Innuos Zen MK3 Music Server

[@StopAndGetGas]

Your reviews are fantastic. I know next to nothing about digital audio so far, but your patience, expertise and straightforward presentations have been very, very helpful. :)

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@toffe2ventil]

This sounds really nice, a one box server/streamer solution and Roon core. All you need to my ears.

[@johnvalatos4073]

Thank you for the review, I suggested and was hoping you would review this at some point, thanks again. Great features and sound quality is why I am saving up for one of these, already have a decent DAC so this is number one on the list for a music streamer for me.

[@toffe2ventil]

hear hear- same here

[@JimmieJohn]

Bruh, you hit this review out of the ball park! ⚾️

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks!

[@TomReinerDE]

Received my Zen Mini Mk.3 just yesterday, and have it running as Roon Core and player, connected to my Naim DAC V1. Even the Mini - I got it as it uses less real estate and plan to upgrade it with the linear power supply - blows the former setup (Roon Core on MacMini, Bluesound Bluenode as endpoint) out of the water.

[@mb-electricalservices]

Hi. I'm in the market for a streaming device at the moment. This seems to tick all the boxes. I use both amazon music and TIDAL Hifi as well as music stored on local HDD's. I don't use Roon though.... Would this be suitable for me? My DAC is an RME ADI-2....... What do you think?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I think I’m not in a position to judge that.

[@mb-electricalservices]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Of course, I know you don't give buying advice. You never have and never will..... Thanks for the video though. Appreciate your efforts. 👍

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

You yourself really are the best judge of that. I gave you the facts, now feel the force, young Syntax Error.

[@mb-electricalservices]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel 😂😂😂😂😂😂. Brilliant!

[@stephannordmann5346]

The best buy ever I am so satisfied and happy with the Innous ZEN 💯👍 thank you for the video

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Enjoy it

[@kevinfischer372]

Thank you. This is very helpful

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

So glad!

[@imbean]

Bedankt weer voor deze review, Hans! :-)

[@marcgoldstein2957]

Thank you Hans.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

👍🏼

[@mark.harding]

Just replaced my Auralic G1 with Innuos Zenith Mk3. The Innuos is audibly superior and being able to run Roon Core is the killer blow.

[@duarteteixeiradebarros3555]

Mark Harding is the Innuos able to do upsampling via Roon? Thanks

[@mark.harding]

@@duarteteixeiradebarros3555 Yes, the Roon core in the Innuos can do all the usual upsampling/DSP you expect.

[@walterthompson8697]

In your otherwise excellent review of the InnuOS Zen Mk3, you missed a useful feature. The Zen Mk3 has a built in player that can be accessed by connecting the Zen Mk3 to your DAC using an USB cable, then adding :9000 to the end of the Zen Mk3's IP address. For example: IP address is 192.168.XXX.YYY you would extend it to: 192.168.XXX.YYY:9000. When you press return the player will be shown on left side of the Zen Mk3's screen. Question: Can the Zen Mk3 pass audio data from a KZbin video to my DAC via an Ethernet cable? If so; How do I set it up?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Thanks for the addition.

[@pedroluisguillemain5683]

Hello Hans. Thanks for the video! How does this sound compared to the SOtM SMS-200 Ultra Neo? I know they are different in some functions, but I mean it using them both as Roon end points to stream music with Tidal or a similar service. Kind regards

[@yosefhuri8801]

You said in the previous video, that the chain is strong as its weakest link, so I want to ask: In my audio system, I invest in amplifier, speakers, connectors, electricity, streamer and dac, speakers cable etc. etc. and my question is: how important is the network cable from the router to the dac (innuos zen mini MK3) ? I really appreciate if you will answer thank you so much

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

The network cable can have clear influence on the sound quality. To what degree depends on the gear you use.

[@jeffkalina7727]

I just rewatched this video as I have owned the Zen Mk3 for about 2 years now. BTW I am very pleased with SQ, functionality, reliability and customer service provided by Innuos. I think today you use an Aurrender or a Lumin Streamer or a both of them? Or you may have gone to a Dutch product. What would be most useful to me and perhaps others is if you would rate on a 1-10 scale where you feel the Innuos compares to other Streamers you have tested or owned. In other words is a $2.5k Innuos a 7 in SQ and Aurender a 9 ? You get my meaning. With this information I can decide whether it is worth spending more for an upgrade or not. Thanks for all the great information you disseminate. BTW I rate you a 9.50 on the Credibility scale as compared to say Darko at a 7.5. I put my British friend Tarun up there too at a 9.5. The Serbian? guy at IIwI is another top level reviewer in terms of believability. Sorry for the long and late response. I hope your health continues to be good!

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I rate equipment against my three main reference setups. Using numeric ratings lets people choose based on that single figure only while there is so much more to take into account when choosing a product. It does mean that you have to interpret my words and decide what properties are important to you. The lazy ones are not served by my way of reviewing, something I accept as a reality.

[@jpgsf1978]

Always great work on your part ! I am wondering if they are going to release an upgrade to the Zen before I purchase.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I honestly don’t know

[@jpgsf1978]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel I will try to get in touch with Innuos and see if they have any information. I’ll let you know if I hear something. Also, PS Audio will be releasing a streaming transport this year.

