EtherREGEN: Installation, Usage, Difficulty, Questions thread

[Indydan]

I hate to ask, but Alex, is there a chance we get the new firmware this weekend?

[Superdad]

16 hours ago, Indydan said:

I hate to ask, but Alex, is there a chance we get the new firmware this weekend?

 

As per my previously announced plan, I have just now sent the firmware and guide via e-mail directly to the 10 people I have e-mail record of having some connectivity issues. Hopefully those users will test and report positively to us over the weekend. Then I will make the update available publicly on our web site--and announce it here of course.

 

Two requests:

1) If you happen to be a recipient of the firmware preview, please do not share the file publicly. I forgot to ask that in the e-mail that accompanied the file.

2) Please do not e-mail or message me requesting to be in the preview group. If the update takes care of the issue you will all have access to it next week.

 

Here is the two-page EtherREGEN Firmware Update Guide. I forgot to ask the preview group to give feedback on this guide, so you guys can read it and tell me if anything does not make sense to you.

Thanks and have a great weekend!

--Alex C.

 

 

[Indydan]

21 minutes ago, Superdad said:

 

As per my previously announced plan, I have just now sent the firmware and guide via e-mail directly to the 10 people I have e-mail record of having some connectivity issues. Hopefully those users will test and report positively to us over the weekend. Then I will make the update available publicly on our web site--and announce it here of course.

 

Two requests:

1) If you happen to be a recipient of the firmware preview, please do not share the file publicly. I forgot to ask that in the e-mail that accompanied the file.

2) Please do not e-mail or message me requesting to be in the preview group. If the update takes care of the issue you will all have access to it next week.

 

Here is the two-page EtherREGEN Firmware Update Guide. I forgot to ask the preview group to give feedback on this guide, so you guys can read it and tell me if anything does not make sense to you.

Thanks and have a great weekend!

--Alex C.

 

 

 

New firmware received and installed!

 

Thank you Alex for your quick response to our problems. I have to say that the user guide is very well written and easy to follow. It took me about 10-15 minutes to do the whole operation. It went smoothly.

 

I am still getting Tidal dropouts. BUT, from talking with others on the Naim forum, it seems to be a problem with Tidal and Naim (it has happened before). 

 

Internet radio works perfectly, and it passes through the same cables and switch. I am confident it is a problem with Tidal. 

 

Don't ask me yet if it sounds better. It is late and I am too tired to do listening tests. I am just happy the new firmware was very easy to install.

 

By the way, that circuit board is a beauty in person! 

[jos]

I remember something about static-electricity in the past. Putting your hands on a heating or something else to prevent damaging the motherboard. Is that still true, or advisable?

[esmit]

Still stable after 4 hours with new firmware.

Looking (and sounding) good. 

 

[Ehsu]

10 minutes ago, esmit said:

Still stable after 4 hours with new firmware.

Looking (and sounding) good. 

 

I just installed the new firmware and it took less than 5 mins. Easy as! Sound testing now. First note sounds fabulous. Slightly better separation. I will test more to be sure. No sleep tonight I guess 🙂 

[Ehsu]

2hrs after firmware update. No dropouts so far. But to be honest, my last dropout was 3 days ago so time will tell.

However, I am not sure whether there is any improvements in SQ. Perhaps there is bigger soundstage? Perhaps better separation and imaging? Perhaps bass become a bit bloated for my liking? I thought it is slightly more hifi than music now. I was not tapping my feet as vigorously as before. Perhaps I was just too tired? Perhaps......

 

Either way, I think the differences are too minor to be 100% certain. I wonder what others ( unlucky or lucky few experienced dropouts ) think about this update?

 

Perhaps its time for bed 😞 Way past 2am for critical listening!

[FrankMA]

Thanks for the update Alex. Process was easy. I found the instructions detailed & super simple to follow.

 

Streaming now and will report what I see. Big test will be over night

[Indydan]

An explanation was offered on the Naim forum as to why I am getting dropouts with Tidal. It is very technical, so I will copy paste it.

