USB connection to DAC: multi stage improvement

Congratulations on finding the solution that works!

What puzzles me though is the number of USB isolators and the need for multiple reclockers.

The fact that there was increase in dynamics, transparency and soundstage as a result of all these additions indicates, to me, that the DAC’s internal clock is not the best, essentially rendering the entire DAC as a candidate for replacement. Potentially the streamer’s USB implementation is also a suspect. 

Where the less is more principal applies is when all of these boxes and cables are replaced with a much higher quality one box solution. It all depends of course on budget and the approach you’re looking to take.
If you love adding countless tweaks though, then that’s the configuration you will prefer no matter the quality of the streamer and DAC. 

My approach is to get the number of boxes and cables down to a minimum. High performance with less clutter. 
 

Similar to what audphile1 reports, I have also found that less can be better than more.  At least it has in my case.  I have also found that good digital cables have a major impact.  

@audphile1 The Dac is actually controlled by the Antelope 10m clock. The point I am trying to make is precisely that it takes many steps to get to an optimal outcome. Bot the singxer UIp and the LHY Uip 2.0 are reputed aa excellent USb solutions, yet it took augmenting them with isolators based on different chips and reclocking the inbound ethernet as well as DAC and LhyUip to get an optimal result. In addition using a Sean Jacobs PSU on Dac, clock and LHY UIP was a cery significant improvement,ent.

I’d be keen to know what single box soluttion you suggest, I haven’t found one.

@antigrunge2 Quite the complex science experiment you have there. And to think I was feeling weird about inserting a LHY UIP ahead of an Innuos Phoenix USB for evaluation in my own system (the jury is still out). I previously experimented with the same Jhoinrch (ISOUSB211 chipped) unit with external 5V LPS ahead of the Phoenix, but the result was inconclusive.

"Bits are bits" is a simplistic argument that is valid only to the extent that the cause for clearly audible differences between bitperfect digital sources is not due to discrepancies in the digital data itself. 

Galvanic isolation in this context is binary for DC, but not for the undesirable AC currents of various frequencies responsible for downstream disturbances. 

Numerous influential variables, including quality and noise characteristics of the particular source, DAC, mains, home environment, interconnects, etc., render this exercise anything but a one-size-fits-all affair. At least the Jhoinrch device is inexpensive enough for anyone to try.

Cables are Huber and Suhner for clock, Intona reference for USB and Shunyata sigma for ethernet. Antelope happens to be a leading clock specialist.