Which USB Re Clocker


I have been very happy with my Innuos Zenith Mk 2 for several years. The sound  is excellent and ripping is child's play. I have been interested in adding the Phoenix Re Clocker for a couple of years, but for various reasons, haven't been able to get a demo yet. One of the selling points of the Phoenix by Innuos, is that it can be used between any source and USB DAC.

 Well it also means that any re clocker should work between an Innuos Server and DAC. The one drawback to me is that the Phoenix isn't cheap, at least as far as my budget in retirement is concerned. The Company claims that the Phoenix is more than a Re Clocker, with improved power supplies and other improvements. I don't suppose many of you guys have had the chance to compare the Phoenix with other units. Still any suggestions about other, cheaper Re Clocker units to consider? Particularly if you have had the chance to use it with an Innuos Server, but not much chance of that either. Still any advice is welcome, thanks.

david12
Post removed 
The one full of Sh-- is you in_patient, but thanks for adding nothing to the conversation but proving you have absolutely nothing to contribute and that will likely never change.
Post removed 
Audio-gd DI-20 is not a Reclocker but a DDC and it will improve the sound of your DAC a LOT.

I'm re-reading this thread and came across this post, which led me to researching the Audio-GD DI-20.  I didn't know Audio-GD made a product like this.  Based on initial review, I would say that this DI-20 could be much better than the stock Singxer SU-6.  It already has a built in linear power supply, uses the Amanero USB board, and has options for Accusilicon 90/98M clocks (which isn't that much more in cost).  I have direct experience using the Accusilicon clocks and they are abosutely excellent.  The double speed 90/98 clocks will likely be more accurate that standard 45/49 clocks.

The HE version looks to be much better with a much beefier power supply.  This one could be sleeper!
John Swenson of UpTone Audio wrote a white paper on this very subject , AustinPop a well respected member of AudioPhileStyle did a deep dive review of the Innuos Phoenix explains in detail exactly what this component is and does . 
Curious Robertdid and other arm chair technical wanna be’s can’t or won’t debate John Swenson and AustinPop both members of AudioPhileStyle .
John Darko’s interview with technical head of Innous also go into detail what exactly this component is and of course these technical wanna be’s are no where to be found in the comment section.

So these are three prime examples that have been around for a while easily found and commented on however I already know robertdid and others like him here will never do so.

And finally is it any coincidence none of these guys have actually listen to high end components like the Innuos Phoenix and Ideon’s Master Time and Absolute Time let alone try to understand what they actually are and do ....

Innuos PhoenixUSB no question!

No that Roberttdid (formerly posting under "atdavid" handle) is gone from Audiogon (again!), we can all resume to "original programming" LOL!!!
Fascinating read of this thread...
Not sure what I would like to do. Innuos Phonix or Denafrips Gaia?
The Phoenix would be connected via USB to my Zenith MKIII then to a D90 MQA DAC.
If I chose the Denafrips Gaia the connection would still be USB Zenith III/Gaia but from Gaia it would be I2s to the D90 MQA DAC.
Any thoughts anyone?

The Topping D90 has excellent USB implementation you don't need a reclocker in front of it. If you are trying to go I2S then use the one that changes it but I doubt you would hear a difference. 
Um, OP has a Metrum Octave (about $600 used) and folks are having a religious war about USB reclockers north of $3,000!
I wanted to ask grannyring which dealer he used to buy the 3R Master Time !  I wanted to investigate the 3R Master Time and the 3R USB Renaissance to see which item would be better in my system !
Motokokusangi I don’t see what your talking about other then me belittling the usual trolls whom showed up .The OP has a Innuos server this thread has little to do about dacs and everything about the source which the Phoenix or the Ideon Master Time would most definitely will have a across the board sonic improvement.
Robert did and granny hello
I am using a lamp Dac level 4 with auralic Aries LE as source using my I pad as a controller via the DS app. Jumping between SSD hard drive and tidal streaming (hi res)
recently my old I pad no longer works with the the DS app so while contemplating what to do next, I had a gustard USB to spdif gathering dust which I purchased but never really used.
Now I connected this by USB from my regular (noisy desktop computer) into the Gustard then out to spdif on the dac.
(please note this dac uses Amanero 384 USB / SPDIF with pcm and DSD decoding)
The timing space and realism was so much better.(streaming from tidal)
not much different to connecting my CD player directly to my dac
(via spdif)
I am using regular internet albeit totally wireless and no fancy cables just kimber and audio quest.

This got me looking at reclockers etc also ideon / mutec looked interesting also. I would like to go back to USB but I needs to sound just as good or better than spdif
For some reason going back to spdif just sounded right. Now I'm not sure if I should go back to USB.
Please HE!p
I'm hoping this thread will help the novices like me read on with good insight from you guys.
I would be great to see if your response are similar or totally different.
comments please
inshore your input is welcome also.



