USB De-fuckifiers: Schiit Wyrd vs. Uptone Regen

Polishing a turd doesn't change what it is. Now that's stupid money just to get USB in. I couldnt figure out what the Lan Extender is about, is it a long ways away?

 

So it is what I thought.

OAT - On Another topic, playing around with Tokyo Dawn Labs Slick EQ for some mild room EQ in my main speaker system. Audio Units plugin works well with A+ sounds really good compared to the Apple stuff. And this little one is free.

 

Dude only has one jitterbug. Amateur.

 

I have been posting in that thread and its been interesting. When that person put up a video from PSAudio about a new product called "LanRover" the whole thread went crazy. Paul McGowan claims amazing ridiculous benefits from using a ethernet usb extender - the conversion of the usb signal to one that can be transmitted over Cat 5/6 is supposed to isolate your dac from the pc. I tend to take what McGowan says with a grain of salt and I posted that in the thread.

But I figured that if a LAN extender had no affect on audio quality then it could allow someone to move their computer as far away from their audio components as they wanted. This was my plan but the model I tried had small negative effects in my system. According to the poster I used the wrong extender though. He and Paul McGowan are the only people to claim benefits from these devices that I know of.

 

Kind of like all the reviewers who went nuts over the Jitterbug. Seems any change in sound is heralded as good even when it robs the life from your music.

 

I suggest a quick flogging with a thick audiophile usb cable, leave some sort of defuckifier attached for more fuckifying.

 

The pro audio world has been fussing with ethernet audio for a few years now. Dante and AVB being the main ones. Dante is more established and doesn't need separate interface boxes, but requires licensing. AVB is open source but originally needed separate interface boxes. Both protocols have recently been ratified under a new AES standard so that will change things up (quite new, only in 2015 I think). While Dante gear is more established with the large sound installation market, MOTU and Presonus recently introduced a bunch of AVB gear which is more readily available to prosumers, so that will likely shift the market. Maybe. The game is far too early to tell.

The PSAudio video didn't say who designed the box for them, though I'd wager a guess that it's Echo Audio who pumps out AVB now.

I'll be curious to see how this plays out in the home hifi market, and whether it will take after the pro market or if the nutters will be trying to develop their own standard.

 

I just instabought this: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/fire-s-audio-redkey-usb-coaxial-adapter (Fire S Audio RedKey USB Coaxial Adapter: USB male connector on one end, SPDIF coax male on the other, about the size of a pack of chewing gum).

Should be interesting to see how this stacks up against mo' expensive USB to SPDIF converters.

 

Oh wow, Firestone Audio is a name I haven't heard in a while. They used to be popular with their "Fubar" and "Cute" series of dacs/amps and had nice compact stacking components and power supplies, but I think they essentially pulled out of the North American market a few years back.

 

Only goes up to 24/96 unfortunately.

 

There is another Fire S Audio RedKey USB Coaxial Adapter drop. Were there any impressions on this? I'm considering using it instead of a usb cable between a powered hub and Gungnir Multibit. There is also a BlueKey that goes up to 192kHz, but I really only need 96kHz.

 

I got one. It works.

....

I got it during a time when I was kind of burnt out on comparing SPDIF dinguses, so I don't have detailed sonic impressions for you. Sorry.

 

Just some brief impressions: I've been listening with my Modi Multibit for a while with both the Wyrd and Regen. I think the Wyrd sort of exaggerates the body/weight of certain things, and also contributes to an exaggerated impact I really enjoy. Even though I use the word "exaggerate", I actually find the combination surprisingly good listening. Everything sounds very...solid and real.

I also doubled up on Wyrd/Regen but it didn't really seem to make much difference.

Modi Multibit > Crack (sb,6sn7,various mods) > HD650 (modded)

 

So you feel the Geek Out stuff is better built to withstand this type of interference? Interesting. I was considering getting one (possibly the iPurifier 2) to try it out and see if anything actually improves. Would the Geek Out 2A benefit from reclocking before it hits the DAC?

 

I would think so from subjective experience, their USB implementation is usually rock solid. I really doubt you will hear a difference.

 

from what I understand,t eh word doesn't alter the sound; it just supplies clean power.

 

On top of supplying clean power, Wyrd also reclocks usb packets, which could reduce(or increase) timing errors or jitter.

 

I specifically asked Larry about it and he seems to think there's a difference. I guess the only way to find out is get one. I can get one off a guy for $75. I guess if it doesn't work, I can always sell it.