While the Zen Stream is very good for the $, if you can swing $1250 I’d strongly recommend looking at the new Innuos Pulse Mini. Not only will it likely sound even better, it’s compatible with most anything and their Sense app is light years ahead of iFi in sound quality, ease of use, etc.. And they offer excellent customer service while iFi’s is basically non existent. I own the Zen Stream, but if the Pulse Mini was at all in my budget it’s a no brainer IMO.
Digital Dilemma
I purchased an inexpensive Onkyo C-7030 CD Player more as just a transport, but also to use as a benchmark to compare to streaming music on-line. With intentions to get the streamed content to sound as good, if not better, than the CD player could muster.
After sitting my wife down for a listen (she has better ears than me) and playing Tidal, Quboz and then the same tracks on a CD, the CD was the clear winner every time. It also seems the CD playing without using the Gustard R26 DAC didn’t even sound all that much better than when played through the CD Player only, bypassing the R26. That doesn’t say too much for the R26 DAC or alternatively, it says a lot for the DAC in the CD Player!
I am using the R26 as the renderer via a LAN connection that is optically isolated. There are a few filters and adjustments on the DAC, but tweaking those still didn’t get the sound quality up to that of the CD Player.
A lot of you say you have achieved streaming that sounds as good as your analogue systems. What do you think, do I need a betted DAC?
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@soix I actually bought and paid for a Innuos Mini when they first came out but got tired of waiting for delivery, so when I found my DAC could stream, I cancelled my order and got my money refunded. In the meantime, I also picked up a Roon Nucleus. I don’t think the Innuos Mini can be used as a Roon end point. Do you happen to know? |
@soix - yes it was the Pulse Mini that I had on order and no, a CD drive and internal storage is not important. I will re-visit it...Thanks! |
Is anyone using a USB reclocker? I am probably guilty of overkill , but I use a Innuos Zenith mk3 with a Innuos Phoenix reclocker connected to a Brinkmann Nyquist mk2 DAC. I also have an upscale Etherregen in my Ethernet cable line. If there is any system that sounds better, I have never heard it, including vinyl |
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