UpTone Audio EtherREGEN Listening Impressions

[jandersonhill]

I was just going to say that different optical modules make a difference. I forget which I tried first, but I had the same issue with the sound becoming overly-smoothed, which went away with a Cisco fibre. It's on my list of things to do to test further at some point...

[PYP]

1 hour ago, Rsbrsvp said:

I already have another highly recommended Finisar module.  I am skeptical to keep investing in these modules...  My thinking is that the differences will be subtle rather than significant.   Please correct me if this is inaccurate.  I have not experimented with other modules...

I'm reluctant to pull out my current modules.  The whole way these modules are built and connect just seem inadequate/suboptimal to me.  Are modules meant to be placed once (as in, jammed into place) and then never touched?

 

At any rate, this reminded me (again) that while we all fine tune our systems (should I add obsessively?) there are two other determinants that can have a much larger effect on the overall sound:  the recording itself and our control of the volume.   Have you ever listened to a piano recording and wondered if your system just didn't get it right?  After all, many audio reviewers point to this as a critical subjective measure.  Then you listen to another piano recording and think:  ah, there it is, the full body of the piano in all its glory!  All systems are a go, suddenly.  Similarly, finding the "right" volume for that particular recording in your particular room makes a huge difference.  

 

Just reflecting on "enjoy the music" as I continue to pursue sound that is close to live...without ever getting there because it isn't possible.  

 

 

[jandersonhill]

@Rsbrsvp In my (limited experience) the differences between modules range from negligible to quite noticeable, I suspect the outcome also depends on which switches you are using them in. The issue is that 'quite noticeable' can mean 'noticeably worse'!

 

Right now, with relatively few people posting about this topic, it feels a bit of lottery buying modules and hoping for the best... but it is a topic I want to look into further.

[R1200CL]

3 hours ago, jandersonhill said:

Right now, with relatively few people posting about this topic, it feels a bit of lottery buying modules and hoping for the best... but it is a topic I want to look into further.

 

This should be discussed in other threads. If you use the search function, you should find good posts about SFP+ modules, brand, what laser may be preferred and why, and single mode vs multi mode. 

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/57686-the-etherregen-thread-for-various-network-cable-power-experiences-and-experiments/page/94/?tab=comments#comment-1137230

 

 

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/24002-optical-network-configurations/?tab=comments#comment-427434

 

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/62352-finisar-sfp-modules-for-audio-grade-network-switch-group-buy-for-audiophilestylecom/page/4/?tab=comments#comment-1132280

 

 

[jandersonhill]

51 minutes ago, R1200CL said:

 

This should be discussed in other threads. If you use the search function, you should find good posts about SFP+ modules, brand, what laser may be preferred and why, and single mode vs multi mode. 

 

Funnily enough, reading the threads using the search function is how I ended up trying out different modules in the first place. My conclusion is this still feels a bit of a lottery, however I agree that this could be split into another topic.

[Rsbrsvp]

2 hours ago, R1200CL said:

 

This should be discussed in other threads. If you use the search function, you should find good posts about SFP+ modules, brand, what laser may be preferred and why, and single mode vs multi mode. 

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/57686-the-etherregen-thread-for-various-network-cable-power-experiences-and-experiments/page/94/?tab=comments#comment-1137230

 

 

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/24002-optical-network-configurations/?tab=comments#comment-427434

 

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/62352-finisar-sfp-modules-for-audio-grade-network-switch-group-buy-for-audiophilestylecom/page/4/?tab=comments#comment-1132280

 

 

I already went through many of these threads and bought a highly recommended Finisar module.  I still really like my ER's without fiber and no OM, and I refuse to start testing all these modules.  Just to expensive and time consuming.

 

If to my ears fiber cannot beat copper with any Finisar module, than I am not going down this road.  Again, I know almost everyone out there prefers fiber over copper, but if my ears are not convinced of this in the next week, I will have to go with my ears. I would not have even given my OM so many chances if it were not for the overwhelming support of it by audiophiles.  But this almost universal support forces me to try..

[richard_crl032]

27 minutes ago, Rsbrsvp said:

I already went through many of these threads and bought a highly recommended Finisar module.  I still really like my ER's without fiber and no OM, and I refuse to start testing all these modules.  Just to expensive and time consuming.

