Stereophilus Posted July 12, 2017 Posted July 12, 2017 Hard to get at the moment, but the new ISO Regen (distinct from the original regen) is available now. Has anyone got one? Compared it to the original? Please post your thoughts on it here. I'm still using the original regen, but I'm keen to give the ISO Regen a run in my system. https://audiobacon.net/2017/07/11/uptone-audio-iso-regen-review/
Pebbles Posted July 13, 2017 Posted July 13, 2017 Hi Stereophilus, I have the Iso Regen, LPS power supply and USBPC connector. They run between an Auralic Aries Bridge and Resonessence Mirus DAC. I bought the Aries a couple of months ago to stream Tidal. Using a bog standard USB cable initially I was disappointed with the SQ compared to CD and even more so compared to the SD card in the Mirus. I wasn’t surprised as had expected wireless streaming to be inferior to good CD playback. A mate suggested I borrow his Regen and Curious cables. The improvement just with the cable was substantial and then adding the Regen I bought another significant improvement. You have a Regen so probably know what it brings but for me the ease, depth and musicality that it brought to digital was a real eye opener. On the strength of that one night audition I ordered the ISO and LPS. Strangely I was not as gob smacked by the improvement the new Regen (with LPS and USBPC) brought as I was by the earlier Regen. It certainly improves it though and the SQ is very good. I have not been able to do a side by side but I am pretty sure the ISO would better the original but by how much would depend on the system. The Aries was only a few days old when I heard the original Regen so it may have improved with quite a few hours on it. This is the only explanation I can come up with. Also the ISO part of the Regen may not be contributing much to the DAC which I believe has galvanic isolation. I have not tried switching it off to test this theory. Pity you are in Melbourne, regards, Andrew 2
Stereophilus Posted July 13, 2017 Author Posted July 13, 2017 6 hours ago, Pebbles said: Hi Stereophilus, I have the Iso Regen, LPS power supply and USBPC connector. They run between an Auralic Aries Bridge and Resonessence Mirus DAC. I bought the Aries a couple of months ago to stream Tidal. Using a bog standard USB cable initially I was disappointed with the SQ compared to CD and even more so compared to the SD card in the Mirus. I wasn’t surprised as had expected wireless streaming to be inferior to good CD playback. A mate suggested I borrow his Regen and Curious cables. The improvement just with the cable was substantial and then adding the Regen I bought another significant improvement. You have a Regen so probably know what it brings but for me the ease, depth and musicality that it brought to digital was a real eye opener. On the strength of that one night audition I ordered the ISO and LPS. Strangely I was not as gob smacked by the improvement the new Regen (with LPS and USBPC) brought as I was by the earlier Regen. It certainly improves it though and the SQ is very good. I have not been able to do a side by side but I am pretty sure the ISO would better the original but by how much would depend on the system. The Aries was only a few days old when I heard the original Regen so it may have improved with quite a few hours on it. This is the only explanation I can come up with. Also the ISO part of the Regen may not be contributing much to the DAC which I believe has galvanic isolation. I have not tried switching it off to test this theory. Pity you are in Melbourne, regards, Andrew Cold and windy Ballarat actually... but close to Melbourne! Thanks for the insights.
firedog Posted July 13, 2017 Posted July 13, 2017 Uptone claims the ISO Regen should help even a DAC with galvanic isolation on the USB input, as the DACs have the galvanic isolation inside, and not at the initial circuitry(phy)....
Pebbles Posted July 13, 2017 Posted July 13, 2017 Hi again, I turned the isolation off last night and could not detect a change in sound quality. 1
Pebbles Posted July 15, 2017 Posted July 15, 2017 In the interest of balanced reporting I did a quick AB of Isolation on or off using significant others significantly better ears. She could detect a change and preferred with isolation. Her words were 'more depth'. Case re-opened, or never closed..or just had a brick on it. I'm going back to my Kreilsler 3 in 1.
Stereophilus Posted September 2, 2017 Author Posted September 2, 2017 Well I've decided to order one. Looks like a long back order currently. Might be 3-4 weeks before I get it.
Pebbles Posted September 3, 2017 Posted September 3, 2017 I would be interested in your impressions. You have a quality source and DAC. You are definitely up in the region of diminishing returns. Are you investing in the LPS 1 power supply? I've had mine (+ LPS) in the system for a while now, and although I'm very happy with the sound I probably should take it out and listen to see if I can get a better bead on what it is actually doing!
Stereophilus Posted September 3, 2017 Author Posted September 3, 2017 I have a Gieseler LPS for my Amber Regen, but I am looking at the UpTone LPS-1 as it supposedly offers further electrical isolation. I'll see if I can try one out.
musical physic Posted September 6, 2017 Posted September 6, 2017 I have the ISO-r powered with an lps-1. I have only compared it to an intona with a w4s rur . The uptone combo is streets ahead even new from the box. Definitely worth the wait in my opinion. Here is what I posted on CA Goodbye intona, goodbye wyred4sound rur, goodbye curious usb! Man the iso regen +lps-1 combo hype is REAL. out of the box the difference is already noticeable. Now that I have used it for the past 48 hours, the music is so resolving and inviting. Currently using the iso_r combo with an aries to my hifi system and the sound is almost comparable to my north star design Magnifico transport. I only use the aries to listen to tidal.
