Innuos Pulse mini with LPs or Pulse?

[Abolive]

Hello,

My dealer has only the Pulse Mini and I would like some opinions.
I'll stream exclusively. From what I've gathered, the PS of the Pulse may be better than the additional LPSU for the Mini (well the Zen one).
Have some of you compared the 2 iterations? or have an opinion between the SQ of the Zen vs the Pulse (as the Zen is reportedly better than the Mini)?
Many thanks!

 

[skids929]

I have the same question..Likely not alot of comparisons being they are both relatively new products.

 

[tedwoods]

It would be quite difficult to match the power supply in the Pulse with an external one, not only because it's an extremely good but also because it's designed specifically for it.
The Pulse also includes a great D to D converter inside, so its digital outputs cannot be matched by the mini.

 

[skids929]

It would be quite difficult to match the power supply in the Pulse with an external one, not only because it's an extremely good but also because it's designed specifically for it.
The Pulse also includes a great D to D converter inside, so its digital outputs cannot be matched by the mini.

If you lift the lid on the Power Supply in the Pulse and the LPSU from Innuos (which I own) there is very little if ANY difference between them. I also lifted the lid on the Pulse Mini and compared it to the board in the Pulse and there is literally zero difference I can see, other than the AES port on the digital board. You have to remember the Pulse Mini came out long after the Pulse, Pulse is the oldest design in the Pulse line up.

Are there audible differences, I can't say, but based on what I see in the designs of the two pieces they are almost identical. I would love someone to prove me wrong here, but I'd say it would be hard to create an audible difference between Pulse mini with LPSU and Pulse, all things being equal.

 

[tedwoods]

If you lift the lid on the Power Supply in the Pulse and the LPSU from Innuos (which I own) there is very little if ANY difference between them. I also lifted the lid on the Pulse Mini and compared it to the board in the Pulse and there is literally zero difference I can see, other than the AES port on the digital board. You have to remember the Pulse Mini came out long after the Pulse, Pulse is the oldest design in the Pulse line up.

Are there audible differences, I can't say, but based on what I see in the designs of the two pieces they are almost identical. I would love someone to prove me wrong here, but I'd say it would be hard to create an audible difference between Pulse mini with LPSU and Pulse, all things being equal.

Indeed, the digital board is more or less the same with the exception of the added 4GBs of RAM in the Pulse.
But the Pulse power supply (which quoting the Innuos site includes an audio-grade toroidal transformer with epoxy-filled centre for dampening vibration, magnetic screening with coated SYN-SHIELD copper tape between windings and wrapped in black Mylar Tape, over 40000µF of high-end Mundorf Capacitors and a Coilcraft Inductor) seems to be a bit more sophisticated than the Zen line LPSU and available only within the Pulse.
Now, there is no reason why the Zen LPSU won't sound really good with the Pulse mini and in fact, that's what I would do if I were on a budget and also had no need for the D to D board.
BTW, I've owned the Pulse and now the Pulsar, but I distinctly remember the Pulse mini being already available, while the Pulse was yet to be released, something that correlates with their net history and the order they were reviewed as well.
I've took a photo of the Pulse innards and posted it on this thread:

Ramblings: 2022, my year in hi-fi with the Innuos Pulse, SOtM iSO CAT7 and Lampizator Amber 4

2022 was in many respects a particularly bitter year, for the reasons we all know. However, in purely hi-fi terms, it has proven to be quite interesting with numerous new equipment emerging and new thinking proliferating. For my system, I could even say it had a transformative effect, since my...

www.whatsbestforum.com

 

[skids929]

Yes agreed the toroid is different (likely a potted Toroidy). My main interest is two-fold..1) to get the AES connection and 2) to get audible sonic improvement over the Pulse Mini with the LPSU. I really wouldn't be able to answer the question on #2 unless I listen, but based on tests with my eyes seems like a somewhat lateral move. Budget isn't really a concern or I would buy the Pulsar, but that doesn't have AES, yet....I hear they may be implementing it this year or next so I might wait.

The answer to release date with these products is extremely complicated and varied based on country and part availability. My recollection is opposite of yours. What we need is someone to chime in that has listened to both these combinations!

 

[Skypop]

I have a Pulse Mini,and was interested in a LPS for it,has anyone tried one with good success.