Are there reports of the ISO Regen improving the output from an mR ? I thought the mR had a Regen built in ?
From what Iāve read, yes, the mR has both regen and galvanic isolation; but I donāt think that it has impedance matching on the output.
It is. But Alex over at Computer Audiophile forums has confirmed that ISO Regen would work fine at 5 volts.
Or, you could use one LPS-1 set to 7v for uRendu and ISO Regen, and the second at 5v for Singxer
Thatās the exact question I had for Alex over at Uptone. Below is copy/paste from his reply:
Indeed, the ISO REGEN will improve the SQ with your microRendu. I know because I own a microRendu.
Not only that, but my personal chain is the same as yours: microRendu>ISO REGEN>SU-1>Holo Spring. Sound is the best I have had.
If you get a āYā cable like this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007Q8IKRE/
you can power both the microRendu and the ISO REGEN from the same UltraCap LPS-1.
1 - See my previous post for the Y cable.
2 - Again, I asked the same question. Here is what Alex said:
Your second question is complicated and needs to be tried and compared. Loosing isolation between the microRendu and the ISO REGEN in itself is not a big deal at all. But what gets lost is the leakage blocking to the DAC (or in your/my case, the SU-1). But again, that may mean nothing because the computer in this case is a microRendu powered by an LPS-1. Everything is already isolated.
Here is a long post by one fellow who actually understood and reorganized what John has been trying to explain:
Read that and then you are on your own since there really are not definitive answers until people try all the permutations in their varied systems.
Only, I believe, if the USB device being fed by the ISO Regen doesnāt require the 5VBUS power. The Spring does (confirmed to me via email from Jeff Zhu); I donāt know about the Singxer. BTW, Jeff also confirmed that the Springās USB input is galvanically isolated and re-clocked (not sure if that is/was known). Iām not sure about any regeneration though.
Edit:
Springās usb is galvanic isolated. Before isolation, it uses the usb power and ground. After isolation, it uses internal power and ground. So a usb power is need to proper working of Spring.
And:
The HDMI I2S input isnāt re-clocked, so it all depends on the quality of source. Other inputs [Ed: including USB] are all re-clocked.
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I finally got around to setting up HQPlayer on a NUC6i7KYK, where it appears its i7-6770HQ can handle upsampling to DSD512 using poly-sinc-xtr-mp-2s filter with the AMSDM7 512+fs modulator unlike the i7-4578U in my 2014 Mac mini, which seems to only be able to handle DSD256 when used with HQPlayer.
Iāve just starting listening so too early for any conclusions, but Iāll report back after Iāve done some more listening.
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When youāre testing @Driftwood, it would be interesting to know how you hear DSD 512 through the Spring with the SU-1 in and out of the chain. Since the l2s input isnāt reclocked inside the Spring (as other inputs are) then the SU-1 is operating as a reclocker.
People have said that one of the issues with DSD 512 is having a good enough clock. It may be that the SU-1 has a greater relative impact on the sound at DSD 512 for this reason.
How are you getting in with your Holo Spring R2R NOS DAC now Andy?
Tempted to try a 2 DAC approach, Hugo TT and Holo Spring R2R NOS DAC, if both technologies sound as different as their coverage implies.
.sjb
Very happy with it.
My previous DAC was an Auralic Vega and the Spring is more natural without sacrificing any detail. I feed it with a microRendu into a Matrix Audio X-SPDIF2 which does IIS/HDMI into the Spring. The IIS input on the Spring is better than the USB input and supports 768 PCM. Still trying to decide between DSD 512 and PCM 768. They both sound good.
I also use the Spring with a CD transport and play 44.1 kHZ into it. If I can standardise volume then I should be able to A/B plain Redbook with upsampled and study the differences.
Spring is more transparent and natural sounding. It has a āorganicā feel to it as though it sounds so real and lifelike. It really shines when a properly recorded piece of music is played back but a poorly mastered will definitely sound equally bad.
Not all R2R DACs sound the same but they all have a typical character to sound like that. To say, the analog output stage of Spring is designed to bias hard to Class A, thus it runs warm all the times giving the optimum SQ, so I always leave it to āstandbyā mode.
I use USB input from ROCK together with Holo Audio āTitanisā, a affordable regen below:
https://kitsunehifi.com/product/holo-audio-titanis-active-usb-processor/
Probably the next upgrade, I may try the Matrix X-SPDIF-2 using II2/HDMI interface unlocking the 768k PCM limitation on the USB input.
I run my KTE 3 in NOS PCM mode only, max sampling rate in my library is 192k. I have compared USB>SU-1>I2S with USB>Schiit Eitr>S/PDIF coax inputs, and so far Iāve not been able to hear a significant difference. And the Eitr is much cheaper than either SU-1 or Matrix X-SPDIF-2. OTOH, it does not go above 192k PCM, and it does not do DSD.
Hi SU-1 and Spring R2R DAC owners, I posted a request for support here: https://community.roonlabs.com/t/settings-for-singxer-su-1-and-holo-audio-spring-dac
Maybe you can help!
I have a KTE SU-1 DDR AND A KTE Spring R2R DAC.
Thanks!
In February 2018 Holo Audio released an upgraded USB module. Has anyone tried it ?
A lot of people (self included) have been using the Singxer SU-1 or Matrix Audio X-SPDIF 2 into the I2S input of the Spring. It would be interesting to know if the upgraded USB module has closed the gap.
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Hi Andrew, Iām running my Spring with the new USB module. I donāt have a Singxer or Martrix Audio so I canāt tell for sure the difference. When comparing with the older USB module, thereās apparently some improvement in the mid and highs; more clarity. Iāve talked to Jeff Zhu and he advised me it is worth the upgrade if one uses primarily the USB input. It is quite affordable too.
I also use Holo Spring Titanis USB regen before going to the Spring DAC.
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Did you try the USB upgrade?
I use the ISO Regen with linear PSU - and now removed the Singxer from the chain.
No, havenāt tried it.