UpTone Audio EtherREGEN Listening Impressions

[mikeg]

On 11/10/2019 at 9:01 PM, so-no-mah said:

I also grounded the LPS 1.2, my internet switch and the DS DAC to to my Synergistic Active Ground Block.  

 

 The ER is powered by an HD Plex and is grounded to the SR Active Ground Block.  

I have the Uptone LPS 1.2 and the SR Active Grounding Block also.  Did you ground the LPS 1.2 to the SR AGB using the unused output on LPS 1.2?  You soldered a wire to the neutral pin on the female connector?  The LPS 1.2 doesn't have a grounding terminal like the EtherRegen.

 

Mini Review:

 

In my system which includes the an Uptone Audio LPS 1.2 feeding a 2TB SSD NAS - 0.5m Wireworld Platinum 8 - EtherRegen - 2.0 m Wireworld Platinum 8 - Ayon Audio S-5 Network Player/DAC/Preamp (all components heavily treated by PPT Omega Mats, PPT Gate, and PPT Alpha cards), the addition of the EtherRegen has to be the top grade I've done to the digital part of my reviewing system.  Still breaking in but the transformation due to the lower noise floor far exceeds my expectations.  I reviewed and was blown away the LSP 1.2, better Ethernet cables, and adding a SSD drive to my NAS but the addition of the EtherRegen to my system is on a whole new level. More details to follow.  Glad I was in the first shipment.  Holy sh_t.

[mikeg]

This is a question for Superdad.  Can my JS-2 power my ER and my QNAP TS-251+ NAS drive?

[mikeg]

18 hours ago, Superdad said:

It is, but there is the matter what screw of the JS-2 enclosure you would use as the chassis is anodized and while the screws are steel, the ones holding the cover are short and a special countersink. Putting a wire under them could be tricky and likely to scratch the lovely case finish. And if you pick one of the other underside stainless steel hex-head screws, you need to be mindful as some are short PCB screws, and the larger ones are for the transformer and you could have trouble retightening them from only one side.

I'd really rather people not mess with JS-2 screws. You must have many other good grounds in your system. 

Alex, I so appreciate the time and value you add to this forum.  Not many manufacturers would go the extra mile like Uptone Audio.  

 

Wouldn't a good system ground for the ER ground screw be the SR Active Grounding Block given that in my audio system I have all components and cables grounded to it?

[mikeg]

8 hours ago, Superdad said:

Thanks. We try our best.

 

 

It could be, but remember, the goal of grounding with the EtherREGEN is not at all related to having common ground with your other audio components. It is about shunting—to mains ground—any residual high-source-impedance leakage currents (coming into the ‘A’-side RJ45 ports from other gear) that our 12-core per port magnetics don’t already block.

 

I have no idea how a Synergistic Research Active Grounding Block works, but if it increases impeadance to real mains ground then it would be a less-than-ideal choice for grounding the EtherREGEN. Feel free to experiment.

I connected the EtherREGEN to the unused output on my Uptone Audio JS-2 power Linear power supply today.  I also grounded the ER to one of the top plate screws on the JS-2 using a 20 gauge single crystal silver Harmonic Technology wire.  My JS-2 is powered by a SR Galileo SX pc that is plugged into a SR PowerCell UEF that is grounded to a SR Active Grounding Block SE.  btw - since day one, my ER has been sitting on a sandwich bag filled with Star Sound Microbearings and I have two PPT Alpha card on top of the ER.  It's no comparison vs plugged into the wall with the stock power supply.  Everything the ER did before is magnified.  Sounds like an ER on steroids.  Noise floor and signal compression is even lower than before and the bass is incredible.  I also ordered an upgraded dc power cable from Revelation Audio Labs to power the ER which previously made a considerable improvement on my NAS drive.