Innous Zenith Mk3 and Alma Music
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I am confident that you will enjoy what streaming has to offer, Marc. Also, I forgot to mention the most important thing, I suppose. I used Roon in Chicago, running on Innuos servers and controlled via iPad, to listen on headphones.
Just to back up what others have said, not only does Innuos run the full Roon server and player without an additional PC, its integration is also extremely smooth and elegant. You’ll love it!
Hi, I didn’t want to start another thread hence this query in the Innuos thread. I have been looking to move up/ away from my Mac/Bryston bdp2 server/player solution mainly because the Mac is aging and unable to cope with enhanced Roon functionality.
A single much as I would like to, I am not in the SGM budget bracket nor in the lampi SK territory. I’ve been thinking about the Zenith Mk3 amongst others like Small Green Comp Sonic Trans. The Zenith is a one box solution which is preferable but the question is whether it’s a move up from them bryston BDP-2.
I will leave it here and invite views please.....thanks in advance!
A single much as I would like to, I am not in the SGM budget bracket nor in the lampi SK territory. I’ve been thinking about the Zenith Mk3 amongst others like Small Green Comp Sonic Trans. The Zenith is a one box solution which is preferable but the question is whether it’s a move up from them bryston BDP-2.
I will leave it here and invite views please.....thanks in advance!
I have compared the Zenith mk2 to a Bryston unit, don’t recall the model now, and the Zenith was considerably better. With mk3, it’s a no brainer.
I've had an InuuOS Zenith 3 on backorder for over a month now. Allen Goodwin from Goodwin Sound tells me there was/is a backorder on the Intel chips, hence the backlog at Innuos. Meanwhile I've got a Berkeley Alpha DAC and Berkeley ALpha USB waiting patiently for the Zenith 3 to arrive.
For those of you that already have the Zenith 3 in your systems, what isolation platform do you find the most effective?
For those of you that already have the Zenith 3 in your systems, what isolation platform do you find the most effective?
Marty has a Zenith mk3. The Zen is one model below, and it uses regular hard drives instead of solid-state. Zenith also has better components and a considerably better power supply as well.
All the models offer the same functionality, changes are basically in improved sound quality as you move up the line.
http://www.innuos.com/en/catalog/go/music-servers-mk3
cheers,
Alex
All the models offer the same functionality, changes are basically in improved sound quality as you move up the line.
http://www.innuos.com/en/catalog/go/music-servers-mk3
cheers,
Alex
Any chance you could expound on the power supply being considerably better?
There’s a photo of the inside of the Zen Mk3 posted at the link that follows. The same power supply circuit board appears to be used for both the Zen and Zenith. The Zenith appears to gain the caps that are missing on that board. My guess is that there are two separate supplies in the Zen and three in the Zenith. There’s a sharing of one of the supplies in the Zen, while in the Zenith something on the board gains its own power supply. Is my speculation on the mark at all?
https://hifi-ifas.de/test-innuos-zen-mk-iii-high-end-musikserver-highlight-sylvesterknaller
I have a Zenith Std Mk2. I was informed by Innuos that there will be an upgrade program at some point that brings only the Mk3’s power supply to the Mk2. I’m eager to hear what they will charge for that.
Well, I do know how they sound like 
The Zenith sounds smoother, without being dull, has better image specificity, and also better drive and dynamics, both through USB as well as Ethernet.
I'm also anxiously waiting for the upgrade for mk2 owners, as we have a few folks waiting for that as well. Of course, some owners have decided not to wait, so we've took their mk2s in trade towards mk3s. Most took the opportunity to also get larger capacity units...
cheers,
Alex
The Zenith sounds smoother, without being dull, has better image specificity, and also better drive and dynamics, both through USB as well as Ethernet.I'm also anxiously waiting for the upgrade for mk2 owners, as we have a few folks waiting for that as well. Of course, some owners have decided not to wait, so we've took their mk2s in trade towards mk3s. Most took the opportunity to also get larger capacity units...
cheers,
Alex
Well, I do know how they sound like
Thanks so much for sharing those details! That’s not easy to come by.
How would you say that the Zenith Mk2 Std sounds relative to those two?
Really a bummer that Intel has impacted delivery of the Mk3s. I’m wondering why that has also delayed the Mk2 upgrades as they only involve power supply upgrades. I wish they’d at least share pricing for the upgrade.
Having said all that, I’m delighted with my Zenith. I love how it looks too!
Ken
That's a cool looking set up indeed
Yeah the CPU shortage was a major bummer, as it hit them exactly when they began to ramp up production of the mk3s... We manage to deliver some, but then ... nothing... for months... Thankfully it's been sorted out, and the products are now flowing more regularly.
AFAIK, Innuos is working on the practical details of doing the upgrades, where they'll be conducted, etc in order to get final pricing.
I would say your mk2 lies right in the middle between Zen mk3 and Zenith mk3. It has that warm, flowing sound of the Zenith mk3, but not quite as much, and lacks a certain sparkle and detail that the mk3s have in spades. But it has all the traits that made the Innuos products known for. For your system, I wouldn't go Zen at all, as it's of such a high level that you'll immediately hear the differences.
That said, Zenith mk2 > mk3 is an incremental upgrade. It's not going to revolutionize your listening, but it'll definitely give you more of what you're currently enjoying.
cheers,
Alex
Yeah the CPU shortage was a major bummer, as it hit them exactly when they began to ramp up production of the mk3s... We manage to deliver some, but then ... nothing... for months... Thankfully it's been sorted out, and the products are now flowing more regularly.
AFAIK, Innuos is working on the practical details of doing the upgrades, where they'll be conducted, etc in order to get final pricing.
I would say your mk2 lies right in the middle between Zen mk3 and Zenith mk3. It has that warm, flowing sound of the Zenith mk3, but not quite as much, and lacks a certain sparkle and detail that the mk3s have in spades. But it has all the traits that made the Innuos products known for. For your system, I wouldn't go Zen at all, as it's of such a high level that you'll immediately hear the differences.
That said, Zenith mk2 > mk3 is an incremental upgrade. It's not going to revolutionize your listening, but it'll definitely give you more of what you're currently enjoying.
cheers,
Alex
Correct. And as far as I can tell, it is the bomb! Not sure what it takes to get even better performance, but I honestly have no interest in exploring any options. The Zenith Mk3 is a beautiful instrument, it works flawlessly, and is priced right.
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Mk3 of course. Sorry for the typo. It was corrected thanks to ever-vigilant Alex!Mk3, Marty
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