UpTone Audio USB Regen Listening Impressions

[EuroDriver]

My set up is Corning USB to Regen to Exa E20 MK III

 

Comparing a HDPlex LPS putting out 5 v to the Regen to a JS-2 putting out 7v to supply the Regen, the JS-2 sounds noticeably better, another slight veil lifted.

[4est]

Shouldn't voltage at the Regen be higher?

My set up is Corning USB to Regen to Exa E20 MK III

 

Comparing a HDPlex LPS putting out 5 v to the Regen to a JS-2 putting out 7v to supply the Regen, the JS-2 sounds noticeably better, another slight veil lifted.

[JohnSwenson]

Shouldn't voltage at the Regen be higher?

If the REGEN is not powering anything via the VBUS then 5V is perfectly fine. The active parts in the REGEN run at 3.3V so 5V in is fine for them.

 

If the DAC is using the VBUS for anything then yes you should not use 5V in (at least 6V) in order for the 5V VBUS regulator to do its job.

 

John S.

[hifial]

My set up is Corning USB to Regen to Exa E20 MK III

 

Comparing a HDPlex LPS putting out 5 v to the Regen to a JS-2 putting out 7v to supply the Regen, the JS-2 sounds noticeably better, another slight veil lifted.

 

Hi Ed and glad to see you had such great reviews at the show.

 

From the above it seems that you find the Corning cable to outperform the Tellurium Q cable sound wise. Is this correct and if so what are the differences in SQ between the two?

[alcarp]

Can the Regen be powered from the 9V output of the HDPLEX LPS?

 

Anyone?

[Superdad]

Anyone?

 

Yes, you will not have any problems doing so. But please refer to the FAQ on this subject at USB REGEN: Questions and Answers – UpTone Audio

[Duke40]

Anyone?

 

Yes ... when I received my USB Regen (Green) on Friday 24th April, I plugged into the 9V output of my HD-Plex LPS ... then stayed up until about 6am Saturday morning enjoying the nicest surprise (for me) of 2015. Just when I think I am ready to get out of this hobby, they drag me back in with a significant improvement.

 

Works great, no issue , no drama ... and that is with the Regen continually powered by 9V.

 

I tried 12V for about 6 hours, could not really hear much of a difference, so decided to go back to 9V.

For me, 9V just seems smarter to do, one thing less to remember if I switch DAC's and start using one which actually does need

to draw all of it's 5V power from my Regen.

 

Superdad FAQ is well crafted, plus in one of the Regen threads on CA, it was described in detail on how to use your Mac or WinTel

computer to check your DAC's actual current draw. That maybe worthwhile to add to the USB Regen FAQ.

 

Now, just have to be patient until the 10th of June when I can order the USB Regen (Amber).

[EuroDriver]

Hi Ed and glad to see you had such great reviews at the show.

 

From the above it seems that you find the Corning cable to outperform the Tellurium Q cable sound wise. Is this correct and if so what are the differences in SQ between the two?

 

I am a big fan of the Corning + Regen Green, because of the clean sound and the low cost !

 

The Tellurium Q USB cables are excellent, and we used them exclusively at Munich. The Corning USB connection was too unreliable to use at a show.

 

The TQ USB cables exhibit an excellent sonic character and I would recommend an audition to anyone thinking about the top cables such as LH, Total Dac etc.

 

IMHO the right USB cable for a listener is very dependent on the system, and the genre of music you are listening to

[firedog]

Okay, have listened pretty extensively now. What I'm hearing is:

 

a) more detail: extended cymbal fades, background instruments and percussion are clearer and more audible;

b) general clarity is improved;each instrument easier to hear;

c)wider soundstage - and I listen in a small home office, so anything that makes it seem as if the sound is (more) outside the speakers is really doing something;

d) more air and space around and between instruments;

e) instrument sounds/timbre seems more real. Example: bass drum hits have more "thud".

 

I assume some of this is due to a little less noise induced jitter, and some is due to just more "quiet" in general, so that detail and spatial clues are easier to hear.

 

I don't think any of these individual changes are very large, but taken together I'd call it a noticeable uptick in SQ, in just about every parameter. (And the "amber" is going to be better? Can't wait!)

 

Other than that, yesterday I connected the Schiit Wyrd between the server and the Regen. I don't have any good way of doing a comparison, but it seems this made a very small additional improvement. I'll remove the Wyrd in a few days and see if I hear a downtick in SQ and report back. In any case, running the Regen from a Wyrd or specialist USB card can't hurt.

[odelay]

Thanks for the report Firedog ?

Helpful to have different takes on what changes they're picking up.

[sig8]

 

I don't think any of these individual changes are very large, but taken together I'd call it a noticeable uptick in SQ, in just about every parameter. (And the "amber" is going to be better? Can't wait!)

 

What are you referring to when you say "the amber is going to be better?"

