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Which USB Re Clocker

I have been very happy with my Innuos Zenith Mk 2 for several years. The sound  is excellent and ripping is child's play. I have been interested in adding the Phoenix Re Clocker for a couple of years, but for various reasons, haven't been able to get a demo yet. One of the selling points of the Phoenix by Innuos, is that it can be used between any source and USB DAC.

 Well it also means that any re clocker should work between an Innuos Server and DAC. The one drawback to me is that the Phoenix isn't cheap, at least as far as my budget in retirement is concerned. The Company claims that the Phoenix is more than a Re Clocker, with improved power supplies and other improvements. I don't suppose many of you guys have had the chance to compare the Phoenix with other units. Still any suggestions about other, cheaper Re Clocker units to consider? Particularly if you have had the chance to use it with an Innuos Server, but not much chance of that either. Still any advice is welcome, thanks.

david12
david12 OP
1,454 posts
 

I am not sold on a re clocker and I am happy with my set up. The Zenith is very good to my ageing ears and so is the metrum. Certainly neither are current state of the art, I know. Perhaps I should have asked a clearer question, would I hear a significant improvement with the Innuos Phoenix, or some other re clocking unit, or should I look elsewhere for improvement.

I use the Chord Signature Tuned Array USB chord and the re clocker means you need another good USB cable, not cheap either. Of course I need to hear the Phoenix in my system, but that isn't going to happen at the moment. Still I'm in no rush.

toetapaudio
474 posts
 
I’ve tried loads of USB cables and they all sound different. Your money might be better spent on a better USB cable and/or dac.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,517 posts
 
USB cables matter also. I design and sell my own. My dac is one of the best on the market and also benefits from a reclocker. Not all need, want or even appreciate the sonic improvements gained by a great reclocker and I get that. Just enjoy your music on your terms and decide for yourself how much time, effort and money you want to put into your system and learning. 
rixthetrick's avatar
rixthetrick
1,060 posts
 
What USB Cable are you using?
I worked for Curious Cables in Australia, I am sure there are plenty of reviews online for what they do.
electroslacker
375 posts
 
There's this new assumption that nothing of good audio quality comes out of a computer USB port because of the horribly noisy computer innards and operating system thrash. Has that ever been proven or is it a very lucrative marketing claim? All these streamers  and reclockers claim superority to laptops but they're computers and often made of cheaper parts and sold at very high markups.

I'm of two minds: Mind#1) It shouldn't make a difference, and Mind# 2) What do I perceive?  Mind#1) is flawed because "knowing" can change perception and blocks  the consideration of new information, and Mind#2) is flawed because listening intently usually changes perception and expectation bias is a real thing.

So, I have a laptop going to a Denafrips Terminator over USB.  I use a Curious USB cablle because it seemed to make instruments  more 3D.  I purchased a much better laptop for streaming because I was tired of swapping my work laptop in and out of my system. With the better laptop, the soundstage is two feet higher.  Getting spectacular clarity, imaging and musicality.  Cant imagine needing more.

So now Denafrips releases a series of Digital to Digital converters (Iris and Gaia) and Terminator owners claim they are getting significant improvements with the costlier model In the chain.  So, Mind#1) It shouldn't make a difference, and Mind#2) I want to experience it.

It's all quite curious, which makes the hobby intriging and fun.
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