Innuos PhoenixUSB

[Ben-M]

On 10/26/2020 at 5:36 PM, nvitorino said:

[/...]

To say the PhoenixUSB is a "$3,100 hub-chip-based USB" is missing

[/...]

 

Superdad's company UpTone Audio makes a competing "hub-chip-based USB regenerator" called the ISORegen. 

 

He's certainly very familiar with the topic and I don't think there's anything in your reply that helped him get a better handle on the perspective he needs to understand what Innous is offering with the Phoenix. 

 

But what kind of rubs me an odd way is him taking the time to comment on and insinuate that the Connor-Winfield clock used in the Phoenix are substandard or somehow not good enough. Most of the MOT follow the unwritten rule to not throw shade at competitors and competing products, especially when it just is shade and there's not some kind of constructive and critical review of the topic going on where facts and insights can be just that. And it's not the first time either. 

 

Not that I am a qualified source and not that big names equal proof, but the Taiko Audio SGM 2015 also used Connor-Winfield clocks, tested and selected by Pink Faun Audio, another well-known specialist in this field. At the time, it was a very well received server.

[fds]

Anyone here using the Phoenix behind an opticalRendu/opticalModule? To my understanding, the clocks in the oR/oM are already very good. Does the Phoenix improve on that substantially?

 

Also are there any limitations on the Phoenix wrt say DSD512 stereo or PCM768kHz multichannel pass through?

[BigAlMc]

Hi,

 

In general those who believe in clocking (many don't) seem to find that multiple good clocks have a cumulative benefit. Doesn't make a great deal of sense but look at all the people using 2 different switches for example.

 

In my case an EtherRegen added an improvement. And the Phoenix added a great improvement. I might replace the ER with something better but there's no way I'm going back to my Netgear.

 

Be interesting to see how the Phoenix and OpticalRendu complement each other, or don't.

 

Cheers,

Alan

[MarkusBarkus]

Folks, any opinions on USB cabling for the Phoenix, which I quite enjoy, BTW.
 

Specifically, the concept of matching cables in/out or different brands/levels in/out.

 

I have generally used the same cabling, but initially had a generic in and a bit better USB out. I did not notice a difference, switching things around, but I did not dwell on it.

 

Perhaps I've answered my own question, but would still appreciate the "conversation" from Phoenix users who have thoughts on this. Cheers, Mark

[FrankMA]

Hello - I am enjoying the Phasure Lush 2 in/out of the Phoenix

[MarkusBarkus]

Thanks @FrankMA. I am enjoying the Phoenix with a pair of Lush^3s, but they are somewhat inflexible and I have had to move gear around. 
 

I enjoy the cables, but the genesis of my enquiry was: if I used a different cable into the Phoenix, and the Lush out, would I be getting/retaining the full benefit of the Lush^3? I think so, but others may have different opinions...

[BigAlMc]

For me it's Sablon and no looking back. The Sablon 2020 USB in and out of the Phoenix and the LAN from ER to Zenith.

 

They are so good I no longer contemplate other cables and consider it job done.

 

I haven't heard the Lush^3 but if it's anything like the Lush^2 then the smooth relaxed Sablon house sound blended with the texture and grain of the Lush might be an interesting blend.

[FrankMA]

3 hours ago, BigAlMc said:

For me it's Sablon and no looking back. The Sablon 2020 USB in and out of the Phoenix and the LAN from ER to Zenith.

 

Hi Alan. I am using the Sablon 2020 LAN ER to Phoenix. Very nice cable and upgrade. Might be worth trying one of their USB's - maybe in combination with the Lush.

 

[BigAlMc]

11 minutes ago, FrankMA said:

Hi Alan. I am using the Sablon 2020 LAN ER to Phoenix. Very nice cable and upgrade. Might be worth trying one of their USB's - maybe in combination with the Lush.

 

 

Hey Frank,

 

Hope you're well.

 

Yeah the LAN is lovely too and Mark (at Sablon) reckons the 2020 LAN is a bigger improvement than the 2020 USB.

 

I'm very happy with all three and it ousted the Lush^2 from my system.

 

Is the Lush^3 a big step up from the ^2?

 

Cheers,

Alan

[MarkusBarkus]

I appreciate your comments, gents. FedEx is delivering a Sablon LAN cable today, so I will test that portion of your suggestions for a while.

 

FYI that cable will connect a PFBuffalo modded switch to an Aurender streamer. 
 

After a bit of settling in, I can try a Sablon USB on the Phoenix. Probably based on cost, I'd likely try one, swap it between input and output and see if any noticeable/positive changes occurred.
 

Thanks again,

 

Mark

[BigAlMc]

Let us know how you get on Mark. Be interested to hear.

 

Also funnily enough after 5 months of prevarication (it sat in it's box was I was too lazy and too worried I'd break it if I attempted to mod the power supply) I shipped my Buffalo to PinkFaun yesterday to get them to do the clock mod and the PSU mod. Looking forward to seeing how that compares to my current EtherRegen switch.

 

Cheers,

Alan

[FrankMA]

Question about power cords on the Phoenix. Recently upgrading it to an AQ Hurricane Source. Starting thinking I may have made a mistake not getting a high power version.