Another note regarding USB cables
which USB cable/s would be a good starting point that would actually make an improvement and what kind of improvement.

A reclocker is second best to improving the DAC‘s clock since asynchronous USB slaves the server to the DAC‘s clock. That said inserting galvanic isolation on the USB connection makes a big difference even if djones51 can‘t seem to hear it. 
I have been reading this forum for years and not commented previously, but this thread has perked my interest enough to make my first comment. 
To the OP, even though I’m guessing you have long since made up your mind about, will a Phoenix reclocker improve sq from my Zenith Mk2 in my system? The answer is definitely yes and it will not be a small improvement, it will be impressive. My only caveat is you need to use at least reasonable quality USB cables to get the most out of the Phoenix, having said that one needs at least a good quality USB cable to get the most out of a Zenith in the first place.

And before all of the armchair experts, who have never heard how much sq difference a Phoenix makes say obviously I need a better Dac, well think again, I have tried it with various quality Dac’s including my Mola Mola Tambaqui and every time it makes a big jump in sq. Is the Phoenix worth the money? the answer is yes, it’s the best dollars I have spent so far in HiFi.
By the way my streamer is a Zenith Mk3 but I have also tried it with a Auralic Aries G2.1 and again the Phoenix is the goods.

regards,
Terry
I run a Zenith into an Antelope Zodiac Platinum. Rather than opting for a Phoenix I got an Antelope Audiophile 10m clock for the Dac and an Intona Isolator 2.0 for the USB connection.

USB slaves the server to the DAC. While the Poenix improves the clocking of the server as well as provide galvanic isolation for the USB connection it does not improve the clocking of the DAC itself.
In my experience however, unless you run a top of the range DAc (MSB, DCS et al) that in itself is worthwhile doing. Also worth noting is the fact that USB cables have a major impact. I upgraded a solid core silver cable to a short Intona Reference cable with amazing improvement. In digital transmission timing accuracy is paramount, so short high quality cables and the best clock you can afford.
Another Phoenix USB Reclocker owner here. I Inserted this into a system consisting of dCS Debussy DAC clocked by dCS Rossini clock and it elevated the performance further by a substantial margin still.

Old thread but if it helps, here is my experience.  My system is MBL.  My DaC is a Verity Monslavat Pre 2.  My streamer is a Melco N10.  Sounds great but wanted more.  Tried the Mutec USB3 and it sounded better than the Audio GD20 DI20 HE.  Then brought a external clock, Mutec Ref 10 120 SE, and now the Audio-GD sounds better. Waaaaay better.

A lot of BS theorists drawing conclusions when there actual experience is theory and chinese DACs.

@vgmbpty i have the MELCO n10 anniversary edition with the INFIGO AUDIO METHOD 4 DAC. SOUNDS AMAZING. HAPPY. 

The Mutec USB3 is now being modified for a very reasonable cost by a selection of individuals and the  discovery being made following the Mod's are supported with reports of the Mod's having real benefits and the device has now become a very attractive addition to the Systems it is used in.  

I  still use my Uptone Audio ISO Regen with the Ultra Cap linear power supply. I have an Ayre QB9 Twenty and even with the DAC upgrade, the ISO Regen with Galvanic Isolation switched on makes a noticeable improvement. If your DAC is relatively new and jitter measures are low, than I'd be surprised if you'd need anything more.

Using an Audio-GD DI20 HE + Mutec Ref 10 120 SE clock.  Match made in heaven.  Took the Audio-GD DDC to the super high end level of sound.  The Phoenix USB reclocker may be a one stop solution but I prefer to have separate components, not only for the edge in sound quality but because its easier to upgrade individual components.

easy and affordable way with USB RECLOCK. 

just 3 devices without big metal casing. 

get these 3 devices combine : 

1. iFi iPurifier3 (USB Type-B)

2. iFi iDefender+ (Type A-A) 

3. iFi iPower-X (5V) 

- use iDefender+ power by iPower-X via USB cable to the iPurifier3 at the end to DAC.

 

@antigrunge2 

My setup is x3 USB RECLOCKs,

x1 iFi Micro iUSB 3.0 + iPower-X 

x2 iFi iPurifier3 

x1 iFi iDefender + iPower Elite 5v. 

total 2 USB power splitter & 3 reclocker before the Dac. 

The truth is for most re-clockers, because they don't have USB out, so you can't play DSD. However the Mutec does have a 10MHz Master Clock output which will help if you've got an input on your DAC or Streamer.

The Innous Phoenix does have USB in and USB out so can play DSD.

Again, the best Amanero boards don't need re-clocking.