ISO REGEN Listening Impressions (kicked off with some measurements)

[Superdad]

9 minutes ago, Dougster said:

Thanks for the welcome! My 750D has the updated USB using XMOS XS1 microprocessor as an input receiver, allowing for fully asynchronous data communication. This produced a big improvement from the original input board.

interested in any further comments!

 

EST = Esbjorn Svenson Trio - classic Nordic Jazz combo!

 

Excellent on all counts.  Thanks!  

[zerung]

If you are an Audiophiles who is also a music lovers then one has to compromise to be the former or the latter.

There are audiophiles and there are music lovers. The twain shall never meet.....

Unless your system is earth shattering high end.

Or

You are using Vinyl (Assuming your vinyl recording quality is good - again).

With this simple Iso Regen the Audiophile and Music Lover badge is now getting blurred, meeting and looks like the Resurgent Vinyl industry may finally meet its match .... perhaps after the next Uptone product.....

BUT We are Very Close..... 

[lmitche]

14 hours ago, Superdad said:

 

"As intended?"  Really Larry?  I think I should start a new thread just for people like you who find use for our devices in their bizarre and confusing audio systems. 

 

Just don't try to plug the thing into your cat.  I am not responsive for scratches--even if they were galvanically isolated!

(Can you tell its Friday for me after a very long week? )

Trust me Alex, once you hear my "bizarre and confusing" audio system, you will be sending me money for a change! ?

 

Of course, I couldn't have done it without you.

 

 

[Account Closed]

Hi Alex,

 

Suggestion. 

 

Please start a new thread for cables able to power two devices from the LPS-1 at the same time ( example mRendu and IsoRegen). There is the DIY thread but many of us are not able to go that route. I am sure that the issue will come up quite often going forward.

 

Thanks,

 

Bob

[tboooe]

15 minutes ago, bobflood said:

Hi Alex,

 

Suggestion. 

 

Please start a new thread for cables able to power two devices from the LPS-1 at the same time ( example mRendu and IsoRegen). There is the DIY thread but many of us are not able to go that route. I am sure that the issue will come up quite often going forward.

 

Thanks,

 

Bob

If you are at least comfortable stripping some wire and using a screwdriver then you can cobble together a Y cable.  Get some Canare 4S6 cable and the 2.1mm DC plugs with screw terminals and you can make the cable in 5 mins.

 

Btw, powering my SU-1 and IsoRegen from the same LPS-1 did not sound as good as powering them separately.  

[mozes]

I posted this on another thread but it belongs here:

 

I received my Iso-Regen yesterday and plugged it between my Nimitra and tX-USBultra. I powered it by LPS-1 and gave it 5 min to warm up as I couldn't wait more.

All I can say is that the IR+tX is a match made in heaven.

My system sounded amazing with the tX only, but with the IR in front of the tX it sounds like OMG! Just another level altogether.

No need to go specific, simply everything is better

[limniscate]

1 hour ago, mozes said:

I posted this on another thread but it belongs here:

 

I received my Iso-Regen yesterday and plugged it between my Nimitra and tX-USBultra. I powered it by LPS-1 and gave it 5 min to warm up as I couldn't wait more.

All I can say is that the IR+tX is a match made in heaven.

My system sounded amazing with the tX only, but with the IR in front of the tX it sounds like OMG! Just another level altogether.

No need to go specific, simply everything is better

Muy interesante!

[kennyb123]

2 hours ago, bobflood said:

Please start a new thread for cables able to power two devices from the LPS-1 at the same time ( example mRendu and IsoRegen). There is the DIY thread but many of us are not able to go that route. I am sure that the issue will come up quite often going forward.

 

That's a good suggestion.

 

The Y-cable I tried was this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Q8IKRE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_lq7izbY15BKSJ

 

along with one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017C5JQ1E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_xr7izb5CFEAFJ

 

Cheap to try, but NOT a good way to go IMHO.  

 

I've settled on powering the ISO REGEN with the LPS-1 and the mR with the 2nd rail of the JS-2 set to 7v.  It sounds fantastic.

 

I must say that UpTone has hit another home run with the ISO REGEN.  Yes, it most certainly makes reproduced music sound more like the real thing when used after a microRendu.  

[Middy]

A little time burning in does open up the sound some....

Good God it's tiny.. I have Lego piled up and I only need 1 piece on its side.

How the hell John designed that and it beats every tweak I have tried.

Sound is so much cleaner with bass more defined.  Much more definition within the lows highs and mids. 

 

Running LPS 12V via an balanced isolation transformer into the Mytek Brooklyn. Feeding the MrSpeakers Ether Flow headphones.

ISO REGEN LPS 1. USPCB

I am the only one here I know feeding USB via my phone on USB AUDIO PLAYER PRO bit perfect setting. 

I can read what other people are doing here and listen in bed to my music. 

 

 

The changes to my favourite music has swung yet again, the ones you let friends hear or the wife when she is feigning interest. 

