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?
@lordmelton thank you. My future purchase will depend on how long I can wait for the Phoenix to appear on Hifishark :). If it is too long I will go the DDC way. It would be very interesting to know how SOtM USB performs in comparison to the I2S after a week. I noticed that the DDC you listed doesn't have a reclocker. The I2S interface will transmits the clock with the data to the DAC. The DAC could then benefit from being driven by a better clock improving performance.
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@tjag That's correct, no re-clocker. I used a Mutec 3+USB for several years using my laptop as source and it served me well but it can't play DSD. I now use an Aurender N20 as my source. The Musetec 005 clocks internally and when I tried the Mutec with it, well it was superfluous. Adding an expensive LPS to the DDC gave an excellent result and proved to me that USB to I2s sounded better than USB alone. I'll keep you updated with the SOtM but I couldn't recommend an Aurender N20 and the Musetec 005 combination highly enough. |
i have no clue... 👍, just here making trouble... or am i making a point? 🤔 posts have date stamps, right? you are an enthusiastic researcher it seems, kudos on that aspect ... but selective reading, wishful thinking and confirmation bias are banes to a researchers’ ultimate ability to arrive at proper conclusions wish you good luck |
For inexpensive, you might consider Gustard U18 ($500). In my system, it delivers powerful, clear, dynamic analogue sounding music via tube DAC (Abbas 2.4SE+). Some serious Head Fi people reported U18 nicer sounding than much costlier Mutec MC3. I tried MC3 with my previous DAC but not compared each directly. Apparently Gustard paid attention to stock U18 USB A-A cable and it does sound very good, connected to my MacBook Pro via Audioquest USB A to C Adapter. Don’t use Apple adapter with short flexible cable which sounds truly terrible. (For casual listening to Radio France Musique off web browser and to mine the rich seam of higher definition classical and jazz films on Youtube) |
