Finding My Endgame Network Streamer

This month, Matt from Audio T Cardiff is heading back into the world of network streaming. This time, however, he is playing for keeps.

As regular readers will know, Matt has tried several streaming options over the years without finding one that ticks every box. Turntables remain his first love, but even the most committed analogue enthusiast occasionally has to embrace the digital world.

Has he finally found the missing piece of his seemingly never-ending hi-fi jigsaw puzzle? The brand is Innuos, but which model has he chosen?

Let’s find out…

Back to the World of Streaming

Here I am again, looking at network streamers. This time, as the old saying goes, I’m playing for keeps.

Earlier this year, I took a road trip with my good friend Andy from our Swansea store to Audio T Reading for a training and listening session with the team from Innuos.

During the session, we listened to the Innuos Stream1, Stream3 and, finally, the rather spectacular Nazaré. The name comes from the Portuguese town famous for producing some of the largest waves in the world, which seems appropriate for such an imposing piece of equipment.

We had a fantastic time listening to the different models, but it was the Stream1 that really caught my attention. It delivered a seriously impressive performance while remaining much closer to my budget than the Nazaré, which is slightly out of reach for little old me!

That brings us to the focus of this blog: the Innuos Stream1 and its partnering LPS1 linear power supply.

A Little About Innuos

Innuos was founded in 2009 by Portuguese computer science engineers Nuno Vitorino and Amelia Santos.

The idea began when Nuno started assembling his own music-streaming system from off-the-shelf components and open-source software. He wanted a dedicated device that could store digital music, connect easily to a hi-fi system and be ready to play without needing to boot up a computer or navigate several different applications.

The systems he created proved popular through online marketplaces, revealing a clear gap in the market. What began as a personal project gradually developed into a full-time business for Nuno and Amelia.

Since then, Innuos has built an extensive range of music servers, network players, streamers, network switches, reclockers and linear power supplies. The company has developed its own operating system since 2016 and launched its Sense control app in 2020.

Innuos products are now available around the world, supported by an international team and the company’s manufacturing and research facilities in Faro, Portugal.

Sound quality, ease of use, innovation and attention to detail remain at the heart of what Innuos does.

Innuos Stream1 Features

Before getting into the listening session, let’s take a closer look at what the Stream1 offers.

CX Power Technology

The Stream1 uses Innuos’ CX Regulator module to provide an extremely low-noise power supply to its digital output section.

This isolated signal is powered by a medical-grade filtered external switching power supply, helping the Stream1 deliver a clean and controlled performance.

Flexible Storage Options

An optional M.2 NVMe SSD can be installed, allowing the Stream1 to store and manage your digital music library through the Innuos Sense app.

Factory-fitted storage options include 1TB, 2TB and 4TB capacities. Owners can also install their own compatible storage.

Optional LPS1 Linear Power Supply

The matching LPS1 takes the performance of the Stream1 considerably further.

It features a 150VA toroidal transformer and premium Mundorf capacitors, providing cleaner power and greater clarity. A second Nichicon-regulated DC output can also power compatible accessories, including external DACs and network switches.

Compact Design

The Stream1 uses a compact, half-width case with a substantial 10mm CNC-machined aluminium front panel.

Its design matches the LPS1, allowing the two units to be stacked or positioned side by side. The Stream1 is available exclusively in black.

Powerful Processing

The latest Stream series mainboard uses a 13th-generation Intel quad-core processor and 8GB of industrial-grade DDR5 RAM.

The operating system is stored on a dedicated, power-loss-protected TLC SSD. Innuos also uses Real-Time Kernel technology derived from its ZEN Next-Gen series to provide fast and responsive operation.

Modern Connectivity

The Stream1 includes USB-C connectivity for high-speed storage drives, compatible DACs and charging smart devices.

A USB optical drive can also be connected for ripping CDs directly to the Stream1’s internal storage.

Two 2.5Gb Ethernet connections are provided, including a bridged Streamer output that can supply a network connection to another device.

Customisable Output Modules

One of the Stream1’s most interesting features is its selection of optional output modules. This allows the player to be configured around the requirements of your system.

Standard DAC Board

RCA analogue output
Optical and coaxial S/PDIF outputs
Supports PCM playback up to 24-bit/192kHz

Performance DAC Board

Latest-generation AKM DAC
High-quality TCXO clocks
Supports PCM playback up to 32-bit/768kHz
Supports native DSD playback up to DSD512
Independent power supplies for the digital and analogue stages
Gold-plated RCA connections

PhoenixUSB Board

Regenerated and reclocked USB output for compatible Class 2 USB DACs
High-precision 3ppb 24MHz OCXO clock
Ultra-low-noise LT3045 linear regulators
Clean 5V power line for the connected DAC

S/PDIF Board

Coaxial, optical and AES digital outputs
Supports PCM playback up to 24-bit/192kHz
Optimised low-noise power supply
High-quality gold-plated connections

The in-house-developed Innuos Sense app handles music playback, library management and system control.

