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Innuos Phoenix USB Reclocker - Sounds Worse?

I picked up a Phoenix USB Reclocker, mint condition store demo.  I think this must be the first of many, many reports where the Phoenix does NOT seem to improve the sound.  So many posts and review after review indicate positive results with this device added to systems.  I’ve not seen one single account where the results weren’t clearly superior.  Yet that seems to be the case for me, sadly!  
 

My system:

  • Gryphon Diablo 300 with DAC module
  • Innuos Zenith Mk 3 with Roon/Tidal HiFi
  • Innuos Phoenix Reclocker
  • AudioQuest Hurricane Source power cords connected to a Niagara 1200 conditioner 
  • AudioQuest Dragon High Current power cord connected between my amp and the wall
  • Two AudioQuest Diamond USB cables
  • Nordost Valhalla 2 speaker cables
  • B&W 803 D2 speakers

Adding the reclocker makes the sound more constrained, tighter, with less separation, and is generally less engaging.  This seems to be almost the opposite of 100% of everyone else’s experiences.  I thought maybe the new USB cord needed to be broken in (it’s been 40 hours now) but I don’t think it could be this much worse prior to completing the breakin.  And the Reclocker was a demo so in theory it should be broken in.

Some may theorize that my Gryphon DAC may be better and that the Reclocker is dragging my DAC down instead of elevating it.  But that logic I don’t think makes sense, because the Phoenix reclocker tech is included in Innuos’ top Uber expensive Statement.  I can’t imagine that the Statement in my system would sound worse than my Zenith Mk III which is less than half the cost!

Not sure what’s up…  I will give it another few days and then contact Innuos to see if they have any thoughts.

 

nyev
nyev OP
1,031 posts
 

@antigrunge2, makes sense but I’ve also read a pro review that did extensive testing of different cabling with the Phoenix. Their comment was that the power cord didn’t matter as much and that event the stock cord is fine to use. They did note improvements with premium cables but they said the difference was small. They also said that if one of your USB cables is better than the other, the better one should go between the streamer and the Phoenix, and not as good cable from the Phoenix to the DAC. They noted that the quality of the cable from the Phoenix to the DAC didn’t seem to matter as much.

I couldn’t find the link if interested but don’t have offhand. Not sure if it’s valid or not.

i can see isolation feet helping.

antigrunge2
1,417 posts
 

I am sure you got the cable order reversed. The best cable needs to be between reclocker and dac.

nyev OP
1,031 posts
 

@antigrunge2 , just checked and no, they seem to think the USB cable going to the DAC doesn’t matter as much:

Which USB cable has a greater impact?

From my listening tests, the stereo takes the character of the cable between the server and Phoenix much more. You could still hear the differences in cables from the Phoenix to the DAC but it’s more subtle.

 

 

 

antigrunge2
1,417 posts
 

@nyev

in my system it works the other way around, admittedly I am reclocking the DAC rather than just the USB connection. Obviously whichever sounds better…

chcook
14 posts
 

@nyev

Did some back and forth today and the reclocker definitely helps my system. It’s a tonal thing. Strings instruments seem more real. I am using curious USB cables. Interesting to me that I tried their evolved cable a while back and could not tell a difference over the regular curious cable. I just assumed that whatever advantage the evolved has is fairly minimal when a great reclocker is in chain so I sold it.  
Not sure what gives for yours but I am keeping mine :)

also I would definitely get I touch with Innuos. They have been awesome for me and really knowledgeable. Maybe you have a defective unit?

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