UpTone Audio EtherREGEN Listening Impressions

[TwinPeak]

I received my Uptone Audio EtherREGEN yesterday morning. FedEx delivery over the Atlantic, quick as usual. No need to read tutorials, as I knew how to connect the new device to my system. Connected network and NAS to A-side and Mac Mini to B-side on EtherREGEN, all with Audioquest Cinnamon ethernet cables. Pressed play in Audirvana (player), and immediately I hear something is different. After listening a couple of hours I realized that these differences were on multiple levels. What drives most music lovers is to experience what actually happened in the music studio, when musicians and technicians met and placed microphones in front of the performers. Listening to the recordings in the aftermath, now with EtherREGEN connected, it seem as I am getting closer to what happened in the studio.

 

In my case, I had a momentary revelation - and a close to perfect subjective experience, even the fact that I did not really needed another switch in my music system. Therefore I do not consider the EtherREGEN solely as a audiophile switch, more as a anti-noise device. I have been using the UpTone Audio ISO-REGEN (and LPS-1.2) since autumn last year, and together these devices combined work miracles. What happened to the musical presentation after I connected the EtherREGEN, has to do with the definition between musicians and their place in the soundstage. When closing my eyes, it is as if the speakers has disappeared, and the musical landscape has expanded in all directions. What was stereo since before yesterday, is now a three dimensional space with musical interactions in well defined areas, and at the same time I better feel the nerve and concentration of acoustic ensembles.

 

One of the consequences of using the EtherREGEN (together with ISO-REGEN) is that they reveal so much rich detail, that it is easier to point out what went on in studio mixing and mastering. And not so good recordings are unfortunately easy to identify.

My music system is a mixture of retro analog amps and speakers, and some convensional (and now unconvensional) digital devices. Playing through electrostatic speakers, present highly resolved and revealing details in midrange and high frequencies. But applying a tube preamp calms the overall impression and soothes the nerves. Adding the EtherREGEN to this combo is a perfect match. The highly resolved midrange and high frequencies, needed to be tamed and brought under control. The EtherREGEN does exactly that.

I should mention that my Mac Mini is a stripped down 2012 version, running OSX and Audirvana from a SD-card. Hard drive and SATA-connections are removed. Internal power supply is replaced with UpTone Audio MMK power supply and active processes is at a minimum, and I don’t use wi-fi. I feed power from a SMPS, but have iFi DC iPurifier on the power intake.

 

Throughout this winter I have been in a state of listening, testing equipment and listening again. And actually without listening to music, but to dynamics, frequences og traces of noise. Now I really look forward to dive into my music collection again. With only one day with EtherREGEN installed I immediately felt spellbound towards the music, not sound and noise.

 

To skeptics I would say: don’t worry - it works whether you believe in audiophile switches or not. And to those who need scientific proof, watch the newly uploaded YouTube video with Hans Beekhuyzen (https://youtu.be/BbRF8z8dQFU).

 

Big thanks to Alex Crespi, who guided me through this strange path of digital audio 🙂

Tom from Norway

[TwinPeak]

As Jud mentioned, the presence of EtherREGEN in the audio system makes it easy to point out what is good recordings, and what is not. Now, with more than a week of listening with EtherREGEN in my system (after correcting my internet setup and wiring), I can imagine how mixing/mastering engineers have used EQ and filters of the recording I listen to. Well, these observations are entirely subjective, but the transparency of the played music reveal such details, that your ears and your ability to make associations, creates new interpretations. The right/left audio crossover between speakers is what makes the soundstage, and when adding a device that corrects the stereo image - it is if you have a whole new system. Doing listening my benchmark has been the female voice, and I can recommend you to investigate into norwegian vocalist Kari Bremnes and her recordings 🙂 

[TwinPeak]

If you (as I am) are obsessed with female voices, you aught to listen to norwegian vocalist Kari Bremnes. Choose her 24/96 recordings when streaming or downloading. With EtherREGEN in the system, she is an absolute joy to listen to.
BTW - I have a new USB-cable connected from DAC to my Mac Mini: CAD USB-1 - and it's delivering the goods to an overwhelming degree 🙂