[@markhunting9058]

Another great video review, thanks. How would you say it compares to the Auralic aeries g1?

[@bilby9143]

Thank you again. May I ask one more question. Can the Router and Innuos be connected wirelessly using a usb wireless adaptor or similar device? Would it be any good? Thank you,

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

You might use powerline network adapters.

[@bilby9143]

Thank you, marvellous video. At 11 mins, 4 secs, may I confirm my understanding that you connect the Mytec Brooklyn Dac to the Innuos Zen Mk3 - or is it the Mytec Brooklyn Bridge (a server) to Zen Mk3 (a server). Can you please clarify that for me. Sorry if my question is uneducated. Thank you again. Kind regards from Australia.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Fair question. I did both differences are small and I didn’t prefer one over the other.

[@bilby9143]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thank you.

[@mikerdaniels1]

I own the Cambridge CVN 2. I don’t stream only play from hard drive. Would moving to aurender G2, Innous zen etc...improve digital playback worth the cost? Or put money to upgrade from my Mytek Brooklyn dac+?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I have no experience with the Aurender. Innous Zen would be a step up. As would be the Ferrum Hypsos power supply for the Mytek.

[@danpetri3832]

Is the sound better than a late 2011 MACBOOK PRO running Pure Music 3?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

On a € 500 stereo you won't hear the difference. On my setup 2 (€ 4000) it will be rather clear.

[@danpetri3832]

Would I be better off getting the Aries g1? I Already am using the original Vega DAC.

[@cablebrain9691]

Hi Hans, I was not 100% certain (and I need to be) what you meant by this statement: "....but I also see it as a very good Roon Core server and player, unless you want to freak around with DSP functions." I assume that you mean DSP functions done within the Innuos Zen MK3, not externally. Is that correct? Or am I missing something? I need to be absolutely sure, because I've just ordered a MiniDSP SHD for its DSP functions and Roon Readiness (just officially added), and am considering the Zen MK3 or the Mini for their Roon Core functionality, in addition to their CD cataloging capability. I've never had products anything like these before. A side question: Do you know if the internal hard-drive can be swapped out for an SSD? Or if that would even be worth doing?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

You understood it correctly. Let the MiniDSP do the number crushing and the Innuos the Roon server

[@cablebrain9691]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thank you so much! Also, your review was very enjoyable and informative. Keep it up.

[@mark.harding]

Used to run a customised LMS - I wonder whether it's possible to SSH into the Innuos and modify the LMS, eg add custom browse and other addons - that would awesome

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

I wouldn't know and would advise against it.

[@steverino5054]

Has anyone tried replacing the internal spinning HD with an SSD? I don't need space but wondering if it helps reduce vibration and thus improve sound quality / performance.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

most SSDs generate more electric noise so be careful.

[@steverino5054]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel Thank you Hans.

[@rhodey2952]

@@steverino5054 the Zenith uses ssd so I was wondering the same thing. They both should come with ssd imo.

[@jorgesoares6181]

Thanks for the review. How does it compare to the Auralic Aries G1?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

You find he review of the G1 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKauonmppJihitk

[@jorgesoares6181]

Not the specs Hans... ;-) I am referring to the SQ. In your G1 video you have hinted that the SQ of the G1 and the ultra were more or less equivalent. That’s what I got. Would it be possible to give us an idea how the zen compares to the G1, please. I am coming from a ST i5 and an uRendu with an sbooster MKII. I am using Roon. I know too many questions... in case congratulation for your great reviews. Extraordinary informative and complete. Cheers Jorge

[@mark.harding]

I replaced my G1 with the Zenith mk3. The Innuos had more depth and clarity than the G1 - quite an audible improvement.

[@jorgesoares6181]

Mark Harding Thanks Mark

[@futureshock7425]

Does it offer processing to enhance the sound of compressed files ?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

No. What's lost is lost.

[@futureshock7425]

Makes sense thanks some units offer it I find it makes things sound even worse

[@supersonicboy75]

Roon have made a point that they consider the N4200 processor on the Innuos devices to be inadequate to run Roon core. Zen and Zenith have two 4Gb RAM processors but one is redundant. Innuos do not make use of both RAM processors when running Roon and only use two processors when upnp.

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Well it worked fine during review....

[@nickcharitakis2695]

What is the sotm sms 200 elsa neo?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

Watch kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHTSd3yahbGWi80

[@ClassifiedBrief]

So the real question, this or the sms ultra?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

That depends on what you need. The Zen is a server and player that offers a lot more at a higher price.

[@ClassifiedBrief]

@@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel how about apples to apples usb signal sound quality into your dac

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

just watch the video

[@derberti2280]

Hello Hans, does the Zen Mini have Internet radio ?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

From what I heard Innuos has dramatically changed the OS. So I can't be sure. But I would be surprised if internet radio is not supported.

[@secryt]

Can this function as a CD transport, or must you rip the album to play it?

[@TheHansBeekhuyzenChannel]

You have to rip first.