Another post about a streamer upgrade

ghdprentice

5,843 posts

01-09-2024 at 09:53am 

@benanders

I’m glad you are curious. But we are not working on graduate degrees here (which btw I have). Those of us with lots of experience are trying to help those with less to effectively navigate this extremely complex landscape and avoid wasting enormous amount of time and money. 
 

Okay @ghdprentice . Thread’s yours, bud. 🤣

Care to oblige OP as to whether quality of streamer OS / user apps also scale predictably with unit price? Software was supposed to be the lion’s share of this topic.

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

Sounds like you will really enjoy Roon. Give it a whirl. And congrats on the streamer purchase!!!

@j_andrews 

two big add-ons: use a Pinkfaun Isolator into the Pulse and insert a Singxer UIP1 Pro with a decent 6V LPS berween Pulse and Dac; you‘ll be pleasantly surprised.

@ j_andrews:  congrats you’ve taken a step in the direction important to you.  If you’re like me and many others on this forum it will be the first step of many.  Enjoy the ride.

Try to compare the Innous Pulse mini with Ifi zs to justify the statement below.  Please report back on what you found.  I would say, in general, more expensive streamers have better power supply, circuit design and parts / components and therefore would sound better.  However, it's essential to note that the improvements in sound quality might not always justify the price difference. There reaches a point where spending more money may yield only marginal or imperceptible improvements in audio quality, hence the concept of diminishing returns.

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.

“the human psyche has an infinite capacity for self delusion”

one of my favorite aphorisms.  we convince ourselves of a narrative and twist everything around us to fit that narrative.  The op had already decided that he wanted  a pulse mini, and went ahead and purchased it while we were trying to help him decide how to proceed.  and then the op seemed surprised that there was an active discussion going on around the topic he raised a couple days ago.  i feel so used! (lol!)

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

"My previous set up was pretty good even using a computer as the source. The difference with the $12k of equipment isn’t that big. Now there is some break in and I can hear that the sound is more open and seems to be improving a bit as it is breaking in but I’m not sure I would do this upgrade again for the money. Maybe my system is good but not good enough to justify the new units. Sometimes being happy with what you got is the best bet."

We all know over 3/4 of the population would much rather go on a trip to _______ than spend 12K on their hifi. Life choices. 

I am in a similar position with my desire to upgrade.

Currently have a Project Stream Box S2 Ultra streamer, run on a Teddy Pardo MiniTeddy LPS. Mad Scientist Black Magic Ultra power cable, and SR Orange fuse.

Will be looking on the used market, around the $750-$1500 mark. Smaller footprint a advantage. Certainly would like a step up, rather than a step sideways.

The Innuos Pulse Mini looks a decent candidate. The Aurender a bit too pricey to import for me. I have no need for an inbuilt Dac, so probably not the Eversolo. Anything else you know of?

At some stage I'll get to using Roon.

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.

@j_andrews 

Thanks for posting your impressions. The streamer quality does matters and most folks here would be open to exploring better sound experience just like you did! 

I agree with you on JPLAY app, it’s a really nice app, well laid out and offers seamless Qobuz integration. Your assessment of Innuous is also spot on, while I enjoyed Innuos well rounded sound, I found it to be bit on darker side for my preferences. 

The Innuos Pulse Mini looks a decent candidate.

@jerrybj  I agree, especially as you already have a Pardo LPS.  I’ve seen a few reports where owners said the Zen Mini with an external LPS rivals the sound of the Zen, and it’s likely the Pulse Mini will sound even better.  Best of luck.

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