I was asked for details of an easy & reversible modification to the Regen that greatly improves its sound quality.This is not another PS to plug into the DC input of the Regen - it's a bypass of the 3.3V on-board regulator with a 3.3V LiFePo4 battery supply. I know the regulators are said to be state of the art but a LiFePO4 battery smashes this out of the park.
Obviously you need to open up the Regen to connect a battery to the output from the 3.3V regulator & ground, thus bypassing the regulator. There is a ceramic capacitor C3 right at the output of that regulator - the reg at the top of the pic - REG33.
There's a copper via with a 5 beside it at top of that C3 capacitor - this is the GROUND point for connection of the negative battery pole. The other side of the capacitor is the connection to 3.3V positive (the one with two vias side-by-side). You need to attach the battery + pole to this point - soldering to one of these vias is best. It's very easy to reverse this if desired.
This powers the USB hub chip & the clock which is all that's needed for audio devices that don't need USB Vbus 5V power for signalling or for powering the audio device. If your need 5V supply you can still do this tweak but you need to supply the 5V separately
BTW, I forgot to include this: this provides a far superior sound than using 2 of the same batteries to power the Regen through its DC input so it's not just the batteries that make the difference but bypassing the REG33 also.
This signifies, to me, that the regulator is a limiting factor. The likely reason for this improvement might be that the clock is getting a cleaner PS particularly at low frequencies where Fmak reported issues with these regs? It is a disputed but widely held belief that reduced close in phase noise is one of the most critical factors for sound quality - LF noise on the clocks PS is one source of this close-in phase noise, the other being inside the oscillator itself (the crystal cut & it's surrounding circuitry).
I don't exactly know how a better PS on the Regen's clock & USB hub chip translates into a better sound downstream at the audio device - I don't believe any measurements have yet revealed this?
Try it & post your reports
Edit: I am reminded by some of the posts on this thread to warn people that they do this at their own risk & that they should be somewhat competent in DIY to do this. These batteries can put out a lot of power - treat them with respect - as you would a car battery - they are that powerful
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Topic - Improved Regen sound - jkeny 13:43:48 11/22/15 (165)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 11:44:21 12/2/15 (1)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - SBGK 04:26:17 12/3/15 (0)
- Groundhog Day - soundchekk 09:38:53 11/26/15 (25)
- Regen makers are well aware - fmak 22:16:45 11/26/15 (9)
- RE: Regen makers are well aware - soundchekk 00:03:17 11/27/15 (8)
- RE: Regen makers are well aware - Sordidman 15:44:59 12/1/15 (3)
- RE: Regen makers are well aware - soundchekk 00:10:27 12/2/15 (2)
- You listened a bit too much to the vendors around here - Sordidman 09:08:59 12/2/15 (1)
- RE: You listened a bit too much to the vendors around here - jkeny 09:42:37 12/2/15 (0)
- The Regen makes a difference where it matters - fmak 00:59:33 11/27/15 (3)
- RE: The Regen makes a difference where it matters - soundchekk 02:52:56 11/27/15 (2)
- RE: The Regen makes a difference where it matters - fmak 03:24:07 11/27/15 (1)
- RE: The Regen makes a difference where it matters - soundchekk 04:11:01 11/27/15 (0)
- RE: Groundhog Day - jkeny 10:18:26 11/26/15 (14)
- RE: Groundhog Day - soundchekk 00:15:59 11/27/15 (13)
- RE: Groundhog Day - Ryelands 04:05:56 11/27/15 (6)
- RE: Groundhog Day - fmak 12:06:01 11/27/15 (3)
- RE: Groundhog Day - jkeny 12:58:26 11/27/15 (2)
- unhelpfule to whom? - fmak 22:09:30 11/27/15 (1)
- RE: unhelpfule to whom? - jkeny 05:16:25 11/28/15 (0)
- RE: Groundhog Day - soundchekk 04:26:19 11/27/15 (1)
- RE: Groundhog Day - jkeny 04:34:47 11/27/15 (0)
- RE: Groundhog Day - jkeny 03:39:58 11/27/15 (5)
- RE: Groundhog Day - soundchekk 04:09:57 11/27/15 (4)
- RE: Groundhog Day - Bob_C 18:58:54 11/27/15 (0)
- RE: Groundhog Day - jkeny 04:49:19 11/27/15 (2)
- RE: Groundhog Day - theob 06:13:17 11/27/15 (1)
- RE: Groundhog Day - jkeny 06:24:51 11/27/15 (0)
- the regulator is a limiting factor - fmak 07:30:32 11/25/15 (3)
- RE: "it is difficult to say which tweak and which setup produces the best SQ.... - Ivan303 14:52:46 11/25/15 (0)
- RE: the regulator is a limiting factor - Tony Lauck 07:39:32 11/25/15 (1)