 

Any thoughts on this based on what the Phoenix is doing schematically?

[thyname]

22 minutes ago, FrankMA said:

Question about power cords on the Phoenix. Recently upgrading it to an AQ Hurricane Source. Starting thinking I may have made a mistake not getting a high power version.

 

Any thoughts on this based on what the Phoenix is doing schematically?

You certainly do NOT need an HC version for PhoenixUSB 

[FrankMA]

4 hours ago, thyname said:

You certainly do NOT need an HC version for PhoenixUSB 

Thanks @thyname I knew that but started to think about those Sean Jacobs PS's.....

[octaviars]

Does the Phoenix need 5Vdc on the USB input to function or would a USB cable with just datalines work?

[Blackmorec]

On 11/14/2020 at 2:35 PM, BigAlMc said:

Let us know how you get on Mark. Be interested to hear.

 

Also funnily enough after 5 months of prevarication (it sat in it's box was I was too lazy and too worried I'd break it if I attempted to mod the power supply) I shipped my Buffalo to PinkFaun yesterday to get them to do the clock mod and the PSU mod. Looking forward to seeing how that compares to my current EtherRegen switch.

 

Cheers,

Alan

Hi Alan,

Have you got your modded Buffalo back from PF yet? If so, would you like to post your initial impressions? Thanks

[Varadero xl 1000v]

On 7/29/2020 at 12:17 AM, FrankMA said:

Το

Hello.

 I am interested in two products of your company, the phoenix NET network switch, as well as the Phoenix USB reclock.

 My digital system consists of:

 1. Chord Hugo tt2 dac,

 2. Streamer Auralic G 1,

 3. Integrated amplifier Mcintosh MA 7900

 4. Loudspeaker Sonus Faber Olympica 2

 5. Netgear N 6400 router modem.

 I listen to music mainly from streamer providers, Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify, jazzradio.com, and very little of the music I have stored on my hard drive.

 Before buying the two products I mentioned, I would like to ask you if there is a member that uses the same server (Auralic), and the same dac (Hugo tt2).

 Do you think the benefit to SQ would be the same when innuos Poenix usb & PhoenixNET connect to devices from other companies?  To add that I use roon, as Nuc i7 kernel, and end point Auralic.

 

If you had to buy the two devices in installments, which one would you buy first, and why?

 

Thank you..

 

[Varadero xl 1000v]

Hello.

 I am interested in two products of your company, the phoenix NET network switch, as well as the Phoenix USB reclock.

 My digital system consists of:

 1. Chord Hugo tt2 dac,

 2. Streamer Auralic G 1,

 3. Integrated amplifier Mcintosh MA 7900

 4. Loudspeaker Sonus Faber Olympica 2

 5. Netgear N 6400 router modem.

 I listen to music mainly from streamer providers, Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify, jazzradio.com, and very little of the music I have stored on my hard drive.

 Before buying the two products I mentioned, I would like to ask you if there is a member that uses the same server (Auralic), and the same dac (Hugo tt2).

 Do you think the benefit to SQ would be the same when innuos Poenix usb & PhoenixNET connect to devices from other companies?  To add that I use roon, as Nuc i7 kernel, and end point Auralic.

 

If you had to buy the two devices in installments, which one would you buy first, and why?

 

Thank you..

[soares]

On 6/4/2020 at 9:57 PM, kennyb123 said:

i should point out as well that Darko in his video review of the Zen Mk3 mentioned that he struggled hearing a difference between it and the SE (I’m paraphrasing).

There’s a possible explanation, but I don’t want to disclose it here. I will send you PM

[Gavin1977]

Brand new out of the box Phoenix - how long should I give it for burn in?

 

Sounds good, but the imaging is not as pinpoint as I expected, burn-in of the clock?

[Blackmorec]

Hi Gavin1977,

Both PhoenixNET and USB are devices that need to be left switched on, unless there’s going to be some significant downtime. My PhoenixNET takes around 3 days to sound really good and more like 5 or 6 to sound best, but my system is quite sensitive in this area.

This time applies every time you shut down and allow to get cool and is not burn-in. Burn-in is something different…..the unit will sound very, very good after 100 or so hours, but will only hit the pinnacle after a few hundred hours and some on-off cycles. The slow run-in is caused by the  Mundorf caps, which really take some cooking. You’ll hardly notice the effect until one day the whole thing suddenly sounds even better. That can occur after a switch-off, even with the 3 day warm-up

[Gavin1977]

Thank you @Blackmorec

[1laraz]

On 12/4/2020 at 10:47 AM, octaviars said:

Does the Phoenix need 5Vdc on the USB input to function or would a USB cable with just datalines work?

+1

[Koso]

On 2/13/2022 at 10:41 PM, 1laraz said:

+1

It was mentioned here before, Phoenix’s input USB stage requires 5V...

[Koso]

Phoenix USB arrived today. Starting burn in. Will report my findings after one - two weeks. Also will do the comparison with another reclockers (Ideon 3R Master time and Denafrips Gaia). Stay tuned.