Regen, Wow!

A review of the UpTone Audio REGEN is now available from AudioStream. It includes a very detailed technical description of exactly what it does as well as subjective reviews of its performance with several different DACs.

Wish he would have done a comparison to the JitterBug.
 
Not used it with an Aurender but I briefly tried an Amber Regen (with supplied power supply) with a Melco N1A into a Devialet 200 and to be honest I felt it slightly worse. It was different but not to my ears in a pleasant way. It was a little bit harsher I seem to recall. Would be interesting to try with an uprated power supply though.

[sorry to interrupt the current argument!]

:roflmao:
 
F-Paul,

You have an uncanny ability to misinterpret stuff. Its a gift, really. Haha.

You do realize I talk to the Uptone people directly, dont you? You also realize that I am a Greenie . Name rank and serial number is 24. Fellow Greenies understand what I mean. LoL

The poster asked it it would help 2 specific Dacs being fed by stuff like Aurenders (as opposed to PC servers) with USB connections. I said it would/should help all USB devices (system synergies set aside). Mike also answered a bit more pointedly. That should have been sufficient.
I think your response was confusing…at least initially, but as there was some back and forth afterwards, it should be clear for all readers now. No harm no foul in the end, as much new or restated info was shared and some should find that pretty interesting.

No need for the condescending tone at all. I understand this stuff and Adam is by far not the only pal I have in Audio,…you would be surprised…or maybe not.

i2s is neither CAT6 nor HDMI. Fact is that those are cable configs and Mike already explained to people weeks ago what is different between the protocol and the carrier config in the SSR thread. I was active on that thread and on CA, so please understand that I have more than a clue.
Go read what the VAD Dac guy said to Jesus about the SSR which uses HDMI and not CAT6 transmission with relation to HIS version of DSD playback.

No condescension, but I think you have several pieces of the puzzle missing and you dont yet realize it. Your responses are too superficial and like many things in life the devil is in the details which you clearly dont have (at lest in totality). Read between the lines and see that what you are fishing for is old hat for me. I have been trying to get the same stuff aligned from months ago and there are clear stumbling blocks.

Carry on anyway. I will just reach for my popcorn and be entertained. People have to be allowed to learn at their own pace.

Norm, Sorry if my tone was condescending. I realize you are a greenie but that doesn't change the need to clarify some of your statements for those that care. (Speaking of condescending, pointing out that Cat 5 and HDMI vi are cable configs...ouch that hurts. :lol:) Ok, I agree you are way, way beyond my level but why don't you go on the record regarding my theoretical order of digital connection rankings. This is completely relevant to the thread as it relates to whether the regen can get usb to the point of being the preferred digital asynchronous connection. Are you arguing that usb in any form is superior to properly implemented i2s (say MSB's approach)? I sincerely want to be enlightened.
 
Wish he would have done a comparison to the JitterBug.

Computer-->Jitterbug-->USB Cable-->DAC (or USB Converter): As I understand it, the Jitterbug filters noise coming through the USB output of the computer before it enters the USB cable. It also...

Computer-->Jitterbug--Nothing connected: ... acts as a filter on unused USB ports. Both methods are in contrast to the Regen, which...

Computer-->USB Cable-->Regen--->DAC (or USB Converter): REGENerates the USB signal coming in from the USB cable, as opposed to merely filter noise, before sending the signal to the DAC or converter.

In other words, the Jitterbug filters noise before the USB cable transmits, while the Regen regenerates the signal before it enters the DAC or converter.

There is a discussion of why these two products might be better thought of as complimenting each other, rather than competing against each other, on computeraudiophile: Audioquest Jitterbug vs Uptone Regen? - Page 2. In the thread, there is a post providing a link to S'phile's review of the Jitterbug. In the review, Lavorgna says he will report later on his findings on using these two products together.
 
I must say I found the I2S discussion interesting in this Regen thread based on a personal observation I did with a W4S DAC-2 DSDse while it has both I2S and USB inputs.

I used an Empirical Off-Ramp 5 to convert USB to I2S and found that to be much better than going straight USB to the DAC, even if this input was I2S wired on the se-version. When I added two Regens on LPSU´s in the chain the difference in SQ increased, I would say dramatically, in favour of the Off-Ramp feeding the DAC with I2S.

This has led me to contemplate modding my new Metrum Pavane NOS DAC and order their newly developed I2S board to replace the USB input and make use of the Off-Ramp again.
 
I don't know how it works, But the Aries> Regen> Devialaet D200 is a winner. It's the best $175 I've ever spent on this hobby. the principles are good responsive guys, too.
 
I must say I found the I2S discussion interesting in this Regen thread based on a personal observation I did with a W4S DAC-2 DSDse while it has both I2S and USB inputs.

I used an Empirical Off-Ramp 5 to convert USB to I2S and found that to be much better than going straight USB to the DAC, even if this input was I2S wired on the se-version. When I added two Regens on LPSU´s in the chain the difference in SQ increased, I would say dramatically, in favour of the Off-Ramp feeding the DAC with I2S.

This has led me to contemplate modding my new Metrum Pavane NOS DAC and order their newly developed I2S board to replace the USB input and make use of the Off-Ramp again.

Knock it off you trouble maker....Oh and welcome to the forum.
 
I don't know how it works, But the Aries> Regen> Devialaet D200 is a winner. It's the best $175 I've ever spent on this hobby. the principles are good responsive guys, too.

The Devialet doesn't need to see the 5VDC USB buss power, does the Regen allow you to turn it off?
 
Beats me. But it works!

I'm sure it works.

My Auraliti PK90 (w/linear PSU) works with the 5VDC USB buss power turned on or off on its SOtM USB card into my D400, but it sounds better off.

I'd love to try the Regen, but I don't want to put another SMPS into my system.
 
I must say I found the I2S discussion interesting in this Regen thread based on a personal observation I did with a W4S DAC-2 DSDse while it has both I2S and USB inputs.

I used an Empirical Off-Ramp 5 to convert USB to I2S and found that to be much better than going straight USB to the DAC, even if this input was I2S wired on the se-version. When I added two Regens on LPSU´s in the chain the difference in SQ increased, I would say dramatically, in favour of the Off-Ramp feeding the DAC with I2S.

This has led me to contemplate modding my new Metrum Pavane NOS DAC and order their newly developed I2S board to replace the USB input and make use of the Off-Ramp again.

Janke, this seems credible, as W4S is using traditional DAC chip for PCM and is likely not a "pure" implementation of DSD, as its also using the Dac chip with its internal processing. i2s is the "native" language of Dac chips. Other architectures could have different issues to deal with and so different trade offs.
 
I don't know how it works, But the Aries> Regen> Devialaet D200 is a winner. It's the best $175 I've ever spent on this hobby. the principles are good responsive guys, too.
Yup, the Uptone principals are very responsive and approcahble.

I am glad it works so well for you. Its almost euphoric that such improvement can come from such a small outlay.
 
Janke, you may want to throw a $50 Jitterbug (exit the source ) in your setup and see if you dont see further improvement.
 
Thanks for the kind welcome guys,

And yes Wisnon, a couple of Jitterbugs are on their way from the UK in a week or so. Audioquest has not yet started to distributing them worldwide.
 
Thanks Janke.

Are you in Dermany? Can you PM me your UK source for the Jutterbug? In am in CH.

Cheers/Danke
 
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