I’m afraid of USB!

[Martin Herløv Andersen]

Before this turns into a real phobia I need some reassurance that USB is totally safe and not harmful in any way (-:

 

Let me explain. I am thinking about buying the Innous Zenith Mk3. It only has USB out. So what's the problem?

It started with me looking into USB cables and many of them are crazy expensive, then I read about how much better it will sound with the innuos phoenixusb reclocker.

So I started to think that USB is an inferior connection, that needs a lot of equipment to sound right.

And because the USB connection is asynchronous then the fancy phoenixusb reclocker will “only” deliver a clean USB signal to the DAC, but the DAC has to use its own internal clock.

 

Today I use S/PDIF and I never read about a S/PDIF enhancement devices.

 

So is USB safe and maybe a better connection type than S/PDIF?

[Martin Herløv Andersen]

Thanks for making me a little wiser.

 

I have arranged with my hifi dealer that I can have the Zen and the phoenixusb reclocker from Saturday at 15:00 to Tuesday morning.

Really looking forward to it 🥰

 

Will keep you updated.

[Martin Herløv Andersen]

The Zen has landed, but I can't see it as a roon endpoint, so no sound 😩

Maybe my dac's usb are not compatible with the zen

[Martin Herløv Andersen]

3 hours ago, Martin Herløv Andersen said:

The Zen has landed, but I can't see it as a roon endpoint, so no sound 😩

Maybe my dac's usb are not compatible with the zen

Fixed it, had to turn on the dac first, then from standby mode turn on the Zen.

 

Now when I am here. I want to give my initial expression of the sound.

 

The Zen alone as a roon endpoint sounds a little better than my miniDSP HD Studio, blacker background, voices are warmer.

After listen for an hour I just had to try the Innuos Phoenix USB Reclocker. Cold it sounded good, but after an hour it started to sound really good. It was almost analog, or so I tell my self. But the reclocker is the real star.

[Martin Herløv Andersen]

33 minutes ago, Superdad said:

I do seem to recall you enjoyed and recommended our original USB REGEN:

https://www.stereophile.com/content/uptone-audio-usb-regen
Just sayin’... 

 

@Superdad have you compared the iso regen with a good reclocker? I don't have that possibility and I trust your ears, so spit it out (-:

[Martin Herløv Andersen]

1 hour ago, Superdad said:

We already know what incrementally better clocking and power sounds like

Thanks for taking the time.

My question was about SQ. So I think you nailed it (: I think I will buy the ISO REGEN and wait for what ever you are cooking.

I own the ER, glad about it, but it get really hot.