 

If to my ears fiber cannot beat copper with any Finisar module, than I am not going down this road.  Again, I know almost everyone out there prefers fiber over copper, but if my ears are not convinced of this in the next week, I will have to go with my ears. I would not have even given my OM so many chances if it were not for the overwhelming support of it by audiophiles.  But this almost universal support forces me to try..

 

All say wireless sucks but my mesh point sounded repeatedly better to my ears than hardwiring from router .. that is all that matters to me.

 

Any taker for my 25m supra cat 8 cable ? Discounted usd200 via paypal with free global shipping.

 

Cheers.

 

Richard

 

[R1200CL]

6 hours ago, Rsbrsvp said:

I still really like my ER's without fiber and no OM, and I refuse to start testing all these modules.  Just to expensive and time consuming.

Available in your country. https://www.ebay.com/itm/164891119541?epid=27013198216&hash=item266446cfb5:g:XywAAOSwlw5gtIno 😀

The best module available!

[Rsbrsvp]

2 hours ago, R1200CL said:

Available in your country. https://www.ebay.com/itm/164891119541?epid=27013198216&hash=item266446cfb5:g:XywAAOSwlw5gtIno 😀

The best module available!

I saw this yesterday.

 

What makes it the best?  Will you guys buy it off of me if I don't like it?  I am afraid to invest $120...

[Superdad]

9 hours ago, richard_crl032 said:

All say wireless sucks but my mesh point sounded repeatedly better to my ears than hardwiring from router .. that is all that matters to me.

 

Any taker for my 25m supra cat 8 cable ? Discounted usd200 via paypal with free global shipping.

 

3 hours ago, R1200CL said:

Available in your country. https://www.ebay.com/itm/164891119541?epid=27013198216&hash=item266446cfb5:g:XywAAOSwlw5gtIno 😀

The best module available!

 

15 minutes ago, Rsbrsvp said:

I saw this yesterday.

What makes it the best?  Will you guys buy it off of me if I don't like it?  I am afraid to invest $120...

Please take these discussions to some other thread guys. Thanks! 

[One and a half]

On 6/3/2021 at 9:26 PM, Pro Jules said:

 

I sincerely hope some of you guys are taking the time to do rapid a/b testing after the burn in period 

 

Your regular ethernet vs ER (burnt in) 

 

Have you?

 

Thanks

 

After the ER was cooking for 14 days on regular IT duty as a switch from new with lots of traffic, while still hot was installed into the audio chain. The difference was significant enough to leave the ER in and not bother with further AB tests.

[Pro Jules]

Difference from what?
 

The brain can only ‘remember” sounds (to compare carefully) for a matter of seconds. 
 

that’s why quick a/b testing is the only true way to evaluate equipment. 

 

14 days is a total bust for memory / comparison. 

[MartinT]

Quick A/B testing never works because you're always looking for change.

 

Just relax and listen and over the course of an hour or so the changes become apparent without effort. This is the best way to assess system changes 

[Johnnydev]

3 hours ago, MartinT said:

Quick A/B testing never works because you're always looking for change.

 

Just relax and listen and over the course of an hour or so the changes become apparent without effort. This is the best way to assess system changes 

And sometimes it is better not to draw conclusions until after a longer period of time.

[OldBigEars]

17 hours ago, Pro Jules said:

 quick a/b testing is the only true way to evaluate equipment. 

 

 

For me quick a/b testing is the worst way to assess audio equipment.  I can't listen to music properly in that state of mind. and for short a period.  When I relax, listen and absorb my favorite pieces of music in a normal way, it becomes clear to me if the equipment or settings are working well, or not. 

[LowMidHigh]

11 hours ago, OldBigEars said:

 

For me quick a/b testing is the worst way to assess audio equipment.  I can't listen to music properly in that state of mind. and for short a period.  When I relax, listen and absorb my favorite pieces of music in a normal way, it becomes clear to me if the equipment or settings are working well, or not. 

 

Personally, if it takes that long to discern a difference, I stay shy of it.

 

I absorb the first 30 to 60 seconds in a track, then make the switch, repeating several times. If there's no clear distinction, I call it a dud. That's exactly I how evaluated my ER's after they'd settled in. 

[Superdad]

19 minutes ago, LowMidHigh said:

Personally, if it takes that long to discern a difference, I stay shy of it.

