ISO REGEN Listening Impressions (kicked off with some measurements)

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1 hour ago, JohnSwenson said:

The isolation in the ISO REGEN is designed to block leakage currents from a computer's power supply from getting into the DAC. If this path doesn't exist (no SMPS on your source) then the isolation is not needed. The IR is still much better sounding than the original REGEN due to much lower jitter clock and better voltage regulation, so even with isolation turned off it still sound significantly better.

 

There is also a generic problem with isolation, IF the whole rest of the system is galvanically isolated the whole system can move up and down, which can cause the clicks and pops. If this is the case it is best to ground the system at exactly ONE location. There is no one generic solution, it depends on your system and how it is connected.

 

So with the isolation turned on you can be blocking leakage, but then isolating the whole system which then needs grounding somewhere.

 

John S.

Thanks much; shall bear all this in mind. At the moment, with the Iso Regen GI turned on while the unit is grounded -- following Alex's procedure -- all seems to be working well, and sounding better than the with GI switched off. 

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1 hour ago, Excommunication said:

Unbelievable. I set the Roon playing first overnight, then when I left for work at 7:00 this morning I started a files playlist (not to interrupt my daily Tidal-access from work). I come home almost 15 hours later and the music is still playing (simultaneously breaking in my Mutec and Mogami XLR). I hope I will get my additional USPCB soon. This is a keeper, as the last dealbreaker is gone, if this good performance continues. simonp thanks for the tip, not that my cotton ears will hear that difference with switching sides with the cable, but I want to enhance to the point wherever (others hear differences) possible, and then one day I look back and notice the difference.

So, what is the cable/UPSCB set up you have between the different devices now? Thanks.

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23 minutes ago, Excommunication said:

My original setup microRendu --> QED Reference USB --> ISO REGEN --> USPCB --> MUTEC, since I wanted shortest path to the MUTEC. The testing I did switched places on USPCB and the QED Reference USB, giving microRendu --> USPCB --> ISO REGEN --> QED Reference USB --> MUTEC, hence a very short distance between microRendu and the ISO REGEN.

 

Truth be told I have a Audioquest Jitterbug attached to USB-cable/PCB, but previously I removed it with no success in the first set-up.

Thanks for the response. Just maybe the problem is with the USPCB between the ISO Regen and the DAC. At any rate, that is when my troubles began, when I replaced a short Curios cable with the USPBCB between the ISO Regen and  the Berkeley Alpha USb (converter). And the problem has persisted whether I have used a Curios USB 1m or a LH Light Speed 10 or a USPCB now between my Mac Mini and the ISO Regen. With grounding the output of the USPCB on the ISO Regen before the Berkeley Alpha USB, at the moment I have only very rare dropouts and the SQ is super, but perhaps I do need to try a cable rather than the USPCB in this location. So, I would like to know your experience with two USPCBs in a row (whether or not with Silver Bells, And Cockle Shells ..) 

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28 minutes ago, Excommunication said:

You just gave me an idea to switch out the USPCB entirely and add my Nordost Blue Heaven. I did that 3 minutes ago and likewise the music plays, and mR was found effortlessly. We might have pin pointed the problem in this instance, ie the USPCB between the ISO REGEN and the DAC.

So we might have: this particular connection with the USPCB in certain systems. Did you notice a change in the SQ working with the two cables, or is too early yet? I am inclined to retain USPCB between Mac Mini and Iso Regen and try a cable between the Iso Regen and the Berkeley Alpha USB. But shall wait: at the moment, the dropouts are few and far between; the SQ is great; and I don't want to risk undoing the grounding procedure (Alex's suggestion) since my mechanical/electrical/commonsense capacities are all too limited, if not shot!

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12 minutes ago, Superdad said:

 

Actually, I think you will find the issue was not the USPCB between the ISO REGEN and DAC; Rather I bet that the ISO REGEN did not take kindly to having the QED Reference USB cable between the microRendu and the ISO REGEN.  Try putting the QED cable before the ISO REGEN again to see if the problem returns.  Then you may have an answer.  

I spoke too soon: shouldn't go meddling in uncertain terrains. (I am no Peter Wabbit.)

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8 minutes ago, Excommunication said:

Now can I continue to finish DSOTM before going to bed.... 

The (Pink) Floyd are all yours, sir. (I am quite convinced by the USPCB, just fear frequent dropouts again, as Alex knows.)

 

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Pleased to report further that my (admittedly infrequent) dropouts with two USPCBs in use, before and after the Iso Regen, might well have been due the fragile grounding ahead of the second USPCB, before the Berkeley Alpha USB, being insufficiently secure. I do want to banish thoughts of rearranging the set-up, using a cable, lush or otherwise. 

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3 hours ago, ambre said:

I have really good results with the USB(JSSG360) Silver-plated Star Quad USB(JSSG360 made by Ghentaudio for $35 per meter.😃

Posting after a long time. I use a Tellurium Silver Diamond USB between Mac Mini and Iso Regen. (This replaced a Curious and later a Light Harmonic Lightspeed 10 G, and a couple of others before.) The Tellurium is expensive, though not much more than the revamped Curious, and really good. The point is that after reading this thread, especially the bit about the  "(really short) Lush^2 cable between the ISO and the DAC" I too replaced the hard connector with a short Curious between ISO Regen and Berkeley Alpha USB and sense a change for the better.  (It is early days yet, and if matters change, shall report again.)

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11 hours ago, bodiebill said:

 

Interesting, thanks for letting us know... And please do...

The short Curios cable -- old version -- is way better than the hard adaptor, in terms of clarity and fidelity. (Please return to the thread in order to get details and context.) It is my fault, but I have taken Superdad's words as representing truth: he should ease back on some of the cant on the hard adapter. I know it is business, after all, but there are some of us who believe despite that model, and it is not nice to be disappointed. 

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On 2/11/2020 at 4:48 AM, Rhed6 said:

Anyone run a high quality USB cable to the ISO? And will it make a difference? Looking at a Curious USB. It’s going to plug in straight from my current model Mac mini to ISO REGEN.. thanks

Yes, they make a substantial difference. Do see my posts above. In a jist: I use a Tellurium Silver Diamond USB between Mac Mini and Iso Regen. (This replaced a Curious and later a Light Harmonic Lightspeed 10 G, and a couple of others before.) The Tellurium is expensive, though not much more than the revamped Curious, yet really good. The point is that after reading this thread, especially the bit about the  "(really short) Lush^2 cable between the ISO and the DAC" I too replaced the hard connector with a short Curious between ISO Regen and Berkeley Alpha USB and there is a substantial change, way for the better.