Innuos Statement Music Server
If you would like a deeper dive into Innuos as a company and its philosophy, please read my review of their ZENith Mk3 1T Black Music Server ($4249). As promised in that review, here we have a review of Innuos’ top music server, aptly called Statement. The $13,750 Statement is a no-holds-barred entry into the super server sweepstakes. With apologies for the alliteration, the ‘super’ is appropriate—the Statement will be compared to some very serious high end digital players. With the Statement, Innuos has joined an exclusive club after only four short years of manufacturing. Quite remarkable.
Interestingly, as this type of storage device becomes more de rigueur in a high end system, prices have been creeping up. A music server is basically a computer with a high end audio personality, meaning incredibly quiet power supplies (and many other attributes) bringing extraneous noise down to micro levels (there’s so much of it on standard computers through processing, apps, etc), leading to smoother, effortless digital sound for the DAC to apply its magic. Expect to spend several thousands to get top quality servers.
Innuos’ ZENith Mk 3 1T Black will get you in the smooth, detailed, dynamic club for less than 5 grand, but if you want the present day ultimate in digital playback, you’ll have to up the ante a lot more. More finesse, more refinement, more soundstage, more realistic timbre equals more bucks. And, not in price/performance lockstep.
If digital is your thing and you are a progressive, always-on-the-lookout audiophile, then you may already know what your 2020 ‘end of journey’ looks and sounds like. For me, it’s vinyl, do or die—only when music servers became a ‘thing’, made by companies such as Antipodes and Mojo Audio with equally fine DACs from Bel Canto, PS Audio, T+A, Mytek HiFi and others, did I accept storage and streaming digital (non CD) as a musically viable playback.
The Innuos Statement is available in black or silver. LED colour is changeable from default blue.
Does this playback approach what I’m hearing listening to orchestras and attending concerts of all types (ah, the memories) and match the emotional wallop vinyl gives me?
I’ve heard the Innuos Statement under show conditions. It was mightily impressive connected to gear by Vinnie Rossi, Anticables and Spatial Audio. The combination was playing music beautifully. I was intrigued.
Once again, I’d like to thank Mark Sossa of distributor Well Pleased Audio Vida, Mandy De Castro, Event Manager of Innuos and Emmanuel Le Quéré, North American Sales Manager of Innuos, for their kind considerations.
My Use
As with the ZENith, the Statement arrived in a Pelican case, but this time a bespoke model built as travel luggage with a pull handle (for travelling review model only). Very cool. The package had a 65lb shipping weight. Thus, the two chassis Statement was delivered by UPS from Montreal safe and sound.
You can see my Statement in a short, introductory video on our YouTube Channel (please subscribe).
The two box Statement is meant to be placed on top of each other connected by two short umbilicals (provided) with the ultra sensitive top server/streamer/ripper box sporting specialized feet.
As with any component of this pedigree, I matched ancillaries in quality and price. I showered the Statement ($13,750) with high end goodness—the mighty MBL N31 CD/DAC ($15,400), a Nordost Frey 2 USB Cable ($599.99—review forthcoming) and an Allnic Audio L-7000 Preamplifier ($16,500). All told, about 30 grand in digital playback. With pre/power (another 30Gs), 15 thousand in cables and accessories and a further 15K for the speakers, the Statement was in very good company.
The Statement was a reviewer unit and well broken in. My unit had 1T of SSD storage. Up to 8 is available, bringing the MSRP to a maximum of $17,000.
Computer/Mobile Phone/Tablet
Setup was simple via the My Innuos website and the Roon app on my iPhone 11 Pro Max. Although the Statement can be used as a Roon Endpoint, I chose to use it as my Roon Core. Streaming was via Qobuz. My MBL DAC does not have MQA support, so I used the FLAC stored on the Statement’s hard drive and Qobuz HiRes recordings as review repertoire. I did not rip a CD. I’m assuming the drive’s performance is much like that of the ZENith’s. Fast, accurate and efficient.
Unlike my review of the ZENith Mk.3, where my digital ham fisteness used UPnP before I figured out the Roon integration, I completed this review using the Statement as my Roon Core only. I’m assuming with the exponential growth of Roon, many prospective purchasers will be using the software. But, no matter, the native Innuos OS is comprehensive, with Roon or used natively.
