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Innuous Zenith Mk3 and Phoenix vs Esoteric N-05XD

I own the Zenith and Phoenix, came from computer audio and was amazed at the quality difference these made, along with upgraded power cords, to transform my 20 year old system (which doesn’t even have my Krell amp in it..repair) into a very pleasing sound. The downside of owning these (it’s only been about 6 weeks) is that after using Audirvana (with computer) the Innuous Sense app drove me crazy. I’ve been told that this is one of the better softwares for controlling music compared to others...one man’s ceiling is another man’s floor. It drove me crazy and still has limited to no library management tools but it looks pretty with album cover displays and black background.
I’m being urged by a digital expert friend to trade that in for Esoteric 05-XD. He says it has world class DAC and i wouldn’t need to spend any more money. Scenario two is to keep the Innuous and spend at least 5,000 or more on new DAC (i am using 12 year old original PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC) My friend believes that even with new DAC and more money, that i won’t beat the Esoteric. For about the same additional money I could buy a Master Clock for the Esoteric and improve even more, he says. My problem is I can’t audition the Esoteric nor do I relish the idea of starting over on a new software wondering what it looks like, how it works and whether I’ll be as frustrated in the use of it as I was with Innuos’s Sense. Sound quality is number one for me but this recent experience of being so frustrated in making playlists as me wondering about usability along with sound quality. I would love the group's thoughts as all this is completely new to me, and is not my style to change something so quickly.

bossa

Showing 2 responses by sdl4

sdl4
206 posts
 

The best way to make a decision would be to try the gear you're considering in your own system. However, that may not be easy to arrange.

I can see the lure of the Esoteric N-05XD as a streamer/DAC, but I'm not sure that DACs and streamers will evolve at the same rate, which would argue for separate components instead of a combined solution.

I can tell you what I have decided to do with my streaming system. I already have an Innuos Zen Mk3 and a PhoenixUSB, which I like a lot. Your Zenith plus PhoenixUSB should be slightly better than what I have. I also have a PS Audio DirectStream DAC, which I am trading in on the new Mk2 version of that DAC. You should be able to get a $2600 trade-in credit for your current PSA DAC, which means that you could buy the Mk2 DAC for about $5600. I would expect that the DS DAC Mk2, combined with the Zenith and PhoenixUSB, would sound great without costing you too much additional money. (On the topic of the Innuos Sense app, I can only say that I like Sense a lot and am confident that this app produces the best sound possible with the Innuos gear. I also use a Network Acoustics ethernet filter prior to the Zen, which cleans up ethernet noise coming in and improves the sound of the streaming system further.)

If you're wondering about the sound of the new PS Audio Mk2 DAC, check out comments from users on the PSA forum. Also, Audio Excellence just put out a video review comparing the Mk2 DAC to the DAC in the Lumin P1. The listeners much preferred the sound of the new Mk2 DAC from PSA. The Lumin P1 sells for $10K, and Robert Harley gave a rave review in TAS just a few months back to the same P1 DAC that Audio Excellence found inferior to the less expensive DirectStream Mk2. I think the Mk2 is likely to be a better value than many higher priced DACs, especially since you could get it for under $6k and with a 30-day trial period. And I definitely think a new DAC will improve the sound of your streaming system at a more reasonable cost than most other options.

sdl4
206 posts
 

Bossa, thanks for the clarifications. I thought that streaming was part of the picture for you, but I guess not. I still think that your choice of DAC is a very important decision. I have never heard any of the Esoteric DACs myself, but I have read online that at least one enthusiastic Esoteric fan prefers the new DirectStream Mk2 DAC to the DAC in the more expensive ($20K) Esoteric N-01XD streamer/DAC. His comments focus on greater resolution, clarity, and openness with the DS Mk2. Of course, this is just one user, and the N-05XD may sound different. 

Regarding the Innuos Sense app, I have never tried to include files from external drives in playlists. I have experienced no problems in creating playlists that combine files streamed from Qobuz and files stored on the Zen's internal hard drive. I do hear from other users that Roon has a more elaborate file management system than Sense does and can be used with Innuos gear (though perhaps with a slight drop off in sound quality).

I would still recommend a stand-alone DAC, as several others have recommended. Many people simply think it's a bad idea to combine a noisy streamer/display screen in the same box as a DAC. Since you don't want a streamer anyway, why pay for one? Good luck in your search for the right decision for you.

 

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