My ZENith is the most unreliable thing I own

Volti Audio

New member
Aug 2, 2025
1
0
1
Baxter, TN
Every time I sit down to listen to music I have to fight with ZENith computer to get it going. Today I have spent the last five hours, off and on while doing other things, trying to get music to play on my system. Rebooting multiple times, yes the system is up to date, re-login to Qobuz multiple times, sign up for Qobuz again just in case something was up with my subscription, shut down unplug and plug back in multiple times, check the speed of my internet signal, try operating from my Iphone, Ipad, and desktop over and over again, and on and on it goes. I go through at least some of this type of stuff every single time I sit down to listen to music. I don't get to spend much time listening because I'm busy working, but when I do have time, I want to simply turn it on and listen, not fight with a computer.

It is now finally playing music. I have no idea what got it working, it just started up again. Do I trust that it will continue to work for the next couple hours while I try and enjoy some down time listening to music? Nope. But you never know, it could happen.

I honestly can no longer recommend Innuos products to my customers. I'm going to stop suggesting to them that they buy Innuos products. I can't do that to my customers anymore. I have no idea if other music server brands have this trouble too. I suspect they do, since all of these issues have to do with computers, and computers hardware, software, and operating systems all are the most unreliable things we all own. I will not be suggesting any other brands of music servers either. If my customers decide to add this annoyance to their lives, at least they won't be saying Greg recommended this.

Have any of you seen the video promo on the front page of the Innuos website introducing the Nazra music server? Yeah, ok, go there and watch it and read the words on the screen, and while you are doing that just think to yourself the same thing I do. What a croc of sh#t. It's a fricken music server and it's not going to work most of the time without a bunch of fiddling to get it to work. I would be much more impressed if Innuos would simply figure out how to make a product that works each time I sit down to listen to music. Just turn on, connect, and stream music into my system, each time, without having to fiddle with things. That where the research and advancement needs to be Innuos - RELIABILITY. We can worry about sound quality after we get the thing to be as reliable as a refrigerator first.

Seriously thinking about getting a turntable. Although I love my Qubuz lists and the access to so much music via streaming. The promise of what these systems can do is so compelling, but the end result experience is maddening. Switching to vinyl would make things so much easier on the one hand, but so much more difficult on the other. I know it would work every time I sit down to listen to music. Man, what a relief that would be. But then there will be a lot less variety in my music listening. Think of the work involved in listening to ten songs in a row by different artists. Yeah.

You can tell I'm very frustrated today. This has been a lot more of an issue than normal today, but like I said, it's an issue every time I turn the system on. I NEVER can simply turn the system on and listen. At the very least, every time I try to listen to music, I have to reboot my ZENith to get things going. I'm just tired of it. I'm tired of being worked up over it. Music is supposed to be relaxing. Right now I don't even want to try. My experience with the Innuos is turning me off of wanting to listen to music at all. My time is more valuable to me than that. I might be done with this hobby. I can be a speaker designer and builder without listening to music on a fancy system on a regular basis right?

Greg Roberts
Volti Audio
 
Every time I sit down to listen to music I have to fight with ZENith computer to get it going. Today I have spent the last five hours, off and on while doing other things, trying to get music to play on my system. Rebooting multiple times, yes the system is up to date, re-login to Qobuz multiple times, sign up for Qobuz again just in case something was up with my subscription, shut down unplug and plug back in multiple times, check the speed of my internet signal, try operating from my Iphone, Ipad, and desktop over and over again, and on and on it goes. I go through at least some of this type of stuff every single time I sit down to listen to music. I don't get to spend much time listening because I'm busy working, but when I do have time, I want to simply turn it on and listen, not fight with a computer.

It is now finally playing music. I have no idea what got it working, it just started up again. Do I trust that it will continue to work for the next couple hours while I try and enjoy some down time listening to music? Nope. But you never know, it could happen.

I honestly can no longer recommend Innuos products to my customers. I'm going to stop suggesting to them that they buy Innuos products. I can't do that to my customers anymore. I have no idea if other music server brands have this trouble too. I suspect they do, since all of these issues have to do with computers, and computers hardware, software, and operating systems all are the most unreliable things we all own. I will not be suggesting any other brands of music servers either. If my customers decide to add this annoyance to their lives, at least they won't be saying Greg recommended this.

Have any of you seen the video promo on the front page of the Innuos website introducing the Nazra music server? Yeah, ok, go there and watch it and read the words on the screen, and while you are doing that just think to yourself the same thing I do. What a croc of sh#t. It's a fricken music server and it's not going to work most of the time without a bunch of fiddling to get it to work. I would be much more impressed if Innuos would simply figure out how to make a product that works each time I sit down to listen to music. Just turn on, connect, and stream music into my system, each time, without having to fiddle with things. That where the research and advancement needs to be Innuos - RELIABILITY. We can worry about sound quality after we get the thing to be as reliable as a refrigerator first.

Seriously thinking about getting a turntable. Although I love my Qubuz lists and the access to so much music via streaming. The promise of what these systems can do is so compelling, but the end result experience is maddening. Switching to vinyl would make things so much easier on the one hand, but so much more difficult on the other. I know it would work every time I sit down to listen to music. Man, what a relief that would be. But then there will be a lot less variety in my music listening. Think of the work involved in listening to ten songs in a row by different artists. Yeah.

You can tell I'm very frustrated today. This has been a lot more of an issue than normal today, but like I said, it's an issue every time I turn the system on. I NEVER can simply turn the system on and listen. At the very least, every time I try to listen to music, I have to reboot my ZENith to get things going. I'm just tired of it. I'm tired of being worked up over it. Music is supposed to be relaxing. Right now I don't even want to try. My experience with the Innuos is turning me off of wanting to listen to music at all. My time is more valuable to me than that. I might be done with this hobby. I can be a speaker designer and builder without listening to music on a fancy system on a regular basis right?

