http://uptoneaudio.com/products/usb-regen
I know this is a bit like chucking a grenade in here, but so be it.
I know this is a bit like chucking a grenade in here, but so be it.
Infiniteloop said:http://uptoneaudio.com/products/usb-regen
I know this is a bit like chucking a grenade in here, but so be it.
Covenanter said:Infiniteloop said:http://uptoneaudio.com/products/usb-regen
I know this is a bit like chucking a grenade in here, but so be it.
Everyone should have one of these IMO.
Chris
Infiniteloop said:http://uptoneaudio.com/products/usb-regen
I know this is a bit like chucking a grenade in here, but so be it.
cheeseboy said:Infiniteloop said:http://uptoneaudio.com/products/usb-regen
I know this is a bit like chucking a grenade in here, but so be it.
not really. Line noise from a usb powered by the computer is documented. I'd be sceptical of the claims they make about making things sound "better" quite frankly (and personally the second anybody says bits aren't bits needs shooting) as there's nothing to back them up, but doesn't mean it won't help in reducing noise on the line and other associated issues. Kind of line devices to remove mains hum if you will.
imho, the fact they don't include any measurements to show the reduction in the things they are talking about, and they only rely on testimonies and talking about "taking things to the next level" etc lead me to believe that it probably works just as well as other powered usb hubs and is overpriced. Again, I've not heard one, but I can't get over the over-use of unfounded marketing claims.
Similar testing of similar devices here http://archimago.blogspot.nl/2015/05/measurements-usb-hubs-and-8khz-phy.html which also references the regen.
Again, just to point out for those that are hard of understanding, I'm not disputing all the claims, just they appear to be overclaiming and overhyping what is basically a single port usb hub.
Infiniteloop said:Except that it re-clocks the data and generates a new data stream right at the closest point to the DAC's inputs.
Infiniteloop said:Interesting that practically everyone responding to this thread does so in the negative without having heard the device in use.
Infiniteloop said:Interesting that practically everyone responding to this thread does so in the negative without having heard the device in use.
Some things are so obviously lobbox you don't need to try them. If I told you your HiFi will sound better if you wear your boxer shorts inside out would you try it. Like a lot of HiFi gizmos, gadgets like this rely on you having just enough knowledge about the subject that their sales spiel sounds credible, but not so much knowledge that you recognise it as the load of old hogwash that it is.Infiniteloop said:Interesting that practically everyone responding to this thread does so in the negative without having heard the device in use.
MajorFubar said:Some things are so obviously lobbox you don't need to try them. If I told you your HiFi will sound better if you wear your boxer shorts inside out would you try it. Like a lot of HiFi gizmos, gadgets like this rely on you having just enough knowledge about the subject that their sales spiel sounds credible, but not so much knowledge that you recognise it as the load of old hogwash that it is.Infiniteloop said:Interesting that practically everyone responding to this thread does so in the negative without having heard the device in use.
Andrewjvt said:Infiniteloop said:Interesting that practically everyone responding to this thread does so in the negative without having heard the device in use.
Thats what ive noticed. Now i dont want to bring up cables but as an example the most negative cable posters have good cables themselves
Infiniteloop said:Interesting that practically everyone responding to this thread does so in the negative without having heard the device in use.
Infiniteloop said:I have waited a while to see what the responses to this post would be and I am not disappointed to find that they are almost entirely predictable.
I have had one of these devices in my Devialet 200 system for a few days now and am ready to report my initial findings. The Regen is very small and fits neatly out of sight under the Devialet's back cover. Of course, I fully expect to be accused of 'Expectation bias' and all manner of other FUD, but frankly I don't care.
The fact is, that to my ears, there is a positive difference to the sound coming through my system with the Regen in place. I have listened to the same music at the same volume (albeit not blindly) and in general I prefer the sound with it in place. The Bass in particular has more weight, is more tuneful and has more texture. At first I didn't think the music was better resolved, but then I found that I was hearing song lyrics more clearly and studio effects were more apparent. For example, in Leonard Cohen's 'Almost like the Blues' the featured background singers were more apparent and more easily discernable. There is also a 'moog-like' swell throughout the track that became more focused and warmer. The track also features a maraccas-like percussion which was much better resolved and more realistic.
