Innuos ZENith Next-Gen Reference Music Server and Streamer

In a high-resolution system, the digital source sets the ceiling for everything downstream. The ZENith Next-Gen is Innuos's answer for listeners whose DAC, amplifier, and speakers can reveal it: the same flexible Next-Gen platform as the ZEN Next-Gen, with a far more serious power supply, more processing headroom, and a quieter system drive.

The ZEN Next-Gen's flexibility, with reference-grade power behind it.

The Design

The ARC6 NGaN power supply is the heart of the ZENith. Developed from the supply in Innuos's former flagship, the STATEMENT, it pairs a 300VA audio-grade toroidal transformer with active rectification, a high-performance choke, more than 130,000uF of Mundorf capacitance, and Innuos's Gallium Nitride regulation, behind medical-grade mains filtering. Active rectification lowers voltage loss and impedance, giving every circuit inside a deep, quiet reserve of power.

An 8-core Intel Core i7 runs on Innuos's PreciseAudio mainboard, with AudioCore dedicating physical cores to audio and a real-time kernel giving playback first priority. That headroom pays off as a Roon Core with a large library or several zones. The operating system lives on an independently powered, industrial-grade pSLC SSD mounted directly on the mainboard, chosen for its simpler, lower-noise operation.

Like the ZEN Next-Gen, it's housed in a 10mm CNC-machined aluminium chassis with a vibration-damped transformer platform, in black or silver.

Configure It Your Way

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

• S/PDIF board: optical, coaxial, and balanced AES outputs.
• PhoenixUSB board: regenerated, reclocked USB with an OCXO master clock.
• PhoenixI2S board: direct I2S over an HDMI-type socket, eight pin configurations, support to DSD1024.

Run it as a pure streamer, or add 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB internally plus an 8TB expansion drive, up to 16TB in one seamless library. A USB optical drive turns it into a CD ripper.

How It Sounds

Hi-Fi+ named the ZENith Next-Gen the winner of its 2026 Server Award under £15,000. Part-Time Audiophile called it a solid, unshakable contributor every time it was used, a significant step up for the Innuos line. 6moons found it more consistent and more neutral than the ZEN Next-Gen, trading Innuos's traditionally pleasing sonority for greater transparency and realism.

Streaming and Control

The Sense app unifies your library, NAS, and streaming services, including Qobuz, TIDAL, Deezer, HIGHRESAUDIO, and IDAGIO, with Spotify, TIDAL, and Qobuz Connect, internet radio, and podcasts. It also runs as a Roon Core or endpoint, an HQPlayer NAA, or a UPnP server, with two bridged Gigabit Ethernet ports.

Where It Fits

The ZENith Next-Gen sits above the ZEN Next-Gen in Innuos's ZEN Next-Gen series. Choose it when your system can reveal a reference source, or when demanding Roon duties call for its extra cores. ZEN Next-Gen owners can upgrade to ZENith specification through Innuos. To complete the stack, add the Next-Gen NET switch upstream and the Next-Gen FLOW reclocker downstream.

Press Recognition

• Hi-Fi+ 2026 Awards, Winner: Server Under £15,000. See the award at Hi-Fi+
• Part-Time Audiophile (January 2026). The reviewer found the ZENith a solid, unshakable contributor as server, streamer, or both, and a significant upgrade to the Innuos line. Read the review at Part-Time Audiophile
• Stereophile. Stereophile reviewed the ZENith Next-Gen as a streamer-server. Read the review at Stereophile
• 6moons. 6moons found the ZENith more consistent and more neutral than its ZEN sibling. Read the review at 6moons

Deciding between the ZEN and ZENith Next-Gen, or choosing an output board for your DAC? Give us a call. We'll help you configure it.

Specifications

• Type: Reference music server and streamer (digital output only)
• Power supply: ARC6 NGaN; 300VA toroidal transformer, active rectification, high-performance choke, over 130,000uF Mundorf capacitance, Gallium Nitride regulation, medical-grade mains filtering; internal
• Mainboard: Innuos PreciseAudio
• Processor: Embedded Intel Core i7, 8 physical cores, Innuos AudioCore
• Memory: 16GB industrial-grade DDR4
• OS storage: Independently powered industrial pSLC 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, 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
• Software: Innuos Sense; Roon Core and endpoint; HQPlayer NAA; AssetUPnP
• 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: 14.3kg (31.5 lbs)
• Finishes: Black, Silver
• Country of origin: Portugal (handmade in Faro)