Greg Roberts
Volti Audio
Hi...
As you are an owner,.or representative of Volti Audio, I am shocked, or puzzled, to read what you write publicly.

I have owned four InnuOs products since January 2024.
• Zen mk3
• Zenith mk3
• Phoenix USB-reclocker
• Statement NG

All of the above products have worked without any problems.
In addition,.they are incredibly easy to install in a music-system.
AND,.if there is a problem, InnuOs has incredibly good support...

We also see this on this InnuOs-owned forum,.representatives from InnuOs quickly address any problems customers may have and solve them quickly.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO,.I am very surprised to read your post, have you really contacted InnuOs regarding your described problems with your Zenith mk3.?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Looks like someone was having a "bad day or two".
Most computer based items tend to have their quirks now and again, usually solved by rebooting and/or keeping the software/operating firmware up to date and contacting the manufacturer as mentioned previously.
However, a post full of problems as started this thread can be looked at in different ways.
Wherever "Volti audio" is located hopefully help can be provided.
 
Every time I sit down to listen to music I have to fight with ZENith computer to get it going. Today I have spent the last five hours, off and on while doing other things, trying to get music to play on my system. Rebooting multiple times, yes the system is up to date, re-login to Qobuz multiple times, sign up for Qobuz again just in case something was up with my subscription, shut down unplug and plug back in multiple times, check the speed of my internet signal, try operating from my Iphone, Ipad, and desktop over and over again, and on and on it goes. I go through at least some of this type of stuff every single time I sit down to listen to music. I don't get to spend much time listening because I'm busy working, but when I do have time, I want to simply turn it on and listen, not fight with a computer.

It is now finally playing music. I have no idea what got it working, it just started up again. Do I trust that it will continue to work for the next couple hours while I try and enjoy some down time listening to music? Nope. But you never know, it could happen.

I honestly can no longer recommend Innuos products to my customers. I'm going to stop suggesting to them that they buy Innuos products. I can't do that to my customers anymore. I have no idea if other music server brands have this trouble too. I suspect they do, since all of these issues have to do with computers, and computers hardware, software, and operating systems all are the most unreliable things we all own. I will not be suggesting any other brands of music servers either. If my customers decide to add this annoyance to their lives, at least they won't be saying Greg recommended this.

Have any of you seen the video promo on the front page of the Innuos website introducing the Nazra music server? Yeah, ok, go there and watch it and read the words on the screen, and while you are doing that just think to yourself the same thing I do. What a croc of sh#t. It's a fricken music server and it's not going to work most of the time without a bunch of fiddling to get it to work. I would be much more impressed if Innuos would simply figure out how to make a product that works each time I sit down to listen to music. Just turn on, connect, and stream music into my system, each time, without having to fiddle with things. That where the research and advancement needs to be Innuos - RELIABILITY. We can worry about sound quality after we get the thing to be as reliable as a refrigerator first.

Seriously thinking about getting a turntable. Although I love my Qubuz lists and the access to so much music via streaming. The promise of what these systems can do is so compelling, but the end result experience is maddening. Switching to vinyl would make things so much easier on the one hand, but so much more difficult on the other. I know it would work every time I sit down to listen to music. Man, what a relief that would be. But then there will be a lot less variety in my music listening. Think of the work involved in listening to ten songs in a row by different artists. Yeah.

You can tell I'm very frustrated today. This has been a lot more of an issue than normal today, but like I said, it's an issue every time I turn the system on. I NEVER can simply turn the system on and listen. At the very least, every time I try to listen to music, I have to reboot my ZENith to get things going. I'm just tired of it. I'm tired of being worked up over it. Music is supposed to be relaxing. Right now I don't even want to try. My experience with the Innuos is turning me off of wanting to listen to music at all. My time is more valuable to me than that. I might be done with this hobby. I can be a speaker designer and builder without listening to music on a fancy system on a regular basis right?

Greg Roberts
Volti Audio
Hi Greg,
Your experience with the Zenith is very unfortunate, and unusual given what we normally read/contribute to here, and on FB groups/social media sites/online groups.
I’ve owned a ZENith mk3, and currently own a ZENith NG, (and both Phoenix USB, NET) and I haven’t experienced any major problems like
what you describe.
You don’t say which version your Zenith is, whether you purchased new or 2nd hand etc. although you say the unit is up to date.
Have you been in touch with your local authorised dealer (who you may have purchased through or not ) or the USA importer and discussed the problems you are experiencing? You appear to be located in Baxter, TN USA so perhaps contact
Atelier 13 Audio
Nashville, TN 37205
??
 
Just for reference, we jumped on to a session for this today and the network router was unable to resolve the DNS, it had no response cache. We manually setup a Google DNS instead to bypass the router, and all is well! No issues with the ZENith.
@Stephen Healy...
As I suspected when I read the post,.a network problem.
As usual,.you are fast and good at solving problems.

Has @Volti Audio apologized for his "provocative" writing.?
 
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Just for reference, we jumped on to a session for this today and the network router was unable to resolve the DNS, it had no response cache. We manually setup a Google DNS instead to bypass the router, and all is well! No issues with the ZENith.

And I bet @Volti Audio will not come back here to apologize for his unneeded rant, especially with the issue being his own router.

Honestly lost some respect for them because of this; ranting, cussing, etc. unbecoming of a professional audio company.
 
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