What happened to the Innous discussion

There are a lotta variables there like what cables you were using in and out of the streamers and the resolution of your system, etc.  Past that be happy you just saved yourself $$$ without sacrificing much.  If you haven’t, maybe consider adding an LPS from Pardo, SBooster, LHY, etc. to the Vault as that may give you a nice performance bump for a relatively small investment.  FWIW. 

soix, that is true, but I actually used newer, better cables on the Innous Zen but the Blusesound still sounded as good or better.  

But interesting point about the LPS instead of $$$ for the Zen or any other streamer

What’s the rest of your system?

I have a VPI Signature table with a Sutherland phonostage, a McIntosh 352 integrated tube amp, the Blusesound Vault streamer into a Weiss DAC thru coax cable, and Revel Studio speakers, with 2 SVS subs

What do you want to know about Innuos if you've already tried it? 

I saw where there had been a discussion titled Innous is a scam, or something like that, but when I opened it, it said discussion deleted.  

I guess someone was not happy with their Innous, but I'm curious

I don't recall the details of the post, but the title was poorly chosen and the OP couldn't go back and change it. 

I'm glad I gave the Innous a try.  The dealer promised a world of difference but I had different results.  Maybe this will calm my need for the next bigger or better product.  

I have always found it interesting that when I'm in a high end audio store compariing high end systems and speakers, and while each dealer seems to highlight or promote different makes,,, they all used the Bluesound Vault to demo their $50,000 speakers and $100,000 systems.

I went from a Node 130 to an Innuos Zen Mk3. I did notice an improvement. I'm using a kinda pricey USB cable. 

There are far more expensive streamers than mine, but I'm happy with what I have. I bought mine in lightly used condition and still in warranty. 

The "innuos is a scam" thread was full of confusion.  The person who posted it was being sarcastic, referencing an article by ASR, whose articles are always clickbait trash.  But some thought he was serious.  Others knew it was a joke.  Some continued talking negative about ASR but that sounded negative about Innuos.    So we had several levels of discussion going on with people responding both postitive and negative and it was a zoo.  I see why that got deleted.  There was nothing of use in it.

Jerry

Thanks Jerry

It was a sarcastic poorly worded discussion hence rightfully deleted. I still have a bluesound with Teddy Pardo LPS in my secondary system. In my primary system I use Innuos ZENith mk3  to my dac via a U18 DDC using the I2s connection. It sounds extremely superior to the bluesond set up. But with the Innuos USB connection diectly to the dac, it is not nearly as impressive. Everything matters.

Another  happy N130 owner here and the Teddy Pardo LPS really did improve the sound quality.

I have a Bluesound Node 2i.  I moded it with a TeddyPardo LPS and the improvement in SQ was significant. I'm sticking with the Bluesound rather than moving up to a more expensive streamer because I really like the BluOS operating software.  It's the only OS that supports both Amazon HD and Idagio,  which are the two streaming services that I use. 

I upgraded from a Bluesound Node N130 to a used Innuos Zen MK3 from a great local dealer.  I noticed a sound improvement.  Connecting to my DAC with an USB cable.  It also has a CD ripper with 1TB storage so great to add the CDs I have that aren’t available on Qobuz.  I liked the BluOs app but I like the Sense app even better.  Glad I made the upgrade.  As always everyone’s experience may vary.  That’s why it’s best to buy and try with the ability to return if needed in my experience.

@baylinor I'm also using a U18 to convert to I2s

@bassbuyer Same. I use the cd ripper more than I thought I would. Just used it yesterday. 

The next time you try out different equipment, you might try to keep it a few days. I auditioned an Aurender N200 in my system back when I first started building my dream system. Comparing it my Node 2i, I was not impressed with the N200.  So I tried an Innuos Pulsar from a different dealer and he told me to keep it for a few days so it had time to warm to room temperature because sometimes the clocks on these upper tier players need a few days to reach thermal stability, and that can affect sound quality.  It didn’t sound good when I first plugged it in, but it greatly improved over the next few days.  I ended up buying the Pulsar but always wondered if I the outcome would have been different if I had auditioned  the N200 longer than just a couple of hours. 

You would not be the first person with Mcintosh amplification to not notice any significant differences with upstream changes. 

Not for nothing but....if the Vault has USB out and you use that in place of coax that would let the Weiss do the clocking which would likely be nice a low cost improvement.

The Vault has RCA, Coax, and optical out, so I'm using the coax

@randymaqp 

Hi.  I have decades of instrumentation experience.  Some 0.5 PPB analyzers I have worked with use a temperature controlled optical bench to ensure a 235.7 angstrom wavelength.  Very precise and needs nothing like days to come to stability.  May I suggest the salesman was just letting your brain burn in?

So, you're comparing the two streamers going into different inputs on your dac with different cables.  It could be that your dac does better with a coaxial input.  I have no idea, but you're comparing more than just the two streamers. 

@guscreek I suppose that’s always a possibility and your decades of experience certainly seems impressive. But it sounded better to me and made me happy when I bought it.  

@randymaqp I went from the N200 to a Pulsar. They’re both very nice units but IMO you made the right decision.  You’re too diplomatic. These forums are full of “experts” with “decades of experience” that because of their vast knowledge believe you do or don’t hear what you know you do. Believe your ears. After all it IS your money.

sls883,  True, but I bought a very nice USB cable,.  and I've read here that usb might be better than coax.  I tried to be as fair as possible and may have even cheated a bit in favor of the Innous streamer because I really wanted to like it.  But it was no better than the Bluesound Vault.  I even tried the Zen with and without the Weiss DAC.  So maybe the addition of the DAC to the Vault made the quality as good as the much more expensive Zen option.  

@mojo771 I don't know which would work better with your dac.  I believe USB uses the clock in your dac where coaxial uses the clock in the source.  That could create a difference in sound quality.  

I bought a USB cable that retails around $500 when I bought my Innuos.  I haven't done any comparisons with other USB cables. I know some guys spend a lot more on USB cables.

I had always felt that my streamer sounded better than my cd/sacd player which I connect to my dac via coaxial digital.  I bought an Acoustic Zen MC2 coaxial cable and now the sound quality is close.  I never thought a digital cable would make much difference, but it did.

There may very well be little difference between the Innous streamer and the Vault.  IDK.  My Innous goes to a U18 ddc and into the i2s input on my dac.  I haven't listened to it by going USB directly into my dac.  I already had the U18, so I'm using it. 

I was just pointing out that you're looking at more than just the difference in streamers.  I'm not saying that your conclusion is wrong. 

Thanks for that @marco1 I was trying to be diplomatic!  I use research and other people’s input and, to a limited extent measurements, when I am initially looking for my next purchase.  I do get a kick out of people who tell me I’m wrong when they don’t know me, my ears, my room, my system synergies, my sound preferences or the relationship with my salespeople. And, to your last point, they also don’t write the check. 

I own a Innuos Zenith NG and prior to that a Zenith MK3.  They both fed my MSB Reference DAC.  I think the sound improvements from streamers are largely a function of your DAC’s USB implementation.  I like innuos products for their Sense app and convenience of use. In my system the SQ improvement has been marginal.  I have a very revealing system.

It was getting Inn(oc)uous