Setting up a Innuos Pulse alongside a Mk3 Zenith

[webster]

Hi
I am a very happy Zenith Mk3 user & am in the process of adding a Pulse as I would like more output options than solely USB.
It's not clear to me how I would set the Pulse up, that is to say would I use Endpoint or Standalone mode & is there likely to be any difference in sound quality between the two?
At the moment I use my Zenith Mk3 in Standalone mode & it is my intention to connect the Pulse directly to the Zenith via its Ethernet Streamer Port.
Just to say I'm not really looking for opinions whether this is a worthwhile addition or whether I should be buying something other than a Pulse - purely some practical guidance & advice.
Thanks.

 

[Stephen Healy]

Hi
I am a very happy Zenith Mk3 user & am in the process of adding a Pulse as I would like more output options than solely USB.
It's not clear to me how I would set the Pulse up, that is to say would I use Endpoint or Standalone mode & is there likely to be any difference in sound quality between the two?
At the moment I use my Zenith Mk3 in Standalone mode & it is my intention to connect the Pulse directly to the Zenith via its Ethernet Streamer Port.
Just to say I'm not really looking for opinions whether this is a worthwhile addition or whether I should be buying something other than a Pulse - purely some practical guidance & advice.
Thanks.

Hi webster, yes it is easiest to put the PULSE in Endpoint mode, because then all you need to do is control the ZENith like normal where your main library is constructed so far, and just change the output Player to the PULSE. That's it! I don't believe there would be any difference in sound due to which mode it is running in. If anything, it would sound better in endpoint mode because from a processing point of view there is a lot less work to do for the PULSE which is operating in a comparatively simpler mode.

 

[webster]

Hi webster, yes it is easiest to put the PULSE in Endpoint mode, because then all you need to do is control the ZENith like normal where your main library is constructed so far, and just change the output Player to the PULSE. That's it! I don't believe there would be any difference in sound due to which mode it is running in. If anything, it would sound better in endpoint mode because from a processing point of view there is a lot less work to do for the PULSE which is operating in a comparatively simpler mode.

Thanks for coming back to me so quickly - much appreciated.

 

[DanCollier]

Further to Stephen’s point, if the main reason you are considering the Pulse is for its AES/Coax output and you only intend to use a single system which it appears to be based on your post, then the STREAM3 would be the better option as an overall upgrade. The Stream 3 can also be fitted with the same SPDIF module used on the Pulse, allowing you to simplify things and keep everything within one system. Although if you already have a USB Dac, the PhoenixUSB lite module instead would almost certainly offer much better performance than that available via Coax or AES.

 

[Stephen Healy]

Thanks for coming back to me so quickly - much appreciated.

No problem! It raises a good point, because the above method is the definitely the more optimal way of doing things. The alternative is to have the PULSE as standalone, but that the means having to the ZENith as a NAS, adding your streaming services again, assembling another library, and ending up in a situation where playlists and favourite artists/albums/tracks lose consistency between the two products. It is definitely best to have a 'central' library, in your case the ZENith, from which other players are simply just network receivers.

And certainly to echo @DanCollier, a slightly more simplistic approach with less cables and boxes, whilst simultaneously also sounding better, would be to trade out the ZENith for a STREAM3 with SPDIF board. For consideration!

 

[webster]

Thanks to both of you for your advice & guidance.
I'm a senior and whilst I don't doubt for a moment the sound improvements you mention I don't have the same confidence, sadly, regarding the efficacy of my hearing.
My confirmation bias, however, remains in rude health