Innuos ZEN Next-Gen Music Server and Streamer

A digital source should do two things well: deliver your music with as little electrical noise as possible, and keep up as your system grows. The ZEN Next-Gen was designed from scratch around both. It carries engineering that began in Innuos's flagship servers into a single chassis, and it's built to change with you, from its output board to its storage to a full upgrade to ZENith Next-Gen.

Flagship engineering, built to grow with your system.

The Design

Everything starts with power. The RECAP2 supply combines linear power modules with Innuos's NGaN regulation stage, which uses Gallium Nitride devices tuned for very low impedance and stable delivery to the processor, storage, and output circuits. It's all inside the chassis, with no external adapter.

The PreciseAudio mainboard is Innuos's own design, built for music playback rather than adapted from general computing, with lower latency, lower power noise, and reduced electromagnetic emissions. An Intel Core i3 runs Innuos's AudioCore, which reserves dedicated processor cores for audio, and a real-time kernel that gives playback first priority. 16GB of industrial-grade DDR4 memory keeps a large library responsive, and the operating system lives on its own industrial SSD with power-loss protection.

The chassis is 10mm CNC-machined aluminium with a vibration-damped transformer platform, available in black or silver.

Configure It Your Way

USB output comes standard, supporting PCM up to 768kHz and native DSD512 with compatible DACs. One output bay accepts an optional board, installed by us:

• S/PDIF board: optical, coaxial, and balanced AES outputs, for DACs without USB.
• PhoenixUSB board: a regenerated, reclocked USB output with an OCXO master clock and ultra-low-noise regulation.
• PhoenixI2S board: a direct I2S connection over an HDMI-type socket, with eight selectable pin configurations and support to DSD1024.

Storage is just as flexible. Run it as a pure streamer with no drives, or add 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB internally, plus an 8TB expansion drive for up to 16TB. Innuos's XSM presents both drives as one library. Add a USB optical drive and the ZEN Next-Gen rips CDs with careful drive alignment and rich metadata.

How It Sounds

Reviewers hear a source with real rhythm and focus. Hi-Fi+'s Alan Sircom compared it directly with the earlier ZEN Mk3 and found the Next-Gen tighter, more hypnotic, and far more focused, a clear step up. Hifi Pig's Alan McIntosh didn't want to send his review unit back.

Streaming and Control

Innuos's own Sense app brings your local library, NAS, and streaming services together: Qobuz, TIDAL, Deezer, HIGHRESAUDIO, and IDAGIO, plus Spotify, TIDAL, and Qobuz Connect, internet radio, and podcasts. The ZEN Next-Gen also runs as a Roon Core or Roon endpoint, an HQPlayer NAA, or a UPnP server. Two bridged Gigabit Ethernet ports let you pass the network on to another component.

Where It Fits

The ZEN Next-Gen is the heart of Innuos's ZEN Next-Gen series, alongside the Next-Gen NET switch and Next-Gen FLOW reclocker. Choose it over the STREAM3 when server duties, large storage, or PhoenixUSB and PhoenixI2S outputs matter most; choose the STREAM3 when you'd like an internal DAC. And when you're ready for more, the ZEN Next-Gen can be upgraded to ZENith Next-Gen specification through Innuos.

Press Recognition

• Hi-Fi+ (Issue 240), Alan Sircom. Comparing it with the ZEN Mk3, Sircom found the Next-Gen thoroughly outclassed its predecessor, with tighter rhythm and sharper focus. Read the review at Hi-Fi+
• Hifi Pig, Alan McIntosh. McIntosh was reluctant to send the ZEN Next-Gen back after his review. Read the review at Hifi Pig

Not sure which output board or how much storage you need? Give us a call, and we'll configure the ZEN Next-Gen around your DAC and your library.

Specifications

• Type: Music server and streamer (digital output only)
• Power supply: RECAP2 linear modules with NGaN Gallium Nitride regulation, internal
• Mainboard: Innuos PreciseAudio
• Processor: Embedded Intel Core i3, 4 physical and 4 virtual cores, Innuos AudioCore
• Memory: 16GB industrial-grade DDR4
• OS storage: Industrial-grade SSD with power-loss protection; real-time kernel
• Music storage: None, 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB internal PCIe NVMe; plus up to 8TB M.2 expansion; 16TB maximum (Innuos XSM)
• Standard output: USB audio; PCM to 32-bit/768kHz, DSD256 via DoP, native DSD512 with compatible DACs
• Optional output board (one): S/PDIF (optical, coaxial, AES; PCM to 24-bit/192kHz), PhoenixUSB (reclocked USB, 3ppb OCXO), or PhoenixI2S (HDMI-type I2S, 8 pin configurations, to DSD1024); dealer installed
• Network: 2 x bridged Gigabit Ethernet
• Other connections: 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2; 4mm chassis ground; IEC inlet; HDMI (service only)
• CD ripping: Via external USB optical drive; FLAC or WAV
• File formats: WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, AAC, MP3, DSF, DFF, MQA
• Software: Innuos Sense; Roon Core and endpoint; HQPlayer NAA; AssetUPnP
• Streaming: Qobuz, TIDAL, Deezer, HIGHRESAUDIO, IDAGIO; Spotify, TIDAL, and Qobuz Connect; internet radio and podcasts
• Mains: 115V or 230V AC, switchable
• Chassis: 10mm CNC-machined aluminium, vibration-damped transformer platform
• Dimensions: 420mm W x 365mm D x 105mm H (16.5" x 14.4" x 4.1")
• Weight: 12.7kg (28 lbs)
• Finishes: Black, Silver
• Upgrade path: ZENith Next-Gen, via Innuos
• Country of origin: Portugal (handmade in Faro)