Another post about a streamer upgrade

Thanks for all the suggestions 

there actually aren’t a lot of pulse minis second hand … I think they get snatched up pretty quickly.  There was a Pulse (non mini) for sale on one of the sites recently at a great price but it went fast. 
I’m now considering an N150 or a Pulse Mini unless I see something used from higher up the line.

but with a budget of less than $2k, it’s going to be tricky. 
I haven't really considered the Eversolo … perhaps I should 

I’m not a fan of huge screens and again, the app is of critical importance to me.

I’m also considering the Cambridge but I think the purpose built environment of Innuos or Aurender is a better move 

@steakster

Who did I insult and how exactly?

I acknowledged that this thread shifted into a predictable back and forth between those who perceive meaningful differences from certain equipment and those that think those perceptions are imagined. It’s simply an observation. All you have to do to is go through the Digital topic section of this forum to see it happen over and over.

@lanx0003 I will report back ..thanks for the suggestion.

I hope to hear some improvements in my system but won’t know until I spend some time with it. I definitely hope the user interface is an improvement. I think many on this thread who have invested in their hifi setups would still agree with your statement below.

"There reaches a point where spending more money may yield only marginal or imperceptible improvements in audio quality, hence the concept of diminishing returns."

It’s not exactly a radical stance.

There’s a N150 being offered where I live so I could avoid shipping… looks like it may not have been babied but … then again, neither have I  

Does anyone have a “sense” on what’s the better app for liner notes and for searching classical music ? Conductor or Sense ? I listen to a lot of styles of music but spend a good bit of time with chamber music and jazz.

Currently I only use Qobuz but as I mentioned the JPLAY portal does a pretty decent job of distilling whatever info it has available to it.

Id like to be able to search by composer as well as performer and also focus down to particular record labels .. and seeing the personnel on a particular recording date is always welcome.  

Wow

Thanks a lot for all who have responded 

Seems like some of this thread has taken the predictable turn of people stating digital is all the same and those who feel that improvements come with better engineering.

I’m personally in the latter camp but also believe that ones system and room need to be resolving enough to give the benefits of a better streamer.

My system is pretty modest and I’m not looking for the last percentage points of detail when I listen to music.  But, there’s no harm in wanting the best sounding stereo for one’s particular budget.

for those who have asked me what I’m missing with my current streamer…. It’s not really a fair question.  The Ifi Zen Stream with a lps and some network filtering can sound pretty good.  I haven’t been suffering through listening to streamed music. But I also suspect it can be a bit better.  I’ve compared a decent cd transport and dac to the Ifi zen stream and same dac and felt that sometime one was better than the other.. and vice versa.  That said, in general, broad strokes… I tend to perceive more density and solidity when listening to the cd transport.

I also don’t believe the people on this board who’ve listened to a lot of digi gear are all convincing themselves that a more expensive piece sounds better than a cheap one … so seeking some collective wisdom is one part of my gathering information.

I’ve mentioned the user interface is important for me… I wouldn’t say that is trumping sound quality but certainly should be right up there with it in terms of importance … for instance, I can’t use M-connect … it’s maddening.  And definitely can’t use the Ifi interface.

Since starting this thread, I’ve purchased a previously owned Innuos PulseMini.  Seems like the logical step up from the Ifi. I’ll experiment with putting a good lps on it and listening to it through three different dacs. (Border Patrol se-i, Ares ii and a 30-year old CAL sigma ii)

Really looking forward to getting into the Sense app.  But, given my desire for more info on the recordings and quality liner notes, my next step may be a Roon trial. We’ll see how Sense goes first.

lastly , if anyone is looking for a quality interface which works with a lot, but not all, streaming setups, the JPLAY app is a very nice experience.

thanks

Reporting back here on this thread that I started a few months ago.

I 'upgraded' from an Ifi Zen Stream streamer to the Innuos Pulse_Mini streamer.

I had been experiencing really annoying user interface issues with the Ifi and although it sounded good to my ears within my relatively modest system, I assumed and expected another streamer up the chain to bring audible improvements as well.  
Regarding the user interface issues, I tried various solutions, including the JPLAY app...which is a really good product btw.

After getting the Innuos, I committed to just spending time with it and getting to know it ...and the Sense app.

After spending 3 months with it, I will say this.  Yes there is a different sound, a different presentation...and most would probably say it's 'better' than the Ifi, but I guess I'd chalk it up to more of a flavor.

There is a density and darkness to the Innuos that is rounder and deeper....I think it's probably more natural sounding than the Ifi....although maybe less incisive or spicy.  I've grown used to it and now that I'm living in 2 places, I have two set ups... One has the Ifi Zen Stream and the other has the Innuos Pulse mini.  

The systems are different...so impossible do a direct comparison ..but I will say that in my apartment in the city, I'm now very much enjoying my original Ifi Zen Stream hooked up to a Border Patrol se-i DAC going into a Belles Audio Aria pre/power combo feeding Falcon ls3/5a's.  Pretty compelling fidelity that is both direct and detailed and dynamic but also relaxed and natural.

The Ifi is being controlled by the JPLAY app and accessing Qobuz.

The Pulse Mini is feeding a Van Alstine tube pre / s.s. power amp combo driving Fritz Carbon's .  There's more meat on the bones in that system. I feel you can reach in deeper to the stereo image being presenting and there is more texture with this set up...I assume a lot of that has to do with the Innuos but also the Fritz speakers.

This is all to say, that system matching can really help balance things out and right now enjoying both setups. 

I'm not 100% into the Sense app.  It's good but I find it a little laggy sometimes and I think the JPLAY app is a slightly better interface.  That said, the Sense app is written specifically for Innuos products.

forgot to mention I’m using the Innuos Pulse Mini with the 80watt version of the LHY power supply, the LPS80VA available from Vinshine ... 12V/5A

and the Ifi Zen Stream with the 25watt version of the LHY supply, LPS25VA....12V/2A