I got this last week. I somehow came across it in a google search. Started reading all about the UpTone Regen. Was very Skeptical. Thought maybe it was just for cheap systems. I mean how can something so cheap improve far more expensive gear? But read a ridiculous amount of positive feedback on it. From people with gear ranging from cheap to absolutely amazing. And pretty much unanimously every single person loved it.
Still Skeptical but willing to open my mind and try it. I lucked out and got in right when he was sending more out. So got it in a couple days.
WOW, this thing is fantastic what it does to the sound! Every aspect of the sound improved.
You know how really late, late at night when you listen to your stereo and the ambient noise outside is really low, the electricity coming off the grid and in your house is absolutely perfect, and all the stars align just right, and your system sounds perfect and glorious and you’re so happy with it you don’t want to go to bed? Well this sounds just like that, ALL THE TIME.
I really am impressed and so delightfully surprised. The best $175 I ever spent. I’m also really surprised that this thing hasn’t gotten more attention here. It certainly deserves it. This isn’t some weird tweak. It really does open up the music more and give it so much more soul and realism and balance, so much more natural and real.
I feel it’s essential for any system running USB. You really need to try it. The guy will refund you if you didn’t like it. Really no reason not to try it.
I’d like to try hooking up an even better power supply now and see if that improves things even more. |
Just to put things in context a bit regarding DAC improvement with regeneration, I definitely found an improvement with the Empirical Audio Offramp between my MAC Mini and my PS Audio Direct Stream DAC. I wonder how the Regen compares to the Offramp. |
Jrodude, you could but until you try it hard to say if it would help or not.
You might be better off putting the AQ Jitterbug in an unused USB port next to the USB port that the USB cable running to the Regen comes from.
Right now, as far as I know, the combined use of the Jitterbug and Regen is still an unknown. |
So can you pair an Uptone Audio USB Regen between cable and DAC with an AQ Jitterbug between cable and laptop? |
Fantastic piece of audio gear! Should be nominated for Audio Component of The Year.
You will love what it does to the entire spectrum of your music.
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First Impressions of Regen Amber
Alex and John, You SOBs! (LOL) How you du dat!!
As some have said there is more clarity, realism and definition of bass. But it is So MUCH MORE.
Clarity; For sure, but not with any sterility, harshness. There is transparency that must be heard to believe, because for $175.00 the level of transparency is, ridiculous, unheard of.
Realism; For sure again, but the Regen Green had it in spades so how could the Regen Amber be more realistic? I don't know, why are you asking me!! Go ask Alex or John! All I know is the Amber has more realism, so there, just except it and be happy, move on.
Definition of bass; Well hell ya!! The Regen Amber is all over this. Though not just the low bass but the mids down. But I believe there is more definition over the whole spectrum, from top to bottom. It is just that the "bass" area is more improved.
You can hear a difference as soon as you put the Regen Amber in but the opening up of the sound-stage and more is still yet to come. In my system it took about an hour for the sound-stage to open up and all the above to present itself.
If the Regen Amber is anything like the Regen Green than there should be some small gains to come with more hours on it, to a point.
But there is more. There is more body to the sound of each instrument. Instruments like drums, bass etc are very noticeable. But even instruments like the Clarinet, Xylophone, Tambourine, Piano etc have more body, yes, but are also more "fleshed out".
With the Regen Amber the instruments are more palpable. There is a presence.
So, in closing, Alex I have just this to say to you. Hi Ho, Hi Ho its off to work you go building Regen Ambers 24/7 till your finger tips bleed, and then some. LOL
And to John, keep giving, PLEASE. |
I am currently using a iFi power supply which separates the data from the power and a dual headed usb.
I'm also using a iFi usb purifier that is installed right before my Direct Stream Dac.
So, when I get my Regen, I'm going to plug the iFi purifier into the Regen that plugs into the Dac.
I'm not sure if this will be too many of the same type of things and will produce little if no improvement. But, I'm going to try it anyway.
Does anyone have any experience with using both the iFi products with the Regen? |
Best explanations here:
http://uptoneaudio.com/pages/j-swenson-tech-corner |
Arrrrghhh,
As been repeatedly said
. the Regen is NOT about cleaning up USB power.
Its is about stopping the propogation of packet noise from the Dac's USB receiver. It does so by regenerating the USB signal with high signal integrity so as to not cause the PHY in the Dac's receiver from working too hard and hence creating its own noise.
To do so, impedance is well matched and the Power distribution network in the Regen is optimized. All this plus quality reclocking presents a high integrity signal to the Dac. |
Arrrrg,
As been reeatedly said
. the Regen is NOT about cleaning up USB power.
Its is about stopping the propogation of packet noise from the Dac's USB receiver. It does so by regenerating the USB signal with high signal integrity so as to not cause the PHY in the Dac's receiver from working too hard and hence creating its own noise.
To do so, impedance is well matched and the Power distribution network in the Regen is optimized. All this plus quality reclocking presents a high integrity signal to the Dac. |
Davide256 Well, yes and no if you have the best already. The following owners of the DAC's listed below have all said that they have heard a worthwhile improvement in sound quality using the Regen. Now that was with the "Green" Regen. All Regen's that are shipping starting on Monday will be the "Amber" Regen which is reported to be approximately 40% better. And NO they have NO plans to make a new and improved version after this. All "Green" Regen owners are eligible for an upgrade till July 10th.
