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Author Topic: UpTone Audio USB "Regen"  (Read 4948 times)

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Judeus

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UpTone Audio USB "Regen"
« on: June 01, 2015, 08:59:13 AM »
http://uptoneaudio.com/products/usb-regen

Anyone heard of this? There seems to be a lot of hype about it over on the computer audiophile forum.
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Solderdude

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Re: UpTone Audio USB "Regen"
« Reply #1 on: June 01, 2015, 10:07:42 AM »
Similar to Schiit Wyrd in functionality.

Both do not offer galvanic separation but do reclock (USB hub chip) and use low noise voltage regulators to supply the load with a clean 5V.
Don't know which of these would have lower output jitter induced by the chip/clock generator.

Wyrd is bigger in size and cheaper and has a power supply with a real transformer (so less common mode garbage from mains).
Uptone Regen is smaller in size, more expensive and has a SMPS (arguably inducing more common mode garbage from mains).

My preference would be for the Schiit for financial, esthetic and power supply reasons (don't own any Schiit nor think/feel I would need it).

Would like to see some measurements of jitter reduction in DAC's when using a known jittery DAC with and without these devices used in synch and asynch mode.
Maybe someone already did and posted it somewhere ... would like to see a link for this.
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Judeus

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Re: UpTone Audio USB "Regen"
« Reply #2 on: June 01, 2015, 10:12:03 AM »
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/uptone-audio-regen-listening-impressions-24078/

some pretty insane claims in this thread. The designer John Swenson said that the product is similar to the ward but superior in its designed purpose of reclocking the packets.
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Solderdude

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Re: UpTone Audio USB "Regen"
« Reply #3 on: June 01, 2015, 10:18:21 AM »
I know what John S said .... I would say that too if I sold it.  8)

Don't see Schiit talking Schiit like that.
Also do not see John S. not backing it up with some measurements showing superiority with competitive products..
Subjective reports are just what they are ...

I hope someone gets out their measurement kit and ends this 'mine is better' debate with hard evidence  :)p17
« Last Edit: June 01, 2015, 01:48:59 PM by Solderdude »
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firev1

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Re: UpTone Audio USB "Regen"
« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2015, 03:12:08 PM »
Well I did a couple of measurements with both synchronous and async devices before though to note that both are relatively inexpensive. In my experience, subjectively it works but not for everything. Curious about the Uptone and frankly might be a purchase many months down the road. 

ODAC


Async Stoner Acoustics DAC
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maverickronin

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Re: UpTone Audio USB "Regen"
« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2015, 03:22:22 PM »
That's better than most audiophile "tweaks".  It's at least measurable.

Not sure if any of that is actually audible though...
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Solderdude

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Re: UpTone Audio USB "Regen"
« Reply #6 on: June 01, 2015, 05:05:06 PM »
The Wyrd doesn't seem to do much for jitter.
If anything I would say jitter on the ODAC became worse (judging from the wider 11kHz spike) with the Wyrd.

What is apparant is that (RF) noises are reduced using the Wyrd but doesn't remove all of them.
They (Wyrd & Regen) are still directly connected to the source (PC ?) and thus all the common mode garbage still comes though unattenuated over the 'ground' connection and loops aren't broken.

Of course, this is also very dependent on the audio chain behind the DAC and how sensitive that part is to common mode noises.

At least the DAC gets fed with a decent 5V which won't hurt in any case.
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jexby

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Re: UpTone Audio USB "Regen"
« Reply #7 on: June 01, 2015, 05:06:15 PM »
I was one of the first Regen (green light version) owners, and it has made a positive impact on my Gungnir.
(Regen powered by their SMPS and/or iFi iPower 9V)
better clarity in terms of bass definition and some detail extraction improvement.

music was also slightly "louder/clearer" despite never changing amp volume knob.  a commonly reported audible change others at CA reported.
the Wyrd + Gungnir squashed depth of sound stage a tad. (ie. backing vocals brought forward).
Regen did not squash the depth at all.

also note, impact of Regen could also be due to better impedance matching and NOT using a cable between Regen and Gungnir USB port, instead using a USB hard/port adapter.

looking forward to the Regen (amber version) which apparently adds some resistor between power and ground pins, or lifts the ground somehow etc.
won't attempt to repeat the engineering explanations of John S here, and would recommend folks read the CA thread.
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maverickronin

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Re: UpTone Audio USB "Regen"
« Reply #8 on: June 01, 2015, 06:34:11 PM »
Quote from: Solderdude on June 01, 2015, 05:05:06 PM
The Wyrd doesn't seem to do much for jitter
If anything I would say jitter on the ODAC became worse (judging from the wider 11kHz spike) with the Wyrd.

Am I missing something?  I don't see an 11khz spike with the Wyrd + ODAC, but I do see fewer symmetrical sidebands with Wyrd.
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Anaxilus

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Re: UpTone Audio USB "Regen"
« Reply #9 on: June 01, 2015, 07:42:58 PM »
The 'noise' band is thicker post wyrd, but yes the spikes are down.
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