Which USB Re Clocker

Sorry you find me to be an idiot.  I guess you must know me 🤓. I don’t care to argue with you as I trust my experience and own ears. 

Asynchronous USB inputs on dacs do not render reclockers useless. My experience has shown a great reclocker like the Ideon can indeed improve the sonic realism of a system dramatically even if the dac has an asynchronous usb input as mine. 

The Ideon 3R Mastertime Blackstar is fantastic unit. Several owners have compared it directly to the Phoenix and preferred the Ideon. I own the Ideon with an Innuos Zen 3 and the combo is stellar. I have owned several USB reclockers from SOTM and others selling for $1000 and under ..... and the Ideon is in a different league. Not cheap however. $3200 retail. But can be purchased for far less with the right dealer.

I had to decide between the Phoenix and Ideon. I wanted to buy the Phoenix as I own the Innuos server, but after much research decided on the Ideon. Both are said to be top tier USB reclockers and you can’t go wrong with either.

I must be honest and share that my past experience with Innuos service has not been good. It took them 2 months, and several of my persistent emails, to respond to a question/issue I was having with my Zen. When they finally responded it was with a short and condescending comment of no help from one of the principles. Not good. That soured me a tad and most likely influenced my decision to buy the Ideon.

I did know that! I am fine with varying opinions and open minded enough to let folks believe what they like.  I just know my extensive experience has informed me differently. 

@dgarretson, I owned the sms-200 Ultra, SMP500 power supply and the Tx-USBultra. I liked it at the time. I like SOTM gear and currently own the SOTM sNH 10G ethernet Switch and several SOTM dCBL-CAT7 ethernet cables. Love with Switch and cables as they really elevated my digital front end. I power the SOTM Switch with a highly modified/upgraded Teradak LPS. I also power my modem with a highly modified/upgraded LPS. I built some nice double shielded star quad DC cables using Duelund stranded and tinned wire. As you know everything matters in digital audio. Every little detail matters as it’s all about removing noise! See my virtual system for more details.

Cascading reclockers/filters with the best one at the end of the chain also improves the sound of our digital front ends. I currently own the Innuos Zen 3 server/streamer and had the SOTM txUSB Ultra on it. I determined it did not give enough sonic improvement and sold it. However the Odeon delivered a nice step up sonically. That is my experience with my system only....

My system is quite resolving and I have been a bit surprised at the sonic gains realized by the pieces mentioned above. My dac is the Mojo Audio Mystique V3 which I upgraded to Evo+ type status. 

USB cables matter also. I design and sell my own. My dac is one of the best on the market and also benefits from a reclocker. Not all need, want or even appreciate the sonic improvements gained by a great reclocker and I get that. Just enjoy your music on your terms and decide for yourself how much time, effort and money you want to put into your system and learning. 

When I taste an ingredient that tastes better it certainly tastes better to me. That is a real and a true experience for me. No bias, no voodoo, nothing but my experienced reality. When I hear my music library in a way that engages me more deeply and causes me to enjoy my music more, then it is really happening. No need to contemplate my navel on the matter. Time and time again I am drawn into the emotion and performance of the music more deeply. Over and over I am experiencing something real to my senses and person. Yes, the reclocker does this for my system and music. No, I did not eat bad pizza or fool myself. I would rather sell the box and put the money in the bank if the truth be told. My bias is on the frugal side and being open minded and have sold +1 pieces in the past that did not deliver. Goodness this stuff is simple folks and stop trying to complicate it. If it looks good to you, then it does! If it tastes good to you, then it does! If the aroma is pleasing to you, then it is!

This site used to be about detailing our shared experience with a piece of gear and learning from that. 

Time to listen to more music!