I was wondering if you think Innuos Statement is worth the asking price in comparing to Innuos Zenth MK3+PhxNET. Afterall the Statement is more than double the cost of the next in line.
Short answer: YES!
As you know (and you are among some culprits!) I started my “digital” journey very recently. The biggest leap was from MacMini to ZENith MK III, night and day difference literally! Then I added the PhoenixNET to the equation and it brought an improvement clearly audible. Next step was the PhoenixUSB, once more happy of my purchase even if the level of improvements would be considered less impactful. Each Phoenix here in Italy had a cost around 2/2.5k euros, so more affordable than higher prices on US market. I was thinking at the time to be settled in my digital rig, considering the expensive Statement in some way a stupid purchase compared to gear already present in my system. You know I like the analog sound, here Innuos excels IMO. Smoothness, warmth (the right amount), clarity, texture and most of all realism. As for soundstage I frankly didn’t noticed enormous changes, maybe more in depth but subtle. Here the MK II is unbeatable, really another league.
Until my dealer offered me a BIG discount for the deal! Dang!
I had several emails with Innuos staff and directly with the owner, Nuno Vitorino. He convinced me to keep the PhoenixNET because paired with the Statement it could bring an even higher performance. Couldn’t agree more.
In conclusion: I could live with ZENith-Phoenix combo because they are already a perfect mate and they provide a really remarkable SQ.
What the Statement provides is so much noticeable not in sound signature, similar to my previous units, but in its ability to create “engagement”. Think to push all the qualities I already had a step up but it doesn’t really count. Especially the blacker background is impressive, another level never heard before. What really made me think it’s worths the money I spent was the “feeling”, the ability to keep in touch with the music, the pleasure of listening to something completely lost in a state of grace. Like drinking a glass of red wine riserva from Chianti shire: you can feel the taste of a little village from the past, like voices from the streets, like bread just out the ancient oven in the morning, like nuances of woods and honey and berries. Is it worth 300 euros a bottle? I know you can easily understand what I’m saying! Long story short, after a few hours I stopped any critically listening and simply started enjoying the music. Period!
Looking back, yes I would buy it again.
Also, how does the SQ compare to PST?
You perfectly know I always considered CDs playing a better experience compared to streaming (thanks to PST probably). Once I introduced the ZENith in my system I stopped spinning LPs daily. Or better I started playing them rarely. At the time CDs were still my favorite medium, cleaner, more detailed and open, most of all more unveiled. This gap was considerably reduced when I added the Phoenix (NET especially) and comparisons became so difficult to judge. Then arrived in my life together at the same time both the Statement and the MK II (what a wonderful Christmas holiday, do you remember?). Since then, I haven’t noticed anymore differences. I really cannot say if it comes from the DAC or the streamer stuff. What I certainly know is that nowadays I can try to analytically listen CDs and Quobuz albums (even 44/16) without noticing any difference at all. And I’m liking more streaming for a lot of reasons, at a degree that I rarely play CDs.
Curious to know if all I declared above will be confirmed when my room will be finished (it takes a little more time but today I’m going to switch on the system and put back LPs and CDs on the shelves, YEAH! Can’t wait, I’m frying).
Sorry for the long long post. I know you are weighing carefully your options about your next purchase and this required an exhaustive answer on my part. Hope that helps.
n decision