

 

I would recommend demoi’ng the 432 EVO AEON server which I just upgraded to (from Innuos Zen MK3):

 

• I initially wanted to upgrade from Zen MK3 to Zenith MK3, or just buy an Innuos Phoenix re-clocker to add to the Zen.....until, by chance, I heard about the EVO AEON (https://432evo.be/index.php/432-evo-aeon-music-server/ )

• I then read some credible audiophile impressions via this thread: https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/new-to-the-forum-high-end-music-server-with-roon-core-and-3-x-dedicated-linear-power-supplies.30813/  and from another audiogon forums thread, where the sole US dealer, the New Jersey (Jersey City) based Audio Doctor, also posted about why he thought it was great, and why he stopped being an Innuos dealer as a result: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/help-choosing-a-roon-core-streamer-server-roon-vs-innuos-vs-wyred4so

• Bottom line- this all aroused my curiosity and I contacted Audio Doctor for a trial.

• My mind was made up on day one - the Aeon was better than the Zen MK3 in every aspect, including the quality of CD rips. It has a higher quality ripper which takes 12 minutes per CD to rip, and when I tested it with my 007 Spy Who Loved Me soundtrack CD, which was recorded poorly, the results were better than with the Zen ripper (not to mention the audio quality). I suddenly heard things on that CD rip that I never heard before. Dynamics were superior.

• Crucially, the Aeon has inbuilt re-clocking technology, which Innuos offers only at the Statement level...as well as a superior dedicated USB output, so that was another steal. The results of that are very evident in the unit's audio quality. It is definitely a step up from the Zen (and according to audiophiles who have owned the Zenith MK3, a step up from Zenith as well if using the USB output- actually they say it is competitive with either the Statement or the Zenith + Phoenix combo). Price before state tax is $7500. This official reviewer for example suggests at the very end the Aeon is better than the Zenith: https://topnewreview.com/432-evo-aeon-review/

 

What really tipped the scales for me were the following factors:

 

• The AEON is "upgradeable"- what this means is that if one day you wish to upgrade to the $16,000 AEON Master (which people are saying is almost as good as the Taiko Extreme), then all you would have to do is send your AEON unit to the manufacturer, and pay shipping plus the original cost difference between your AEON and the Master. So overall, the AEON is, in my opinion, a better investment because Innuos does not offer anything like that. If you wanted a Statement today, you would first have to sell you Zenith on the used market for less than the value you got it for.

• More importantly, its CPU is powerful enough (in fact, purpose built) to run Roon Core just like Antipodes and other renowned Roon core streamers (as you know, for Innuos, the units below the Statement have an "iffy" record with being run as Roon cores, including with regard to sound degradation), and also, uniquely, for EVO 432, if you are into Tidal MQA, then an MQA-capable DAC is not necessary because the company has developed proprietary upsampling technology to handle the second MQA unfold (roon does the first MQA unfold)- read here: https://www.facebook.com/432evo/posts/breaking-no-mqa-dac-required-for-432-evo-customers432-evo-customers-can-now-enjo/1837522899612468/

• The AEON is also tuneable (similar in a sense to other components' DSP functionality); it comes with 2TB standard vs Innous 1TB; and comes in a greater range of models to better accommodate clients- there are two models below the AEON at 3k and 4k. More here: https://432evo.be/index.php/432-evo-aeon-music-server/

 

The rest is history. I am expecting my AEON unit to be delivered very soon (each unit is custom/purpose built). My humble advice is to demo this unit and find out for yourself.

 

Cheers!