Innuos PULSE Mini?

Hi @charles1dad : is the streamer from the Netherlands by any change the Magna Mano MK3 with Farad external power supply? ;-) I had a listening session with this streamer last week at Magna Hifi. I was able to compare the Mano vs Sonos ZP player both hooked up to my own dac: the denafrips ares 2. The Mano was significant better sounding as compared to the Sonos (which was expected of course). The sound was beautiful and it is on my shortlist as my new streamer.

However, then I was notified (in the dutch streaming facebook group) about the Innuos PULSEmini which can also be powered by an external power supply (think it is the same they use as external power supply on the Zen mini).

So a member of the facebook streaming group mentioned:

1. When opting for the Innuos PULSE mini, their Sense app will have Roon-like functionalities when it comes to adding meta-data and music discovery features. (Both the PULSEmini and the Magna Mano mk3 streamer are based on Logitech Media Server (LMS), but Innuos has a Roon-like shell on top of it whereas with the Mano you need to work with the free LMS software (or Volumio, RooopieXL etc.)

2. Do not use Roon, as Qobuz/Tidal via Roon sounds worse as compared to the native app (probably due to the Roon protocol to communicate between Roon core and the Roon endpoint).

3. I’m currently using Tidal, he advise to switch to Qobuz as it will have better sound quality.

So as I don’t need any ripping, serving, storage functionalities, my shortlist currently exists out of the Manga Mano MK3 with external Farad power supply or the Innuos PULSEmini, also with external power supply...

The only reviews I could find so far are:

#quote#

@charles1dad @happystreamer

Here’s another recent review of the Mano ULTRA mkIII Farad Music Streamer:-

https://www.audioenzo.nl/mano-ultra-mkiii-farad-music-streamer/

I have a Innuos Zenith and the Phoenix Network and USB on my main system. For my secondary system, I am strongly tempted to not try other streamers where the connection to the DAC is via I2S, and not as expensive as devices on the Innuos ecosystem.

The Holo Audio Red streamer is another option. It can serve as a DDC or a streamer.

Any updates on your end as to where you are now on your streamer journey? It sure is going to be a long journey ... LOL.

#unquote#

Hi @dcpillai : in the meantime I had read some nice things about the ifi Zen Stream (powered by an external lineair power supply) connected via usb to the denafrips ares2 DAC. So I decided to give it a try and bought a secondhand external power supply (for EUR 80,-) and secondhand ifi Zen stream (EUR 230). This again was a big step up (20%) as compared to the upgraded Blueosound Node2 with external shanti power supply connected via Atlas Coax to the denafrips2 DAC :-)

So for now, my setup is: English Electric switch ==> ifi Zen stream (via USB) ==> Denafrips Ares 2 ==> Kinki Studio EX M1+ (with Sparkos opamps upgrade) ==>Focal Kanta 2 

Both the English Electric switch and the Ifi Zen Stream have external lineair power supplies which do make a audible difference! Very happy for now and the upgrade virus seems to be dormant at the time ;-)