Post by petea on Oct 26, 2022 10:17:51 GMT
A while back I installed an Uptone EtherRegen into the Uk system between the ethernet output of the Fidata server (which has internal isolation and filtering separating it from the incoming ethernet: which itself is filtered using an AQVox switch). Initially I used their UltraCap PSU and its internal clock, but later switched that to a Ferrum Audio Hypsos PSU. This resulted in a improvement in sound quality and improved the reliability of the connection significantly and the EtherREGEN ran much cooler. I then install a Mutec Ref10 SE120 master clock and, again this produced a significant improvement. However, what always troubled me about this route was that the high precision external clock was always going to be modified to provide the 25 MHz signal required by ethernet and so there was some dependence at least on the capabilities of the EtherREGEN and 'interference' in the connection.
While this approach improved the sound quality of the ethernet and file to streamer route, it still presented issues. The EtherRegen would often need to be started a couple of time to get it to connect and one needed to make sure the external clock was on and stable (it is best to leave an extra 30 seconds or so after the 'clock ready' blue light has stopped flashing on the Ref10). Without the Ferrum PSU the connection would often drop after a while, I suspect due to over-heating, and it took ages to boot up. The Ferrum PSU 'fixed' that and the boot times became short and it never dropped the connection: it also ran a lot cooler. However, the overall impact was to edge the ethernet replay route above the USB one in terms of detail, staging and dynamics although maybe at the expense of a tiny bit of what I often describe as 'digital fizz' at the edge of audibility.
I had seen somewhere discussion about two new products from Innuos, both derived from their Statement server/streamer. I had looked at this at some point, but had already gone down the Fidata server route, the technology employed and design philosophy were appealing though. The new products used the same power filtering a dedicated master-clocks that the Statement used, but as stand-alone products: one is an ethernet re-clocker and the other is a USB re-clocker.
The ethernet re-clocker appealed a lot. At first glance it seems a lot more expensive a solution that the EtherREGEN, but when you factor in the Ferrum PSU and the Mutec clock it seems a bargain! They have sorted out the power side it seems and the re-clocking is done using a 3 ppb 25 MHZ clock connected directly to the ethernet switch chip and they have even put a lot of thought into isolation from vibration. And so I ordered one.
Straight out of the box the performance of the Innuos PhoenixNET was ahead of the EtherREGEN / PSU / master-clock route in terms of dynamics, detailing and staging while also capturing the 'naturalness' that the USB route always provided. Even better, the fizz was gone and so it seems to be a keeper.
I mentioned two new products from Innuos and the second was a USB re-clocker. Now, as I mentioned elsewhere this seemed less likely to have much impact on the USB output of the Fidata as the DAC should be in control of the timing and the Fidata USB is very well implemented and 'tuned' for file-based audio, but I still curious. Luckily I spotted an ex-demonstration unit for sale and so bought it. Well, I was wrong and while the impact is not as great as re-clocking an ethernet feed, re-clocking the USB feed does make a difference and the PhoenixUSB has now nudged the USB route to DAC ahead of the ethernet / streamer one and is the route I now again use for listening to audio files stored on the Fidata server.
I will take the EtherREGEN / PSU / Mutec to Germany and used it there for streaming, but I will also purchase a PhoenixUSB as file replay is my main source. I could have done that in the UK as well although the PhoenixNET is a 'cheaper' option, but being able to swap 4 boxes for 1 in a tightly packed rack was very attractive even though it does mean re-housing the Linn speed controller.
innuos.com/phoenixnet/
innuos.com/phoenix-usb/
While this approach improved the sound quality of the ethernet and file to streamer route, it still presented issues. The EtherRegen would often need to be started a couple of time to get it to connect and one needed to make sure the external clock was on and stable (it is best to leave an extra 30 seconds or so after the 'clock ready' blue light has stopped flashing on the Ref10). Without the Ferrum PSU the connection would often drop after a while, I suspect due to over-heating, and it took ages to boot up. The Ferrum PSU 'fixed' that and the boot times became short and it never dropped the connection: it also ran a lot cooler. However, the overall impact was to edge the ethernet replay route above the USB one in terms of detail, staging and dynamics although maybe at the expense of a tiny bit of what I often describe as 'digital fizz' at the edge of audibility.
I had seen somewhere discussion about two new products from Innuos, both derived from their Statement server/streamer. I had looked at this at some point, but had already gone down the Fidata server route, the technology employed and design philosophy were appealing though. The new products used the same power filtering a dedicated master-clocks that the Statement used, but as stand-alone products: one is an ethernet re-clocker and the other is a USB re-clocker.
The ethernet re-clocker appealed a lot. At first glance it seems a lot more expensive a solution that the EtherREGEN, but when you factor in the Ferrum PSU and the Mutec clock it seems a bargain! They have sorted out the power side it seems and the re-clocking is done using a 3 ppb 25 MHZ clock connected directly to the ethernet switch chip and they have even put a lot of thought into isolation from vibration. And so I ordered one.
Straight out of the box the performance of the Innuos PhoenixNET was ahead of the EtherREGEN / PSU / master-clock route in terms of dynamics, detailing and staging while also capturing the 'naturalness' that the USB route always provided. Even better, the fizz was gone and so it seems to be a keeper.
I mentioned two new products from Innuos and the second was a USB re-clocker. Now, as I mentioned elsewhere this seemed less likely to have much impact on the USB output of the Fidata as the DAC should be in control of the timing and the Fidata USB is very well implemented and 'tuned' for file-based audio, but I still curious. Luckily I spotted an ex-demonstration unit for sale and so bought it. Well, I was wrong and while the impact is not as great as re-clocking an ethernet feed, re-clocking the USB feed does make a difference and the PhoenixUSB has now nudged the USB route to DAC ahead of the ethernet / streamer one and is the route I now again use for listening to audio files stored on the Fidata server.
I will take the EtherREGEN / PSU / Mutec to Germany and used it there for streaming, but I will also purchase a PhoenixUSB as file replay is my main source. I could have done that in the UK as well although the PhoenixNET is a 'cheaper' option, but being able to swap 4 boxes for 1 in a tightly packed rack was very attractive even though it does mean re-housing the Linn speed controller.
innuos.com/phoenixnet/
innuos.com/phoenix-usb/