Stereophilus Posted September 6, 2017 Author Posted September 6, 2017 1 hour ago, musical physic said: I have the ISO-r powered with an lps-1. I have only compared it to an intona with a w4s rur . The uptone combo is streets ahead even new from the box. Definitely worth the wait in my opinion. Here is what I posted on CA Goodbye intona, goodbye wyred4sound rur, goodbye curious usb! Man the iso regen +lps-1 combo hype is REAL. out of the box the difference is already noticeable. Now that I have used it for the past 48 hours, the music is so resolving and inviting. Currently using the iso_r combo with an aries to my hifi system and the sound is almost comparable to my north star design Magnifico transport. I only use the aries to listen to tidal. Do you think it is the ISO-regen or the combination with the LPS-1 that is the most significant? The LPS-1 does supposedly add an extra level, but anymore than a standard aftermarket linear PS?
musical physic Posted September 6, 2017 Posted September 6, 2017 To be honest I have never tried the iso_r without the lps1. When I did my comparison with my previous setup, I did power the W4S rur with the lps1 too. Prior to the uptone combo I used an El cheapo lps to power the W4S rur. I'm now using the cheap lps to "energize" the uptone lps
Pebbles Posted September 6, 2017 Posted September 6, 2017 I have not tried the Regen without the LPS either so can't comment. I did buy a very reasonably priced Ghent Audio DC cable to run between the LPS. and Regen and thought that was worthwhile so now have one coming to run between the Aries and its power supply. As an aside Musical physic, I stream Tidal as well, connecting to the modem wirelessly. My IPad would lose connection to the Aries if no command had been given for some time, even though the music would keep playing. Auralic recommended upgrading my ISP supplied modem so I bought an ASUS AC68U recently and it appears to have fixed the issue but even better has brought a clear improvement in sound quality. I'm very happy with the whole USB chain now and find the music very satisfying with little or no distracting artefacts of reproduction.
musical physic Posted September 6, 2017 Posted September 6, 2017 Hey Pebbles I too have upgraded the dc cable between the lps-1 and iso_r with a ghentaudio dc cable. I look forward to your experience with the dc cable upgrade for the aries. I was thinking of replacing mine too
Pebbles Posted September 17, 2017 Posted September 17, 2017 Hi Music Physic, The Ghent cable has arrived. Unfortunately they do not offer the same Aviation plug as is on the Aries which is a 3 pin, theirs are 2 so I had to swap them over. They may do a special order. So I can't AB the two cords but I 'imagined' a more robust sound with the new cable. At $35 US there's not much to lose, regards
Stereophilus Posted October 12, 2017 Author Posted October 12, 2017 The ISO-Regen and LPS-1 arrived today. I ordered the LPS-1 in addition based on recommendations from fellow SNAers. Some listening to be done tonight! 1
Boomboy Posted October 12, 2017 Posted October 12, 2017 Please share your thoughts on it as im keen to purchase one eventually..
Stereophilus Posted October 12, 2017 Author Posted October 12, 2017 The ISO-Regen is a step up from the previous amber Regen I have been using. Slightly better fluidity and bass impact are apparent with the ISO-regen. No thoughts on the LPS-1 in combo yet... sadly it needs a bigger energising PS than the one I was using on the Regen.
Pebbles Posted October 12, 2017 Posted October 12, 2017 Hi Stereophilus, I thought the LPS-1 came with the Uptone Meanwell PS as standard?
Stereophilus Posted October 12, 2017 Author Posted October 12, 2017 26 minutes ago, Pebbles said: Hi Stereophilus, I thought the LPS-1 came with the Uptone Meanwell PS as standard? It does, but I specified a unit without a PS because I thought my existing LPS would be adequate. My mistake.
musical physic Posted October 13, 2017 Posted October 13, 2017 10 hours ago, Stereophilus said: It does, but I specified a unit without a PS because I thought my existing LPS would be adequate. My mistake. Hi Stereophilus, im willing to loan you my meanwell if you want. Pm me
Stereophilus Posted October 13, 2017 Author Posted October 13, 2017 1 hour ago, musical physic said: Hi Stereophilus, im willing to loan you my meanwell if you want. Pm me All good, I might just buy a $50 Jaycar 12v DC wall wart to feed the LPS-1.
hibo Posted October 14, 2017 Posted October 14, 2017 @ musical physic Hi, I noticed you have a Lush cable. Have you found it a worthwhile improvement over what you had previously? Sorry to derail thread. Martin
Stereophilus Posted October 14, 2017 Author Posted October 14, 2017 I found a $30 SMPS to power the Ultracap LPS-1. Comparing the Ultracap LPS-1 against my Gieseler LPS, there is not a significant difference to my ears on initial listening. There is a difference when using the included USPCB link vs my Curious USB link. The USPCB sound a bit more dynamic and “edgier”, with the Curious link being smoother and softer. Not a big difference overall, but it is there. The ISO-regen is brilliant - a big improvement over the original Regen. The included USPCB adds an interesting option . For the time being, I’m unconvinced that Ultracap LPS-1 offers improved SQ over an (admittedly excellent) toroidal LPS.
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