Uptone Audio USB Regen
Website: USB REGEN - UpTone Audio
Price: $175
Introduction
Thanks to time spent on computeraudiophile.com I was introduced to this new USB device which has now become the hot item of season. I decided to take the plunge and was immediately bumped into the second batch of orders thanks to a huge demand from the community on CA. Presently orders are now shipping in September as per latest update.
So what is this USB Regen? I will recommend this article from Audiostream as a primer on what goes on in "digital" down at the wire. To summarize, every digital system just by nature of it's operating creates timing fluctuations or "jitter". In the words of John Swenson, from the above article, "the operation of any digital system will create its own jitter just by virtue of it operating".
Specifically in the case of USB DACs there is a "noise" created right at the PHY layer of the USB interface again by virtue of it's operation. People sensitive to this noise have (rightly) stated USB's negative traits for use in audio. The noise created right at the USB interface has been labelled "packet noise" and affects the signal integrity of the signal travelling onward to the DAC chip. This is a very new concept and DAC manufacturers were really not aware of this phenomenon until recently. And the effects of this are not trivial until one listens to the same gear with a device capable of improving the signal integrity by dealing with this packet noise.
Hence, presenting the Uptone Audio Regen.
Ordering Process
Ordering of the USB Regen is a very straight forward process from the Uptone Audio website. The ordering interface is very clean and within minutes you are done with the whole process. Email confirmation takes a little while to arrive as the company itself is a very small operation. At the moment they are operating out of the garage (California startup style) of Alex Crespi, the other leg of this operation.
Take note however that small as they may be this is not Alex's first rodeo. Alex was the partner in the now defunct Hovland Audio company which made some very innovative audio gear. Google is your friend for that story.
Shipping confirmation is also intimated by email. Shipping is handled by US Postal Service International Priority Mail and is included in the purchase price. My Regen was shipped on 9th June and reached me without fuss or customs hassles on 19th June. The package is a small carton which does not attract much attention and easily survived domestic and international postal service abuse.
Package Contents and Connections
Please refer to the Uptone Audio website for details of the package contents. Below are my additional comments on the connecting the Regen.
The USB Regen ships with a solid USB adapter that is the recommended connection choice i.e. the Regen is to be connected right on the DAC. Due to the non availability of direct male B type coupling - the Regen comes with the necessary male A type to male B type converter. This also means that the Regen connects upside down at the back of your DAC.
The Regen comes supplied with a Meanwell SMPS wall wort (22 watt/7.5V/2.93A) that works well as is but for those interested additional improvements have been confirmed with use of a LPS to power the Regen. In affect the Regen ignores all power coming down the USB cable from your PC and supplies fresh power via the included power supply.
Once connected the USB hangs a little precariously over the back panel of your DAC. Some DACs may not have room for the included converter - in which case a short 6 inch USB cable is provided. However reports are that the sound is not the best and a suitable 90 degree adapter from Amazon or Ebay will be recommended.
(to be continued ...)
Website: USB REGEN - UpTone Audio
Price: $175
Introduction
Thanks to time spent on computeraudiophile.com I was introduced to this new USB device which has now become the hot item of season. I decided to take the plunge and was immediately bumped into the second batch of orders thanks to a huge demand from the community on CA. Presently orders are now shipping in September as per latest update.
So what is this USB Regen? I will recommend this article from Audiostream as a primer on what goes on in "digital" down at the wire. To summarize, every digital system just by nature of it's operating creates timing fluctuations or "jitter". In the words of John Swenson, from the above article, "the operation of any digital system will create its own jitter just by virtue of it operating".
Specifically in the case of USB DACs there is a "noise" created right at the PHY layer of the USB interface again by virtue of it's operation. People sensitive to this noise have (rightly) stated USB's negative traits for use in audio. The noise created right at the USB interface has been labelled "packet noise" and affects the signal integrity of the signal travelling onward to the DAC chip. This is a very new concept and DAC manufacturers were really not aware of this phenomenon until recently. And the effects of this are not trivial until one listens to the same gear with a device capable of improving the signal integrity by dealing with this packet noise.
Hence, presenting the Uptone Audio Regen.
Ordering Process
Ordering of the USB Regen is a very straight forward process from the Uptone Audio website. The ordering interface is very clean and within minutes you are done with the whole process. Email confirmation takes a little while to arrive as the company itself is a very small operation. At the moment they are operating out of the garage (California startup style) of Alex Crespi, the other leg of this operation.
Take note however that small as they may be this is not Alex's first rodeo. Alex was the partner in the now defunct Hovland Audio company which made some very innovative audio gear. Google is your friend for that story.
Shipping confirmation is also intimated by email. Shipping is handled by US Postal Service International Priority Mail and is included in the purchase price. My Regen was shipped on 9th June and reached me without fuss or customs hassles on 19th June. The package is a small carton which does not attract much attention and easily survived domestic and international postal service abuse.
Package Contents and Connections
Please refer to the Uptone Audio website for details of the package contents. Below are my additional comments on the connecting the Regen.
The USB Regen ships with a solid USB adapter that is the recommended connection choice i.e. the Regen is to be connected right on the DAC. Due to the non availability of direct male B type coupling - the Regen comes with the necessary male A type to male B type converter. This also means that the Regen connects upside down at the back of your DAC.
The Regen comes supplied with a Meanwell SMPS wall wort (22 watt/7.5V/2.93A) that works well as is but for those interested additional improvements have been confirmed with use of a LPS to power the Regen. In affect the Regen ignores all power coming down the USB cable from your PC and supplies fresh power via the included power supply.
Once connected the USB hangs a little precariously over the back panel of your DAC. Some DACs may not have room for the included converter - in which case a short 6 inch USB cable is provided. However reports are that the sound is not the best and a suitable 90 degree adapter from Amazon or Ebay will be recommended.
(to be continued ...)
