UpTone Audio EtherREGEN Listening Impressions

[Iving]

190 hours in and sounding better than ever.

*Post* ER cable vital - now that the ER's baked I've swapped back to an unadulterated AQ Cinnamon [STP tied destination end only] which has the best balance, depth and tone (a cheapo with plastic plugs [UTP] has balance and tone but sounds rough - the 50cm flat Cat 7 [STP metal plugs tied both ends] I favoured earlier is solid but too bright now).

I keep shaking my head sideways, awestruck. Have you ever seen on Youtube that guy "Fil from Wings of Pegasus" analysing guitar performances. Well that's me with my EtherREGEN 😉

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3wWLi8IP2Y

 

 

[simon_pepper]

So a week on, since installing the EtherRegen into my system - it has been played morning and evening this week, and very pleased with how things are sounding.

No networking issues to report - all devices on all ports are happy.

Played a couple of albums, last night and it was the best I have heard them.

Roon has also been upgraded to 1.7, which is reported to bring improvements to Tidal (and Qobuz) streaming. Just played a couple of tracks from Tidal, that I heard last week at the Dublin Audio Show, and wow they are excellent - the transient response and soundstaging.

 

So will be interesting what the new firmware brings in terms of SQ.

[MrDerrick]

I had my EtherREGEN connected in system on the 15th and it has been running 24/7 ever since.

I have tried several different implementations and the one that has made the deepest and most lasting impression so far is as follows;

 

SonicTransporter to sotm switch via opticalModule fiber

Wireless bridge to sotm switch via Ethernet

Sotm switch to EtherREGEN via Ethernet

EtherREGEN to ultraRendu via Ethernet

 

The sotm switch is fully optioned except for the external clock connection.

All Ethernet cabling is Ghent JSSG except from the EtherREGEN to the ultraRendu, which is the sotm cat7, iso6 black cable.

The EtherREGEN is powered via its supplied power supply.

 

Prior to the release of the EtherREGEN I commented on another forum that how much of a difference anyone may hear might be dependent upon how much noise they had to start with.

 

All that I can say is that I am absolutely blown away by the improvement that I am hearing and I was perfectly content with how my system sounded prior.

 

The density, complexity and extension of the music with in the sound stage has taken on a new dimension.

Everything that I listen to seems like I am listening to it for the first time.

 

I still have a few variations on the connection scheme to try and I haven't done any streaming comparisons yet, but holy shit.

For me the EtherREGEN is a breakthrough product that raises the bar to another level and that level is very high.

 

[darkstar]

My listening impressions fall in line with other owners are saying. 
Initial observations were the outstanding clarity. My wife thought the sound lost some body and warmth. I think we are both correct.

 

When musical notes are a tick smeared in time that can be perceived as warmth. 
The Etheregen gets the attack (transient) sustain (tone) and decay of each note timed accurately. Very audible depending on the recording. A net gain in my system. 
 

Thanks guys!

[Superdad]

8 minutes ago, darkstar said:

The Etheregen gets the attack (transient) sustain (tone) and decay of each note timed    accurately. Very audible depending on the recording. A net gain in my system. 

 

Your short and cogent review is most impressive to me because, despite being a member of this forum for just over 4 years, this is only your fifth post!  So glad your enjoyment of the EtherREGEN was enough for you to post.  But sincerely, thanks.

[Superdad]

2 hours ago, MrDerrick said:

All that I can say is that I am absolutely blown away by the improvement that I am hearing and I was perfectly content with how my system sounded prior.

The density, complexity and extension of the music with in the sound stage has taken on a new dimension.

Everything that I listen to seems like I am listening to it for the first time.

 

2 hours ago, MrDerrick said:

I still have a few variations on the connection scheme to try and I haven't done any streaming comparisons yet, but holy shit.

For me the EtherREGEN is a breakthrough product that raises the bar to another level and that level is very high.

 

Wow. While all the prior positive reports that first EtherREGEN owners have posted have been extremely gratifying, yours put a really big grin on may face today. 

 

Probably because you already had a fine--and fairly costly set up--into which you dropped the EtherREGEN in just the right spot, feeding your DAC-attached endpoint.

Thanks very much.

--Alex C.

[andresz]

Actually - that is a very good description re the timing of attack and decay and how separate instruments interplay - this makes for a very different and enjoyable, engaging listening experience.

 

I have a high end pre power valve set up with highly resolving speakers (Nagra/TIDAL)  Shunyata SIGMA loom, (from PC to IC to Ethernet, USB), Metrum Adagio DAC, grounding, furutech NCF risers, stillpoints isolation and the ER is not only significant in its effect but the impact on streaming (which is almost all of my listening these days) is profound.  If I put a $ value on it in terms of comparable advances in listening pleasure it would be on par with my DAC purchase. (many multiples of the ER price).

 

I had thought like a few here with systems which have been meticulously built and tested over years that there wasn't much more to go - but there is! Excellent work Alex and John.  You tube streams for concerts, audiophile series of recordings etc.... are fantastic. Even less well recorded ones are enjoyable as I think the brain responds very well to realistic timing cues. (Thats the "it sounds real" bit). 

 

I also use ER feed for high end HT. That's a great experience for Dolby sound and Video quality. There is a level of involvement at the Video level too which is an obvious step up. 

 

I am using the stock PS with Shunyata cabling. 

[soares]

oM and eR between zen mk3 and uR. No issues after almost 3 weeks. Just pleasure! 🙂

[mark_z]

I've had my etherregen up for just over 2 weeks as of tonight. I replaced the opticalmodule feeding my opticalrendu with the etherregen. Swapped the sfp module from the om to the etherregen and used the same lps 1.2 power supply.  

the swap was audibly noticeable immediately upon boot up! The music flowed with a new found clarity and swing but also with a bit of constraint in the high mids that wasn't there before. After four or five days I realized that the dullness in the high mids was no longer there. I am listening with the pre set to lower levels, because it's louder.😀

I'm a big fan of the om>or combo, but the etherregen>or combo is on another level.

Now it's time to play with some startech sfp's 

Thanks guys!

[russellbobby]

Hi all,

 

In the January batch of shipments but just wondered about a few things. 

‘First my system is as simple as it gets. Supra Ethernet from a Xfinity modem/router directly into a Cary DMS. Streamer/dac.  Streaming Qobuz/Tidal sounds great about 95 percent of local usb attached files and 90 percent of the integrated SD card player in the Cary.

I am building a dedicated room and am integrating a HT in with my 2 channel. New 85 inch Sony 4K and an Atmos system.  How is the video side benefiting from the ER?  How is it integrated into the system?

sorry for my ignorance but have always been on the streamer/dac side without a computer. Did try a Mac Mini system once but to complicated.

Thanks for the guidance,

Russ

 

[Jud]

More stuff to listen to with the ER:
 

Sean Rowe, The Drive, from the album Madman. 

 

Leonard Cohen, Old Ideas, especially Amen, where the bass is a physical thing.

 

Edit: And you might also try Juniper Arms, from Adam Torres’ Pearls to Swine album.

[Johnnydev]

4 hours ago, Jud said:

More stuff to listen to with the ER:
 

Sean Rowe, The Drive, from the album Madman. 

 

Leonard Cohen, Old Ideas, especially Amen, where the bass is a physical thing.

 

Edit: And you might also try Juniper Arms, from Adam Torres’ Pearls to Swine album.

I am still awaiting my ER wivh is on its way, but i am very happy with your music tips that i already put on my qobuz (studio) playlists 👌

[OldBigEars]

On 11/24/2019 at 7:28 PM, Jud said:

More stuff to listen to with the ER:
 

Sean Rowe, The Drive, from the album Madman. 

 

Leonard Cohen, Old Ideas, especially Amen, where the bass is a physical thing.

 

Edit: And you might also try Juniper Arms, from Adam Torres’ Pearls to Swine album.

 

@Jud I'm especially interested in your findings as (like me) you use a microRendu 1.4, and apparently haven't felt the crushing need to replace it with Ultra or Optical yet.  I've been thinking about upgrading my microRendu 1.4 to one of the costlier Rendu variants but am somewhat dubious about the difference it would make.  Sounds from your experience that putting in ER would be a more significant improvement. Would you agree?

[Jud]

1 hour ago, OldBigEars said:

 

 

@Jud I'm especially interested in your findings as (like me) you use a microRendu 1.4, and apparently haven't felt the crushing need to replace it with Ultra or Optical yet.  I've been thinking about upgrading my microRendu 1.4 to one of the costlier Rendu variants but am somewhat dubious about the difference it would make.  Sounds from your experience that putting in ER would be a more significant improvement. Would you agree?

1.3 actually. I heard the Signature Rendu SE with Optical Module sounding absolutely wonderful in the Sonore room at RMAF - thought it was one of the two best rooms in the entire show.

 

And after going into the beta tests of the ER with some skepticism, thinking perhaps if I heard a difference it would be very slight, it turns out to be a piece I wouldn't want to be without. It's something that as you've read here has really increased my enjoyment of my system. I'm very happy.

 

All this is to say I think these are pieces that would complement each other wonderfully - my apologies that I will be of very little help for people looking to choose between them.

[Dutch]

My first impressions/listening notes after my first listen (I’m not counting the 15 minutes or so I listened when I hooked it up) and around 140 house of continuous operation of the ER.

 

In short: WOW! 🎶

 

Stronger foundation, more punch and the (upper) bass/lower midrange octaves seem to have filled up a bit in my system

Microdetail in spades without distracting or anything specific drawing my attention

More ambiance or reverb is heard, better soundstaging in all three dimensions 

Incredible separation, delineation and natural portrayal of voices and instruments (harmonies OMG)

Emotion is really oozing from recordings

Less digititis (again?!), no sharpness, peaky or intermingled/smeared highs, just well balanced not dark or filtered in any way. Lively recordings still sound lively.

 

One very weird ‘effect’; music seems to play a bit slower, of course it doesn’t (or so I hope 😁) but I think this is because it sounds more right and relaxed (good thing!) It must be my brain adjusting to something no longer there or the opposite: missing before.

 

Very happy so far!!! Thank you Alex and John! 👍

 

My system topology in attached picture (clickable for larger version). The ER is a drop in replacement for a TP Link MC220L fiber ethernet converter plus EMO Systems EN-HD70 LAN isolator. I’ll update my system details in my profile next.

[lwr]

57 minutes ago, Dutch said:

My first impressions/listening notes after my first listen (I’m not counting the 15 minutes or so I listened when I hooked it up) and around 140 house of continuous operation of the ER.

 

In short: WOW! 🎶

 

Stronger foundation, more punch and the (upper) bass/lower midrange octaves seem to have filled up a bit in my system

Microdetail in spades without distracting or anything specific drawing my attention

More ambiance or reverb is heard, better soundstaging in all three dimensions 

Incredible separation, delineation and natural portrayal of voices and instruments (harmonies OMG)

Emotion is really oozing from recordings

Less digititis (again?!), no sharpness, peaky or intermingled/smeared highs, just well balanced not dark or filtered in any way. Lively recordings still sound lively.

 

One very weird ‘effect’; music seems to play a bit slower, of course it doesn’t (or so I hope 😁) but I think this is because it sounds more right and relaxed (good thing!) It must be my brain adjusting to something no longer there or the opposite: missing before.

 

Very happy so far!!! Thank you Alex and John! 👍

 

My system topology in attached picture (clickable for larger version). The ER is a drop in replacement for a TP Link MC220L fiber ethernet converter plus EMO Systems EN-HD70 LAN isolator. I’ll update my system details in my profile next.

 

I wish I had your written expression skills!  Your description of the SQ is the most spot on and nuanced I have seen.

 

Where did you get your the software that you used to illustrate your system topology?  

[simon_pepper]

On 11/25/2019 at 6:56 AM, Dutch said:

My first impressions/listening notes after my first listen (I’m not counting the 15 minutes or so I listened when I hooked it up) and around 140 house of continuous operation of the ER.

 

In short: WOW! 🎶

 

Stronger foundation, more punch and the (upper) bass/lower midrange octaves seem to have filled up a bit in my system

Microdetail in spades without distracting or anything specific drawing my attention

More ambiance or reverb is heard, better soundstaging in all three dimensions 

Incredible separation, delineation and natural portrayal of voices and instruments (harmonies OMG)

Emotion is really oozing from recordings

Less digititis (again?!), no sharpness, peaky or intermingled/smeared highs, just well balanced not dark or filtered in any way. Lively recordings still sound lively.

 

One very weird ‘effect’; music seems to play a bit slower, of course it doesn’t (or so I hope 😁) but I think this is because it sounds more right and relaxed (good thing!) It must be my brain adjusting to something no longer there or the opposite: missing before.

 

Very happy so far!!! Thank you Alex and John! 👍

 

My system topology in attached picture (clickable for larger version). The ER is a drop in replacement for a TP Link MC220L fiber ethernet converter plus EMO Systems EN-HD70 LAN isolator. I’ll update my system details in my profile next.

 

But with Devialet Roon Ready support now available why not go ‘B’ port into the 250 unit, and skip the conversion to USB and the NUC based endpoint (which is not going to be electrically the cleanest endpoint).

[Dutch]

On 11/25/2019 at 11:01 AM, simon_pepper said:

But with Devialet Roon Ready support now available why not go ‘B’ port into the 250 unit, and skip the conversion to USB and the NUC based endpoint (which is not going to be electrically the cleanest endpoint).

Yes, on the devialetchat forum I wrote that I owe it to myself to test this one day and  back then even made a topology update to show how this would hugely simplify my system (for giggles I’ve attached it here as well). However since my Devialet came back with the CI module a year ago I have not ever used the USB and ethernet inputs, so these are still brand new. 
 

Pre CI module release I preferred USB over ethernet (when using a tweaked, both hardware as software wise, PC) and later AES/EBU out of the Mutec MC3+ USB over ethernet. I’ve been too lazy to re-test and RAAT stability issues reported by others and Devialet not caring much or at all did not motivate me either.

 

And yes, I really ‘needed’ the TX-USB Ultra connected to the NUC to clean things up, yet it did sound better than my previous single machine setup.

[FileMakerDev]

On 11/23/2019 at 12:47 PM, darkstar said:

My listening impressions fall in line with other owners are saying. 
Initial observations were the outstanding clarity. My wife thought the sound lost some body and warmth. I think we are both correct

 

Due in part to the ER and in part to some sizzling hot silver speaker cable I recently installed, my sentiments were similar to yours. Ended up compensating by installing a very smooth interconnect between my preamp and power amp. I could not be happier. My system has never sounded this good (in 4+ decades of audio obsession)... I’m hearing a phenomenal combination of depth, clarity and sweetness. 

[FileMakerDev]

21 hours ago, OldBigEars said:

I've been thinking about upgrading my microRendu 1.4 to one of the costlier Rendu variants but am somewhat dubious about the difference it would make.

 

For what it’s worth, I upgraded my home system from micro to ultra as soon as the ultra came out. The difference was not subtle, and I liked it enough that I purchased a second ultra (for my office system). 

[PYP]

Got internet?

 

Listening to Ron Carter's Foursight - Stockholm, Vol. 1.  (Qobuz/Roon).  If this be the sound of streaming, play on....

 

Too good not to share with Jazz fans.  Enjoy!

[Dougster]

Lovely band .... as a thank you I recommend Tomasz Stanko “Lontano” ..... may order an ER tomorrow!

[Superdad]

New blog post and firmware released!

https://uptoneaudio.com/blogs/news/etherregen-huge-success-new-firmware-for-november-units-reviews

[Jud]

Decades ago, Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer” was big on the radio. I was a bit frustrated because my high end system at the time, unlike a car radio, brought the backing up loud enough that Henley’s great vocals didn’t dominate. On a visit to my dealer I heard the song with a Spectral preamp in the system, and though the backing was clear, Henley’s vocals were too. Some time afterward I bought that preamp, and now have a Spectral amp as well.

 

I’ve felt similarly about “Southern Cross” by Crosby, Stills and Nash. Loved the song on the radio, but the vocals never quite came through the same way on a full range system. Today, with the ER in the system, they did. 🙂

[Bernstein]

Unfortunately I don’t have a lot of time (and peace) to conduct an A/B comparison. I will someday switch back to my old switch to hear the differences. I think after getting used to ER, potential changes will be more obvious  

 

Forst observation is that I listen with higher volume which gives more joy! A change is immediately audible just by listening to while moving through my home (without critical listening needed). It sounds more clear, refined and relaxed/stable. More live without being nervous. Sometimes the mind plays games (new device must bring something to the game), but here it is different. I was sometimes surprised (with eyebrows raised) what happened.