Connecting the Stream1 to My System

As regular readers will know, my ever-growing hi-fi system contains quite a lot of Cyrus equipment, including the excellent Cyrus 40 Amp.

You might therefore expect me to use the ESS DAC built into the Cyrus amplifier. However, I decided to change things around and use the AKM Performance DAC installed in the Stream1.

I connected the Stream1 to the amplifier using my Chord Shawline interconnect, which I know extremely well.

I also listened to the Stream1 both with and without the partnering LPS1 power supply. This allowed me to hear exactly what the LPS1 was bringing to the performance.

The amplifier was warmed up, the coffee was brewed and, naturally, the packet of custard creams came out.

It was time to listen…

The Listening Session

I listened to quite a lot of music during my time with the Stream1, but I narrowed the playlist down to three tracks:

Metallica – Astronomy
Garage Inc. (1998)

The Band Feel – Fly Birdy Fly
Into the Sun EP (2025)

Pearl Jam – Crazy Mary
Vs. 2011 remaster, streamed edition

As David Lee Roth once said, “It’s showtime.”

Metallica – Astronomy

Naturally, I started with Metallica and turned the volume up. Not quite to 11, though. That could become rather uncomfortable once the amplifier starts producing square-wave distortion!

The track fades in quietly with James Hetfield’s heavily processed guitar tone. Even without the LPS1, the Stream1 revealed plenty of fine detail during this opening section.

However, I still felt there was more to uncover.

Adding the LPS1 really brought the Stream1 to life. The presentation became more controlled and authoritative, particularly when Hetfield’s vocals entered and Lars Ulrich’s drums kicked in.

The track developed a much bigger live feel as it built towards Kirk Hammett’s guitar solo. His guitar had greater texture and bite, while the solo carried a sense of raw emotion that I had rarely experienced from a network streamer.

The Stream1 and LPS1 combination did not simply make the track sound more detailed. It made it feel more exciting.

The Band Feel – Fly Birdy Fly

The Band Feel provided a useful contrast to the weight and intensity of Metallica.

The Stream1 handled the lighter and more spacious presentation with ease, allowing the music to flow naturally without sounding forced or overly processed.

However, it was the final track that really grabbed my attention.

Pearl Jam – Crazy Mary

Crazy Mary opens with Eddie Vedder’s vocals, which sounded beautifully controlled and full of emotion.

I could hear the movement of his breath around the microphone. There were also small details surrounding the performance that I had never properly noticed before, including the slight hum from Mike McCready’s Stratocaster pickup.

The Stream1 also created greater separation between McCready and Stone Gossard’s guitars, giving each instrument a clearer position within the recording.

One of the biggest surprises was Jeff Ament’s electric upright bass. I had never fully appreciated that this was the instrument being used on the track until I heard it through the Stream1.

There was considerably more definition as he moved between notes. The rotary speaker effect applied to the bass created something similar to a phaser, but with a more natural, open and organic character.

These small musical details kept pulling me back into the track and strengthened my emotional connection with the performance.

Vedder sings with incredible rawness and emotion, and the rest of the band matches him throughout. The Stream1 brought all of this to light without making the recording sound clinical or dissected.

My Final Thoughts

As regular readers will know, my journey through the world of hi-fi seems almost endless. However, experimenting with different equipment and discovering the right synergy between components is a large part of the fun.

The title of this blog describes me rather well. I am very much an analogue man when it comes to music playback, and turntables will probably always be my first love.

Network streaming can lose some of the tactile experience that makes vinyl so enjoyable. However, with the right streamer and DAC, it can reveal an extraordinary amount of musical information.

You begin to notice the hum of a guitar pickup, the movement of a musician’s fingers and the breath around a vocal microphone. More importantly, the equipment allows these details to contribute to the music rather than distracting from it.

The Innuos Stream1 certainly brought these finer details to life in my system. Adding the LPS1 delivered an even more controlled, open and engaging performance.

Have I finally found my endgame network streamer?

I think I may have.

Of course, you should not simply take my word for it. Pop into Audio T Cardiff and have a listen for yourself. You might be surprised by the hidden details waiting inside your favourite recordings.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.

Matt Aaron - Audio T Cardiff

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to contact us.

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