As far as "upper" level DAC's the following are just some of the first to report;
1)Aesthetix Audio Romulus Signature
2)Devialet 250
3)Totaldac D1 tube
4)Antelope Zodiac Platinum
5)Luxman DA-06
6)Mytek Manhattan
7)Resolution Audio Cantata
8)Several Lampizator Big 7
9)Lampizator Golden Gate
10)MSB Analog + Analog Power + DSD Quad USB module
11)PS Audio DirectStream
ALL reported a worthwhile improvement in sound quality using the 'Green" Regen.
Some of the USB cables used with the above DAC's and the Regen are TotalDac D-1 , Light Harmonic 10G and Tellurium Q Black Diamond
Remember, the Regen is last into the DAC.
Now I am not saying EVERY DAC will benefit from the Regen. Just that do not assume a DAC will not until you have tried it.
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I have mine on order, will see whether it matters when it arrives in July. The basic premise is that USB power is crappy and that device manufacturers are all over the board for robustness in handling differences for cable and device impedance. The regen is supposed to clean up USB power, and present correct impedance to source and reciever so that they behave better. Needless to say the best equipment does pay attention to these variables so results are supposed to diminish if you have the best already. |
"I turn off all unnecessary items in my Mac Mini. I have a MMK installed and use a JS-2 to power the Mac Mini and my e20 MK III .082 Clock exaSound DAC. I also used my Hynes Power Supply to power the Regen. I use HQ Player and all music files regardless of rate, PCM-DSD, are up-sampled to DSD 256 (quad DSD). My comments are with the TotalDAC USB Cable unless noted."
It is EXACTLY this ridiculously complicated CRAP that has been the big TURNOFF to "computer based" music playback.
I am so looking forward to ditching mine, buying an Auralic Aries, sitting back and enjoying the music. |
Different folks, different strokes. The proof is in the listening.
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2015/06/t-h-e-show-newport-2015-antipodes-audio-adds-dac-spdif/ |
1) impedance matching signal regenerator whose goal is high signal integrity, so the DAC USB receiver works less and dont create new noise of its own. It is a specialist USB hub. Clean power is just a necessary by product.
2)Another hub, but the goal here is to regenerater signal with a filter and clean power. Less ambitions than (1).
3) Power regenerator and filter. Separates the signal lines from power lines. Less ambitious than (2). A byproduct is that it can be used to power things like Squeezboxes too.
4) just a passive filter. Least ambitious, but cheap enuff to see if it couble be combined with 1 to 3 for good effect. |
All are (cheap) attempts at trying to improve the USB interface. |
Can someone explain the difference (if any), in layman's terms, between the following products:
1. Uptone Regen
2. Schiit Wyrd
3. iFi iPurifier
4. Audioquest Jitterbug
Thanks. |
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Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to welcome Cerrot to the thread, as we now shift to the "USB is responsible for everything from ebola to rising rates of teenage syphilis and pregnancy to housing stagflation to drought conditions in California" portion of our program. USB does contain nudity, violence and adult language, and parental guidance is suggested. If you experience heart palpitations, nausea, bloating, unstable vagina or an erection lasting longer than 83 hours please talk to your doctor, as USB may be to blame. Do not use USB before operating heavy machinery. Stay tuned, as following this discussion we will have a specially-edited presentation of "The Omen", in which the little boy Damien has been edited from the film and replaced with a USB cord in a little black suit. You will feel chills and terror when Lee Remick pleads with Gregory Peck, "don't let USB kill me". |
anything will make usb sound better. ANYTHING... |
JPerry and Celtic66, just take a few minutes to read the threads at Computer Audiophile and you will see that Hifial is not touting anything. I started following the threads on this product as it was coming out and decided on a lark to order one of the last available from the first batch. I figured for $175 it was worth taking a chance. It was the best $175 I spent on my system and arguably you could spend more than ten times that much to get that kind of improvement. Hifial is not exaggerating the REGEN's benefits. It really brings another level of musicality to my system. |
I ordered one should arrive in July.
I will be using it from a Bryston BDP-2 to a iFi power supply and purifier and then into my PS direct stream Dac |
Coli, that is great. But I am talking only $175.00. The Regen is not just re-clocking. |
Jperry, but I am not touting. Just go to the links and all is explained much better then I could ever.
However, the Regen regenerates the signal from your source(usually a PC) coming through your USB cable directly at the USB input of your DAC. It does several things to better the sound that will play from your DAC. Again read the many posts by John Swenson and Alex Crespi. Unfortunately it is spread over a few posts. John's are more technical, though he tries to keep it so most will understand. |
It would be nice if you would explain what it is that are touting. |
Mutec has an upcoming USB version of the MC-3+ Smart Clock, you can use it to convert to optical and implement electrical isolation between the source and the audio system. Sound quality really is unrivaled. |
THEN APOLOGIZE PROFUSELY!! As I stated at the beginning I HAVE NO AFFILIATION OF ANY KIND WITH UPTONE AUDIO!!
NADA, ZIP, ZILCH. I receive/ed NO compensation of ANY KIND. I PAID FULL PRICE FOR ALL MY UPTONE AUDIO EQUIPMENT.
If you had bothered to take the time to look at the forums at Computer Audiophile and read ALL the POSITIVE IMPRESSIONS OF THE REGEN you would see I AM NOT ALONE.
Owners of entry level DAC's to top level DAC's (MSB, Lampizator, Totaldac, IE) have all had positive results.
As I said, I am VERY impressed by the performance vs price. |
I'll preface this with an apology if wrong, but this seems rife with infomercial. |
