Innuos Pulse Mini: Friend or foe😡

[@paulcharlesbertrand]

Thanks!

[@greatlookinglandscap]

Thanks🙏❤

[@bobihadzikimov7823]

On your recommendation i just got a hands on innuos pulse mini. I connected it to my dac (gustard r26) and to be honest, my jaw dropped .I didn't expect that . I couldn't believe what i was hearing. After a long journey trying to find a good streamer, I think the journey is over.What a little gem. Thank you sir.Lumin u2 mini back in the box and ready for sell.love your honesty ,keep doing what you're doing

[@greatlookinglandscap]

🤷yup I knew it.Lumin t2 with booster was embarrassing in my room and double the cost of the zen mk3 which is the end game sweet spot in there line if no ripper is need I will direct people to the pulse.The next step up is too costly for not enough sound quality upgrade.But that is how it goes in hifi.

[@jc51373]

@@greatlookinglandscap A little better than that Bel canto you had now isn't it!

[@MDchaz]

Thanks for the review Dave. This might be a good next step up from the Bluesound Node for me. 👍

[@greatlookinglandscap]

I can promise it is🙏

[@portwill]

Great video with lots of useful tips/insights, thanks!

[@greatlookinglandscap]

Glad it was helpful!

[@neilgelowitz4737]

The little PULSEmini is a gem indeed.

[@benoitdugas745]

Merci!

[@greatlookinglandscap]

thank you so much🙏

[@goodsound4756]

Zen mk3 is great: you can use it as InnuOS server (DLNA) or as Roon core Server (and you can switch that within one minute) I preferred this over an Aurender N100. Sound quality wise they are very, very close, the innuos just a bit more versatile.

[@kobush18]

Nice topic and insight 👍 I built my own streamer (i assume it's not as good as the one you're talking about). But i find myself drawn to KZbin music premium more than to tidal and the audio quality is very good and satisfying for me. The visual dimension is very important. I prefer to see and to hear and not to hear only ,the enjoyment is elevated by using more Sense , like in a real live show. There is unique stuff (music) that you don't find elsewhere on other streaming platforms. I use tidal as well for finding new or other music/performers as complementary. My opinion is that there is no substitution for visual ( as long as the audio quality is good, and KZbin premium provides very good quality and content). That's good for me others May disagree and that's fine.

[@alwynroberts8465]

Great stuff as usual, i will be picking Innuos when i upgrade, i was thinking Melco but then you need to add a DAC

[@greatlookinglandscap]

you will need to add a dac to the higher model than the pulse mini and zen mini.Both of them have internal dacs but I always say if one can afford the zen mk3 thats the sweet spot and pair it with your own dac

[@balooo2863]

Dave,if you can get your hands on an Eversolo A6 Master edition or better yet the A8 I truly beleive you'll be surprised at the fidelity and the stable quality sound you'll hear via a wifi implementation of the units. The legacy brands have met thier match with Eversolo high quality, low cost.

[@greatlookinglandscap]

I am not interested for the swiss army knife reason alone.Lots of hype then used market just flooded with em.Buddy had one very glitchy software.Met there match is a very bold statement indeed.But if you enjoy it thats good.I do not think its a wise thing to say.Also if I were to build a system again I like well engineered bare bone streamer single purpose.No dac,no pre,no screen just killer engineering,software control build and sound with superb psu design.I look for realism,effortless weight and body with no etch.I also prefer ethernet.

[@thinkIndependent2024]

Dave remember Boutique !!! Starts as DIY unless you have a whole lot of $$$ we start with small groups first

[@greatlookinglandscap]

boutique for me is very small companies diy is diy

[@thinkIndependent2024]

​@@greatlookinglandscap We all start by sharing with friends before we pay for production or trade shows ( I talked to many people that started that way over the past 40 years ) Excellent DIY = Boutique The next level products are on the way

[@tburke6591]

I totally want a Innuos product. I like that I can use Logitech Media server with it. Anyone know if it's worth getting the Pulse over the Pulse mini ? The pulse has the Linear power supply in the unit. Is the external PSU for the mini just as good ? I would prefer the lower priced Innuos.

[@greatlookinglandscap]

the pulse will exceed the the mini and the internal psu is superior.The pulse mini has an internal dac which is ok but isnt great.If u can afford go with pulse but will have to budget for a dac as pulse is a high end streamer only.It will be a killer digital front end with no reason to change.I still recommend using innuos sense app as all software is designed with sound quality in mind.It is superb

[@tburke6591]

@@greatlookinglandscap Thanks so much for your insight. I have an older Bel Canto DAC 3.7. Got it modified last summer by Ace Tomato(ex Bel Canto guy). So I'm not looking for a DAC. I'll wait for something on the used market. Hopefully find the Pulse for around $3Kish.

[@michelrainville1094]

Is the LPSU (power supply) unit required or is it good all on it’s own with the standard power supply ?