[TwinPeak]

If you want to test your system to the limit on bass response - with EtherREGEN installed, please give Michael Manring and his record "Soliloque" a try. My favourite is "Selene" (which is a live recording). Good luck 🙂

[TwinPeak]

Give Al Di Meola and "Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody" (electric/acoustic) a try with your EtherREGEN and other gear. Absolutely mind blowing how the dense rhythmic and highly dynamic sections are presented, and it's a good record for testing your equipment - if you like that kind of music 🙂 With SD-card-booting Mac Mini now powered by JS-2, my system is from another planet...
Tom

[TwinPeak]

9 hours ago, PYP said:

I was one of the lucky ones who received an eR from the very first batch more than a year ago.  More recently - this Friday - I received my second eR.

 

I don't usually post impressions for a month since it seems everything takes that long to settle into my system.  But tonight (2 days into that month) my wife and I were listening to her vocals playlist.  First up was Melody Gardot's Worrisome Heart, a favorite.  After the first song, my wife, who doesn't care at all about gear, said:  "Did you add that thing you just got?"  We have listened to this "album" many, many times.  Sometimes when listening to familiar music, your attention can waver, but I was anchored in place.  Once we were done listening, my wife said:  "That sounds like a different album." 

 

I assume there will be changes as the month progresses, but so far, so good.  Couldn't be happier.  

 

Thank you Alex and John for equipment that enhances listening pleasure.  

 

Hi @PYP, I also use stacked switches; the Cisco Catalyst 2960 > EtherREGEN via SFP + fibre. As I don't do streaming, I think this duo will to a great extend, give the same audible benefits as two EtherREGENs in a row.

On the Cisco are the following RJ-45 connected:
• Internet from modem via SFP fibre through Ubiquiti X-router to FMC output (5v) > Cisco RJ-45
• NAS-disk with Ghent RJ-45 (JSSG360)
• Mac Mini (MMK) with Ghent RJ-45 (JSSG360)
• Cisco output to EtherREGEN: SFP Duplex, single-mode fibre with -3db attenuator

An argument for using two EtherREGENs after another, might be that it elevates streaming quality (?)

The industrial build Cisco 2960 has better power management, that doesn't hurt the audio transport, unlike some switches in the consumer market. After managing to hardware reset the Cisco 2060, it has been a permanent member of my audio system.
So, in my system the EtherREGEN only having ONE A-side connection (SFP), coming from the Cisco 2960. I think that only using one connection will lessen the work tasks of the EtherREGEN. Outside eR temperature never exceed 40 degrees Celcius.

Enclosed is my audio setup.
Cheers Tom (Norway)

My SetUp 2020-v15.pdf

[TwinPeak]

16 hours ago, PYP said:

Regarding the "need" for two eRs, I should point out that unlike your sophisticated setup, the main network device in my setup is an ISP-provided modem/router/wifi box that is powered by a balanced power unit (which also powers TV, DVR and DVD, all located in a different room from audio).  Therefore, there is no optimization prior to the opticalModule.  I chose to keep the ISP-provided equipment and to only work on the downstream part.  I've read reactions from folks who added a second eR that describe the difference as "subtle" and others say it has a "greater effect than the first eR."  So, very system-dependent, as is always the case.  

 

Since all these setups are different, it seems we cannot generalize other than to say that the (first) eR benefits a very wide array of systems, from simple to complex.  Given the comments about adding an external clock, it seems safe to generalize that an external clock builds upon the eR's performance, as does adding an LPS.  

 

At any rate, glad you are enjoying your fine system.  You have clearly put a lot of time and thought into the configuration.    

Hi @PYP, thank for your reply. I performed a lot of experimentation with all sort of equipment and configuration, before I landed with the present system setup. But in my relative simple system, the EtherREGEN is the star  - and of course the Denafrips Pontus, and the Uptone IsoREGEN, and the JS-2.. 😄
Cheers
Tom