Then I Got a Pulse, Now I'm a Believer

Congratulations. Yep, the better the streamer the better the sound. 

I also have a Pulse and truly enjoy it. Although I am actively searching for the next level with either Innuos or Aurender. I have been impressed with the DH Labs Silver Sonic AES cable. I just ordered the Silver Revolution AES upgrade.

The Bifrost 2/64 is a nice DAC. I had one, two DACs ago. I didn't like the clicking in between songs when

the data rate changed. Moved to PS Audio then Bricasti.

I don't know how the Bifrost will work with different cables. I only used USB at the time for the DACs. The Bricasti sounds much better with AES instead of USB. Try what you have and find your magic combination. Enjoy the music!

It’s totally worth it for the SQ but I’m quickly discovering all the convenient BluOs features I’m losing. I had several presets that were mapped onto a spare IR remote I had. I could launch playlists or radio with a click. I could also play/pause and skip forward and back. Now I have to open my phone. 

BluOs also has better playlist and favorites editing. Two albums showed up on my Innuos fave list I definitely didn’t put there and I can’t seem to delete them. And one playlist on Quboz isn’t visible on Sense. No big deal but I hope Innuos improves it soon. 

But I sure do miss the hardware remote. That would be my #1 ask. 

@thriftyaudio 

I know Innuos is coming out with the Stream 1 and 3. They're modular, you can configure it the way you want, and reconfigure with different modules as your needs change. I considered waiting and checking it out but I got a good deal on the Pulse. I've mostly been buying new but as I move into a higher level, used starts looking better. 

@mashif That is the great thing about audio. There are lots of options.

Personally I found the BluOS system a total mess. The Node 2i was my second streamer/DAC after a similarly priced Cambridge piece which was even worse. I tried the Node X, but the Node 2i with an upgrade power supply was better so I returned the X. I eventually became so frustrated with the BluOS that I tried the Eversolo DMP 6 which was great until there was a problem. Their customer support is terrible. Tried others and ended up with the Pulse. There are some issues with Sense but none that totally frustrate me.

I guess every software streamer has issues. There are people I know that have abandoned their lifetime Roon memberships for the Innuos Sense or the Aurender Conductor. Choices are great.

Qubuz is still allegedly finishing up the beta of their connect feature.  If this ever gets implemented it might be a better way to interface with your Pulse.  Congrats on your upgrade and enjoy the music.  

This is what AI has to say about a AES connection compared to USB. I bring this up in case you were wondering where to spend your next nickel. a gungnir2 or a yggdrasil might be in your future. 🎶🎸🥁

For an Innuos music server, AES/EBU is generally preferred over USB for audio quality due to its lower susceptibility to packet noise and better signal integrity. While USB is more convenient, AES/EBU is often seen as providing a cleaner and more natural sound, particularly when combined with high-quality DACs. 

Here's a more detailed look:

AES/EBU Advantages: 

• Reduced Noise:

  AES/EBU transmits data without the overhead of USB's data transfer protocols, leading to less noise and a cleaner signal. 

• Improved Signal Integrity:

  AES/EBU has a more dedicated and robust signal path, which can result in a more accurate and less jitter-affected audio signal. 

• Better for High-End DACs:

  Many audiophiles find that AES/EBU connections yield better performance with high-end digital-to-analog converters (DACs). 

USB Advantages: 

• Convenience: USB is widely available and easy to connect. 
• Compatibility: USB is a standard interface supported by many devices. 

Innuos and USB: 

Innuos's USB outputs are designed to be high quality, and some users may not notice a significant difference between USB and AES/EBU in their systems. However, many audiophiles still prefer AES/EBU for its inherent advantages in signal purity. 

In Summary: 

While USB is convenient, AES/EBU often offers a cleaner, more natural sound, especially with high-end DACs. The best choice for an Innuos server depends on your priorities and your system's characteristics, but AES/EBU is a popular and often-preferred option for its potential to improve audio quality. 

FYI @mashif Mike Nesmith had real chops  

@ghdprentice Better IS better!. Goes for recordings too.  

Mal Waldron on now  So happy!!!!

@wsrrsw 

I worked with Mike on a commercial he was producing and played on. Sometime in the late 1980s. Talented guy. 

Congratulations glad you like the sound of your Pulse streamer.  I have the Zen MK3 connected to my Holo Audio Cyan 2 DAC using a USB cable.  It sounds better than my Blusound Node N130.  Hope you enjoy the sound even more with your USB connection.  I liked the BluOs app but find the Sense app is even better running Qobuz with my iPad or iPhone.  

Well, I finally got to hear the BitFrost with the USB input. And I didn't like it! I listened for a day and something just sounded off. Tried a lot of different music and they all seemed not quite right. 