 

Thank you Alex and John.

Nice job gents....

Oh Alex...And relax 

 

 

 

[mozes]

8 hours ago, greenleo said:

Hi Mozes,

Your system is txUltra ->IR ->DAC

Have you tried txUltra follows IR?

Hi Greenleo

My system is IR>tXultra>Dac

and my listening impressions are based on this configuration.

 

[Kritpoon]

Any impression for ISO Regen + Mutec MC-3+ USB yet? I am VERY VERY interested. Thank you so much I wounder how the ISO Regen will improve the sounds which I have read impression else where that the original REGEN did not have much effect on USB input of the MC-3+.

 

Thanks for sharing.

[R1200CL]

@Kritpoon I think the only 100% correct answer to that is to test yourself in your setup and if needed, use the 30 day money back guarantee ?

 

Remenber to add the LPS-1 to your order ?

[Kritpoon]

6 minutes ago, R1200CL said:

@Kritpoon I think the only 100% correct answer to that is to test yourself in your setup and if needed, use the 30 day money back guarantee ?

 

@R1200CL didn't know about 30 days money back guaranteed. I think I'll try soon. Thanks you for pointing that out.

[Superdad]

29 minutes ago, Kritpoon said:

@R1200CL didn't know about 30 days money back guaranteed. I think I'll try soon. Thanks you for pointing that out.

 

I know our web site needs a professional overhaul, and pages with policies, terms, and all the usual goodies should be added.  But I just don't have the time to do it myself or even to oversee a contractor to revamp it (remember, it's  built on the Shopify e-commerce engine which I will not be leaving, though I could migrate to a more flexible theme).

 

Anyway, the 30-day, money-back satisfaction guarantee--while always offered when asked--has in fact been listed prominently on the ISO REGEN page since launch.

So do feel free to give it a try.  But I doubt you'll be wanting to send it back...

[mozes]

1 hour ago, Kritpoon said:

Any impression for ISO Regen + Mutec MC-3+ USB yet? I am VERY VERY interested. Thank you so much I wounder how the ISO Regen will improve the sounds which I have read impression else where that the original REGEN did not have much effect on USB input of the MC-3+.

 

Thanks for sharing.

The ISO Regen is a little beast, really on a different level altogether compared to the old Regen. It is wonderful and I highly recommend that you try it!

[sdube]

Well, my first Iso Regen was one of the few that didn't meet the QC, and the mismatch with Berkeley Alpha USB was a disaster. After the failed experiment I removed the two previous (Amber) Regens to go directly from the Mac Mini to the Alpha USB, finding the sound to be more direct, crisp, yet relaxed. Meanwhile, Alex very kindly sent along a second ISO Regen, bearing the priority postage cost himself (I covered the difference for moving up to Fedex).

The sound is, in a word, fantastic. And I have very few hours on it yet. Alas, travel for several weeks at end of month, but shall come back and write in greater detail about what I find captivating about the music as well as sound. 

Two points/queries: 1. There are occasional dropouts, but there is no need to reset anything, just return to Audirvana again: Is this because of the implementation of the ISO Regen? 2. At what voltage should I have the second rail of the JS-2 feed the LPS-1 that powers the Iso Regen? At the moment, it is 9 V, would going down to 7V have any advantages. 

At any rate, thanks so much Alex and John.

[Superdad]

11 minutes ago, sdube said:

Well, my first Iso Regen was one of the few that didn't meet the QC, and the mismatch with Berkeley Alpha USB was a disaster. After the

The sound is, in a word, fantastic. And I have very few hours on it yet. Alas, travel for several weeks at end of month, but shall come back and write in greater detail about what I find captivating about the music as well as sound. 

Two points/queries: 1. There are occasional dropouts, but there is no need to reset anything, just return to Audirvana again: Is this because of the implementation of the ISO Regen?

 

Very glad it is working out for you @sdube and that you are enjoying the music!

The replacement you were sent was tested on the analyzer to be data-perfect, so any "drop outs" you get are not a function of the ISO REGEN.  I have heard that the Berkeley Alpha can be a bit fussy.  Its entire USB input stage is bus-powered, not that that necessarily has anything to do with it.  Do e-mail me when you return from your travels and we can talk about experiments you might try.

 

11 minutes ago, sdube said:

 

2. At what voltage should I have the second rail of the JS-2 feed the LPS-1 that powers the Iso Regen? At the moment, it is 9 V, would going down to 7V have any advantages. 

 

Actually, for "energizing"/charging the LPS-1 (from the JS-2) in your case, a 12V setting will have the LPS-1 drawing the least amount of current from your JS-2 (about 1.5A peak).  While this will make ZERO difference to the output of the LPS-1 or to SQ, it will allow your JS-2 to both run cooler and will leave more of its 7-amp total current capability available for whatever you are primarily using it for (a Mac mini in your case if I recall).

[sdube]

Thanks so much, Alex. Yes, it is a Mac Mini, Uptoned and all.

