USB Regen from UpTone - Printable Version +- Devialet Chat (https://devialetchat.com) +-- Forum: Devialet Chat (https://devialetchat.com/Forum-Devialet-Chat) +--- Forum: Tweaker's Corner (https://devialetchat.com/Forum-Tweaker-s-Corner) +--- Thread: USB Regen from UpTone (/Thread-USB-Regen-from-UpTone) |
RE: USB Regen from UpTone - Axel - 09-Sep-2015 (09-Sep-2015, 11:21)ogs Wrote:(08-Sep-2015, 12:23)Axel Wrote: I'm a regular reader of Mark Waldrep's blog. Here is his take on the Regen: If you read the second part of the report, Russ Stratton does hear an improvement in sound. I know Mark Waldrep believes that "bits are bits" but if someone hears a difference in sound, then that is sure proof that the Regen works. I don't use USB I'm my system, but if I did, I'd surely give the Regen a go. RE: USB Regen from UpTone - AllenB - 10-Sep-2015 (09-Sep-2015, 13:43)Hifi_swlon Wrote:(09-Sep-2015, 13:34)AllenB Wrote: Well, as someone who does now use a Regen, I can categorically say that it reduces noise and hash on the USB path, which is why I believe that even on an expensive USB cable, the effect is still noticed, as it is passing the noise along together with the actual data. That seems quite plausible, and gives credence to what Uptone say about the Regen and it's purpose. These PHY chips are a source of noise outside of the actual data, and could explain why AIR is not as good as a USB input with Regen IMO. I found with mine that you had to persist for a couple of days, initially you think that it has changed the music, and everything seems more relaxed and quieter, but eventually you realise that the hash has all but gone. Rather than an initial 'wow', you get a later 'ohh wow' RE: USB Regen from UpTone - ogs - 11-Sep-2015 (10-Sep-2015, 07:12)AllenB Wrote:(09-Sep-2015, 13:43)Hifi_swlon Wrote:(09-Sep-2015, 13:34)AllenB Wrote: Well, as someone who does now use a Regen, I can categorically say that it reduces noise and hash on the USB path, which is why I believe that even on an expensive USB cable, the effect is still noticed, as it is passing the noise along together with the actual data. I stand by my my comment on Waldrep; he is honest. I may have been a bit hard on him as he has alloved Russ Stratton to post comments on his site. Stratton says he and his friend did hear differences - also blind. That does not surprise me as the difference with and without a Regen is quite marked in my setup. Now we also have John Westlake's measurements to back up whar we hear.. http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/showthread.php?t=176975&page=46 The measurements are linked in post 687 RE: USB Regen from UpTone - Antoine - 22-Sep-2015 Another review of both the Regen and Jitterbug. This time the Regen was also tested using a linear PSU. http://www.audiostream.com/content/uptone-audio-usb-regen-and-audioquest-jitterbug RE: USB Regen from UpTone - ZincAlloy - 23-Sep-2015 Hi - I've now had this in my system for 2 days. Source is Squeezebox Touch with BOTW LPS, USB cable is a cheap (£50) Chord, can't remember the actual name. Using a Mark Grant power cord to the Regen, purely because I had one lying around. Using the recommended connector, direct to Devialet. To me, it's not a "wow" improvement, but there's no doubt that it has tamed the metallic / sybillant edge that was present before, and the bass is leaner, and less bloomy - a good thing IMHO. It's certainly easier to listen to for extended periods. All in all, for those of us who use an SBT and are (im)patiently waiting for our Dialogues to be supported by our Experts, it's a very worthwhile improvement. It'll also be interesting to find out if it improves the Dialogue, once this is supported. If it doesn't, you can always move it on. ATB, Ken RE: USB Regen from UpTone - Antoine - 29-Sep-2015 (30-Jul-2015, 18:27)Antoine Wrote: The default SMPS PSU that came with the Regen was a dealbreaker for me in my system. Confirmed! Everyone still using that stock SMPS supply with their Regens: get rid of it! (and any and all others in your system!) http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/showthread.php?p=2689811#post2689811 Quote:As expected the Regen switch mode power supply (SMPS) is a disaster area, I avoid SMPS PSU's because they are nothing but a huge bag of hurt and should not be allowed anywhere near a HiFi system... They can be designed for low noise, but then they become far more expensive and requires a skilled designer. RE: USB Regen from UpTone - Hifi_swlon - 29-Sep-2015 Interesting graphs - I'm amazed no-one's posted those graphs over at CA since Regen's inception. It might be worth flagging this over there or to uptone - they seem pretty open to discussing the product. Not having even heard mine yet, this doesn't seem like an ideal situation. There are a few people that pop-up saying a LPS makes them sound better, but Uptone seem convinced that the SMPS is good. Sadly I don't have an LPS to try when mine arrives, and I don't feel like spending another 500-1000 quid on one. If the Regen needed an LPS, I think I'd rather just spend the money on a dedicated streamer hardware and hope that they have made the USB output the best it can be… [edited to say - oh i see - it was from John Westlake's posting over at pfm] RE: USB Regen from UpTone - Antoine - 29-Sep-2015 To put it in perspective a bit, here's what Alex C. wrote: Quote:And with regards to the graphs of SMPS spread spectrum noise that Elberoth posted on this thread's first page, note how far down they are and how high in frequency. I won't defend the $12 SMPS we include with the REGEN (other than that this 7.5V/2.93A/22W model is better than the pile of others we tried in the range), and many people are using the REGEN with LPS units from modest to fancy (our own choke-filtered, dual-output, 5-7A JS-2 being one of them). But let's keep perspective here. Also, a 'well enough' regulated linear PSU (anywhere from 7,5 to 12V) can be bought for a lot less than the 500-1000 quid you mentioned. A popular example under Regen owners (for many of them at least until the Uptone PSU add-on arrives) is this one for example. http://www.ebay.com/itm/111706391166?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Or a UK link to the same type from multiple sellers: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=30W+hifi+Linear+power+supply This one should also do the trick: http://www.ab-system.hk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=64 RE: USB Regen from UpTone - Hifi_swlon - 29-Sep-2015 (29-Sep-2015, 15:46)Antoine Wrote: To put it in perspective a bit, here's what Alex C. wrote: Interesting. Yes, all in perspective is hard for us non-electronics engineers and DAC designers to judge - so I'll judge with my ears. That is if Customs and/or the Post Office ever send the bl**dy thing on to me - it arrived in the UK a week ago! 4 days to get from California to the UK. 7+ days to get from Heathrow to my house (< 15 miles from Heathrow!) And thanks for the LPS links Antoine, thats just what I was looking for (the Regen threads over at CA are a bit on the long side for my attention span)! I had only seen the JS-2, which would be expensive to get over here, and just assumed ebay type ones wouldn't be very good. RE: USB Regen from UpTone - AllenB - 29-Sep-2015 All those graphs tell us is that SMPS are not very nice things to have (as Antoine has said) near a hi-fi system. But didn't someone also point out that the Devialet's own SMPS throws a lot of hash back into the mains. Can you hear this through your Devialet? Not really, one of the first things that struck me when I first got my 200 was how little 'background' noise there is. One thing that I really notice between Regen 'in' and 'out' of my system is noise conveyed by the USB connection from my current MacMini source, even with the supplied Meanwell SMPS. It is a remarkable difference, not tiny small increments. No doubt a LPS will improve over SMPS, as far as the noise measured by those graphs, but as far as my ears tell me, this noise is not audible at the end of the Regen, what I hear is quite the reverse, less noise and hash via USB, which is the purpose of the Regen. |