Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Regen regenerates the USB signal completely with a high signal integrity, so that it does not induce Dac side packet noise. Low signal integrity creates problems in the power distribution network (and PHY) of the USB receiver and hence generates packet noise Dac side.

It should benefit all USB recievers, as this goes beyound galvanic isolation. The music signal itself carries the packet noise (same for ethernet) and this is what induces the similar corresponding noise Dac side.

Low jitter clock and clean PDN are just elements needed for high signal integrity, not the raison d' etre per se.

Oh and yes, impedance lowering is another key as well as matching. that is why version 2 works better. The extra resistors in the new amber regen >3ohms, seem to match the impedance of the cable connecting to the regen better and as a consequence the bass improves. Corning optical/usb cable seemed to have elements of this in its design and was a great match for the older Regen ver 1.

Hi Wisnon, what constitutes packet noise in this particular context?

G.

Swenson can explain better than me, but all USB and ethernet data is transported as data packets, not continuous streams (nature of the beasts). The "pulse" of these data packets creates what is called packet noise, which messes up the PHY and PDN of the next leg in the relay (USB receiver interface), inducing them to create their own packet noise and so the relay baton is passed, even as the old noise dies at each changeover leg.

The trick to stop the baton passing is to design a proper interface that does not create new packet noise and for this you need a few things that lead to high signal integrity (SI): low jitter reclocking, clean power distribution network (PDN), clean power/galvanic isolation, impedance matching via the cable low overall impedance of the Dac. That is what is known so far from experimentation.

There may be other ways to get to high SI and I suspect Lukasz did the same with the digi-Lampizator circuit in his SBox based Transport, where the Spdif signal was run thru a digi-Lampi tube buffer and he showed how the irregular digital incoming signal was "squared" up on an oscilloscope. He has no scientific explanation, just speculation, but the consensus was clear that SQ was significantly improved, as you would expect from perfectly square digital signals. I asked Swenson about this, but no answer. LoL

Very interesting info you guys share. Thanks. I now have Steve's OSDE that was fully upgraded and I use his USB cable and the short block with the cable. I also use the mac mini server with Steve's big linear power supply. Are you saying this device will help the sound? Sorry, but I am still learning digital. Thanks.