Which USB reclocker is as good as the Innuos Phoenix USB?


I read a lot about the Innuos Phoenix USB and everyone sings its praises even owners of expensive gear. The problem is that it is expensive.

There are other reclockers like iPurifier3, the Ideon Audio USB Re-clocker 3R, or the SOtM tX-USBultra USB Audio Reclocker. In forums the feedback is that the Phoenix beats a lot of the reclockers.

Does anyone have experience with a USB reclocker that does as good job as the Phoenix USB?

tjag

on a more serious note, i don’t buy into outboard reclockers as a category if we are talking about serious system building... one should get a superior network bridge, streamer, dac or combined unit... credible products made to a high quality level should have the clocking handled superbly within them...

@jjss49 I really would like to think this is true, but what I read disputes it. Owners of expensive gear swear by it check the Phoenix reviews here on Audiogon.

@lordmelton Here is the comparison with the SOtM tX below.

Check what Audiobacon wrote about the Phoenix:

"Having used both battery and the Paul Hynes SR4 on the SOtM tX-USBultra, I realized that its tone is more grey and neutral relative to the Phoenix. That’s probably the biggest difference between the two. The Phoenix has more “blood and tissue” and I found it to be more tonally true. Both handle timbre well.

The Phoenix also has more grit and texture while the tX-USBultra is fuller and smoother. While listening to a few tracks by Kieza, I felt the Phoenix had more realistic decay where certain harmonies lingered for the right amount of time. This actually brought me closer to when I saw her performing live. But the tX sounded more molded and solid. And thus gave more of the impression of a physical presence. Silhouettes are seemed tighter and more “rounded off” with the tX-USBultra.

Another difference is depth. The Innuos has more of it. The SOtM stays more in front and sounds more “glued together.” Whereas the Innuos plucks out the elements better. It handles the fabric of the music with more delicacy and nuance. It’s also the more open sounding of the two. The SOtM is more “collected” and laid back. Lastly, the Innuos has more impactful, deeper, and refined bass. The SOtM has more aggregated mass that is punchy but not as granular.

If you prefer a liquid, more solid, and more neutral sound, the SOtM tX-USBultra is probably the better pick. If you prefer something richer, more open, and warmer, go with the Phoenix. Although I appreciate the qualities of both, I prefer the more natural tone of the Phoenix."

 

reading reviews only get you so far... there is only one way to know, right?  my various tries with ddc's and usb reclockers have been wastes of time largely... but then again i don't use a noisy sloppy computer to feed my system its digital stream

ymmv obviously

Audiobacon tested with several source.

"Does the server you connect the Phoenix to matter? I tried a custom music server with LPS, a laptop, and of course the Innuos ZENith SE Mk.2. The short answer is “hell yeah.” Even a laptop powered by only a battery won’t sound nearly as good as a dedicated server with a linear power supply. And by “as good” I mean…it’s a pretty large delta."

At the end he bought the Phoenix:

"I wasn’t expecting to purchase this USB reclocker. But the main reason I am is because of its performance with voice recordings. Too many times, a lot of HiFi gear will strip the soul of the performers while polishing everything else"

 

I am not questioning the usefulness of the Phoenix. I am just asking if there is  an equally effective USB reclocker.