Innuos Zenith SE

Posted by: analogmusic on 30 May 2018

Just read a review of this on the ear website, Jason Kennedy full of praise.

It's also a 5000 GBP server, blimey now that is serious cash.

Not sure if anyone got the chance to compare it to a Uniti core?

Did anyone get the chance to hear the Zenith SE, which apparently got a much improved power supply?

Posted on: 31 May 2018 by ChrisSU
Foot tapper posted:

Indeed Chris.  At the other end of the scale from the Zen Mini, I find that a Melco + Chord DAVE to be more musically satisfying than the Melco + NDS/555PSDR. 

Equally, it's okay having Naim streamers as Roon Ready endpoints (if this is the correct term), but Naim needs a Roon server with the processing power to do it properly (i.e. with DSP running if required) - something that standard NAS drives from Synology or QNAP cannot do.

To obtain a decent Roon server, we have to look outside the Naim family and I'd prefer to stay in the family if possible.  Hence the post above.

Best regards, FT

Making the Naim Core run as a Roon Core would seem luke a neat solution for those who want Roon. Then you really could run it into a DAC as a complete digital source. 

Still, it could be early days yet. If Naim produce a Classic level server to replace the HDX, and an NDAC 2, who knows what we might get in terms of 21st century functions. Or not!?

Posted on: 31 May 2018 by nbpf

The mk3 Zen Mini comes with S/PDIF outputs and optional outboard linear power supply, according to darko.audio.

Posted on: 31 May 2018 by ChrisSU
nbpf posted:

The mk3 Zen Mini comes with S/PDIF outputs and optional outboard linear power supply, according to darko.audio.

Interesting - at least if you want to run it into an NDAC, as Naim's preferred digital input seems to be coax SPDIF. 

Posted on: 31 May 2018 by nbpf
Foot tapper posted:

Hi Phil, understood. 

All these servers from Melco, Innuos and Antipodes are highlighting a new product opportunity for Naim, essentially a Naim version of the Antipodes CX that rips, serves, acts as a Roon Core, handles services such as Spotify Premium, TIDAL, Qobuz etc..

Just sayin'

Best regards, FT

What you are describing is what the Naim Core could and should have been. Naim have missed this opportunity and instead came out with a UnitiServe mk2 in 2017. Too bad that the software design was 10 years old and that the new implementation was full of bugs. Now we seem to have some possibly meaningful products from Innuos and Antipodes. I guess that there will be something new from SOtM before the end of the year. And then there is the Bryston BPD-3 that none thought would ever come into being! We will see what these devices do actually bring to the game: in the meantime, one can get a very decent sound from a Raspberry Pi with an Allo DigiOne I2S to S/PDIF interface for about 150$. It's a very modest investment and a good baseline for comparing all the brave new servers/players that Innuos, Antipodes, Naim, etc. will try to bring to our listening rooms.       

Posted on: 31 May 2018 by No quarter

Naim”s philosophy has always been separate boxes,so maybe that is why they kept what is inside the Core to a minimum...

 

 

 

Posted on: 31 May 2018 by French Rooster

naim will sell 3 more boxes in the next months : one for qobuz, one for tidal, and one for roon. 

Posted on: 31 May 2018 by No quarter
French Rooster posted:

naim will sell 3 more boxes in the next months : one for qobuz, one for tidal, and one for roon. 

Don’t forget MQA!

Posted on: 31 May 2018 by French Rooster

and a third fraim for that....

Posted on: 01 June 2018 by Muttonjef

An internal view of the SE

Posted on: 01 June 2018 by French Rooster

the innuos zenith seems to have 2 lan outputs, so a direct connection to the network, like the melco.

I just read a review on hifi advice.com on the melco n1a and sh/ 2, with ch precision dac.  The reviewer found the network direct connection vastly superior to usb.

He also preferred the melco vs the other servers he has reviewed, like the antipodes ex.