A Confused streaming system - Mutec / SOtM Ultra

[Confused]

Not sure whether you want to look at the Innuos Phoenix.
https://innuos.com/phoenix-usb/

Muski is using the Phoenix with Expert Pro 1000
https://devialetchat.com/Thread-Innuos-Z...#pid100920

AustinPop reviewed it and compared it with Mutec Ref10 connected to a SOtM  tX-USBultra SE
https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/r...cker-r906/
And he also looked at the SE120 version of the REF10, something you may want to consider?

Darko looked at using different streamers with the Phoenix, which may help you on your streamer considerations
https://darko.audio/2020/05/innuos-phoen...er-review/

As for exploring fibre with the EtherRegen,  it is a rabbit hole which I found yielded limited, if any, SQ gains. It only made sense for a friend who had a 20m cable.

Lots of suggestions there! 

Although it does not look like you and @markush agree regarding the benefits of fibre. Not withstanding the lack of consensus with fibre, it does appeal to me at a technical level as an optical link will make a definitive electrical break between the PC and audio kit. Whether or not this makes an audible difference or not, I have no idea, but I am intrigued enough to try it. 

I too have read many positive words regarding the Innuos Phoenix. If I could borrow one, I would certainly try it. The thing is though I am a little sceptical about the possible benefits of improving the USB side of things beyond the iFi Zen Stream. Consider that I had great difficulty discerning any difference between the Zen Stream and the REF10 clocked sMS-200 Ultra Neo tX-USBultra combo. Is a clocked USB feed going to make much difference in the specific use case of feeding a REF10 clocked MC3+USB? I am always amazed at the shear thoroughness of AustinPop's reviews, I am a bit of a fan, but I think at the margins he does hear some things I cannot. I suspect that the Phoenix might have more benefit to those using USB direct to DAC, rather than USB to feed an MC3+USB, but who knows, as I said if I could get my hands on one I would try it.

Late last year I actually received an email from Mutec offering to upgrade my REF 10 to SE 120 spec. The cost is Euro 2,299. (or at least it was back in November) Quite what difference the SE 120 spec would make I am not sure. I actually thought about this, and figured that it might be worth while upgrading once my own REF10 was a little older, so a kind of refresh and upgrade all in one. I struggle with the idea of making the jump to SE spec at the moment, the problem being that I suspect that it is possibly the MC3+USB which is the week link in the chain. It is quite an old product now. If anything, I would be more interested if Mutec released an upgrade of the MC3+USB, maybe an addition to their "Empyrean" range. Another problem with the 120 SE upgrade is that there is no way to try it before buying, it is more a case of pay up and hope for the best. So meanwhile I am happy to "wear out" my current REF10 and see what happens.