432 EVO

I'm just trying to get experience with comparisons between the 2 brands / models. It's too expensive to purchase one and then find out the other one is preferred.

I once purchased a unit on a recommendation, I wasn't happy with it and sold it at a ~ $4,000 loss. The unit was a very good performing unit but I wanted something significantly better.

So with that experience in mind, I'm just trying to get others experience to help with decide between these 2 brands and models.

Gentlemen - I’m interested in getting a streaming / server front end to feed my digital system.

I am considering the Innuos MkIII or Statement and a 432 System. Hard drive and specific 432 model isn’t determined at this time.

For me, a deep, wide soundstage with 3 dimensional images is critical. I also do not prefer a presentation that is pushed up in front of the speakers but one that occurs both in front and behind the speakers - presented as the recording engineer created the recording.

I use live music as a reference. What might sound more pleasing and more enjoyable to listen to doesn’t always coincide with what real music sounds like. I state this because, with well recorded music on a system that is dialed in and presents the music as it was performed - the emotion of the musician is conveyed and the experience is unmatched. On most recordings, the performance is behind the speakers, on some - the audience is in front of the speakers and on a very few - sounds come from the sides and even behind the listening position! Just my humble experience :-).

I’ll also have to look into audiophile grade Ethernet switches and Ethernet and USB cables, something I have NO experience with. So if anyone can contribute THEIR EXPERIENCE would be greatly appreciated. Please - no contributions without experience.

I’m interested in getting feedback from "firstgrowth" with his 432 Aeron. Very interested.

Finally - let’s everyone contribute our experiences and findings nicely. We don’t have to attack each other but can rather say something like "I experienced something different. This is my system and what I was listening to and what I experienced."

If there’s no direct experience, not to be rude - but I don’t find that useful in evaluating a product for purchase. And let’s not argue - it accomplishing nothing constructive.

Kindest regards to all, TJF

Guys - firstgrowth was sharing his experience: his equipment, music and feedback with us at our request. 

Thank you firstgrowth for your feedback. I PM'd audiotroy so I could get his feedback (he was an Innuos dealer but now just the 432 if I'm not mistaken).

Nothing replaces listening for yourself but getting feedback from many others saves a lot of time, which is something I never seem to have.

juanmanuelfangioii - firstgrowth wasn't boasting, he was explaining his equipment so everyone interested would get a better understanding of his experience. I appreciate it.

My system - I've been using a Meridian 861v8 with really good results (ask anyone who's listened to my system) and recently purchased an Meridian Ultra DAC but because of an impending divorce I haven't been able to configure it and set it up in my system. Honestly, because of everything that's going on, I haven't even listened to my system in about a month.

I'm looking forward to resuming some normalcy and adding a server / streamer to my system.

Anyone with Innuos Statement experience - please share (I hope I'm not hijacking this thread).

Best to everyone :-)

firstgrowth

Thanks for sharing your experiences and providing that benefit for everyone.

Being adverse, hostile or nasty accomplishes nothing constructive.

I certainly appreciate your feedback and hope no one ever second guess themselves.

I'm hoping to get feedback from anyone who has listened to both the Innuos Statement / Zen Mk III and an 432 Evo in almost any configuration, especially the Aeron. 

This purchase will occur after I move and set up my system, so I may visit Audiotroy to hear the 432. Then I can have that experience to compare an Innuos Statement to.

Thank you for all the contributions

Without trying to hijack this thread, does anyone have experience with Ethernet switches?

They better ones are quite expensive and there's offerings from multiple companies - Innuos, Synergistic Research, Ansuz and other brands that are less expensive (from the very little research I've done).

Anyone have experience with Ethernet switches? Do they make a significant improvement?

Thanks to anyone for sharing.

I had the opportunity to stop by Dave Lalin's house (of Audio Intellect Company) to listen to the 432 Evo Aeon this past Friday. 

Dave was a gentleman, he welcomed me into his home and was a very nice host. He showed me 3 rooms filled with LOTS of different equipment. There has so much equipment, by the time we got into the 3rd room, I asked if he was married / had a wife and the way he responded yes - as if to say yes and my wife is exceptional but I know I'm crazy with all this equipment - made me laugh quite a bit.

We listened and discussed many topics. The 432 EVO Aeon is very nice, and while it was in a system different from my own -  it had very good performance qualities that were easy to identify and I'm certainly interested. The fact that they were also feeding a T&A amplifier, which I never heard before and now have a lot of respect for, maintained a very high performance standard. This was different to what I had read about the T&A amplifiers. Just a note - I'm very critical of equipment at this level. I intend to listen to the 432 EVO Master, which is the next step up and top of the line EVO unit.

What I really liked about Dave is he responds honestly and directly. It's very easy to see because there's no hesitation, he's very articulate and he's right to the point. Kind of the exact opposite of today's political talk. "He said it like it is" - and that was independent of discussing brands I own(ed) - which is something I respect because I've worked with audiophile salesman in the past who politely circumvented answering directly my question(s) about equipment I own(ed) - it undermined confidence and was disappointing at that time.

While I haven't been active in this industry for quite some time, I was able to share and exchange a few experiences which we agreed on (live music being used as a performance reference, cables make a significant difference, etc.) - things that I find fundamental as an audiophile. 

Dave has a wealth of experience and information and he was patient with my MANY questions on different products and brands that I haven't had the chance to hear and wanted to gain insight about from his experience (Magico, YG, Rockport, Tekton, Martin Login Monolith, VAC, Gryphon, Legacy, etc.). He recommend the Rocky Capital Audio Fest as a good audio show - which I now plan to attend.

For the record - I had no prior relationship with Dave, I conversed online with him here on this Audiogon website a few times about server / streamers and this was the first time I met him. I have met few people who are matter of fact like Dave. Me being a licensed professional chemical engineer - I appreciate this matter of fact, direct communication - it works perfectly with me.

Negatives: Yes

1 - the visit was too short. I could have spent the weekend with this man and only gotten a fraction of his experience. This because he shares his experience freely and articulates things very well.

2 - I got in a fender bender on the way home. Jersey City is an urban area immediately across the river from Manhattan (beautiful skyline!!!!), best to drive fully alert and very defensively and anticipate people driving very aggressively.

Dave - I thank you on this public form. 

Please let me know when you get a 432 EVO Master to hear as I'd like to stop by again to hear and compare it with the AEON.