 

I absorb the first 30 to 60 seconds in a track, then make the switch, repeating several times. If there's no clear distinction, I call it a dud. That's exactly I how evaluated my ER's after they'd settled in. 

I usually avoid such debates—and they really have no place in this thread—but what you describe is about how I personally make comparisons. Though I do give time for run-in of new pieces and I try to listen to a variety of music (mostly real acoustic instruments and voices recorded in real spaces—even though my tastes run broader). 

[OldBigEars]

13 hours ago, LowMidHigh said:

 

Personally, if it takes that long to discern a difference, I stay shy of it.

 

I absorb the first 30 to 60 seconds in a track, then make the switch, repeating several times. If there's no clear distinction, I call it a dud. That's exactly I how evaluated my ER's after they'd settled in. 

 

Each to their own. I certainly like the idea of identifying an instant improvement.  My problem is that sometimes my assessment changes after prolonged listening 'in a normal way'. Example....the Topping D90...initially I was impressed by its detail, but hated it after a week or two. But that's just me.

[OldBigEars]

13 hours ago, Superdad said:

I usually avoid such debates—and they really have no place in this thread—but what you describe is about how I personally make comparisons. Though I do give time for run-in of new pieces and I try to listen to a variety of music (mostly real acoustic instruments and voices recorded in real spaces—even though my tastes run broader). 

 

Isn't this thread supposed to be "listening impressions"?

[Superdad]

38 minutes ago, OldBigEars said:

 

Isn't this thread supposed to be "listening impressions"?

Yes but the conversation was veering into the timeless arguments about “how” to form a listening impression. 

[jamesg11]

5 hours ago, Superdad said:

Yes but the conversation was veering into the timeless arguments about “how” to form a listening impression. 

Not ‘timeless’, more ‘technical’ (for me) - when comparing an in-place gear item with a replacement, what is the ‘listening’ effect of having to power down a clock, even short term

eg mucking around with those DX boxes (that JS was highly sceptical about) I turned off the modem & I guess there’d be a 10 minute lapse before it was all functioning again ... how long for the clock(s) involved to be where it was - so that an A-B is possible?

[charlesphoto]

6 hours ago, OldBigEars said:

 

..initially I was impressed by its detail, but hated it after a week or two. 

Sorry to keep this veering o.t. but I expect for many (and that has included myself) it's easy to mistake that initial difference in sound for better, even if it isn't. It's human to do, and we're only human. 

[jhopki]

I purchased the EtherREGEN with the aim of improving an already excellent sounding Audiolab streamer, and noticed an immediate uptick in performance. Especially after a 3 week of burn in, there were pervasive gains in staging, dynamics, and bass detail.

 

Detail is an interesting thing. I suppose it *all* comes down to detail, and at least in my system, the EtherREGEN opened the floodgates. But at the same time, the music became less analytical sounding, if such a thing is possible. Perhaps this is a characteristic others refer to as “more analogue”, “natural”, or “organic.” A lot more air and ambience course through my listening environment now, particularly with live music in venues like concert halls and jazz clubs. All of this improvement, of course, assumes a high quality recording.

 

For me, the cherry on top is the EtherREGEN’s ability to utilize an external clock, in my case a modestly priced AfterDark unit. These devices work together to deliver a remarkable one-two punch that has taken my digital source quality to a new level. I find myself listening to old, familiar recordings late into the night, and in my 40 years of hifi listening, this is the single best indicator of a system working the way it should. I notice my trusty Linn is gathering a bit of dust, but this is no knock on vinyl. Still, the EtherREGEN/external clock has imbued my digital front end with a swagger (and delicacy) seldom experienced before.

 

Thanks to Messieurs Crespi and Swenson for their remarkable device. And Austinpop, for his magisterial product review that also served as an excellent digital audio primer. And MartinT, for initiating a superb external clock thread. A fascinating detective story, representing a remarkable collaboration between aficionados and audio engineers alike. Highly recommended in its entirety.

[Rsbrsvp]

Is it true that Uptone recommends that when using an external PSU that 12V is best- or is this incorrect?

 

I'm not asking for listening impressions- but rather from a technical angle- is there a difference which voltage is used as long as it is between 7-12V?

[richard_crl032]

Higher voltage = lower current into ER for same power needed and lower heat ?