As Innuos says:
InnuOS’ unique innuOS operating system was developed in-house and allows complete Music Library management from your tablet, smartphone, or computer. Ripping CDs, importing music, editing album data (including covers), playing, streaming and backing up your music library can all be performed from the comfort of your smart device.
innuOS also contains many intelligent features to help organise your Music Library, such as their rule-based music import engine and Assisted CD Ripping mode. innuOS can also run in Roon Core or Roon Bridge mode.
Connection is simple. Required Network ethernet cable (Audioquest Cinnamon) connection from the Statement’s LAN port to my router, DAC USB 2.0 to Innuos DAC port (the Nordost USB). Power cable provided is standard IEC, substituted with the Nordost.
You may add a separate streamer via a port on the rear.
It’s now you access the Innuos OS dedicated webpage. This step was necessary for me to configure Roon from UPnP. Simply, ‘Enable Roon’—check; ‘Use as Roon Core’—check.
Features
As you would expect with a $9000 jump in price over the already very fine ZENith Mk.3, the Statement has a lot of digital upgrades with many added refinements. Although the digital world seems to change with the wind, in the here and now you can expect the Statement to boast just about every tweak available to digital designers.
For the completist, read here. But highlighting just a few features, they include:
New linear power supply architecture with 8 independent PSU Rails
EMI-optimised motherboard exclusively designed for Innuos
Custom-designed Ethernet and USB Reclockers with 3bpp OCXO clocks
10mm CNC-machined aluminium chassis
8GB RAM with 4GB In-Memory Playback
New Generation Quad-core Intel CPU
Specifications
Audio Outputs: Re-clocked USB 2.0 supporting USB Audio Class 2 DoP, Native DSD and MQA
Re-clocked dedicated Ethernet Streamer Port
Connectivity: 2 x rear panel RJ45 Bridged Gigabit Ethernet; 2x USB 2.0 (1x re-clocked, 1x non-reclocked), 1x USB 3.0 (Backup)
Formats: Red Book CD, CD-R, CD-RW, FLAC (zero compression), WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALACAAC, MP3, MQA (with supported DACs)
Sample Rates: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4KHz. 192kHz, 352.8KHz, 384KHz , up to DSD128 via DoP, Native DSD on selected DACs; 16bit, 24bit, 32bit
User Control: Web Browsers from iOS, Android (4.0 and up) or up-to-date Windows and OS X browsers; App for iPhone/iPad, Android and Windows 10
TEAC Slot-loading drive
1TB SSD with Vibration and EMI treatment (as of Nov 2020,, up to 8T available)
Streaming & Storage: Integrated UPnP Server, Qobuz, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Internet Radio, Roon Core and Roon Bridge
Internet connection to access album metadata when storing CDs, Internet Radio, Streaming Services and software updates
Network router with at least one available ethernet port
Premium subscription required for some streaming services such as Spotify, Qobuz and Tidal
iPeng 9 (iOS), OrangeSqueeze (Android), Squeeze Control (Windows 10)
230V AC / 115V AC – 8x Internal Linear Power Supply
20W when idle, 35W peak
Main: 90 x 420 x 350mm (H x W x D)
Power: 110 x 420 x 350 (H x W x D)
Main: 8.2kg
Power: 13.4kg
New Custom Motherboard with reduced EMI
Innovative Triple-Linear Power Supply with ultra-low noise regulators and premium Mundorf Capacitors
Asymmetrical isolation feet inspired by the ZENith SE
SSD Storage with newly improved vibration and EMI treatment
Medical-Grade Mains Filter
Sound
I began purposefully, unlike with the ZENith, by listening to Leonard Cohen’s ‘That Don’t Make it Junk’ from Ten New Songs, but streamed via Qobuz rather than natively via a FLAC file and UPnP. The Qobuz file was HiRes WAV 96kHz 24bit. I immediately felt a warm, human connection to the performance when heard on the ZENith, but the Statement made the track sound just as warm, just as convincing, but with even greater conviction, more authority. Unlike some, who suggest they hear a significant difference between NAS storage and streaming, I can’t say that I did on the Innuos/MBL combo. The quality of Roon integration is imperative, here. If you read my Mytek HiFi Manhattan DAC II review, you’ll note that I found the streaming card (a $995 add on) inferior to the Antipodes CORE Music Server. On this Statement/Qobuz file, Cohen’s voice was placed even more specifically by the engineer and his guttural delivery was more pronounced. As impressed and surprised I was with the ZENith performance, it was doubly so for the Statement.
