EtherREGEN: The long development thread. [Some Gen2 dev. pics and update starting on page 92.]

[Albrecht]

On 3/22/2018 at 10:51 AM, Superdad said:

 

Hi Blake:  Great question, though a bit premature.

 

Our switch will have one special "output" port (to go to the streamer/DAC), and that port will have a lot of expensive isolator chips (and high-quality clocking on that clean side--which also feeds back across the isolation moat to the switch chip) and crazy attention paid to power (lost track of how many voltage regs the whole thing has) and power plane domains.

So in theory the external DC supply for the EtherREGEN (that's just a working codename, not saying we will use that) should not matter to the performance.  But I won't be surprised if in reality it does.  Just like with our USB/ISO REGENs--which are plenty effective with their stock SMPS but also benefit from a great LPS.

 

 

But of course! 

 

Oh heck, as long as I'm spilling a few beans, I'll give a few more tidbits (but we are saving details about all the whiz-bang performance stuff for the launch, so don't ask about the chips, the clocking, the isolation):

• Case will the exact same size/style as the UltraCap units
• One end will have four Gigabit "dirty-side" RJ45 Ethernet "input" jacks
• Other end will have an SFP Fiber Ethernet cage, an LED, a DC input jack, and the one very special, clean and highly isolated Ethernet "output" jack (which is 10/1000Mb, not Gigabit)
• Every part--the magnetics, the Ethernet switch chip, the isolators, the clocking flops, the PHY for special port, the regulators, the clock synthesizer, the XO itself--are all carefully chosen to meed the ambitious goals of this design.

The cost of some of the parts is damn high, and we have not done anything more than a very rough cost analysis, so please don't ask about price.  I don't think it will be too bad (with very modest margin similar to LPS-1.2 we are hoping to keep this under $500), but given that it will smoke all those expensive modified off-the-shelf units, it should be another value winner for UpTone.

 

Please don't ask about release date.  You and I want it now, but I promised John he could first continue work on some important "clock fingerprint" measurement test boards.  As usual, we would dearly love to prove the efficacy of the REGENs (both USB and Ethernet), and if he is successful, the new measurement jig (involving special high-speed ADCs, a processor board, and a bunch of other boards) could provide proof for a range of upstream variables that we all hear, especially with regards to data clocking for which nobody understands why it makes a difference.  Could blow things wide open.  Or it could be a bust.  That's what research and test is all about.

Of course if the preproduction prototypes of the EtherREGEN test well on the bench--even if John's clock-marker tests don't get done in time or don't pan out--and if the unit is sonically effective in an audio system, then we are going to put it into production as soon as possible.

 

I honestly can't think of anything more that I would be willing to say about this forthcoming (a few months?) product.  So while I love you all, please don't ask. 

Back to the wonders and uses of the hot-selling UltraCap LPS-1.2!

 

--Alex C.

I so can't wait for this!!!

 

 

[Albrecht]

19 hours ago, Superdad said:

As one famous audiophile used to say:

 

AWESOME!!!

[Albrecht]

On 12/4/2018 at 9:25 AM, Bones13 said:

upgrade the other switch in the office to run optical from that switch to this etherRegen.

FWIW: I am considering that as well.

[Albrecht]

On 1/14/2019 at 4:45 AM, BlueDL said:

Yeah, understood. I wasn’t criticising, just stating an opinion that’s all.

If the use of a single face only is too much to ask then so beit. At the end of the day, I’m sure we all want the technical realisation of the switch to be optimal above all other considerations.

Hi,

Assuming that your Roon server, - is far away,-  in another room from the audio system.....

 

Why not go Roon Server to RJ45 out, - to an FMC, - then run a long fiber cable to your rack where there's an etherRegen, - use the really good RJ45 port to the microRendu. Later, - you can buy Sonore's enhanced FMC to replace the one at the Roon server?

 

If i understand your goal, and financial restrictions correctly....

[Albrecht]

2 minutes ago, BlueDL said:

Thanks, but I think I may have stated in an earlier post that I (unfortunately) have to locate the server on my hifi rack in the listening room. My wife would not entertain the idea  of it being adjacent to our Router. If we move house again, I will stake a claim for a better network architecture!

 

In summary then......

Router-wired-OpticalModule-LC-LC single mode optical-EtherREGEN-clean wired output-microRendu. Roon Server-wired input-EtherREGEN.

Sorry, - I missed that previous post. So, - is your router near the audio rack as well?

 

2 suggestions then, - replace the computer running Roon with something like a dual ethernet port QNAP NAS, - that you could install the virtual switch of/on the NAS.

Roon Server runs great on a NAS. You could use Ethernet port 2 to connect the fiber FMC, - while the other port connects to your router. In the long run, a NAS is cheaper than a multi-function computer. The other, less elegant solution, (besides buying two etherRegens, - would be to get another, - small Zyxel switch and get a linear wall-wart power supply for that.

 

Finally, - I hear you about the long cables, computers in other rooms, etc. But, -----  actual computer sizes have shrunk quite a bit in the past few years, a small NUC can be quite powerful, - or powerful enough for Roon. AND... I've seen people do wonders with Panduit that can do an excellent job of hiding cables and wires where the floor meets the wall. I have a 1911 building and cable-hiding panduit looks great....

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

[Albrecht]

12 hours ago, Superdad said:

 

That's from the little-known remix of the classic Who song: Talkin' 'bout my Regen-addiction! 

SOME-body has been working WAAAAY- too hard in the San Joaquin summer heat...........

[Albrecht]

On 3/22/2018 at 10:51 AM, Superdad said:

[EDIT: The original first post of this long thread had outdated information and so is deleted.]

 Development of EtherREGEN is complete.  The web page for it is up (UpTone Audio EtherREGEN), and a new thread for the launch has been started. Please see:

 

 

Hey Super..............

Congrats again for all the great success, and great reports on the etherRegen.

 

I would like to apologize in advance before asking this question. (Speaking for myself, I know I would hate it if i worked my ass off for a couple of years, and someone cavalierly came in and asked if you thought about making a change to it).

 

But.....    (and of course a "but" was coming)

 

Ever thought of making a model with the "B" port Gigabit?

 

I probably don't need to explain what a benefit that might be to those of us who would LOVE to go B to A with a FIBER digital file player hanging off the SFP port on the "A" side, - and then we'd get to hook up our TV and Blue Ray player and maybe even optimized computer .... to those other RJ45 gigabit ports on the A........

 

I feel bad even asking, as I know that you likely went through a number of topology decisions when you designed the unit.

 

Thank you...

 

 

[Albrecht]

1 hour ago, jcn3 said:

 

it's been asked quite a few times already -- the limitation is a function of the hardware used to accomplish the design goal. i think they would have done it the first time if it was possible.

Hi,

Thank you and I appreciate your answer. I thought that the decision was made because it was thought that 10/100 sounded better.