Hiya Doug… wow 8TB, you must have a large library!
Did you ever demo the Zen Next Gen and compare it to the Stream 3?
I am going to demo the Stream 3 and Zen NG within the next couple of weeks. But, my curiosity has got the better of me as my dealer also sells Aurender. I’m going to demo the N200 as well.
I’m told the Sense app is very good. Have you found that to be the case?
Basically, I just want to use the Bartók purely as a DAC and use the Server Transport app (Sense or Conductor)
Without opening a can of worms on Easter Sunday, dCS recommends LAN. Innuos recommends USB. Aurender recommends SPIDF. The answer is, to try them all and see which one sounds best.
Your mileage may vary however, imho, what counts is what the DAC manufacturer wants for their equipment. The DAC is the component doing all of the work - the conversion, so they know whats best (for their machine) when it comes to protocols
I went with 8tb to mitigate storage anxiety, and I heard, from a noted source, that the Stream series will ultimately replace the Zen, and that for Roon its every bit as good. And, with a lifetime subscription to Roon, I had no interest in Sense. It does offer the option to use Roon driving HQ player, but I would have to give up my multiple zones to do so.
Most of these servers are based on commercial off-the-shelf motherboards and are consequently subject to COTS computer life-cycles. The Taiko Extreme (€28,000) for example is based on an ASUS WS C621E motherboard that, back when it was available, cost $830.
I just had read up on what you mentioned.
The older Zen MK3 and Statement Next Gen have been replaced by the Stream series, and the Zen and Zenith Next Gen. These are all current models and are part of their future.
I own an Innous Zenith Next-Gen, purchased new in December 2025.
Before purchasing I attended an open house at Paragon Sight and Sound in Ann Arbor. The open house was to showcase Innuos new products, Steam, Zen, Zenith and Nazare.There were representatives from both Innuos and Dcs. Yes Innuos recommends connecting with USB. They also recommend using their Sense app. This is the way to obtain the best sound quality. I also spoke to the Dcs representatives and they concurred.
I currently have a Dcs Bartok Apex and Rossini clock with a Phoenix network switch. I home demoed the Zenith Next-Gen. Sound quality was noticeably better. Purchased the Zenith Next-Gen with optional 2TB storage and the USB board.
Unfortunately since then I have decided to move in a completely different direction with my system.
My Bartok Apex, Rossini clock and Zenith Next-Gen are all for sale. Not because I was unhappy with the products or sound quality, but I recently home demoed a product that I prefer. And a sound that I connected with, felt it was more emotional.
I also attended that same event at Paragon. As each iteration of the demo was limited to 6-8 individuals we sat through in different time slots. Knowing that dCS always suggests that networked and not a USB connection is preferred connection I too asked what would be missing using the Nazare and Varese via Ethernet. The answer was along the lines of Nazare’s secret sauce.
Well dcs even recommend using the built in streamer when you have the £30000, Antipodes Oladra, and to just use it for storage and not a streamer transport. So take from that what you want, but it would be using USB.
I am only an occasional visiter here, having moved over to Wadax. However I caught sight of your posted streaming question and thought to gently add:
I had thought I had gone a long way towards end-game upgrades until I tried out a foolish sounding change of router being discussed on a popular high end USA based forum. Basically it meant changing to a very cheap Tp-link WR902ac portable router with 5v battery power from a Anker USB battery bank. A google search will bring you to the page I am sure. There are additional hacks and upgrades included in the now 72 page thread.
This turned my understanding of what I thought I knew about streaming and HiFi on its ear. I very strongly suspect that what has been revealing for me, will be so for dCS users too if they are willing to break away from traditional practices and give a new (and very economical) hardware method a try.
Given that I have moved to another camp, I suspect my views may not carry the weight of others who are camped out on this forum!
Sounds like you had better luck than me with Innuos.
Over the past 24 hours, I have home demoed the Stream 3 and Zen Next Gen.
The Zen Next Gen had the USB module.
The Stream 3 had no module.
A: I could not hear any difference between the two units, neither could my partner.
B: I put the Zen Next Gen up against UPnP MinimServer on my M4 iMac. (Via Mosaic) I could not hear any difference, neither could my partner.
To make matters worse (For the dealers) I also home demoed Chord Epic XL Speaker cable, at £215 per metre against Kudos KS-1 speaker cable at £35 per metre! I would need 2x5metres.
Guess what? The sound was exactly the same. In fact, my partner thought the Kudos KS-1 was a tad better on one of the test tracks.
I’m a dealers worst nightmare!
I don’t mean in any way to degrade the equipment you havein. I have no idea what equipment you own.
I do know that you need to have very revealing equipment to hear a difference. I have heard an a/b comparison between the Innuos Stream1 vs. Stream3. Same system, switching from the Stream1 to the Stream3. The Stream3 definitely sounds better. And the Zenith Next-Gen would sound better than the Stream3. As long as your system is revealing enough.
No you are not, it’s called being honest to yourself, no point in buy stuff if it doesn’t make a difference to you, all you are doing it buying the dealer his next holiday, etc.
So many people buy stuff and then talk themselves into it being better, just because, having the balls to say err no,I can’t hear a difference is the right think to say and not be scared to do so.
The real reason why “highend” Server vendors, like Innuos and Taiko Audio ($100K Servers), keep pushing the narrative that USB sounds better is because it’s the only way for them to demonstrate value, by adding proprietary hardware [on top of standard off-the-shelf commercial Compute motherboards] to try and mitigate USB’s inherent weakness; the lack of galvanic isolation, and the lack of error correction from the isochronous mode that USB audio streaming employs.
Don’t fall for it. As a technology, Ethernet streaming is far superior on both counts. USB is the equivalent of TOSLink in modern audio
dCS recommends LAN. Innuos recommends USB. Aurender recommends SPIDF. The answer is, to try them all and see which one sounds best. 
That’s a very expensive NAS!