It was a weird I totally agree. I wanted to make sure that the reason wasn’t Zenith’s firmware version, so I upgraded it to the latest. I need to contact the audioshop to figure out what could have caused the audio problems I experienced. I wondered if I had connected the backup USB connection in the back of Zenith, but no it was the dac USB.
Innuos Zenith mk3 complete disappointment
I have the following setup: Accuphase e480 with dac50 module, Magico A3, Chord SarumT speaker cables, Node2i a streamer only as I use Accuphase's day module. Chord Anthem bnc cable between Node and dac. (ethernet connection to streamer). I also have PSU mod for my Node2i.
I had opportunity to test Innuos Zenith mk3 during this week in my system. The same ethernet connection was used. From Innuos to dac I used entry level USB cable.
I used Qobuz through Roon in Zenith and through BluOS in Node when testing. From the start Zenith sounded flat compared to Node2 and more I went through different music it became apparent that dynamic range was not on same level as with Node2. Especially the lower bass took a big hit compared to Node. I also tested some highres music files with Roon and it was shocking to hear DSD with Zenith. PCM was "normal", but DSD was completely muffled, it was like hearing the music from the other room. One of the DSD records I tested was Temporary Circumstances - Clandestine Amigo (PS Audio - DSD64).
With Zenith all the testing I did was with the Roon, as iPeng client which I also tried was utter rubbish. I tried to level the sound volumes with iPhone app, but don't know how good job it did. For me Zenith was a complete disappointment from the sound quality point of view. Roon is Roon and I like it, but I think iPeng client is not on suitable level for the high end device like this.
The problems with Zenith could be caused of course by my system: dac module on Accuphase or for example USB cable. Still I'm shocked how uninteresting sonically Zenith was compared to Node2i, as from price point of view it should be other way round.
I had opportunity to test Innuos Zenith mk3 during this week in my system. The same ethernet connection was used. From Innuos to dac I used entry level USB cable.
I used Qobuz through Roon in Zenith and through BluOS in Node when testing. From the start Zenith sounded flat compared to Node2 and more I went through different music it became apparent that dynamic range was not on same level as with Node2. Especially the lower bass took a big hit compared to Node. I also tested some highres music files with Roon and it was shocking to hear DSD with Zenith. PCM was "normal", but DSD was completely muffled, it was like hearing the music from the other room. One of the DSD records I tested was Temporary Circumstances - Clandestine Amigo (PS Audio - DSD64).
With Zenith all the testing I did was with the Roon, as iPeng client which I also tried was utter rubbish. I tried to level the sound volumes with iPhone app, but don't know how good job it did. For me Zenith was a complete disappointment from the sound quality point of view. Roon is Roon and I like it, but I think iPeng client is not on suitable level for the high end device like this.
The problems with Zenith could be caused of course by my system: dac module on Accuphase or for example USB cable. Still I'm shocked how uninteresting sonically Zenith was compared to Node2i, as from price point of view it should be other way round.
Showing 6 responses by jksec
Like I said earlier, I totally agree with the comments related to comparing Node with Zenith. It should have been done with a proper USB cable, unfortunately the distributor in this case didn’t have anything else to give me and I don’t own any USB cables yet myself. I have Chord Anthem coax cable for Node and I tried to get loaner for Chord Signature or SarumT USB cable for Zenith, but at the moment these are not in stock with the vendors I’m working with. The most suprising thing with the Zenith was the DSD sound quality, which was just really bad. I have no way of testing is the problem Accuphases dac or Zenith, but through the Node (coax) the same files sound very good. Still it might be dac’s USB connection causing the trouble. It would have been ideal to test Zenith with the same coax cable I use with my Node, but unfortunately only USB output available in Zenith. The reason for the test was that I know my streamer (Node) is not on par with the rest of my system as it is also case with my current dac. I’m looking significant improvement for the both dac and streamer, but the test with Zenith was not what I expected. Maybe I need to rethink my options, which were Innuos, Auralic and Aurender. |
I’m hoping to try out a high quality USB cable next week, but I’m a bit skeptical if it will have enough influence to bring Zenith to the level several of you have described. I’m not saying that Zenith could excellent in your system, rather that something else needs to happen in mine that I would concider Zenith to be far better compared to Node. We’ll see what kind of impact cable makes. |
The following is reply from Innuos related to the problem. I’m using default settings for the Roon, which are enabled when Roon core is enabled in Zenith’s settings. I’m really disapointed to the way everyone involved (vendor and Innuos itself) are avoiding to take responsibility even with Roon which is integral part of their product. If this is what happens before purchasing decision, what happens to their support after the sales. Innuos should be highend product vendor, but based on what I have seen so far is far from that, no remote troubleshooting, no device log collection, it seems they have no way of analyzing what’s happening with the device. ”The customer should firstly make sure that the ZENith is on the latest 1.4.6 as this has a few key engine upgrades. Most importantly though, it includes new options in the DSD section of my.innuos.com -> Settings. The customer should try out the different modes available to see if there is any difference. Ideally, the ‘Native DSD’ should be the one to use, but it is also worth testing the ‘DSD over PCM – DoP’ and maybe even the ‘Transcode to FLAC’ which will change the stream to a 32bit DXD format. Do note that these options only apply when using iPeng & Squeezelite to playback from the server – when in Roon Core mode, it has its own DSD behaviour. In the case of Roon, I would also suggest using the normal Roon Core mode and NOT the experimental Squeeze version. I’d also make sure all the Roon DSP is turned off, any Upsampling/Oversampling etc.” |
One more update, I transfered Roon core to my laptop and tested with direct USB connection to Accuphase’s dac with the same cable. Sound quality was as expected, so no problems with USB connectivity on dac50. Based on this, I would say that Innuos Zenith with Roon has problems with DSD, is it the device or some wider problem with the latest software version (1.46) impossible to say. |