[@greatlookinglandscap]

I am a big believers in separate psu but I would go to the innuos sweet spot which is zen mk3s or pulse.Even the internal innuos psu are the standouts being designed by one of the best Sean jacobs

[@michelrainville1094]

@@greatlookinglandscap Thank you for taking time to reply

[@valvaholic6800]

An SMSL SD9 killed it in a group test posted at Audiophyle Style at a fraction of the cost

[@greatlookinglandscap]

Lol ok the dac may compete as innuos specializes in streamers not dacs but as a streamer smsl has zero chance to compete with innuos software.The pulse mini dac is an afterthought but offers external dac connection..The pulse mini is there entry point

[@valvaholic6800]

Yeah surprising result certainly! Everyone attending this comparo agreed the $399 SMSL STREAMER sounded livelier, more dynamic and engaging. Hard to fathom unless one takes the time to go head to head in the same system with proper level matching as they did there!

[@gregmunro2121]

How does the innuos software compare to Auralic? I’m looking at the audial s5 Dac, but would need a streamer, at present I have the Auralic vega g1, cheers & appreciated

[@greatlookinglandscap]

the software is equally enjoyable as I found no issue with lightning but the zen mk3 exceeded the auralic g1.1 musically there a more analog feel with effortless weight and body unlike any streamer at higher cost I have experienced.If you do not need a ripper get the pulse as these are sweet spots at 4-5k new the next step up is not need needed as double the cost with not be heard.

[@gregmunro2121]

Appreciated, definitely food for thought, thanks for taking the time to reply 😎

[@charlesdesmond5652]

Hi Dave, just subscribed, great videos and a lot of respect for your approach to your channel. I’m really looking for best sounding simple streamer and replacing my Node 2i, will the sound be a vast enough improvement with the mini prime? I will be using a separate Dac. Don’t mind spending the money just want to get that noticeable return for my hard earned money. Seems you really like it and the sound. Appreciate your insights. Again great channel. Thanks in advance for your input.

[@greatlookinglandscap]

I would try and land a innuos zen mk3 or pulse it would change your digital listening forever.I owned it and its the sweetspot in the lineup.I have owned streamers that cost double and they were undone musically by king innuos

[@thinkIndependent2024]

Thanks 🙏👍

[@greatlookinglandscap]

Welcome 👍

[@freeradical6390]

Went lookin for "Daves real hifi channel" on my sub list and it was gone. You cant hide from me!!! lol :) Great info on streamers, thanks! Song- Janis Joplin Artist- The Rose

[@greatlookinglandscap]

haha the name has been finalized!

[@terrywho22]

Between LPs, CDs, SACDs, FM radio not to mention YT, TV shows, email, forums, texting, phone calls... I don't have the time or desire to stream. Heck, I have fantastic albums in a modest collection that I haven't played in years, and my system is going just about every night for hours at a time. I get it for those with smaller collections and maybe some day I'll decide to cough up $250 a year for that service, but no time soon.

[@Jack96993]

I'd say the best benefit of streaming, at least for me is all the new artists I've discovered from around the world Plus I get to hear bands I like but didn't buy their album or CD

[@terrywho22]

@@Jack96993 Yes, not the only way to do that but certainly a plus.

[@Jack96993]

@terrywho22 I use Qobuz so l get pretty decent music quality also But I get it, some like the allure of Vinyl and CD's Some of my best music is on CD and not from streaming

[@dajikbatarang1]

This is quite a bit more than the Zen stream. Is it a huge leap if you have the DAC to show it?

[@greatlookinglandscap]

i had the zen with elite psu.The innuos is nicer in both sound and software.I hate tidal connect as theres only one line of album art its more for mobile and the ifi app is very poor compared to innuos sense which is one of the top in industry.Not close.Again 1800 vs 500.But I can also say the internal dac on pulse mini is very good but still has option to use your own

[@nekky_7r]

Dave, ever tried Antipodes products?

[@greatlookinglandscap]

have not but look like quality units.As long as software and control is up to snuff I am sure there a fine product

[@yangarzon8994]

I got it for 48h.....not good for me. Aound lean. Did not like the gui

[@greatlookinglandscap]

lean wow? did you try your own dac as innuos is far from lean as streamers go but this is the entry and the zen mk3 is incredible and comparing pulse mini to zen mk 3 the pulse doesnt have the effortless weight but its surely substantial and present .The presentation is analog..You should share how you used it and with what

[@CarlVanDoren61]

Yes, Graphical User Interface Roon, DTS Play-Fi, Musiccast BluOS interface great w phone Android Samsung Galaxy 😊

[@basvandesteeg796]

Thanks for this review! Do you think Pulse mini + matching LPS is a good all-in-one solution? I do not like to have too many boxes. Or are there better choices for a streaming DAC? For instance Lumin D2, Lindemann Limetree Network, Atoll MS120...