Innuos Server / Renderer

[Jens]

Hello, I have an Innuos Zen mk3 with 2 TB and will soon have a Zenith mk3 with 4 TB.
Which of these three options is best in terms of sound?
1. Running the Zenith only as a core and sending the signal via USB to the Zen as a renderer?
2. Running the LAN signal through the Zen only as an interference filter before passing it to the Zenith, which acts as both the core and renderer?
3. Not integrating the Zen into the system anymore.
Best regards,
Jens

 

[Octaviars]

1. Running the Zenith only as a core and sending the signal via USB to the Zen as a renderer?

The term Core (server) and renderer is terms only applied to streaming over network you cant use USB between an Zenith and Zen.

2. Running the LAN signal through the Zen only as an interference filter before passing it to the Zenith, which acts as both the core and renderer?

That in my point of view this is not something you want to do and I dont see that it will do anything meningfull passing the LAN through the Zen.

3. Not integrating the Zen into the system anymore.

As I see it you have a few options.

If you only want to use one machine ditch the Zen and run USB from the Zenith to your DAC and use either Innuos Standalone or Roon (if you have Roon).

Use the Zen as server and run either Roon Core or Sense in standalone on it and use the Zenith as a Roon bridge or a Innuos Endpoint.

I have no experience with using Innuos in a two machine setup as I just use my Statement in Innuos Standalone with USB to my DAC.

 

[Jens]

Oh, I must have expressed myself in a confusing way. I don't have a computer, but I'm running the Zen mk3 with Roon. It then goes via USB to the Phoenix USB, then to a T+A Bridge, and from there via coax to the DAC. I'm just thinking about splitting the two Innuos devices, Zen and Zenith, into Core and Renderer. Does that make sense in terms of sound?

 

[Octaviars]

Oh, I must have expressed myself in a confusing way.

Now it makes more sense (no pun intended)

As I wrote I dont have any experience with a dual Innuos setup but if you have both machines try all options that you can and perhaps decide after that.

Zenith - PhoenixUSB - T+A - DAC
Zen - Zenith - PhoenixUSB - T+A - DAC

In the dual setup with both machines you can use either Roon Core and Roon bridge or Innuos Standalone and Innuos Endpoint.

If you havent used Sense perhaps try that also I think in my system Sense is a bit better than Roon.

 

[DanCollier]

The ZEN in this instance would be totally redundant unless you plan to use it as a NAS or in a second system in the latters case, you need to set it to Endpoint mode as you can only have 1 Core at a time.

Regarding ROON however, we do not offer any direct support for their software, that said its very easy to migrate your Roon database over to the ZENith by doing a backup in Roon, then importing said Backup with your new system.

Heres an article on migrating your music library over to the ZENith too - https://innuos.com/kb/system-migration-transferring-innuos-systems/

I recommend giving Sense a go though as the vast majority of our users to find it offers better sound quality that that of Roon, food for thought .

 

[Esscee]

You will also have a far better sound using Zenith with Reclocker connected.

 

[Jens]

Hello, thanks for the answers. I'll pass on the Zen and use the Zenith as a standalone player and renderer. Backing up and reinstalling is very simple with Innuos. Have a nice evening, Jens.