Innuos - New Re-Clocker

Here is my two cents;
The InnuOs Phoenix made my AQ DragonFly Cobalt sound many times more expensive. was shocked at the sound pouring out of my headphones. 
Home System:
DAC: Chord TT2; 
Server: Aurender N10;
Integrated Amp: Pass Labs int 250
Speakers: Dynaudio Confidence 30
Result:
I struggled to hear any difference let alone improvement.

I also have on deck my InnuOs Zen mkiii server and the Pheonix improved that slightly; what I heard was a jump in front to back depth and a sort of ease in the presentation, like increased liquidity is best way I can describe it; it was subtle though; I think my gear is pretty resolving and I can hear cable changes pretty easily; 


I think the efficacy of the Pheonix will be highly dependent on Dac input USB circuitry, and source USB port (obviously eh?)

I was shocked at how much a lowly dragonfly cobalt could sound; it’s as if I heard the pure performance of the tiny DAC chip itself for the first time;

Im bummed that USB implementation in any dac is still a thing that is subject to much variation and can make or break a dac; 

I think Chord has a robust internal reclocking and top class jitter rejection strategy that attenuated the otherwise obvious improvement I heard with the lesser DAC.
As always, ymmv

Yep, 

"From Vinnie Rossi on the L2 DAC module.

On-board FPGA buffer and femto-reclocking circuitry negates effects of jitter. Isolated input stages."

That is correct. Doesn't matter. This changes the sound and it's not a small difference. Again, I do not care how or why it's doing what it is doing, I just know what it is doing. I have a very resolving system and the differences are literally night and day here. 

So however it is working or whatever it is doing, does change the sound for the better. It's not even up for debate to those who heard it here and I would not have spent money on it if it did not do these things. 

So while I agree that it should not be doing anything, it does. ; ) 

@dpac996 Can you share the cables you are using (including your USB and headphone cables and headphones) since you’ve shared your components? Thanks. - David.

I am using an Audioquest Diamond and Forest. Stock power cable for the Pheonix (and will not buy an aftermarket). I was reading a review of the Chord M Scaler and there was a paragraph there that explained EXACTLY what I find the Phoenix is doing here...

A quote from Audio Bacon on the M Scaler...

"Firstly, you’ll notice how much more depth and focus lays before you. Without the Hugo M Scaler, it sounds completely flat, a bit fuzzy, and lean. It doesn’t have the proper shine or clarity – and comes off a bit grainy and edgy. Moreover, string plucks also don’t have that palpable reverb. It’s a more confused and splashy sound.

Aside from an incredibly spacious sound – the Hugo M Scaler tacks on weight, dimensionality, and resolution to everything."

That is exactly what the Phoenix does to my system when added to the Mini MKIII. It's crazy really. 

Not surprising dpac996 most modern well implemented DAC’s have strenuous noise reduction and reclocking as the clock closest to the DAC chip will give the very best results. Even the $2000 Benchmark DAC 3 isolates then reclocks it has one of the best jitter reduction implementations with its UltraLock 3 used on all inputs. Another thing to remember about jitter if it has been put into the stream with an ADC nothing can resolve it and in your home network that digital stream is created by remodulation in your $120 modem.