The Intona is highly recommended!
For now I'm running it in place of the Regen, so it's music server with JCAT USB interface powered by JCAT battery PSU -> Curious Regen link (0.2m) -> Intona USB Isolator -> Curious USB cable 0.8m -> D250.
I did run into an issue. I first used the short Curious link between the Intona and the D250 but there were pops and ticks that increased with higher bit rate music files. After a troubleshooting session I found out that these pops/ticks completely disappeared if I used the short Curious cable before the Intona.
Positives:
- Clarity/less distortion, another veil lifted. More detail is coming through/is discernable, without sounding analytical
- Better, more natural highs/treble
- More air, better separation of voices and instruments without losing coherence
- larger 3D soundstage in all dimensions without blowing things up to unnatural proportions
- Better timbre reproduction, better microdynamics/longer decays for improved musicality and induction of goosebumps
Not sure yet about the bass performance. The Regen seemed to provide a fuller, more powerful sub bass. It could be though that it's simply a tighter/dryer bass now. This could also be because of me powering all using the JCAT battery, linear PSU's are often said to give a more powerful sound character and I powered the Regen using a linear PSU.
Very happy with it but not selling the Regen yet, later I want to try it after the Intona. Some people seem to prefer this setup for added naturality, some seem to prefer it without the Regen. Inserting the Regen again defeats part of the galvanic isolation unless of course one powers it using a battery PSU. The upcoming Regen PSU (should be released somewhere in a few months) should be bery interesting as it seems to provide galvanic isolation, at least Alex of Uptone Audio hinted at this/said it will.
I've read a lot about the Mutec MC-3+ USB and I would like to try it in the future. It's too expensive (~1000 euro) for me to just take the gamble it'll be a keeper so I need to find a dealer that's willing to lend me a demo unit but since it's targeted at a pro audio audience this might prove difficult. No hurries though here, there's still much I'd like to explore first and I like to enjoy listening to music in between as well! ;-)
For now I'm running it in place of the Regen, so it's music server with JCAT USB interface powered by JCAT battery PSU -> Curious Regen link (0.2m) -> Intona USB Isolator -> Curious USB cable 0.8m -> D250.
I did run into an issue. I first used the short Curious link between the Intona and the D250 but there were pops and ticks that increased with higher bit rate music files. After a troubleshooting session I found out that these pops/ticks completely disappeared if I used the short Curious cable before the Intona.
Positives:
- Clarity/less distortion, another veil lifted. More detail is coming through/is discernable, without sounding analytical
- Better, more natural highs/treble
- More air, better separation of voices and instruments without losing coherence
- larger 3D soundstage in all dimensions without blowing things up to unnatural proportions
- Better timbre reproduction, better microdynamics/longer decays for improved musicality and induction of goosebumps
Not sure yet about the bass performance. The Regen seemed to provide a fuller, more powerful sub bass. It could be though that it's simply a tighter/dryer bass now. This could also be because of me powering all using the JCAT battery, linear PSU's are often said to give a more powerful sound character and I powered the Regen using a linear PSU.
Very happy with it but not selling the Regen yet, later I want to try it after the Intona. Some people seem to prefer this setup for added naturality, some seem to prefer it without the Regen. Inserting the Regen again defeats part of the galvanic isolation unless of course one powers it using a battery PSU. The upcoming Regen PSU (should be released somewhere in a few months) should be bery interesting as it seems to provide galvanic isolation, at least Alex of Uptone Audio hinted at this/said it will.
I've read a lot about the Mutec MC-3+ USB and I would like to try it in the future. It's too expensive (~1000 euro) for me to just take the gamble it'll be a keeper so I need to find a dealer that's willing to lend me a demo unit but since it's targeted at a pro audio audience this might prove difficult. No hurries though here, there's still much I'd like to explore first and I like to enjoy listening to music in between as well! ;-)
PS Audio P3, Shunyata ΞTRON Alpha Digital and HC/Furutech power cables, Paul Hynes SR7EHD-MR4, DIY Roon Server & Roon Endpoint running AudioLinux Headless, Phasure Lush^2 USB cable, Audioquest Diamond RJ/E ethernet, Uptone Audio etherREGEN, Mutec MC-3+ USB, Shunyata ΞTRON Anaconda Digital XLR AES/EBU, Devialet Expert 250 Pro CI, Nordost Tyr Reference LS cables, Von Schweikert VR-5 SE Anniversary Edition, Anti-Mode Dual Core 2.0, JL Audio Fathom F112. More detail here.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands