UpTone Audio EtherREGEN Listening Impressions

[hifiveharry]

I just bought the System Optique bundle, so now I'm wanting to transfer my music from my Windows 7 audio computer to my SGC i9. I also have an EtherRegen and am wondering can I transfer my music files out of the old computer by ethernet, THRU the EtherRegen, then to the SGC i9 via ethernet?  Has anyone tried this yet?  I don't know much about computers, so thanks in advance.

[BCRich]

That’s gonna be a question for Andrew at SGC. The Hard Disc in the i9 would have to be accessible over the network. That will require some configuring. Might be a good idea to ask over at the new Sonore Forum or email Andrew. Enjoy the i9, been thinking about one myself. 

[R1200CL]

58 minutes ago, hifiveharry said:

I just bought the System Optique bundle, so now I'm wanting to transfer my music from my Windows 7 audio computer to my SGC i9. I also have an EtherRegen and am wondering can I transfer my music files out of the old computer by ethernet, THRU the EtherRegen, then to the SGC i9 via ethernet?  Has anyone tried this yet?  I don't know much about computers, so thanks in advance.

Yes, you can with or without etherRegen. But if using etherRegen use the A side, as this is the gigabyte side. (You must have a switch preset. No direct Ethernet cable between W7and i9). 
You need to attach the the SSD in W7. Probably as a network share. Then just use file manager the normal way. 
I assume you have purchased the i9 with extra storage space. 

You can also let the SonicTransporter just browsed your W7 if you don’t have the available disk space in the i9. 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4026635/windows-map-a-network-drive

 

Her is the guide:

http://www.sonicorbiter.com/docs/file_transfer

 

Also I suggest you use copy, and not move function in Windows  😀

[Emc1]

On 8/30/2020 at 9:39 AM, scolley said:

Apologies for the long post. Here goes...

 

My experiences are a bit unique in that I never listened to the EtherREGEN in its stock form. As soon as I got it I hooked it up, I placed one of these heatsinks on top. Waiting 90 minutes before my first listen, I was QUITE pleased with the initial sonic results.

 

After leaving it on and playing quietly for 24 hours, I permanently attached the heatsink with thermal epoxy.

After allowing the unit to quietly burn-in/warm up for a couple more hours, the next listen was a glorious improvement in sonics. Sound stage size, texture, detail and - most important - resolution of the sound-stage. Not to mention just being more “tuneful” and engaging. The improvement was very exciting. I have to underscore the conclusion of @austinpop. This is a bargain. A big one.

 

That said, I found the improvements to be heavily skewed toward high-res tracks. It helps Red Book content a lot, but the improvements in high-res content sonics are much more evident. I suspect the more you’ve invested in your system, the more you need this. One thing I wonder about is why the improvements were audible for me so quickly. Within 90 minutes it was really good. But it was huge after 24 hours. Was it the heatsink? Or were 90 minutes (initially) and 24 hours burn-in time sufficient? Or a combination of both? I wouldn’t know.

 

One thing is certain, I could not be more thrilled with the purchase. 🙂

 

PS - I will mention that based on my brief experiences, independent of obvious your-mileage-may-vary-on-your-network considerations, I would suggest that if you can normally clearly hear the difference between high-res tracks and 44.1/16, then this is a slam dunk. If you can’t though, this may be a tweak that your system may not resolve quite so well.

 

PPS - I hear FAR far greater differences over my speakers than my headphones.  My cans are Oppo PM-3’s with stock cable, amplified by a Mytek Brooklyn Bridge. But that difference may well be due to having invested much, much more in my speakers and speaker amplification, which could be a bit of evidence backing up my conclusions above: the better your system resolves sonics, the better improvements the EtherREGEN can bring.

Follow Your experience, I manage to put a large CPU heat sink and the sound improve surprisingly . Besudes,I do use Farad super3 with audio sensitivity signature silver dc cable on EtherREGEN switch. This further improve the quality with  more dynamic sound and details. Good suggestions. Thanks. Now I am waiting for PHD SR7/T Power supply to come. Let see if any improvement for the switch.

[charlesphoto]

I don't have an etherregen, but I do a number of other Sonore and Uptone devices, and they can get quite hot, disturbingly so esp during a heat wave, so I've added AC Infinity USB fans per the recommendation of another AS member. Running just on the low setting they do the trick, well built, little to no vibration or noise, and everything runs cool. You can see one in the back of this pic. Inexpensive as well. 

[hifiveharry]

Thank's for all your help R1200. I can't wait to get this digital system up and running in. I've been so impressed with both the MicroRendu and then the UltraRendu. I did get 10tb of hard drive in the SonicTransporter i9 and a nice surprise is it came with optical out, so I can go directly to the OpticalRendu. From what I am reading, I may still want to use the IsoRegen to my dac. I always enjoyed the difference it made with the UltraRendu. So I'll use the 1.2 batteries until everybody agrees on the best power supply for the OR. Is anyone using a different power supply for the i9 computer?

 

 

 

[R1200CL]

19 hours ago, hifiveharry said:

So I'll use the 1.2 batteries until everybody agrees on the best power supply for the OR

You may struggle a lot with the LPS-1.2 powering the opticalRendu. If you try, do not connect USB at startup. Probably 9V works better than 7V. Order a Paul Hynes SR4T is a good solution. (Set at 7V). 

[charlesphoto]

1 hour ago, R1200CL said:

You may struggle a lot with the LPS-1.2 powering the opticalRendu. If you try, do not connect USB at startup. Probably 9V works better than 7V. Order a Paul Hynes SR4T is a good solution. (Set at 7V). 

 

Or the Sonore Power Supply is very good and much easier to get if you're in the US. I run mine with an SR black fuse, Shunyata Venom NR cable on a dedicated circuit with an iFi AC iPurifier and it makes the oR sound incredible. 

[OldBigEars]

It's hard to know what more to add to the plaudits already posted here, but I thought I'd add my brief comments after a couple of months living with this amazing little device. My main point is to speak for the guys with more humble systems. It's often been stated on here that ER works fantastically with "...even top-end equipment...".  Which is all very well if you have such a system.

 

You can check out my system in my signature.  It has been carefully built and within my small listening space, performs exceedingly well. This year has seen an astonishingly satisfying upswing in performance, particularly since adding a Chord Qutest DAC, replacing my trusty Hegel HD25 and after briefly living with a Topping D90, which didn't work out well for me.

 

After adding the Qutest, I thought I'd go the extra mile and see what incremental musical enjoyment ER could bring, notwithstanding my end-point remains a mere mR 1.4 (CI Audio powered). I have not invested in a fancy power supply for my ER - sticking to Alex's comments, but well aware of all the positive experiences of AS readers with high-end power systems for their ER's.

 

Enough of the background....within a few minutes of connecting my new ER it was clear that something extraordinary had happened to my system, in a positive sense. After a day or so, it was confirmed that my ER has added a whole new layer of musicality.  A real breakthrough in undigitalizing the sound.  Very much on the same level of improvement as add the Qutest.  

 

The net result of adding Qutest and EtherRegen to my system, in quick succession, is that I feel I've landed on a very comfortable performance plateau.  A place where I can enjoy my music for a long time - focusing on the music rather than constantly obsessing over equipment tweaks. Thank you Alex - your product works as claimed.

[Mikey26]

Just to share my experience with the Etherregen getting too hot, today I rearranged the Ethernet cables so they are not near the dc power cable of the Etherregen and also away from any other power cables. What happened is now the Etherregen is running much cooler. This tells me the network cables can pick up noise from nearby power cables and cause jitter and so the Etherregen has to work extra hard to reduce the jitter and why the switch gets so hot at times. Your experience might be different.

[Superdad]

35 minutes ago, Mikey26 said:

Just to share my experience with the Etherregen getting too hot, today I rearranged the Ethernet cables so they are not near the dc power cable of the Etherregen and also away from any other power cables. What happened is now the Etherregen is running much cooler. This tells me the network cables can pick up noise from nearby power cables and cause jitter and so the Etherregen has to work extra hard to reduce the jitter and why the switch gets so hot at times. Your experience might be different.

 

Hi Mikey:

While we appreciate you sharing your experience, your conclusions--about noise, jitter, and the temperature of the EtherREGEN are incorrect.  If your were to use a thermal camera or other thermometer probe, you would find that the EtherREGEN runs at the same temperature regardless of cable arrangement (assuming same connections and powered on time to reach thermal equilibrium).

[Mikey26]

You are correct superdad. The Etherregen was in a cabinet with the door closed, so when I opened the cabinet’s door, the Etherregen felt cooler to the touch after a few minutes of ventilation. I just tested the temp again with the cabinet door closed and it is as hot as before. Regardless, a great system upgrade. Thank you!

[MahlerFan]

I have been using EtherREGEN for a few weeks now, and I‘m really thrilled with the improvement I‘m hearing!

Although my setup is quite modest (NAD M10 streamer/amp, ELAC Vela FS 407 speakers, ROCK on a NUC), the sound improvement was even more clearly evident than I had already expected after reading the favourable comments here. There stereo image is much wider and instruments more clearly defined. I listen to a lot of classical music, and I find it most noticeable in good recordings.

I am glad I took the risk of ordering this quite expensive replacement for my cheap switch from Germany, and I am convinced it was worth the price. Also, the shipment via FedEx worked without a hitch.

Great thanks to UpTone Audio for this great product and service!

[Discopants]

On 8/30/2020 at 6:12 PM, scolley said:

I'm not going to suggest - for a moment - that I'm correct. I'm just a sample of one, which has no real meaning. But if I am right, maybe your upsampling is the reason you don't hear much of a difference between high and redbook-res. Thoughts?

 

Update on this one. Today I was advised to stream qobuz from my Samsung smartphone via bubbleupnp app where as I was always streaming using Mconnect HD using iPad air.

 

Well, now I can clearly hear the difference between qobuz and Spotify. 

 

Soundstage is better defined more microdetails better bass but more noticible in the treble more ambient clues from the recording including some irritating details in the bass musicians moving and a boom that is probably the Mic on the bass drum (cowboy junkies trinity sessions). I can fiddle with my DSP to improve it somewhat, will need to play some more.

 

Guy told me that iPad and Mconnect actually processed through the iPad. Where as bubbleupnp instructs the streamer to get the data from the web. Something is definitely very different. 

 

I don't want to derail but had to update on this discovery.

 

 

[Bernstein]

Has anyone experimented with two ER in a chain? What was the outcome (if any)...

[JamesBardsley]

Yes, a chap called MichaelB has on the Naim community.

 

He has 2 ERs both powered by a Sean Jacobs/Custom HiFi Cables DC3, in an excellent Naim system and he is very happy:

 

https://community.naimaudio.com/t/listening-experience-for-linear-ps-and-switches/8487/193

[LowMidHigh]

5 hours ago, Bernstein said:

Has anyone experimented with two ER in a chain? What was the outcome (if any)...

 

Have a chain of 2.  A noticeable improvement in my case. Recommending to give it a shot.

 

Ref clock makes a difference.

LPS will might make a difference, but I failed my amateurish blind test.

DC Cables? My sides are splitting from laughing. 

 

 

[Ricardo007]

18 hours ago, Bernstein said:

Has anyone experimented with two ER in a chain? What was the outcome (if any)...

I posted my experience on double stacking ERs a while ago:

I received today à second etherregen which is intended for à second source, à double PC configuration, to be received later.

Meanwhile I have in my bedroom system with TV thé Nvidia shield Android TV box streamer, with farad super3, which I use also for looking you tube videos. There is behind it the first etherregen clockéd by SotM master clock and follow éd by isoregen just before Terminator DAC.

I was thinking why not try it à double stack of etherregen clockéd by 10M master clock? Master clock and New Etherregen are powered by UpTone JS2. One clock cable is sotm the second one is cheap cybershaft 1.5 meter cable.

To summarize it is à big shock, huge improvment compare to changing my DAC.

Naturalness, New depth of relaxe sounds, sources have shrinked to their normal size and well located in space, songs lyrics much better understood, long decay of sound, space around instruments, better timbre...

Actually thé second ER was à much bigger improvment compare to the first.

Congrats to Alex and John for bringing this high value item to market.

Behind the 2ER is à 25usd Cisco 2960 switch linked to the modem/router and to à second Cisco switch with ubiquity AP for wifi (non audio). the second cisco switch is linked to the first cisco switch by single mode fiber to isolate from wifi  AP equipment

 

[Ricardo007]

On 9/4/2020 at 2:31 AM, JohnSwenson said:

The only issue is if the transformer is fully passing the RF frequency range used by the cable modem.

@JohnSwenson

hello John,

do you think this isolator would work for cable modem (it is from Jensen a famous name in audio for transformers):

https://www.jensen-transformers.com/product/vrd-1ff/

it says has a bandwith of 2MHz to 1300Mhz

 

would it work also for a (magnum dynalab) tuner?

[JohnSwenson]

17 hours ago, Ricardo007 said:

@JohnSwenson

hello John,

do you think this isolator would work for cable modem (it is from Jensen a famous name in audio for transformers):

https://www.jensen-transformers.com/product/vrd-1ff/

it says has a bandwith of 2MHz to 1300Mhz

 

would it work also for a (magnum dynalab) tuner?

I have not tried that particular one, but according to the specs it should work very well.

 

John S.

[DaveF]

I’m still waiting for my ER to arrive.

can John or Alex give an update on date of next shipment?

I'm in NY eagerly awaiting a trial of this little switch on my Naim Audio system.

david

[Superdad]

15 minutes ago, DaveF said:

can John or Alex give an update on date of next shipment?

Hi David:

Thank you again for your order. 

When you placed your order on October 5th, both the EtherREGEN web page and the order acknowledgment e-mail that was sent promised a ship date of October 29th.  

It is going to be tight (the circuit boards have yet to arrive), but we are still on track to ship on time. 

If it looks like there will be even the slightest delay an e-mail will be sent to everyone that was promised that date.

 

We appreciate your patience.  

—Alex C.

 

P.S. October production is all sold out, so new orders placed now will ship by November 19th. (As usual, this is indicated on the EtherREGEN web page.)

[DaveF]

Thanks John.

patience is not one of my virtues......

[soares]

On 10/5/2020 at 3:18 AM, Ricardo007 said:

@JohnSwenson

hello John,

do you think this isolator would work for cable modem (it is from Jensen a famous name in audio for transformers):

https://www.jensen-transformers.com/product/vrd-1ff/

it says has a bandwith of 2MHz to 1300Mhz

 

would it work also for a (magnum dynalab) tuner?

I am using it for already 3 years. From what I recall it made a subtle difference on sound and image. Meanwhile I did a couple of upgrades notably eR so I can not comment if with my actual quite tuned equipment it makes a difference. In any case it’s still there.

[emailists]

On 10/2/2020 at 4:32 PM, Discopants said:

 

Update on this one. Today I was advised to stream qobuz from my Samsung smartphone via bubbleupnp app 

 

 

Have you tried Running Bubble on a real computer?  I found it sounds better on my Mac than Mconnect from my phone.  I also set Bubbleupnp to decode to WAV which sounds better than sending my Hegel flac.