Innuos PULSE Mini?

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@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.

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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 ;-)

I haven’t seen too many first hand reports from users of the PulseMini.

Are there any ppl here who have been happy with this entry streamer from Innuos.

I mentioned before that I’d like to upgrade my Ifi Zen Stream with LPS to the PulseMini… but I haven’t pulled the trigger yet.

I’d do this not only for the SQ but also the Innuos ecosystem and Sense app.

Would love to hear more first hand reports from users

@j_andrews 

I have had the pulse mini since January, and the zen lspu since February. Came from using heos off a Marantz sr5015. Two different animals, by far one of the best investments to date. Extremely easy setup, even the most luddite of us had no problems. No complaints about the sense app, not as colorful as a spotify app but it's a good workhorse. As you  may have noticed i started out with the mini, and that was a noticable difference. Then got the lspu, and oh boy we was cookin now! If you can, get them both together, if not the double upgrade will be a pleasant event. Good luck in the trigger pulling. 

I am also using the PulseMini and powering it with a Keces P3 LPS.  It is feeding a Denafrips Iris and out via I2S to a Pontus II.  Great digital front end for the money, especially using the Sense App as has been noted all over the forum.  I was using a Roon Nucleus powered by the P3 and running Roon but the Sense app's sound quality through the PulseMini was a major and obvious improvement. 

Thanks for the feedback @tom2441 ​​@gkelly 

Planning to pick one of these up in May after I move a couple of pieces I need to get out of the house.

I think it's a natural step up from something like a Zen Stream or a Node without jumping into the $2750-$3250 territory.

I'm also feeding a Denafrips Iris from my Zen Stream but wasn't really sure if it would be necessary with the Pulse Mini.  @tom2441 Have you tested the setup without the Iris?

I do go out of the Iris coax rather than i2s since I'm using a Border Patrol se-i dac.

I'm planning on purchasing the unit without the Zen mini power supply and upgrading a bit later.  From what I understand, Innuos is releasing a matching LPS for the PulseMini eventually.

@j_andrews I haven't but might be interesting.  For that matter, I haven't tried the PulseMini DAC to compare to the Pontus II.  I'll have to try it both ways one of these days.

Demoing one right now in my home now as a digital front end alternate to my Turntable. My analog rig in total is $10k + in cost, (rega p10 and Umami Red) and while it does some different things digital just can not replicate, this little Pulse is literally 85% of it generally speaking. It has a very organic analogue sound that quite honestly I am shocked by. To me it's a steal at twice the price nevermind $1200. 

Likely the software has something to do with how good it sounds. Software updates, easy, initial hook up was simple as well. To me this is a giant killer. 

iiWi just posted his Innuos Pulse Mini review on YouTube.

The summary is he liked the device and thought if you were going to use the internal DAC, he preferred it over the new (hard to get) EverSolo streamer. If you were going to use it purely as a streamer and no DAC, he slightly preferred the EverSolo over the Innuos.

While he preferred the BluOS for the Node over Innuos SW, the improved sound quality of the Innuous would have him picking it over the Node.

Just summarizing his review, I have no experience with the product, just interested as well

Just ordered one blind.  So far I have tried a number of streamers and the best sounding one has been the w4s upgraded Sonos connect.  Beats hands down node, w4s upgraded Sonos port.  Transients and dynamics are superior.  Hoping that the pulse mini is at least as good as my w4s connect.  The only reason I am upgrading is because I want a more responsive os.  Has anyone done a comparison!  

Oh, using this via coax to a Yggdrasil 

dcpillai

Have heard good things about the Pro-Jest RS2T CDT with its next-gen CD system. Do share your findings if you are able!

I too am a lucky CD Transport owner - I’ve got the Jay’s Audio CDT2-MK3 - and I’d assume the Pro-Ject is delivering similar great sound. For streaming, I use a SoTM SMS200 Ultra network streamer. It’s a very high quality network streamer that won’t break the bank. Unlike the Innos, there is no App, you must use a music app on your computer to direct the streams to the device. But it works with a huge number of different software choices. I use Roon and it’s great, especially with HQ Player working directly inside Roon.

Streaming from Qobuz, or my CD rips is very very good - but I still prefer the sound of my CDs through the Jay’s Audio transport.

Who knew CDs could sound great with a good transport and an excellent DAC.

@whodiini I don’t think you’re gonna get any direct comparisons, but the Sense app (that’s always getting upgraded for sound/performance) gets very high marks as do Innuos streamers so I’m thinking you’re gonna be pretty darn happy.  Also, eventually upgrading the power supply on the Pulse Mini should give you a significant upgrade opportunity in the future.  Let us know what you think if you can.