I have been out of the USB arena for a while. Last I remembered there was an Uptone Regen, iFi, Intonia, Mutec, and the Disrupter. I still own the Disrupter and I just tried it again and it did seem to improve the USB signal. Is there any new USB devices that I should consider? It would be used between a Bryston BDP-2 USB player and a PS Audio Direst Stream Dac.
All I know is to use the 2 sets of POE's (4 units total) with my 2 units it would have required 4 ethernet cables (2 meter each is said to sound the best). Along with the 2 DC cables, 2 USB cables, 2 Uptone LPS 1.2 units and the ISO Regen and the SOtM unit that I am using.
I"ll wait until a more simplified version is available.
I can you this Ozzy. The Duelund 20 gauge stranded copper in cotton make a fine DC cable. I used 4 runs with two on + and two on - in a starquad configuration. I double shielded one with two layers of copper braid tubing and compared it to an unshielded one. Both sound fantastic and much better than the DC cables that came with my SOTM units. Hard to tell that much of a difference between the shielded and unshielded. However, I have learned that sonic gains are to be found with upgraded DC cables. The Duelund wire costs $6 per meter. So very affordable and avoids the whole birds nest mess found with the top end Poe Configurations such as the Dual Cat and Dual Cat Squared.
I frankly do not find the Dual Cat Poe to sound any better than the Duelund DC cable on its own as I listened today. However both are a nice jump over stock DC cables and DC cables made with the popular Canare starquad bulk cable.
They are expensive! I bought a few of them direct (from I think Australia) a few years back. They were much cheaper then. Now that there is a US distributor he has to add his profit to the cost.
I must add that grannyring BBQ usb version is a pretty good substitute, perhaps even better than the Curious.
After about 8 hours of break in time, the DC cables are really starting to provide a much more transparent sound. Hard to believe that a DC cable can improve the sound quality. But I'm hearing it.
The DC cable used on LPSs is critical. More important than even the PC used on the LPS. The POE based DC cable I mentioned above is even better than the various starquad cables out there. They are just a pain to fit into your rack! Sound-wise they are the best I have heard.
I am using a 12A AC to DC converter to power the (2) Uptone LPS1.2 power supplies and the Gotham Star Quad balanced DC cables to power the Reference SOtM tX USBUltra and the ISO Regen.
I also have the SOTM TX USB Ultra as well as the 500 power supply. I ended up using my DIY Duelund starquad double shielded DC cable. It sounds fantastic, but not quite as good as the Dual Poe. It is amazing what a good DC cable can do for your rig. Everything matters in digital audio.
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