[Jud]

What are you referring to when you say "the amber is going to be better?"

 

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f10-music-servers/uptone-audio-regen-22803/index20.html#post423536

[jtwrace]

I lost my REGEN. :-(

[Jud]

I lost my REGEN. :-(

 

??

[Superdad]

I lost my REGEN. :-(

 

Check the seat cushions. I don't put feet on the things, so it did not walk away in its own.

But seriously, what happened?

[JohanS]

Hi jtwrace,

 

Can you please explain? Was it stolen? Got your REGEN broken? And in the latter case, what's the cause, as it might be of great interest to this community. Thanks!

Johan

[jtwrace]

??

 

Check the seat cushions. I don't put feet on the things, so it did not walk away in its own.

But seriously, what happened?

 

Hi jtwrace,

 

Can you please explain? Was it stolen? Got your REGEN broken? And in the latter case, what's the cause, as it might be of great interest to this community. Thanks!

Johan

 

Well, my dad came down for a visit and thought I'd let him listen (audiophile for 40 yrs) as we usually do. I didn't tell him what I was changing or doing. All I said was "tell me what you hear". We started out with the REGEN and then I removed it. Needless to say he went back home on the airplane with my REGEN. :-( Can't wait for my amber to arrive!

[Jud]

Well, my dad came down for a visit and thought I'd let him listen (audiophile for 40 yrs) as we usually do. I didn't tell him what I was changing or doing. All I said was "tell me what you hear". We started out with the REGEN and then I removed it. Needless to say he went back home on the airplane with my REGEN. :-( Can't wait for my amber to arrive!

 

My dad was pretty much my favorite guy on earth while he was alive, so right now I'm a big fan of you.

[4est]

I feel lucky, my father refuses to give up his Firewire DAC.

Well, my dad came down for a visit and thought I'd let him listen (audiophile for 40 yrs) as we usually do. I didn't tell him what I was changing or doing. All I said was "tell me what you hear". We started out with the REGEN and then I removed it. Needless to say he went back home on the airplane with my REGEN. :-( Can't wait for my amber to arrive!

[sbgk]

Has anyone tried the regen into a usb/spdif convertor rather than into the dac ? Had a search and couldn't see any comments. My dac usb input has always been inferior to any usb/spdif device I've tried so wondered if there was any benefit to putting the regen into the convertor.

[Jud]

Has anyone tried the regen into a usb/spdif convertor rather than into the dac ? Had a search and couldn't see any comments. My dac usb input has always been inferior to any usb/spdif device I've tried so wondered if there was any benefit to putting the regen into the convertor.

 

Yes, there is some benefit; perhaps not as much as directly into the DAC, particularly with the solid adapter.

[4est]

I cannot think of a reason why it would not help as much, or even more so- to the limit of the unit's capabilities. If the Regen helps the PHY by cleaning up the incoming USB signal, it stands to reason it would help any USB device.

Yes, there is some benefit; perhaps not as much as directly into the DAC, particularly with the solid adapter.

[wwaldmanfan]

My dad never listened to music, but got me started in this hobby. He was an accountant, and one of his clients owned a local radio station. As a barter for services, in 1961, my dad acquired a Sony/Superscope reel-to-reel, a Garrard turntable, a H.H. Scott 299c amp (my avatar), matching Scott 350 FM tuner, and a pair of AR-2a speakers. These were housed in a bar console in our living room when I was growing up. I soon moved the amp and speakers into my bedroom, added a newer Garrard with an Empire cartridge, and was able to enjoy decent audio reproduction of my favorite Beatles, Stones, Animals, Dylan, Byrds, and Doors LP's.

I got several decades use out of those components. One of the speakers eventually gave out, and the amp needed a total rebuild, so I moved on, but now regret selling the amp on ebay. Mapleshade does upgrades on these vintage Scott amps, and, although it probably would have cost more than it was worth, it would have been a nice piece had I kept it, and had it restored.

[Jud]

I cannot think of a reason why it would not help as much, or even more so- to the limit of the unit's capabilities. If the Regen helps the PHY by cleaning up the incoming USB signal, it stands to reason it would help any USB device.

 

Impedance matching. (Have a look at some of John's or Alex's summaries, I think the more detailed ones are available at the UpTone website.)

 

Edit: Think about the fact that it's been pretty uniformly reported that the direct solid adapter connection works better than any length of USB cable.

[wisnon]

Well, my dad came down for a visit and thought I'd let him listen (audiophile for 40 yrs) as we usually do. I didn't tell him what I was changing or doing. All I said was "tell me what you hear". We started out with the REGEN and then I removed it. Needless to say he went back home on the airplane with my REGEN. :-( Can't wait for my amber to arrive!

Hahahahahahahahah

 

Occupational hazard. Didnt you see the Lord of the Rings? Gollum does not show the ring to anyone for fear of "losing" his precious...