This looks like a really interesting option and something I like the idea of.
How do you find the sound? What are you comparing it against? - I was thinking of the digital option and potentially pairing it with a Chord Qutest? I was surprised to see the price the same for the DAC (analog) version the same as the streamer-only versions - the DAC cannot surely be of negligible cost?
Really appreciate your opinion… Thanks!
@Skip: no RCA outs, but 3.5 mm jack and some models have a balanced output. Output can be set to line out. As to Roon: I do not know. Hope this is nevertheless helpful.
The design philosophy of the Emerson is similar to that of the Nait 50. Minimalism at its best.
A Hans Beekhuyzen video (youtube) and a High Fidelity review covers why I purchased the Emerson.
- streamer and DAC
- build quality
- quality components
- simplicity of operation
- short signal path
- music software
- sound quality
Both reviews talked about the power supply needing to be upgraded. When purchased from my local dealer I was given 2 power supplies with the Emerson. The second box had a medical grade power supply upgrade. Interesting.
Overall I’m deeply impressed with the user experience & sound quality from the Nait & Emerson setup. Best described as detailed but smooth and musical as well.
Hope this helps.
For those with a lower budget, WiiM will be announcing a new version of the Pro, the Pro Plus soon (I think Aug.5). It’s supposed to have a better DAC and a bit more space around the RCA plugs. And possibly more that I can’t recall.
The zen mini is great but hopeless with Spotify sadly
-several contacts with support but whilst it appears sometimes in the list of devices it fails/ stops at the end of tracks.
Moorgate are now selling the wiim pro streamer which used to be just an amazon purchase because they think it’s good
I’m aware of the quality limitations of spotify and what I was saying was that sadly the zen mini works poorly with it. Whist I can listen to music I’ve ripped or internet radio on the zen mini and it’s great I can’t listen to spotify effectively in the room where the zen mini is. I can listen to it on any other and far cheaper device! A shame innuos effectively have ignored ‘220 million subscribers in more than 180 markets.’ I’m sure there are far better than the wiim pro but it was merely a suggestion given it’s small form and budget price.
warning: i could not get the bluesound os to stream qobuz from any non-apple tablet despite the support line telling me it works. it did work from an iphone.
I stream with it from an android and a pc with no issues.
I’ve not experienced the same issues you’re having with the Zen Mini. I enabled Spotty in the web interface and can reliably cast to it without interruptions.
I can’t understand why we would have such differing experiences.
Could it be a network issue?
done all of that and talked to support and wont it play ball sadly
Very frustrating for you and a real shame given how good the Zen is for everything else
It’s because it’s a non official Spotify plugin made by the squeezebox community based on open source Librespot. It’s got nothing to do with Innuos really they just add to appease their customers as they don’t want to pay for official license and they can’t really support it as it non proprietary code and is just a hack at the end of the day. Spotify seem to tolerate it as it’s widely used for DIY solutions but they could deny access any time. You want guaranteed stability buy something that officially supports connect.
How does one enable Spotify on the Innuos Web interface? Thanks
May I recommend this budget shoebox solution?
Rega DAC-R, fed optical from a second-gen Apple Airport & an iPad.
What I setup my Naim 5italic with.
RCA-DIN from the Rega.
I’d have liked to go with a Supernait but they are hard to find.
… the ultra- budget version is using just the Airport as the DAC… that & an iPad.
If you wanted to really go ‘source first’ you could try the new dCS Lina with a Nait50. It is shoebox format but £12500
DAC and clock £19k. Ouch!
Lovely compact devices though, two boxes would fit on a shelf nicely.
I genuinely think that the Lina and N50 would be a really interesting listen
Yeah, but what’s Spotify like on it…?
What is the app like to use please?