- RE: the regulator is a limiting factor - fmak 08:22:00 11/25/15 (0)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - chopper87@aol.com 13:56:00 11/24/15 (2)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 14:21:51 11/24/15 (1)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - chopper87@aol.com 15:01:36 11/24/15 (0)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - chopper87@aol.com 18:24:58 11/23/15 (2)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 00:33:01 11/24/15 (1)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - chopper87@aol.com 05:37:55 11/24/15 (0)
- My Regen would sound a HECK of a lot better... - Ivan303 17:29:04 11/23/15 (0)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - chopper87@aol.com 14:54:40 11/23/15 (7)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 15:16:24 11/23/15 (6)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 11:50:03 11/24/15 (3)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 13:00:41 11/24/15 (2)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - Tony Lauck 07:36:09 11/25/15 (1)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - fmak 21:58:27 11/25/15 (0)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - chopper87@aol.com 16:26:18 11/23/15 (1)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 16:48:04 11/23/15 (0)
- Wondering about that existing regulator - rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com 14:42:43 11/23/15 (5)
- RE: Wondering about that existing regulator - fmak 08:55:58 11/26/15 (0)
- RE: Wondering about that existing regulator - jkeny 15:06:13 11/23/15 (3)
- But with my computer battery supply - rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com 08:32:47 11/24/15 (0)
- RE: Wondering about that existing regulator - theob 16:45:47 11/23/15 (1)
- RE: Wondering about that existing regulator - jkeny 16:50:23 11/23/15 (0)
- Inmates: Play at your OWN RISK.... - AbeCollins 12:26:03 11/23/15 (19)
- RE: Inmates: Play at your OWN RISK.... - kenzo 21:24:22 11/23/15 (18)
- RE: Inmates: Play at your OWN RISK.... - jkeny 00:20:33 11/24/15 (17)
- RE: Inmates: Play at your OWN RISK.... - Ryelands 09:04:20 11/24/15 (1)
- RE: Inmates: Play at your OWN RISK.... - jkeny 09:22:11 11/24/15 (0)
- No risk of fire? Really ? - AbeCollins 08:45:43 11/24/15 (14)
- RE: No risk of fire? Really ? - jkeny 08:58:11 11/24/15 (13)
- RE: No risk of fire? Really ? - Bob_C 16:04:44 11/24/15 (7)
- RE: No risk of fire? Really ? - fmak 01:48:08 11/25/15 (6)
- RE: No risk of fire? Really ? - Bob_C 12:09:19 11/25/15 (5)
- Adults? - fmak 05:01:51 11/26/15 (4)
- RE: Adults? - jkeny 09:46:45 11/26/15 (3)
- RE: Adults? - fmak 10:38:26 11/26/15 (2)
- RE: Adults? - jkeny 10:48:08 11/26/15 (1)
- RE: Adults? - fmak 22:08:44 11/26/15 (0)
- THE TRUTH - AbeCollins 09:24:07 11/24/15 (4)
- RE: THE TRUTH - jkeny 09:28:19 11/24/15 (3)
- RE: THE TRUTH - AbeCollins 10:12:56 11/24/15 (2)
- RE: THE TRUTH - Tony Lauck 07:48:12 11/25/15 (0)
- RE: THE TRUTH - jkeny 10:35:14 11/24/15 (0)
- Ready to go after I order a battery - rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com 07:07:00 11/23/15 (0)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 02:48:00 11/23/15 (16)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 03:59:37 11/23/15 (15)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 04:17:30 11/23/15 (14)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 04:22:32 11/23/15 (13)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 04:29:11 11/23/15 (12)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 04:32:16 11/23/15 (11)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 04:38:28 11/23/15 (10)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 05:46:39 11/23/15 (9)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 05:54:04 11/23/15 (8)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 06:03:17 11/23/15 (7)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 06:33:56 11/23/15 (6)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 06:38:59 11/23/15 (5)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 06:51:06 11/23/15 (4)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 07:26:31 11/23/15 (1)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 08:07:05 11/23/15 (0)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 07:18:29 11/23/15 (1)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 08:23:12 11/23/15 (0)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - pictureguy 23:34:07 11/22/15 (57)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 08:28:54 11/23/15 (56)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - pictureguy 09:14:29 11/23/15 (55)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 10:06:22 11/23/15 (54)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - pictureguy 