Innuos - New Re-Clocker

@djones51,

Good point on the ‘worthiness’ Phoenix re-clocker in the chain. The audible improvements or lack there off from Phoenix re-clocker would largely depend on the implementation of USB Audio interface in your DAC.

I will say that compared to the Zenith III, the Mini III with Reclocker brought me a little bit more body. Without the re-clocker the Zenith III wins over the Mini without question. With it, in my system, not really. I could have bought the Zenith III but went with the Mini III, Power Supply and Re-Clocker. Works for me, and if I upgrade to the Zenith III in a year or whenever I am sure the Phoenix will help that and it will be better than the Mini III with the Phoenix. As is I will be happy for a long while with this. Used a Sonos for the last several years. This is a HUGE upgrade. As I write this, I am listening to the Mini III and Phoenix. My power supply has not come in yet...but when it does I expect a little jump up again. If we talk cost, retail of the Mini III 1 TB, Power Supply and Phoenix come in at around ($1249 = $3149 + $699 = ) $5097. This is MORE than a Zenith III 1TB, yes, and for me, it added body and did the space thing better than the Zenith III alone. Makes sense too. It's not going to be as good as a Zenith III with Phoenix though. But that is a much more expensive option. Thanks. 

Oh and my DAC is quite nice. It's a $3500 module. I have a Vinnie Rossi L2iSE with the L2 DAC. The Re-Clocker does improve the sound dramatically with the Mini III going into the L2 DAC. Not sure why or how but I do not care as all I care about is the outcome. ; )

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