So I switched back to my coax cable and input and the magic was back! The only thing that comes to mind is that the USB cable is a DH Labs Mirage, a decent but not expensive cable. My coax cable is a Transparent Audio Premier 75ohm cable that retails for over $1k. It could be the difference between USB and coax in general, but I don't have a way to test that. 

The USB version was kind of cold and clinical while the coax is more musically coherent. The sound just flows while the USB sounds like it's being forced out. Not what I expected but it's what I got. 

@mashif 

So you were using the DAC in the node as well? I have a node n130 with a Teddy Pardo LPS and use it for streaming only. It is quite good when you bypass the internal DAC. 

@ronboco 

I never used the DAC in the Node 2i except when my BitFrost needed service. I just happened to receive the LPS for the Node the day after I sent it off. So I listened to the Node DAC for one day without LPS and the next day I installed it and noticed it sounded much better. But I was glad to get the BitFrost back. 

Well, I finally got to hear the BitFrost with the USB input. And I didn't like it! I listened for a day and something just sounded off. Tried a lot of different music and they all seemed not quite right. 

Is the USB cable new?  If so you should give it at least 100 hours to break in before making any firm conclusions.  

@soix 

You're absolutely right. I spent a good part of today listening and comparing. What I noticed is that the USB has a much bigger and deeper soundstage that initially sounded strange. Today I toed in my speakers about a half inch more and that refocused the soundstage back into the room a bit. Yesterday it sounded like the left and right were disconnected. Now it feels integrated again with USB. 

I do tend to be impatient even though I know better. I'll stick with USB for now but I can see a better cable in my future. 

OP,

Is this stuff all broken in? Make sure you have at least 100 hours... preferably 200 hours on each device before drawing conclusions. 

I am listening to a new component and if I had drawn a conclusion on the first few days it would have been so far off you would not believe it. Trebly and harsh... which utterly disappeared in a few days to be rich and warm and powerful. I am reminded nearly every time I put something new... or even just transported, how important break in it. 

@ghdprentice 

Only the USB cable is new. And it has improved a lot after only 72 hours. 

I want to thank you for the insights you offer. Your focus on musicality over pure sonics has greatly influenced my listening. As I've moved up in resolution, hearing new things, it's too easy to get lost in "sound quality" and forget why I was listening in the first place. But your reminders about that have helped me focus back on the music even as the sound changes. 

Neal Diamond of course was the author of the song

@mashif

Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate them.

When I look back over the last fifty years of my system development. All of it was good... I really enjoyed the journey,  but several times I went down blind alleys. It was as if I was stumbling around blind for a long time. Occasionally thinking, OK... now that wasn’t right... and changing course... to be drawn to another shiny light.

The lightbulb didn’t fully go on, until I had the very best system of my life about ten years ago and it was fantastic, clean, transparent, detailed and lifeless. I would get bored listening after 45 minutes. Anyway, I have documented the lightbulb going off in my head elsewhere.

If I can help some folks, just casually ask themselves about where they are going and not step down some of the blind alleys... that makes me happy. 

Last weekend I was listing to an incredible system... many $100K. It was incredible, the holographic images thrown out from floor to ceiling and onto the side walls. Simply stunning. It was great... but not what I want to sit down to at home. It did not draw me in and emotionally envelop me like my system does. It was like watching fireworks... if you watched fireworks for half an hour a night, I’m thinking after a week you would get bored with them. 

I recognize also, my way is not everyone’s way. Some folks lust for etherial holographic systems... corvettes... and other things I do not. But for those that do... it is great if I can help. 

You put your finger on it.. it is to move forward in musicality first and then add more detail and slam an all the others. 

Nice thread 

  Congratulations on the Pulse, well played ! I run a usb to my Yiggy  original with Gen5 input. I use the Wireworld Platinum Starlight 8, with good results. I ran a Cardas Clear prior to that. I have a Morrow Level 4 coax, but I prefer the usb. It’s going to come down to what you like. I’m a believer in equipment and cable break in. Leave it on constantly and give it a month. Those JBL’s are brutally honest and if it’s off it’s off, as you well know. Happy Listening, Mike B. 

Congratulations on your Innuos upgrade.  I’m a longtime Innuos fan and owner.  A few points I have learned.  

USB cables matter.  Better USB can deliver better sound.  

Innuos can be even better with attention paid to incoming power and ethernet signal.  Get rid of any and all “wall warts” in your system and get a great ethernet switch. Innuos does a great job of eliminating “noise” but the cleaner things come in, the better they go out.  

Finally, the Innuos benefits from vibration isolation.  Though Innuos does better than many with their feet and positioning, I have found significant further benefits from Nordost SortKones (esp TC) or Stillpoints.

Good luck and enjoy!