 

"Essentially the network transport (TCP) windowing buffers were not large enough on the legacy streamers to comfortably handle ‘elastic’ data flows with higher bit rate data such as 44.1/16/2 Flac, and in extreme cases 320 Kbps AAC internet radio over the internet … that is flow latency due to internet routing, routing loading, server loading or home network loading/latency.
The legacy streamers were modified via firmware to optimise the data transport stack as far as possible to mitigate … but it is an inherent hardware and architecture limitation or vulnerability on the legacy streamers with the original transport.
You may find this happens from time to time on the old streamers and as conditions load more like your ISP back haul or your own broadband access it may appear to get worse. It may also vary from track to track, as tracks are spooled from different global cloud service providers that Tidal use… and the flow characteristics can vary from different servers and service providers."

 

Alex, can any of this elastic data flows or latency loading possibly be caused by the EtherRegen? 

 

 

Edit: I have put back the original switch to test. I am still getting Tidal dropouts with the original switch. It seems to be a problem with Tidal, and not the EtherRegen. 

[ronfint]

I just got home from my most important, and best, job — taking care of my grandson. It took no more than 5 minutes to do the firmware update. The instructions are perfect. For me, the hardest part was rummaging around the house to find a micro usb cable.

 

All is working perfectly, and there does seem to be a sound quality uptick, although on topics like that, I'd rather not go on the record.

 

Thanks for making this so easy!

[Superdad]

While it is probably a bit too soon for us to declare victory over the EEE bug, I must say that we find these early reports very encouraging!

I woke up several times in the middle of the night last night and had trepidation about opening my e-mail this morning--worried that the firmware preview recipients (who, AFAIK, were the worst sufferers of the bug) would report that the update did not improve things.

 

I do have a favor to ask of the FW preview group members who have posted:

Because I track and maintain support issues via e-mail--and because it is not easy for me to correlate forum screen names with your real names--please do e-mail me directly with your final status, by the end of the weekend if possible.

Thank you.

[thotdoc]

Re firmware installation...,

 

I had no micro USB...many mini USBs, but a trip to the AT&T store took care of that.

 

The installation of the firmware was very easy...just follow the directions one step at a time. The whole thing takes only a few minutes.

 

When I put it back into the system the first thing that happened was that Roon could not find my OR. I went through several machinations...then just rebooted the whole set-up. That worked.

 

I'm listening to music...ahhh...now.  Diana Krall: Live in Paris....A case of you.  

 

Roon-Tidal latest version it's doing fine...

 

The ER is cold still, but the music sounds so great.  I'll post again and to Alex directly after seeing that it no longer drops out.

 

Does it sound better? I DK really...It seemed more open with more detail when I started it up after the upgrade....I can hear DK's tongue managing her breath and her lips controlling the sounds she is making...Her intentions are clear. I heard this before the firmware upgrade, but I don't know if it was this distinct. Maybe I'm psyching myself...I didn't take specific notes. 

 

I'm just thankful it's working and I have music. Last night my wife was listening...she loves music, but is not into the equipment or the minutiae, typically...just loves the blues and R&R. She volunteered that the system "sounded sweeter...and never sounded better or more clear"...and then she started t talk like one of us...describing minutiae...never happened before. 🙂

 

 

[simon_pepper]

Question to current EtherRegen users, what have you placed your EtherRegen on?

 

Mine is behind my 2 Aavik tables sat on the wooden floor, as that’s where the 5-port CISCO switch was it has replaced & there is no shelf space available & that’s where all the Ethernet cables are, however should I be placing it on something isolating? And should that be a small bamboo chopping block or a cork pad (e.g. a table place mat).

 

My UltraRendu and UltraCap have the dual faceplate, so a larger unit, plus cables only coming from the rear of these units.

 

Does anyone have any suggested isolation components for these sized components?

Does placement affect the performance?

 

Is this the right thread for this type of question/discussion?

[Superdad]

15 minutes ago, simon_pepper said:

Does anyone have any suggested isolation components for these sized components?

Does placement affect the performance?

 

Is this the right thread for this type of question/discussion?

