UpTone Audio EtherREGEN Listening Impressions

[kelvinwsy]

Our personal experiences with our own systems are all different. 

1. I have the Clones Audio SHAAR USB card with OCXO clock and direct outboard DC linear psu input. 

2. Reasonably optimized HQPlayer PC. 

3. Uptone Audio IsoRegen with Supercap LPS1 PSU.

4. Music source from onboard SSD with power from outboard Linear PSU.

 

The music SQ cannot compare with that from a networked solution from the same HQPlayer Server played through a ASUS AC-86 to a Netgear GS105 switch and ending at a SOTM Ultra Neo Ethernet endpoint. .

My Etherregen is coming with the January batch. So SQ should enjoy another jump.

 

Of course in your case  a Auralic Aries G2 player may sound better than a DIY Music server but in my case the source PC/Server is the same. So the comparison is still valid in many ways. You should try a network solution using a double switch set up ( in my case it is a ASUS AC-86 then a Netgear GS105 to a SOTM Ultra Neo Endpoint - optimize the psus = drop all the Switching Wall wart and use Linear PSUs throughtout; hack all your ethernet cables before you go Ether Regen. 

Or just buy it - it is really good value at its price.

See my post on Headfi.org below.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ethernet-cables-worth-to-buy-more-expensive-ones.913239/#post-15417347 

[kelvinwsy]

My EtherRegen has crossed 48 hours burn in The SQ snapped into focus after 24 hours!

Bass slam, plumbing new lows are expected benefits. On George Michael's Symphonics played on Hqplayer DSD256 :

The before and after EtherRegen is like this;

1. The bass is growling thru my Abyss Ab1266 phi/cc It slams my eardrums growling from left to right seemingly Beow the level of stage George is singing from! 

Audience cheers clapping and noises just seem to expand outwards width depth height BUT each noise individually highlighted in its own airy sound bubble of realism; all harmoniously fitted into the Huge Bigger Soundscape!

A analogy on the Sound Stage Change is that Now you have everything expanded with a wide  angle lens and a microscope to zoom into each and every detailed sound image! UNCANNILY REALISTIC

The better clocking gives precise control over each sound's starting and ending impulse. 
Eagles Hell Freezes Over Glenn Frey on Tequila Sunrise and Don Henley on Hotel California can hv slightly raspy vocals. On a badly setup system sibilance is heard! I did not hv this in my system b4 the Etherregen . But after the EtherRegen both their voices now retain their high notes start and finish w/o Zero hardness in the SQ! Fantastic tight control. Every vocal on every Album I can hear the singer pronounce each word of the lyrics. Realism enhanced!

My System( No internet connection to my ISP Broadband modem needed!!)

I run my Network Asus Ac86 stand alone to a Netgear GS105 to the A side of the EtherRegen  with JSSG360 cat6 cables fitted  with Ferrite Chokes. Each switch/modem has its own high current Linear DC PSU! Sotm Ultra Neo is on B output of EtherRegen on its own Linear PSU thru a JSSG360/Ferrite choked/end connector lacquered CAT 8 cable. Hqplayer is on A side thru same modded Cat 8 cable

DAC is SMSL VMS D2 DAC thru LPS 1 powered ISOREGEN to the SOTM ULTRA NEO!

 

[kelvinwsy]

To continue my EtherRegen On my systemMids are sweet; Soundstage is Wide Deep and has good height info..  Live albums that are s life like. Full of ambence . With  the EtherRegen in the chain extreme left and right sounds gain prominence and image solidity; Central vocals and instruments gain clarity with Air and Smooth Smooth image solidity and Depth Info in the SoundStage! 

Really impressive how reduction of phase noise and low noise clocking has improved te SQ

Thanks to John and Alex

[kelvinwsy]

Markus46 - Hi there. Thx for your kind words. Just wait till you cross 24 hours and then 48 hours burn in. THe bass line on bass guitars, congas, kickdrum is INSANE. Deep Impactful and has starting impact and then the decay!

The Sound stage just seem to gain depth. WIDTH and HEIGHT.

You should try Michael Franks OLD LIVE CD - Live with Cross Fire.

Just in the Intro speech by Michael Franks on the Track 'THE LADY WANTS TO KNOW' = There is microphone hum/feedback sound. 

When I started digital audio streaming, it sounded like a buzz, vague, illdefined in frequency, and location - Someway on the right channel it sounded like a BUZZ!

As I went to Isoregen and HQPlayer with upsampling to DSD256, it was clear heard on my Headphones that it was a microphone feedback.

Now with the EtherRegen, I can hear the microphone hum decrease in volume and frequency and became almost inaudible as Cross Fire Band members kicked in with their instrument intro.. (I guess the Sound Engineer caught the hum and turn down the TrimPOT or some knob on the mixing desk). UNCANNY !!

Kelvin