Without the Regen, the music was a little grey and smeared by comparison, and the maraccas sound was less resolved and sounded like there was 'slush' inside the instrument instead of grains of something. The background singers receded somewhat and the 'moog' was less apparent.
In fact, transient sounds are better resolved altogether. The Hok-Man Yim Album discussed recently in these forums is spectacular with the Regen in place. You can feel the bass in your chest and the higher, more percussive sounds are quite startling.
The Regen cost me roughly £120. - Around the cost of a nice dinner for two. For that price I am more than happy with the improvement in sound.
I will be trying the Regen in my Valve-based system soon to see what the improvements are with the Chord Qute DAC and will report back in due course.
Whether anyone reading this believes me is entirely up to them, but for those who don't summarilty dismiss devices such as this without hearing them, and who want to explore maxing out what their expensive kit is capable of delivering, it might be worth checking this device out for themselves.
Andrewjvt said:Infiniteloop said:I have waited a while to see what the responses to this post would be and I am not disappointed to find that they are almost entirely predictable.
I have had one of these devices in my Devialet 200 system for a few days now and am ready to report my initial findings. The Regen is very small and fits neatly out of sight under the Devialet's back cover. Of course, I fully expect to be accused of 'Expectation bias' and all manner of other FUD, but frankly I don't care.
The fact is, that to my ears, there is a positive difference to the sound coming through my system with the Regen in place. I have listened to the same music at the same volume (albeit not blindly) and in general I prefer the sound with it in place. The Bass in particular has more weight, is more tuneful and has more texture. At first I didn't think the music was better resolved, but then I found that I was hearing song lyrics more clearly and studio effects were more apparent. For example, in Leonard Cohen's 'Almost like the Blues' the featured background singers were more apparent and more easily discernable. There is also a 'moog-like' swell throughout the track that became more focused and warmer. The track also features a maraccas-like percussion which was much better resolved and more realistic.
Without the Regen, the music was a little grey and smeared by comparison, and the maraccas sound was less resolved and sounded like there was 'slush' inside the instrument instead of grains of something. The background singers receded somewhat and the 'moog' was less apparent.
In fact, transient sounds are better resolved altogether. The Hok-Man Yim Album discussed recently in these forums is spectacular with the Regen in place. You can feel the bass in your chest and the higher, more percussive sounds are quite startling.
The Regen cost me roughly £120. - Around the cost of a nice dinner for two. For that price I am more than happy with the improvement in sound.
I will be trying the Regen in my Valve-based system soon to see what the improvements are with the Chord Qute DAC and will report back in due course.
Whether anyone reading this believes me is entirely up to them, but for those who don't summarilty dismiss devices such as this without hearing them, and who want to explore maxing out what their expensive kit is capable of delivering, it might be worth checking this device out for themselves.
Thanks good review
andyjm said:Infiniteloop said:Interesting that practically everyone responding to this thread does so in the negative without having heard the device in use.
The clock on a high quality DAC should be right on the circuit board, next to the DAC chip. Anywhere else is a compromise. Equally, no high quality DAC should ever get its power from a USB cable.
The right solution is to use a mains powered async DAC that has its own internal clock. If yours doesn't, then the best thing to do would be to save the $175 cost of this device and put it toward a better DAC.
Infiniteloop said:In my case, the Devialet 200 has its own internal very high quality DAC. The Regen plugs directly into the USB socket on the Devialet and feeds it with a regenerated data feed from the source. The theory is that the DAC on board the Devialet gets the purest data stream possible.
Covenanter said:Andrewjvt said:Infiniteloop said:Interesting that practically everyone responding to this thread does so in the negative without having heard the device in use.
Thats what ive noticed. Now i dont want to bring up cables but as an example the most negative cable posters have good cables themselves
When I got my hifi I just bought the cables recommended by the salesman. The money wasn't material to me and I didn't want the hassle of looking around for other stuff, so shrug! Actually I think it is worthwhile buying good interconnects as the purer you keep the source signal the better so I don't regret paying for those. I don't think they do magical stuff though like improving the soundstage, that's just impossible. The speaker cables I do regret spending money on and they will go soon as they are clunky and awkward. I bought a Tacima too as the salesman thought they had an effect and I needed a set of sockets anyway. That's in a drawer as it had no effect and it was big and ugly.
Chris