Questions re. use of an Innuos unit with a Tambaqui

Being a newbie to the realm of servers/streamers/standalone DAC setups, I have questions re. my particular audio needs for one. I wish to keep owning the bulk of the recordings that I’ll play, and plan to use a server/streamer predominantly as a means of playing drive content to my dac, plus as a convenient ripper, only expecting to internet stream perhaps 5-10% of the time I'm using the unit

Due respect, but I think you’re grossly underestimating how much streaming you’re gonna end up doing.  Once you realize the full benefit of having worlds of new music, and much of it at hi res, at your fingertips playing stuff you already know gets to be much less interesting — at least it did in my experience.  And yes, streamers/servers matter a great deal — as with the rest of audio the chain is only as strong as the weakest link and that certainly holds true here, and a great DAC like your Tambaqui will certainly let you hear that in spades.  If I’m you and at the level of your system I’d be looking at an Aurender N200 that I think can also store music onboard or the Zenith that can obviously rip CDs right into it and likely has a more user-friendly operating system.  In any event, by all means do not underestimate the benefits of streaming or the importance of the streamer/server in getting excellent performance as that would be a huge mistake.  BTW, there will be some here who will try to tell you streamers make little or no difference — listen to them at your peril as the vast majority here will tell you the exact opposite through extensive personal experience on the significant sonic benefits a better streamer can provide.  And yes, Ethernet and USB cables matter a whole lot too.  Hope this helps, and best of luck. 

Hello @aubullience,  Congrats on the tambaqui!  I own two; one stand alone in my main system and a Makua preamp with onboard Tambaqui in my family room.  Both sound amazing and I love them.  I have had many other DACs that I have owned or have had in my home, and the Tambaqui is king so far.

In my quest for the best streamer, I have had several and moved them up and down stairs many times to compare.  These include the onboard Tambaqui bridge, Auralic Aries G2, the G2 with upgraded power supply, a JCAT S1, Grimm MU1 and Aurender N20.  I mostly stream, but do listen to a large local CD and HIgh Res library.  The only one I still own is the Grimm MU1.

I am a dedicated Roon user, and every other software I use (Blueos, JMRI, Aurender Conductor) falls way short to me.  Searching by Artist, Album, Playlists, Roon Radio selections all shine with Roon.

However Roon is harder to make sound amazing due I think to all that it does and inherent noise.

Regardless of Roon, the Grimm MU1 has ben said to be a match made in heaven with the Tambaqui.  If using AES, the Grimm up samples the digital files in a way that sounds excellent.  Much better than without the MU1.  This is easy for me to hear as I have moved the Grimm between systems many times.  Mine has an 8TB internal drive, so EZ to store all the music I want.  It does NOT have a CD ripper, but this is easy to work around with a stand alone CD drive and your computer to rip the files into the Grimm.  Not as easy though as a built in ripper.

The Grimm also runs Roon Core (SERVER) should you want to try it.  I hear it is best for organizing classical music, but not my thing.

Is the Grimm the best sounding Streamer I have had?  NO.  But it is the best sounding Roon Endpoint I have had and it sounds great either way.

What sounded better?  The JCAT S1.  But it is not quite as mainstream, and only runs their own proprietary software.  If you don't care for Roon features, and want the best sound for way way less than a Taiko etc, it should be considered.  Marcin, the JCAT wizard is super nice and approachable.

The Aurender N20 also sounded great running its own Conductor software.  I gave it a slight edge over the Grimm for aggressive music, perhaps not for Orchestral.  It is also a Roon endpoint but did not sound as good as the Grimm running Roon.

I have never heard an Innuos or played with their Sense software.  Many like them and they can be had risk free I think for a trial.

If you are playing mostly stored files, and sometimes Qobuz, any software will work.  but I love the way Roon combines my library and streamed files into cohesive playlists.  I have so many songs in my favorites list I am constantly hearing one I have not played in some time, and one that I would not have manually selected.  Finally for Roon, its own selections, or 'Roon Radio' picks following my song or songs are spot on and interesting.  Conductor for example selects songs not at all to my liking.

So I think with playing digital files either locally or streamed the streamer and front end setup makes a huge difference.  I recommend a quality switch with good power supply just before the streamer, and a good ethernet cable from switch to streamer.

So what is my streamer in my better system?  I am still deciding.  I had hoped that the N20 would be it, but Conductor made my head hurt.  I tried.  I would be happy with a second Grimm but where is the fun in that? :)

I am going to trial an Antipodes Oladra...

Hope all this helps some.  Way back when I was asking the same question, another member said to me: 'You have a Lamborghini for a DAC and are feeding it regular gas'!

+1 @soix !