USB connection to DAC: multi stage improvement
In my setup (Innuos Zenith Mk3, Antelope Zodiac Platinum with Sean Jacobs DC3/4 and Antelope Audiophile clock) sequential addition of decrapifiers has lead to increasing transparency, dynamics and soundstage depth.
My chain now reads like this
ZenithMk3->Singxer UIP->JHoinrich Isolator RH07b->IFi USB iPurifier3->LHY UIP2.0 Pro->Intona7054b->Zodiac Platinum
The Singxer is powered by Sean Jacobs DC3/4, The Lhy is reclocked by the Antelope clock
Of particular note: this is the best result of trying every conceivable permutation.
In terms of overall impact:
1. reclocking the LHY using the same clock on DAC and upstream Etherregen
2. introducing galvanic insulation after each powered device.
3. using isolator equipment with different chips at each stage.
i have learned the hard way that fighting ground level noise, RFI/EMI and other network noise is a gradual rather than binary solution at each step and that in digital audio ‘less is more’ doesn‘t apply as it does in the analogue section. Equally the whole bits are bits debate seems churlish against this background
Thank you for summarily dissing a 4+years effort to optimise my digital setup. It’s the sort of commentary that really adds no value but wholly ignores my arguments around clocking, PSU’s and the effect of different isolator chips. You may deem it unitteligent, I prefer to use my ears in support of whatever intelligence I might have: doh! I suggest a course in anger management |
@antigrunge2 you are 100% correct on roon…but only prior to the major update they did at the end of april. I don’t prioritize convenience over performance. Just so that we’re on the same page. I do like high quality equipment and the simplicity of my setup though.
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You’ve been clearly down the same rabbit hole! What I found particularly surprising is how different the performance of the various components was depending on their position in the chain. So experimenting around the position between UIp and Phoenix may reveal more, although the better component typically should be nearer the dac. Fun and games… |
