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Upsamplers, DACs, jitter, shakes and analogue withdrawals, this is it.

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Maybe, maybe not.


"Analog circuit design factors. Power supply bypassing effectiveness. Internal shielding. Grounding scheme."

While all of the above could be expected to be responsible for measurable noise on the analog output of a DAC, I seriously doubt that the above would cause noise on the USB input of the DAC to be decoded into noise on the audio output.

That said, many who have tried a device as simple as Intona USB Isolator (USD 239) hear an improvement in sound quality.

OTOH devices like the 'jitterbug' don't seem to do much for many of those same people (including me).

The original Uptone Regen, designed by John Swenson who knows a thing or two about digital, turns out to be a mixed bag. If you have a problem with your DAC's input circuitry, this might help. If not, not so much. Personally I do get a BIT of improvement in SQ with the standard Regen but nothing earth shattering.

John explains what he is doing and why in the link below: You can disregard it if you please, but I've known John for close to 20 years having met him at one of the early VSAC meetings in the Pacific Northwest back in my DIY tube amp building days.

Add isolation, better clocks, more PS regulation, etc. with the IsoRegen and one MIGHT hear significant improvement in SQ. Not noise reduction, just BETTER sound.

Granted, I'm using a noisy Mac Mini as my source but so are many others and most if not all 'digital players' have SOME sort of computer inside.

And now that I have the IsoRegen attached to the USB input to my DAC I'm pretty much immune to USB cable swaps.

Bottom line, IMNSHO, digital cables CAN make a difference, but maybe not much. If you have a noisy source, USB isolation might be a cure and maybe an exotic USB cable can act as a 'filter' (HORRORS) and make things appear to be better.

One thing on CAN do is to purchase a 50 ft. Monoprice or AMAZON's BEST USB cable and see if you hear a difference!





If you can, it's THE CABLE!







First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass


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