And the same for one of my favorite vocalists, Gregory Porter. I heard his album, Liquid Spirit, on a million dollar Tidal Germany system set up by Doug White at the last RMAF gathering. It was mesmerizing—server duties that day by the top of the line Antipodes Audio, about the same price as the Statement. Of course White’s ten times my price system was much better—probably the finest high end (digital) audio sound I have ever heard—but the Statement and my gear was incredibly musical, matching the talents of Porter every bar.
I quickly cued my favourite digital classical recording, played as I did on the ZENith, streamed via HiRes file on Qobuz. Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2 played by Maria João Pires with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Bernard Haitink. Oh, what a sound.
From the opening dotted rhythmic statement by the orchestra, anybody, even with lint in their ears, will know they are in for a digital treat. Listen carefully for the air around the orchestra, the timbre of the violins and the sweetness of the flute, both the initial articulation and beautiful decay.
Other than sundry Innuos performances in show rooms various, and the aforementioned Tidal Germany setup, I’ll use probably my favourite recent digital experience as a comparison. The sound was so good at this event, to be compared to it in definition and musicality is the highest compliment.
The event was the 2019 Toronto Audio Show in the Rockport Technologies room. Rockport’s owner, Josh Clark curated the room, equipment synergy and chose the repertoire (after taking a few Audiophilia team requests). The deciphering ability of the dCS Rossini DAC delivered several famous digital recordings unencumbered by fame or hype. They sounded very disappointing, Solti’s Mahler Symphony No. 3 and Abbado’s Miraculous Mandarin chief among them, the 80s early digital not holding up well under he severe light of 2019 technology. After the Audiophilia team’s biased, favourites suggestions failures, Clark took control and played a Biber Mystery Sonata by Rachel Podgett on HIP violin via the dCS Rossini. Amplification and preamp duties were by Audio Research; Clark was using his ‘entry-level’ speakers, the Atria II (to be reviewed by me but scheduling delayed several times because of this damn Covid). Clark’s superb choices retuned my ears almost immediately. The effect was mesmeric.
Although Clark’s Atria II speakers were better than my reference (about 12K more expensive than my Altas) and I’m a dCS fanboy, I’d say that my Innuos/MBL combo matched the digital delivery of the dCS setup, meaning, it too is gloriously musical, very dynamic and replicates recorded events better than many high flyers I’ve heard. The Podger Channel Classics recording is lifelike, has a wonderful recorded acoustic and exudes musicality, both of the composer and performer. I never expected that benchmark digital system to be matched by a setup in my place.
Now, if choosing one, Clark’s speakers would give his setup the edge especially if taking a holistic approach. But be sure, match the Statement with a great DAC and fine cables, and you are in for the digital ride of your life.
The Statement’s dedicated USB DAC output has a 5V power line and reclocked by an OCXO clock. This type of super accurate, upmarket clocking improves the quality of streaming services such as Qobuz. As I’ve mentioned, many listeners swear by the sound quality heard from HiRes files stored on the server rather than streaming. I’ve experienced that with other servers and in the aforementioned streaming card of the Mytek jack-of-all-trades DAC. But, while the sounds of Gregory Porter’s wonderful album, Take Me To The Alley and Tom Petty’s Wildflowers sounded exceptional from stored HiRes files, did they trump the streamed version? Possibly—more flesh, more presence, even more truthful timbre? Seriously, I would not want to make that call. I was a perfectly happy and content audiophile file gorging on the massive Tidal HiFi and Qobuz libraries—along with kit like the Statement and the MBL CD/DAC, pigging out on fabulous recordings and unending repertoire is what makes digiphiles out of vinylphiles.
Summary
So, if you have a library of CDs to rip, files of any type on your hard drive, and subscribe to a high quality streaming service (don’t forget Deezer and Primephonic, among others, for quality HiRes), the Statement and a fine DAC will set you free for the considerable future. Until I get my hands on the top of the line dCS and the Rockports finally beat BC Covid delays, I expect the Innuos Statement’s performance will be unmatched chez nous. Very highly recommended.
Further information: Innuos
