At Audio T Southampton, we’re lucky to be the first store in the company to receive the brand-new Innuos Stream1 Modular Network Streamer/Music Server. This was our first real chance to live with it, and I was keen to see how this compact but powerful little box would perform.

What Is It?

Like the rest of the Innuos range, the Stream1 is designed and hand-built in Faro, Portugal. It’s a flexible piece of kit, purpose-built to work as either a network streamer or a music server.

The starting price is £2,100*, and at that level it’s deliberately stripped back. There’s no DAC or output modules included, and it will only act as a music server once you add SSD storage. From there, though, the real fun begins: you can customise it with optional modules at different performance levels, such as DAC boards, a digital output card, internal storage, and even the new PhoenixUSB reclocker.

It’s also fully Roon ready, so it can act straight away as a Roon endpoint. Alternatively, you can step it up into a full Roon server, giving you control of your library and streaming services from one hub. There’s even an experimental feature that lets it run as both a Roon Core and a dedicated streamer at the same time.

Visually, it’s understated. Apart from a discreet touch-sensitive power button, everything is handled through the Innuos Sense app, which manages playback, your library, and system settings.

First Impressions

Unboxing the Stream1, my first thought was how small it looked compared to what I’d imagined. That said, both the unit itself and the optional LPS1 power supply (£1050*) felt solid and well put together. The packaging was secure, giving me confidence this is a product built to last.

Getting it running was quick and painless. Once connected (system details below), I powered it up and opened the Sense app. The interface struck me immediately: clean, modern, and intuitive. It showed me all the essentials at a glance — file format, bit rate, sample rate — and even highlighted high-resolution tracks with a bold gold “HD” badge.

Listening Time

With everything ready, I linked our store’s Qobuz account and sat down with a coffee to play one of my go-to demo tracks: Mexicana by Opal Ocean. It’s just two Spanish acoustic guitars, but it’s perfect for testing soundstage, tonal accuracy, and separation.

The Stream1 floored me. The depth and clarity were astonishing — every pluck of the strings and every percussive hit on the guitar body sounded vivid and lifelike.

I kept pushing it with other favourites: Put Me To Work by Big Data, PANIC! by Smith & Myers, and a mix of genres beyond. Whatever I threw at it, the Innuos handled it with confidence and musicality.

The Chosen System

To give it a proper workout, I slotted the Stream1 into a system some of you might remember from my blog on the Cyrus 40 Series:

Amplifier: Cyrus 40 AMP with Cyrus 40 PSU
Speakers: ATC SCM40 Floorstanding Speakers
Cables: Chord Company ShawlineX Speaker & Interconnect Cables

This pairing felt like a natural fit, and it allowed the Stream1 to really shine. Every nuance came through, with nothing lost in translation.

Conclusion

The Innuos Stream1 left a strong impression. It combines seamless software, superb sound, and the flexibility to grow as your system evolves. You can start small, then expand with storage, DAC upgrades, or output boards until you’ve built something truly reference-level.

What really appeals is its sense of longevity. With Roon support, modular upgrades, and a well-designed app, this isn’t a box you’ll outgrow in a hurry. It’s as easy to live with as it is enjoyable to listen to, which makes it a compelling choice if you’re looking for a streamer or server that can adapt to you over time.

Of course, nothing compares to hearing it in person. So if you’re curious, come down to your local Audio T and give the Stream1 a listen. I think you’ll be just as impressed as I was.

Thanks for reading,

Tiago - Audio T Southampton

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