 

[Daudio]

2 hours ago, mozes said:

The ISO Regen is a little beast, really on a different level altogether compared to the old Regen

 

This certainly seems to be the case ! I can't say from experience, as I don't have a new one. But, I do have some relevant experience with Regens, isolaters, and grading the SQ effect. So I'd like to talk a little about a way I have to roughly quantify the sonic differences of various Regens, which may be of some little help to those who haven't decided to order one. Thanks for triggering the idea in my head.

 

I've heard, in my fairly stable system; the original 'Green' Regen, the 'Amber' version, a 'Cascade' of the two, and now my own 'In-iso-Regen' (CA Blog-Project story). My Intona-isolated-Regen has the same basic configuration as the new Iso Regen, doesn't have the improved hub, clock, and regulators, not the integrated case, nor the USBPC. My DIY LPSU is a one-off, but it's quality lies somewhere between the stock Meanwell and LPS-1.

 

My benchmark for SQ difference is the 'Green' Regen, which broke new ground in my ears through it's ability to let me hear deeper into the music. This amount of SQ change is now set in my head(ears) as 1 re (Regen Equivalent), and is what I use to gauge other SQ changes in things 'Regen' (I haven't attempted to try and apply it outside of this narrow niche for fear of error and humiliation).

I found the change with the 'Amber' version too subtle to rate, and just a bit less then I'd hoped (unique leakages?). My two Regen Cascade rated about 1.5 re, even through a bit confused by LPSU changes. My little DIY In-iso-Regen (an implementation of a (shielded) Intona, and 'green' Regen) netted a whopping 3 RE, which can be very roughly seen as; .5re for the LPSU, .5re for the isolator, 1re for the USB conditioner, and 1re for the boutique cable. (If you need more precision then this, seek elsewhere )

 

So that finally brings us to UTA's new Iso Regen, and again, like a lot of you, I have not heard one, but here is my informed guess as to the magnitude of its Sound Quality improvement. As always IMNSHO, YMMV, "if you want a guarantee, buy a toaster", etc,.

 

Isolator- .5; Regen- 1; Upgrades*- 1.5; USBPC- 1; LPS-1**- 1->2

 

So I predict a SQ improvement of at least 4re for a stock Iso Regen. Up to 6re with a LPS-1, or other good LPSU.

 

* - improved hub, clock, regulators, pcb, integrated case

** - I haven't heard it personally, but rely on the many published listening reports

*** - I have NO comments on other associated equip, for mine see my signature...

 

You may well think I'm going too far out on a limb with these estimates, but know that I have read almost every post on the Regens, the LPS-1, and other UTA stuff here in CA since... 2010, in addition to personal experience.

Believe me a lot, a little, or not at all. There's still a few shreds of freedom left in the country...

 

P.S. happy with my, now obsolete, In-iso-Regen kit. Sure wouldn't mind an Iso Regen/LPS-1 upgrade, but too many other demands on my meager budget for the foreseeable future 

 

 

[jamesg11]

3 hours ago, Superdad said:

 

Actually, for "energizing"/charging the LPS-1 (from the JS-2) in your case, a 12V setting will have the LPS-1 drawing the least amount of current from your JS-2 (about 1.5A peak).  While this will make ZERO difference to the output of the LPS-1 or to SQ, it will allow your JS-2 to both run cooler and will leave more of its 7-amp total current capability available for whatever you are primarily using it for (a Mac mini in your case if I recall).

So for using the JS-2 for both macmini & LPS-1, set both to 12V.

[Superdad]

8 minutes ago, jamesg11 said:

So for using the JS-2 for both macmini & LPS-1, set both to 12V.

 

Yes, exactly. 

[sdube]

Well, it was one of the few faulty IRs, and there was crackling noise and nothing-but data-dropouts on the Alpha USB. But with a new IR, all is working splendidly.

[sdube]

16 hours ago, rickca said:

What was the nature of the problem?  I have a Berkeley Alpha USB and it worked fine with the original REGEN.  Is there something about the ISO REGEN that makes the combination more problematic?

Well, it was one of the few faulty IRs, and there was crackling noise and nothing-but data-dropouts on the Alpha USB. But with a new IR, all is working splendidly.

[Joey28]

Hi Alex, I just joined CA here and I am waiting for my iso regen to arrive.

 

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, just a quick question that I have in mind, I am currently using a relatively old DAC - the Jeff rowland aeris, which runs in adaptive mode for USB, would it be better if there's a DDC (currently target to get an affordable ifi ilink DDC) sitting in between the DAC and iso regen or should I plug the iso regen straight into the DAC?

 

Many thanks in advance

[rickca]

36 minutes ago, Ricky B said:

I'm sure this will be in the past soon so i can rave as everyone else is doing

Alex has a new protocol analyzer now to further enhance his QA process.  Nobody is better at customer service than Alex.  I'm expecting a replacement once the next batch of boards arrives.  I'm still very excited this product is finally in production.