12:02:06 11/23/15 (53)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 12:47:00 11/23/15 (52)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - pictureguy 16:23:42 11/23/15 (23)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 16:43:30 11/23/15 (22)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - pictureguy 17:18:31 11/23/15 (21)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 00:22:01 11/24/15 (17)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - pictureguy 00:36:30 11/24/15 (16)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 01:14:05 11/24/15 (15)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 03:06:38 11/24/15 (14)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 03:22:35 11/24/15 (13)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 03:24:20 11/24/15 (12)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 03:57:06 11/24/15 (1)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 16:06:33 11/24/15 (0)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 03:42:36 11/24/15 (9)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - chopper87@aol.com 09:28:41 11/24/15 (3)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 16:35:47 11/24/15 (2)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - chopper87@aol.com 19:11:56 11/24/15 (1)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 09:41:52 11/25/15 (0)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 04:01:23 11/24/15 (4)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - Tony Lauck 08:03:47 11/25/15 (3)
- You can also say: - fmak 10:24:25 11/25/15 (0)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 08:37:55 11/25/15 (1)
- Theory or Speculation? - fmak 10:29:36 11/25/15 (0)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - Bob_C 20:36:26 11/23/15 (2)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - pictureguy 00:43:01 11/24/15 (1)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 01:11:05 11/24/15 (0)
- The question is: - fmak 13:08:44 11/23/15 (27)
- RE: The question is: - jkeny 13:42:08 11/23/15 (26)
- RE: The question is: - fmak 22:08:43 11/23/15 (25)
- RE: The question is: - jkeny 00:31:14 11/24/15 (24)
- RE: The question is: - Tony Lauck 08:18:04 11/25/15 (23)
- RE: The question is: - fmak 22:06:44 11/25/15 (21)
- RE: The question is: - jkeny 00:30:19 11/26/15 (20)
- RE: The question is: - fmak 00:55:23 11/26/15 (19)
- RE: The question is: - jkeny 03:07:19 11/26/15 (18)
- RE: The question is: - fmak 04:58:51 11/26/15 (17)
- RE: The question is: - jkeny 05:19:33 11/26/15 (16)
- Speculation - fmak 06:06:07 11/26/15 (15)
- RE: Speculation - jkeny 08:02:16 11/26/15 (14)
- RE: Speculation - Tony Lauck 08:47:22 11/26/15 (8)
- I suspect this requires bypass right near the load - fmak 09:12:43 11/27/15 (5)
- RE: I suspect this requires bypass right near the load - jkeny 09:28:06 11/27/15 (4)
- Long Experience? - fmak 10:30:20 11/27/15 (3)
- RE: Long Experience? - jkeny 10:36:55 11/27/15 (2)
- RE: Long Experience? - Tony Lauck 12:56:35 11/27/15 (1)
- RE: Long Experience? - jkeny 13:01:22 11/27/15 (0)
- RE: Speculation - jkeny 10:12:50 11/26/15 (1)
- Specific Speculation - fmak 10:34:24 11/26/15 (0)
- More sonics - theob 08:22:08 11/26/15 (4)
- RE: More sonics - jkeny 10:25:04 11/26/15 (3)
- RE: More sonics - chopper87@aol.com 10:25:23 11/28/15 (2)
- RE: More sonics - jkeny 10:28:17 11/28/15 (1)
- RE: More sonics - jkeny 09:30:58 11/30/15 (0)
- RE: The question is: - jkeny 09:07:40 11/25/15 (0)
- Battery Specifics - fmak 21:34:33 11/22/15 (3)
- RE: Battery Specifics - jkeny 06:34:06 11/23/15 (0)
- RE: Battery Specifics - John Elison 22:40:05 11/22/15 (1)
- RE: Battery Specifics - jkeny 02:35:34 11/23/15 (0)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - kenzo 14:31:40 11/22/15 (7)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 14:37:41 11/22/15 (6)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - kenzo 14:43:27 11/22/15 (5)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - fmak 21:22:23 11/22/15 (3)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - kenzo 22:33:02 11/22/15 (0)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - kenzo 22:20:43 11/22/15 (1)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - fmak 01:49:21 11/23/15 (0)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - jkeny 14:48:59 11/22/15 (0)
- RE: Improved Regen sound - theob 14:13:52 11/22/15 (0)
- I was thinking about opening that thing today, and then ... - rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com 13:59:12 11/22/15 (2)
- Should have looked below - rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com 14:05:20 11/22/15 (1)
- RE: Should have looked below - jkeny 14:25:47 11/22/15 (0)