 

Hi Simon: I don't have an answer for you, but sure, either this thread or the EtherREGEN "tweaking" thread is fine. 

[PYP]

2 hours ago, simon_pepper said:

Question to current EtherRegen users, what have you placed your EtherRegen on?

 

Mine is on its side behind my rack.  Beneath is a tube damper (used long ago with a tube preamp).  I'm not claiming any differences in sound or that this is state of the art, just protecting the floor and aiding air circulation.

 

[esmit]

The new firmware has been running stable for 24 hours now. As a former programmer I would say: it builds! SHIP IT, SHIP IT! 😉

[FrankMA]

I'm still having a bit of an issue. Have to do some digging to see if this could be Roon 1.7.

 

I started streaming at 9:30AM yesterday. Before I went to bed at 10:30 or so it had stopped.  Got it running again by hitting Play Now at the top of my Roon queue.  The odd thing is Roon looks like it is playing (meters near the song working, in Play mode) but the song is not incrementing (on 0.00 and I'm getting no output). But I do get Track Not Available in Tidal/Qobuz (connectivity blip?) when I see this.

Same condition when I woke up this AM.

 

Each time I have searched for my player I still see it on the network (prior to the fix I didn't) so I'm not sure it's the same network connectivity/ER issue because before once the music was stopped the player was not on the network.

 

Still at the drawing board

 

[Bernstein]

26h running without hickup. Playing music over roon and streaming movies over Apple TV. 🥳

[stevebythebay]

7 hours ago, esmit said:

The new firmware has been running stable for 24 hours now. As a former programmer I would say: it builds! SHIP IT, SHIP IT! 😉

As a former quality assurance analyst I would say: beta test and then some, especially to ensure things don't merely get fixed, but don't break anything or degrade performance in the process.

[ray-dude]

The good news is that an extended beta group is about 200 units, so you're both right

 

 

 

 

[Summit]

I have read that Up Tone recommend the ER to be placed close to the endpoint. Have anyone tested to place the ER both close to the endpoint and further away and can tell me if there is any perceived degradation in SQ by move it like 10 meter?  

[thotdoc]

5 hours ago, FrankMA said:

I'm still having a bit of an issue. Have to do some digging to see if this could be Roon 1.7.

 

I started streaming at 9:30AM yesterday. Before I went to bed at 10:30 or so it had stopped.  Got it running again by hitting Play Now at the top of my Roon queue.  The odd thing is Roon looks like it is playing (meters near the song working, in Play mode) but the song is not incrementing (on 0.00 and I'm getting no output). But I do get Track Not Available in Tidal/Qobuz (connectivity blip?) when I see this.

Same condition when I woke up this AM.

 

Each time I have searched for my player I still see it on the network (prior to the fix I didn't) so I'm not sure it's the same network connectivity/ER issue because before once the music was stopped the player was not on the network.

 

Still at the drawing board

 

Same symptoms that seemed to be taken care of with the firmware upgrade for me.

[cool_chris]

I got my ER last week.

I placed It in my system but SQ was little dissapointing.

So I satarted burn in process with hope to get the better SQ.

The only thing I got is my totaldac server to dissapear form my mconnect HD app I use as a remote on my ipad.

There is no way to bring it back . There must be a softwere issue. 

 

Alex could you please help me with this?

I hope it is not happening to the others .

I cant use it in my system now. Not sure why ?
when placed between the NAS and network the same story.

nas dissapears from network.....
 

 

[rickca]

2 hours ago, cool_chris said:

There must be a softwere issue.

Have you read about the upcoming firmware update and problems with EEE in the other EtherREGEN threads?

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/57586-etherregen-installation-usage-difficulty-questions-thread/?do=findComment&comment=1006536

See earlier posts by Superdad and JohnSwenson in that thread for a discussion of the EEE issue.

[FrankMA]

Glad for you Thotdoc.

I'm pretty frustrated. Wish I hadn't introduced another variable (Roon 1.7).  Had 4-5 occurrences this AM. Rebooted the entire network again and it is working now.  If it stops again (likely) I'll go back to the Cisco and see if I can isolate or eliminate the cause.