Innuos Phoenix and the Singxer UIP1 PRO USB Reclockers Compared

There had been an earlier thread discussing the Innuos that seems to be no more. Any discussion of it IMO should include the more recently released Singxer UIP-1 PRO.

They are each USB in and USB out reclocker devices that we used to call decrapifiers or USB pipe cleaners. Long ago I used such a device made by Intona and there are many makers of these at present. The two mentioned here seem far more sophisticated as each has a 24MHz OCXO for a reclock of the USB data lines. Each, no doubt, also regulates the 5V line. The Innuos is made in Europe and is in a large case that is filled mostly with an LPS. There is a small circuit board, similar in size to the circuit board in the Singxer, that does the actual USB cleaning. Singxer is a Chinese company with a sterling reputation. The board in the much smaller Singxer seems to have the advantage of galvanic isolation as there are definitely two distinct parts to the circuit board separating the USB in and out. To make these devices comparable one would have to substitute a good LPS for the Singxer’s wall wart at an additional cost. Whether stand-alone reclockers like these can make a meaningful difference in your system can only be known with a trial. Given the pricing, the reputation of Singxer and the descriptions of both, the Singxer looks like the better option of the two, by far. Kitsune, which is one of the Singxer sellers recommends a 6V LPS for it.

Whether the $280 Singxer or the $3500 Innuos USB reclocker, each has at its core a 24.000Mhz OCXO that is placed near its USB converter circuit. The Singxer also provides galvanic isolation just before the DAC. Potential buyers of the Singxer, by the way, should be careful to specify the "PRO" version. No "PRO," no OCXO.

A brief impression of the Singxer is found here.